Business For Superheroes

Joe joins Vicky this week to discuss being overwhelmed by 'all of the things'. A main problem a lot of people have is that they compare themselves to others and note what others are doing to promote their business. Vicky says to “Stop this bad habit at once!” Instead of looking over your shoulder to see what your neighbor is doing, take the time to focus on one thing and see if it works for you - and if you like it. If you like it, great! Build on that momentum to create something great for you and your business. If you don't like it, that's fine too. Move on and find the next thing to focus on.   Key Takeaways: [0:40] Joe is back! [2:35] Vicky has a new journal and it's extremely organized. [5:20] People who write what they're grateful for everyday end up being happier. [7:10] Vicky and Joe talk about being overwhelmed. [9:40] Most people compare too much to what other people are doing. [10:40] Today is all about listening to yourself. [11:00] What is Snapchat?! [12:55] Vicky talks about one of her subscribe

Vicky invites Adam onto the show to answer some of his questions on how to get and keep clients. Adam is a newbie copywriter who has only been freelancing for the past five months or so, and is struggling in some key areas. Vicky answers his questions and also talks about how to weed out the guys who are just looking for free services.   Key Takeaways: [0:40] This week Joe is not here! [1:05] Adam asked Vicky if he could have a telephone chat with her. As you may know, Vicky doesn't do those! [1:20] Adam is a newbie copywriter and has some questions for Vicky, so she asked him to join her on the podcast. [2:30] Believe it or not, a lot of copywriters are awful at what they do. [2:45] Want to become a copywriter? Study your craft. [3:45] What is Vicky's sales process? [4:15] Vicky has two sales processes. Her private clients and her inner-circle group. [4:55] Word of mouth clients will be the best clients you will ever have. [9:10] People who want to pick your brain also want to pick your pocket. [11:00] If pe

Vicky is currently in Cork for a mastermind and discusses why she goes out there every three months. Believe it or not, Vicky has self-confidence issues and she discusses some of her issues on the show today. She hates listening to those marketing gurus who seem to project that their life is perfect, especially when everyone knows it's not. She started this podcast to talk to people who were similar to her and in similar positions, because being in business for yourself can get quite lonely.   Key Takeaways: [1:40] Vicky received an email from someone, but she has two problems with what they wrote in it. [7:40] Why is Vicky in Cork right now? [9:00] There's very little support for people who have their own business. [9:15] It's also hard to find the right kind of support because there are people who try to sell bullshit. [12:40] It may sound funny, but Vicky and other female business owners have self-confidence issues. [14:00] Vicky believes not enough people talk about it, even the marketing gurus and suppos

Today's podcast is without Joe! Instead, Vicky interviews Graham Todd, the Group Leader for 4Networking. Graham explains why 4Networking is different than your typical networking event and how this particular networking group can benefit you and your business. Vicky has had bad experiences with networking groups and would rather put pins in her eyes than go out to these events!   Key Takeaways: [1:10] What does Graham do? [2:25] Because of 4Networking, Graham will be speaking at The Business Show in London. [3:50] Vicky hates going to network meetings. It was just people hustling each other.  [4:20] Graham agrees with Vicky. It can be quite terrible. [5:50] Vicky feels like networking events are so fake and filled with people looking to fulfill their own personal gain. [6:25] Graham breaks down how 4Networking works. [8:00] Is this a bit like speed dating? [9:30] You're not going to get instant relationships when you network. You will have to cultivate them. [11:30] Vicky is slowly being converted to the dark

Vicky shares another insightful episode with her husband Joe on specific things that Trump is doing to grab attention during his Presidential candidacy. Do not ignore Trump because he irritates you, he is an excellent marketer and there are powerful branding lessons you can learn from him.   Key Takeaways: [1:10] Let's talk about Donald Trump. [2:05] The entire UK is surprised that Trump has gotten this far. [2:15] What are we watching?! [4:25] Let's take a look at the people who have won the Presidential election in the past. [4:35] People are predicting Trump is going to win the election because he is the most charismatic person. [4:40] Obama and the Presidents before him had more charisma than their peers. [6:40] Trump pretty much doesn't care what other people think, which is a bit refreshing.  [7:15] That's one powerful lesson you can take away from Trump: Be Yourself. [7:35] Don't want to watch him because you can't stand him? That's foolish. You need to study him. [9:30] Humans are lazy. We'll always t

