Summit Host Hangout®

Sometimes we need results in 30 days, not 90! And sometimes a big summit feels like too much...and that's okay! In this episode, I'm comparing the time it takes to host a summit vs. a challenge and sharing the exact numbers that came in through a challenge that took about 10 hours of my time. If you've been thinking "I know I need to do something, but a summit feels like too much right now" or you...

It's episode 300 of the Summit Host Hangout® Podcast! To celebrate, I'm flipping the script and letting my team interview do the interviewing. You'll get a behind-the-scenes look at who I am beyond the business, from my rapid-fire preferences to how I juggle homeschooling while running Summit in a Box®. We dive into the evolution of virtual summits over the past 7 years, my decision-making process...

"When should I host a summit and when should I run a challenge?" In this Summit Conversations episode, I'm giving you a behind-the-scenes look at exactly how I make this decision. You'll hear my loose pattern for alternating between 1-2 summits and 2-3 challenges per year, plus the strategic reasoning behind that rhythm. Whether you're trying to significantly grow your audience or re-engage the pe...

Last week, I went from "absolutely NOT doing sponsorships" for my upcoming summit to landing $4,250 in confirmed sponsors in less than 24 hours. And it all happened because I gave a client advice that I immediately realized I needed to take myself!   In this episode, I'm sharing the mindset shift that changed how I approach sponsorships. You'll hear about the coaching call moment that opened my ey...

Last week, I went from "absolutely NOT doing sponsorships" for my upcoming summit to landing $4,250 in confirmed sponsors in less than 24 hours. And it all happened because I gave a client advice that I immediately realized I needed to take myself!   In this episode, I'm sharing the mindset shift that changed how I approach sponsorships. You'll hear about the coaching call moment that opened my ey...

I've heard a lot of summit hosts say they're skipping communities entirely because "engagement is dead." But what if the solution isn't removing communities—it's knowing how to make them thrive? In this episode, I'm chatting with membership expert Sandra De Freitas about how she created one of the most vibrant summit communities I've ever experienced. She shares her "dinner party" approach to comm...

In this behind-the-scenes episode, I'm sharing how my summit planning process has evolved from my first few events (where I did everything) to now hosting multiple summits per year while working just 20 hours per week. You'll hear what tasks I still handle, what my team takes care of, and how this evolution happened step by step over 14 summits. Plus, I'm sharing the piece of summit planning I'd r...

Many of you have run into a massive disconnect that doesn't need to exist between summit hosts and speakers. The gap between what summit hosts expect speakers to know and what many experts actually understand about online summits and marketing. In this episode, I'm sharing why even speakers with huge social followings might struggle with basic summit participation, the four main areas where this g...

"Ever had that sinking feeling when you discover another summit host has chosen the exact same dates as your event? In this episode, I'm sharing my honest approach to handling summit scheduling conflicts and why giving another person power over your timeline isn't the answer. You'll hear about the three different scenarios you might face, when it makes sense to move your dates (and when it absolut...

"Ever had that sinking feeling when you discover another summit host has chosen the exact same dates as your event? In this episode, I'm sharing my honest approach to handling summit scheduling conflicts and why giving another person power over your timeline isn't the answer. You'll hear about the three different scenarios you might face, when it makes sense to move your dates (and when it absolut...

Planning a second summit doesn't mean starting from scratch! In this behind-the-scenes look at my upcoming Membership Momentum summit, I'm sharing exactly how I'm approaching round two after a successful first event. When you run a summit for the second time, you get to focus on optimization instead of creation - and it's actually kind of fun! I'm walking through my decision-making process about w...

Planning a second summit doesn't mean starting from scratch! In this behind-the-scenes look at my upcoming Membership Momentum summit, I'm sharing exactly how I'm approaching round two after a successful first event. When you run a summit for the second time, you get to focus on optimization instead of creation - and it's actually kind of fun! I'm walking through my decision-making process about w...

