Episodes

  • Website Accessibility and ADA Compliance: Avoid Fines and Stay Ahead

    Website Accessibility and ADA Compliance: Avoid Fines and Stay Ahead
    Apr 21 2026
    Episode 29: In this episode, Jim Ray sits down with digital marketing expert Bill Reynolds to break down the growing importance of ADA website compliance and the WCAG 2.1 guidelines. They discuss how new regulations impact businesses, especially those receiving government funding, and outline key deadlines for 2026 and 2027. Bill explains how accessibility goes beyond basic features, requiring structural and technical adjustments to ensure all users can navigate a website. The conversation highlights common compliance gaps, including PDFs, images, and user interface elements. They also explore the risks of non-compliance, including potential fines and legal exposure. Bill shares practical solutions, including ongoing monitoring and third-party validation tools to maintain compliance. Jim emphasizes the importance of proactive action rather than waiting until deadlines approach. The episode ultimately encourages business owners to treat accessibility as both a legal requirement and an opportunity to better serve their audiences. Jim Ray: Welcome to Grow for It. It's a podcast for small business owners, managers, and professionals. The goal is to give me a chance to work with the space between your ears on your mindset to help you focus on the things that really matter to your success. I want to enable you to concentrate on pursuing your vision, setting meaningful goals, and engaging in the day-to-day activities that will have the biggest impact. Thanks for tuning in. I want to go ahead and introduce a friend of mine. This is Bill Reynolds. He is the founder and president of Element502. They're a digital marketing agency here in Louisville, although they work with clients all across the country, including several of mine and my website as well. Bill, thanks for coming in. Bill Reynolds: Hey, thanks for having me. Jim Ray: Well, I tell you what, a while back I got a flyer or saw some kind of information about a new ADA compliance issue that popped up that I knew was going to affect my clients, and you're kind of my go-to guy on this kind of stuff. So I asked you to come in and we wanted to talk about this. Back in 2024, the DOJ really kind of finalized though the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines WCAG 2.0, and this is Level AA, so it was like double secret probation stuff we're dealing with. Anyway, the biggest issue is right now a lot of people are exposed due to ADA non-compliance issues that potentially can lead to some serious fines coming up. But there are two different timeframes that we're going to be worrying about right now, the 2026 version, and then we'll talk a little bit more about the 2027, which is going to bring in people like me as a consultant, more service-based type professions in particular, a lot of law firms are eligible for this issue. So Bill, why don't we back up a little bit and kind of just talk about what is this Web Content Accessibility Guideline issue? Why is it here? Bill Reynolds: Sure. And the acronym is WCAG, so if you hear me say it, that's the very short term. Basically what the government came out with their guidelines was that your website needs to be ADA compliant and accessible just like your brick and mortar. So when you go to a new building, it's got ramps, it's got handicap accessible bathrooms, it's got counter height. There's all kinds of things about width of different doorways of aisleways, all these things. That's the accessibility so that everyone can access your building. Now, in older buildings, there's always a grandfather and there's some rules around it because again, it's not saying it's okay to make it inaccessible, but there's also a burden of cost, a burden of things. And so the government did the same thing for websites, and so they said, Hey, your website needs to be compliant. And you mentioned it, the 2026, it's April of 2026 is the deadline for anybody who basically, the simplest way is if you get money from the government, you need to be compliant. So that's going to be a lot of your healthcare, especially whenever you get Medicare, Medicaid, any of these government assistance programs that are in there. If you're housing and you get government assistance for housing and authority, if you are a school, municipality, public parks, any of these things, those all are supposed to be because they want to make sure that your website is accessible and easy to use just like your brick and mortar would be for any of your customers. Jim Ray: When you and I go to a website, I mean obviously we can see what's on the screen. We can dink around, we can click different things. We can fill out forms, but somebody that has some disabilities has some other challenges, may not be able to read it, may not be able to hear different things that are on there. So again, the ADA compliance issue is a great thing. I mean, it's really going to open up the web to a lot of people who up to now have struggled to some point. The good news is this is ...
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    17 mins
  • The Power of Human Analytics with Michael Hall

    The Power of Human Analytics with Michael Hall
    Mar 13 2023

    Episode 28: It's my pleasure to welcome Michael Hall, Executive Advisor with Hall & Associates to discuss the topic of Human Analytics. As Mike describes it, think of this as Moneyball for companies. He uses analytics to help business leaders to gain valuable insights when it comes to managing, leading and inspiring employees and managers.

