I’m John Fite, the Biz Coach, and I want to tell you something you probably already know. AI is coming, and it’s replacing many jobs. Just about every industry you look at is going to replace humans with robots. Why? Because AI can do the work of 10 people without taking a break.
Already, I am seeing self-driving cars and trucks. So if you drive a truck or work for Uber, you’d better get a clue. Tesla and other companies are putting self-driving cars on the road at a fraction of the cost.
And it’s not just driving jobs. AI is replacing human workers in the fast food industry with kiosks that take your order, charge your card, and never fail to ask if you want to upgrade.
Fulfillment warehouses are using AI robots to pull orders, box items, and send them on their way. Then there are other jobs, like farming, manufacturing, Data entry clerks, Typists and word processors, Telephone and switchboard operators, Routine call center agents, especially those handling simple questions.
Cashiers and ticket clerks, help desk people. And what about those self-checkout lanes at grocery stores? You know, when I first saw that about 15 years ago, I said to myself, that will never fly, but just look at us now, we check and bag our own groceries.
I asked ChatGPT, “How many people will be replaced by AI during the next two years?” It said, “My estimate is 200,000–500,000 U.S. workers losing their jobs because AI replaces enough of their work between now and September 2028. If you want one number, I’d say about 300,000.”
In my opinion, you better have a plan. Why wait until you lose your job, why not start exploring your options now. More and more people are starting their own business, most of them from home. Many of them have no employees, or maybe just a couple helping out.
My advice is to join a forum called “Business Starter Hub”. It’s exclusively available through BizCoach.Biz. You can find it in the main menu at the top. Think of it as exploring, then building. In my “Build Membership,” I introduce you to different business ideas, then take extra steps to show you, step by step, how to do it.
The cost to join is very small, and you also get access to other people who are starting or growing the same business. This is a shortcut to making your business successful. You don’t need to experiment with your chosen business; you can learn from people who have succeeded.
I’m not talking about just one or two businesses; I am talking about many. In fact, I add several new options each month, and you have access to all of them for one low monthly subscription, and you can quit at any time.
Another point I want to make is that all businesses share the same problems, like building a website, building an email list, advertising on social media, and finding customers in other ways. This is what I call my “Explore Membership,” and that is FREE!
You get access to “The Business Hub” through BizCoach.Biz Please go and check it out.
Now let’s talk about the free membership called explorer. It’s offered thru the BizCoach.Biz website.
We’re talking about a place where you can begin exploring the tools and ideas that help a small business get started.
That place is our free Explorer membership.
Maybe you have a business idea, but you haven’t done anything with it yet. Maybe you already provide a service, but getting customers feels like the hardest part of the job. Or maybe you’re simply curious about working for yourself and want to understand what’s involved before spending money.
That’s why I created Explorer.
Inside the Explorer membership, we focus on subjects that apply to many different businesses: website design, marketing, social media, email list building, and general help with getting started.
These are things you can use whether you’re a balloon twister, a pet sitter, a house cleaner, a handyman, an entertainer, or someone who makes and sells a product.
You don’t have to understand everything before joining. You don’t even have to have your business completely figured out.
You just need an interest in learning.
Today, I want to explain what these subjects mean, why they matter, and how our free membership can help you start putting the pieces together.
Let’s begin with something I hear from people all the time.
“I’m good at what I do. I just don’t know how to get people to hire me.”
That’s a very real problem.
You can be a wonderful entertainer, a dependable pet sitter, or an excellent house cleaner. But if people don’t know you exist, they can’t become your customers.
And if they find you but can’t understand what you offer, they may move on to somebody else.
That’s where these business basics come in.
Your website helps explain your service. Your marketing helps the right people discover it. Social media gives you opportunities to show your work and start conversations. An email list helps you stay in touch with people who want to hear from you.
Each piece has a purpose.
You don’t need to master all of them this week. But understanding how they work together can save you a lot of confusion.
I’ve been involved in small business for more than fifty years. During that time, the tools have certainly changed. We’ve gone from printed advertisements and telephone calls to websites, online communities, podcasts, and social media.
