Enthusiastically Self-Employed: business tips, marketing tips, and LinkedIn tips for coaches, consultants, speakers, authors, solopreneurs & small business owners

A live chat with Bobby Umar on "Building a Multi-Platform Thought Leadership Brand that Actually Monetizes"
Connect with Bobby:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbyumar/
https://www.raeallan.com/hirebobbytos...
https://thoughtleadershipbranding.club/
Originally Aired Tuesday, February 21, 2023.
Watch full interview on video:
https://youtube.com/live/4xcXduJ3cIY

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My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie.
Visit mellermarketing.com
Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller
(click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)

Keeping Accounting Records Up-to-Date for Easier Tax Prep with Michelle Carley

Where do we even get started with this process?

What do we need to know about our accounting records as it relates to getting things ready for tax prep?

What advice would you give to someone who's just getting started?

What about somebody who's already well established, working with a CPA?

Who does a good support team consist of?

Could you give us some examples of what a startup cost would be compared to what is an operating cost?

What are those common mistakes or pitfalls that we need to be avoiding?

What do you recommend for someone who hasn't done their mileage yet and needs to before tax time?

Do you recommend people try to do their taxes themselves?

What's the difference between cash base versus accrual base?

In this replay of a LinkedIn Live episode from Summer 2024, Brenda Meller speaks with accounting expert Michelle Carley. They discuss the importance of keeping accounting records up-to-date for easier tax prep, particularly for the self-employed, such as coaches, consultants, and small business owners. Michelle, CEO and founder of Big Easy Bookkeeping Company, shares valuable tips, including knowing your numbers, scheduling regular bookkeeping time, and distinguishing between startup and operating costs. They also explore common pitfalls in bookkeeping and the benefits of having a suitable support team and a well-designed bookkeeping system. Michelle offers resources like a startup checklist and a list of tax-deductible expense categories, aiming to help solopreneurs manage their books effectively and confidently.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Context

00:33 Meet Michelle Carley: Bookkeeping Expert

01:43 The Importance of Organized Accounting

07:17 Top Tips for Tax Preparation

10:40 Advice for Solopreneurs and Established Businesses

16:36 Common Bookkeeping Mistakes to Avoid

21:15 Cash Basis vs. Accrual Basis Explained

22:10 QuickBooks: Overkill or Essential?

22:35 Navigating QuickBooks Challenges

24:01 Live Q&A Session Begins

25:23 Mileage Tracking for Self-Employed

27:25 Tax Preparation Tips for Self-Employed

29:22 Profit First: A Money Management System

31:37 Free Resources and Offers

32:32 Connecting on LinkedIn and Final Thoughts

Originally aired in July 2024

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My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie.
Visit mellermarketing.com
Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller
(click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)

Welcome to our LinkedIn Trifecta Talks!

Speakers:

• Brenda Meller, LinkedIn Coach
• Michelle B. Griffin, Personal Brand PR Strategist
• Michelle J. Raymond, B2B LinkedIn Specialist

Key Points:

• LinkedIn Games: All three speakers found the new LinkedIn games to be confusing and a bad user experience. They questioned their value and suggested LinkedIn focus on improving existing features.The speakers discussed the games' complexity and how they distracted from more productive LinkedIn activities.
  
• Mobile Video Feed: Brenda, a beta tester, has limited experience with the feature and finds the content irrelevant. Michelle B. Griffin dislikes the short attention span nature of video feeds. Michelle J. Raymond expects the feature to be monetized heavily with ads. They all agree it feels like a copycat feature from other platforms.
  Brenda mentioned that the feed is difficult to find on the mobile app and lacks a clear purpose. Michelle B. Griffin expressed concerns about its impact on attention span and productivity. Michelle J. Raymond predicted that LinkedIn would use the feature to increase ad revenue.
  
• Premium Pages: Brenda has not seen the option for her pages, while Michelle J. Raymond finds the features underwhelming. They believe LinkedIn should have done better user research and offered features page admins would actually pay for. Brenda suggests LinkedIn involve LinkedIn coaches and trainers in discussions about platform development.
  Michelle J. Raymond shared her disappointment with the limited features offered by Premium Pages, which she felt were not worth the cost. She suggested that LinkedIn should have consulted with page admins to understand their needs.
  
• Books / Other Projects: Michelle B. Griffin is writing a book titled "Standout Women: How to Become an Authority in Your Space". Michelle J. Raymond is focusing on refining her existing work, including her co-authored book "Business Gold: The Ultimate Guide to LinkedIn for Business". Brenda Meller has launched a new membership program called Marketing with Meller, as well as continuing to launch her course "The Recipe for Social Selling on LinkedIn".
  Michelle B. Griffin discussed her experience writing her book and the challenges she faced. Michelle J. Raymond shared her plans to focus on refining her existing work. Brenda Meller talked about the benefits of her new membership program.
  
• Future Plans: Michelle J. Raymond is speaking at a conference in Denmark about LinkedIn company pages. Brenda Meller highlighted the value of her LinkedIn course and webinars for those looking to improve their social selling skills.
  

Areas of Focus:

• LinkedIn Best Practices: The speakers provided insights on effective LinkedIn strategies, including content creation, networking, and lead generation.
  
• Personal Branding: Michelle B. Griffin emphasized the importance of building a strong personal brand on LinkedIn.
  
• B2B Marketing: Michelle J. Raymond shared tips for businesses to use LinkedIn for lead generation and customer acquisition.
  
• Content Creation: The speakers discussed the importance of creating high-quality content that

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My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie.
Visit mellermarketing.com
Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller
(click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)

044 How to Create Systems & Processes to Save Time & Money by Sarah Larsen
Connect with Sarah on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/iamsarahlarsen/
Freebies, services, and offers:
✅ Learn more at https://sarah-larsen.com/
✅ Guide to Freedom https://sarah-larsen.com/end-overwhelm-with-a-free-guide-to-freedom/
✅ Breakfast Blend Plan With Me https://sarahlarsen.mykajabi.com/opt-in-823d91a4-9bc1-4d92-81a8-34b34a550cfa
Originally aired Thursday, August 24, 2023.
To see the list of upcoming interviews, visit:
https://www.mellermarketing.com/upcoming-live-interviews

WATCH on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs9lzynM74w&list=PL4um17Ji5FVSLlClc_t4OozYrESoFGb3m&index=4

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My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie.
Visit mellermarketing.com
Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller
(click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)

Are you ready to take the reins and steer your career towards the horizon of self-employment? Terry Bean, the mastermind behind Motor City Connect and TEDx Detroit, joins us to illuminate the path from the conventional 9-to-5 grind to the fulfillment of entrepreneurship.
Terry's journey and impact offer a roadmap filled with practical wisdom and encouragement for those poised at the threshold of this life-altering transition.
This episode promises to be more than just a conversation—it's a catalyst for the change you've been contemplating, packed with strategies and personal anecdotes that will empower your next bold step.
Terry lays out the six degrees of connectedness, showcasing the essential role of building strong relationships in achieving personal and business success.
With his insights from Behavioral Elements, he offers a compelling look into how understanding behaviors and motivations can greatly enhance our ability to forge meaningful connections. For an added bonus, Terry has crafted an exclusive video just for our listeners, complementing the transformative ideas shared during this session. So, if you're on the brink of embracing your inner entrepreneur or simply aiming to elevate your connection skills, this episode is your ticket to a richer, more connected future.
Watch the video playback & get Terry's resources:
https://www.mellermarketing.com/shift

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My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie.
Visit mellermarketing.com
Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller
(click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)