SoTellUs Time cover art

SoTellUs Time

SoTellUs Time

By: Trevor Howard: Business Marketing Expert
Listen for free

About this listen

 SoTellUs Time is a podcast for business owners and entrepreneurs wanting to learn how to grow their business from the basics all the way to the advanced from the latest technics and technologies. Together the hosts of SoTellUs Time have over 40 years of marketing experience from start ups to $100,000,000 companies. They have started several successful 7 figure companies and advised thousands of companies in 19 countries generating hundreds of millions in revenue.SoTellUs 2018 Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Marketing Marketing & Sales
Episodes
  • Client Red Flags: Spot & Avoid Bad Clients to Protect Your Business

    Client Red Flags: Spot & Avoid Bad Clients to Protect Your Business
    May 20 2025
    Maximize your profitability, protect your team’s morale, and build a sustainable service business by learning to screen out toxic clients early. In this in-depth training session, Trevor & Troy Howard dive into real-world examples, proven processes, and exact scripts you can use today to safeguard your agency, freelance career, or consulting practice. ⏱️ Timestamps 0:00 – Intro: Why Every Dollar Matters 2:05 – Section 1: The True Cost of Bad-Fit Clients 2:10 • Financial Impact: scope creep, late payments, wasted hours 4:30 • Emotional Toll: stress, burnout, team morale 6:15 • Opportunity Cost: lost revenue, missed referrals 6:45 – Section 2: Top Red Flags to Watch For 7:00 • Inquiry & Sales: price haggling, vagueness, baggage from past vendors 9:20 • Proposal & Contract: resistance to agreements, process pushback 11:45 • Early Relationship: missed deadlines, micromanagement, boundary violations 15:10 – Section 3: Systems & Scripts to Say No Gracefully 15:30 • Qualify Leads: application forms, discovery calls, scorecards 17:20 • Strong Contracts: clear deliverables, payment terms, revision limits 19:00 • Professional “No”: empathetic language, referrals, leaving the door open 21:00 – Wrap-up, Key Takeaways & Next Steps 🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Video Client Screening Best Practices: Create upfront questionnaires and intake forms to filter out bad fits. Discovery Call Strategies: Use targeted questions to assess budget, timeline, decision-maker clarity, and communication style. Contract Essentials: Draft airtight agreements that define scope, deliverables, milestones, revisions, and payment schedules. Boundary Setting: Establish office hours, preferred channels, response-time expectations, and escalation processes. Scripted Responses to Say “No”: Deliver polite but firm refusals without burning bridges, plus templates for referral offers. Gut-Check Techniques: Recognize intangible warning signs—entitlement, disrespect, and unrealistic expectations—before they derail your project. 💡 Why This Matters Taking on a bad-fit client can cost 10× more in lost time, stress, and team turnover than you earn from the engagement. In a crowded marketplace—whether you run a digital marketing agency, design studio, freelance consultancy, or service-based startup—client management is your greatest lever for profitability and brand reputation. This episode equips you with the tools you need to: Protect Cash Flow by eliminating late payments and scope creep. Enhance Team Morale by preventing burnout and communication breakdowns. Drive Growth through referral-worthy engagements and positive case studies. Scale Confidently with a repeatable, defensible onboarding process. 📘 Free Resources & Downloads ► Client Screening Questionnaire (Google Doc) → https://youtube.com/sotellus/resources/screening ► Agency Contract Template (Word/PDF) → https://sotellus.com/contracts ► “No Thanks” Email & Call Scripts → https://sotellus.com/no-scripts ► Scope Creep Prevention Checklist → https://sotellus.com/scope-checklist 👉 Subscribe for Weekly Episodes SoTellUs Time brings you proven marketing, sales, and operations strategies every Monday. Hit the 🔔 ring to never miss an episode: https://www.youtube.com/@sotellus 💬 Join the Community 👍 Like this video if you’ve ever dealt with a nightmare client. 🗨️ Comment below: what’s your biggest red-flag story? Share lessons learned and let’s support each other. 🔗 Share with your team to upgrade your onboarding process together. 📱 Connect with Us • Website: https://sotellus.com • Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sotellus-time • Instagram: https://instagram.com/sotellustime • LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/sotellustime • Twitter: https://twitter.com/sotellustime 🔖 Chapters & Deep Dives 00:00 Intro & Why Client Fit Matters 02:10 Financial, Emotional & Opportunity Costs 06:45 Red Flags in Sales, Proposals & Early Work 15:10 Systems, Contracts & Scripts to Say No 21:00 Key Takeaways & Action Plan 📈 Hashtags #ClientRedFlags #AvoidBadClients #ToxicClient #ClientScreening #AgencyGrowth #FreelancerTips #ScopeCreep #BusinessProfitability #ServiceBusiness #SoTellUsTime ⏳ Next Steps: Download our free screening questionnaire above. Add at least one new qualifying question to your intake form. Update your contract with clear scope and revision limits. Practice your “no thanks” scripts in mock discovery calls. Remember: Not every dollar is worth it. A single bad-fit client can cost you far more than you earn. Protect your profits, your team, and your sanity by mastering the art of client qualification.
    Show More Show Less
    25 mins
  • Win the Talent War: Top 5 Employee Retention Hacks

    Win the Talent War: Top 5 Employee Retention Hacks
    May 13 2025

    Unlock the secrets to keeping your top talent on your team—even in today’s cutthroat job market. In this jam-packed episode of SoTellUs Time, Trevor and Troy Howard dive deep into proven, actionable retention strategies that cost far less than recruiting replacements. Learn how to craft an onboarding journey that wows, build clear paths for career growth, foster a culture of recognition, support employee well-being, and leverage stay interviews to catch issues before they become exits.

