My Local Marketer Podcast

This episode features Ferhan Janjua, owner of Reading Web Agency, discussing his transition into tech-based digital marketing, his philosophy on website design, and the integration of AI and local SEO. The conversation explores the practical realities of building a modern digital presence. Ferhan outlines his work with local SEO, explaining how optimising Google Business Profiles with high-quality imagery and consistent reviews delivers quick, tangible results for service providers and shops. The discussion also delves into the strategic use of AI, highlighting how business owners can leverage AI for back-end planning and coding while emphasising the importance of keeping customer-facing assets authentic and unreplicable. Ferhan details his methodology for avoiding generic overcrowded markets by anchoring AI outputs in personal brand vision. Finally, Ferhan highlights the enduring power of offline relationships, explaining how community engagement and real-world networking often provide greater business stability and long-term momentum than online presence alone.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Highlight What Makes You Unreplicable: Put on your website the parts of your business that are really hard to replicate. Use high-end photography of your actual space or products, showcase strong customer reviews, and highlight your unique local community engagement so competitors cannot easily copy your distinct value. Lead AI with Brand Self-Awareness: To use AI effectively, you need to be deeply self-aware about your brand, tone of voice, and core vision. Because AI naturally pulls from average market data, you must lead it with your own distinct opinions to avoid blending into overcrowded, generic markets. Audit and Align Your Multiple Touchpoints: Recognise that your website is part of a broader network of multiple touchpoints (online and offline, such as shop signage, social media, and your Google Business Profile). Conduct a regular audit to ensure all these touchpoints are aligned. If you're a business that serves a local audience, prioritise getting a strong, active Google Business Profile up and running first.   TIME CODES 00:00 Welcome to Ferhan! 00:18 How Ferhan got started with his business 01:38 How Ferhan's business has developed 03:24 How Ferhan approaches website design 04:28 What is the purpose of a website? 04:53 Ferhan's advice on website structure 06:07 What to include on your website 08:00 Ferhan's thoughts on how to use AI in your business 11:37 Why you need to lead with yourself and AI to follow 13:00 Ferhan's key business advice & the role your website plays 15:06 Your business' multiple touch points 16:03 Advice to develop your Google Profile 17:39 Audit your online presences 18:19 Ferhan's final thoughts

This episode features Pete Doyle, local musician, composer, and full-time guitar educator at PDM Studios. He discusses his transition into full-time music, his community-driven guitar projects, and his unique approach to adult group education. The conversation explores the practical realities of building a creative career later in life and how Pete uses group music-making to combat isolation. Pete outlines his work with the "Play the Guitar" project, volunteering at Launchpad's life skills centre, and running workplace guitar workshops at Green Park. He details how he teaches mixed-ability groups by breaking chords down into individual notes and intervals, uniting beginners and experienced players into a cohesive guitar orchestra. Finally, Pete highlights his creative composition process, detailing how he blends organic acoustic elements with technology and environmental observation. He also shares his current projects, including upcoming compositions before concluding with his future ambitions, such as releasing an album and forming a massive guitar orchestra to play at the Proms by 2028!

In this episode, podcast host, Maria, concludes her deep-dive series into the AI-CAR growth funnel. This time the focus is on the Retention stage—the final part of her five-stage AI-CAR model—where customers are kept in your ecosystem to increase the likelihood of returning business. She emphasises that loyalty is something companies earn by putting customers first rather than expecting it as an entitlement. The conversation explores practical ways to maintain connections with former customers and prevent them from drifting away. Maria highlights content strategies like the "PIE" framework, which focuses on Promotion, Information, Inspiration, Education, and Entertainment (alongside "edutainment"). She also points to the power of regular newsletters, like James Clear's, for keeping an audience engaged. Finally, the discussion concludes with Maria's actionable advice for the week: thinking carefully about what your customers need or like next, asking for their thoughts, and building a solid support base to fuel your growth goals.   If you'd like to listen to the other episodes they are 80 (Introduction to AI-CAR series), 83 (Awareness), 85 (Interest), 87 (Consideration) and 92 (Action).    KEY TAKEAWAYS Shift from Loyalty to Retention: The final stage of the AI-CAR model was renamed from "Loyalty" to "Retention" to highlight that loyalty is earned by putting customers first, rather than something a business is inherently entitled to. The "PIE" Content Framework: To keep customers engaged in your ecosystem, use content built around Promotion, Information, Inspiration, Entertainment, and Education (plus "edutainment").     TIME CODES 00:26 Retention Stage Definition 01:54 Types of content to retain customers: "PIE" 03:17 Example of a good business newsletter | James Clear's 1-2-3 newsletter 04:43 Action for you

