Meet Inspire Small Business Creator and Owner, Clayton Bates
In a snapshot, tell us about Inspire Small Business?
Inspire Small Business helps ecom businesses that have a Shopify website get more sales by building websites that convert more visitors into paying customers.
Our work has helped generate tens of millions of extra revenue back into small businesses.
So far, we have worked with over 500 awesome businesses in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, United Kingdom and the United States.
Since 2018 we have been ranked #1 Shopify Expert in Australia two years in a row and the highest ranking in the world we got to was #8 out of about 500 experts in website builds and redesigns. We have also been nominated for multiple awards, including the local business awards for Campbelltown.
What is a Shopify Expert and how did you become one?
Shopify (The platform I build ecom websites on) have an experts program that they will only take on people they believe are experts in the platform and that offer lots of value to the community. It’s pretty hard to become an expert and they keep changing the way you become one also. To give you an idea there are only about 30 experts in Australia that build and redesign websites out of thousands of agencies/freelancers.
Normally you can’t apply to be an expert. They will reach out to you. The reason Shopify reached out to me was because I posted over 1,000 times in Shopify Community forums giving store owners free advice, tips and suggestions back in 2018. I posted feedback pretty much everyday for nearly 1 year.
I then had to apply to become an expert. They told me they wouldn’t normally take someone like myself on as an expert but they were impressed by how much free value I gave the community and told me to not let them down if they gave me a shot. I still haven’t.
I believe and tell my clients if you keep showing up everyday you will make your own luck. Posting for 1 year expecting nothing in return ended up being one of the best things I’ve ever done in business.
What is your business mission?
To inspire business owners to go after their dreams.
Your website showcases a lot of videos and video reviews, how important do you think videos are in getting your message across to an audience?
Very important. Out of the clients I’ve asked why they hired me, about 80% of them were because of a video.
- 40% My Client Video Reviews
- 40% The free video review I did of their current website
- 20% Other
I’ve noticed over the last few years more people are looking for a connection with the people they buy off.
Smaller businesses have a competitive advantage over larger brands because of this.
Most of my top clients have built a really strong connection with their community/following.
What advice do you have for other small to medium business owners?
If you can build an awesome connection and provide an amazing service and/or experience, you will do well in life and business.
Never stop growing as a person. Read books, do online courses, get a mentor, find what works for you and most importantly, work out how your brain works. One of the only things we really have control over is how we think. Change the way you think and you will change your life.
Pretty much anything is possible when you put your mind to it.
The end of the year is fast approaching, what are some things we can expect from Inspire Small Business to round off 2022, plus bring us into the new year?
We have some large goals for the rest of the year. Looking to hire some more staff that live in the local community.
Also working on a training program/community for all my clients to interact and learn of each other. I’m really excited about building this and continuing to support my clients
Thanks for having me on, and I’m really loving being at the Macarthur Square WOTSO. It’s been a game changer for my business moving in here, and I highly recommend anyone working from home that’s thinking about moving into an office environment to go for it. WOTSO makes it so easy and flexible.
