The Social Circus – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode, I'm diving deep into the world of ChatGPT, the AI tool everyone seems to be buzzing about. We’ll explore what ChatGPT is, how it works, and why it’s relevant for small business owners. I'll walk you through the basics, break down the jargon, and share some practical tips on how you can start using AI to save time and enhance your business operations. Whether you're feeling overwhelmed by the tech talk or just curious about what all the fuss is about, this episode is designed to be your easy-to-understand guide. Let’s turn that intimidation into inspiration and help you see how ChatGPT can be a powerful ally in your business toolkit!

1. ChatGPT Demystified: Understand what ChatGPT is and how it works in simple terms.
2. AI in Business: Learn how AI can streamline tasks and save time for small business owners.
3. Practical Applications: Discover real-world ways to implement ChatGPT in your business.
4. Overcoming Tech Fears: Tips on how to embrace AI without feeling overwhelmed.
5. Staying Ahead: Why now is the time to start exploring AI for your business.

1. "AI isn’t just for the tech giants—small business owners can benefit immensely too!"
2. "Think of ChatGPT as your digital assistant, ready to help with the tasks that take up too much of your time."
3. "The key is to start small; even a little AI can go a long way in boosting your business."
4. "Don’t be intimidated by the tech—embrace it, and watch how it transforms your workday."
5. "ChatGPT is like having a brainstorming partner who never gets tired or runs out of ideas."

In this solo episode of The Social Circus, I’m diving into the world of AI and sharing my absolute favourite tools that can transform how you run your business. AI can feel a bit overwhelming and even a tad intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be! I’m breaking down my go-to AI tools that are not only powerful but also user-friendly, even if you're not a tech wizard. From streamlining your daily tasks to boosting your marketing efforts, these tools are game-changers. So, whether you’re curious about AI or looking for practical ways to incorporate it into your business, this episode is packed with insights that will help you get ahead of the curve.

1. Embrace AI to streamline daily tasks.
2. AI tools can enhance your marketing strategies.
3. You don’t need to be tech-savvy to use AI.
4. Explore AI tools that fit your business needs.
5. Start small with AI and expand as you get comfortable.

1. "AI can feel terrifying, but it’s also incredibly exciting if you know where to start."
2. "You don’t need to be a tech expert to harness the power of AI in your business."
3. "The right AI tools can revolutionise the way you work, making your business more efficient."

• ChatGPT
• Gemini
• Jasper
• DALL·E
• Decipher AI
• Manychat

In this episode of "The Social Circus," host Sarah Thomson welcomes Kristy Borbas, an intuitive coach and wise woman, to discuss the profound impact of intuition and feminine cycles on personal empowerment and business success. Kristy and Sarah explore the importance of listening to our bodies, understanding our natural rhythms, and integrating these ancient practices into our modern lives to achieve balance and fulfillment.

Kristy shares her journey from feeling trapped in the corporate world to finding her true calling in helping women rediscover their inner wisdom. She emphasizes the significance of recognizing and honoring the different stages of womanhood, using tools like tarot, astrology, and feminine embodiment techniques. This episode is a must-listen for any woman seeking to harmonize her personal and professional life by embracing her natural cycles and intuition.

Understanding Natural Cycles : The importance of tracking menstrual and lunar cycles to optimize energy and productivity. Empowerment Through Intuition : Utilizing intuition and feminine embodiment practices to connect deeply with oneself. Balancing Masculine and Feminine Energies  : How modern women can navigate the masculine-dominated corporate environment by honoring their feminine energy. Self-Care and Rest : The critical role of rest and self-care in preventing burnout and fostering sustained success. Community and Support : The value of finding a supportive community or tribe to uplift and empower one another.

https://www.instagram.com/kristyborbas/ https://www.facebook.com/KristyBorbasWisewoman

Calling any woman wanting to reclaim the power in women’s circles and groups. To be the Wise Woman and Goddess.

This group will impact you Deeply from rituals, to intuitive sessions, seasonal offerings and a space to connect to the conscious feminine. We will cover goddess mythology and astrology, tarot, embodiment and self care practises, sound , voice healing and more. We do monthly new moon and full moon circles to share and weave  in the feminine rituals.

The time has come to gather, to remember our truth, to share our wisdom , to create magical kinships and above all feel safe to be who we are. This is for those wanting to journey with me in this beautiful awakening of women , and empower themselves.

https://kristyborbas.com/products/her-tribe-monthly-subscription

Join Sarah Thomson as she chats with Lala Macnab, a dynamic business mentor and serial entrepreneur with two decades of experience. Lala shares her journey of transforming her wedding stationery business amid industry changes and COVID-19, her process in launching new ventures like Good Vibes Scents, and insightful tips on balancing work and personal life. Discover Lala's strategies for resilience, innovation, and maintaining passion in business. Tune in for a wealth of wisdom and practical advice for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Adaptability and Resilience: Lala emphasizes the importance of adapting to market changes and being resilient in the face of business hardships.

