SCORE Houston's Podcast

Episode 28: How to Use Digital Marketing and Social Media Marketing to Grow Your Local Business (Houston & Beyond)

Follow SCORE Houston Podcast on your favorite platform: 🎧 Apple Podcasts: Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/in/podcast/score-houstons-podcast/id1845697492] tap Follow! 🎵 Spotify: Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/episode/6ctXBuEuaw4XsSc7PnHvR1?si=XbYjKwyuT1y-1N39g_WpZA] — tap Follow! 📻 Amazon Music:  Amazon Music [https://music.amazon.in/podcasts/b4ac4d74-acb2-43cc-b5f0-433ad259fccb/score-houston's-podcast]— tap Follow! ▶️ YouTube: YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwYwZdflYjHJeI8oTA_fRJw] — Subscribe and hit the bell! 💬 Share your thoughts: scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com" Are you a local business owner struggling to get customers online? This episode is for you. Every year, thousands of entrepreneurs open their doors — but stay invisible to 97% of their potential customers. In this episode, we break down a proven digital marketing and social media marketing strategy specifically designed for local business owners in their 30s and 40s who are done with the corporate grind and ready to grow. 🎯 What You'll Learn: * Why your local business is invisible on Google — and how to fix it for free * How to fully optimize your Google Business Profile to rank on page one * Which social media platform is actually right for YOUR business (and why trying to be everywhere is killing you) * The Give, Give, Give, Ask content framework to stop sounding like a used car salesman * How a 5% increase in customer retention can grow profits by up to 95% * Why SMS marketing gets a 98% open rate — and how to use it * When (and only when) to spend money on Google Ads and Meta Ads * A complete 30-day digital marketing sprint to go from invisible to fully booked Practical Examples Covered: The episode walks through scenarios including: * Senior care providers building local visibility * Tutoring centers attracting families organically * Daycares leveraging reviews for trust-building * Salons choosing the right social media platforms These illustrate common challenges local businesses face and practical solutions. ⏱️ Chapters: * 0:00 – Why 97% of local businesses are invisible online * 0:45 – The block party analogy every entrepreneur needs to hear * 3:00 – Google Business Profile: your free foundation * 8:00 – Choosing the right social media platform for your business * 14:00 – The Give, Give, Give, Ask content strategy * 20:00 – Reviews, retention & SMS marketing * 28:00 – When to run paid ads (Google & Meta) * 35:00 – Your 30-day digital marketing sprint Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545812/fan_mail/new] Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com [https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com] or write to pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.

Episode 27: Secure and Steady: Phylicia Hill on Growing a Cybersecurity Firm from the Ground Up.

In this episode of the SCORE Houston Podcast, host PV Bala sits down with Phylicia Hill, Co-Founder and CEO/Managing Director of H5 Strategic Alliance — a Houston-based cybersecurity and IT professional services firm she co-founded with her husband James Hill in 2013. Phylicia shares her remarkable journey from a career in education and school administration to building a thriving cybersecurity company that serves enterprise clients across healthcare, financial services, and beyond. She opens up about the patience it took to grow the business over five years while working full-time, navigating Hurricane Harvey, and putting family first — all before going full-time in 2018. In this episode, you'll learn: * How Phylicia merged her business acumen with her husband's deep technical expertise * Why patience and preparation are the foundation of sustainable business growth * How the COVID-19 pandemic became a turning point that accelerated their growth * The unique talent model that powers H5's delivery across multiple states * How small businesses can protect themselves from today's AI-driven cyber threats * Why mentorship is non-negotiable for minority and women entrepreneurs * What's next for H5, including their new Ignite managed services platform Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a small business owner, or simply curious about the cybersecurity landscape, this conversation is packed with real-world wisdom and practical advice. Phylicia Hill was recognized as the SBA Houston District Minority Business Owner of the Year. About SCORE Houston Podcast: SCORE Houston brings you inspiring stories and actionable insights from successful entrepreneurs and business leaders in the Houston area. Subscribe for new episodes every week! Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545812/fan_mail/new] Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com [https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com] or write to pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.

