If you had told me fifteen years ago, when I was running around recording conversations on my iphone that I would still be doing it a thousand episodes later, I would have told you you were crazy. But here I am, celebrating 1,000 episodes. I have had an amazing ride meeting interesting people from all over the world. I have learned so much from them about marketing and marketing trends and I have enjoyed sharing that information with you, my audience. So instead of asking for anniversary...

Like it or not, short form video needs to be a part of your overall plan.  So Jennifer Denney and I chatted about some of the things you can do to make better looking, short form content, with minimal effort. 1) Remember it is disposable content, so it doesn't need to be perfect.  2) Record longer content and break it up into smaller bites (under a minute in length). That is much easier than trying to record one short tip every day.  3) Use AI to create shorts with captions.  4) Keep the main...

If you are like most business owners there is a lot of chaos and stress in your day.  So sometimes you just need to take a breath.  I have talked with other stress reduction experts in the past, so it was fun to revisit the topic with Ann Swanson, a best-selling author whose book on yoga practices has been translated into 15 languages. In this conversation we talk about how  a few minutes of yoga or meditation can completely reset your day. These simple techniques provide immediate stress...

These days, every content marketer is experimenting with AI.  And it is a wonderful tool if you use it well. For example, you can ask it to create 10 or 12 social media posts that refer back to one blog post. However, you need to review those updates and make sure they actually sound like you because left to its own devices, artificial intelligence has essentially two voices. Stuffy Professional and College Frat Boy. If neither of those tones are you, you need to go in and tweak the tone so...

If you’re like most business owners you don’t have all the answers. There’s so many skills you need to master, and tasks you need to accomplish that you may need to turn to the experts to get your questions answered. Hiring an army of consultants can be overwhelming and expensive so that’s when belonging to a mastermind group can be so beneficial Zachary Parker Harris joined me to discuss the benefits of mastermind groups for business owners. As the leader of Junto Global, he helps...

If you're like me, you're cranking out a ton of marketing content and your wishing you could get way more bang for every minute you put into it. Well, according to Greg Wasserman, head of growth partnerships and community for Cast Magic, if you're willing to enlist the aid of a little AI your can make the time you spend much more effective. Greg really believes in the importance of recording everything, whether it's thoughts, meetings, or conversations, as potential content sources. With the...

As a kid I loved the story of the tortoise and the hare.  One day the tortoise and the hare line up for a race. The hare with its speed seemed destined for victory. But the tortoise pulled off a surprising win. While he was clearly outclassed in speed the tortoise focused on the finish line.  Steady and plodding he made consistent motion forward.  In contrast the speedy rabbit burst forward, then paused and started again. His mad dash at the end just wasn't enough to win the day.  I often...

In this conversation, I jumped into the world of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its applications beyond just content creation. Focusing on automation and workflow efficiency,  AI enthusiast, Parker Olson discusses how he uses AI to streamline operations in his business, PodPitch - an initiative fueled by AI. Day-to-day business tasks like data collection, data analysis, content creation, and more can be efficiently automated using AI. Olson introduces us to some handy tools for such...

Kris Ward is back in the guest chair, this time with a lively conversation about entrepreneurial personalities. She delves into her unique approach of categorizing entrepreneurs into five distinct personalities based on their problem-solving and process management styles. From the "Rushaholic" who thrives on speed but may overlook details, to the "Sufferpreneur" who excels at crisis management but struggles with burnout, each personality has its strengths and weaknesses. As Kris introduces...

My husband is an amazing cook. He reads recipes, comes up with his own variations, blending and layering ingredients in new and delicious ways. Even though he is amazing in our kitchen, he could not own a restaurant. Why? He knows how to time a meal with three dishes for eight people, but expanding that to thirty dishes, for one hundred people requires skills he does not have. What does it take to be a social media chef? The same challenge exists when it comes to professional social media....

In this episode, I am joined by LinkedIn strategist and CEO of Uplevel Media, Karen Yankovich. A seasoned expert with over 30 years of experience, Karen talks about how LinkedIn can be instrumental in empowering women entrepreneurs and guiding individuals towards becoming industry thought leaders. The conversation begins with Karen elaborating on her approach to marketing based on relationship selling, a concept deeply ingrained in her due to her rich background in sales. By focusing on...

Join this insights-packed episode as we welcome Janet Falk, a seasoned communication professional, and the chief strategist at Falk Communications and Research. She brings over 30 years of experience and discusses her innovative approach to understanding the buyer's journey, diverging from the traditional perspectives. Janet challenges the common belief that the buyer's journey is a passive process. She proposes an alternative idea she dubs "the confirmation process". Through this lens, the...

