Business Jazz

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 8th March 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): We've talked a lot on the podcast about how putting the emphasis on your customers and clients is a cornerstone of being attractive as a business. Chris Brogan highlights the perspective of "You" (the customer) rather than "Me" (the business) in marketing. We buy into that. You probably do too if you're a regular listener of the podcast. In this week's episode, Jane and Roger discuss the opposite approach – just talking about yourself. This works well for a large number of businesses, and you'll hear that there are some clear benefits. It makes us wonder whether Chris is wrong. Or is it a case that both approaches work and that you have to find the one that fits best with who you are?

We are in the laboratory, figuring out how to attract more clients who we find irresistible. Our strategy is to grow the Show & Tell newsletter. The laboratory is a series of tactical experiments to achieve that. What have we learned so far?

We are in the laboratory, figuring out how to attract more clients who we find irresistible. Our strategy is to grow the Show & Tell newsletter. The laboratory is a series of tactical experiments to achieve that. Are we building a community? Why does Jono Bacon's latest book about community disappoint Paul? What fuels disappointment?

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 1st March 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Change is unsettling. We grow comfortable with things the way they are. When they shift an inch, we feel the movement as if it were a mile. Regular listeners will have noticed changes in the podcast this week. The intro, the tone, the focus. That's a lot to take in. If you've listened to the podcast already, we hope you understand why we've tinkered with the formula. If you haven't yet. Here's a quick overview. While we know Paul will return, we don't know when. All we know is that it will be a while yet. When he does, you'll hear three voices host the podcast – Jane is staying on. With that in mind, it was appropriate to change the intro to include the three of us. The second change is that we are weaning ourselves off Chris Brogan. He was our genesis, our original inspiration, and won't be forgotten, but there are other great thought lead

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 23rd February 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): One of the best things you can do in business is release your grip over your customers and clients – invite them to leave you. This is a healthy move for both sides. For you, it brings a dose of reality. The grip you have on your customers is never as strong as you think it is. Your customers always have alternatives, even if nobody else does what you do or builds what you build. Your client can simply decide to do without your unique product or service. That's a choice too. By inviting people to break the bond with you, you'll remove the weaker links in your client base – the people who weren't that into you to begin with, or who have started to feel less excited by you. What remains is a core of dedicated customers. In this week's episode, Roger and Jane look at an email in which Chris Brogan invites everyone on his mailing list to un

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 16th February 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): How easy do you make it for people to buy from you? Do people even know that they can buy from you? And do they know what they can buy from you? In this week's episode, Roger and Jane Boyd look at idea's Chris Brogan has about "touchpoints of opportunity" – places where the customer can interact with you or your business. He uses the metaphor of the sidewalk, the storefront and the back room. Roger and Jane end up talking about the Soup Nazi and AJ Leon.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 10th February 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Have you heard of this really powerful sales tool? Don't sell. At least, don't sell until the buyer is ready – until you have earned the right to sell. Getting to that point takes time. Too often, we jump straight in. Particularly when we are trying to sell ourselves. Instead of getting permission to talk about ourselves, we just do it. There are better ways. In this week's episode, Roger is joined by Jane Boyd again to talk about ways in which to introduce yourself to prospective clients in a way that won't bring down the shutters on you. They try to answer questions raised by Chris Brogan in a recent email newsletter, and give suggestions about how to introduce yourself gently to new people.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the second season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 2nd February 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Being neighbourly isn't a concept taught at many business schools – or at least, we don't think so. But if your intention is to generate business through your online activities, it is a very important one. Helping others is a great way to build your community. It establishes and deepens relationships. And once the relationship is in place, business will follow – often in very surprising ways. Paul is unavailable for the next couple of weeks, so in this episode Roger is joined by Jane Boyd to discuss an email by Chris Brogan in which he looks at how to be neighbourly online.

