Seed to Success

Rethinking Marketing for Your Service Business with Bec Chappell

If you've ever felt like you're on a content hamster wheel, posting consistently, trying to feed the algorithm, and still wondering why the leads aren't flowing, you're not alone. So many VAs and OBMs are pouring time and energy into social media and quietly burning out in the process. The truth is, marketing your service-based business is so much more than showing up on Instagram. And when the economy gets tough and clients start watching their spend, knowing how to market strategically rather than reactively could make all the difference. In this episode, host Adrienne Donnelly is joined by Bec Chappell, a marketing strategist with nearly 20 years of experience helping service-based businesses build sustainable marketing systems. Bec has spent her career setting up marketing functions for businesses of all sizes, and she brings a refreshingly practical, no-hype approach to the conversation. You'll hear about 🌱 Why social media alone won't build a sustainable lead flow 🌱 The difference between "always on" marketing and campaign marketing 🌱 Practical strategies for marketing your business when clients are cutting spend 🌱 How to use AI smartly without losing your voice or point of difference 🌱 Why your next client is probably already in your network Whether your books are full or you're quietly wondering where the next client is coming from, this episode will shift the way you think about marketing your business for the long game. Resources and Links 🌱 Join the Seed VA community: Website: www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au [https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/] Instagram: @seedvirtualassistants [https://www.instagram.com/seedvirtualassistants] Facebook Group: Seed VA - Australian Virtual Assistant Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082065292124728] Learn more about the Inner Circle: Seed Inner Circle [https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle] 📲 Connect with Bec Chappell: Website: www.becchappell.com.au [https://becchappell.com.au] LinkedIn: Bec Chappell [https://au.linkedin.com/in/bec-chappell] Instagram: @bec_chappell [https://www.instagram.com/bec_chappell/] 🎙️ Marketing Espresso Podcast: https://tinyurl.com/marketing-espresso-podcast [https://tinyurl.com/marketing-espresso-podcast] 🎙️ How to Market When Times Get Tough (episode): https://tinyurl.com/how-to-market-when-times [https://tinyurl.com/how-to-market-when-times] If this episode made you feel a little less alone or gave you something to think about, share it with a fellow business bestie. And don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's new on Seed to Success. 🌱

The Subtle Language Shifts That Change How You’re Seen in Business

If you've ever caught yourself asking a client for a day off, chances are you already know something feels a little off about that. You're not an employee anymore, but sometimes the language hasn't quite caught up. Most of us come into business after years in traditional employment, and we bring that language with us without even realising it. It's not a problem. It's just part of the transition. And once you start to notice it, that's when things start to shift. In this episode, Adrienne Donnelly explores why the language we carry from employment can quietly undermine how we show up as business owners, and walks through some of the most common shifts worth making, from how we handle inquiries to how we talk about our time, our scope, and ourselves. You'll hear about 🌱 Why employee language follows us into business and why that's completely normal 🌱 The difference between asking permission and communicating your availability 🌱 How to handle out-of-scope requests without underselling your time 🌱 Removing the word "just" from how you talk about yourself 🌱 Small language tweaks that shift how clients perceive your value Language is one of those things that changes quietly over time. You don't need to have it perfect, and you don't need to overhaul everything at once. But once you start noticing the words you're using, it becomes much easier to make those small, steady shifts that reflect the business owner you already are. 🌱 Resources and Links Join the Seed VA community: Website: seedvirtualassistants.com.au [https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/] Instagram: @seedvirtualassistants [https://www.instagram.com/seedvirtualassistants] Facebook Group: Seed VA – Australian Virtual Assistant Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082065292124728] Learn more about the Inner Circle: seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle [https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle] If this episode made you feel a little less alone or gave you something to think about, share it with a fellow business bestie. And don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's new on Seed to Success. 🌱

