Most businesses are marketing constantly. Few stop to ask whether their marketing strategy actually supports the wider goals of the business.

In this episode, we sit down with marketing strategist, presenter and LinkedIn expert Gus Bhandal, founder of The M Guru, to explore how businesses can use digital marketing more effectively to build relationships, strengthen their brand and attract more customers.

We discuss the challenge of navigating a broad spectrum of marketing channels, and how understanding the link between your business plan and digital marketing strategy is key to successful implementation.

Gus also breaks down the Digital Marketing Ecosystem and explains how businesses develop and build relationships over time through their digital content. From initially discovering a business on Google, right through to purchase or enquiry, the customer journey is what allows people to build trust in a brand.

The conversation also explores LinkedIn, content creation, audience building and the reality behind social media algorithms. Gus shares his thoughts on what actually matters when creating content online, and why authenticity is still one of the most valuable tools businesses have.

We will also explore the importance of brand identity and reinforcement by discovering the story behind The M Guru’s distinctive black and orange.

If you’re a business owner, marketer or leader looking to improve your digital presence and create more meaningful engagement with your audience, there’s plenty here you can apply straight away.

Stay until the end for Gus’ practical top tips on improving your marketing strategy, strengthening your LinkedIn presence and creating better content online.

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#Leader #Strategy #digitalmarketingstrategy #digitalmarketing #socialmedia #LinkedInmarketing #businessstrategy #Leadership #GrowthHacking #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #StrategyTips #Branding #Storytelling #Collaboration #BusinessTransformation #GrowYourBusiness #BusinessAdvice #Business #Leaders #CEO

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To find out more about today’s guest, Gus Bhandal give him a follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mguruuk/

& visit the M Guru website: https://www.themguru.co.uk/ Want More? Watch more episodes on scaling and business strategy: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL4j23J_5BCTMWQtXPEDDMCbOEHpQbjld1.

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Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.

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Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.

To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.

Follow me on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775.

Most businesses focus heavily on winning new customers. Yet the real opportunity for growth often sits with the customers you already have.

In this episode, we break down why client retention is one of the most powerful drivers of profitability, loyalty and long-term success. While acquisition plays a role, retention is what builds a stable and scalable business.

The numbers are clear. It can cost up to five times more to acquire a new customer than to retain an existing one. Existing customers also tend to spend more and are far more likely to buy again. Despite this, many leaders continue to prioritise the wrong areas.

I’m joined by Yemi Oluseun, business leader, LinkedIn strategist and client retention expert, currently Integration and Transformation Programme Director at The Change Hive. With experience across organisations like Barclays and J.P. Morgan, Yemi shares practical insight into how businesses can strengthen relationships and unlock more value from their existing client base.

We explore why so many businesses suffer from a “leaky pipeline”, the biggest challenges when it comes to retaining customers, and how improving the customer journey can transform performance.

You’ll also hear why focusing purely on funnels can limit growth, and how a customer-first approach creates stronger, longer-lasting results.

If you’re a founder, business owner or leader looking to grow more sustainably, this episode will help you rethink where your biggest opportunities really are.

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#CustomerRetention #ClientRetention #CustomerService #CustomerManagement #Leader #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurs #BusinessStrategy #GrowYourBusiness #BusinessAdvice #Business #Leaders #CEO

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To find out more about Yemi and The Change Hive, you can follow her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yemioluseun/

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Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.

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Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.

To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.

Follow me on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775.

Most business strategies fail for one simple reason. Lack of clarity.

In this episode, I share the exact checklist I use when assessing businesses and their strategy. It’s a framework that forces clarity, challenges assumptions and creates consistency across the organisation.

This isn’t theory. It’s the same approach used to help businesses sharpen their direction, make better decisions and unlock significant growth.

We break down the key questions every leader should be asking. From understanding the real problems you’re solving and the decisions your customers are making, through to assessing your external environment, internal capability and defining clear priorities.

You’ll also learn why a coordinated action plan, realistic resource planning and measurable outcomes are critical if you want your strategy actually to deliver results.

And finally, how to create a strategy story that people remember and can act on. If you’re a founder, business owner or leader looking to improve your strategy, increase performance and build a more focused, aligned business, this episode gives you a practical checklist you can apply immediately.

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#Leader #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurs #BusinessStrategy #GrowYourBusiness #BusinessAdvice #Business #Leaders #CEO

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Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.

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Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business?

I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies. To learn more, please visit my website at

https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.

Follow me on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775.

AI is everywhere right now. But what does it actually mean for your business?

In this episode, we break down one of the biggest challenges facing business owners and leaders in 2026: artificial intelligence. Not the hype. Not the headlines. The reality of how AI is already shaping business strategy, decision-making and growth.

