Blue Mountains
Business Made Social Learn
The largest library of business resources in the Blue Mountains. A collection of curated articles, videos, webinars, courses and tools. Updated often.
Feel free to submit your own insights below.
Exclusive to Blue Mountains businesses.
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– Latest Online Business Events
– Insights
– Remote Working
– Networking
– Online Events
– Productivity/Automation
– Marketing/SEO
– Website/WordPress
– Email Marketing/CRM
– Social Media
– Creativity
– Planning
– Self Care
– Security
– Customer Service
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How is the Business Drinks PIVOTING?
Earlier this year before COVID we introduced Featured Discussion Topics (which was very popular). We’re extending and focusing on how we can support each other online with tools and training and back to doing events (later).
We are also going to REBRAND as Business Made Social. Watch this space!
LATEST ONLINE BUSINESS EVENTS & RESOURCES
Business News Snapshot - Blue Mountains City Council
In response to bush fires and COVID-19, Blue Mountains City Council is implementing an outreach program to support local businesses.
Part of this program is to advocate for our businesses community, regularly share information about funding and changes to COVID-19 restrictions, as well as opportunities for networking and training.
Love Local – Blue Mountains Online Business Directory
– Add your business to the directory for free!
Complete the form and have the option to subscribe to their newsletter as well.
They have a range of useful information via the recovery for business portal on their website.
Sign up to their Business News Snapshot newsletter.
Other Training
THE GROWTH FLYWHEEL
This free, 3-part video series will help you:
- Craft a “One Page Marketing Plan” that creates customers from scratch
- Build a “Growth Scorecard” that creates focus and clarity
- Select the high-leverage activities that will actually grow your sales
- Slay distraction and “shiny object syndrome” once and for all
Building an Educational Content Strategy – On-Demand Webinar
Learn from HubSpot’s very own Director of HubSpot Academy, Christopher LoDolce to learn how your organisation can make educational content the bedrock of your marketing and sales strategy to better engage your customers and prospects.
Local Submission
Welcome to SEO Unlocked: Your Free SEO Training Course – Neil Patel (this guy knows his stuff!)
Posted by Steve Krinks from Well Optimised
(You beat me too it, but kudos where it is due!)
Google have been building up info to support small businesses during the plague and have it all accessible here:
g.co/smallbiz-covid1
Posted by Steve Krinks from Well Optimised
It includes Primer, a comprehensive and broad program covering all aspects of running a business, and Skillshop, which has training on Google tools.
https://www.yourprimer.com
https://skillshop.withgoogle.c
Posted by Steve Krinks from Well Optimised
Time Converter
Note: Whilst some events may go live early morning. Register anyway and usually you are sent a link to a replay.
Remote Working
Tools
Workshops/Events/Courses
Articles
TOOLS
Dubb – The World’s Sales-Focused Video Communication Platform – Video Your Self. We use Dubb. Love it!
Zoom – is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. We use Zoom, a lot!
WORKSHOPS/EVENTS/COURSES
Remote Work Academy – This is for you: the remote worker who doesn’t need an office to get down to business. We’re going to be bringing you experts from across the web to teach you the skills, tactics, strategies, and hacks to get the most out of your #WFHhustle.
Remote (Under) Control – A pragmatic and actionable guide to remotely working and team-building [BOOK]
Video interview with Author – Gil Gildner
what's being said ....
Online Events
Tools
Workshops/Events/Courses
Articles
TOOLS
Zoom – is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. We use Zoom, a lot!
Hey Summit – Online summits,
made simple. Take the heavy lifting out of summit organisation. Get your message in front of a global audience by leveraging the marketing power of an online summit.
WORKSHOPS/EVENTS/COURSES
ARTICLES/VIDEO
Productivity/
Automation
Tools
Workshops/Events/Courses
Articles
TOOLS
Missing Lettr – More Traffic, Less Effort.