This episode is the end. Season 8 has ended. Paul & Roger are heading down into the Laboratory. Testing and invention are important if a business is to survive. That goes for BusinessJazz too. You'll hear: Jo Malone loses her own name. Paul reveals his relationship with her, and admits he is shocked by a revelation. Simon Toon gets in touch. So does SM2N. Roger has never been to Mars. Puma and Louis interfere with the recording. Brad Allen is mentioned. He has an idea about the obligations of decisions. His book is Fried Chicken is Awesome. Paul says all business relationships end. Roger takes his cue and leaves. What is the cost to you when the relationship with a customer ceases? Then Season 8 stops. The last word: "feed". Paul & Roger & Louis & Puma intend to return for Season 9. In the meantime, watch out for escapees from the Laboratory taking up residence in your podcatcher.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the first season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 25th January 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Selling is a mind game – much of it is psychology. Very often, we experience the bad side of it. Think Glengarry Glen Ross. We've all been on the receiving end of those tactics. It is selling as an adversarial pursuit of of someone else's purse. Nobody, except the vulture-like salesperson, enjoys that experience. Ultimately, it benefits nobody. Not even the salesperson. In the long run, they lose our trust. Trust is the key that unlocks our purses. Without it, the lock stays firmly shut. In this episode Paul and Roger discuss an email by Chris Brogan that starts with a declaration of intent. It intends to promote something that Chris hopes the receiver will buy. However, he advises strongly in the first paragraph that if you don't want to be bothered by a sales pitch, you should set the email aside. He doesn't want to waste your time or i

Being born on the 12th of October is being very memorable and controversial. Listen from the start to find out why... The day divides people in the United States - it may bring people together in Ireland. Roger is a Piscean creative. If everyone is creative the word has no use - we need a word that signifies people who stand out from the crowd. ———— Recorded in Paul’s kitchen this episode is not sponsored by the Pencil Manufacturer or any Monkey - even though they are both featured within. _______________________ The big question is "when should you name your business after yourself, and when should you not name your business after yourself?" _______________________ (This podcast cannot be insured - it seems.) _______________________ Why do companies name their business after themselves? Paul talks about doing business in the village, and how his grandfather called the business after O’Mahony. World Wool Production Inc (WWPI)sheep are mentioned. The conversation moved on to serious branding - it's best that y

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the first season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 18th January 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Fire is powerful. It burns and destroys. Fire also warms and rejuvenates. It provides a place to come together. In a house around the fireside; outside around a campfire. It is where we gain comfort and where conversations are held. In his latest email, Chris Brogan uses the campfire as a metaphor for creating content and story around your business. Content so compelling that it attracts others to it and compels them to discuss it. Paul and Roger look at how we can apply this to our own businesses to make ourselves attractive to our customers. They also try to fit the campfire model into a rehabilitation programme for Instagram.

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the first season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 11th January 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): Last week we talked about ambitions, execution and failure. This week, we riff off an email sent by AJ Leon in which he talks about the decision whether or not to give up. He recently stuck with something and ended up $8,000 lighter. Good decision? Bad decision? That's a key question we're all faced with. Is it better to cut our losses and abandon a road we've set off down, or should we push on? Chris Brogan gets his regular airing too as Paul and Roger discuss his recent email about the rise of bespoke business. In the podcast, Roger alludes to a story about Walt Disney being born in Mojácar, a village in Spain. It's quite likely nonsense.

This episode is not all about beef, butchers & buying in bulk. It is about how alliteration always attracts an audience. It was recorded during a food crisis in Ireland. The conversation begins with chat about Stockpiling - (leads to) - Buy beef in bulk - (leads to) - Buy your own cow - (leads to) - “We have a vegan audience on this podcast.” Why are people stockpiling beef in Ireland? We cover topics like: (1) How useful alliteration is in marketing copy. Bring and Buy Beef in Bulk Brother. (2) Advice on headlines to use in weekly newsletters. (3) Why we called this podcast Business Jazz. Messaging for local butchers. A Monty Python sketch. (4) It's wise to have a slogan or motto that people understand. Also sprach Zarathustra has really travelled very well. AUDI & Nietzsche (5) Roger's story: When KFC changed suppliers, they ran out of chickens. KFC ran a clever advert (you must listen to this bit) “Apple Always Attracts Attention” or “Apples Always Attract Attention”. What does LAYA mean? (6) Most

