Coach Marcia- BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT SERIES

Prepare

Before your recording, take a few minutes to review the details on this page. You’ll find the list of questions our hosts typically pull from, tips to ensure your setup looks and sounds great, and answers to common questions guests often ask. A quick read-through will help you feel confident and ready for a great conversation.

Join the Podcast

We recommend joining the call a few minutes early to allow time for any last-minute tech checks. Once you’re on, your host will walk you through how the interview will flow and answer any final questions you may have. We’ll make sure everything feels smooth before we hit record. Most importantly—relax and have fun! This is your time to shine.

Share with the World

Within 4-6 weeks of your guest appearance, our team will send you the full set of links to your episode, along with downloadable copies for your personal use. You’re welcome to share the content however you’d like—it’s yours! We’ll also be promoting the interview across all major platforms including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and to our email database of 10,000+ subscribers.

BONUS!

We know your time is valuable, and we deeply appreciate you joining us for The Business Spotlight. As a thank you, we do our best to give back in meaningful ways. Beyond the podcast content we create and share, you’ll also have the opportunity to claim a free one-to-one coaching session with a member of our ActionCOACH team. There’s no pressure or obligation—just a genuine thank you for investing your time with us.

Guiding Questions

(we tend to get through about 1/2):

Overview of Your Background and What Your Business Is.

Setting the stage for viewers:

How is your business structured? (Are you a solo owner, do you have business partners, outside investors, etc.)
What is your role in the company at present? What type of hours do you put in?

What makes your business special:

Who does the business serve? Who is your ideal customer? (i.e. if I were watching the interview, how would I know if I was a fit for your product/service?)
What makes your business unique? Why do business with you?
How do your competitors compare?
What is one thing you wish more people knew about your business or industry?
What marketing have you found to be successful in your business?

Your Journey:

Why did you choose to get into business for yourself?
What was a memorable hurdle you had to overcome in your journey in building the business?
Where is your business headed next? (3-5 year outlook)
What is your approach to goal setting?
Team/Workforce:
What is your approach to hiring and recruiting?
How would you describe your current leadership style? Has it changed over the years?

Rapid Fire Questions - short quick responses as we start to wrap up the interview:

What is the key to success for you?
What is one piece of advice you would give to other business owners?
What is one book you are reading now or have read most recently?
If you could magically improve one area of your business tomorrow, what would it be?

Closing Question:

What is most inspiring to you today?

TIPS TO PREPARE (The 10 Ways to Be Set for Success):

RELAX! The best interviews happen when the guest shows up ready to have some fun. The more you are willing to share, the more natural the conversation will flow.

Setting the Environment:
-Find a quiet place to take the meeting from, ideally from your computer (rather than phone).
-Test your camera and mic and ensure they are in working order. Built in cameras are fine, external mics are recommended (wired headphones work great!)
-If you have a ring light, using is encouraged. Having a light source just beyond the camera provides a better image on for the video.
-Camera positioning - adjust camera angle so that your head and shoulders are visible in the center of the frame.

Additional Settings:
-It is highly recommended to turn on any form of "Do Not Disturb" for your devices. (At minimum - silence any calls, texts, and emails until the end of the podcast).
-If using a Mac - for best quality, turn on "Mic Isolation" and "Studio Lighting". (Settings and set up may vary by device).

Final Thoughts:
-If you are in a place where interruptions may happen (i.e. home office with kids running around), we recommend making a simple paper sign that can be taped to the door stating - "Do not disturb - recording in progress".
-Wear what is comfortable and best represents YOU. Do not feel that you need to dress up or down to participate.

REMEMBER - the tips above are only suggestions. We want to provide you the best overall content for your use - that said, we have completed some amazing interviews with the guest joining via phone from his/her vehicle.

Use what you've got and have fun with it!

What is the format?

The Spotlight Interview will be held via Zoom (video) and will be recorded. This NOT a live feed.

Who is the audience?

Primarily business owners and entrepreneurs in your local market.

Who has been on the podcast before?

As a team, we have had over 300 guests on The Business Spotlight. We have chatted with CEOs of large companies, first time entrepreneurs, tech founders, authors, and much more.

Where will this be published?

YouTube is our primary distribution channel and will be cross promoted on all the major social media platforms + our email newsletter of over 10,000 subscribers. As a guest, you will also receive links to share for your own marketing + a copy of the mp4 files upon request.

How much does this cost?

$0.00! This is a way our firm can give back to the business community...and it provides us great content! Due to this, we do this at no cost to you - all we require is your time to join.

WELCOME TO

Business Spotlight.

Your Host: MARCIA ERICKSON

What to Expect - THE PODCAST

Welcome to the Business Spotlight Series - Powered by ActionCOACH! We’re excited to sit down with you (virtually!) to talk about your business and your journey as an entrepreneur.