Missinglettr automatically turns your blog posts into engaging social media campaigns. We use MissingLettr.
Pocket – save interesting articles, videos and more from the web for later enjoyment.
SmallPDF – All-in-one easy-to-use online PDF tools.
Video Speed Controller – Speed up, slow down, rewind and advance any HTML5 video with quick shortcuts. I use this every day!
Feedly – Goodbye information overload
Keep up with the topics and trends you care about, without the overwhelm.
Voice Paper 2 [iPhone App] – Text to speech voice reader for Pocket, Dropbox, Evernote and Copied Text.
TIP: Connect to Pocket and use replay speed options to consume content faster.
Otter.ai [Audio to Text]
Generate rich notes for meetings, interviews, lectures, and other important voice conversations with Otter, your AI-powered assistant.
Get Premium for a month or use the generous FREE plan.
Ontraport – All your marketing tools in one place
Create and launch your automated marketing campaigns and all your promotional pieces — from emails to pages to pop-up forms — right inside of Ontraport so it’s all seamlessly connected. We use Ontraport.
PromoRepublic – Use PromoRepublic’s social media management platform to create and customise content with built-in tools, schedule it to multiple social media pages, run ads, and get results for your business.
We use PromoRepublic.
Zapier – Connect your apps and automate workflows
Easy automation for busy people. Zapier moves info between your web apps automatically, so you can focus on your most important work. I’ve had Zapier running 24/7 for over 6 years!
Convert Case – A very handy online text tool where you can change between lower case and upper case letters, where you can capitalise, uncapitalise, convert to mix case and transform your text. Love this tool. Always using it.
WORKSHOPS/EVENTS/COURSES
Readitfor.me – Get the scoop on the best business and personal development books in 12 minutes or less. You will need to set up a free AppSumo account.
TIP: Watch the video version and then use Video Speed Controller to increase playback speed. Consume content faster!
ARTICLES/VIDEO
4 stress-reducing Google Calendar settings you didn’t know you needed
Sample Nurture Sequence for Lead Magnets
Introduction to Marketing Automation
How to win at SEO with FAQ schema markup
4 time-saving Gmail settings you didn’t know you needed
Best Paid and Free Timesheet Apps for Businesses in 2020
Use automation to stay organised and stress less at work
8 Common Workplace Productivity Killers (And What You Can Do About Them)
How Time Management Becomes Time Maximisation
How to turn Google Calendar into the ultimate productivity hub
Marketing/SEO
Tools
Workshops/Events/Courses
Articles
TOOLS
Ubersuggest is a free SEO tool that specialises in generating new keyword ideas.
WORKSHOPS/EVENTS/COURSES
15 Persuasive Copywriting Techniques That’ll Boost Conversions
How to Promote Your Content When You Have No Money
Content marketing fails: How to analyze and improve
How to teach an old blog new SEO tricks
Three SEO mistakes that can impact your search rankings
What Exactly Is The Google BERT Update For Search?
Welcome to SEO Unlocked: Your Free SEO Training Course – Neil Patel (this guy knows his stuff!)
Google SEO Tutorial: How HubSpot Uses Blogging to Rank #1 on Google [Hubspot]
SEO Tutorial:How to Find the SEO Strategy that Fits Your Business [Hubspot]
Traffic & Conversion Summit 2019 Notes! – These guys are at the top of their game. Insights are amazing. They’re marketing back to you may be aggressive (but I tested the signup process and purposely didn’t subscribe to their mail list to see what happens). You could just use this guide as your marketing bible for 2020!
On the Thank you page of their sign up process they have an opening video. Don’t be put off by the usual US rah-rah – the content is solid. Download the PDF.
MOZ Academy – FREE SEO Courses. Available until May 31.
Building a StoryBrand with Donald Miller – Podcast.
Learn how to get more traffic (fo’ free) – Climb the search rankings with tips in this SEO Checklist.
