Archive 4: 2020-2023
886: Right Marketing Strategy For You with AJ Rivera
We often hear about how a company's needs have changed. As your business has grown and evolved, so too has the way that you market to your target customers. Today's marketers are no longer just selling products or services—they're selling messages that resonate with their client's needs. This is where a good marketing team comes in: they can help you identify the best approach for your company and its goals to reach your target audience while keeping costs down.
AJ Rivera is the founder of Blink Media Company, a consulting firm that provides businesses with executive-level guidance and leadership for their marketing teams. With extensive experience in building marketing systems and digital ecosystems for companies ranging from small businesses to large enterprises, AJ is well-versed in the ever-evolving world of digital marketing. Today, AJ discusses the importance of having a comprehensive, customized marketing strategy that goes beyond just dabbling in various tactics.
Quotes
“If your boat is already out in the ocean and has a bunch of holes in it, you should probably patch those holes first. Only then should you think about going faster, instead of just hiring more people to cover up the spots.” - AJ Rivera
“Consumers are just not putting up with it anymore. They are demanding value. Leading with value and then offering more value through things like demos, blueprint calls, or strategy calls—where consumers get something tangible to take away—will be the future.” - AJ Rivera
“Don't get distracted by the next shiny squirrel or the latest thing that promises to solve everything. Stay focused on your one to three key outcomes, and you'll see significant changes in your business and your life.” - AJ Rivera
Takeaways
01:06 Customizing a marketing strategy is crucial for businesses, as a one-size-fits-all approach often falls short.
10:14 Addressing underlying process issues and training teams are essential before implementing new marketing tactics.
12:57 Providing tangible value to customers, rather than just trying to sell, is the key to building trust and long-term relationships.
17:58 Reverse-engineering goals and breaking them down into daily, manageable tasks can help businesses stay focused and achieve their objectives.
25:32 Stay focused on your key business outcomes and don't get distracted by the "next shiny squirrel" or the latest marketing tactic, as there is no "done" in business.
Resources
- Blink Media Co.: Make Doing Business With You Their Idea™
- Aj Rivera: Marketing leadership that gets results
- Connect with Aj Rivera Digital on LinkedIn
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:33 — 36.7MB) | Embed
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885: Market Effectively and Surpass Your Business Competitors with Jonathan Rosenfeld
The world changes rapidly, and technologies improve yearly, affecting business industries. You might think, how can your business adapt, utilize new technologies, and surpass your business competitors? As a business owner and a marketer, you first need to know your customer. Today's customers are much more sophisticated. They tend to have done much more homework before they pick up the phone, contact you, or whatever. Thus, you must acknowledge that and start creating content that resonates with your consumer.
Jonathan Rosenfeld is the owning and managing attorney at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, a full-service personal injury law firm handling cases in Chicago and across the US. He is also the host of the Personal Injury Law Podcast. Today, Jonathan talks about creating content that resonates with the modern, sophisticated consumer. He shares how his firm is revising and expanding their website content to better address the questions and needs of their target audience, moving away from outdated tactics like keyword stuffing in favor of a more user-centric approach.
Quotes
“Today's customer is much more sophisticated. They tend to have done a lot more homework before they pick up the phone to contact you.” - Jonathan Rosenfeld
“The days of manipulating search engines with keyword stuffing and similar tactics have really gone to the wayside. You have to adapt.” - Jonathan Rosenfeld
“You can look at all the different software out there, but at the end of the day, it has to be a human putting the thought into dissecting a website.” - Jonathan Rosenfeld
Takeaways
01:04 Businesses must adapt to the modern, sophisticated consumer who does extensive research before engaging.
03:43 Creating content that directly addresses user intent and frequently asked questions is crucial for success.
05:00 Regularly reviewing and updating website content is necessary to stay ahead of the competition.
07:55 Taking an integrated, data-driven approach to website optimization is more effective than relying on a single tool or tactic.
14:06 Putting in the hard work of creating high-quality, user-focused content is the foundation for effective online marketing.