    Human Analytics

    Mike begins with a definition, from Google, that captures the essence of Human Analytics. "The systematic identification and quantification of the human drivers of business outcomes."

    Similar to the move Moneyball, this approach focuses heavily on analytic data, rather than the more subjective evaluations of a person's innate wiring and likely performance in a particular role. Mike quotes Jim Collins from his book Good to Great, the objective is to "Get the right people on the bus, get the wrong people off the bus and the right people in the right seats."

    Could You and Your Organization Benefit from a Conversation with Mike?

    Contact Mike Hall for a confidential discussion.

    Website: http://www.mikeghall.com

    Phone: (502) 303-2164

    Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. From more information on business-related issues, visit my website at www.JimRayConsultingServices.com.

    Got Podcast?

    Finally, if you're interested in developing and launching a podcast for your business or organization, I'd be happy to help. I provide this service on a regional basis. Visit my podcast production services page for more information.

    Until next time, remember, if you need help with your small business, Let's Grow For It!
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    41 mins
  • Show Up Positive Book by Rita Ernst

    Show Up Positive Book by Rita Ernst
    Jul 7 2022

    Episode 27: I'm happy to welcome Rita Ernst to the studio to discuss the launch of her new Show Up Positive book. You may remember Rita from Episode 22. She is an industrial/organizational psychologist, who became a business consultant and now, a published author. She's appeared in the local news, on radio and to a book signing with 70 people. Let's learn about how her approach to helping individuals to have a positive impact.

    To order a copy of the Show Up Positive book, click one of the links on this page: https://jimrayconsultingservices.com/podcast/the-show-up-positive-book-by-rita-ernst/

    I want to thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. From more information on business-related issues, visit my website at www.JimRayConsultingServices.com.

    Got Podcast?

    Finally, if you're interested in developing and launching a podcast for your business or organization, I'd be happy to help. I provide this service on a regional basis. Visit my podcast production services page for more information.

    Until next time, remember, if you need help with your small business, Let's Grow For It!
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    42 mins
  • HR Alliance Offers an Innovative Approach

    HR Alliance Offers an Innovative Approach
    Apr 18 2022
    Episode 26: I'm happy to welcome Marcy Young to the studio for today's episode. Marcy is the Founder and CEO of HR Alliance LLC, in Louisville, Kentucky. She's developed a business model enabling companies to contract with her and her team of HR specialists, without having to hire them in-house. It's an ideal way to get the HR expertise a business needs for ongoing help, project-based initiatives or a hybrid plan customized to meet specific needs and/or situations.

    Does Your Company Need Help with an HR Issue?

    Contact Marcy Young and her team of HR Professionals for a confidential discussion.

    Website: https://yourhralliance.com/

    Phone: (502) 689-6009

    Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. From more information on business-related issues, visit my website at www.JimRayConsultingServices.com.

    Got Podcast?

    Finally, if you're interested in developing and launching a podcast for your business or organization, I'd be happy to help. I provide this service on a regional basis. Visit my podcast production services page for more information.

    Until next time, remember, if you need help with your small business, Let's Grow For It!
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    33 mins
  • Cyber Liability Insurance Are You Covered?

    Cyber Liability Insurance Are You Covered?
    Sep 2 2021

    Episode 25: Cyber security and cyber theft are real issues for small business owners. There are now cyber liability insurance policies available to cover you, should you fall victim. In this episode, I interview Beth Combs and David Goheen from Gallagher, a large insurance company providing multi-line insurance, risk management and consulting services.