But one thing has stayed very familiar.
People still want to know who they’re dealing with, what you can do for them, and why they should trust you.
That’s a good place to start.
Let’s talk about your website.
For many people, building a website sounds like a major project. They imagine computer code, complicated settings, and bills they don’t understand.
And yes, a website can become complicated. But a small business website can also begin with a few useful pages.
Think about what a potential customer needs to know.
What do you offer?
Who do you help?
Where do you provide your service?
How can someone contact you?
What should they do next?
Those questions should guide your website.
Suppose you’re starting a pet-sitting business. A visitor shouldn’t have to search through several pages to figure out whether you care for cats, dogs, or both. They should be able to see the area you serve and how to ask about availability.
If you’re a balloon twister, people want to see examples of your balloons. They may want to know what kinds of events you attend, how booking works, and whether you travel to their city.
A few clear photographs and a useful description can do a lot of work.
Inside Explorer, website design is one of the subjects we discuss because a website gives you a place to organize that information.
We can talk about the basic pieces: your domain name, your hosting, your website platform, and the design itself.
Your domain name is your address on the internet. Your hosting is the service that keeps your website available. WordPress is one way to build and manage the pages.
A theme helps control the appearance. Plugins add functions, such as a contact form.
You don’t have to memorize all that today. The point is to understand what each piece does so you can make better decisions.
One mistake people make is thinking they need every possible feature before they can begin.
They want a fancy introduction, moving graphics, a complicated booking system, and twenty pages of information.
Sometimes they spend so much time building the website that they never get around to finding a customer.
My advice is to think about the visitor’s experience first.
Can they read the words easily?
Does the page work on a phone?
Can they find your contact information?
Does your message make sense?
A pretty website is helpful. A website that helps someone take the next step is even more useful.
And remember, having a website also means maintaining it.
You need to keep your information current, check your contact form, keep backups, and keep the software updated.
If your website says you’re offering something you stopped doing two years ago, that creates confusion.
If the form doesn’t work, you may be missing inquiries without knowing it.
Explorer gives us a place to discuss these practical questions. You can learn the language, ask about something you don’t understand, and become more comfortable with the decisions involved.
You don’t need to become a professional web designer. You need enough understanding to manage your own business presence and recognize when you need help.
Now let’s move to marketing.
Marketing is a word that can sound bigger than it needs to be.
For a small business, a useful starting point is this: help the right people understand what you offer and give them a clear way to respond.
That means your first question isn’t necessarily, “Where should I advertise?”
It might be, “Who am I trying to reach?”
Let’s use balloon twisting as an example.
You could offer balloons for children’s birthday parties, company picnics, community festivals, daycare events, or restaurant promotions.
Those are different customers with different needs.
A parent planning a birthday party may want to know whether the children will have fun and whether you’re dependable.
A company planning an employee event may need information about how many guests you can serve and how you’ll fit into the schedule.
A restaurant may be interested in giving families another reason to visit.
Same skill. Different reasons to hire you.
That’s why understanding the customer matters.
Instead of saying, “I make balloon animals,” you might explain, “I bring balloon entertainment to children’s parties and help keep the kids involved while everyone enjoys the celebration.”
That gives the customer a clearer picture.
You’re still describing what you do, but you’re also explaining why it matters to them.
Inside Explorer, marketing discussions can help you think through those questions.
Who needs your service?
Where do those people look for help?
What concerns might keep them from contacting you?
What information would make the decision easier?
Sometimes your next useful marketing step is simply improving the description of your service.
Sometimes it’s adding better photographs.
Sometimes it’s contacting people who already serve the customers you want to reach.
A party entertainer, for example, might develop relationships with event venues or party planners. A pet sitter might get to know businesses that serve pet owners.
The idea is to look for sensible connections.
Marketing also involves paying attention to results.
If someone contacts you, ask how they heard about you.
You don’t need a complicated reporting system to begin learning. A simple record can help you see whether inquiries are coming from your website, a referral, a social post, or something else.
Over time, that information helps you decide where to put your effort.
