Smarter Online Business - Tech, Tools & Truths for Websites that Sell
Struggling to turn website traffic into real sales? It's such a common thing we see client struggle with until we start helping them. Welcome to Smarter Online Business, the podcast for course creators, coaches, and eCommerce entrepreneurs who want their websites to actually work for them. Each week, you’ll get practical advice to help you boost conversions, simplify your tech, and attract the right customers without burning out or overcomplicating things. Hosted by Carrie Saunders, tech strategist, website conversion expert, and founder of BCSE, this show blends 20+ years of hands-on experience with real talk and simple strategies that work. If you want your website to finally pull its weight and support the business you’re building, this is the show for you. 🎧 Subscribe now and start making smarter decisions for your online business. You can find us on the web at: https://www.bcsengineering.com And our show notes are at: https://www.smarteronlinebusiness.com/
Episodes
Hiring a developer can feel a little like dating. Everyone looks great on paper, everyone says they can help, and everything sounds promising in the beginning. Then, six months later, you find yourself wondering, "How did we get here?"
Maybe the project is over budget.
Maybe it's behind schedule.
Maybe you're frustrated, they're frustrated, or you've ended up paying twice because someone else now...
Have you ever chosen a piece of software because it was cheaper, someone recommended it, your coach used it, or it simply looked easier to use? Most of us have, and sometimes those decisions work out just fine.
But other times, the most expensive software decision isn't the software itself. It's everything you have to fix later. Choosing the wrong tech stack can quietly drain your business through lo...
DIY can be incredibly smart in business.
In fact, most entrepreneurs have to DIY in the beginning.
You learn your audience. You figure things out. You stretch your budget. You wear a lot of hats because that's what it takes to get your business off the ground.
But there comes a point where DIY quietly shifts from being resourceful to becoming expensive.
Expensive in time.
Expensive in growth.
Expensive in stres...
If you’ve ever felt like…
You’ve done the work…
You’re really good at what you do…
But somehow, the less qualified people are getting the opportunities…
This episode might hit a little close to home.
Because today, we’re talking about something most experts don’t realize until it’s too late:
👉 Being great at what ...
Have you ever added a tool “just for now”…
created a workaround…
skipped fixing something because things were mostly working…
and told yourself you’d clean it up later?
That might be tech debt.
And it’s one of the most expensive hidden problems in online business.
Because tech debt doesn’t usually show up as one giant disas...
Let me ask you a quick question: when someone lands on your website, is it mostly about you or about them?
This is one of the most common issues I see with websites. They look great, sound professional, and list all the right credentials, yet they still struggle to convert visitors into customers.
The reason is often surprisingly simple. The website is talking about the business owner just a lit...
What if ads didn’t feel complicated… expensive… or like a total gamble?
Because for a lot of business owners, that’s exactly how ads feel.
You’ve probably wondered:
Should I be running ads?
When is the right time?
And how do I even get started without wasting money?
In today’s episode of Smarter Online Business, I’m joined b...
Is SEO dead?
Or is it just… different now?
Because if you’ve been paying attention lately, it feels like everything is changing.
People are asking questions in ChatGPT instead of Google.
AI is summarizing answers instead of sending traffic to websites.
And it leaves a lot of business owners wondering:
“Is SEO even worth it anymore?”
Or maybe ...
Should you put your prices on your website… or not?
This is one of those questions that sparks a lot of opinions.
Some people will tell you:
“Always show your prices.”
Others will say:
“Never show your prices—get them on a call.”
And it’s very common to feel stuck somewhere in the middle.
In this episode, we’re bre...
You’ve invested in your website.
It looks good.
It feels professional.
You’re proud to share the link.
But… it’s not bringing in the leads or sales you expected.
And that’s where a lot of business owners get stuck.
Because if it’s not the design… then what is it?
In this episode, we’re breaking down why people don...
What if the real secret to time freedom in business is not better time management… but building high leverage assets that keep working even when you are done for the day?
Today’s guest is one of my favorite people to learn from on that exact topic - Jerry Potter.
Jerry teaches online entrepreneurs how to run their business in half the time by focusing on assets like YouTube channels...
One of the most common questions I get from business owners is surprisingly simple.
“How many pages should my website have?”
And usually that question comes with a little bit of stress behind it.
Should it have five pages?
Ten pages?
Twenty pages?
Do you need a blog?
A resources section?
Landing pages?
Or maybe you are wondering if y...
Have you ever sat down to build or redesign your website… and suddenly realized you have no idea what should actually go on it?
So you start choosing colors.
Maybe picking a theme.
Maybe even hiring a designer.
But the problem with most websites is not the design.
It is the lack of clarity behind them.
Today we are talking about the three things every business ...
What if I told you that you only need 20 minutes a week to write emails that actually make money?
Not 20 minutes a day.
Not hours of storytelling.
Just 20 focused minutes.
Today, I’m joined by the Fresh Princess of Email Marketing herself, Liz Wilcox.
Liz is an email strategist and keynote speaker who helps small businesses build real relationships and real revenue throu...
You can tell people you’re trustworthy.
You can say you’re experienced.
You can list your credentials.
But online?
Words alone aren’t enough.
If your website doesn’t visually reinforce trust, visitors hesitate. And hesitation kills conversions.
In this episode, we’re talking about how to use visual trust signals to increase conversions without...
You’ve probably heard me say this before…
Your website should be your smartest sales tool.
But what does that actually mean?
Because a lot of websites look good.
A lot of websites exist.
But very few actually work.
In this episode, I’m breaking down what separates a brochure website from a smart sales tool… and how to know which one you have.&nbs...
You’ve probably heard this before:
“You don’t need a website. You just need a funnel.”
Or maybe the opposite:
“Funnels are scammy. Just build a solid website.”
So which is it?
Do you actually need both?
Or is one enough?
In this episode, I’m breaking down the real difference between a funnel and a website, when you need o...
Ever wonder why some businesses scale with ease while others stall out despite having great products or services?
In today’s episode of Smarter Online Business, I’m joined by Dr. Umut Aslan, a business strategist, educator, and Certified Scaling Up Coach who’s spent years researching exactly what makes companies thrive.
From selling his own company to pursuing a doctorate in st...
It’s one of the most frustrating moments in online business:
You send the email.
They click the link.
And then… nothing.
No sale. No signup. Just silence.
In this episode, we’re unpacking why that happens and how to fix it—so more of your clicks actually convert.
This one’s especially for you if you’re sending traffic to sales page...
Money mindset, messy books, missed reports—sound familiar?
Whether you're wrapping up your year or planning ahead, financial clarity is the move for smarter business growth.
In this episode, I’m joined by Michelle Mitchell—financial strategist and founder of Mitchell Consulting—who’s known for helping powerhouse women stop being the bottleneck in their business.&nbs...
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