    Thank you for taking the time to listen to this episode. From more information on business-related issues, visit my website at www.JimRayConsultingServices.com.

    Got Podcast?

    Finally, if you're interested in developing and launching a podcast for your business or organization, I'd be happy to help. I provide this service on a regional basis. Visit my podcast production services page for more information.

    Until next time, remember, if you need help with your small business, Let's Grow For It!
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    29 mins
  • Why You Should Write a Book - Cathy Fyock

    Why You Should Write a Book - Cathy Fyock
    Apr 20 2021
    Episode 24: Ever think about writing a book? In this episode, I interview Cathy Fyock who's a professional book writing coach. We'll discuss how she works with her authors, why you should consider writing book and part of the process involved in accomplishing it. Cathy began coaching after writing her own books. She had been consulting, but wasn't as happy in this role, as she'd hoped. She had managed to write 4 of her 5 books in less than 6 weeks. A colleague asked her about her process for accomplishing this so efficiently. That's when it actually dawned on her that her process did, in fact, exist. She was invited to give a program on it and engage in a coaching role. That's where it all began. Many people want to write a book. They recognize the need, but they don't understand where to get started or how to stay on course to complete it. Cathy has the solution to these and many other challenges. What Types of Clients Does Cathy Fyock Help? Cathy works with professional speakers, consultants, coaches, thought-leaders, solopreneurs, wealth advisors, CPAs, attorneys and realtors. If you use your expertise as a strategy to serve your client base, codifying that expertise is a way to educate, inspire and sell your client base. Having published a book can position you as an industry expert. It lends a high-level of credibility to your personal and professional brand. The topics in your book can help people realize an alignment between their goals and your ability to help them to achieve those goals. Your book will help promote a sense of trust and authenticity between you and your target audience. Cathy is a huge fan of writing your own book, rather than using a ghost writer. The process will help you to clarify your thoughts and mastery of the topic. It May Not Be Easy Cathy admits, writing a book is hard work. In fact, most of her clients don't actually love to write. This is why having a coach is vital to the book's organization, your accountability or other support issues. Authority is one of Cathy's latest projects. It's about the power of authorship. It's an anthology of stories and perspectives from 15 different thought-leaders who share their advice and experience. It's already a Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-seller. 3 Basic Challenges for Authors The first challenge is FOCUS. It's developing the strategic plan for your book that aligns with your business strategy. The second challenge is TIME. It relates to disciplining yourself to find the time with an already busy schedule. The third challenge is DEALING with that NEGATIVE INTERNAL VOICE. It's the classic imposter syndrome. This can be one of the greatest obstacles for some authors. Cathy serves as their cheerleader to encourage them to accomplish what they're capable of accomplishing. Once the Manuscript is Written Cathy functions as a "developmental editor." Cathy can work with you to ensure all the correct pieces fit together regarding flow, logic and the ability to foster reader-engagement. She is not a publisher, but she has extensive connections with publishers and can help an author to find the right one for him/her and the subject matter. There are different models for publishers. Cathy realizes the need for her authors to be able to purchase their own books at cost. They need to maintain creative control and own the copyright (as well as future rights). You have to understand the fine print. Cathy can help you to navigate part or all of it. She understands the business aspect of writing a book. How Does Cathy Fyock Work with Authors? Cathy loves to speak with anyone who's even thinking about the idea, with no obligation. For those who are ready, she offers multiple types of services. Her Coaching Service is her main program. It's a one-on-one process that lasts 6 months. It encompasses strategy planning, accountability calls, connections and post-publishing activities. She also provides workshops, writing retreats, master classes, online courses and other services, all of which are described on her website. Dealing with Accountability This is obviously a significant factor for some people along their journey to writing a book. She can help to problem solve to determine what's getting in the way of progress. Did you forget to book time to do it? Did it go on the To Do List, instead of the calendar? There are strategies Cathy can offer to help her offers to cope and to complete the journey. While the subject matter will vary by author and the author's experience, the process of writing a book is fairly similar. Cathy Fyock is your book-writing Sherpa as you climb this incredible mountain. Blog-to-Book This is a concept for helping people to repurpose their blogs to discover the book you've already written. Cathy will add direction and perspective to help along the way. Part of the strategy is to map the content progression from the...
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    32 mins
  • Mental Health Marketing Tips and Advice

