The Connected Business

Practical insights for service business owners on automation, connected systems, and building a business that works without you doing it all.

Memory. Follow-Up. Repetition. The Three Things Quietly Running Your Business Into the Ground.

Memory. Follow-Up. Repetition. The Three Things Quietly Running Your Business Into the Ground.

Memory. Follow-Up. Repetition. The Three Things Quietly Running Your Business Into the Ground.Jackie Van Baren
Published on: 01/09/2026

Why the businesses that feel hardest to step away from usually come down to three things: what you remember, what you follow up on, and what you repeat and what changes when systems carry those instead of you.

Umbrella Systems
The Silver Tsunami Is Coming for Business Owners. Here's How to Not Get Caught Out.

The Silver Tsunami Is Coming for Business Owners. Here's How to Not Get Caught Out.

The Silver Tsunami Is Coming for Business Owners. Here's How to Not Get Caught Out.Jackie Van Baren
Published on: 19/08/2026

More than one in five Australian business owners are over 60, and $3.5 trillion in wealth is about to change hands. Here's what the silver tsunami means for you even if you're not selling any time soon.

CRM & Business AutomationBusiness Automation
CRM vs Spreadsheet: An Honest Comparison for Small Business Owners

CRM vs Spreadsheet: An Honest Comparison for Small Business Owners

CRM vs Spreadsheet: An Honest Comparison for Small Business OwnersJackie Van Baren
Published on: 23/07/2026

Spreadsheets work for small businesses at first, but growth demands automation. Compare spreadsheets vs CRM systems and discover when it's time to upgrade your business systems.

CRM & Business Automation
What Happens When You Let the System Do the Follow-Up (and Why It Changes Everything)

What Happens When You Let the System Do the Follow-Up (and Why It Changes Everything)

What Happens When You Let the System Do the Follow-Up (and Why It Changes Everything)Jackie Van Baren
Published on: 14/07/2026

Stop losing leads to forgotten follow-ups. Discover how automated follow-up sequences nurture enquiries, improve conversions, and help your business grow without extra effort.

Lead Nurturing & Sales Automation