Episodes

  • EP36 - How I Built a No-Fluff, No-Bull, ROI-Obsessed Marketing Agency – Jordan Stachini

    EP36 - How I Built a No-Fluff, No-Bull, ROI-Obsessed Marketing Agency – Jordan Stachini
    Nov 26 2024
    In this episode of We Built This Business, we talk with Jordan Stachini from Co and Co. Jordan shares her journey from an advertising graduate to the founder of a thriving marketing agency. She dives into her "no fluff, ROI-obsessed" approach, the challenges of starting a business in lockdown, and how personal branding and authenticity can drive success. HIGHLIGHTS · Building Co and Co: From a solo consultant to a six-person agency focused on ROI-driven strategies, social media, and brand activations. · The ROI Obsession: Why every marketing campaign must drive value, whether in sales, brand awareness, or long-term engagement. · Navigating Challenges: Starting Co and Co during the pandemic and overcoming the loneliness of entrepreneurship. · Personal Branding: The importance of authenticity in building trust with clients, teams, and communities. · No Fluff Marketing: Insights into clear, focused campaigns and why avoiding over-complication is key. · Advice for Entrepreneurs: Why starting a business requires realism, resilience, and a long-term mindset. PODCAST INTRODUCTION Daniel Osullivan invites business owners and industry experts onto the We Built This Business Podcast to discuss how they have built their business. We explore how they started, their challenges, successes, failures, and everything in between. Running a business is hard work, so why not learn from business owners who are currently building—or have built—a business? PODCAST SPONSOR Team Building Experiences is a nationwide team-building company specializing in Keeping Things Fun for companies. With a wide range of mobile events such as Game Shows, Sports Days, Crystal Challenge, and more, there is something for every company. Visit https://bit.ly/tbe-pod and quote PODCAST15 to receive 15% off your next team-building event. VALUABLE RESOURCES Guest Website - https://wearecoandco.com/ Host Website – https://webuiltthisbusiness.co.uk EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Episode 4 - How I Built a £6 Million Revenue Print and Promotional Business by The Age of 24 - Taylor Tassie Episode 5 - How I Built a Global Tech Events Business and Thrived in the Pandemic - Johnny Edser Episode 6 - How I Built a Digital Marketing Business and How I Exited - Alex Minchin ABOUT THE HOST Daniel Osullivan is the CEO of The Experience Specialists Group we have brands in the events, entertainment and media industries including Red Cactus Events, Team Building Experiences, Shizzoo.co, Football Zorbing UK, Nel Events and X Event Solutions. CONNECT & CONTACT Daniel Osullivan Daniel Osullivan Linkedin Page Email: daniel@webuiltthisbusiness.co.uk We Built This Business Podcast Website Podcast Linkedin Page Podcast Instagram Page Facebook Instagram Page DONATION Every week that we release an episode of We Built This Business, we donate £10 to the British Heart Foundation. Learn more at https://www.bhf.org.uk/.