Resources
- Jonathan Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers: Award Winning Chicago personal injury lawyer
- Connect with Jonathan Rosenfeld on LinkedIn
- Subscribe to Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers on YouTube
- Subscribe to Personal Injury Law Podcast By Jonathan Rosenfeld on Apple Podcasts
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:48 — 26.0MB) | Embed
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884: The Ten Minute Entrepeneur: Become a Successful Startup with Sean Castrina
Have you thought about starting your own business? Have you always dreamed of becoming a CEO? It sounds tough, right? Starting up your own business is a huge risk, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. There are a lot of things you should learn before you establish a business. It is not an easy journey. Aside from that, keeping your business going is also one of the hardships you need to go through as a business owner. You should know when and how to take advantage of opportunities that come your way.
Sean Castrina is an entrepreneurial expert and startup advisor. He is the founder of The Weekend MBA, the host of the podcast "The 10 Minute Entrepreneur,” and the author of a book of the same name where he shares ideas and advice for business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs. Today, Sean discusses making quick, calculated decisions as a business owner, and how to identify opportunities that may arise unexpectedly in the first few years of starting a company.
Quotes
“Every decision I've ever made was the right decision at the time based on the information I had in front of me.” - Sean Castrina
“Without employees, businesses don't grow. But I think it's important to know your strengths and weaknesses.” - Sean Castrina
“There are videos on everything. Information is more available today than at any other time in history. If you're not learning right now, shame on you.” - Sean Castrina
Takeaways
01:07 Entrepreneurs must be willing to make quick, calculated decisions and pivot when unexpected opportunities arise, especially in the first few years of starting a business.
03:55 Successful entrepreneurs have the ability to identify and take advantage of small, subtle opportunities that can lead to significant growth.
08:42 Entrepreneurs should focus on a clear, long-term goal, but also be open to adjusting their approach and exploring hybrid solutions to achieve that goal.
12:00 Knowing your strengths and weaknesses as an entrepreneur, and being self-aware of your decision-making process, is crucial for success.
27:41 Continuous learning and staying up-to-date with industry trends and information is essential for entrepreneurs to maintain a competitive edge.
Resources
- Sean Castrina: Equipping Entrepreneurs for Success
- Follow Sean Castina on Facebook
- Connect with Sean Castrina on LinkedIn
- Subscribe to Sean Castrina on YouTube
- Subscribe to The 10 Minute Entrepreneur Podcast on Apple Podcasts
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:31 — 40.8MB) | Embed
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883: Start Making Money With an Online Drop Shipping Business with Ben Knegendorf
It’s everyone’s dream to be their own boss, work flexible hours, and run their own business. How do you get products, where do you find them, how do you know if they’ll sell, and how do you get them to customers? With an eCommerce business, you can do just that. The best part is that you can start making money from home fast. You only need a computer or a smartphone and a reliable internet connection. Try dropshipping if you want to know how to make money from home.
Ben Knegendorf is the co-founder of Dropship Breakthru, an online business that teaches people how to start their first online business in 30 days. He is also the host of the Dropship Podcast, where he and his co-founder John discuss the ins and outs of the dropshipping business model. Today, Ben shares his career story from working at a Walmart distribution center to finding success in the world of high-ticket dropshipping, and he provides valuable lessons on how to approach this business model effectively.
Quotes
“Focus on the human behind the screen. What do they buy, and what else do they buy? Don't just single in on one product. Think about how you can speak to that person.” - Ben Knegendorf
“At the end of the day, business is hard. Every business has its own complexities. Start thinking about what you love and what you are passionate about.” - Ben Knegendorf
“Be consistent. Compounding is a real thing. Go take action and get the ball moving. Good things will happen if you take steps every single day.” - Ben Knegendorf
Takeaways
00:33 Dropshipping is a fulfillment method where the seller takes the order and the supplier ships the product directly to the customer, allowing the seller to operate an online business with minimal inventory.
04:45 Focusing on high-ticket items with an average order value of $1,000 or more can lead to higher profits and less overhead compared to low-ticket items.
08:09 Identifying the person behind the product, their pain points, and their buying behavior is more important than just focusing on the product itself.
15:23 Starting a dropshipping business can be done for less than $500 in initial investment, making it an accessible option for those looking to get into e-commerce.
21:25 Consistency and taking action, even if it's just an hour a day, can lead to significant progress in building a successful dropshipping business.
Resources
- Dropship Breakthru: The only program you’ll ever need for building and growing a life changing ecommerce business.
