🎙️ Episode Introduction

In this episode of The Eardley Bird, Oli sits down with Tamzin Allinson, the newly promoted Social Media & Content Lead at Accountant_She and StriveX, the powerhouse accounting brand built by Rachel Harris.

Tamzin gives us a rare behind-the-scenes look at how one of the UK’s most recognisable accounting personal brands is built – on purpose. From platform-specific content strategies to viral trends and PR plays, Tamzin breaks down how a small team of two runs a multi-million-pound brand that gets hundreds of leads a month and reaches millions online.

We get into her wild growth from a 19-year-old creator into a strategic content lead, the secrets behind “casual” viral content, and why she’s KPI’d to fail. If you're in professional services and serious about growing your personal brand – this is a masterclass.

🌟 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why nothing Rachel Harris posts is accidental

How Accountant_She creates content that drives actual business

The strategy behind TikToks, Reels, and LinkedIn content

Why nurture content might “flop” – and still bring in clients

What accountants get wrong about social media

How to balance creativity and analytics as a marketer

Why Tamzin schedules time every week to fail on purpose

The importance of platform-specific styles and strategy

🎯 Key Takeaways

1️⃣ All viral content looks casual – but it’s never accidental

2️⃣ TikTok is for reach, Instagram is for trust, LinkedIn is for peers

3️⃣ Good marketing isn't luck – it's data, testing, and timing

4️⃣ Being KPI’d to fail forces creative risk-taking and growth

5️⃣ Reuse high-performing content with new hooks and formats

6️⃣ Recruitment, leads, PR, and authority can all come from social

7️⃣ Schedule content days – if it’s not blocked, it won’t happen

8️⃣ The right video with the wrong music can cost thousands of views

📖 Timestamps

0:00 Meet Tamzin Allinson: Social Lead at Accountant_She

1:00 What it’s really like managing content for Rachel Harris

2:20 Behind the viral sandwich video – it wasn’t random

3:30 Using your Gen Z brain (not your marketing brain)

5:10 What makes Rachel different from other financial influencers

6:30 Scroll-stopping tricks that actually work

8:00 Why TikTok, Instagram & LinkedIn need different content

10:50 When a “flop” becomes a paying client

11:30 How often they post on each platform – and why

13:30 The recruitment power of TikTok

15:00 Creative chaos meets analytical leadership

17:00 Why Rachel blocks two hours every week to film content

18:30 Tamzin’s big goal: take marketing off Rachel’s plate

20:30 How their PR strategy snowballed from one TV appearance

21:20 KPI’d to fail: Tamzin’s “creative failure” hours

23:00 Tips for accountants starting a personal brand

24:00 Connect with Tamzin online!

📌 Resources & Links

👉 Follow Tamzin on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lifebiteswithtaz

👉 Connect with Tamzin on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tamzin-allinson-a01283210/

👉 Book a strategy session with Oli Eardley: https://www.addpeople.co.uk/consultants-oliver-eardley/

🎧 Listening on the move?

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🐣 Join the flock across our socials:

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💬 Got thoughts on the episode? Email us at eardleybird@addpeople.co.uk

📢 Like what you heard? Subscribe, share it, and don’t forget to hit the 🔔

#TamzinAllinson #AccountantShe #SocialMediaStrategy #B2BMarketing #ContentMarketing #TheEardleyBird #RachelHarris #TikTokForBusiness #MarketingForAccountants #GenZMarketing #ReelsTips #LinkedInContent #ViralStrategy #PersonalBranding2025

🎙️ Episode Introduction

In this episode of The Eardley Bird, Oli sits down with Phil Hobden, Head of Business Development at Sage and one of LinkedIn’s most active and authentic voices in the accounting tech space.

Phil’s built a loyal following of over 27,000 by being unapologetically human in how he shows up online and it’s paid off. From scaling influence without cold DMs to helping Sage win business through better storytelling, Phil breaks down how reputation, relationships, and relevance beat flashy sales tactics every time.

He also shares a behind-the-scenes look at Sage’s marketing strategy, what “authentic intelligence” really means, and why community always trumps campaigns. Whether you're growing your LinkedIn, building a B2B brand, or selling software into professional services—this one’s packed with gems.

🌟 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why human content outperforms sales pitches on LinkedIn

How to grow your reputation without chasing job interviews

The biggest marketing mistake B2B brands make in 2025

How Sage stands out in the AI and software market

Why credibility is easier to lose than gain—and how to keep it

How to build a genuine sphere of influence online

Why “authentic intelligence” is Sage’s not-so-secret weapon

Phil’s top 3 tips to grow a powerful LinkedIn profile

🎯 Key Takeaways

1️⃣ Build your fundamentals before chasing shiny tactics

2️⃣ Human-first content leads to deeper trust and better leads

3️⃣ If you do reputation right, you’ll never need to job hunt

4️⃣ Stop selling—start storytelling with people who care

5️⃣ Your internal champions drive more influence than ads

6️⃣ Commenting is the most underrated LinkedIn strategy

7️⃣ Credibility is built slowly but lost instantly

8️⃣ Go where the fish are, but know how to cast

📖 Timestamps

0:00 From Films to Selling to Accountants: Introducing Phil Hobden!

