Office Talk with Annette Stepanian

Do you want to use your customer’s testimonials when marketing your products or services, but not sure about the legal implications? In this Legal Quickie episode, I cover the legal basics of using testimonials in your business - like on your website, in email copy, or paid social media ads. Before you start flaunting your customer’s glowing reviews, listen to this episode.  To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

Is email marketing dead? Absolutely not! But some of the old strategies certainly are. In this episode, I’m chatting with email marketing strategist, Lesley Clavijo. We get super honest about email list size, why email marketing is still more important than social media, the truth behind lead magnets, and so much more! You’ll want to check out this episode before you hit “send” on your next email.  To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

From speaking on-stage to recording videos for social media, to team meetings, public speaking is a vital skill for any entrepreneur -  and you too can learn how to become a better speaker!  In this episode, I’m talking with speaking coach and speechwriter, Helena Bowen. We talk about some (very big) misconceptions about learning to become a better public speaker, including the double-edged sword that is your slides, and the #1 skill you need to improve to be a better public speaker. To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

If hearing the word “sell” makes you shudder, you’re not alone! Sales calls and closing sales can be the most difficult part of being a business owner for most of us, but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode, I’m chatting with long-time wedding planner and wedding business strategist, Lindsey Nickel. Lindsey shares how important contracts are, 4 great tips for standing out in crowded industries, how to overcome your anxiety when asking for the sale, and so much more! To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

Running an event rental business comes with its own unique challenges, especially with managing your inventory! In this episode, I’m chatting with long-time event rental pro and co-founder of RW Elephant, Allison Howell. Allison’s insights about inventory management, pricing, and how to stay profitable long-term are fantastic for event rental businesses and other businesses alike.   To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction. If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

Mamas-to-be, this one if for you! Whether this is your first baby, or you’re adding another member to your family, pregnancy can be different every time. In this episode, I’m sharing my favorite tips, tricks, and advice from friends, family, and my own experience to help you with your first or next pregnancy (guys, share this with the ladies in your life!) To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

When was the last time you sat down and did a legal audit of your business?  If you’re like most business owners, probably never. Likely, it’s low on your priority list. However, scheduling an annual review of all the legal aspects of your business is a great practice that can help protect you down the road - especially as your business continues to grow and scale.  In this episode, I share key questions to ask yourself during an annual legal review of your business.   To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

If you’re a contractor or business owner that does business in California, you may have heard about the new law on how to classify an Independent Contractor that goes into effect on January 1st, 2020. Confused? Overwhelmed? Not sure if the new law applies to you? Check out this episode, where we chat with employment lawyer and previous Office Talk guest, Jenny Wiegley, about all of the new changes, who they apply to, and what to do next. To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

Business horror story alert! Starting a new project with a new client is always exciting, especially when they’ve already paid you!   But what if the project needs to be canceled?  And worse off, what if the client asks for a refund? In this episode, I’m sharing a true story of a service provider who came across this exact situation, and unfortunately, because of one small oversight, had to refund nearly $25,000.   It happens more often than I’d like to admit, so that’s why I’m sharing this story and my insights on how to avoid this situation altogether!   To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

Have you ever wanted to take an extended break from your business? Maybe go on vacation, or a sabbatical, or even on maternity leave? Then this episode is for you! I’m sharing how I’m preparing for my upcoming maternity leave, including key ways I’m ensuring that my business can run without me. To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

Is there a legal question that you’ve had knocking around in your mind for a while? Then this is the episode for you! We’re doing a round-up of recent legal questions entrepreneurs and business owners have been asking - the answer to YOUR question may be in here too. In particular: The answer to, “Should I register the trademark for the logo of my business versus the name of my business? Or only the name of my program or product?” The answer to, “What should I do if one of my clients is asking for changes to my default contract, specifically the termination clause?” The answer to, “When hosting a group coaching program or a mastermind, do participants need to literally sign on the contract of can they just check a box to acknowledge the terms?” The answer to, “Any recommendations on how to work with vendors whose policies prohibit you from sharing examples of your work on social media or for marketing?”  Plus: Check out the new templates we’ve added to YourLegalBFF.com (specifically, the Event Venue Rental Agreement and the Group Coaching and Mastermind Terms of Service, with more to come!) To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

You never want to start out a relationship thinking about how it will end, right? Well, if you’re talking about your relationship with clients - whether you know it will be a short-term project or not - thinking about the end can save you a lot of stress and frustration! In this episode, we’re talking about terms and agreements for terminating a contract, no matter what the reason for the termination. Sometimes, a working relationship has to end, but it doesn’t have to be messy.  Check out this episode to learn how. To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

