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On a cold rush hour morning, a good looking man, dressed in jeans and a baseball cap walked into a train station, carrying a violin case. He opened the case, dropped a few dollars in to encourage othe…

On a cold rush hour …

On a cold rush hour morning, a good looking man, dressed in jeans and a baseball cap walked into a train station, carrying a violin case. He opened the case, dropped a few dollars in to encourage others to do the same.  Over the next 45 minutes, he earned less than $35 for his performance.  Most people simply walked by, barely stopping to listen to the classical violin piece, played flawlessly by the young man. Who was he?  Joshua Bell, one of the world’s most renowned musicians.  As part of a social experiment, arranged by a writer from the Washington Post, he played for 45 minutes to …

What if managing your marketing was  more like hosting a party? That’s the premise behind the Party Principle, a concept Dave Charest of Constant Contact shared with me. As someone who loves both a…

What if managing you…

What if managing your marketing was  more like hosting a party? That’s the premise behind the Party Principle, a concept Dave Charest of Constant Contact shared with me. As someone who loves both a good metaphor and a well-organized shindig, this approach clicked immediately. Social media becomes the lively main event, email is the cozy afterparty, and SMS? That’s your VIP lounge, reserved for your most engaged fans. Each channel plays its role, ensuring that your marketing not only entertains but also builds genuine Relationships. The Party Analogy Social media is where your audience ga…

From The Archive -  Online advertising can feel like navigating a dense forest without a map—especially for businesses trying to sell nationally without the resources of big-name competitors. That�…

From The Archive - …

From The Archive -  Online advertising can feel like navigating a dense forest without a map—especially for businesses trying to sell nationally without the resources of big-name competitors. That’s why I invited Krystal Covington,  to share her expertise. Originally released in September 2022, Krystal's tips are still relevant today.  Together, we explored how businesses can use geo-targeting and smart collaborations to stretch their advertising dollars further and stand out in targeted markets. Here are the highlights of our conversation:Focus Your Efforts With Geo-Targeting Even …

I teach marketing at a local university, and this week I was talking to my students about Ansoff's Marketing Matrix. In this structure, he identifies four ways that you can grow your business. 1) Sell…

I teach marketing at…

I teach marketing at a local university, and this week I was talking to my students about Ansoff's Marketing Matrix. In this structure, he identifies four ways that you can grow your business. 1) Sell more of what you're already selling to your existing customers. 2) Sell more of what you're selling, but to new customers. 3) Develop a brand new product and sell that to your existing customers. 4) Sell a new product to a new group of customers. Of the four strategies, that last one, diversification is really hard to do because you're in uncharted waters with people who don't know and love you. …

Whether you’re running a business, managing a nonprofit, or just trying to share your message with the world  a good story is the key to connecting with people. Stories bring ideas to life, giving …

Whether you’re run…

Whether you’re running a business, managing a nonprofit, or just trying to share your message with the world  a good story is the key to connecting with people. Stories bring ideas to life, giving them color and shape that facts and figures alone just can’t match. That’s why I was so excited to chat with Shaté Hayes .   She is a creative strategist with a fascinating background as a professional dancer and choreographer. Her career has been built on crafting stories—first on the stage and now as a tool for business leaders looking to inspire action. Our conversation was a wonderful…

In this episode, I sat down with Johnny Cooper to tackle a big question: Who is your ideal client? If you’re like most business owners, you’ve probably wrestled with this at some point, worrying a…

In this episode, I s…

In this episode, I sat down with Johnny Cooper to tackle a big question: Who is your ideal client? If you’re like most business owners, you’ve probably wrestled with this at some point, worrying about whether narrowing your focus means missing out on other opportunities. Johnny, who runs the popular community Johnny Hates Marketing, had a refreshingly straightforward take on the subject. With his British wit and practical insights, he laid out a simple approach to targeting the right people without overcomplicating things or getting stuck in “what-if” thinking. Here are the big takeawa…