2:45 Why Work for Sage?

5:22 How Sage stands out in the Market

7:25 Authentic Intelligence: Sage’s Driving Force in the AI Market

10:45 A Day in the Life of a Business Development Manager

13:45 Sage’s Marketing Strategy Secrets

18:02 Building a Sphere of Influence

20:30 How Did Phil Start being Active on LinkedIn

25:02 Be More Human on LinkedIn, here’s why

30:59 Authenticity over Strategy, always

34:00 Grow Your LinkedIn to Over 25,000 Followers with these 3 Tips

41:10 How a Multimillion Pound Software Company Wins Clients

52:28 Connect with Phil Hobden on LinkedIn!

53:20 Outro

📌 Resources & Links

👉 Connect with Phil on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philhobden/

👉 Learn more about Sage: https://www.sage.com/en-gb/

👉 Book a strategy session with Oli Eardley: https://www.addpeople.co.uk/consultants-oliver-eardley/

🎧 Want to listen on the go?

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LlSwyTgQGawxfU50vnUES?si=ceaec797c79f41de

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-eardley-bird-business-podcast/id1827916980

Amazon Music:

🐣 Join the flock across our socials:

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TikTok 🕺🏻: /eardleybirdpod

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💬 Got thoughts on the episode? Email us at eardleybird@addpeople.co.uk

📢 Like what you heard? Subscribe, share it, and don’t forget to hit the 🔔

#PhilHobden #LinkedInMarketing #B2BMarketing #ReputationBuilding #Sage #TheEardleyBird #AuthenticMarketing #CredibilityMatters #LinkedInGrowth #SalesStrategy #CommunityMarketing

What does it really take to build a personal brand that gets you clients, credibility and visibility? 🤔

In this value-packed episode, we’ve pulled together the most practical, punchy and proven personal branding tips from six powerhouse entrepreneurs, all previous guests on The Eardley Bird Podcast.

🧠 You’ll learn:

⭐️ Why most people only want to build a personal brand when it’s already working

⭐️ How to stay consistent (even when it feels pointless)

⭐️ The honest struggles behind the "highlight reel"

⭐️ Tactics that helped these founders grow audiences, book speaking gigs and win clients

Whether you're a business owner, marketer, or just starting your online journey, this is 10 minutes of straight-up gold. Just experience-backed lessons from people who’ve done it.

🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe for more honest takes from UK business leaders.

📲 Follow these leaders on Linkedin:

Rachel Harris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-harris-a3192372/

Anastasia Ttofis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anastasia-ila/

Jon Gregson: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jongregson/

Grace Hardy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace-hardy-maat-b3a6a91b4/

Kate Burt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-burt-hiverisk-co-uk/

Kirsty Birch: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstybirchworkitwell/

🐣 Join the flock across our socials:

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LinkedIn 💼: /oliver-eardley

TikTok 🕺🏻: /eardleybirdpod

Instagram 📸: /eardleybird

💬 Got thoughts on the episode? Email us at eardleybird@addpeople.co.uk

📢 Like what you heard? Subscribe, share it, and don’t forget to hit the 🔔

#PersonalBranding #EntrepreneurTips #MarketingStrategy #TheEardleyBirdPodcast #SMBMarketing #LinkedInGrowth #Authenticity

🎙️ Episode Introduction

In this episode of The Eardley Bird, Oli sits down with Kirsty Birch, founder of Work It Well and self-described disruptor in the workplace wellbeing space.

Kirsty’s on a mission to humanise the corporate world and she’s doing it with bold ideas, practical tools, and zero fluff. From building her business 100% organically on LinkedIn to launching a new app that tracks wellbeing ROI, Kirsty shares what it really takes to move the needle on culture, engagement, and leadership.

She also opens up about the reality of moving from small clients to big corporates, the importance of relationship-first marketing, and why most wellbeing programmes are missing the point. If you're serious about workplace culture or just sick of surface-level ‘wellness’, this one’s for you.

