In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Mandeep Birdy.

With extensive experience in humanitarian work and social impact, and as a key figure behind the Start, Build, and Grow app, Mandeep shares her journey developing the app, highlighting some of its features and benefits.

Mandeep shares her passion for storytelling in marketing and the unique advantages of apps over traditional websites. She recounts inspiring stories, including helping a retired priest maintain community engagement through an app.

Our conversation today underscores the importance of clear brand values, the democratisation of app development, and fostering genuine connections with your customer base and community through digital tools.

In this episode you'll learn:

Mandeep's Background (00:02:24)

Mandeep shares her 20-year experience in humanitarian work and community development, emphasising her marketing strengths.

The Journey into Marketing (00:03:43)

Mandeep discusses her transition from community magazine production to various marketing roles, highlighting her creative approach.

The Importance of Storytelling (00:04:05)

She emphasizes the significance of storytelling in marketing to showcase impactful work in humanitarian efforts.

The Start Build and Grow App (00:06:55)

Rob inquires about Mandeep's involvement with the Start Build and Grow app and its developmental journey.

Creating the App (00:07:05)

Mandeep recounts her experience as a participant and her motivation to create an app for community engagement.

Support from the Start Build and Grow Team (00:09:04)

She appreciates the supportive leadership team and their commitment to participant success in the program.

Features of the App (00:11:59)

Mandeep outlines the app's features, including a glossary, resource library, and participant directory for enhanced engagement.

Apps vs. Websites (00:14:14)

Mandeep discusses the advantages of apps over websites in fostering direct communication and user engagement.

Engagement Through Push Notifications (00:15:28)

She explains how push notifications enhance engagement by delivering targeted messages to interested users.

Community and Engagement Tools (00:17:36)

Rob reflects on the app's interactive features that support users in their business journey and community building.

Apps in the Bigger Ecosystem (00:19:23)

Mandeep begins to share insights on how apps integrate into broader marketing and business strategies.

The Priest's Story (00:19:46)

Mandeep shares a story about a retired priest's inclusive sermons and his struggle with the church hierarchy.

The Need for an App (00:21:06)

The priest seeks a solution to maintain connection with his congregation after retirement, exploring various platforms.

Successful App Launch (00:22:01)

Mandeep demonstrates the app to the priest, leading to a successful launch that serves his community's needs.

Community Engagement through Apps (00:23:05)

Mandeep highlights the importance of apps in community engagement, drawing parallels with the Start Build Grow app.

Cost of App Development (00:25:10)

Rob questions the affordability of app development for startups compared to past high costs.

No-Code Solutions (00:26:14)

Mandeep discusses the benefits of no-code solutions, making app development...

In this podcast episode, host Rob Lawrence interviews Michael Clerk, who shares his experience as a coach and mentor to businesses, supporting them with their branding, marketing, and storytelling.

In this conversation, Michael highlights the importance of marketing for business growth, focusing on the "know, like, and trust" framework, storytelling, and maintaining an online presence.

Michael shares with us the significance of understanding your target audience, conducting market research, and building genuine relationships through effective branding and customer service.

He also discusses practical strategies for small business owners to enhance their marketing efforts to grow their businesses.

In this episode you'll learn:

Transition to Coaching (00:02:05)

After retiring briefly, Michael decided to use his knowledge to help startup businesses overcome challenges.

Importance of Marketing (00:04:41)

Michael emphasises that without paying customers, businesses cannot thrive, highlighting the need for effective marketing strategies.

Know, Like, and Trust Framework (00:05:09)

Michael introduces the concept that customers buy from those they know, like, and trust: outlining its significance in marketing.

Target Market Clarity (00:06:45)

Michael discusses the importance of clearly identifying and understanding your target market to effectively address their needs.

Telling Compelling Stories (00:08:15)

He encourages businesses to focus on storytelling, emphasising benefits over features to engage customers.

Real-World Case Study (00:09:35)

Michael shares a success story of a client who overcame micromanagement issues to significantly grow their business.

The Why Behind Businesses (00:13:29)

He discusses the importance of sharing personal stories and motivations behind a business to connect with potential clients.

