Be The Drop - Investigating Brand Storytelling

Plenty would say that social media and business have a reluctant relationship. But my podcast guest this week, Brent Hill, is a firm believer that brands should be as social as possible. And as human as possible. As Director of Marketing at SA Tourism Commission, Brent Hill is committed to promoting Brand SA overseas and interstate. Two years ago, Brent took the job with the mission to eliminate people saying, "there's nothing on in Adelaide." Already, he has seen South Australia listed by Lonely Planet in the top 10 places to visit. In today's episode of Be The Drop, we discuss the importance of social media, essential strategies and metrics for successful marketing, and Brent reveals how South Australia is fast becoming a favourite tourist destination. Join our business Facebook Group for support & resources.  Want more social media and business storytelling tips and tricks, or how to's to help you do your job? We release new content each week! SUBSCRIBE to the blog here. SUBSCRIBE to the Be The Drop

This week’s episode was recorded LIVE at the Fleurieu Film Festival, a grassroots festival built to support filmmakers, that celebrates the beauty and diversity of the Fleurieu region. Speaking to some of the event organisers and participants, we delve into the power of video storytelling. Video is a medium that we are very passionate about at Narrative Marketing, and our Chief Videographer Chris Warman is also the Technical Director and Curator of Fleurieu Film Festival. Now in its third year, the festival has grown to 600+ attendees from just 200 in its inaugural year. It's a fantastic way to showcase homegrown talent, and also attracts both interstate and international submissions. In today's episode of Be The Drop, we discuss the highs and lows of filmmaking, the evolution of video storytelling, and our very own Chris reveals a top insight into short film character development.

If you're wondering how to approach your content marketing, don't worry; you're not alone. Many people are overwhelmed by the number of channels and sheer volume of content they think is required to connect.  Our approach is to create one central report that maps out the key elements of your content strategy, we call it the Gold Report because it's worth its weight in gold! One central location for all your critical content data, our Gold Report matches target audience(s) and content themes to key business goals. It identifies relevant keywords, content channels and visual media to take the headache out of regularly producing content. Does your content strategy do the same? In today's episode of Be The Drop, Narrative Marketing's Wordsmith Jojo Furnival and I chat about the value of a content strategy, the latest Facebook algorithm changes, and we reveal some of the secrets behind creating a Gold Report of your very own. Want more content marketing how to's, or tips to help you promote your business? We rel

If you're a small business owner or entrepreneur, you've probably typed into Google "how to run your own PR" at some point. This podcast episode will help you answer that question. Former journalist and founder of O'Rourke PR, Rebecca O'Rourke is an expert in helping people to tell their story through public relations. Over the past decade, Rebecca has worked with brands and entrepreneurs to get them seen, heard and remembered. In today's episode of Be The Drop, we chat about the evolution of media, her own business story, and Rebecca reveals some top tips for dealing with negativity towards your brand. Join our Facebook Group to check out our free goal setting program. SUBSCRIBE to the blog here. SUBSCRIBE to the Be The Drop podcast in iTunes here (Android users can access free via 'Podcast Addict'). SUBSCRIBE on YouTube here for the full interview video, behind the scenes, bloopers & more. CONNECT with us on Facebook, follow @be_the_drop on Instagram or Twitter. CONTACT US   podcast@narrativemarketing

Kylie Bishop has successfully founded and built two businesses. A problem solver by nature, 10 years ago she co-founded LBW co, to provide solutions around site contamination. She also solves problems for her clients through her second business, Incredible U, as a business consultant and mentor. Kylie is a Telstra Women in Business Awards winner, a mother of 5 and a firm believer in the value of business storytelling to positively impact your bottom line. In today's episode of  Be The Drop, we reflect on the importance of reflection, discuss top tips for building a company, and Kylie reveals how to make sure you don't become owned by your business. SUBSCRIBE to the blog here or by using the ‘storytelling superpowers’ form on the right. SUBSCRIBE to the Be The Drop podcast in iTunes here (Android users can access free via ‘Podcast Addict’). SUBSCRIBE on YouTube here for the full interview video, behind the scenes, bloopers & more. CONNECT with us on Facebook, follow @be_the_drop on Instagram or Twitter.

