Kate Winkler is the CEO of Ruby, a live virtual receptionist and chat company. Kate is a dynamic C-level executive entrepreneur and mid-market business advisor. Following a successful career in the technology sector working with small and large businesses through various stages of growth, Kate joined Ruby in 2019. Ruby serves small businesses to help them survive and thrive through real human connections. The company supports over 13,000 businesses across the United States by providing virtual receptionists and live chat specialists. Forbes magazine highlighted Ruby as one of the best small businesses to work for in the US.

Today, Kate joins me to share how she became the CEO of Ruby and the challenges of taking over a company from its founder.  She reveals how the business has evolved since she joined and how using Ruby can help companies improve their customer experience. She highlights the differences between the Virtual Receptionist service and Live Chat service and why it’s essential to create sales systems. Kate also advises on approaching customer service as a side hustle business and knowing when it’s time to outsource part of your sales process.

“Be present. Make sure you have every opportunity to service your consumers.” - Kate Winkler

This week on SmallBizChat Podcast:
How Kate became the CEO of Ruby
The challenges of taking over a business from a founder
How Ruby has evolved over the last two years
How leveraging a service like Ruby can help small businesses improve the customer experience
The difference between the Ruby Reception service and Ruby Live Chat service
Why it’s crucial to create sales systems
Sales systems versus customer service systems
How to approach customer service in a side hustle business
How to determine when it’s time to outsource part of your sales process

Resources Mentioned:
Podcast: Pod Save America
Podcast: Hidden Brain
Candy Crush
Book: The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle
Book: Disrupt You! by Jay Samit
Join the Book Team

Connect with Kate Winkler:
Ruby
Ruby on LinkedIn
Ruby on Instagram
Ruby on Facebook
Ruby on Twitter
Kate Winkler on LinkedIn

Become Your Own Boss Book GIVEAWAY!

The 2020 pandemic has been so hard on America’s small businesses - and America in general. If you’re ready to start your dream business, then look no further!

I’m currently giving away 1,000 free copies of my best-selling book: Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months. This book has helped over 100,000 people like you to start, build, and grow their small businesses… and now it’s your time to shine.

All you have to do to get your hands on a free copy is head over to www.beginmybiz.com/freeoffer to sign up for your free offer. You only pay shipping.

Let’s End Small Business Failure - Together!

Thanks for tuning into this week’s episode of the SmallBizChat Podcast - the show on a mission to improve small business success. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to Apple Podcasts, subscribe to the show, and leave us a rating and review. Help us spread the word and end small business failure by sharing your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media. Visit our website or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, or YouTube for more great content, tips, and strategies to improve your small business.

Kate Winkler is the CEO of Ruby, a live virtual receptionist and chat company. Kate is a dynamic C-level executive entrepreneur and mid-market business advisor. Following a successful career in the technology sector working with small and large businesses through various stages of growth, Kate joined Ruby in 2019. Ruby serves small businesses to help them survive and thrive through real human connections. The company supports over 13,000 businesses across the United States by providing virtual receptionists and live chat specialists. Forbes magazine highlighted Ruby as one of the best small businesses to work for in the US.
Today, Kate joins me to share how she became the CEO of Ruby and the challenges of taking over a company from its founder.&nbsp; She reveals how the business has evolved since she joined and how using Ruby can help companies improve their customer experience. She highlights the differences between the Virtual Receptionist service and Live Chat service and why it&rsquo;s essential to create sales systems. Kate also advises on approaching customer service as a side hustle business and knowing when it&rsquo;s time to outsource part of your sales process.
&ldquo;Be present. Make sure you have every opportunity to service your consumers.&rdquo; - Kate Winkler
This week on SmallBizChat Podcast:
<ul>
<li>How Kate became the CEO of Ruby</li>
<li>The challenges of taking over a business from a founder</li>
<li>How Ruby has evolved over the last two years</li>
<li>How leveraging a service like Ruby can help small businesses improve the customer experience</li>
<li>The difference between the Ruby Reception service and Ruby Live Chat service</li>
<li>Why it&rsquo;s crucial to create sales systems</li>
<li>Sales systems versus customer service systems</li>
<li>How to approach customer service in a side hustle business</li>
<li>How to determine when it&rsquo;s time to outsource part of your sales process</li>
</ul>
Resources Mentioned:
<ul>
<li>Podcast: <a href="https://crooked.com/podcast-series/pod-save-america/">Pod Save America</a></li>
<li>Podcast: <a href="https://hiddenbrain.org/">Hidden Brain</a></li>
<li><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.king.candycrushsaga&amp;hl=en&amp;gl=US">Candy Crush</a></li>
<li>Book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Culture-Code-Secrets-Highly-Successful/dp/0525492461">The Culture Code by Daniel Coyle</a></li>
<li>Book: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Disrupt-You-Transformation-Opportunity-Innovation/dp/1250059372">Disrupt You! by Jay Samit</a></li>
<li><a href="http://succeedasyourownboss.com/jointhebookteam">Join the Book Team</a></li>
</ul>
Connect with Kate Winkler:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.ruby.com/">Ruby</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/callruby/">Ruby on LinkedIn</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/callruby/">Ruby on Instagram</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.facebook.com/callruby/">Ruby on Facebook</a></li>
<li><a href="https://twitter.com/callruby?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor">Ruby on Twitter</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/katee1/">Kate Winkler on LinkedIn</a></li>
</ul>
Become Your Own Boss Book GIVEAWAY!
The 2020 pandemic has been so hard on America&rsquo;s small businesses - and America in general. If you&rsquo;re ready to start your dream business, then look no further!
I&rsquo;m currently giving away 1,000 free copies of my best-selling book: Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months. This book has helped over 100,000 people like you to start, build, and grow their small businesses&hellip; and now it&rsquo;s your time to shine.
All you have to do to get your hands on a free copy is head over to <a href="http://www.beginmybiz.com/freeoffer">www.beginmybiz.com/freeoffer</a> to sign up for your free offer. You only pay shipping.
Let&rsquo;s End Small Business Failure - Together!
Thanks for tuning into this week&rsquo;s episode of the SmallBizChat Podcast - the show on a mission to improve small business success. If you enjoyed this episode, head over to <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-small-bizchat-podcast-podcast/id1478923954">Apple Podcasts</a>, subscribe to the show, and leave us a rating and review. Help us spread the word and end small business failure by sharing your favorite episodes with your friends and colleagues on social media. Visit our <a href="https://succeedasyourownboss.com/">website </a>or follow us on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/smallbizlady">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/smallbizlady">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/melindaemerson/">LinkedIn</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/smallbizlady/">Instagram</a>, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/melindaemerson">YouTube </a>for more great content, tips, and strategies to improve your small business.