    🔔 Subscribe & Ring the Bell
    Never miss an episode! Subscribe to SoTellUs Time: https://www.youtube.com/sotellus

    📱 Connect with Us
    • Podcast & Resources: https://sotellus.com
    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/sotellus
    • LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/sotellus
    • Instagram: https://instagram.com/sotellus_time

    🕒 Episode Chapters
    00:00 Intro – Why Talent Retention Matters
    01:00 Understanding the Talent Landscape
    • Cost of Turnover (lost productivity, hiring fees, knowledge drain)
    • Post-Pandemic Job Market & Remote Work
    • Replacing an Employee = Up to 50% of Annual Salary
    • 6–8 Months to Full Efficiency for New Hires
    04:00 Top 5 Proven Retention Strategies
    • 04:00 1️⃣ Build a Strong Onboarding Experience
    - Cultural Integration · Clear Expectations · Early Wins
    • 06:00 2️⃣ Create Career Growth Opportunities
    - Internal Mobility · Mentorship · Stretch Projects · Upskilling
    • 08:00 3️⃣ Cultivate a Culture of Recognition & Feedback
    - Peer-to-Peer Recognition · Regular Feedback Loops
    • 10:00 4️⃣ Flexible Work & Well-Being Support
    - Hybrid Options · Mental Health Resources · Burnout Prevention
    • 12:00 5️⃣ Conduct Stay Interviews vs. Exit Interviews
    - Sample Questions · Acting on Feedback
    14:00 Wrap-Up & Action Steps

    💡 Key Takeaways

    • First Impressions Count: A structured, engaging onboarding reduces early turnover by up to 30%.

    • Career Path Clarity: Employees who see growth stay 3× longer.

    • Recognition Rewards: 69% of employees say recognition inspires them to work harder.

    • Flexibility is Fundamental: 81% prioritize work-life balance when deciding to stay.

    • Proactive Listening: Stay interviews reveal pain points before they become departures.

    ✅ Homework
    This week, identify one retention strategy to implement: host a stay interview, revamp your onboarding checklist, introduce a peer-recognition program, or offer a mental health day. Share your success stories in the comments!

    👍 Enjoyed this episode?
    Like, comment, and share with your network—and don’t forget to subscribe for more expert insights on business growth, customer reviews, and marketing strategies.

    🔖 Hashtags
    #TalentRetention #EmployeeEngagement #HRStrategies #Onboarding #CareerGrowth #EmployeeRecognition #WorkplaceWellbeing #StayInterviews #RemoteWork #SoTellUsTime

    🎧 Listen on Your Favorite Podcast Platform
    Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Stitcher
    Show More Show Less
    29 mins
  • Slow Season Survival Guide: Scale While It’s Quiet

    Slow Season Survival Guide: Scale While It’s Quiet
    May 6 2025

    In this episode of SoTellUs Time, Trevor and Troy Howard break down what smart entrepreneurs do when business gets quiet — and how YOU can turn any slow season into a launchpad for long-term success. 💥

    🔥 Watch now to discover:
    00:00 - Intro: Why Slow Seasons Happen to Every Business
    02:00 - Shift Your Mindset: Slowness Isn’t Failure
    05:00 - Optimize Internal Operations for Scalability
    10:00 - Boost Your Marketing Strategy & Online Presence
    16:00 - Strengthen Customer & Business Relationships
    18:00 - Invest in Yourself as a Business Owner
    20:00 - Final Thoughts + Power Move to Implement This Week

    ✅ Whether you’re dealing with seasonal dips, economic downturns, or just a random slowdown, this episode gives you practical strategies to come back stronger than ever. If you're ready to grow your business in ANY economy, this one's for you.

    👊 EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS:

    📌 Shift Your Mindset:
    Slow doesn’t mean failing. Every industry has natural cycles. Learn how to embrace downtime as strategic time to plan, build, and grow smarter.

    📌 Streamline Operations:
    Now is the perfect time to clean up your CRM, audit your workflows, train your team, and automate repetitive tasks that waste time during busy seasons.

    📌 Market Like a Pro:
    Double down on marketing! Refresh your website, create lead magnets, repurpose old content, and build future demand so your pipeline never dries up.

    📌 Build Relationships:
    Reconnect with old leads, follow up with past clients, and network with other entrepreneurs. Collaborations and referrals are gold during slow seasons.

    📌 Invest in You:
    Read that business book. Take the course. Rest. Recharge. When you grow personally, your business grows with you.

    🧠 QUOTE TO REMEMBER:
    "What you do during the slow season determines how strong your next busy season will be."

    🎯 ACTION STEP:
    Pick ONE area to focus on this week — systems, marketing, or self-development — and schedule time to work on it.

    🎥 More business growth strategies every week — SUBSCRIBE now 👉 https://www.youtube.com/sotellus

    💡 Love this content? Share it with a fellow business owner who’s ready to level up — even in the slow season.

    📲 Get More Reviews, Leads & Sales With SoTellUs 👉 https://www.sotellus.com

    🔍
    what to do when business slows down, how to grow business during slow season, business growth strategies, small business marketing, business tips 2025, entrepreneurship podcast, sotellus time, slow season business tips, turn slow time into growth, automate business, crm cleanup, marketing ideas for slow season, business slump recovery, grow your business in a recession, productivity tips for entrepreneurs, small business advice, business podcast, troy howard, trevor howard
    Show More Show Less
    23 mins

What listeners say about SoTellUs Time

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com.au reviews

Amazon Reviews
No Reviews are Available
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.