Entrepreneurs Circle Certified Coach

Why did I become an Entrepreneurs Circle Certified Coach? Over the past 11 years I have helped hundreds of business owners with systemising and automating their marketing with Keap / Infusionsoft. In addition to this, I now have over 24 years of real life, "in the trenches" marketing experience with small business owners and my marketing campaigns have generated in excess of £50M in sales. ...
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Julian’s Marketing Hints, Tips and Hacks

Please enter your contact details below and you will then receive my weekly Marketing Hints, Tips and Hacks email every Tuesday at 11am.
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Events

Here you will find the list of planned events that I will be attending. If you would like to meet up one-2-one at one of these events then each page has the link that will enable you you book a free ticket. (If you are attending any of these events drop me a line and I can look out for you on the day) Please note that two of the events, the Manchester and Cumbria Expos have yet to be resch...
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Water Softener Marketing – Seven Top Tips

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If you are responsible for water softener marketing for your business then I hope you will find these 7 top tips valuable, so please read on. The first step to winning more water softener installation jobs is to think like a potential client who has an issue with hard water as it causes a mineral buildup in water pipes, heating systems and appliances, and its poor soap and/or detergent cleaning...
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The best plug-in to back up WordPress site – I use UpdraftPlus

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Have you ever had your WordPress website hacked? If you have you will know the panic. For me, I found that my website had completely disappeared and there was a skeleton cowboy as my home page - even with a ten-gallon hat! But there was a silver lining, luckily the hosting company was able to recover the data files from their back ups, so the content of all my posts and pages was recovered. But...
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uPVC Window marketing – Five top tips

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If you are responsible for uPVC window marketing then I hope you will find these 5 top tips valuable, so please read on. The first step to winning more uPVC window jobs is to think like a potential client who has an issue with windows - a broken window or as part of a home refurbishment programme. Put yourself in their shoes. What thought processes will they go through? Which websites do peo...
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My Go To Free Editing Software For Images, Video and HTML – 2022

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If you occasionally need to do simple image, video and HTML edits for your marketing material then the professional softwares like Photoshop and Adobe Premiere Rush can be like using a "sledgehammer to crack a nut" and be cost-prohibitive. However, there are free alternatives that will do the job just fine. They will not have all the advanced features that the paid solutions have, but then we are ...
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Solar panel marketing – Six top tips

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If you are responsible for solar panel marketing for your business then I hope you will find these 6 top tips invaluable. The first step to winning more solar panels installation jobs is to think like a potential householder who is looking for solar panels. Put yourself in their shoes. What thought processes will they go through? Which websites do people visit when they are looking to learn ...
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Pest Control Marketing – top 5 tips

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If you are responsible for pest control marketing then I hope you will find these 5 top tips valuable, so please read on. The first step to winning more pest control clients is to think like a potential client who has a pest infestation. Put yourself in their shoes. What thought processes will they go through? Which websites do they visit when they have a pest problem? How can you engineer s...
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Top 10 Marketing Business Books for Entrepreneurs ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Here are my top 10 marketing business books for entrepreneurs (PDF download). Now, these books will only resonate with you if you own or work in a small entrepreneurial business where generating sales is key. If you are looking for academic marketing books or you work in corporate marketing then these will not be for you. There is just a brief explanation of the value I received each time I read t...
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What the Thryv Takeover of Keap Means for Small Business Owners

The recent acquisition of Keap by Thryv marks a significant shift in the CRM and small business software landscape. For many Keap users, this merger brings up key questions about platform integration, product evolution, and the potential for new tools. In this post, I’ll walk through what this change means and what small business owners should expect. Why the Merger? Thryv, known for its comprehensive business management solutions, has strategically acquired Keap to expand its reach among small businesses looking for robust yet accessible CRM systems. Keap’s user-friendly automation features, coupled with Thryv’s broader suite, means enhanced capabilities for current and future clients. What Changes to Expect For current Keap users, you can expect gradual changes, likely with added features and expanded integrations. Thryv’s emphasis on streamlining business operations suggests more tools to simplify client interactions, appointments, and marketing processes. Is This Good News for Keap Users? Absolutely. Thryv’s resources and support structures will likely bring increased development and security to the platform. While there may be a transition period, the overall integration should enhance Keap’s tools and provide access to new solutions without losing the functionality and simplicity Keap users rely on. Looking Forward Change can be daunting, but this merger could offer significant advantages for small business owners looking for reliable CRM solutions. Thryv’s larger framework could make automation and client engagement even easier to manage, with new possibilities for growth and scalability. For any small business looking to stay on top of client management, this merger might just be the beginning of an era where user needs are met more effectively than ever before. Stay tuned as I continue to follow these developments, keeping you informed about how they impact your CRM strategy.
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Free Google Review Card with NFC and QR code – ReviewBoost-Pro

Do you want to capture more Google Reviews from your customers? Do you interact with your customers face to face? Say in a restaurant, shop, dental practice etc etc? If yes, then a Google Review card makes it super easy to ask for and capture Google reviews from your happy customers. It all starts with a ReviewBoost-Pro NFC / QR code enabled card. Simply tap the card on the customers phone – or scan the QR code and your Google My Business review page pops up immediately. So making it really easy to ask happy customers there and then for a Google Review. Want to give it a try? Get a free card – just pay £2 towards postage and packing. (one card per customer/company)
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Julian launches a new tool to get Google Reviews – ReviewBoost-Pro