🌟 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

Why conversations (not perks) are key to employee wellbeing

How Kirsty built her business without spending a penny on ads

The power of consistency and community on LinkedIn

What most businesses get wrong about wellbeing ROI

The truth about selling into corporate vs small business

How speaking gigs and face-to-face networking drive long-term success

What the “Human Return Index” really means — and why it matters

🎯 Key Takeaways

1️⃣ Wellbeing needs to be measurable to be meaningful

2️⃣ Commenting is the most underrated growth strategy on LinkedIn

3️⃣ Relationship-building beats reach every time

4️⃣ Saying ‘no’ is a growth strategy in itself

5️⃣ You need a budget and patience to break into corporate

6️⃣ Consistency builds trust — in both marketing and leadership

7️⃣ Preventative wellbeing strategies can save serious money

8️⃣ Speaking gigs build visibility beyond sales

📖 Timestamps

0:00 Welcome & Introductions

1:20 Why Kirsty Started Work It Well

4:50 Is Corporate Wellbeing Just Box-Ticking?

7:35 What Makes a Wellbeing Strategy Actually Work

10:12 Conversations vs Perks, What Employees Really Need

14:30 Building a Business on LinkedIn Without Ads

19:40 Why Commenting Beats Posting in 2025

21:15 “Don’t Post and Ghost” Kirsty’s Marketing Rule

26:48 Small Biz vs Corporate Clients: The Reality

31:20 The Power of Speaking Gigs & Networking

36:55 Launching the Human Return Index

41:10 Avoiding Burnout While Scaling

45:05 What’s Next for Work It Well

50:00 Final Thoughts & Advice

📌 Resources & Links

👉 Connect with Kirsty on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstybirchworkitwell/

👉 Learn more about Work it Well: https://www.workitwell.com/

👉 Book a strategy session with Oli Eardley: https://www.addpeople.co.uk/consultants-oliver-eardley/

🐣 Join the flock across our socials:

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LinkedIn 💼: /oliver-eardley

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Instagram 📸: /eardleybird

💬 Got thoughts on the episode? Email us at eardleybird@addpeople.co.uk

📢 Like what you heard? Subscribe, share it, and don’t forget to hit the 🔔

#WorkplaceWellbeing #KirstyBirch #CorporateCulture #LinkedInMarketing #MentalHealthAtWork #WellbeingROI #HumanReturnIndex #EmployeeEngagement #TheEardleyBird #WellnessThatWorks

Rachel Harris, founder of Accountant_She and StriveX, isn’t winging her content, she’s engineering it! ⚒️

In this clip, Rachel breaks down how she’s grown a personal brand that generates over £100k in inbound leads and earns her five figures per month in sponsorships alone. Her strategy? Treat every piece of content like an ad campaign: test it, tweak it, relaunch it

💬 She talks through:

- How her team makes 5–6 versions of each post to see what lands

- Why she batches content across two days (script + shoot)

- How she plans her content in seasons to stay ahead of the game

- And the mindset that turns everyday accountants into standout creators

This is a must watch! ✅ Watch more of Oli and Rachel on Episode 10 of the Eardley Bird Business Podcast 🎙️:

https://youtu.be/rj8KaaDQBX4?si=6sO5ZdPskT9InghR

📌 Resources & Links

👉 Connect with Rachel Harris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelharris

👉 Explore Rachel's work: https://strivex.co.uk/ | https://www.accountantshe.com/

Follow Rachel on:

👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accountant_she

👉 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@UC1PodCA0cm5nKNRakyBJdew

👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1PodCA0cm5nKNRakyBJdew

🐣 Want more from us? Join the flock across our socials:

Spotify 🎤: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LlSwyT

LinkedIn 💼: /oliver-eardley

TikTok 🕺🏻: /eardleybirdpo

Instagram 📸: /eardleybird

We’d love to hear from you – drop us a line at eardleybird@addpeople.co.uk ✉️

📢 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoyed this episode! Hit the 🔔 to stay updated on our latest content.

#AccountingSuccess #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #RachelHarris #TheEardleyBirdPodcast #OliEardley #ScalingTips #Accountancy #Leadership #ProfessionalServices #ThoughtLeadership #UKBusiness

Karl Morris, a Top 25, multi-award winning ActionCOACH, reveals his six-step framework for scaling any business to six figures and beyond! 💫 🚀📌 Resources & Links👉 Learn more about Karl Morris and ActionCOACH: https://www.actioncoach.co.uk/👉 Connect with Karl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-morris/👉 Explore how Add People Ltd can support your business online: https://www.addpeople.co.uk/consultants-oliver-eardley/🐣 Want more from us? Join the flock across our socials:Spotify 🎤: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LlSwyTgQGawxfU50vnUESLinkedIn 💼: /oliver-eardleyTikTok 🕺🏻: /eardleybirdpodInstagram 📸: /eardleybirdWe’d love to hear from you – drop us a line at eardleybird@addpeople.co.uk ✉️📢 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoyed this episode! Hit the 🔔 to stay updated on our latest content.#BusinessCoaching #EntrepreneurMindset #ScaleYourBusiness #AI2025 #ActionCOACH #TheEardleyBird #StartupGrowth #MentorshipMatters #KarlMorris #SmallBusinessUK #BusinessStrategy

