This week, we’re tackling the part of business that everyone seems to love to hate…sales. 

For those of you who really don't love sales, but still want to grow your businesses, this is the bad news: there is simply no version of growing your business that won't involve sales. But the good news is that it is entirely possible to do this well.  

What is covered: 

-The key element of selling without the ‘ick’

-Where do your beliefs about sales come from?

-3 powerful reframes for your beliefs about sales 

When it comes to sales, I would go so far as to say that as a business owner, it's not just a choice, it is your responsibility to sell, so that your business survives, and you can actually make a difference in the lives of people whom you serve. 

And if you’d like to get your hands on our new guide to creating an effective, ethical and empowering sales page, head over to the Actually Making a Difference Facebook Group and look for the relevant post. You’ll find it in the featured section or by searching for ‘sales page.’

Resources:   

-Actually Making a Difference Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/makingadifferenceactually 

-Find out more about Actually® https://actually.world/ 

-Facebook https://www.facebook.com/actually.world 

-Instagram https://www.instagram.com/actuallychangingtheworld/

-LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraactually/

This week, we're talking about how to drive engagement on social media…probably one of the most common questions I get asked each week by my community and my clients!

What Is Covered:

-Valuable lessons from Actually's Birthday Bonanza

-How to drive engagement on social media

-Why avoiding one-sided conversations on social is crucial

-The value you can share that almost everyone ignores

-How to balance engagement with the promotion of your services

Driving engagement might seem like an indecipherable hieroglyph, yet it is pretty simple: it's about having conversations. And remember that genuine curiosity is one of the most powerful tools to make a difference.

Resources:

-Marketing Superpowers Quiz: You Have Marketing Superpowers!

-Marketing Superpowers Insights Workshop: MARKETING SUPERPOWERS® INSIGHTS WORKSHOPS

-Find out more about Actually® https://actually.world/ 

-Facebook https://www.facebook.com/actually.world 

-Instagram https://www.instagram.com/actuallychangingtheworld/

-LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraactually/

This is another episode that may make you uncomfortable - but it’s all for your own good, I promise! 

We’re going to talk about our priorities, or objectives, or intentions, or whatever you prefer to call them. I’m going to share with you some of the questions that I use to help me arrive at my business priorities for the year, in the hope that it helps you to consider your priorities for the year ahead. 

What is Covered: 

-Why you must look back before you look forward

-Growing vs. consolidating your business in the coming year

-The two money questions that everyone avoids

-Questions to help you realign your business with your purpose and principles

I find a lot of these questions work equally well when you're thinking about your personal life too. But I hope that these few will help you to get clear on your business priorities for the coming year, because it's time and you are ready to actually make a difference.

Resources: 

-Take part in Actually’s Birthday Bonanza: https://www.facebook.com/groups/makingadifferenceactually  

-Find out more about Actually® https://actually.world/ 

-Facebook https://www.facebook.com/actually.world 

-Instagram https://www.instagram.com/actuallychangingtheworld/

-LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraactually/

-Actually JFDI Membership https://jfdi.actually.world/

-Actually Foundations: https://actually.world/the-foundations-programme/

In this short but powerful episode, I am going to make you uncomfortable. Don’t worry - that’s why I’ve kept it short! 

I want you to consider a simple proposition: that you ARE a rockstar. And I invite you to consider what it is that makes you a rockstar. 

In an attempt to encourage you to do this simple exercise - and against all the urges of my inner critic Doris and my innate British flair for self-deprecation - I am sharing with you three reasons why I am a rockstar. And I can honestly say, this is possibly the most difficult episode I have recorded yet! So I know what I’m asking of you; I know that it’s going to make you uncomfortable. 

But it’s important. Listen to this episode and find out why it’s so crucial that you win your rockstar status and once you’ve had a chance to consider what it is that makes you a rockstar: why not come over to the Actually Making a Difference Facebook group and let me know? 

Resources: 

-Join the Actually Making a Difference Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/makingadifferenceactually  

-Find out more about Actually® https://actually.world/ 

-Facebook https://www.facebook.com/actually.world 

-Instagram https://www.instagram.com/actuallychangingtheworld/

-LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraactually/

-Actually JFDI Membership https://jfdi.actually.world/

-Actually Foundations: https://actually.world/the-foundations-programme/

It can be easy to think that every other business owner, coach or consultant is doing brilliantly, sailing through this business journey without a care in the world. But we all experience challenges, and in this episode, I'm sharing the three biggest challenges I have faced and my top tips for overcoming them.