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    54 mins
  • EP35 – How To Get Customers Through Referrals – Dave Plunkett

    EP35 – How To Get Customers Through Referrals – Dave Plunkett
    Nov 19 2024
    In this episode of ‘We Built This Business’, we talk with Dave Plunkett from Collaboration Junkie. In this episode, we dive deep into the world of referrals and how to effectively leverage them to grow your business. Dave Plunkett shares his wealth of knowledge on building strong partnerships and why referrals remain one of the most powerful yet underutilized forms of marketing. He walks us through his journey from BT to founding Collaboration Junkie and offers actionable advice to transform your approach to referrals. HIGHLIGHTS · The journey of building Collaboration Junkie and the importance of aligning your business with your passions. · Dave's definition of a referral and why a "warm, contextualized introduction" matters. · Key success stories from Dave’s clients and the tangible impact of referral-driven growth. · How to integrate a culture of referrals into your business processes. · The mindset shift needed to embrace referrals without the "ick factor." · Utilizing LinkedIn as a powerful tool for generating referrals. VALUABLE RESOURCES Guest Website - https://www.collaborationjunkie.com/ Guest Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveplunkett/ Host Website – https://beacons.ai/wbtb PODCAST INTRODUCTION Daniel Osullivan invites business owners and industry experts onto the We Built This Business Podcast to discuss how they have built their business. We discuss how they started, their business challenges, successes, failures, and everything in between. Running a business is hard work, so why not learn from business owners who are currently building or who have built a business? EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Episode 4 - How I Built a £6 Million Revenue Print and Promotional Business by The Age of 24 - Taylor Tassie Episode 5 - How I Built a Global Tech Events Business and Thrived in the Pandemic - Johnny Edser Episode 6 - How I Built a Digital Marketing Business and How I Exited - Alex Minchin ABOUT THE HOST Daniel Osullivan is the CEO of The Experience Specialists Group we have brands in the events, entertainment and media industries including Red Cactus Events, Team Building Experiences, Shizzoo.co, Football Zorbing UK, Nel Events and X Event Solutions. CONNECT & CONTACT Daniel Osullivan Daniel Osullivan Linkedin Page Email: daniel@webuiltthisbusiness.co.uk We Built This Business Podcast Website - https://beacons.ai/wbtb Podcast Linkedin Page Podcast Instagram Page Facebook Instagram Page Donation: Every week that we release an episode of We Built This Business we give £10 to our Charity the British Heart Foundation - https://www.bhf.org.uk/ (Started 21.05.2024 we hope to donate £520 a year)
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    33 mins
  • EP34 - How I Built an AI-Driven Accounting Firm for the Future - David Adderson

    EP34 - How I Built an AI-Driven Accounting Firm for the Future - David Adderson
    Nov 12 2024
    In this episode of We Built This Business, we talk with David Adderson, co-founder of Youtopia, a groundbreaking accountancy practice reimagining financial services for small businesses. David joins Daniel Osullivan to share how he and his team at Youtopia are transforming traditional accounting by embedding themselves as true financial partners for their clients. From his unconventional path into accounting to building a business focused on proactive financial support, David explains how Youtopia helps small business owners make smarter, faster financial decisions. David unpacks the challenges he faced in launching Youtopia, the strategies that helped him win over clients, and his vision for how AI will reshape the future of the accounting industry. HIGHLIGHTS • Transition to Founding Youtopia: How David's disillusionment with traditional accountancy led him to co-found Youtopia, offering small businesses a complete finance department experience. • Building Client Trust: David shares the hurdles of earning trust in an industry where clients rarely switch accountants and the networking strategies that finally paid off. • Early Startup Challenges: From taking side bookkeeping jobs to almost giving up, David reflects on the grit it took to keep Youtopia afloat in its infancy. • The Role of Technology and AI: Insights into how Youtopia stays ahead with cloud-based solutions and AI, and David's predictions for how AI will reshape accounting in the next five years. • Lessons in Hiring: David discusses hiring challenges, what he’s learned from early mistakes, and how he now prioritizes candidates with strong communication skills over technical qualifications alone. • Breaking Accountancy Stereotypes: Youtopia's approach to providing