🎙️ Episode Introduction

In this episode of The Eardley Bird, we sit down with Karl Morris, one of the UK’s Top 25 Business Coaches with ActionCOACH, and a seasoned entrepreneur with over 50 years of experience. From growing up in a family of business owners to helping a Dragons’ Den winner scale their company, Karl’s lived the entrepreneurial journey from every angle. He breaks down his tried-and-tested 6-step method to scale any business, explains why business coaching isn't just a nice-to-have, and delivers a hard truth for anyone ignoring AI in 2025. If you're serious about growth, this one's a goldmine.

🌟 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

The 6-step method Karl uses to help businesses scale

Why goal-setting works best when it’s written down

How to avoid “shiny object syndrome” in business

What AI can (and should) be doing for you right now

The underrated power of coaching, mindset, and mentorship

🎯 Key Takeaways

1️⃣ Business coaching is a proven catalyst for growth

2️⃣ Writing goals down actually rewires your brain

3️⃣ Planning matters more than the plan

4️⃣ AI is no longer optional in 2025

5️⃣ Systems and structure beat hustle every time

6️⃣ Coaching is critical during scaling—not just survival

7️⃣ Mindset and self-awareness are serious growth tools

📖 Timestamps

0:00 Formalities & Introductions

1:03 What is 'Business Coaching'?

7:04 Putting Pen to Paper on Vision

8:52 Those Service Station Moments...

9:54 Do plans, ever go to plan?!

12:18 Scaling a Business, According to Karl Morris

17:41 Karl's ActionCOACH Success Stories

20:00 Working with Billon Dollar Corporations!

24:51 What's it like Working with A Winner of Dragons Den?

26:57 Karl's Six Step Growth Plan for Any Business

39:10 'Not using this in 2025? Take a Long Look at Yourself' 😳

44:40 What Made Karl the Man he is Today

54:49 How the Royal Bank of Scotland Influenced Karls Life

56:00 Outro

📌 Resources & Links

👉 Learn more about Karl Morris and ActionCOACH: https://www.actioncoach.co.uk/

👉 Connect with Karl on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karl-morris/

👉 Explore how Add People Ltd can support your business online: https://www.addpeople.co.uk/consultants-oliver-eardley/

🐣 Want more from us? Join the flock across our socials:

Spotify 🎤: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LlSwyTgQGawxfU50vnUES

LinkedIn 💼: /oliver-eardley

TikTok 🕺🏻: /eardleybirdpod

Instagram 📸: /eardleybird

We’d love to hear from you – drop us a line at eardleybird@addpeople.co.uk ✉️

📢 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoyed this episode! Hit the 🔔 to stay updated on our latest content.

#BusinessCoaching #EntrepreneurMindset #ScaleYourBusiness #AI2025 #ActionCOACH #TheEardleyBird #StartupGrowth #MentorshipMatters #KarlMorris #SmallBusinessUK #BusinessStrategy

This isn’t theory. It’s a proven method.

In this special episode, Oli Eardley shares the exact talk he gave at ICAEW and Accountex, revealing the lead-generating website strategy that is guarenteed to get you more customers.

✅ A step-by-step page layout that guarantees leads

✅ Real-world example using Rachel Harris’s firm, StriveX

✅ A downloadable checklist to turn browsers into buyers

If your website isn’t working while you sleep, this episode shows you how to fix that. It's time to stop leaving money on the table. Your most profitable employee is waiting to be built.

👇 Grab the free guide Oli mentions in the episode here:

https://www.addpeople.co.uk/the-modern-accountants-growth-guide/

📖 Timestamps:

0:00 Welcome & Introduction

0:53 Turn Your Website into Your Most Profitable Employee

1:42 Why isn't Your Website Performing?

4:15 Treat Every Page like a Sales Call

5:27 Structure your Page like THIS!

6:10 The Purpose

6:45 The Pain

7:25 The Credibility

8:20 The Solution

9:00 Why you?

9:34 Show You and Your Team!

10:27 Close the Deal

10:49 Handling Objections

11:42 Ask Again

12:00 Some Visitors Need More Time!

13:20 StriveX: Before & After

16:32 Outro

🐣 Want more from us? Join the flock across our socials:

Spotify 🎤: https://open.spotify.com/show/4LlSwyTgQGawxfU50vnUES

LinkedIn 💼: /oliver-eardley

TikTok 🕺🏻: /eardleybirdpo

Instagram 📸: /eardleybird

We’d love to hear from you – drop us a line at eardleybird@addpeople.co.uk ✉️

📢 Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and share if you enjoyed this episode! Hit the 🔔 to stay updated on our latest content.