Vicky always gets excited when she hears from her listeners. She talks about an email conversation she had with Louise, who recently increased her prices. Louise asked Vicky if she still believed prices are regional and although Vicky believes it's true to some degree, it still shouldn't deter you from increasing your prices. Yes, you may lose customers, but the increase in profits will make up for that.   Key Takeaways: [1:55] Vicky and Joe did their first Parkrun 5k. [4:30] They're getting live chickens next week! [10:45] Would you rather munch on a £1 pie or a £4 super pie? [11:15] Louise emailed Vicky to let her know she increased her prices! [13:35] You need to increase your prices! [14:15] You may lose customers, but your increase will more than cover them. [15:25] Louise asked Vicky if she thought prices are regional. [17:10] Louise, your business is not restricted by location. [18:35] Tim Ferriss talks a lot about the 'new rich'. [20:00] Since Louise has increased her prices, she is now able to take F

Vicky and Joe discuss some of the marketing benefits of social media and also why social media for business can be such a fine line. You can spend quite a bit of productive time promoting your business on Facebook; however Facebook can distract you from the bigger picture and turn that productive time into wasted time. Tune in to hear Vicky's thoughts on how to properly manage this.   Key Takeaways: [1:15] Joe and Vicky are recording at Joe's office, without drinks in their hands! [3:50] Facebook is a massive time suck! [4:30] Vicky plans to install an app that will help her block FB/social media until a certain time. [5:15] Facebook time is not productive time. [6:15] Social media marketing can be really, really stupid. [6:50] Facebook as a business tool though? It can sometimes be a fine line. [8:25] Vicky explains why social media marketing bothers her. [10:15] Facebook is not about selling, it's about engaging with your audience.  [11:20] What's Return On Investment (ROI)? [14:15] You have to get ROI on y

Vicky and Joe have officially moved into their new house, but of course, everything is an adventure with these two and Joe shares what happened as they were settling in. Today's episode is a continuation of last week's show and Vicky answers Bobbie's second question. She talks on why you should email your prospects every day and also mentions a great trick to help you give value to your audience without giving everything else away for free. Tune in for more!   Key Takeaways: [2:15] Vicky and Joe are in their new house. [2:40] Joe talks new house adventures that could have turned dangerous. [7:25] The cats are completely confused. [7:45] This week we answer Bobbie’s question.  [8:20] If you can't take a holiday in your business, you have a shit job. [9:15] It's a huge red flag when you can't take time off of your business. [12:45] If you email your prospects every day, you're going to be there when they need you. Is it too much though? [13:40] When you email people every day, give them something of value. [14:

Bobbie wrote in saying she asked several of her clients for testimonials, but is unsure what to do with them now that she has them. Vicky shares her tips and further explains why having testimonials is so important. Joe has a hard time receiving testimonials from his clients because there are often confidentiality agreements in place. However, Vicky offers a creative solution on how he and you can get around those without breaking the contract.   Key Takeaways: [0:50] It's 7:30am and there's no gin. [1:10] Vicky and Joe are not very awake right now. [1:35] Vicky reads out loud Bobbie's email about testimonials. [2:25] Good job for getting testimonials! [4:25] Why are testimonials useful? [5:50] Vicky loves cricket. [7:00] When in doubt, we look to other people's behavior. [8:40] When you need help, don't scream out help, because people automatically assume someone else will help you. [10:25] The very best business comes from word of mouth sales. [11:50] How does Joe get his testimonials? [13:10] Stop paying a

It was Vicky's birthday on Monday and she received tons of letters and concerns over Joe's gift choices (he gave her a chainsaw). One of the happy birthday letters she received was from James, who asked Vicky how to make correct assessments on what to charge. This letter is what sparked today's conversation about knowing what to charge and finding out what you're really worth.   Key Takeaways: [0:40] Noodle joins us on today's podcast! [0:55] It was Vicky's birthday yesterday and Joe bought her a chainsaw. [2:25] Hi James! You're now the subject of the podcast. [3:10] Want a copy of Vicky's book? Feel free to email her and she might send it to you for free. [4:25] How much should you charge? [5:40] You can't possibly charge if you don't know what the project is. [6:30] People going to you for a problem, often don't really know what the real problem is. [9:35] Most agencies will treat you like a commodity. [10:50] The problem with working with agencies is that they already 'know' what you’re worth. [11:45] You