ARTICLES/VIDEO
How to Find Your Target Audience
1000 Ranking factors: How Google finds signals through the noise
10 Tips to perform in depth local SEO for your business
The Fastest (and Cheapest) Way to Beat Your Competition
5 Creative Ways to Use Social Media Data as a Source for Your Content
15 of the Best SEO Tools for Auditing & Monitoring Your Website in 2020
6 Tips For Shooting Videos Of Yourself On Your Own
The Everything Guide On How to Create A Landing Page That Converts
How to build your brand authority through content marketing
The SEO Tool Kit: 11 Tools That’ll Save You Time
10 Advanced SEO tactics to drive more traffic to your website
SEO on a shoestring budget: What small business owners can do to win
10 Actionable Blog SEO Tips for More Organic Traffic
How to finally write your book, from start to finish
How to grow via “word of mouth”
30+ Killer New Content Ideas in 30 Minutes (and How to Prioritize Them)
On-SERP SEO: The Future of SEO
99 Powerful Marketing Channels That Drive Sales (2020)
How to Become a Copywriter (2020 Beginner’s Guide)
Content Marketing Tips: 11 Principles Of Content That Converts
These small businesses are keeping things personal during social distancing
14 Chrome Extensions that will save HOURS of Marketing Work [VIDEO]
Content marketing in the COVID-19 crisis: What the hospitality industry is teaching us
10 ways SEO will lead companies through COVID-19 business recovery
Reducing Social Distance Online: How to Market a Business During the Crisis
What Your Brand Should Not Do on Social Media During the Coronavirus Crisis
How to Adapt Your Marketing During the Coronavirus (COVID-19)
7 Ways to Find More Customers in Tough Times – Dale Beaumont [VIDEO] – Some great insights here… Be sure to check out the other bonus content on this page.
Website/WordPress/eCommerce
Tools
Workshops/Events/Courses
Articles
TOOLS
Get Website Audit – Stop Guessing About What’s Wrong With Your Website. We’ll Send You A Comprehensive, Jargon-Free Report With Prioritised Recommendations-FREE.
ShortPixel – is an image optimisation and compression API and WordPress plugin that helps improve your website performance.
Glorify App – Create beautiful, high converting ecommerce images, with just a few clicks. We use and love this tool. Favourite feature! Magic BG Remover.
60% Discount Amidst COVID-19 on the Annual Plans. Use Code: STAY-AT-HOME
WORKSHOPS/EVENTS/COURSES
Ecommerce Unlocked: Your Free Ecommerce Marketing Course
E-commerce is booming.
There are currently 24 million e-commerce sites and counting. And with only 12% of sales taking place online, you can expect there to be massive growth in the years to come.
So if you want to create an online business, one of the best ones to create is an e-commerce store.
But how do you market it? How do you grow your traffic? And, most importantly, how do you get sales?
ARTICLES/VIDEO
SEO tips for your retail store
Nine tips to increase the average order value (AOV) of your ecommerce store
The Best Homepages Online: 16 Inspirational Examples
Why these three content types are winning quarantine season
BREAKING: End Of Amazon Affiliate Program Or A New Beginning? The Truth About Affiliate Marketing [VIDEO]
– I thought this would be important to share since many people are looking at ways to diversify their income streams. I watch a lot of Adams’ content.
Email Marketing/CRM
Tools
Workshops/Events/Courses
Articles
TOOLS
Ontraport – All your marketing tools in one place
Create and launch your automated marketing campaigns and all your promotional pieces — from emails to pages to pop-up forms — right inside of Ontraport so it’s all seamlessly connected. We use Ontraport.
WORKSHOPS/EVENTS/COURSES
In progress … got insights? Add here >
We’ll even tag you that the tip/resource is from you!
ARTICLES/VIDEO
Social Media
Tools
Workshops/Events/Courses
Articles
TOOLS
PromoRepublic – Use PromoRepublic’s social media management platform to create and customise content with built-in tools, schedule it to multiple social media pages, run ads, and get results for your business.