And effort matters because your time has value.
A free marketing activity can still be expensive if you spend hours doing it and it never reaches a likely customer.
Before you commit to something, ask what you expect it to accomplish.
Are you trying to introduce yourself? Get inquiries? Encourage repeat business? Fill a particular date?
A clear goal makes it easier to choose a clear message.
Here’s an example.
“Visit my website” is a fairly general invitation.
“I have a few openings for December daycare shows. Contact me to ask about your date” gives a particular audience a particular reason to respond.
That’s the kind of practical thinking I want Explorer members to develop.
You don’t have to sound like an advertising agency. You need to communicate in a way your customer understands.
Now, let’s talk about social media.
This is where many business owners feel pressure.
They think they have to be on every platform, post every day, make videos constantly, and somehow become interesting enough to attract thousands of followers.
That can wear you out before you get started.
For a small business, I’d begin with a more manageable question.
Where are your likely customers, and what can you show them that would be useful?
If you provide a visual service, photographs and short videos may help people understand your work.
A balloon twister can show a finished design. A baker can show a cake. A house cleaner can explain what’s included in a service. A handyman can describe a problem he helps homeowners solve.
You don’t have to manufacture a whole new personality for the internet.
You can talk about the work you already do.
One useful approach is to pay attention to questions customers ask you.
How far do you travel?
What’s included?
How much notice do you need?
How does someone book?
What should a customer prepare before you arrive?
Each question could become a social media post.
And because these are real customer questions, the answers may help someone make a decision.
You can also show how your service works.
For a balloon twister, that might mean explaining the difference between booking for a small birthday party and booking for a large community event.
For a pet sitter, it might mean describing what happens during a first meeting.
For an entertainer, it might mean helping a parent understand how to choose a suitable performance space.
Those posts give people something useful while also showing that you understand your business.
Inside Explorer, social media is a place for discussing ideas like these: what to post, how to explain your offer, and how to build a routine you can maintain.
Consistency becomes easier when your plan matches your available time.
If you can realistically create two useful posts a week, start there. Build a habit before trying to build a giant schedule.
You can also get more than one use from an idea.
A customer question might become a short website article. A few sentences from that article can become a social post. The same subject can later become part of an email.
You’re giving the information to people in different places.
Now, there’s something else to remember.
Attention and business results are different things.
A funny post may get a lot of reactions. That can be enjoyable. But you also want to notice whether the people seeing it are likely to need your service.
Are people asking questions?
Are they visiting your website?
Are they contacting you?
Are they remembering your business when they need help?
Those are useful signs to watch.
And when someone does become interested, make the next step easy.
Your profile should explain what you do. Your website link should work. Your contact details should be current.
A person shouldn’t have to solve a puzzle to hire you.
Let’s move to something I consider especially useful: building an email list.
An email list is a way to stay in touch with people who have agreed to receive messages from your business.
That last part matters.
We’re talking about people who want to hear from you.
Maybe they signed up on your website. Maybe they requested a useful guide. Maybe they asked to receive announcements about your services.
The goal is to build an ongoing connection.
Think about what happens when somebody visits your website.
They may like what they see, but they may not need your service today.
A parent may be researching birthday entertainment months before the party. A pet owner may be thinking about a future trip. A business owner may be exploring ideas without being ready to start.
If they leave and forget your name, you may never see them again.
An email signup gives them a way to hear from you later.
But you should give them a reason to subscribe.
“Join my mailing list” tells them very little.
“Get simple birthday party planning tips and occasional updates about my entertainment services” gives them a better idea of what to expect.
A pet sitter might offer a checklist for preparing pets before a vacation.
A house cleaner might share a short guide to preparing for a first cleaning visit.
For BizCoach, the reason could be business ideas, practical tips, and updates about discussions in the community.
The offer should relate to the people you want to serve.
You don’t need a fifty-page book to begin. A useful one-page checklist can be enough if it solves a real problem.
Inside Explorer, list building is one of the subjects we cover because staying in touch is an important part of running a business.