Julian has just launched a new tool to make it easy for businesses to ask for and capture Google reviews. It is called ReviewBoost-Pro. It all starts with a NFC / QR code enabled card. Simply tap the card on the customers phone – or scan the QR code and your Google My Business review page pops up immediately. So making it really easy to ask happy customers there and then for a Google Review. For more information please visit ReviewBoost-Pro.com
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How to Migrate from Wix to HighLevel: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you ready to take your business to the next level by transitioning from Wix to HighLevel? This migration guide will help you make the switch smoothly, enabling you to enjoy HighLevel’s advanced marketing automation and CRM capabilities. Step 1: Prepare for the Migration Before diving into the process, take stock of your existing Wix site. Audit your website content, assets, and integrations. Identify which features need to be transferred and ensure you have backups of key data like forms, blog posts, and customer information. Step 2: Set Up HighLevel Start by creating your HighLevel account. Set up your subdomain, customize your funnels, and configure your pipelines. HighLevel’s intuitive interface makes it easy to replicate or improve upon your existing site structure. Step 3: Transfer Content and Assets Manually transfer your website’s critical content, such as service pages, contact forms, and images, into HighLevel’s drag-and-drop page builder. For blogs, use HighLevel’s blog feature to host your posts, optimizing them for performance and SEO. Step 4: Rebuild Forms and Automations HighLevel’s automation tools are more robust than Wix’s, so this is your chance to upgrade. Recreate your forms and workflows in HighLevel’s system, ensuring a seamless experience for your leads and customers. Step 5: Test Before Going Live Thoroughly review your migrated site. Test your forms, automations, and integrations to make sure everything functions as expected. HighLevel’s all-in-one platform means you can consolidate and streamline multiple tools, giving you a competitive edge. Step 6: Launch Your New HighLevel Site Once satisfied, point your domain to HighLevel and go live! Your business will now benefit from enhanced functionality and a platform built for growth. By following this guide, you can ensure a seamless migration from Wix to HighLevel while unlocking the full potential of this powerful platform. For the full detailed migration guide, please visit this link: Wix to HighLevel Migration Guide If you need any further pointers I would be happy to get on a quick discovery call. If you have yet to set up a HighLevel account then I suggest you reach out to MarketerM8. They are a HighLevel agency that can support you during the set up phase. Check out MarketerM8 here.
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Why expensive “Guru” Cookie-Cutter Strategies and Templates Don’t Work for Your Business

You’ve seen them: the gurus in your industry flashing their fancy cars, designer watches, and million-dollar homes. They’ve got the “winning system” and are more than happy to sell you the so-called “secrets” behind their success. But here’s the harsh reality: these cookie-cutter solutions rarely, if ever, work. Take it from my client, John (name changed, but the story is 100% real). John came to me after years of frustration. He was exhausted. He’d followed every step the gurus laid out—buying courses, bought that latest software tools, buying Keap campaign templates, copying HighLevel snapshots. You name it, John had tried it. Every guru promised the same thing: “Just follow this blueprint, and you’ll be making six figures in no time.” (As an aside – as soon as a potential JV partner, affiliate etc says “we will make a fortune together then run a mile – they will never deliver) So John did. He followed every script, every formula. No shortcuts. And guess what happened? Nothing. Each time, it flopped. Over and over again. John wasn’t just disappointed—he was on the verge of giving up. His business wasn’t just stagnant; it was going backward. He was wasting time and burning through money, trying to force-fit his business into someone else’s mould. Here’s the thing: These “winning systems” may have worked for the gurus, but they’re not built for your business, your audience, or your goals. (Often the winning system is the system that sold you on buying the winning system – and that is now what you sell.) Every business is different, and what works for one person often fails for another. Yet, that’s exactly what John had been doing—forcing his unique business into a generic template. And it was costing him more than just money—it was draining his energy, his time, and his sanity. When John came to me, we took a step back. We stopped trying to squeeze his business into a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, we created a personalized plan, tailored to his strengths, his audience, and his vision. Within just a few months, John saw results that completely turned things around. He went from feeling like he was drowning to generating more income in a week than he had in months. That’s what happens when you ditch the cookie-cutter formulas. I’ve spent the last 20 years learning and studying the stratergies and tactics the “gurus” preach—and yes, there’s value in understanding them. But the difference is, I don’t just copy and paste. I apply the right mix of strategies that work for your specific business. If you’re tired of following cookie-cutter formulas that don’t work, I’m here to help. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions—I believe in your solution. Let’s sit down, look at where you are, and create a plan that actually works for you. If you’re ready to stop wasting time on ineffective tactics, I’d love to chat. Let’s schedule a Discovery call and find the right path forward for your business. You can book a Discover Call here.
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Industrial Espionage on the cheap – a nice little growth hack

I was just reading my recent copy of The Circular (Issue 168, page 27) from the Entrepreneur’s Circle and had to chuckle at this smart little growth hack. Nick Jenkins who founded Moonpig.com was telling EC members how he had grown his business from £2.5M to £45M. He was looking to scale and had discounted TV advertising as too expensive. But he noticed one of his competitors was using TV. So in a nutshell by placing a regular order for a greetings card from the competitor and recording the order number he was able to get a good estimate on the number of sales they were doing. (Because most companies accounting systems use a sequential ordering number.) And from this and making informed assumptions he was able to work back that the average cost per customer was £10, which was the magic number. And so this gave him to confidence to throw £50,000 into a TV advert. And the rest as they say is history. This is just one example how over the past 5 years the EC has made me a smarter entrepreneur and positively impacted on my business growth – try for yourself and take a look at The Entrepreneurs Circle, they even do a free trial.
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Entrepreneurs Circle Certified Coach