    Mental Health Marketing Tips and Advice
    Mar 5 2021
    Episode 23: I invited my friend and colleague Andrew Aebersold to join me to discuss mental health marketing. He's the Founder/CEO of Mediaura, a digital marketing company in Jeffersonville, IN. Today's discussion will focus on issues related to effectively marketing a solo practitioner (e.g. therapist), a practice group or a larger company, such as a behavioral health facility. Both of us have experience in this healthcare segment. Marketing a mental health practice requires an understanding of the unique issues both practitioners and prospective patients/clients have regarding treatment. One of the realities we deal with is the fact that often, really good practitioners are not typically good marketers. It requires a different skill set. This can create some significant challenges for the practice, especially in the digital marketing space. There are universal issues most businesses face: Competition is strongConveying the specific area(s) of mental health you serveDifferentiating your practice's services offerings from the competitionTargeting the ideal type(s) of clients for your practiceCultivating and deploying the proper messaging to overcome the above challenges Insurance coverage is often a factor. The person contacting your office may be clinically viable, but not financially viable due to insurance coverage issues. If your practice doesn't accept insurance, it adds another variable. Mental health marketing is very complex. Andrew and his team at Mediaura have distinct experience marketing behavioral health practices, on a regional basis. Many of them are located outside of our local area. He comments about how even the best marketing tactics and strategies can fail, if the internal processes are not executed properly, when people begin contacting the practice. We'll explore that later in this episode. Common Mistakes Practice Owners Make It's not uncommon to see a mental health practitioner turn over the marketing responsibility to people who may have been involved with the practice in the past. There's often a motivation to help that person by entrusting them with your marketing, because they may be acutely aware of the issues and can speak to them. That sounds well and good, but it doesn't always result in the progress the business needs to maintain and to grow. If you've been burned by the above effort, you may be tempted to engage a large agency as a way of overcompensating for the first attempt. This can quickly lead to significant expenses for a new website and other moves that sound good on paper. These engagements may also require the practice owner to sign long-term contracts, regardless of performance. It's important to understand that what works for a general business, may not work when it comes to marketing a mental health practice. Finally, the practice owner may decide to throw up the hands and task the office manager with handling the marketing for the practice. This decision might neglect to consider the amount of work responsibilities that person already has on his/her plate. It may not be a skill he/she has to generate the results you're hoping to deliver. Remember, marketing is about much more than simply posting pictures and memes on Facebook or Instagram. Those images need to be "on brand." They're affecting and influencing the way people perceive your brand and how the react to your brand's value proposition. If executed poorly, it can cripple your brand. However, it might be a good idea to make your internal person the liaison between the practice and the marketing team. It can make the communication much more efficient. The scheduling of onsite activities can be more easily coordinated. Using Different Messaging Effective mental health marketing means differentiating your messaging, based on the separate communication platforms you engage. For instance, what might work in Instagram, may be different from what you would post to LinkedIn. Understanding your intended target for that message is critical to your success. Many mental health practitioners understand the need to focus on multiple target groups, which may include: Prospective Patients/ClientsFamily Members, Friends and other InfluencersReferral Sources (e.g. colleagues and associations/organizations) One piece of content may not properly resonate with needs and concerns of each of these constituencies. Branding vs. Lead Generation This is another challenge mental health practitioners need to consider. Not every marketing agency or firm is the same. Some are stronger in certain areas. There are specific skills required to develop a solid brand concept for a healthcare client. This goes beyond the logo's icon or color scheme. Brand voice and brand positioning are important elements of cultivating clientele from your desired target audience. However, just because you have great brand assets, doesn't mean your phone is going to ring. Lead ...
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    52 mins
  • Businesses Should Think Differently in 2021