If you want to achieve real business growth, a strategic and up-to-date marketing plan is one of your most powerful tools. In this episode you will learn: > The critical benefits to creating and maintaining a marketing plan > Key data and insights that must be included > The importance of a compelling and detailed Executive Summary > Tips for kick-starting your marketing plan review In today's episode of Be The Drop, I talk about the WHY, WHAT and HOW of marketing strategy. I discuss why it's likely to be your biggest asset for supporting business growth and I also give you a framework for reviewing or starting your own strategic marketing plan. Join our Facebook Group, Brand Storytelling Superheroes for support and resources to achieve your marketing goals. SUBSCRIBE to the blog here SUBSCRIBE to the Be The Drop podcast in iTunes here (Android users can access free via 'Podcast Addict'). SUBSCRIBE on YouTube here for more interviews, behind the scenes, bloopers & more. CONNECT with us on Facebook, foll

Keeping on top of my small business accounting needs was something that used to cause me a lot of grief. Before I met Mitch Uzelac of MU Business Solutions and Edward Bernard of Formula Accounting, I often felt overwhelmed by the many tasks required to manage the financial aspects of my small business. I'm a communication specialist, not an accountant, and at times I felt completely bamboozled by those aspects of running Narrative Marketing. So I out-sourced. Mitch is a cloud bookkeeping specialist and Ed is a tax accountant. They have the skills, knowledge and experience that I don't possess and are essential to running my business successfully. If like me, you're looking to improve how you manage your business finances, then this episode is for you. In today's episode of  Be The Drop, we lift the lid on some of the less fun aspects of running a business, we chat about what they call "the Apple of accounting software", and Mitch reveals the one thing that causes most businesses to fail. The is Mitch + Ed’s

It was a huge pleasure to interview entrepreneur and author, Matthew Michalewicz, as I am a big fan of his book Life in Half a Second. Life in Half a Second is described as the first "fact-based" formula for achieving success in life and business. Based on Matthew's two decades of research, it presents the five doors you must walk through to succeed, whatever your goals. But the book is not just a catalogue of academic references and scientific findings, it's also a collection of very personal stories that help to illustrate various points. Matthew's own experiences are what make it such a memorable read. In today’s episode of  Be The Drop, Matthew and I discuss the importance of goal setting. We encourage you to ask yourself what you don't like about your life and what you're going to do to turn that around. If you're a practical person that wants success, this is the podcast for you. Ready to build your business? Join our professional Facebook community in time for our free January goal setting program. S

Today is a very special day, the very first day of a brand new year, so HAPPY NEW YEAR and welcome to 2018! I’m going to cover some key things that will help us all put our best foot forward and start 2018 in the strongest possible way. In today’s episode of  Be The Drop, I open with an offer to help you smash your goals for success in 2018, I review key marketing lessons from 2017 and I make my predictions for marketing trends in 2018... This is my Kickstart 2018 version of Be The Drop Ready to build your business? Join our professional Facebook community in time for our free January goal setting program. SUBSCRIBE to the blog here SUBSCRIBE to the Be The Drop podcast in iTunes here (Android users can access free via 'Podcast Addict'). SUBSCRIBE on YouTube here for the full interview video, behind the scenes, bloopers & more. CONNECT with us on Facebook, follow @be_the_drop on Instagram or Twitter. CONTACT US podcast@narrativemarketing.com.au

First and foremost, I want to wish you, my dear listener a very Merry Christmas. I want to thank you for giving me the gift of your time by tuning in to my weekly episode. Your support is greatly appreciated. As today’s episode of Be The Drop, is being released on the 25th of December, I want to take time to reflect on what Christmas means to me and also reflect on a business context for the festive season. Christmas can be all things, incredibly exciting and full of joy right through to a sad reminder of people not with us. My hope for you is that wherever you sit in the gamut of emotions this Christmas, is that you take some time to reflect. I am reminded of a line in one of my favorite poems, Desiderata “Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.” In today’s episode of  Be The Drop, I encourage you to enjoy a moment of silence amongst the chaos of Christmas. I discuss why it’s important to not get caught up in the giving of things but to focus on connecting with