Working on a new product, service, or business, but not quite ready to launch yet?  If you’ve picked out a name that you’re super excited to use, but haven’t started using it yet, someone could start using that name before you.  Is there anything you can do to prevent that? Absolutely! You can buy yourself some time by filing an Intent to Use Trademark Application.  Sound complicated? It’s simple - check out this episode and learn all about how Intent to Use application can help you secure your favorite name for your new product, service, or business. To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

You’ve been wracking your brain to come up with a catchy name for your new business, product, or service … then you finally land on the winner! Before you rush off to get a logo created, there’s one extra step you need to take, and it’s really important. In this episode, I’m talking about trademarks and why having a unique and distinctive name is so important - both professionally and legally. Listen to this episode and save yourself lots of wasted brainstorming time (and possible trademark trouble)! To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

If you know me, you know I love a good ol’ burrito.  The flour tortilla, the guac, the cheese…. mmmmmm!  Well, believe it or not, building a legally sound business is just like building an epic burrito.    Yup, you read that right... Hear me out…. For many business owners, focusing on contracts, copyrights, and other legal topics often fall at the bottom of their to-do list.  Because it’s all so overwhelming, right? In this episode, I’m breaking down the 5 (appetizing and bite-sized) legal ingredients you need to have to build a legally sound business! To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

When the topic of copyrights comes up, there are a lot of questions! Are a copyright and a trademark the same thing? Can I copyright an idea? How can I monetize my copyrighted content? In this episode, I’ll simplify copyrights using another food analogy and a Harry Potter reference. If you create content (think: written work, visual designs, photographs, digital designs, and more) this episode is for you! To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk   Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

A great way to grow your business and your audience is to monetize your existing content through licensing deals with other companies (totally a win-win!).  Is a verbal agreement, maybe an email, enough in these situations? Absolutely not! A solid, detailed licensing agreement is what you need to ensure you retain ownership of your designs, while monetizing your work with more than one partner.  In this episode, we cover the basics of licensing and the most important items to understand when it comes to licensing agreements.  Whether you’re just starting out with licensing or you’ve been doing it for years, check out this episode to learn more about the essentials of licensing. To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

It’s been a hot minute since I’ve brought you a show!  In this episode, you’ll get an update on what’s been brewing both on the business and personal side of things.  I’m also getting a little personal in this episode by sharing some of the biggest lessons I’ve learned over the last few months as we embarked on our IVF journey. I hope this helps those of you who may be going through a similar experience.  To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk Disclaimer:  This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian.  Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential.  The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation.  If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

I’ve said it before, but where the heck did the year go? Are you also standing at the end of this year, wondering what you accomplished? This episode of Office Talk is particularly vulnerable for me because I’m sharing what this less-than-perfect year has brought me. I’m pretty goal-oriented but this year tells a different story. I’m reviewing my year for you and telling you about some of the changes I’ll make in 2019 to feel more at peace with where my business is going. I also share some tricks that I remembered from my past (that I’ve never talked about before) to help me meet my goals in the future. If I set goals, that is! To learn more and get the show notes, visit: www.annettestepanian.com/officetalk Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation. If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.

If you find yourself frustrated in your business (or in your life), you may not be asking the right questions. In this episode of Office Talk, I’m chatting with John G. Miller, author of QBQ! The Question Behind the Question (among others). Most of us ask externally-focused questions like, “Why are we going through this shift?” and “Why does this always happen to me?” Really, we should be asking ourselves questions about how we can ask more empowering questions that move us forward and help flip the switch on victim thinking, procrastination and blame. As John says in our conversation, the QBQ! The Question Behind the Question helps you get on a path of higher personal accountability and responsibility. Instead of waiting for change, you ask what you can do to make that change happen--and you help others in the process. Instead of trying to change others in your life, think instead of what you can do to support the team, partner, child, or be the best you can possibly be. If you’ve been struggling with moving forward in your business or in your home life, this episode is for you.     Disclaimer: This content is for your educational and informational purposes only and should not take the place of hiring an attorney. It does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between you and Annette Stepanian. Neither receipt of information presented nor any email or other electronic communication submitted or received will create an attorney-client relationship with Annette Stepanian. Any information that you provide by reason of your use of this content is not privileged or confidential. The law varies from state to state and based on the individual facts. Therefore, the information in this presentation may not work for your specific situation. If you have specific legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney authorized to practice law in your local state or jurisdiction.