What Is Covered:

-How to "create" time and solve your time management issues

-Top tips to maintain consistent engagement on social media

-How to prevent your inner critic from running the show

-Learn to pay attention to how you speak to yourself

Some challenges that we experience on our entrepreneurial journey are one-offs; others keep showing up, forcing us to be constantly aware and catch them before they do too much damage. Still, regardless of how many times we deal with them, as long as we don't let them hold us back, we'll keep our chances of making a difference in the world intact. 

Resources: 

-Join the Actually Making a Difference Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/makingadifferenceactually  

-Find out more about Actually® https://actually.world/ 

-Facebook https://www.facebook.com/actually.world 

-Instagram https://www.instagram.com/actuallychangingtheworld/

-LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraactually/

-Actually JFDI Membership https://jfdi.actually.world/

-Actually Foundations: https://actually.world/the-foundations-programme/

The final part of our mini-series on 'Starting a Business' - a series of episodes especially for those at the beginning of this fascinating journey. This week, we explore the three things you need to DO to ensure that you are set up to succeed.

What Is Covered:

-3 things you MUST do when starting an online business

-The 12 Ps of every solid foundation 

-How to develop a consistent, credible, and memorable identity for your brand

-Why you must have a website as a startup business 

In business, just as in many areas of life, something simple yet perfectly executed beats excentric attempts of "being different." When you start an online business and you get these three elements right, the path to actually making a difference in the world with your company will get clearer and shorter. 

Resources: 

-Actually Starting a Business Guide (part four) https://actually.world/resources/

-Join the Actually Making a Difference Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/makingadifferenceactually  

-Find out more about Actually® https://actually.world/ 

-Facebook https://www.facebook.com/actually.world 

-Instagram https://www.instagram.com/actuallychangingtheworld/

-LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraactually/

-Actually JFDI Membership https://jfdi.actually.world/

-Actually Foundations: https://actually.world/the-foundations-programme/

September is officially ‘Starting a Business’ month here at Actually, and this week’s episode is the third in a series of episodes dedicated to those at the beginning of this fascinating journey.

Each week, I am exploring different aspects of starting a business to try and ensure that you avoid the overwhelm and bypass the complexity! This week, I am exploring the three most important things you need to understand as you get started in the world of business ownership.

What Is Covered:

-What is a sales and marketing cycle

-How to get every stage of the sales and marketing cycle right

-The things you must focus on to create a simple business model

-Why understanding cash flow and forecasting will literally save your business

Although the number of things you must know before starting a business might seem overwhelming, start by covering the three things I talk about in this episode. When you understand and master these three elements of your business, you’ll be on your way to actually making a difference in the world.

Resources: 

-Actually Starting a Business Guide (part three) https://actually.world/resources/

-Join the Actually Making a Difference Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/makingadifferenceactually  

-Find out more about Actually® https://actually.world/ 

-Facebook https://www.facebook.com/actually.world 

-Instagram https://www.instagram.com/actuallychangingtheworld/

-LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraactually/

-Actually JFDI Membership https://jfdi.actually.world/

-Nicola Deverson / Envision Partnership https://www.envision-uk.com/about/

-Episode 012 - What Exactly is the Sales Cycle? https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/012-what-exactly-is-the-sales-cycle/id1633274286?i=1000576086484

As you may know, I have declared September to be 'Starting a Business' month, and so this week's episode is the second in a series of episodes dedicated to those making the leap!

Each week, I am exploring different aspects of starting a business to try and ensure that you avoid the overwhelm and bypass the complexity! This week, I am covering the three core decisions that you need to make at the beginning of your journey as an impact entrepreneur.

And please forgive my croaky voice on this episode - it seems I am getting a summer cold - just as we are moving into autumn!

What Is Covered:

-The 3 essential business decisions you must make

-Why you must define your ideal life before defining your business

-How to choose the right business model

-Why defining your ideal time frame will mould your business

When making your essential entrepreneurial decisions, know that there are no right or wrong answers; there are only conscious choices and consequences. To start making a difference, take as much time as you need to make these interdependent yet intertwined decisions, and success will follow. 

Resources: 

-Actually Starting a Business Guide (part two) https://actually.world/resources/

-Join the Actually Making a Difference Facebook Group https://www.facebook.com/groups/makingadifferenceactually  

-Find out more about Actually® https://actually.world/ 

-Facebook https://www.facebook.com/actually.world 

-Instagram https://www.instagram.com/actuallychangingtheworld/

-LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/saraactually/