Sleep, Energy and Burnout with Dr Shauna Watts

Are you waking up at 3am with your brain already racing? Dragging yourself through the afternoon and quietly wondering how you're going to make it to the end of the day? If any of that sounds familiar, you're in good company. And there are real, biological reasons it's happening. In this episode, host Adrienne Donnelly sits down with Dr. Shauna Watts, a GP with a special interest in women's health and midlife medicine, to talk about sleep, energy and burnout and how all three show up for women running a business. Dr. Shauna brings the medical knowledge without the overwhelm, and the kind of honest, practical guidance that actually makes sense in real life. This one is worth saving. You'll hear about: 🌱 Why so many women wake between 2 and 4am and what's driving it 🌱 How to create an end-of-day routine that helps your brain switch off 🌱 What to eat at 3pm instead of reaching for sugar or another coffee 🌱 The signs of burnout that are easy to miss in yourself and in others 🌱 Why a normal blood test doesn't rule out perimenopause You're the heartbeat of your business and your family, and when your energy is stretched thin, everything around you feels it. Dr. Shauna makes the complex feel manageable, and this conversation gives you both the language for what you're experiencing and some genuinely practical steps to start working with your body rather than against it. Resources and Links Join the Seed VA community: Website: seedvirtualassistants.com.au [https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/] Instagram: @seedvirtualassistants [https://www.instagram.com/seedvirtualassistants] Facebook Group: Seed VA – Australian Virtual Assistant Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082065292124728] Learn more about the Inner Circle: seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle [https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle] 📲 Connect with Dr. Shauna Watts: Website: www.youbydrshaunawatts.com.au [https://youbydrshaunawatts.com.au/] Instagram: @dr.shaunawatts [https://www.instagram.com/dr.shaunawatts/] Podcast Instagram: @allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts [https://www.instagram.com/allaboutyou_withdrshaunawatts/] If this episode made you feel a little less alone or gave you something to think about, share it with a fellow business bestie. And don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's new on Seed to Success. 🌱

Future-Proofing Your VA or OBM Business

There's a lot of noise online right now about AI replacing virtual assistants. And if you've spent even a few minutes scrolling, chances are you've seen someone declare that VAs will eventually be made redundant altogether. The reality looks a little different. Drawing on almost a decade of experience running her own VA and OBM business, Adrienne shares what future-proofing actually looks like in practice, and why the human element isn't going anywhere. This isn't about ignoring AI or pretending it isn't changing the way we work. It absolutely is. But the story is more nuanced than the headlines suggest, and there's a lot of opportunity in that nuance if you're paying attention. You'll hear about: 🌱 Real client examples where AI fell short and humans got the job done 🌱 The risks of outsourcing business-critical work to AI 🌱 How embracing AI can elevate your role rather than replace it 🌱 Why niching into growing industries is a smart long-term move 🌱 What a business continuity plan looks like for solo operators Whatever the future looks like, the VAs and OBMs who will thrive are the ones who embrace technology, deepen their expertise, and double down on the human value they bring. That's not going out of style anytime soon. Resources and Links Join the Seed VA community: Website: seedvirtualassistants.com.au [https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/] Instagram: @seedvirtualassistants [https://www.instagram.com/seedvirtualassistants] Facebook Group: Seed VA – Australian Virtual Assistant Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082065292124728] Learn more about the Inner Circle: seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle [https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle] Bec at The Ops Side: www.theopsside.com.au [http://www.theopsside.com.au] 🔔 This episode is sponsored by Ready to Boss Legal. Ready to Boss Legal offers online legal templates that protect your business without the fuss or the large fees. Use code SEED10 for 10% off. Visit: www.readytobosslegal.com.au [http://www.readytobosslegal.com.au] If this episode made you think about where your business is heading, share it with a fellow VA or OBM who needs to hear it. And don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's new on Seed to Success. 🌱

Inner Circle Member Spotlight: Interview with Laurissa Makings from HealthPoint VA

Running a service business is a lot to manage. Add a chronic illness and it can feel impossible before the day has even started. If you've wondered whether building something sustainable is realistic when your capacity changes daily, this episode is for you. In this episode Adrienne Donnelly chats with Laurissa Makings, founder of HealthPoint VA, supporting allied health professionals across Australia. Laurissa shares how she built a niche business while living with multiple chronic health conditions, why honesty with clients has been her greatest asset, and the project she's creating to help others in the chronic illness community find the support they need. You'll hear about: 🌱 Niching into allied health from day one and why it worked 🌱 Spoon Theory and managing energy in a client-facing business 🌱 Designing your offers around what you can actually sustain 🌱 Why transparency with clients is a strength, not a liability 🌱 The Spoonie Support Hub and the story behind it You don't have to hide who you are to run a successful business. The right clients will always meet you where you are. 🌱 Join the Seed VA community: Website: seedvirtualassistants.com.au [https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/] Instagram: @seedvirtualassistants [https://www.instagram.com/seedvirtualassistants] Facebook Group: Seed VA – Australian Virtual Assistant Community [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1082065292124728] Learn more about the Inner Circle: seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle [https://www.seedvirtualassistants.com.au/innercircle] 📲 Connect with Laurissa and HealthPoint VA: Instagram: @healthpointva_ [https://www.instagram.com/healthpointva_] Facebook: Healthpoint VA [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553289982539] 🔔 This episode is sponsored by Ready to Boss Legal. Ready to Boss Legal offers easy-to-use legal templates to help protect your business without the stress or high legal fees. Use code SEED10 for 10% off. Visit: www.readytobosslegal.com.au [https://www.readytobosslegal.com.au/] If this episode made you feel a little less alone or gave you something to think about, share it with a fellow business bestie. And don't forget to subscribe so you never miss what's new on Seed to Success. 🌱