I’m joined by Oli Wood, Co-Founder of ExposeIQ and Founder of Revived Leads, to explore how businesses should be thinking about AI right now.

One of the key takeaways is simple. AI won’t replace you, but someone using it will. The real question is how you adapt, where you apply it, and how you avoid falling behind.

We discuss the role AI plays in business strategy, real examples of how it’s being used effectively, and the common mistakes business owners are making when trying to implement it. This includes when not to rely on AI, how to approach it properly, and what leaders should be focusing on instead.

If you’re a founder, entrepreneur or business leader trying to understand AI and how it impacts your business, this episode will help you cut through the noise and focus on what actually matters. ---------

#AI #ArtificialIntelligence #Leader #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurs #BusinessStrategy #GrowYourBusiness #BusinessAdvice #Business #Leaders #CEO

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You can find out more about Oli Wood and his businesses here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/woodoli/.

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Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.

----------

Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.

To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.

Follow me on LinkedIn:

http://linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775.

Most business leaders believe they know who their competitors are. But what if the real threats to your business aren’t external at all?

In this episode, we tackle a question that came directly from a business owner struggling to apply strategy in practice: Who is the real enemy in business?

This conversation breaks down the hidden forces that quietly hinder businesses. Not obvious competitors, but the internal and external factors that limit growth, slow progress, and keep organisations stuck.

From the comfort of the status quo to disengaged customers, misaligned teams and a lack of accountability, we explore the challenges that every business leader must recognise and address if they want to move forward.

This isn’t about theory. It’s about identifying what’s really standing in your way so you can make better decisions, sharpen your strategy and avoid falling into the trap of mediocrity.

If you’re a founder, business owner or leader looking to push your business forward, this episode will challenge how you think about competition, performance and growth.

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#Leader #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurs #BusinessStrategy #GrowYourBusiness #BusinessAdvice #Business #Leaders #CEO -

Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.

----------

Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business?

I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.

To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.

Follow me on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775.

One of the fastest ways to grow your business is to learn from people who have already done it.

In this episode, I’m joined by Jeannette Linfoot, business advisor, investor and founder of Brave Bold Brilliant. With over 30 years of global experience and a track record that includes leading major organisations such as TUI, Thomas Cook and Saga, Jeannette brings a level of insight most business leaders never get access to.

This conversation is all about tackling the real challenges leaders face when trying to grow, scale and improve performance. From building high-performing teams to sharpening strategy and making better decisions, Jeannette shares the kind of practical, experience-led advice that businesses typically pay significant fees to access.

If you’re a founder, business owner or senior leader looking to overcome challenges and take your business to the next level, this episode gives you a rare opportunity to hear directly from someone who has operated at the very top and now helps others do the same.

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#Leader #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurs #BusinessStrategy #GrowYourBusiness #BusinessAdvice #Business #Leaders #CEO

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You can find out more about Jeannette Linfoot and Brave Bold Brilliant here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeannettelinfoot/.

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Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.

----------

Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.

To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.

Follow me on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775.

What can a 2,500-year-old military text teach modern business leaders?

Quite a lot.

In this episode, we explore the timeless strategic principles from Sun Tzu’s The Art of War and why they remain surprisingly relevant for businesses navigating today’s competitive environment.

From global uncertainty to rapid technological change, the challenges facing leaders in 2026 require sharper thinking, better preparation and a clear understanding of strategy. That’s why so many entrepreneurs and executives continue to reference Sun Tzu’s work when thinking about competition, leadership and long-term planning.

In this discussion, we break down several core principles from The Art of War and examine how they apply directly to modern business strategy. The conversation focuses on preparation, understanding your competition, adaptability, efficient use of resources and the role leadership plays in building strong, aligned teams.

This episode isn’t about warfare. It’s about sharpening your strategic thinking so you can navigate uncertainty, anticipate challenges and position your business more effectively.

If you’re a founder, entrepreneur or business leader looking to strengthen your strategic mindset, this episode offers practical lessons drawn from one of the most influential strategy books ever written.

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#Leader #Leadership #BusinessGrowth #Entrepreneurs #BusinessStrategy #GrowYourBusiness #BusinessAdvice #Business #Leaders #CEO #SunTzu #ArtOfWar

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Like, comment, and subscribe for more expert advice on business strategy, leadership, and scaling your business.

----------

Want to learn how to produce a winning business strategy and profitably grow your business? I teach, coach and mentor Directors, Leaders and Managers on how to run successful companies.

To learn more, please visit my website at https://www.strategusconsulting.co.uk/.

Follow me on LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/mike-harris-095b4775.