Episode 26: How a Grandmother's Kitchen Became a Multi-Location Catering Empire & 27 Vending Machines | Britany Vinson

She started with a piece of paper, a vision, and a rented church kitchen. Today, Britany Vinson runs three restaurant locations, 27 refrigerated vending machines, 33 employees, and a soon-to-be national franchise — all from East Texas. In this episode of Small Business Success Stories presented by SCORE Houston, host Dr. Jeffrey Ricken sits down with Britany Vinson, founder, owner, and head chef of Tome Catering — where TOME stands for The Ordinary Made Extraordinary. Brittany shares her raw, inspiring journey: from cooking at age 4 with her 98-year-old grandmother, to bootstrapping her business while working full-time to pivoting during COVID by turning 20 cars a day into 100+ through a drive-through she almost didn't build. What Brittany Said About the Power of Mentoring with SCORE: "I had a SCORE mentor— he had a restaurant, and he walked me through some things, helped mold me and shape me, gave me ideas through his story and things he'd done to build his business. That was instrumental." Britany credits free mentoring through SCORE and the SBA at Angelina College as a key turning point in building Tome into what it is today — proving that the right guidance at the right time can change everything. In this episode you'll learn: * How Britany launched her catering business in 2008 with no outside funding * Why she kept her day job for 3 years while building Tome from scratch * How a drive-through window she almost didn't install became her lifeline during COVID * The story behind 27 refrigerated vending machines bringing fresh, home-cooked meals to hospitals, schools, and manufacturers across East Texas * How she earned 3 degrees — including culinary certification — with no days off for 2 years * The steps she took to legally franchise Tome for national expansion * Her mindset on failure, faith, and feeding communities   Connect with SCORE Houston: 📞 713-487-6565 📍 8701 South Gesner, Suite 1200, Houston, TX 77074 🕐 Mon–Fri, 10AM–2PM | Walk-ins welcome 🌐 www.score.org/houston [http://www.score.org/houston] Free mentoring. Real results. SCORE Houston is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration. Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545812/fan_mail/new] Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com [https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com] or write to pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.

Episode 25: Write Your Own Check: An Immigrant Entrepreneur's Journey Through Towing, Auto, and Beyond

What does it take to build eight companies before the age of 30? In this episode of the SCORE Houston Podcast, host PV Bala sits down with Bahaa Elabbasi, SCORE Houston subject matter expert, who moved to the US from Lebanon at age 10, started washing cars at 13, and never stopped building. Bahaa shares the story behind his automotive empire — from a single tow truck to four car dealerships, mechanic shops, an in-house insurance agency, and a marketing firm — all built on one guiding principle his father taught him early: write your own check. In this conversation, you'll learn: * How Bahaa scaled Texas Crown Towing to attract private equity investment * Why owning every layer of your business (insurance, marketing, repairs) is a game changer * How he manages eight companies without being the bottleneck * The mindset shift from earning a paycheck to building ownership * His next move: banking, investment, and a master's in finance Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, an immigrant building your American dream, or a business owner looking to scale — this episode is for you. 🔔 Subscribe for more entrepreneur stories from SCORE Houston. Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545812/fan_mail/new] Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com [https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com] or write to pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.

Episode 24: Business Plan Basics: What Every First-Time Entrepreneur Needs to Know

Why do most new businesses fail — and how does a business plan fix that? In this episode of the SCORE Houston Podcast, our mentors walk first-time entrepreneurs through everything they need to know about building a solid business plan — from market research and competitive analysis to pricing, cash flow projections, and financing options. Whether you're just starting to think about launching a business or you're ready to walk into a bank, this episode gives you the practical, no-nonsense foundation you need. What you'll learn: * What a business plan actually is (and why it's not just for the bank) * How to define your target customer and research your market * How to analyze your competition * How to price your product or service to actually make money * The truth about working capital and undercapitalization * How SBA loans, equity, and debt financing work * What banks really look at: cash flow, repayment, collateral, and credit * Why clean financial records and tax reporting matter from Day 1 * How SCORE Houston can help you — for free 🔗 Get free mentoring from SCORE Houston: https://www.score.org [https://www.score.org/]  SCORE is a nonprofit resource partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration offering free, confidential business mentoring. Let us know what you think of this episode. What subjects you would like us to cover in next episodes. [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2545812/fan_mail/new] Give your comments at https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com [https://scorehoustonpodcast.blogspot.com] or write to pv.bala@scorevolunteer.org. Let us know what you like of this episode and suggest subjects on which you wish to know more.