 You probably don’t want to hear this. I’m going to do it SEO wrong. You’re spending all your time focused on what search engines want, worrying about stuffing your pages with keywords, inbound…

 You probably don�…

 You probably don’t want to hear this. I’m going to do it SEO wrong. You’re spending all your time focused on what search engines want, worrying about stuffing your pages with keywords, inbound links, and outbound links. But search engines don’t buy from you, people do So I want you to think about SEO differently. Start focusing on content that answers questions real people have about your product and service. If you do that, and you do that, well, the search engines will pay attention. LEARN MORE ABOUT BUILDING YOUR OWN CONTENT BASED SEO PROGRAM

Sometimes, managing social media can feel like you are on a hamster wheel. As a small business owner you’re running fast, but it doesn't seem as if you are getting anywhere? In my chat with Peg Fitz…

Sometimes, managing …

Sometimes, managing social media can feel like you are on a hamster wheel. As a small business owner you’re running fast, but it doesn't seem as if you are getting anywhere? In my chat with Peg Fitzpatrick, we focused on simple and practical tips.  From rethinking which platforms are worth your time to using Pinterest as a hidden traffic booster,  we covered a lot of ground in just 10 minutes   Here’s what Peg had to say:Skip TikTok—It’s Not Worth the Hassle Peg tackled TikTok head-on and made a great point: while TikTok can be fun, it’s also a huge time commitment. And with …

I know you own your own business. You're in there working it all the time, but I'm going to let you in on a secret, smart business owners don't do it alone, we. We find partners who are focused on the…

I know you own your …

I know you own your own business. You're in there working it all the time, but I'm going to let you in on a secret, smart business owners don't do it alone, we. We find partners who are focused on the same markets and have similar objectives. Sometimes that's an interview on a podcast, and sometimes it's collaborating on a bundle. I wanted to know more about what makes bundles so effective, so I spent some time chatting with Jennie Wright,  co-founder of Many Bundles. Talking with her gave me new ideas for how to partner with others, bundle resources, and build stronger connections with audie…

I've noticed lately that no matter what social platform I'm on there is lots of video.  There are video shorts and more video and more video. Obviously it's being driven by the rise of TikTok as ever…

I've noticed lately …

I've noticed lately that no matter what social platform I'm on there is lots of video.  There are video shorts and more video and more video. Obviously it's being driven by the rise of TikTok as every other platform is trying to get in on that short format and the shorts are great. They get a lot of engagement. And so it becomes a little addictive. The more you do, the more engagement you get ...  until you don't.  I have noticed everybody is doing it and all the video looks alike. So we are starting to see a little bit of video fatigue setting in. I've always been one to recommend going ag…

Every message you send shapes your brand—make it count Chris Moore and I explored the importance of crafting communication that aligns with your company’s vision. Chris is a leadership expert who …

Every message you se…

Every message you send shapes your brand—make it count Chris Moore and I explored the importance of crafting communication that aligns with your company’s vision. Chris is a leadership expert who has spent over 25 years guiding both Fortune 500 companies and Small Businesses toward building strong, results-driven cultures. As he explains, every message you send—whether it’s to a customer, employee, or partner—has the power to shape how people see your brand. But how do you make sure those messages truly reflect your vision?  Here are the main takeaways: Vision Is More Than a Dream …

Your vibe attracts your tribe. Show up with purpose every day. Chatting with Jaclyn Strominger had me rethinking what it means to build genuine connections with an audience. Her energy is infectious, …

Your vibe attracts y…

Your vibe attracts your tribe. Show up with purpose every day. Chatting with Jaclyn Strominger had me rethinking what it means to build genuine connections with an audience. Her energy is infectious, and her insights are spot on. In her decades of Coaching, she’s seen one thing over and over: real business Growth isn’t about flashy marketing tactics or big ad budgets—it’s about the vibe you put out and the community you create. If you want people to buy from you, they need to feel drawn to your energy and know who you are at your core. Here’s what stood out to me most in our conversa…

