start ups

Have you ever felt stuck, lost, floundering at sea, or on the hamster wheel of life and don’t know how to get off?

What if you could change your life? What would you alter? What would you do differently?

And where would you start?!

I recently spoke with my friend, Lara Doherty on The Social Brain Podcast where she shared her 5 step plan for changing your life whenever you feel stuck.

Prefer to listen to the audio version of our conversation? Check out episode 31 of the podcast. 

When it com…

When we start our own businesses, there are lots of “shoulds”.

But how do we navigate the shoulds from what actually brings us joy?

I recently spoke with my friend, Sarah-Jane Adams on The Social Brain Podcast about how to give yourself permission to run the business of your dreams.

Prefer to listen to the audio version of our conversation? Listen to episode 30 on The Social Brain podcast. 

As business owners, we’re often faced with lots of pieces of advice from lots of well-meaning people. …

In today's fast-paced world, where everyone seems to be constantly juggling multiple responsibilities and obligations, taking care of ourselves often takes a backseat.

Society has ingrained in us the belief that focusing on our own well-being is a selfish act, something that should be done only when all other tasks are completed.

However, this notion couldn't be further from the truth.

Self-care is not a selfish act but rather an essential practice that enables us to lead healthier, more fulf…

Do you ever feel like you’re running out of content?

Do you struggle to come up with content ideas that pack a punch with your audience?

Get ready for my top tips for never-ending Instagram content that lands.

I get this question a lot: “Frances, how do you never run out of content ideas?!”.

As a social media manager, it’s important for me to practice what I preach. This means posting consistently, coming up with engaging content and sharing the stuff that gets my audience nodding their head…

When it comes to networking, which one are you?

1️. So nervous that you can’t bare the thought of a 60 second pitch (as if time slows down and it feels like half an hour)

2️. Reaping the rewards of heading to a networking group and growing your business through relationships

I recently spoke with my friend, Felicity Dwyer on The Social Brain Podcast about the 4 surprising benefits (that nobody talks about) when it comes to networking in your business. 

Prefer to listen to the audio version o…

It is more important *than ever* to track your finances - business related or personal.

But what’s the best way to track your business finances?

How can you easily see who still owes you money?

And is there a magic tool that allows you to track more than just your finances?

I recently spoke with my friend, Caro Syson on The Social Brain Podcast about how to track your incomings and outgoings (without spreadsheets!) to really know if you’re putting all your energy into a hobby or a profitable…

It might have been more than two weeks ago now… but I’m still feeling ALL the feels after delivering my very first InstaBrains workshop at CREATE Business Hub in Shenfield on 26^th and 27^th April.

A group of five fabulous marketers and business owners joined me for top tips on all things Insta. During the two-day session, these lucky attendees learned how to:

• Build a killer Instagram strategy

Together, we dissected what each guest wanted to achieve with their business, and helped them expl…

Do you have financial anxiety as a business owner?

Are you confused about paying taxes as a limited company vs as a sole trader?

Does the thought of dealing with your numbers fill you with dread?

I recently spoke with my friend Rachel Harris on The Social Brain Podcast to discuss all things finance, accounting, and taxes, and get some sound financial advice for small business owners.

Prefer to listen to the audio version of our conversation? Go here.

Financial anxiety - or fanxiety as Rache…

There’s been lots of talk recently of Instagram’s declining engagement rates.

And while I can’t deny that I have seen less interaction on this platform than usual recently, I definitely don’t think now is the right time to jump ship and let all the hard work you’ve put into building your following here go to waste.

In fact, I think Instagram can still be extremely valuable for businesses.

Why?

Well, firstly, Instagram has 2 billion monthly active users – and it is still growing!

Plus, it’s …

According to research from 123reg, January is THE month to start a new venture.

In 2022, there was a spike in the number of web addresses being registered, leading the domain provider to estimate that at least 10,000 new companies will have been launched by the end of that month.

I don’t know about you, but I certainly see this trend continuing now in 2023. Times are tough, with people having to find more creative ways to make ends meet – and for many, that means starting a side hustle, or per…