Vicky and Joe sit down for another engaging episode on the Business for Superheroes podcast. Vicky first goes into a little pet peeve she has with people who claim to be copywriters when in fact they're just writers. The key difference between the two is that copywriters have to include an element of psychology and persuasion into their content, whereas writers do not. Vicky and Joe also discuss business lessons you can learn from the TV show Breaking Bad.   Key Takeaways: [2:45] Vicky has a waiting list for her potential clients, right now. [4:25] Someone on Facebook was looking for a copywriter. Out of curiosity, Vicky checked out the candidates and she found the copy from their websites were absolutely horrid. [4:50] Not everyone can be a copywriter. [5:05] A copywriter doesn't just write. They know how to use psychology and persuasion.  [5:30] Hang around people who are better than you and you will become better at your craft. [10:20] You have to look out for yourself before you can look out for anyone el

Vicky asks an important question in today's discussion with Joe. What are you doing currently to generate more clients and customers for your business? How about, who are your dream clients? Vicky recommends writing down the top 100 people/customers/companies you'd like to do business with and then develop a nine step direct mailing campaign. In this episode, Vicky explains why you should do this and shares creative examples on how you can do it.   Key Takeaways: [1:20] What are Joe and Vicky drinking tonight? [2:15] What are you doing to find clients and customers? [3:15] Do you have a 'dream' client? [5:45] It's difficult to change, change is hard. [5:55] Take a second to see how you behave and if it consistently bugs you, do something about it. [8:00] The only reason why Vicky signed up to run a half marathon is because she really liked the medal they give you. [10:15] Consider sending a direct mail to your dream client. [12:15] Vicky talks about a carpet cleaner and what he was doing right. [12:45] Make a

Vicky shares a quick recap of last week's episode and how she can still be a victim of a fixed mindset. Vicky and Joe discuss their love for Buster Keaton and why he's so good at building relationships. Buster used to ask his audience for feedback on his performances, but the main message of what Buster did so well was building a strong connection with his audience. Vicky and Joe break down further on why you should always focus at least an hour a day on marketing.   Key Takeaways: [1:55] Vicky and Joe are trying to buy a house. [2:25] Banks are assholes. [2:35] Vicky realizes she has been taking the power away from herself by having a fixed mindset. [4:00] Vicky can either choose to be stressed for things she can't control or choose not to be stressed. [4:45] Buster Keaton! He's awesome! [5:15] The next person to leave the most useful review on iTunes/Stitcher Radio will receive a Buster Keaton collection. [9:30] How do you eat spaghetti? [11:25] Buster Keaton understood the value of connecting with his audi

Vicky and Joe sit down to discuss the differences between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. Vicky is currently listening to an audiobook titled Mindset by Carol Dweck and discusses some of the points the author makes in the book. Both Vicky and Joe agree that working with someone with a fixed mindset is not only annoying but frustrating as well, because you know they have the ability to do it.   Key Takeaways: [1:55] Let's talk about mindset! [2:25] Vicky was interviewed on the Renegade Recruiter and is happy with the outcome! [2:45] Vicky talks about the biggest challenge she has had to overcome in the last few years. [3:20] Did you know Vicky used to be a jerk? She doesn't know why people are still friends with her. [6:00] It's not about being clever, it's about working hard. [6:35] People in a fixed mindset say 'I can't do that' and it's draining. [7:40] We are able to learn and change. [7:55] Having a growth mindset doesn't mean you're going to be endlessly cheerful all the time. [9:40] Joe talks abou

Vicky talks about an article she read on the subject of Polari and this propels an interesting discussion between her and her husband Joe. She then goes deeper as to why slang matters in your industry, especially if you're a copywriter or a business owner.   Key Takeaways: [1:35] Vicky and Joe are looking to buy a house. [2:10] This week’s episode is about anti-language. [2:50] Vicky explains what Polari is. [8:10] Did you have a secret language as a kid? Joe did! [13:00] Why is understanding slang or anti-language so important in business? [14:20] Vicky reads an excerpt from a book she has. [15:20] Listen to your clients. Listen to how they talk to each other. [17:10] You will be covered in bruises when you join the circus. [18:15] Think about how your target audience speaks. [19:35] Join forums, social media, and really listen to them. Pick up their phrases. [20:10] Vicky shares examples. [21:30] Vicky talks about Donald Trump and his marketing strategy. [23:40] There are people using the power of language