    Businesses Should Think Differently in 2021
    Jan 15 2021
    Episode 22: The business assumptions, rules and paradigms you used to guide your business through 2020 and previous years won't necessarily apply in 2021. Join me for a discussion with Industrial psychologist and business coach Rita Ernst and photographer/brand & image consultant Coral Abood. If 2020 was the year of pivot, 2021 will be the year of flex. Rita discusses how her background as an industrial and organizational psychologist gives her a unique perspective in how she approaches her client issues. She works with small businesses who have achieved significant earnings, but now realize that the tools and approaches the business leader relied upon during start-up may no longer be the right tools, as the business evolves. Rita can assist with defining the organization structure, roles and responsibilities, culture, etc. She works to bring clarity to business challenges and to empower the leaders to resolve issues and continue making solid progress. As a small business owner, do you feel as if your business is running you, instead of you running your business? Maybe it's time to engage a business coach to help you. Coral has been in business for almost 12 years. She works with businesses to create and/or improve their images and brand positioning. She often begins with 2 key questions: What sets you apart and makes you unique in your marketplace?Who is your target audience? Coral brings a level of intention to how and why the images are going to be used to appeal to the audience and convey meanings. This is about visual story-telling and your imagery needs to support your brand's story. Evolving Business Require New Skills I asked Rita Ernst about the importance of recognizing that your skill-set has to change if your business is going to be managed effectively. Rita understands that when leaders fail to understand this, they themselves can actually be a roadblock to the company's success. Business leaders bring passion and vision to the business. They have enormous energy to devote to the details, as well as the overall operation. Delegation of some decisions and/or responsibilities can be very difficult for some people. The number one result of engaging Rita as a business coach is that the leader is now active spending time working on the business, rather than in the business. The impact in almost instantaneous. Rita views herself as a catalyst. The results created are created by the leaders. She shares the effort, but in the end, they need to implement the changes and enable the results to occur. Perspective and Commitment Leaders sometimes struggle because they are too close to the situation. Hiring a professional business coach enables you to consider another perspective. It's always valuable to have another pair of eyes on the business challenge. At the same time, you'll be forced to speak out loud. This simple step promotes ownership of the situation and of the potential solutions. Solopreneurs and small business owners don't have those multiple layers of support often found in larger corporations. Besides the need to be really effective in your role, you also need to recognize when it's time to raise your hand and admit you might not have with the knowledge or skill to effectively navigate your current business challenges. Industrial and organizational psychologist Rita Ernst is a resource whom you can look toward for help. Do you ever wonder if it's time to engage a business coach? Rita offers a free coaching assessment on her website. Rita brings an intentional presence, the ability to listen without judgement and a competency to form observations from a perspective that's not bogged down by being so wrapped up in the situation. Recognizing the Impact of Millennials We've heard many stories and read articles about how different the millennials are. While Gen Xers learned to grind through it and take a DIY approach, millennials are much more into speed. This generation is very different and, in many cases, are now stepping into larger and larger roles. They want to connect with people who can help them to "get there" faster. The legacy norms and perspectives are rapidly being discarded. It's sometimes requiring a disruptive change when it comes to your business. As a leader, you need to be ready. Tip for Approaching 2021 One of the most important tip Rita recommends is to avoid carrying the negative energy of 2020 forward in to the new year. There two basic reason: Realize the old assumptions you operated regarding your business are irrelevant after this pandemic.This is the year of flex. You may need to alter your business practices, processes and expectations. There's still a tremendous amount of uncertainty. It may be time to cast a new vision for your business. While change can be disruptive and often uncomfortable, with the right perspective, it can unleash a huge number of opportunities for those who are prepared to...
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    53 mins