The Necessity of Online Presence (00:14:57)

Michael explains the risks of not being online and the benefits of digital marketing for expanding business reach.

Using Google Business Profile and SEO (00:17:23)

Discusses the importance of Google Business Profile and effective SEO for online visibility.

Doing Online Marketing Properly (00:18:17)

Explains the minimum requirements for establishing a credible online presence.

AIDA Framework in Marketing (00:18:38)

Introduces the AIDA framework: Attract, Interest, Desire, Action for effective online marketing strategies.

Understanding Your Target Audience (00:19:31)

Michael emphasises the importance of knowing your audience and when they are online.

Researching Audience Groups (00:20:19)

Suggests researching groups and chat rooms to understand audience needs and preferences.

SWOT Analysis in Marketing (00:22:00)

Explains how to use SWOT analysis to assess business strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Conducting Market Research (00:23:23)

Highlights the importance of market research through networking and competitor analysis.

Engaging in Online Communities (00:24:15)

Discusses how to engage with online groups without being overly promotional.

Building Empathy and Trust (00:25:50)

Stresses the significance of empathy in developing relationships and trust with potential customers.

Networking as a Spider's Web...

Rob Lawrence interviews Eleni Lialiamou, founder of Kimolian Academy, on how small business owners can leverage AI and technology to boost their organisation's efficiency, whilst gaining a better understanding of their customers, towards driving growth.

Eleni shares practical tips on using AI tools for customer insights, building effective communities, and simplifying business operations. Their conversation highlights the importance of combining human intuition with technology, embracing change, and continuously refining customer personas to stay competitive in today’s evolving business landscape.

Eleni also shares how 'finding your community' can help you to understand and leverage technologies, such as AI, rather than re-inventing the wheel or having to learn how to use AI from scratch; to grow your business further.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Introduction & Podcast Overview (00:00:02) Rob introduces Eleni and this episode, emphasising simplicity, community, and leveraging AI for business efficiency.

Eleni’s Background (00:02:17) Eleni shares her journey in tech, product management, and founding Kimolian and Kimolian Academy, for women in tech.

The Importance of Tools & Community (00:04:35) Discussion on how tools, processes, and community support are crucial for business productivity and growth.

Navigating Tech Overwhelm & Finding Your Pack (00:06:23) Advice on avoiding overwhelm, focusing on community, and selecting the right tools without distraction.

Practical Community Engagement (00:10:08) How to authentically find and engage with communities that support business growth and tech adoption.

Keeping It Simple & Consistent Tool Use (00:11:04) The value of simplicity, consistency, and integrating a stable set of tools into daily business operations.

AI as Leverage, Not Replacement (00:13:36) AI is positioned as a tool for amplifying productivity and creativity, not replacing human effort.

Choosing the Right Tools for the Job (00:14:53) Overview of practical AI tools for business tasks, including document search, meeting capture, and ideation.

AI for Pattern Recognition & Customer Understanding (00:18:59) How AI helps spot patterns in conversations and data, aiding in customer understanding and sales.

Bias in AI & Human Judgment (00:20:47) Discussion on AI bias, the importance of human oversight, and using AI as a sparring partner.

Combining Tools for Synthesis & Insights (00:23:38) Benefits of integrating multiple tools (e.g., Miro, Dovetail) for clustering, sentiment analysis, and deeper insights.

Chatbots & Customer Interaction (00:27:57) Rise of AI-driven chatbots, their ease of implementation, and opportunities for customer engagement and support.

AI-Driven Workflow Automation (00:31:03) The shift toward AI-first business processes, orchestrating workflows, and the paradigm change in tool integration.

Gaining a Competitive Edge with AI (00:34:04) How early AI adoption can optimise workflows, enhance customer interaction, and provide a business advantage.

Using AI to Research & Define Customer Personas (00:35:21) Leveraging AI to capture customer insights, create personas, and continuously refine understanding for better marketing.

Human-Centric Use of AI & Critical Thinking (00:38:46) Emphasising the irreplaceable role