Oli Luke is a marketing consultant where he helps UK marketers and sales teams build highly profitable direct-mail campaigns. He discusses with Vicky some of the quick steps you can take to increase sales and traffic. He also reminds the listeners that there isn't a 'one-size-fits-all' approach to marketing, so be sure to test and track each strategy accurately. Listen in to find out more!   Key Takeaways: [1:20] Who is Oli Luke? [2:45] What's the easiest way to increase business sales? [5:40] How has Oli helped his clients? [8:35] You don't have to spend a lot of time on marketing. [8:40] Sending direct mail is really fun to do. [10:35] How can you get more inquiries in the first place? [12:35] You have to test and try stuff. [13:20] There is no right answer to every business. You have to see what works and scale from there. [15:30] What's the quickest way to make sales? [18:20] Oli has a free report on easy marketing strategies you can implement in your business.   Mentioned in This Episode: http://oliluke.

Vicky and her husband Joe discuss big corporations dodging taxes and why the universe, in general, doesn't care about you. Vicky believes corporations try to dodge taxes due to them being a rather faceless entity with departments. If only they just put one person in charge of their taxes to have more accountability for their actions. Vicky overheard on the radio that big corps are also destroying independent businesses and she expands further on the topic.   Key Takeaways: [1:25] The universe doesn't care about you. [1:35] Vicky and Joe talk about big corporations dodging taxes. [4:10] Would society work better if there were charities instead of taxes? [4:25] There's a lot of tax dodging from Amazon/Starbucks/Google/etc. [4:55] Wouldn't the government be better off trying to close the legal loopholes? [5:45] Vicky believes corporations dodge taxes because they're detached emotionally. [6:50] Are the corporations who are dodging taxes, also destroying independent businesses? [7:40] Vicky talks about an indepen

Vicky Fraser invites her husband, Joe, on the show to discuss time and productivity. Vicky would like to remind everyone that we all have the same amount of hours, minutes, and seconds in one day, so we have to make the most out of it. Vicky emphasizes the importance of focusing on marketing within your business as a way to truly make the most out of your time and live a better quality life.   Key Takeaways: [1:35] You don't have time? This is an EXCUSE!  [5:50] Be honest, you do have time. [6:25] You're better off just saying 'no' instead of 'I don't have time'. [10:25] Don't have time to do marketing? Do you mean you're just a little overwhelmed? [11:10] Marketing is important. [11:50] It can be a frustrating circle for a freelancer.  [13:40] You can't spend all of your time working, you need to eat, sleep, and spend time with your family. [14:10] You owe it to yourself and your family to make time for marketing. [14:30] Remember, not everything that happens to you is your fault. [15:00] The little failures

On this episode of the Business for Superheroes Podcast, Vicky Fraser is joined by her husband Joe to talk about Email Marketing, which is one of Vicky’s favourite topics. She believes everybody ought to be using email marketing – Why? Because it’s awesome, and it’s an inexpensive marketing strategy that yields high returns.   Key Takeaways: [2:43] Email marketing – tales of success! [5:13] What kind of success does Vicky have with email marketing? [8:19] There are many pervasive myths about email marketing. [8:46] Myth #1: Email marketing doesn’t work anymore. [10:59] Myth #2: People don’t read emails anymore. [14:26] Myth #3: People will think you’re a spammer. [16:12] Myth #4: People think their customers are too clever & sophisticated to respond to Vicky Fraser style of emails. [18:36] Myth #5: People think their customers don’t like to be sold to. [20:08] Myth #6: If I email my list, they will unsubscribe. [22:42] Vicky’s advice this week.   Mentioned in This Episode: www.businessforsuperheroes.com/i

On this episode of the Business for Superheroes Podcast, Vicky Fraser is joined by her husband Joe to talk about the power of habit and the habit loop. Vicky also shares advice on how you can change a bad habit and how good habits are important for success.   Key Takeaways: [0:50] What is Vicky’s worst habit? [1:59] How did Joe stop smoking? [3:25] How did Vicky stop smoking? [4:18] What is the habit loop? [5:13] You can’t control what happens to you but you can control how you react to it. [8:26] Focusing your time and energy on stuff you can do & the power of habit. [10:27] Good intentions are worthless on their own and success requires action. [10:41] Success has a lot to do with consistency. [12:54] We have two selves: a conscious self and an unconscious self. [13:43] Your unconscious brain takes over certain tasks in your life. [14:17] Your habits run about 40% of what you do. [16:28] Almost everything we do is habit. [17:50] You feel good after exercising because you’re in a habit loop. [18:50] The