We use PromoRepublic.
WORKSHOPS/EVENTS/COURSES
LinkedIn Outreach Bootcamp is a 5-day course that teaches B2B marketers how to use LinkedIn outreach to consistently generate new clients.
Facebook Ads Bootcamp – How to effectively target audiences and stay in budget for Facebook ad campaigns.
Amp up your ads (for free!) – Improve your Facebook Ads campaigns with this checklist
ARTICLES/VIDEO
How To Write A Powerful LinkedIn Message (With 5 Templates)
Four strategies to maintain your social media activity during a crisis
How to plan your social media strategy for any business
The Complete Guide to Running a Social Media Audit (With Template)
Creativity
Tools
Workshops/Events/Courses
Articles
TOOLS
WORKSHOPS/EVENTS/COURSES
In progress … got insights? Add here >
We’ll even tag you that the tip/resource is from you!
ARTICLES/VIDEO
Planning
Tools
Workshops/Events/Courses
Articles
TOOLS
Book Like A Boss – A free appointment scheduling software with Payment & Calendar scheduling app Integrations. We use and love this service.
Better Proposals – Send professional looking proposals in half the time with Better Proposals
ClickUp – One app to replace them all. All your work in one place: tasks, docs, chat, goals & more. THIS is the project management tool we use. Love it.
Dropbox – Bring your files and cloud content together with the tools your team wants to use.
Lucid Chart – is your solution for visual communication and cross-platform collaboration. Create professional flowcharts, process maps, UML models, org charts, and ER diagrams using our templates or import feature. Works on Mac, PC, and Linux and integrated with your favorite apps.
WORKSHOPS/EVENTS/COURSES
Working with Clients in ClickUp [WEBINAR]
– event has finished but you can still register to view.
ARTICLES/VIDEO
Self Care
Tools
Workshops/Events/Courses
Articles
TOOLS
Calm –
the #1 app for Sleep, Meditation and Relaxation, with over 50 million downloads and over 700,000 5-star reviews. We’re honoured to be an Apple BEST OF 2018 award winner, Apple’s App of the Year 2017, Google Play Editor’s Choice 2018, and to be named by the Center for Humane Technology as “the world’s happiest app”.
Brain.fm – https://www.brain.fm/signup?p=stayathome
WORKSHOPS/EVENTS/COURSES
Heal Yourself – Anxiety Series 5 day challenge Facebook Group | Event
Challenge starts April 13th.
COVID-19 Stress Relief [Alleviate Pain | Dawn Cady]
Stress is the number 1 cause of disease. It breaks down the body’s ability to heal.
Ongoing Pain? FREE Webinar [Alleviate Pain | Dawn Cady]
ARTICLES/VIDEO
In progress … got insights? Add here >
We’ll even tag you that the tip/resource is from you!
Security
Tools
Workshops/Events/Courses
Articles
TOOLS
LastPass – is a freemium password manager that stores encrypted passwords online. We use LastPass.
VPN Secure – Everything you do online can and will be tracked. Take back your privacy today! We use VPN Secure.
WORKSHOPS/EVENTS/COURSES
In progress … got insights? Add here >
We’ll even tag you that the tip/resource is from you!
ARTICLES/VIDEO
Material Connection: Some of the services recommended on this page have a referral program we are a member of. Where possible we have tried to list FREE tools/services. Some of these services may have premium paid options but their pricing is no different if you went direct to them. If you do purchase we may get a small gratuity from them. Also some of the services or insights point directly to services my web development business provides. Read more here.
Hi Dan,
I have a resource to add to the site. Google have been building up info to support small businesses during the plague and have it all accessible here:
g.co/smallbiz-covid19
It includes Primer, a comprehensive and broad program covering all aspects of running a business, and Skillshop, which has training on Google tools.
https://www.yourprimer.com
https://skillshop.withgoogle.com/
Cheers,
Steve