- Ben Knegendrof: eCommerce Consultant & Podcast Host
- Connect with Ben Knegendorf on LinkedIn
- Subscribe to Dropship Breakthru on YouTube
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:16 — 32.0MB) | Embed
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882: Boost Your Business With High-Impact Publicity with Jill Lublin
Customers are vital for your business growth. To attract them, you need to promote your company. While traditional methods like flyers and local ads are still around, digital marketing offers endless possibilities. If you're unsure how to market your business or just want to explore your options, you're in the right place – and you're not alone! Effective promotion can make a huge difference in reaching your target audience and achieving success.
Jill Lublin is an international speaker and the author of four best-selling books, one of them being “The Profit of Kindness.” She specializes in topics such as radical influence, publicity, networking, kindness, and referrals. Today, Jill discusses the importance of using publicity to elevate your authority and visibility, emphasizing the power of media appearances to create the "I've heard of you somewhere" effect. She also shares strategies for effectively reaching out to media outlets and taking advantage of personal experiences to attract clients.
Quotes
“The truth is, when you're featured on podcasts like we are now, or on TV, radio, blogs, magazines, newspapers—you name it—your authority goes up. Your star elevates, and people start recognizing you.” - Jill Lublin
“Keep it simple, like five-year-old language—no jargon. Use easy-to-remember sound bites. This helps people understand and leave with something they can say, 'Yeah, I get that.' That's what you want.” - Jill Lublin
“Take the baby step, whatever is comfortable for you. Do just one thing. Pick and do it right now and know that your message matters.” - Jill Lublin
Takeaways
04:00 Consistent and persistent visibility-building activities, such as networking, blogging, and media appearances, are crucial for elevating your authority and recognition.
11:20 Simplifying your message into concise, relatable soundbites can make it more accessible and impactful, despite the extra work required.
13:11 Knowing and refining your core message is the foundation for effective publicity and confidence-building.
16:25 Using your personal experiences and unique perspectives can help attract clients and expand your sphere of influence.
22:38 Taking small, actionable steps to get one's message out there, even if imperfect, is more important than overthinking or delaying.
Resources
- Jill Lublin: The Publicity Breakthrough Challenge
- Jumpstart Your Publicity: Get your FREE PUBLICITY ACTION GUIDE
- Follow Jill Lublin's Publicity Crash Course on Facebook
- Jill Lublin on LinkedIn
- Get a copy of The Profit of Kindness: How to Influence Others, Establish Trust, and Build Lasting Business Relationships by Jill Lublin on Amazon
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 23:29 — 32.5MB) | Embed
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881: Beat, Burnout and Find Freedom in an Overworked World with Joe Perrone
Do you feel like there's never enough time to get everything done? Missing out on important moments with loved ones? Feeling tired, overworked, and unhappy with your job and life? Many struggle with work-life balance, leading to burnout. This affects their health, happiness, and relationships, sometimes resulting in substance abuse, depression, divorce, and even suicide. Recognizing these issues is the first step toward finding better balance and fulfillment.
Joe Perrone is a business strategist who helps entrepreneurs reclaim their time freedom. He believes that a business should run itself and not run the business owner into the ground. Joe has been assisting his clients in finding full enjoyment in everything they create without burning out. Today, Joe discusses the importance of knowing the desired outcome when making appointments or commitments, as well as the need to slow down, get clear on goals, and address limiting beliefs that may be holding business owners back from achieving the freedom they desire.
Quotes
“When you treat yourself and your time as the most valuable assets in your life, everything and everyone will conform to that way.” - Joe Perrone
“There was a reason why you got into that business. If you got into it for the wrong reasons, just like if you make those appointments for the wrong reasons, you're going to regret it later on.” - Joe Perrone
“When we're in business to serve others and truly serve, not just please people, that's when the best outcomes happen. That's where we're able to have those head-on conversations.” - Joe Perrone
Takeaways
04:08 Knowing the desired outcome when making appointments or commitments is crucial to avoid feeling hesitant or regretting the decision later.
05:31 Treating your time as the most valuable asset will make others respect it, leading to more meaningful interactions.
12:58 Slowing down, getting clear on goals, and addressing limiting beliefs can help business owners achieve the freedom they desire.
16:30 Serving others, not just people-pleasing, leads to the best outcomes and allows for honest conversations.
17:36 Focusing on serving your ideal clients, rather than trying to be everything to everyone, is the key to a successful and fulfilling business.