Email is, by far, the most effective way to promote a virtual summit. But how can you ensure the emails you're writing will do the job of increasing registrations? Today we have email marketing expert, Allison Hardy, to share the top two mistakes summit hosts make in their emails, how to appeal to multiple types of buyers, and the most important parts of an effective promo email. For show notes, h...

It's not as easy to standout with a virtual summit as it was back in 2021, but today's guest is proof that it's still possible - even in the B2B space! In this episode you'll hear from Jacob Cass about how he brought his 2000 attendee goal to 23,000 attendees, how he managed that many people, the keys to his success, and more. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/296

Have you ever taken a "workcation" where you just answered emails from a prettier location? In this episode, I'm sharing something that might sound terrifying to some entrepreneurs - how I'm taking a REAL break from my business while on a Disney cruise with my family. I'm talking about why I left my laptop at home, uninstalled Slack, and chose not to buy wifi. You'll hear how complete disconnectio...

Last week we talked about hosting a virtual summit as a Highly Sensitive Person. This week we're flipping the script to talk about hosting summits for a sensitive audience! Whether you're targeting HSPs, neurodivergent individuals, people healing from trauma, or those experiencing grief, I'm sharing practical strategies to make your event supportive and accessible. Learn how to focus on people ove...

Have you been asked to pay to speak at a summit? Or told that your email list isn't big enough to participate after someone pitched you? I'm getting on my soapbox today about the speaker requirements in the virtual summit industry that I will never get behind. I'm sharing the 3 types of common speaker requirements that make me cringe, how these tactics actually reveal flaws in a host's summit stra...

Ever feel like your business is hitting a wall? 😅 In this week's Summit Converstaions video, I shared what happened when I heard from a client who wasn't feeling great about her business - and how I completely resonated with those feelings.   I broke down what I WISH I'd do when business feels like it's falling flat - from taking a real break (not just a weekend!) to making an actual offer and re...

Are there any fellow HPSs (Highly Sensitive Person) in the house? If so, the thought of hosting a virtual summit might be a bit intimidating. In this episode, I'm sharing how being an HSP can actually be your secret superpower in the summit-hosting world! I'll break down what it means to be highly sensitive, how these traits have affected my own summit hosting journey, and practical strategies to...

Thank GOODNESS that our businesses aren't limited by the best possible outcome we imagined when we started. Right?! In this Summit Conversations episode, I'm sharing the unexpected evolution of my own business from a simple $197 product to multiple high-level offerings that I couldn't have imagined when I began. You'll hear the specific stages of my growth, including the surprising jumps from a $1...

Earlier this week I mapped out the next 4 months of projects for our company and I thought it would be fun to give you a behind-the-scenes look at my process! I shared about my flexible planning framework, how I prioritize business needs while honoring family commitments, and how I have a solid plan, but also leave room for inspiration to strike.   Listen to the quick episode and then, join the co...

Generally speaking, when we're looking to increase our income we look at what we can *add*. Where can we add an extra two hours to fit in this strategy that just has to be the answer? In this podcast episode you'll hear from membership mentor Samantha Harris as she breaks down the idea of exponential income, which is income dependent on impact, not hours. For show notes, head to https://summithost...

"It can still be an amazing and fulfilling event, even if it's small" That was a sentence I scribbled down in my summit debrief doc on the 2nd day of my recent summit. It was a more impactful realization and experience than I expected! Of course big numbers are exciting, but a small summit definitely doesn't mean that you failed. In this episode, I'm sharing how my recent "small" summit still deli...

"It can still be an amazing and fulfilling event, even if it's small" That was a sentence I scribbled down in my summit debrief doc on the 2nd day of my recent summit. It was a more impactful realization and experience than I expected! Of course big numbers are exciting, but a small summit definitely doesn't mean that you failed. In this episode, I'm sharing how my recent "small" summit still deli...

Have you ever finished a summit feeling uncertain about what worked and what didn't? Or letting your numbers be the only thing that tells you whether your event was a "success" or "failure"?  In this episode, I'm breaking down my debrief process after our most recent summit.  You'll discover how I balance numbers with intuition, the surprising metrics I prioritize beyond registration counts, and h...