proactive financial guidance, empowering clients beyond the standard year-end tax reports. PODCAST INTRODUCTION Daniel Osullivan invites business owners and industry experts onto the We Built This Business Podcast to discuss how they have built their business. We discuss how they started, their business challenges, successes, failures and everything in between. Running a business is hard work so why not learn from business owners who are currently building or who have built a business. PODCAST SPONSOR Team Building Experiences is a nationwide team-building company specializing in keeping things fun for companies. With a wide range of mobile events such as Game Shows, Sports Days, and the Crystal Challenge, there’s something for every company. Visit https://bit.ly/tbe-pod and quote PODCAST15 to receive 15% off your next team-building event. VALUABLE RESOURCES Guest Website - https://www.youtopia.co.uk/ Host Website – https://webuiltthisbusiness.co.uk EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Episode 4 - How I Built a £6 Million Revenue Print and Promotional Business by The Age of 24 - Taylor Tassie Episode 5 - How I Built a Global Tech Events Business and Thrived in the Pandemic - Johnny Edser Episode 6 - How I Built a Digital Marketing Business and How I Exited - Alex Minchin ABOUT THE HOST Daniel Osullivan is the CEO of The Experience Specialists Group we have brands in the events, entertainment and media industries including Red Cactus Events, Team Building Experiences, Shizzoo.co, Football Zorbing UK, Nel Events and X Event Solutions. CONNECT & CONTACT Daniel Osullivan Daniel Osullivan Linkedin Page Email: daniel@webuiltthisbusiness.co.uk We Built This Business Podcast Website Podcast Linkedin Page Podcast Instagram Page Facebook Instagram Page
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    52 mins
  • EP33 - How To Get Customers Locally on Google - Hannah Zora Strong

    EP33 - How To Get Customers Locally on Google - Hannah Zora Strong
    Nov 5 2024
    In this episode of ‘We Built This Business’ we talk with Hannah Zora Strong from Zora Marketing. Daniel Osullivan invites Hannah Zora Strong to discuss how to get customers locally using Google advertising. Hannah is a seasoned expert in pay-per-click (PPC) advertising, particularly for local businesses looking to attract a local audience through optimized Google ads. Hannah shares her journey from agency work to starting her own business, Zora Marketing, and provides valuable insights on leveraging Google ads for local customer acquisition. Hannah also shares insights on how small and medium-sized businesses can leverage PPC strategies, search campaigns, and Google’s evolving ad formats to bring in customers directly from their local area. This episode is full of practical advice on setting up local campaigns, optimizing ad budgets, and the role of AI in shaping Google search marketing. HIGHLIGHTS 1. Transition to Entrepreneurship Hannah discusses her move from agency work to founding Zora Marketing and the challenges and rewards of running her own business. 2. Local Google Ads Strategies Learn how to set up effective local Google ads for high street retailers, focusing on optimizing shopping feeds and using performance max campaigns. 3. Utilizing Local Inventory Ads Hannah explains how local inventory ads can drive foot traffic to physical stores by linking online searches with in-store inventory. 4. Importance of Ad Targeting and Budgeting Learn key strategies for budgeting effectively in PPC campaigns and why it’s crucial to avoid common pitfalls, like competing with major brands. 5. Adapting to Search Behaviour Changes Discover how changing search behaviors and advanced targeting options in Google Ads can help businesses reach local customers more effectively. 5. Balancing Costs and Value Insights on managing customer acquisition costs and understanding the importance of lifetime value in PPC campaigns. PODCAST INTRODUCTION Daniel Osullivan invites business owners and industry experts onto the We Built This Business Podcast to discuss how they have built their business. We discuss how they started, their business challenges, successes, failures, and everything in between. Running a business is hard work, so why not learn from business owners who are currently building or who have built a business? VALUABLE RESOURCES Guest Website: https://zoramarketing.co.uk/ Guest LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-strong-ppc Host Website – https://beacons.ai/wbtb PODCAST SPONSOR Team Building Experiences are a nationwide team building company who are experts in Keeping Things Fun for companies. With a wide range of mobile events such as Game Shows, Sports Days, Crystal Challenge and more, there is something for every company. Visit https://bit.ly/tbe-pod and quote PODCAST15 to receive 15% off your next team building event EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT Episode 4 - How I Built a £6 Million Revenue Print and Promotional Business by The Age of 24 - Taylor Tassie Episode 5 - How I Built a Global Tech Events Business and Thrived in the Pandemic - Johnny Edser Episode 6 - How I Built a Digital Marketing Business and How I Exited - Alex Minchin ABOUT THE HOST Daniel Osullivan is the CEO of The Experience Specialists Group we have brands in the events, entertainment and media industries including Red Cactus Events, Team Building Experiences, Shizzoo.co, Football Zorbing UK, Nel Events and X Event Solutions. CONNECT & CONTACT Daniel Osullivan Daniel Osullivan Linkedin Page Email: daniel@webuiltthisbusiness.co.uk We Built This Business Podcast Website - https://beacons.ai/wbtb Podcast Linkedin Page Podcast Instagram Page Facebook Instagram Page Donation: Every week that we release an episode of We Built This Business we give £10 to our Charity the British Heart Foundation - https://www.bhf.org.uk/ (Started 21.05.2024 we hope to donate £520 a year)
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    27 mins
  • EP32 - How To Get Customers On Linkedin - Ashley Leeds

    EP32 - How To Get Customers On Linkedin - Ashley Leeds
    Oct 29 2024
    In this episode of We Built This Business, we talk with LinkedIn expert Ashley Leeds. Ashley is a LinkedIn coach known as “The 15 Minute Guy” for his practical approach to mastering LinkedIn in just 15 minutes a day. In this episode, Ashley shares insights and strategies to help business owners and professionals get noticed on LinkedIn, build authentic connections, and attract new customers. This episode is the first in our ‘How To’ series where we invite an expert to share practical tips for business owners and entrepreneurs. HIGHLIGHTS • Make Your Profile Stand Out Ashley emphasizes the importance of a clear and engaging profile photo and cover banner, making sure both are mobile-friendly and professional. • Content That Connects Share personal and engaging content rather than strictly business-focused posts. Ashley shares how personal touches—like sharing hobbies or anecdotes—can build connections. • Consistency Is Key Building a presence on LinkedIn doesn’t happen overnight. Ashley’s 15-minute-a-day strategy helps people show up consistently and engage authentically. • The Power of Video Video posts, even if simple, can be effective on LinkedIn. Ashley explains how video lets people “see the real you” and can build trust faster than text. • Followers vs. Connections Ashley explains the differences and benefits of LinkedIn followers versus connections, helping listeners optimize how they grow their LinkedIn audience. • Success Stories Ashley shares an inspiring story of a client who, through humorous posts, attracted clients by being authentic and consistent. PODCAST INTRODUCTION Daniel Osullivan invites business owners and industry experts onto the We Built This Business podcast to discuss how they have built their business. We discuss how they started, their business challenges, successes, failures, and everything in between. Running a business is hard work, so why not learn from business owners who are currently building or who have built a business? PODCAST SPONSOR Team Building Experiences is a nationwide team-building company and expert in keeping things fun for companies. With a wide range of mobile events like Game Shows, Sports Days, and the Crystal Challenge, there's something for every company. Visit Team Building Experiences and quote PODCAST15 to receive 15% off your next team building event. VALUABLE RESOURCES Guest Website - https://just.15mins.day/ Host Website – https://webuiltthisbusiness.co.uk EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT How I Built a £6 Million Revenue Print and Promotional Business by The Age of 24 - Taylor Tassie How I Turned an Event Equipment Hire Startup into a £5 Million Revenue Business – Taran O'Doherty How I Built a Luxury Events Business From Startup to Superyacht – James Clutterbuck ABOUT THE HOST Daniel Osullivan is the CEO of The Experience Specialists Group we have brands in the events, entertainment and media industries including Red Cactus Events, Team Building Experiences, Shizzoo.co, Football Zorbing UK, Nel Events and X Event Solutions. CONNECT & CONTACT Daniel Osullivan Daniel Osullivan Linkedin Page Email: daniel@webuiltthisbusiness.co.uk We Built This Business Podcast Website - https://beacons.ai/wbtb Podcast Linkedin Page Podcast Instagram Page Facebook Instagram Page Donation: Every week that we release an episode of We Built This Business we give £10 to our Charity the British Heart Foundation - https://www.bhf.org.uk/ (Started 21.05.2024 we hope to donate £520 a year)
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    29 mins
  • EP31 - How I Built A Non-Profit To Feed Children Through Schools - Nathan Atkinson