22:25 A one-on-one conversation with an experienced business strategist can provide a fresh perspective and uncover transformative solutions, even without any immediate commitment.
Resources:
- Joe Perrone: I help business owners reclaim time lost to unproductivity and busy-ness
- Follow Joe Perrone on Facebook
- Connect with Joe Perrone on LinkedIn
- Subscribe to Joe Perrone on YouTube
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:44 — 39.7MB) | Embed
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880: Navigate the Nitty Gritty of Marketing Analytics with Mark Stouse
Today's marketing analytics are very complex, and the customer journey is more complicated than ever for B2B and B2C businesses. You need to have strong analytics to be more successful in your business. With the help of a great team, you can achieve easy-to-understand model visualizations that help both the marketer and the data analyst uncover the cause-and-effect relationships that drive meaningful business outcomes.
Mark Stouse is the CEO of Proof Analytics, a marketing analytics platform that helps CMOs and CFOs understand the true business impact and financial worth of their marketing efforts. With over 20 years of experience as a marketing executive, Mark has a deep understanding of the challenges businesses face in measuring the ROI of their marketing investments. Today, Mark talks about how Proof Analytics uses advanced analytics and machine learning to provide real-time, cause-and-effect insights that help companies make more informed marketing decisions.
Quotes
“If you can't understand cause-and-effect analysis and be guided accordingly, you are severely limited in terms of your sustainability as a business.” - Mark Stouse
“Intuition is essentially your personal, private machine learning. It's all based on accumulated experience.” - Mark Stouse
“This is a huge opportunity to shine. But in order to shine, you're going to have to make choices. If not, you'll have to do more with less.” - Mark Stouse
Takeaways
04:33 Businesses need to move beyond just looking at data and focus on understanding the cause-and-effect relationships that drive their marketing performance.
12:26 Relying solely on intuition can lead to poor decisions, especially during times of rapid change and uncertainty.
19:56 Integrating advanced analytics into marketing resource management platforms can provide real-time, data-driven insights to guide decision-making.
30:45 Committing to the implementation and use of analytics tools is crucial for realizing their full benefits.
37:04 Maintaining perspective and drawing inspiration from stories of perseverance and courage can help leaders navigate challenging times.
Resources:
- Proof Analytics: Proof Causal.ai™ is the only GTM Effectiveness Software Certified by MASB
- Follow Proof Analytics on Facebook
- Connect with Mark Stouse on LinkedIn
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 42:29 — 58.6MB) | Embed
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879: Redefine Management of Digital Services with Don Moore
What does it take to lead a successful digital marketing agency in today's ever-changing landscape? The digital world is in a constant state of flux, with new technologies, platforms, and consumer behaviors emerging at a dizzying pace. Agency leaders must not only keep up with these changes, but also foster an environment that allows their teams to thrive amidst the chaos.
Don Moore is the President and CEO of Hybrid Theory (now acquired by Azerion) in North America, responsible for the overall strategy, operations, and business direction of the company in the region. Today, Don discusses his experience overseeing different personalities and work styles to drive successful marketing campaigns. He shares insights on the fast-paced nature of the digital marketing industry, the importance of work-life balance, and the need to embrace change and failure as part of the growth process.
Quotes
“Everything has a lifecycle. You may feel in your heart that Google will be around forever, but it won't.” - Don Moore
“We want to make sure that you succeed. If we're not the best choice, we'll let you know.” - Don Moore
“There's no textbook for this. There's a textbook for managing X business or X type of business through recession and inflation, and permutations of both. However, there is no textbook written on how to handle existing employees post-COVID.” - Don Moore
Takeaways
04:08 Embracing a work-life balance mindset can help maintain perspective and improve performance, even during challenging times.
07:32 Maintaining focus and discipline, even during periods of distraction, is crucial for achieving long-term goals and success.
13:49 Pursuing ambitious, strategic initiatives requires a balance of creativity, calculated risk-taking, and trust in one's team to execute effectively.
18:31 Failure and experimentation are necessary for growth, as long as the costs are managed, and the lessons learned are applied.
25:37 In the absence of established playbooks, thoughtful, case-by-case problem-solving and a willingness to experiment become essential for getting through uncharted territory.
