Globally, TikTok has more than 1.5bn active monthly users, making it the world’s fifth most popular social media platform. Reportedly, users spend more than an hour and a half per day on TikTok.

This hasn’t escaped the attention of marketeers, of course. Worldwide, an estimated 28% of marketers use TikTok, while more than 1.5 million UK SMEs also use TikTok for marketing. You may be one of them.

If you're not getting the returns on investment you'd hoped for, or you want to start using TikTok for business but urgently need a few good tips to help you get started, this is the episode for you.

We speak to Penelope Walker, marketing consultant, content creator, business growth coach and TikTok whizz. She provides tips on how to TikTok can help your business achieve greater success.

Thanks to Sage for sponsoring this episode. Sage is currently offering listeners 90% off Sage Accounting for three months. Visit this link to claim your offer.

Show notes for the episode can be found on the Start Your Own Business podcast website. Visit Start Up Donut and sign up to the Donut newsletter for more free start-up news, advice and special offers to help you save time and money.

Although they’re often unfounded, many of us have fears in different areas of our life, including our professional and business lives.

It’s completely natural to have fears in business, because starting and running a business involves uncertainty, big challenges, risk and having to make important decisions that have consequences. People running their own business often experience feelings of doubt, anxiety and fear, whether of making bad decisions, losing money, not being up to the challenge or ultimately not being able to run a successful business.

But you cannot allow anxiety to hold you back and there are many ways to overcome your fears. In this episode we speak to applied behavioural neuroscientist and leadership psychologist, Dr Lynda Shaw, who specialises in this area.

Thanks to Sage for sponsoring this episode. Sage is currently offering listeners 90% off Sage Accounting for three months. Visit this link to claim your offer.

Show notes for the episode can be found on the Start Your Own Business podcast website. Visit Start Up Donut and sign up to the Donut newsletter for more free start-up news, advice and special offers to help you save time and money.

Having worked for more than a decade in communications and marketing, in 2014 Steph Douglas started her business, Don’t Buy Her Flowers. She was inspired by receiving eight beautiful bouquets after having her first baby, which were sent with the best of intentions, but made her realise that flowers were not the best gift to receive when what you actually need is TLC and reassurance.

Having grown significantly, Gloucestershire-based Don’t Buy Her Flowers still creates thoughtful gift boxes for any occasion, from “new mums and birthdays to get well and bereavement”. Customers can choose their own bespoke gifts, selecting products they know the recipient will love, which are then gift wrapped and sent with their message handwritten.

In this fascinating episode, Steph looks back to the challenges she overcame when launching her business, while providing her top start-up tips who want to follow in her footsteps.

Thanks to Sage for sponsoring this episode. Sage is currently offering listeners 90% off Sage Accounting for three months. Visit this link to claim your offer.

Show notes for the episode can be found on the Start Your Own Business podcast website. Visit Start Up Donut and sign up to the Donut newsletter for more free start-up news, advice and special offers to help you save time and money.