There’s a lot of business advice and resources out there on how to grow a business, but only a fraction of that is created with small businesses in mind. Small businesses are not smaller versions of big businesses. They are fundamentally different in how they operate. That’s why the advice given in most business podcasts isn’t as helpful for small business owners.
Our team of small business experts has listened to hundreds of podcasts. Below are the three we think every small business owner should listen to.
1. The Right Way to Get Your First 1000 Customers by Harvard Business Review IdeaCast
This is hands down the best podcast episode we’ve listened to. While the podcast focuses on research done by Thales Teixeira on startups, the same principles and lessons can be applied to small businesses.
In this episode, Teixeira explains that many startups fail precisely because they try to emulate successful disruptive businesses. His research is supported by sharing how brands like Airbnb, Uber and Netflix approached their first 1,000 customers very differently, helping to explain why they have millions of customers today.
The main takeaway is that startups tend to focus too early on technology and scale. As a result, they lose out on the simple but invaluable lessons that come from serving initial customers with an imperfect product. Small businesses should lean into their smallness – try phoning your customers or hand-delivering products so you can learn directly from your audience.
2. The Scaling Series by The Ecommerce Influence Podcast
This 3-part series sees hosts Andrew Foxwell and Austin Brawner talk about each stage of business growth and the challenges businesses may face while scaling up from zero to 8-figures.
This podcast is extremely helpful for e-commerce business owners. But, we think the first episode has value for small business owners in general. The best thing to take away from this podcast is that overnight success is a myth.
The other huge lesson is to pick your partners wisely. So many advisors and agencies haven’t worked with enough businesses or hung around long enough to know if what they are saying is true. We see a lot of agencies who come in, give big-picture advice, help get the product to launch, and then step away for good.
When hiring people to help grow your small business, the person you’re getting help from must have the experience and knowledge to ensure that the work they give you has legs.
3. Chanda Bell—Believing in the Magic of Your Mission by The Business Made Simple Podcast
This is a feel-good interview with important lessons from the founder of Elf on the Shelf. Chanda’s story is a great example of how important it is to believe in your mission and be all in for your business.
Chanda shares valuable wisdom about how starting a small business means you have to be all in, you’re likely going to wear all the hats, there’s going to be a lot of grunt work, and you can’t skip the vulnerability.
The one thing we hope small business owners will remember after listening is just how important it is to believe in your mission, even when it’s tough.
How Many Podcasts Are Too Many Podcasts?
Those are our top three podcasts that no small business owner should go without. Our team prides itself on constantly learning about the latest industry trends and research. That means we’ve got quite a few more podcast recommendations up our sleeves.
If you’ve zoomed through the podcasts above, you might want to follow us on Instagram. Whenever we stumble upon a podcast worth sharing, we’ll put it on our stories so you can keep listening and learning with us.
Of course, the answer is that no number of podcasts could ever be too many.
