Susan Finch sits down with Patty Parobek from Mod Op to explore the strategic implementation of AI in business. They discuss the concept of an " AI Playground " - a structured approach for organizations to test and evaluate AI tools before full deployment. The conversation covers essential topics, including developing responsible AI use policies, forming cross-functional AI councils, and protecting sensitive data when using AI platforms. Patty shares valuable insights on how businesses of any si...
Jan 08, 2025•35 min•Ep. 149
Have you ever felt lost when managing your website’s domain? You’re not alone. Some tech professionals keep these concepts vague to maintain control over their clients. Let’s break down what you need to know and document to stay in control of your digital property. Remember, your domain for your company is YOURS. Do not let an outside contractor register a domain for you, even if they are trying to save time, money, etc. You need to create this login and invite them in to manage it. You never wa...
Dec 10, 2024•11 min•Ep. 146
Today, we're challenging you to conduct a Professional Presence Audit—a critical look at how you appear across the digital landscape to ensure your professional image remains consistent, current, and compelling. This is Part 2 of our Digital Brand Checkup series on Rooted in Revenue. Our last episode covered the essentials of managing your digital real estate—from domains to infrastructure. Essential action items from this episode: Google Audit: Search yourself/company in an incognito window Rev...
Nov 12, 2024•19 min•Ep. 143
Your business runs on digital - but when was the last time you gave it a proper checkup? This week on Rooted in Revenue, we're getting real about the nuts and bolts of your digital foundation. Susan Finch and Lany Sullivan share their hands-on experience managing domains (including those late-night wine-inspired purchases we've all made), keeping backups current, and yes - discovering that even storage facilities need retention policies. No fluff, just practical advice on protecting your digital...
Nov 06, 2024•20 min•Ep. 142
Susan Finch and Lany Sullivan plunge into the muck of a crucial but often overlooked aspect of business operations: the client intake process. Coming fresh from their previous episode on intellectual property, they explore how even successful businesses like Susan's (with 20 years of experience) can benefit from implementing structured intake systems. Whether you've been in business for six months or two decades, this episode reveals why having a clear, systematic approach to onboarding clients ...
Oct 23, 2024•29 min•Ep. 140
Join Susan Finch and Lany Sullivan in this eye-opening episode of Rooted in Revenue as they dive into the crucial topic of intellectual property. Discover what IP really means for your business, how to protect your creations, and why holding someone's intellectual property hostage is a major business faux pas. Whether you're a content creator, business owner, or working with contractors, this episode offers valuable insights to help you navigate the complex world of IP. Disclaimers: Lany and Sus...
Oct 16, 2024•22 min•Ep. 139
In this episode, Susan Finch sits down with Michele A. Friedman, a talented metalsmith and jewelry designer with over 26 years of experience in the art world. From her early days studying fashion design at Parsons to becoming a full-time artist, Michele shares her journey and insights on navigating the business side of art. Discover the importance of human connection in selling art, learn strategies for engaging customers at shows, and explore the delicate balance between creativity and commerce...
Oct 09, 2024•28 min•Ep. 138
Rediscovering your forgotten skills and experiences can be a game-changer for personal and professional growth. In this insightful episode of Rooted in Revenue, Lany and Susan dive deep into the importance of reflecting on your past accomplishments and leveraging them for future success. They share personal anecdotes, practical tips, and actionable strategies to help you uncover hidden talents and capitalize on your unique experiences. We dare you to go through this list: Reflect on past experie...
Oct 02, 2024•24 min•Ep. 137
In this continuation of their discussion on managing your online presence, Lany and Susan hit you over the head with the importance of conducting thorough tech assessments and making informed decisions about your business software. They emphasize the value of consulting with experts before making significant changes to your tech stack and warn against common pitfalls like lifetime software subscriptions and poorly integrated tools. Action Items: Conduct a comprehensive tech assessment of your bu...
Sep 24, 2024•17 min•Ep. 136
Susan and Lany are fired up in this episode, tackling the infuriating world of tech blunders, compliance nightmares, and security fails that plague businesses. From email marketing mishaps to clickbait disasters, they're not holding back on the ways people unknowingly sabotage their operations. This is part one of their conversation, so prepare for some straight talk filled with cautionary tales and a healthy dose of 'what were they thinking?' Stay tuned for part two, where they'll continue thei...