If you've ever experienced burn-out, you'll understand the importance of work life balance. My guest this week, self-confessed workaholic Amber Chapman, went through this and more before establishing herself as The Business Therapist and co-founding the work-space, Evolve. Amber's business journey has taken her from leadership operations roles in not-for-profits through debilitating illness, to self-employment and a commitment to honour the things she values in her work life. In today’s episode of  Be The Drop, we discuss the importance of knowing your purpose and finding people around you that understand and support it, and Amber reveals how your workplace can support your personal development. FREE PROGRAM LINKS:  If like Amber you aspire to achieve work life balance I invite you to join me on my Goal Setting for Small Business program this January. It's completely free and designed to provide a support network to anyone working in small business, and will include resources and advice from a number of insp

When I met Josh Cobb at Social Media Marketing World in 2015, I didn't imagine that two years later I'd be interviewing the 2017 Brisbane Entrepreneur of the Year (Marketing & Events) about how to build a business! Josh began his company, Stepps, with nothing more than a podcast microphone and a bucket load of enthusiasm. Three years later, it's Australia's leading digital marketing training provider for the real estate sector. In today’s episode of  Be The Drop, we take a trip down memory lane, discuss the huge value of owned data (like your website and email), and Josh reveals the story of how Michelin tyres became Michelin stars. This is Josh’s version of Be The Drop SUBSCRIBE to the blog here or by using the 'storytelling superpowers' form on the right. SUBSCRIBE to the Be The Drop podcast in iTunes here (Android users can access free via 'Podcast Addict'). SUBSCRIBE on YouTube here for the full interview video, behind the scenes, bloopers & more. CONNECT with us on Facebook, follow @be_the_drop

Are you a small business owner or staff member responsible for a certain degree of business development? Are you good at what they do but feel uncomfortable selling yourself and presenting to others? You are not alone. I often get asked how it is that I am incredibly comfortable when asked to present or MC at an event.   So in today’s episode of  Be The Drop, I’m going to share with you why I am 100% confident to speak in public and I’ll also share with you my 10 Golden Rules of Public Speaking that will help improve your confidence to put yourself forward...   This is my version of Be The Drop   SUBSCRIBE to us in iTunes here (Android users can access through the free app ‘Podcast Addict’). Get more free marketing resources on our video channel – SUBSCRIBE to us in YouTube here. PS: REMEMBER to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

In Australia, the word 'sales' can sometimes have a negative connotation and yet, it is the foundation of building a successful business and the process by which customers can access products and services that they need or want. My guest this week, Paul Kitching, has mastered the skill of delivering positive sales experiences. An expert at selling, PK learnt his craft in the 1980's via excellent customer service and sales training at retailer, Country Road. PK then went on to have a distinguished career in media sales. Now Business Development Manager at Fuller, PK refers back to his Country Road training to this very day. In today’s episode of  Be The Drop, we chat about the importance of relationships and storytelling in sales, and PK reveals his top tips for super-charging your business networking. SUBSCRIBE to the Be The Drop podcast in iTunes here (Android users can access free via 'Podcast Addict') SUBSCRIBE on YouTube here for the full interview video, behind the scenes, bloopers & more SUBSCRIBE

This week I chat with the inspirational Founder of You Legal, Sarah Bartholomeusz. Winner of the Telstra Business Women's Award after only 18 months in business, Sarah has also won a thought-leader award through Lawyers Weekly. Both awards recognise the change she has made in the way legal services can be delivered in Australia. Sarah's business journey began with being made redundant. She describes this as her "permission slip" to live a creative life. Now, with You Legal lawyers across Australia, and two books under her belt, Sarah describes being in business as a "hugely creative experience". In today’s episode of  Be The Drop, we chat about recognising women in business, how to use stories to convey memorable information, and Sarah reveals why she knows so much about the shady underworld of drug dealing. SUBSCRIBE to the blog here or by using the 'storytelling superpowers' form on the right. SUBSCRIBE to the Be The Drop podcast in iTunes here (Android users can access free via 'Podcast Addict'). SUBSCR