Strategic Planning: Successful business launches require thorough planning and research, as demonstrated by Lala's approach to developing Good Vibe Scent Co.

Value of Mentorship: Offering pro bono mentoring during COVID-19 allowed Lala to help others while keeping her own morale high, showcasing the power of community support and professional guidance.

Balancing Business and Personal Life: Incorporating regular self-care and setting realistic goals are crucial for sustaining long-term business success and personal well-being.

Innovative Solutions: Identifying market gaps and creating superior products can drive business success, as seen with Lala's various ventures.

https://www.instagram.com/lalaforbusiness/

Welcome back to another episode of the Social Circus hosted by Sarah Thomson! This week, we dive deep into the world of virtual assistance and creative design with Marie Fox, the savvy founder of Crafty Fox by Design. Marie brings a wealth of experience to the table, sharing her journey from traditional administrative roles to becoming a Canva guru. Whether you’re a small business owner or an aspiring VA, this episode unveils practical insights on leveraging Canva for professional growth and managing the complex dynamics of work-life balance.

Key Takeaways:

• Canva Expertise: Learn Marie’s favorite Canva features, such as the background removal tool and design guides, which help elevate business presentations and social media posts.

• Virtual Assistance Evolution: Understand the evolving role of VAs and how specializing in tools like Canva can set you apart in the competitive landscape.

• Real-World Applications: Hear real-life scenarios where Marie's Canva skills provided indispensable support for her clients, ranging from document formatting to social media branding.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/Marie-fox/

In this week's episode of the Social Circus, host Sarah Thomson delves into the most common mistakes businesses make with their Meta ads. As a digital marketing coach, Sarah sees these mistakes frequently and offers her expert insight into how they can be avoided, ensuring more effective allocation of advertising budgets.

Sarah starts by explaining the transition from Facebook ads to Meta ads, highlighting the various placement options such as Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, and Audience Network. She emphasizes the importance of having a clear advertising strategy and understanding what you are trying to achieve with your ads, especially for solopreneurs and small business owners.

Sarah further discusses the importance of timing and budget. She advises against rushing ads and endorses a planning period of 6 to 8 weeks to allow proper testing and optimization. By discussing the critical metrics such as cost per click (CPC) and cost per conversion (CVR), she stresses the significance of a realistic budget to achieve desired outcomes. Additionally, Sarah emphasizes the necessity of testing different creative aspects of ads to optimize performance, underscoring the unpredictability of user preferences.

Lastly, Sarah highlights the importance of audience targeting. Drawing from her experience, she advocates for using custom audiences and lookalike audiences in Meta's Ads Manager for better ad performance. She advises against generalized targeting and encourages businesses to refine their audience segments to cater to specific demographics effectively.

• Meta Ads Transition: Understanding the shift from Facebook ads to Meta ads and the comprehensive placement options.

• Importance of Strategy: Why having a clear strategy is crucial for successful ad campaigns.

• Effective Timing: The benefits of planning your ad campaigns well in advance.

• Budget Considerations: Insights into how budget affects ad performance, including key metrics like CPC and CVR.

In this episode of the Social Circus, host Sarah Thomson welcomes the Search Queen, Sonja, an expert from the Search Republic, for an insightful discussion about SEO and digital marketing. Together, they delve into Sonja's inspiring business journey, her deep understanding of Google search, and the strong ethical convictions that underpin her company's success.

From her roots in traditional advertising to her evolution into a growth catalyst for businesses online, Sonja shares the motivations and experiences that shaped her agency. She articulates the importance of stripping away the industry jargon to connect with her clients and shares candid stories of industry malpractices that compelled her to start her own venture. A strong emphasis is placed on building trust with clients, especially those who have been jaded by past experiences with digital marketing agencies.

• Sonja discusses her mission to empower business owners not only in sales but also by giving them the gift of time through her heart-centered business approach.

• Sarah and Sonja explore how mindset can significantly impact the success of Google Ads campaigns.

• A strong narrative unfolds around the ethics of business practices in digital marketing and the universal need for transparency and honesty.

• Sonja touches upon the challenges of owning a business, from managing expectations to spearheading results-driven SEO strategies.

• www.thesearchrepublic.com.au @‌the_search_republic @‌sonjathesearchqueen

In this episode, we welcome Amanda Louisa, a former corporate lawyer turned sustainability advocate. Amanda shares her inspiring journey from the grind of corporate law to discovering wellness through nervous system regulation and somatic experiencing therapies. Her story is all about resilience, self-discovery, and redefining success, particularly for women stuck in the "good girl" mold.

