In today's online world starting a service based business can feel like a pretty simple task.  However, most people get in and find it's not quite as easy as they think.  Maggie and Brittany of Scoop Industries specialize in helping service-based companies grow.  They were kind enough to come by and give some tips and tricks for getting your service-based business discovered, and how to put the systems in place to grow!

*Below is an actual transcript from our podcast.

I think in service-based business, it feels like it's really easy money.  However, the cash never seems to come quite as easily as you think.  What is your advice for getting that first client?

First off, I love this question because I think this is where we kind of think some sort of alchemy is going to happen where we're you know going to set up a Web site and there's going to be a business.   But ultimately I think when you're starting out it comes down to three things:

1, If you're...

With the growth of social media, it can be a great thing.  However, it can also be hard as entrepreneurs
because we end up comparing our lives to others highlight reels.  We have to be careful because if
entrepreneurs show any weaknesses.
 
1.Stop trying to be the exception to the rule.  There is no one out there who has had overnight
success. This takes work. It takes an effort. If you are jumping in because you don't want to
put in the work and you're hoping to be the exception,  then you need to probably stay out.
This is a marathon.  Not a race.
 
2. Be extremely careful of what you see.  Do your own thing.   Be yourself.  Worry about
what you're doing and stop looking sideways at everyone else.  You're never going to be far
enough, rich enough, or good enough.  There will always be someone doing better than yourself.
Measure your own success after your own success, not others.
 
If you get knocked down, are...

Kasia Johnson of Merge Forward, helps some of today's biggest brands with their branding and marketing.  We've had several conversations about branding, and what it really means for businesses.  Yes, it's so much more than a logo, however, it also doesn't need to be the extensive crazy expensive thing that we all think of when we think of companies like Apple.  Even if you're a solo shop, there are small things you can do now that make a huge difference in how your business is perceived by the world.

What's your best description of what branding your business even is?  It's visual storytelling and visually telling what your company is.  It's such an important aspect too because it's the first thing that clients see and how they identify with your company.  People don't realize that our brains process something sixty thousand times faster anything that's visual.  So a lot of buying decisions are made on what you see first.

Is branding just a logo...

Last year I ventured into my first live event, knowing absolutely nothing about doing one. I can't tell you it went off without a hitch, however, it was one of the best decisions I ever made for my business. I had no idea what would be on the other side for myself and my business by doing one.

In this podcast, I share:

• Why I did one
• The ins and outs of putting one together
• Some basics you should know as to how to make this work for your business

For more info on my event visit:http://www.entrepreneursummitdallas.com

Learning how to properly goal set is crucial to not just the success of your business, but honestly everything in life. Typically, people set very vague goals.  For example: "I want to be rich", "I want to lose weight"  Neither of which really does anything if you’re actually trying to get results.

There are three things you should do when setting your goals that are actually achievable, while still pushing you.

1. Be specific: You can't just say I want to make six figures, or lose weight. You have to be specific. In order for it to be specific, you can have a set goal of what it means to actually achieve it.

2. Work you way backwards: Once you have that date set, figure out what you need to do on a monthly basis or weekly basis or even daily basis. This way you are focused day in and day out.  You know what needs to get done on a consistent basis to reach this goal. Ever day the tasks that you do should not be by chance. The last...

Afton Negra is one of the sharpest people I know when it comes to systems and building a business.  She has some of today's biggest online personalities as some of her clients, and she's a rockstar at tips and tricks and tools to simplify your business life.  She's technically a social media strategist but does so much more beyond just that title.  Her mission is to help the smaller companies learn the tips and tricks to get the bigger reach and leverage that they may need to grow.

In this podcast, we're covering three areas where you can improve your social proof of your business.

The first one is content, can we dig deep into understanding how your content aligns with the social proof of your business and how to use it grow?  First, social proof is the positive influence when others find out when someone is doing something.  This is crucial in social media.  A great example of this is a nightclub, and why they make people wait outside....

So many entrepreneurs start something and when it’s not working they do something else, then something else, until they’ve tried hundreds of things.  Eventually doing none of them consistently.

This is a big one because nothing will build the momentum you need until you’re consistent with it.

Now there’s nothing wrong with trying certain things, but you need to give something a true shot in order to make it work. Many times they expect results to be much faster than they realistically are.

You have to be willing to be consistent and put in day in and day out,  so you can stick with it.

I recently had the opportunity to hear Jim Collins speak and he discussed what makes great companies great. One of the things he mentioned was that companies that have overcome hell or high water will have consistency behind it.

You can apply this to anything whether it’s your content, the way you advertise, or the products you release. You can’t go...

I can speak from experience when I say writing a book can be a huge game changer in your business.  It immediately positions you as an expert and shines a completely different light upon you.  It can seem like a daunting task, and that's why I wanted Morgan of Paper Raven Books to talk about how to break down the process and use this to leverage your business.

What's the advice you give that first person trying to figure out what to write?  Morgan likes to start by talking about their business.  A book should be a strategic part of your business.  They discuss who they serve now, and who they want to serve in the future, and focus on topics for those people.

It's also a great tool for pivoting in your business.  Morgan was a broad general editor, and she wanted to focus on book editing.  So she wrote a book on how to write a book, and now her clients are from the book industry.  Make sure you're writing for that person who you want to...

Let's be honest, Snapchat got a bad reputation.  Between inappropriate pictures and strange filters, it was the app made just for teenagers.  Then marketers got a hold of it.

Now it can be a great tool for your business, but let it be known it might not be the right medium for all businesses.  Before you close down the potential for this app, make sure you listen to what Jed Record has to say about how you can utilize this tool for your business.

Snapchat is hot right now.   Should a business owner spend time on it, and is it more than vomiting rainbows? Do I have to have millennial clients to make this work?

There are millions of people using this platform and not all of them are millennials.

Is it for every business or only certain types of business?

It's a tough question, but here is a rule of thumb:  What is your brand voice for your company?  Do you express it informal and casual? If so, it's a good fit for Snapchat. ...