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the first season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 4th January 2013. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): It's that time of year again when we tell ourselves we're going to put our best foot forward - change a few things. Some changes will be quite radical; some less so. They will all make our lives better. Change isn't easy, though. Before you know it, your resolutions are in the waste paper basket, along with last year's. Chris Brogan has a suggestion for you. Instead of committing yourself to radical change in the shape of ambitious resolutions, he recommends choosing three words that will act as your guides in the year ahead. They will be beacons for you to steer a course by; criteria on which to base decisions. Paul and Roger discuss this concept and reveal some of their words for 2013. They also talk about the inevitable: Failure. At some time in 2013, we will all fall down. Most probably, we'll do it repeatedly. Then what?

Marketing Monkfish The first part of this episode is about germs including dog poo plus the Three Second and the 30 Second Rules. The episode is not about how to market germs and piranha - it is about how to market monkfish. This is the first ever episode about monkfish marketing in the history of podcasting. Roger and Paul grapple with how to make a monkfish attractive. [There is a story from Roger's days as a journalist in Slovenia.] Don’t show the piglet, just show the bacon Don’t show the monkfish, just show the tail. What would a specialist monkfish shop need to do? Rogers Real Monkfish stall in the English market. Lambs and Bambi are touched on. Impromptu story from Roger: How to succeed at a job interview for a global security company: “Remake Die Hard”. Several minutes are spent discussing storylines for such a film, including “Home Alone for your security products”. The conclusion is the maybe the storyline is more suitable for a Netflix serial? The mother of all monkfish. But how do you market monkf

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the first season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 21st December 2012. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): If we learned anything from Instagram's misstep in the past week it's that businesses struggle to understand the concept of community - even those who are in the social media space. Making yourself attractive in business is about being able to respect the community you serve. Chris Brogan talks about the difference between customers and community in his latest podcast and newsletter. He discusses why not all of the people who come to your shop have to buy. The fact that they are bringing their communities into contact with you is already enough. Treat them well and rewards will follow. Paul and Roger discuss what this approach means in the real world of business. Can the concierge experience be used to improve the sales process? To serve them well, you need information about your clients and customers. Yet blatant interrogation can be of

This episode begins while Paul is not paying full attention: Paul is doing an Instagram story. The most memorable parts of this recording include: "We are all creatures. "We’re not really welcoming Republic Of Work unless we bring Louis the dog." Trees, power tools and hedge-cutting Swimming in the Atlantic Ocean if you want to stand out ... Three power tool brands use the same colours: JCB - yellow & black Stanley - black & yellow DeWalt - yellow & black Bosch and Makita are green "I’ve never seen power tools in pink", reports Roger. We would normally say that’s not very good because you want to stand out "But it’s genius" says Roger. You can associate yourself with "You cannot break" a JCB says Paul Copying the colour scheme of established brands that already have that reputation. This podcast was never called "How to make the most money." It’s about doing something worthwhile in life. Associating with swimwear has to have been a successful advertising mechanism. This is spoken about with disdai

This is a rebroadcast of an episode from the first season of BusinessJazz. It first went live on 14th December 2012. The original show notes (beware of outdated information): It's an oft-quoted trend: smartphone and tablet sales are outstripping those of laptop and desktop computers. There is another way of reading that: our social media experience is becoming mobile. Or how about this interpretation? The window to our online experience is getting smaller. That is: the screens we use are getting smaller. All that has an impact on our online experience, says Chris Brogan. Most companies tailor their online presence towards viewers with a large screen. That doesn't provide a great experience for those of us reaching out to them from mobile devices. Paul and Roger take this to the extreme. Will websites make way for apps produced by individuals, companies and collectives? What does that mean for Google's powerhouse search engine? Will your app store become your search engine instead? What about apps themselves?

The most powerful episode we've ever made. "Saplings & Chainsaws" collaborating. Roger has been "manly" and Paul has swum in the Atlantic Ocean. Hear about JBC + Dewalt + Bosch. This episode does not have a powerful sponsor. Enjoy listening. Please send a link to this podcast to someone who has a business.