Sep 19, 2024•17 min•Ep. 135
In this episode, Susan shares valuable insights on how podcast hosts can elevate their shows and create more engaging content. Whether you're a seasoned podcaster or just starting out, these tips will help you improve your guest interactions, streamline your workflow, and ultimately produce better content that resonates with your audience. Get ready to take your podcasting skills to the next level! List of Tips: Research potential guests by listening to their appearances on other shows. Schedule...
Sep 04, 2024•10 min•Ep. 134
Susan Finch sits down with Brandon Leibowitz, President of SEOoptimizers.com, to unpack the evolving landscape of search engine optimization. For small and mid-size businesses, especially those in B2C and brick-and-mortar sectors, this conversation is a goldmine of actionable strategies. Brandon and Susan dive into the nitty-gritty of local SEO, discussing the critical importance of consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) directory listings and the power of Google Business Profiles. They sh...
Aug 28, 2024•47 min•Ep. 133
Today, we're diving deep into how Amy Franko helps mid-market organizations create exciting futures by transforming their sales strategies, structures, and teams. We'll explore the concept of strategic prospecting and unpack why it's crucial for building a healthy pipeline. Amy's going to share some game-changing insights on how to identify and cultivate high-value relationships, and we'll discuss the importance of investing in yourself to sharpen those critical sales and leadership skills. So w...
Aug 20, 2024•28 min•Ep. 132
Learn how to turn churn into an opportunity for improvement and build stronger, longer-lasting customer relationships. Steve Hazelton from Sturdy.ai joins us for the second half of this conversation. Whether you're running a small business or leading a large corporation, this episode is packed with practical strategies you can implement right away to boost customer retention and drive sustainable growth. Don't miss out on these insights, which could shake up how you’ve been doing it—if you are h...
Aug 12, 2024•35 min•Ep. 129
Steve Hazelton, CEO of Sturdy.ai, challenges the norm of churn prevention, advocating instead for organization-wide retention strategies. He introduces Sturdy.ai, a tool that consolidates fragmented customer data into actionable insights. Hazelton reveals counterintuitive truths about customer loyalty, such as why complaining customers often stick around longer. He explains how to transform scattered emails, chats, and support tickets into a unified customer intelligence system, enabling every t...
Aug 07, 2024•35 min•Ep. 128
When you think of chatbots, you may picture frustrating loops, keyword failures, and overly cheerful automated responses. But what if AI-powered conversations could revolutionize how audiences engage with content and brands? In this episode, Susan Finch sits down with Nick Martin, Co-Founder and CCO of Direqt.ai, to explore the cutting-edge world of conversational AI for content creators and publishers. Nick shares insights on how sophisticated chatbots can enhance user experiences, provide valu...
Jul 17, 2024•32 min•Ep. 127
Susan continues her conversation with Pyper and Jarrod, the creative duo behind Joyride Jewelry. This episode delves into the crucial topic of building community, especially for artists and small business owners who have transitioned to a new location or shifted their business model. Pyper and Jarrod share their experiences of moving to a small town and navigating the challenges of maintaining connections in an online business world. They discuss the importance of balancing work and community en...
Jul 09, 2024•11 min•Ep. 126
In the ever-changing landscape of small business, resilience is not just a virtue—it's a necessity. Pyper and Jarrod from Joyride Jewelry exemplify this, transforming their business from art fair favorites to online retail successes. Their journey offers valuable insights for any small business owner facing unexpected challenges. We'll explore how they turned potential setbacks into opportunities for growth, strategically pivoting to e-commerce while maintaining artistic integrity and customer c...
Jul 03, 2024•37 min•Ep. 125
In this episode of Rooted in Revenue, host Susan Finch sits down with Phil Jamieson, the President of ProofreadNow.com. Together, they unpack the critical role of human proofreading in an era dominated by AI-generated content. They discuss why relying solely on technology for your business communications might be a costly mistake and how the human touch can make all the difference in your professional writing and elevate you and your company above the competition. Susan wanted to know the recipe...
Jun 26, 2024•30 min•Ep. 124
Are you a service business looking to grow your presence in your local community? In this episode of Rooted in Revenue, hosts Lany Sullivan and Susan Finch explore the power of in-person community building for both personal and business growth. Lany shares her experience with the Art in the Garden event, showcasing how community involvement can open doors to unexpected opportunities and relationships. The duo emphasizes the importance of showing up consistently, being vulnerable, and participati...
