Hi. I’m Jo I’m a huge fan of small and local businesses. Being a small business owner myself, I understand the challenges and rewards that come with running your own show. It’s no secret that big companies and franchises are taking over independent businesses at a worrying pace, mainly due to their huge online marketing budgets. That’s why I created BeMedia. I believe small business owners like you should have a fair shot at competing. While companies have deep pockets, they often struggle to adapt and change quickly – something small businesses can excel at. The key to staying ahead? Embrace an agile approach to your website.
Business overview
Business: BeMedia
Professional focus: Website design, ongoing website support and practical AI implementation
Other business venture: Be Linked
BNI classification: Website Design — change of seat from Be Linked to B Media requested; approval was pending at the time of the meeting.
GAINS Profile
Goals
Professional
- Grow BeMedia and establish website design as my primary BNI focus.
- Use AI to augment website creation and improve the client experience.
- Build sustainable monthly recurring revenue through website design, maintenance, backups and ongoing edits.
Personal
- Build consistent habits around exercise and healthy eating, rather than focusing only on weight loss.
- Improve my fitness and strength, with Pilates among my interests.
- Continue learning to dance.
Achievements
Professional
- Made the transition from a finance-related career to starting and running my own business.
- Established BeMedia and subsequently created beLinked.
- Turned business ideas into working offerings, using BNI to market and test beLinked.
- Developed practical website-design and technology skills through ongoing learning and problem-solving.
Personal
- Previously reduced my weight from 136 kg to below 100 kg, demonstrating that I can make substantial lifestyle changes.
- Completed degrees before moving into entrepreneurship.
- Began dance lessons and have been practising between sessions.
Interests
Professional
- Website design and developments in web technology.
- AI and its practical applications in business.
- Recurring-revenue business models.
- Helping business owners explore ways to turn their knowledge into online courses, video libraries and subscription offerings.
- Automating customer sign-up and delivery so a business is less dependent on the owner’s time.
Personal
- Gaming, particularly survival and automation games.
- Satisfactory, including its systems, logistics and resource-planning challenges.
- Science fiction, both reading and television.
- AI and emerging technology.
- World War II films and history.
- Learning to dance.
Networks
Professional
- BNI members and the relationships developed through BNI.
- Website-design contacts.
- The WordPress community.
- Former financial-planning connections, although these have become less active over time.
Personal
- Gaming friends and online gaming communities.
- Friends living overseas with whom I remain in contact.
Skills
- Website design.
- Implementing practical AI solutions.
- Creative and visual design.
- Microsoft PowerPoint, Word and Excel.
- Applying technology to everyday business needs.
- Researching solutions using AI, Google, YouTube and other learning resources.
- Troubleshooting and persevering through technical problems.
- Identifying opportunities for recurring revenue and automated service delivery.
- Taking initiative and turning ideas into practical solutions.