This week's episode was recorded live from We Are Podcast 2017, in Brisbane. This annual event is in its third year and the line up is AMAZING! Included in the incredible smorgasbord of speakers, is the sensational duo, John Lee Dumas and Kate Erickson from Entrepreneurs on Fire, the podcast which ignited my passion for podcasting!! So off course, I made it my mission to speak with them to get some value bombs from them, to share with you! There is a host of other incredible guests and I managed to interview four of them to share some of their top insights with you. In this episode, you’ll hear from Sean D’Souza host of The 3 month vacation, Nicole Baldinu from $100 MBA, Jordan Harbinger from the wildly popular podcast, The Art of Charm as well as Kate Erickson from Entrepreneur on Fire. In today’s episode of  Be The Drop, my guests cover the importance of providing skills not information to your clients, we look at why podcasting attracts such inclusive communities, and I share my top hints and tips from th

Sasha Baranikov is an expert in storytelling to build trust. Co-founder and CEO of Uniti Wireless, she knows that stories are a powerful way to convey technical information and simplify it into relatable terms. When bringing a new product to market, you must tell the story of how it improves customers' lives. Uniti's product is super-fast internet. Described by Sasha as "like fiber through the air", it meets a huge customer demand despite the competitive marketplace. And the business has seen rapid growth as a result. In just four years, Uniti has gone from a mere concept to a stable business with employees in two states, with further plans to expand nationally next year. In today’s episode of  Be The Drop, we chat storytelling to build trust, the constant learning of business, and Sasha reveals the key to making sales and resolving disputes... This is Sasha’s version of Be The Drop… SUBSCRIBE to the blog here  SUBSCRIBE to the Be The Drop podcast in iTunes here (Android users can access free via 'Podcast A

Like me, Lisa Cook has always had a passion for business. Not only that, but she understands the role of storytelling in the boardroom. In fact, stories are an integral component of her boardroom training business, Get On Board. As Lisa was joining organisational boards from a young age, she witnessed how little support there was out there for brand new board members with little or no experience. So she founded Get On Board to deliver online education and development for current and aspiring board members. In today’s episode of  Be The Drop, we chat ego attachment, the importance of having fun in the boardroom, and Lisa reveals how social media can be used to recruit even the top dogs... This is Lisa's version of Be The Drop... Resources referenced in this episode:  Website: www.getonboardaustralia.com.au Boardroom Bootcamp: www.boardroombootcamp.com.au Local Sport Club Board/Committee Resources: http://ors.sa.gov.au/about_us/publications    Make sure you don't miss an episode: SUBSCRIBE to the blog here usi

The importance of human connection in the digital world has come up a lot in Be The Drop, which is why in today’s episode I review and summarise some of the key tips we’ve learnt to help you look your audience in the eye, digitally. I also review the key central component that will drive your ability to deliver successful online communication, that not only engages but also motivates and inspires your audience to take action; this critical component is, the strategy that underpins your digital content.   In today's episode of Be The Drop, I provide a list of tools that you can access for FREE to assist you to create digital content that engages your target customers and discuss why your marketing and content strategy need to be the solid foundation that underpins the delivery of top communication results... This is an actionable summary version of Be The Drop… Resources referenced in this episode:  http://narrativemarketing.com.au/blog/know-your-brand-share-it-and-develop-strong-communities/ http://narrativ

Like most entrepreneurs, Jamie Stenhouse has experienced both highs and lows on his business journey. Head of Market Titans Agency and a fellow advocate of business storytelling, he was once a teenager with a speech impediment that saw him drop out of high school. He enrolled in an IT course to try and avoid interpersonal communication. But it was when he confronted his fear of speaking in public, that his entrepreneurial journey really began. From web design and HTML coding to founding a clothing line, Jamie has had considerable professional success through his humble keyboard. His anxiety over speaking a thing of the past, Jamie is now an inspirational keynote speaker and shares his personal story as the Stuttering Entrepreneur. In today’s episode of  Be The Drop, we chat business storytelling, how to personalise in the automated digital world, and Jamie reveals the one thing you need to get right in order for everything to work… This is Jamie’s version of Be The Drop… Want more business storytelling tips