These days, content has jumped off the page. There are podcasts, there are videos and pros and cons to those formats. You don't have to worry about your grammar and your spelling. You can just talk an…

These days, content …

These days, content has jumped off the page. There are podcasts, there are videos and pros and cons to those formats. You don't have to worry about your grammar and your spelling. You can just talk and that's great. And, you can let a little bit of your personality come through. But there is a line.  As I listen to podcasts, I listen for that line. Is there a moment where they go from sharing a little bit of who they are, their sense of humor to just talking about themselves? So as you're creating content, especially if you're doing it for your business, you must watch that line. You don't wa…

Do you ever find yourself lying awake, thinking of all the things you need to do tomorrow? Elizabeth Louis, neuropsychology expert and mindset coach, has a solution. In this conversation  she breaks …

Do you ever find you…

Do you ever find yourself lying awake, thinking of all the things you need to do tomorrow? Elizabeth Louis, neuropsychology expert and mindset coach, has a solution. In this conversation  she breaks down why planning your day the night before is a game-changer, especially for high achievers who can’t seem to switch off.  Along the way she shares practical tools to stay focused, adapt to change, and, yes, finally get some good Sleep. Here are a few of her best tips:Plan Your Day Before Bed: Instead of running through tomorrow’s to-dos as your head hits the pillow, jot down three to five…

Sitting down with Robert Downey, CEO of Simply Be Found, I discovered a new way of looking at AI—not just as a marketing tool, but as a powerful sales ally. We dove into how AI can help small busine…

Sitting down with Ro…

Sitting down with Robert Downey, CEO of Simply Be Found, I discovered a new way of looking at AI—not just as a marketing tool, but as a powerful sales ally. We dove into how AI can help small businesses boost their local SEO, streamline social media efforts, and make the most of website content. Robert’s insights on AI’s role in digital marketing made me think back to the early days of the internet. Back then, businesses were just dipping their toes into the online world, figuring out how it all worked. Now, though, it feels like the pressure’s really on. With AI reshaping the entire l…

Some of the content that's doing really well on LinkedIn right now are the multi image posts putting together two or three related images and putting that in your feed like a carousel or just a collag…

Some of the content …

Some of the content that's doing really well on LinkedIn right now are the multi image posts putting together two or three related images and putting that in your feed like a carousel or just a collage really grabs the attention because it's different than the single images that everyone else is putting out there. Those multiple images allow you to tell a more complete story. The second thing that is dominating LinkedIn right now is video. Video, video. The beautiful thing is that you do not need to create video just for LinkedIn. You can use the same shorts that you're putting on YouTube and …

I had so much fun welcoming back Kendra Corman back to the show.  An accomplished marketing strategist whose insights are as practical as they are powerful. Kendra’s worked with everyone from small…

I had so much fun we…

I had so much fun welcoming back Kendra Corman back to the show.  An accomplished marketing strategist whose insights are as practical as they are powerful. Kendra’s worked with everyone from small businesses to global brands like Jeep, bringing her marketing expertise to a range of clients. Today, we dug into the ever-evolving world of AI and how it can be a real game-changer for social media and email marketing. Now, if you know me, you know my relationship with AI is complicated. I love the possibilities, but I’m a bit wary of giving up too much control, especially when it comes to my …

If you've been around business as long as I have—or even half as long—you know the cycles are inevitable. There are highs, there are lows, and the real question is: how prepared are you for the do…

If you've been aroun…

If you've been around business as long as I have—or even half as long—you know the cycles are inevitable. There are highs, there are lows, and the real question is: how prepared are you for the downturns? That’s the heart of this conversation from my archive, with  than Matt Nettleton, a sales powerhouse and founder of DTB Sandler Training. Matt’s seen it all, from both the trenches and the boardroom, and he knows exactly how to help salespeople elevate their game. In fact, he’s the reason my own business took off years ago when he was my sales coach. Here are just a few of the key …