    EP31 - How I Built A Non-Profit To Feed Children Through Schools - Nathan Atkinson
    Oct 22 2024
    In this episode of ‘We Built This Business,’ we talk with Nathan Atkinson from Rethink Food. Nathan shares the inspiring journey behind Rethink Food, a community interest company dedicated to providing food education for children. From his early days as a headteacher to creating impactful programs that combine health education with sustainability, Nathan reveals how Rethink Food is transforming the way young people approach food and well-being. HIGHLIGHTS · The mission of Rethink Food: Nathan discusses how Rethink Food aims to deliver 10 million hours of food education to help children live healthier lives. · Tackling food education creatively: How Rethink Food shifts the focus from crisis intervention to early prevention, using innovative programs like "Eat to Save the Planet." · Nathan's career transition: From headteacher to social entrepreneur, he shares the pivotal moment that led him to start Rethink Food. · Scaling a not-for-profit: The challenges and successes of growing a community interest company, from securing corporate partnerships to acquiring a surplus food operation. · The future of Rethink Food: Nathan discusses plans to expand their health and education programs into 7,000 schools and develop initiatives for teacher well-being. PODCAST INTRODUCTION Daniel Osullivan invites business owners and industry experts onto the We Built This Business Podcast to discuss how they built their business. We explore the journey, challenges, and successes they've faced, providing valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs. PODCAST SPONSOR Team Building Experiences is a nationwide team-building company, offering fun mobile events like Game Shows, Sports Days, Crystal Challenge, and more. Use code PODCAST15 at this link for 15% off your next team building event. VALUABLE RESOURCES Guest Website - https://www.rethinkfood.co.uk/ Host Website – https://beacons.ai/wbtb EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT How I Built a £6 Million Revenue Print and Promotional Business by The Age of 24 - Taylor Tassie How I Turned an Event Equipment Hire Startup into a £5 Million Revenue Business – Taran O'Doherty How I Built a Luxury Events Business From Startup to Superyacht – James Clutterbuck ABOUT THE HOST Daniel Osullivan is the CEO of The Experience Specialists Group we have brands in the events, entertainment and media industries including Red Cactus Events, Team Building Experiences, Shizzoo.co, Football Zorbing UK, Nel Events and X Event Solutions. CONNECT & CONTACT Daniel Osullivan Daniel Osullivan Linkedin Page Email: daniel@webuiltthisbusiness.co.uk We Built This Business Podcast Website Podcast Linkedin Page Podcast Instagram Page Facebook Instagram Page DONATION Every episode of We Built This Business Podcast donates £10 to the British Heart Foundation. Donate Here
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    1 hr
  • EP30 - How I Overcame Burnout and Built a Business That Fits My Life - John Lamerton

    EP30 - How I Overcame Burnout and Built a Business That Fits My Life - John Lamerton
    Oct 15 2024
    In this episode of We Built This Business, we talk with John Lamerton from Big Idea Ventures. John shares his entrepreneurial journey, from starting an internet marketing business with zero experience to building multiple successful ventures. He reflects on the lessons learned, including scaling too quickly and the value of lifestyle-focused businesses. This conversation dives deep into the balance between ambition and lifestyle, offering practical advice for both new and experienced business owners. HIGHLIGHTS 1. The Origin of Big Idea Ventures – John started it as a way to give back by mentoring entrepreneurs at his kitchen table, which then grew into a larger project helping thousands of business owners. 2. Scaling Too Fast – John’s experience of growing a business to 15 staff and two offices in just 18 months, which led to burnout and a complete business restructure. 3. From Civil Servant to Entrepreneur – How John transitioned from a civil service job he despised to running an internet business with no prior knowledge of marketing or even owning a computer. 4. Ambitious Lifestyle Business – John’s philosophy of balancing ambition with lifestyle, making sure the business works for you rather than the other way around. 5. Importance of Focus – John emphasizes focusing on one thing at a time, inspired by advice he received (and initially ignored), which later proved crucial to his success. 