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In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson talks with Scott Rumisser about why customer care is central to business growth. They discuss how to create a strong first impression, common service mistakes small businesses make, and why existing customers can become a business’s best marketing channel. Scott shar
Every entrepreneur eventually encounters a difficult customer. Whether it’s someone who demands the impossible, complains about every detail, has unrealistic expectations, or all that stuff, and pays late. Dealing with challenging customers is simply part of doing business. The good news is that difficult customers don
In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson is joined by Saul Cohen to explore strategies for increasing business valuation. They discuss the differences between an operator and an investor mindset, addressing common revenue misconceptions. The conversation covers key drivers of business valuation, the importa
By: Leyanis Diaz, SmallBizLady Team Disclosure: I attended Alibaba.com CoCreate 2026 as part of a hosted press trip. All opinions and takeaways shared here are my own. Artificial intelligence is no longer something small business owners can afford to watch from the sidelines. That was one of my biggest takeaways from a
For many small businesses, inbound leads are among the most valuable sources of potential sales. When someone picks up the phone or goes to your website to contact your business, they are usually much closer to making a buying decision than someone casually browsing online. They already recognize they have a problem an
Buying an existing service business can be one of the fastest paths to entrepreneurship. Instead of starting from scratch, you inherit customers, revenue, employees, systems, and a proven market position. Whether you purchased an accounting firm, marketing agency, consulting practice, insurance agency, HVAC company, cl
In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson is joined by Tonya Thomas to explore the pitfalls of becoming a bottleneck in business and how it can impede growth. They discuss the critical responsibilities of a CEO and the challenges associated with delegation, highlighting common mistakes when hiring operations
Artificial intelligence isn’t replacing your employees; it’s redefining how successful organizations work. For decades, organizations have adapted to waves of technological change. We moved from paper files to personal computers. We embraced email, cloud computing, mobile devices, and remote work. Each shift transforme
In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson welcomes Susan Hall Walker to discuss the inspiring journey behind the Ibu Movement and its impact on artisan networks. Susan shares the origins of Ibu and how it operates to expand and support artisan communities globally. The conversation highlights shifts in consu
In this episode of The SmallBizChat, Melinda Emerson starts with an introduction, providing an overview of the podcast and encouraging subscriptions. Melinda then introduces the “Hit It and Quit It” segment, where she engages in a rapid-fire discussion about business favorites, including podcasts, apps, marketing trick
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