Resources:
- Hybrid Theory (now acquired by Azerion): Digital Entertainment & Media Platform
- Follow Hybrid Theory Global on Facebook
- Connect with Don Moore on LinkedIn
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:53 — 44.0MB) | Embed
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878: Make Genuine Backlinks for Your Website with Sujan Sarkar
Why should you prioritize SEO over other strategies? Everyone in the marketing or business world, whether online or offline, demands traffic. If you want to focus on search engines, you'll need to keep creating content, conducting research and analysis, building backlinks, and other activities for at least a year and a half, if not longer, to generate a steady line of traffic. If you are building up on SEO slowly and steadily, you get results for many years to go.
Sujan Sarkar is the founder of OneLittleWeb, an SEO agency that helps businesses grow their organic traffic through a proven SEO strategy. As an SEO enthusiast, Sujan has been in the industry for several years, working with over 500 clients and helping them achieve significant traffic increases for their websites. Today, Sujan shares his insights on the importance of building genuine backlinks for your website and the evolution of backlinking strategies.
Quotes
“Nowadays, backlinking methods have evolved significantly. Poor backlinks no longer work.” - Sujan Sarkar
“Rather than focusing entirely on paid channels, you should concentrate on search engine optimization.” - Sujan Sarkar
“If you're just learning, trying to do it all by yourself, maybe do it all on your own, do some learning, watch tutorials, and gain some experience.” - Sujan Sarkar
Takeaways
09:24 Genuine, high-quality backlinks are essential for sustainable website growth and search engine rankings.
11:06 Manual outreach and creating valuable, niche-relevant content are effective strategies for building genuine backlinks.
22:12 Managed SEO services can provide a comprehensive, hands-off approach to optimizing a website's content and backlink profile.
24:58 Investing in SEO and backlink building can yield long-term, compounding benefits compared to paid advertising channels.
32:42 Businesses should consider allocating a portion of their marketing budget towards SEO and backlink building, even if they are also investing in paid advertising channels, as it can provide a more sustainable and long-term source of traffic and revenue.
Resources:
- OneLittleWeb: Get Predictable Results With Our SEO Content Marketing
- Connect with Sujan Sarkar on LinkedIn
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:06 — 52.5MB) | Embed
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877: Take Action: Choose a Sustainable Lifestyle with Dr. Pat Boulogne
You may not have time to exercise, eat, or take care of yourself because of your busy schedule. You don't have enough time to do the things you know you should. Then, some health concern arises abruptly, but it's been years in the making, simply from gently relaxing and slipping back into this poor lifestyle.
Dr. Pat Boulogne is a functional lifestyle medicine expert and coach who helps busy professionals and influencers improve their health, wellness, and decision-making. As the author of the book "Why Are You Sick, Fat and Tired?", Dr. Pat shares her expertise on the five pillars of health: proper nutrition, exercise, sleep, positive mindset, and a properly functioning nervous system. Today, Dr. Boulogne discusses the topic of adopting a sustainable lifestyle to combat common health issues like being "sick, fat, and tired."
Quotes
“If you don't honor your body as the sanctuary that it is, you know what you'll get out. Like a car that's supposed to run on premium fuel, if you keep putting regular gasoline in, your car will die a lot sooner.” - Dr. Pat Boulogne
“You're either vibing on the side of deficiency, or you're vibing at a site of abundance and freedom.” - Dr. Pat Boulogne
“If you don't understand what you're eating or can't pronounce it, you shouldn't buy it.” - Dr. Pat Boulogne
Takeaways
01:23 Adopting a sustainable lifestyle requires addressing the root causes of health issues, not just quick fixes.
7:41 Addressing the mindset and root causes of health issues, rather than just focusing on physical symptoms, is key to achieving lasting success in improving one's well-being.
18:00 Being aware of the hidden toxins and chemicals in our environment, including in the food we eat and the products we use, is crucial for maintaining good health.
25:31 Developing consistent, sustainable habits and rituals is the key to making lasting changes in one's lifestyle.
27:48 Proper nutrition, exercise, sleep, positive mindset, and a well-functioning nervous system are the five pillars of health.
Resources:
- Health Team Network: Empowering executives and entrepreneurs to achieve their greatest goals in less time with proven science-based programs.
- Ask Dr. Pat on Facebook
- Connect with Dr. Pat Boulogne on LinkedIn
- Get a copy of Why Are You Sick, Fat, and Tired?: Find Out Now by Dr. Pat Boulogne on Amazon
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:19 — 40.5MB) | Embed
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