6. Learning from Failure – John’s candid discussion about mistakes made in early ventures and the process of rebuilding and learning from those experiences. PODCAST INTRODUCTION Daniel Osullivan invites business owners and industry experts onto the We Built This Business Podcast to discuss how they have built their business. We discuss how they started, their business challenges, successes, failures, and everything in between. Running a business is hard work, so why not learn from business owners who are currently building or who have built a business? PODCAST SPONSOR Team Building Experiences are a nationwide team building company, experts in keeping things fun for companies. With a wide range of mobile events like Game Shows, Sports Days, Crystal Challenge, and more, there’s something for every company. Visit this link and quote PODCAST15 to receive 15% off your next team-building event. VALUABLE RESOURCES Guest Website - https://bigidea.co.uk/ Host Website – https://webuiltthisbusiness.co.uk EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT How I Built a £6 Million Revenue Print and Promotional Business by The Age of 24 - Taylor Tassie How I Turned an Event Equipment Hire Startup into a £5 Million Revenue Business – Taran O'Doherty How I Built a Luxury Events Business From Startup to Superyacht – James Clutterbuck ABOUT THE HOST Daniel Osullivan is the CEO of The Experience Specialists Group. We have brands in the events, entertainment and media industries including Red Cactus Events, Team Building Experiences, Shizzoo.co, Football Zorbing UK, Nel Events and X Event Solutions. CONNECT & CONTACT Daniel Osullivan Daniel Osullivan Linkedin Page Email: daniel@webuiltthisbusiness.co.uk We Built This Business Podcast Website Podcast Linkedin Page Podcast Instagram Page Facebook Instagram Page
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    54 mins
  • EP29 - How I Disrupted the Radio Industry with a Cloud Streaming Platform – James Mulvany

    EP29 - How I Disrupted the Radio Industry with a Cloud Streaming Platform – James Mulvany
    Oct 8 2024
    In this episode of ‘We Built This Business’, we talk with James Mulvaney from the Broadcast .co Group. James shares insights about his companies, Radio.co and Podcast.co, detailing how his business ventures have grown to serve global audiences and his approach to creating and sustaining successful brands in the audio industry. HIGHLIGHTS · James Mulvaney discusses the core of the Broadcast .co Group, which focuses on storytelling through audio and serves 5,000 radio stations globally. · Why separating Radio .co and Podcast .co into two entities was a strategic move, including future-proofing the company for potential sales. · The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radio listenership and the growth of digital radio formats. · James' entrepreneurial journey, starting a streaming service while at university and the challenges of balancing education with building a business. · The rise of podcasting and why James wishes they’d entered the space earlier. · The creation and success of Matchmaker.fm, a platform connecting podcast hosts with expert guests. · James' perspective on building a successful team and why hiring the right people is essential for growth. PODCAST INTRODUCTION Daniel Osullivan invites business owners and industry experts onto the We Built This Business podcast to discuss how they have built their businesses. We explore how they started, their business challenges, successes, failures, and everything in between. Running a business is hard work, so why not learn from those who have already walked the path? PODCAST SPONSOR Team Building Experiences are a nationwide team-building company, experts in Keeping Things Fun for companies. They offer a wide range of mobile events such as Game Shows, Sports Days, and more. There’s something for every company. Visit https://bit.ly/tbe-pod and quote PODCAST15 to receive 15% off your next team-building event! VALUABLE RESOURCES Guest Website Radio.co: www.radio.co Podcast.co: www.podcast.co Matchmaker.fm: www.matchmaker.fm Host Website We Built This Business: www.webuiltthisbusiness.co.uk EPISODES TO CHECK OUT NEXT How I Built a £6 Million Revenue Print and Promotional Business by The Age of 24 - Taylor Tassie How I Turned an Event Equipment Hire Startup into a £5 Million Revenue Business – Taran O'Doherty How I Built a Luxury Events Business From Startup to Superyacht – James Clutterbuck ABOUT THE HOST Daniel Osullivan is the CEO of The Experience Specialists Group we have brands in the events, entertainment and media industries including Red Cactus Events, Team Building Experiences, Shizzoo.co, Football Zorbing UK, Nel Events and X Event Solutions. CONNECT & CONTACT Daniel Osullivan Daniel Osullivan Linkedin Page Email: daniel@webuiltthisbusiness.co.uk We Built This Business Podcast Website Podcast Linkedin Page PodcastInstagram Page Facebook Instagram Page Donation Every week we release an episode of We Built This Business, we donate £10 to the British Heart Foundation. Support the cause at British Heart Foundation.
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    54 mins