We can discuss signup forms, the reason someone would subscribe, and the kinds of messages you might send.
Your first message can be simple.
Welcome the person. Deliver whatever you promised. Explain what they can expect from you.
Then continue with useful information.
You might answer a question, share a tip, announce seasonal availability, or explain a service.
Every message doesn’t need to be a sales pitch. At the same time, people should understand that you run a business and what you offer.
You can be helpful and invite someone to contact you.
Those things fit together.
I’d also encourage you to think about the quality of your list.
A small group of interested people can be more useful than a huge collection of addresses belonging to people who never asked to hear from you.
Start with honest expectations. Send what you said you would send. Make it easy for people to unsubscribe.
You’re building a relationship, and relationships depend on trust.
Now, let’s bring these four subjects together.
Imagine you’re starting a balloon-twisting business.
Your website shows your work, explains the events you serve, and gives people a way to ask about booking.
Your marketing helps you identify potential customers and explain why your entertainment would fit their event.
Your social posts show examples, answer common questions, and introduce people to your business.
Your email list lets interested parents or event organizers receive useful tips and future updates.
That’s a workable connection between the pieces.
You might publish a post showing balloons at a party. Someone sees it and visits your website. They aren’t ready to book, but they subscribe to your party-planning tips.
Later, when they begin planning an event, they remember you and send an inquiry.
Of course, every person won’t follow that exact path. But it helps explain why these tools belong together.
Now imagine doing all this while having a place to ask questions.
That’s part of the purpose of Explorer.
The membership is organized around subjects, so you can take part in discussions that relate to what you’re trying to learn.
You may have a website question today and a marketing question next week.
You may read something another member asks and realize you’ve been wondering the same thing.
You may also have experience that helps somebody else.
Someone might understand photography but struggle with writing a service description. Another person might be good at customer communication but have questions about a website.
A community gives us opportunities to share those strengths.
And you’re welcome to ask basic questions.
Everyone has a first day.
If you don’t know the difference between a domain and hosting, ask. If you’re unsure what to put in your first email, ask. If you’ve posted on social media for weeks without knowing what you’re trying to accomplish, that’s something we can discuss.
Clear questions lead to useful conversations.
For example, instead of asking, “How do I market my business?” you could tell us what your business is, who you want to reach, and what you’ve tried.
That gives the discussion a starting point.
I want Explorer to help you become more comfortable taking those first steps.
And I want to be clear about what joining means.
Explorer is our free membership. It focuses on general business foundations such as websites, marketing, social media, email lists, and getting started.
Our Build membership takes things further into individual business ideas, with discussions about how to get started, where to look for resources and supplies, how to find customers, and how to think about providing and pricing a service or product.
You can begin with Explorer and use those foundational discussions while you decide what you want to do.
There’s plenty to think about before you make that decision.
As we wrap up, I want to give you a simple way to begin.
Choose one thing you want to improve.
Maybe you need a clearer description of your service.
Maybe you need a basic website.
Maybe your social media profile doesn’t explain where you work.
Maybe you want to start an email list but haven’t decided what subscribers would receive.
Pick one.
Then write down the question that’s holding you back.
Bring that question into the appropriate Explorer discussion and start there.
After that, take one practical step.
Write the description. Update the profile. Plan the page. Draft the welcome email.
Learning becomes more useful when you put a little of it to work.
And you don’t need to rush.
A business develops through decisions, practice, customer conversations, and improvements over time.
You may change your message after hearing what customers ask. You may simplify your website after discovering which information people actually need. You may find that one marketing approach fits your business better than another.
That’s part of the process.
The Explorer membership gives you a place to begin understanding it.
So, if you’ve been thinking about starting something, or you already have a small business and want help with the basics, I invite you to visit BizCoach.biz and choose the free Explorer membership.
Explore the discussions. Introduce yourself. Tell us what you’re working on and what you’d like to learn.
You bring your curiosity, your questions, and your experience. Together, we can start turning that information into useful next steps.
I’m John Fite, and this is the BizCoach.biz podcast.
Thanks for listening. I look forward to seeing you inside Explorer.