This episode features Angharad Ross, Chair of Reading Business Club and Executive Coach at Rise Executive Coaching. She discusses the community-driven structure, mentoring programme, and practical peer support provided by the non-profit networking organisation. The conversation explores the practical realities of peer support and how the club functions as a "board of directors" for local business owners. Angharad outlines the club's non-profit, member-run structure, where roles rotate to ensure diverse skill-sharing. She details how the group helps solopreneurs and small business leaders overcome operational isolation, navigate extended purchasing cycles, and refine sales, marketing, and pricing strategies in shifting economic environments. Finally, Angharad highlights the club's six-month mentoring programme, which pairs new or pivoting business owners with mentors to build foundational skills. She also breaks down the bi-weekly meeting agenda, held at Reading Hockey and Cricket, including structured 10-minute feature presentations, member updates, informal networking over breakfast, and skill-sharing sessions. She concludes by inviting local business owners and solopreneurs to attend as guests.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Your Advisory "Board of Directors": Tap into an expert, cross-industry network of local business owners who act as a sounding board to solve operational challenges and tackle business isolation. Low-Cost, High-Impact Mentorship: Access a structured six-month mentorship initiative that pairs new or pivoting business owners with mentors to build foundational strategies and accelerate growth. Practical, Pitch-Free Skill Sharing: Experience a non-profit, member-owned networking model focused on genuine relationship building, and rotating feature presentations.     TIMECODES 00:00 welcome to Angharad 00:55 What is Reading Business Club? 03:42 The members of Reading Business Club 04:25 The purpose of a business group 08:17 The breakfast at Reading Business Club! 09:09 Reading Business Club's mentoring programme 11:09 Examples of challenges members have faced and how the club can help them 14:52 Advice that Angharad picked up at Reading Business Club 15:43 The benefit of having access to people from a variety of industries 16:48 The structure of each Reading Business Club meeting 19:58 Shout out to the committee that runs the group 21:10 Details for visiting Reading Business Club and finding out more information

This episode features Peter Webb, Chair of the Webb Kingpin Foundation, and Tony Cowling, President of the Reading Rotary Club and Director of Reading Rotary Community Projects. They discuss how entrepreneurial property initiatives, targeted local grants, and cross-organisation collaboration are transforming support for Reading-based charities. The conversation explores the practical acquisition and operational vision behind Holybrook House, the new "Reading Charities Hub" co-owned by the Webb Kingpin Foundation and Reading Rotary Community Projects. The episode details how the charity Number 5 will act as the lead tenant, giving them the physical space needed to expand their essential community operations while managing day-to-day facilities. Peter and Tony explain that alongside property support, the organisation provides fast-turnaround, accessible grants ranging from £250 to £1,000 for local causes. Finally, the discussion covers the broader growth plans for Reading Rotary Community Projects and the vital role of volunteer skill-sharing. Tony reflects on the strong community impact of their micro-grants and concludes by issuing a call for younger, digitally skilled professionals to join the Reading Rotary Club to help modernise its operations.   KEY TAKEAWAYS Sustainable Community Investment: Discover how Reading Rotary Community Projects leverages real estate and business acumen to build self-sustaining funding streams, reinvesting 100% of property yields back into the local area. Frictionless Funding Access: Learn how local organisations can bypass lengthy, complex grant applications through an accessible 10-minute online form designed to deliver rapid, low-barrier support. The Power of Corporate Skill-Sharing: See how professionals use their core business skills to solve operational challenges for charities and drive high-impact community growth.         TIMECODES 00:00 Welcome to Peter and Tony 00:40 Background to how Reading Rotary Club are helping charities with properties 01:32 How Reading Rotary club can help local charities (with their property issues) 03:37 Reading Rotary Community Projects' first property purchase 05:46 Peter's background in property 06:14 The challenges faced by local charities and how Reading property's portfolio helps them 07:26 About Webb King Pin Foundation 08:24 About the application process when applying for grants 09:52 Welcome to Tony Cowling 10:11 How Tony got involved with Reading Rotary Club and Reading Rotary Community Projects 10:34 Why Reading Rotary Community Projects is unique 11:22 Why it's taken a while to get Reading Charities Hub off the ground 11:55 How Reading Charities Hub will function 13:28 What else Reading Rotary Community Projects offers (grant applications) 14:50 What happens to the income from the Reading Charities Hub 15:27 Examples of grants awarded to local groups 16:26 The number of good causes across Reading 17:26 Reading Rotary gives away £30k a year to local causes & its local impact 18:42 How Reading Rotary Club is looking to develop and bring in diverse audiences 20:57 Closing thoughts