Jun 19, 2024•29 min•Ep. 123
Creating a company from scratch is exciting, and there is a specific order to tell the world about it. This episode will give you some steps to add to your plan. Whether you are transitioning from a previous company, starting a brand new endeavor, or relaunching your own brand, these steps will help you quickly establish trust in search and on email servers. 1. Get your vector version of your new logo. 2. Buy a domain that makes sense and is easy to say and spell. 3. Establish trust by warming u...
Jun 12, 2024•19 min•Ep. 122
In this quick episode, Susan Finch from Rooted in Revenue shares valuable insight about the importance of professional editing and proofreading when translating marketing materials into another language. While AI tools can be helpful, they may not always capture the nuances and cultural context needed for effective communication and translation. Professional proofing and editing are particularly important if you have a detailed branding guide. A recent episode of All-Volunteer, All Heart from Bi...
Jun 04, 2024•8 min•Ep. 121
Are you a small business owner unsure about contracts, roles, and expectations with your clients? In this episode of Rooted in Revenue, we dive into the importance of having clear agreements to protect you and your clients. As vendors, we understand the challenges of navigating these relationships and the potential pitfalls of not having a solid foundation. We discuss what clients should expect from you, how to demonstrate your value, and the key elements to include in your contracts. Whether yo...
May 22, 2024•19 min•Ep. 120
Are you entrusting your business to the right vendors? In this episode of Rooted in Revenue, Susan Finch and Lany Sullivan dive deep into the crucial topic of vetting vendors. From graphic designers to accountants, they share eye-opening insights on what to look for and what to avoid. Discover the importance of securing your intellectual property, protecting your sensitive information, and ensuring your vendors have your back in any situation. Susan and Lany also reveal the shocking truth about ...
May 15, 2024•30 min•Ep. 119
Time management is more critical than ever, especially with the rise of AI tools and virtual assistants. Properly tracking and documenting how you spend your time can lead to significant benefits, from increased productivity to smoother delegation and onboarding. In this episode of Rooted in Revenue, hosts Susan Finch and Debi Davis dive deep into the future of time management and its intersection with AI. They discuss practical strategies for optimizing your time, such as using customized syste...
May 07, 2024•26 min•Ep. 118
Are you a real estate broker on the brink of a major change? Whether you're considering leaving a franchise to establish your brand, or switching franchises, this transition can be both exhilarating and daunting. The key to success lies in meticulous planning and preparation. In this episode, Susan shares her expertise to guide you through the critical steps you need to take before leaping. Susan provides a small portion of a comprehensive checklist to ensure a smooth transition from establishin...
Apr 30, 2024•12 min•Ep. 117
Are your business's internal controls and security measures up to par? In this final episode of our 6-part series, Lany Sullivan and Susan Finch dive deep into the importance of protecting your clients' information and your own liability. They expose common pitfalls like using sticky notes for passwords or entrusting cash transactions to a single person. Lany and Susan emphasize the critical need for secure password management, digital money trails, and multi-person verification processes. They ...
Apr 23, 2024•24 min•Ep. 116
This episode will give you an actionable list to evaluate your current tech stack. Lany and Susan will also give you ideas on what to look for when evaluating new pieces to your tech stack. Did you know that anything you log in to for your business is part of your tech stack? Lany will give you her strong opinions on several pieces of software and tools. Susan will give some real examples on ways to test what you are using and lock it down to make it more effective. Questions you need to know ab...
Apr 17, 2024•26 min•Ep. 115
Susan Finch and Lany Sullivan dive into the crucial decision of hiring generalists or specialists for your business in this insightful episode of Rooted in Revenue. They discuss the roles of virtual assistants (VAs), online business managers (OBMs), and the importance of finding the right fit for your team. Lany emphasizes the significance of hiring based on your specific needs and goals, rather than defaulting to a VA. The duo also touches on the value of fostering a supportive and empowering w...
Apr 09, 2024•26 min•Ep. 114
Are you drowning in tasks and struggling to let go of control in your business? In this third episode of the Rooted in Revenue series, Lany Sullivan and Susan Finch dive into the power of delegation and how it can lead to more time and freedom. They discuss the importance of identifying tasks you love and hate, and provide practical strategies for delegating at all levels of your organization. From overcoming the fear and vulnerability of delegating to developing trust with your team, Lany and S...
Apr 01, 2024•30 min•Ep. 113