Melinda F. Emerson, SmallBizLady, is America’s #1 Small Business Expert. She has been a thriving entrepreneur for nearly 20 years and is an internationally known keynote speaker and expert on small business development and social media marketing. She publishes a resource blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com. Her small business advice is widely read reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. A pioneer in social media marketing, she is the creator and host of #Smallbizchat, the longest running live chat on Twitter for small business owners. Forbes magazine named her the #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter.

Melinda F. Emerson, SmallBizLady, is America&rsquo;s #1 Small Business Expert. She has been a thriving entrepreneur for nearly 20 years and is an internationally known keynote speaker and expert on small business development and social media marketing. She publishes a resource blog&nbsp;<a href="http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?hl=en&amp;q=http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1520300757352000&amp;usg=AFQjCNHFXr56HNzQeIZfM3QAFV_yFBNxFw" data-wpel-link="external">www.succeedasyourownboss.com</a>. Her small business advice is widely read reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. A pioneer in social media marketing, she is the creator and host of #Smallbizchat, the longest running live chat on Twitter for small business owners.&nbsp;Forbes magazine named her the #1 woman for entrepreneurs to follow on Twitter.

The Small BizChat

Melinda F. Emerson, “SmallBizLady” is America’s #1 Small Business Expert. She is an internationally renowned keynote speaker on small business development, social media and content marketing. Melinda is also the president of the Quintessence Group, an award-winning marketing consulting firm based in Philadelphia, PA, serving Fortune 500 brands who target small business market. LinkedIn named her a Top Voice for 2019 in Small Business and Entrepreneurship. In addition to being a former NY Times columnist, she is frequently quoted by media organizations including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, MSNBC, CNBC, and Fox News.

She is the host of #Smallbizchat LIVE and The SmallBizChat Podcast. A prolific writer, Melinda has published more than 5000 articles on her blog www.succeedasyourownboss.com. Her small business advice is widely read reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. She is the bestselling author of Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months, 2nd Edition and her latest book is Fix Your Business, a 90 Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business.

Melinda F. Emerson, &ldquo;SmallBizLady&rdquo; is America&rsquo;s #1 Small Business Expert. She&nbsp;is an internationally renowned keynote speaker on small business development, social media and content marketing. Melinda is also the president of the Quintessence Group, an award-winning marketing consulting firm based in Philadelphia, PA, serving Fortune 500 brands who target small business market. LinkedIn named her a Top Voice for 2019 in Small Business and Entrepreneurship.&nbsp;In addition to being a former NY Times columnist, she is frequently quoted by media organizations including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune, MSNBC, CNBC, and Fox News.
She is the host of #Smallbizchat LIVE and The SmallBizChat Podcast. A prolific writer, Melinda has published more than 5000 articles on her blog&nbsp;<a href="http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com/" data-stringify-link="http://www.succeedasyourownboss.com" data-sk="tooltip_parent">www.succeedasyourownboss.com</a>. Her small business advice is widely read reaching more than 3 million entrepreneurs each week online. She is the bestselling author of&nbsp;Become Your Own Boss in 12 Months,&nbsp;2nd Edition&nbsp;and her latest book is&nbsp;Fix Your Business, a 90 Day Plan to Get Back Your Life and Reduce Chaos in Your Business.

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