Amanda and I chat about the often-overlooked concept of feminine energy and how it plays a crucial role in successful entrepreneurship. She delves into her personal struggles and triumphs, emphasizing the need for authentic workplace well-being initiatives and flexible work rhythms that honor our natural energy cycles.

Key Takeaways:

• Amanda's journey from high-stress corporate life to embracing wellness and feminine energy.
• The importance of breaking free from the "good girl" conditioning to achieve sustainability in business and personal life.
• Advocacy for nervous system regulation and somatic experiencing therapies as essential for mental health.
• Emphasizing personalized work rhythms and strategic rest to boost creativity and productivity.

Notable Quotes:

• "As soon as I hit the professional world, I kind of abandoned [spiritual practices]." - Amanda Louisa
• "Unless we're working with our body and the somatic side of our nervous system, we're only dealing with 20% of the solution." - Amanda Louisa
• "If you think about males or people who have testosterone as the dominant hormone in their system, they have a linear output of energy...whereas women...have different hormonal outputs at different times in our cycle." - Amanda Louisa
• "It took me so long to learn how I want to work." - Sarah Thomson
• "The staff is taking that permission of I can do my work the way I want to do it and that's where success lies." - Amanda Louisa

Resources:

Instagram: Instagram (@theamandalouisa)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-louisa/

Website: Amanda Louisa Services — Amanda Louisa

Dive into the full episode for an in-depth exploration of these themes with Amanda and me. Stay tuned to the Social Circus for more thought-provoking conversations!

Welcome to an informative episode of the social circus, where host Sarah Thomson celebrates reaching over 100 episodes and two years of sharing valuable social media, mindset, and business insights. Today's focus is a practical guide on effectively growing your Instagram following, a question often posed to Sarah in her capacity as a business coach.

In this episode, Sarah emphasizes the importance of having a cohesive and appealing Instagram profile, likening it to an inviting storefront that captures passersby's attention. Following this, she delves into several growth tactics, including the strategic use of Instagram reels and hashtags, leveraging collaborations and competitions, and engaging directly with the audience through comments and DMs. These practices underscore the necessity of daily, authentic interaction on the platform for optimal growth and audience engagement.

• Instagram Profile as Your Storefront: Ensure your Instagram profile is inviting and clearly communicates your business offering to encourage new followers.

• Leverage Reels: Utilize Instagram reels to reach a broader audience, as reels are pushed out beyond your existing followers.

• Hashtag Strategy: Maximize your content visibility by using up to 30 relevant hashtags on every post.

• Collaborations and Competitions: Collaborate with similar non-competing businesses and consider running competitions to attract followers from overlapping audiences.

• Engage Authentically: Spend time daily engaging authentically with other accounts through comments and direct messages to increase visibility and grow your following organically.

• "Think about your Instagram profile as something similar to having a storefront."

• "Reels are the only type of content on Instagram that the algorithm will push out beyond your existing followers."

• "Instagram have told us that they consider 30 hashtags to be best practice."

• "People who are similar in terms of maybe demographic psychographic information hang out together or know each other."

• "There is no express elevator to success. You always have to take the stairs."

• The Blooming Bids Academy - Sarah's membership platform for business coaching 

• Online Social Butterfly - Sarah's Instagram handle for profile reference

• YouTube Channel: Online Social Butterfly - Find free tutorial videos by Sarah Thomson 

Continue your learning journey by tuning in to the full episode to gain more in-depth guidance and actionable strategies to grow your Instagram following. Don't miss out on more episodes filled with insight—subscribe and join us next time at the social circus!

In this episode of the Social Circus, Sarah Thomson talks about the tough times businesses go through when things slow down. She starts by chatting about how comparing yourself to others on social media can mess with your head, and she's all about staying grounded during both personal and business growth. Sarah's got a reassuring and practical tone, offering up a mix of encouragement and advice for entrepreneurs in a slow phase.

She dives into how economic and global events can affect consumer spending and business, leading to big decisions for business owners. Drawing from her own experience, Sarah shares loads of strategies to make the most of quiet times. She highlights the importance of keeping clients happy, organizing your business stuff, and setting up efficient systems. Plus, she sprinkles in real-life examples to make her advice relatable.

• The perception of success on social media is not always indicative of reality, and comparing one's journey to others can be detrimental.

• Quiet periods in business can be utilized for productive tasks such as nurturing client relationships, organizing files, and systematizing operations.

• Implementing systematic approaches to email management, lead tracking, and financial audits can improve business efficiency and prepare one for future growth.

• Upskilling through reading, podcasts, online courses, and even revisiting past educational materials can be a valuable use of downtime.

• Taking supplementary jobs or alternate income sources during tough times is a pragmatic and jud