Has your brand become like background noise in the marketing landscape? Repeatedly saying the same thing has value as you try to establish a consistent brand . However, when it becomes a monotonous drone, your audience tunes out. If your message has lost its flavor and faded into the sea of sameness, it’s time to rekindle interest in your brand through subtle adjustments. Introduce a fresh hue into your visual palette or refine your verbiage to highlight a singular aspect of your message....

I had a great conversation with Samantha Bradshaw, a seasoned small business and intellectual property lawyer, about the process of naming a business.  Yes, you want a cool name, but you also want one you can own and protect. Proactive Legal Prevention: Samantha emphasizes the importance of proactive measures to keep creative service providers out of legal entanglements. She highlights how businesses often encounter challenges when they receive "angry lawyer letters" or court documents,...

Zach Montroy dropped by for a discussion about imposter syndrome, particularly among founders and business leaders leaders.  It is a common experience in the entrepreneurial journey and Zach emphasizes the role of self-compassion in combating imposter syndrome, suggesting that individuals should treat themselves with the same kindness and understanding they would offer to others. He offers practical strategies discussed include prioritizing tasks, practicing mindfulness, and developing...

These days we're living in a zero click world.  What that means is all of the social media platforms and even Google are trying to get you to stay on the platform.  They're encouraging you to find the answers you need with them and they're discouraging people from clicking through to your website. Unless of course you're going to pay for an ad.  So when you're not advertising. What do you do? How do you play in this zero click world. There's several things to keep in mind as you map your...

I had so much fun chatting with Amy Singleton, about building authority with authentic content.  Amy is the CEO and owner of Hite Digital Norman, an Inc. 5000 digital and branding agency. Amy's mission is to empower individuals to reconcile their personal and professional aspirations without compromise, and today, we're tapping into her expertise to explore how businesses can authentically engage with Google's algorithms to stand out in a world inundated with AI-generated...

Laura Templeton dropped by for a conversation about using AI to build your brand. , an author and international speaker, discusses using AI to build your brand with Lorraine Ball. At first, the idea might sound a bit out there, but Laura dives into how AI, specifically ChatGPT, can be customized to reflect your brand's voice and values. Laura explains the concept of "custom instructions" in ChatGPT, where you can teach it about your brand, your audience, and your preferred tone. She likens it...

These days everyone is telling you you need to be a storyteller.  You need to be a storyteller in sales and in marketing. There are some people who are just natural storytellers, with the ability to pull you in with their words and leave you sitting on the edge of the seat. Then there is everyone else.  So maybe you don’t feel like you’re a storyteller and this whole storytelling thing isn’t for you.  Instead when you meet someone you leap right into the facts. “I’ve been in business twenty...

Can you still make money on Amazon?  That's the question I asked Lesley Hensell, co-founder of Riverbend Consulting, Amazon, once characterized as the Wild West of online selling, has undergone significant evolution. Success on this platform now necessitates a more strategic and disciplined approach. However, with proper guidance, achieving success is possible. So, you have a product ready to debut on Amazon. An organized is approach is required. Gone are the days of haphazardly listing...

Imagine you're sitting across the table from someone, trying to figure out if they're the right fit for your business. But here's the catch, people don't come with instruction manuals telling you exactly who they are and if they're a good match for you.  The key having productive conversations lies in understanding personality types.  A few years ago, I had a great conversation with Benjamin Bressington, an expert in sales and communication, who shared invaluable insights gained from years of...

This year I decided to follow my own advice and commit to one social media platform. Sure I still post content in lots of places, but I am spending time every day on only one platform - LinkedIn. And, I am not just showing up, posting an update, liking a few things and leaving. I did some research to find out what the LinkedIn algorithm likes and adjusted my approach accordingly. Comments matter. So I am spending time writing meaningful comments on multiple posts each day. I engage with...

When you are ready to take the next step in your business you will need a marketing partner, but how do you find the right one?   That's what I talked to Behdad Jamshidi, founder of CJAM Marketing about.  In this lively conversation he shared insights into navigating the process of selecting the ideal marketing team. Behdad defines a marketing partner as an agency, freelancer, or contractor who helps businesses execute marketing strategies while allowing them to focus on core operations. He...

 In this terrific conversation from my archive Don Markland shared his powerful story of transformation from an  unhealthy lifestyle and lack of clarity about his purpose to a successful life and business. He realized there are  two fundamental rules of accountability—starting with oneself and leaving ego at the door—set the stage for the four C's. Critique success - never settle for good enough, always striving for improvement. Don emphasizes the importance of surrounding ourselves with...