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The Richard Smith - small business development for the real world.

The Richard Smith - small business development for the real world.

著者： The Richard Smith - small business development for the real world.
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概要

 Small business, sales, marketing, how to get stuff done. マネジメント マネジメント・リーダーシップ マーケティング マーケティング・セールス リーダーシップ 経済学
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  • Get out of the office. Podcast

    Get out of the office. Podcast
    2026/03/08
    Podcast Summary – Stop Hiding Behind the Screen

    Welcome to today’s episode.

    I work with small businesses. Strategy. Sales. E-commerce. Marketing. Customer retention. That last one is my weapon of choice. Getting existing customers to come back is cheaper and more powerful than chasing strangers all day.

    But here’s what I’m seeing in early 2026.

    Everything is being pushed onto a screen.

    Zoom meetings. LinkedIn “connections”. Webinars instead of conferences. Entire businesses run from a spare bedroom in slippers.

    We are being sold the idea that you can build a serious company without leaving the house. Click a few buttons. Post a few videos. Watch the money roll in.

    It’s nonsense.

    Yes, online tools matter. Of course they do. Email, WhatsApp, social media. They are efficient.

    But they are not a substitute for human contact.

    Small businesses, especially those under £1m turnover, grow through trust. And trust grows faster face to face.

    Eye contact matters. Sitting across a table matters. Having a coffee. Reading the room. Picking up on tone. Having a proper conversation about what your client actually wants.

    That nuance does not live inside a screen.

    When you meet people in person, something shifts. You get momentum. Ideas flow. Decisions happen. That is where real business gets done.

    So I am not saying ditch digital.

    I am saying stop hiding behind it.

    If you are a small business owner, look at your diary. How many real meetings are you having? How many proper conversations are you starting?

    If everything is online, your growth will be limited.

    Blend it. Use digital for reach. Use face to face for depth.

    That is where the money is.

    Call to Action

    If you run a small business under £1m and you want practical, hands on help with retention, sales and real world growth, go to:

    www.therichardsmith.com

    Or if you want structured support and sharp thinking applied directly to your business, visit:

    www.smallbusinessninja.co.uk

    Stop building your business through a webcam.

    Go and shake a hand.

    Final thought: if running a million-pound business in your underwear was that easy, Primark would be sponsoring the FTSE 100.

    Get In Touch

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    5 分
  • Small Business : Before the Phone Rings: How Customers Decide to Trust You

    Small Business : Before the Phone Rings: How Customers Decide to Trust You
    2026/03/03
    The Zero Moment of Truth (And Why Your Online Presence Actually Matters) If you run a small business, this one is for you. What I Do Before I Meet a Client Before I ever sit down with a client, I do two simple things. First, I Google them. I look at their website. I see how they present themselves. I get a feel for how they do business. Second, I look at their wider online presence. Reviews. Mentions. What other people say about them. This is not clever. It is exactly what your customers do. Your Customers Are Already Checking Before someone works with you, they look you up. They want reassurance. They want confirmation. They want to know they are making the right choice. If your website does not explain how you work and why you work that way, you are missing a trick. If your social media says nothing useful, you are missing another one. The Zero Moment of Truth Google used to call this the Zero Moment of Truth. It happens when someone gets a quote from you. Then they open Google. They search your name. Your business. Your reviews. They are not being difficult. They are being sensible. You need to show up at that moment. Reviews Are Not Enough on Their Own Star ratings matter. But they are not the whole story. People also look for supporting signals. A website that feels realA YouTube channelA TikTok or Facebook presenceEvidence that you exist beyond a logo These channels are free to use. But only if you actually use them. This Also Applies to Your Suppliers This is not just about customers. It applies to the people you work with. Your kitchen supplier. Your accountant. Your solicitor. Your software provider. You should be leaving feedback for them too. Why? Because it shows you are a serious business. It shows who you choose to work with. It shows the quality of your supply chain. And you can talk about that publicly. Symbiosis in Business There is a biological term for this. It is called symbiosis. Two organisms working together. Both benefit. Neither survives as well alone. Trees and ivy. Humans and gut bacteria. Business works the same way. When you support your suppliers publicly, they support you. When you link to each other, visibility increases. Algorithms like connectivity. So do humans. What This Looks Like in Practice Reviews for customersReviews for suppliersMentions on your websiteSocial posts showing how you workClear signals that you are real and trusted This builds confidence before anyone ever calls you. The Core Message People are checking you out anyway. You can either control the story. Or leave it to chance. The Zero Moment of Truth is happening whether you like it or not. You might as well turn up for it. Need a Way Forward? If you are stuck with any of this and want a clear plan, you know what to do. You can find out more about me at: https://www.therichardsmith.com If you need hands-on help for your small business, visit: https://smallbusinessninja.co.uk Get In Touch Name *Email *Subject *Comment or Message *WebsiteSend Message
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    5 分
  • Small Business – AI Is Just a Tool: Why Small Business Fundamentals Still Matter

    Small Business – AI Is Just a Tool: Why Small Business Fundamentals Still Matter
    2026/02/28
    AI Is the Tool. The Fundamentals Still Win. Welcome to this episode of the podcast. In this session, I want to reset how we think about artificial intelligence and small business. I am positive about AI. I believe it will be one of the biggest shifts small business owners experience over the next few years. But not for the reasons most people are being sold. The Real Mistake Small Businesses Are Making Everyone is rushing to integrate AI into systems and processes. Automation. Dashboards. Workflows. Platforms. That is fine. But it misses the bigger point. As I mentioned in the last podcast, the real advantage for small business owners is focusing on what does not change. What Keeps Changing in Business Business never stands still. Legislation changesEmployment law evolvesMarketing channels rise and fallTechnology updates constantlyThe way work gets done keeps shifting This has always been true. What Does Not Change The fundamentals. Customers still want problems solved. Sales still rely on trust. Cash flow still matters. Clear thinking still beats busy activity. Good decisions still outperform clever tools. These things are constant. The Carpenter Analogy Think about a carpenter. A hundred years ago, they used: Straight edgesMeasuring tapesHammers and chisels Today, they use: Lasers and mobile phone measuring toolsBattery-powered equipmentAutomated machinery The tools have changed completely. The job has not. They still turn up every day to build something solid that fits and lasts. AI sits in exactly the same place. It is machinery. Not the craft. Why Business Owners Get Stuck Most people do not stop to think. They keep working through problems. They hope clarity will appear later. It rarely does. Busyness creates noise. Noise hides the real issue. The problem grows instead of shrinking. Where AI Actually Helps Used properly, AI supports thinking. It helps you: Step back from the noiseQuestion assumptionsTest ideas safelySee simpler routes forward But only if you stay grounded in the fundamentals. The Core Message Forget the hype. Forget the panic. Forget the race to automate everything. AI is just another tool. The fundamentals still do the heavy lifting. Get those right and AI helps. Get them wrong and no system will save you. Need a Way Forward? If you feel stuck, overwhelmed, or buried in noise, you already know something needs to change. You can find out more about me at: https://www.therichardsmith.com If you need hands-on help with your small business, visit: https://smallbusinessninja.co.uk Get In Touch Name *Email *Subject *Comment or Message *NameSend Message
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    3 分
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