More than a Few Words

You're spending a lot of resources to drive traffic. But are you converting traffic to prospects? If you're not getting people to fill out your conversion forms there are a few things you can do to improve the effectiveness of those pages 1. Don't oversell avoid bloated adjectives like awesome and amazing. Just stick to the facts. 2. While we're on the subject of facts, back up what you're saying...

Let's face it, one of the challenges faced by most business owners is the absence of a clear rulebook for navigating the complexities of entrepreneurship. To shed light on the essential strategies for success, I invited Scott Ritzheimer, founder of Scale Architects, to share  his tips for entrepreneurs, particularly the struggle to prioritize and manage tasks amidst a multitude of expert advice. S...

Chatting with Tina Bakehouse was like unwrapping a gift for anyone who’s ever hesitated to step into the spotlight. We explored the idea that public speaking isn’t just for natural extroverts.  It is about discovering that inner magnetism within all of us. Tina, the author of “ Discovering Our Magnetic Speaker Within ,” brought her insights to the table, emphasizing that being magnetic involves in...

Today I want to talk about email. Why email,  when there are so many better ways to get people to pay attention to you? Because year in and year out people open their emails. So if you want to deliver messages to people who are interested in what you have to say email is still a great way to reach them Here are a few things you can do to improve the effectiveness of your email campaigns number Sen...

In this conversation, I had a chance to chat with Josh Nielsen, the founder behind Zencastr, one of the top podcasting platforms.  As the founder and CEO, he’s focused on the next level of podcasting, providing creators worldwide with an all-in-one platform. We delved into the current podcasting landscape, and Josh pointed out a trend he dubs the “tick-toification of podcasting.” Attention spans a...

Did you miss my conversation with Joe Matz as we unraveled the the concept of business transformation. We chatted about the desire among entrepreneurs to push the limits of their businesses, but recognize the challenges that come with turning that desire into a tangible transformation. We explored the notion that everyone has a unique genius zone, a sweet spot where work becomes easy, fun, and exc...

Today's tip start with a bit of a rant.  I I teach marketing at a local university and was grading papers the other night.  As I read, it occurred to me a number of my students were using CHAT GPT to write their essays. I was annoyed but also stopped to think about why I felt like that was problematic. The answer was pretty simple. Their answers were generic, boring and they didn't really address...

Today's talk centers around the unavoidable truth: not every employee walks into the office fully equipped for the job's challenges. Enter the world of training, a necessary step for workforce readiness. Joining me is is Vicki Noethling . We explored the hurdles faced by small businesses with fewer than ten employees when it comes to carving out time for training and developing effective plans. Sm...

We are living in a Video world.  All the major social media platforms, and many of the upstarts are flooded with video.  If you aren't creating at least some video content, you are really missing an opportunity to put yourself in front of potential customers.  Mechelle McDonald explains that every business owner, even if they are camera shy, needs to find a way to put themselves on camera.  Potent...

Long before I worked on my first website, I was writing content for brochures and direct mail campaigns. Many of the lessons  I learned about good copywriting then are absolutely transferable to the digital age. If you want to create great content that's engaging and interesting your copy must be is focused on your reader. One of the simplest tests is what I call the pencil test. Get two pencils,...

I'm glad you're listening to this episode, but are you actively listening? That's the topic I dove into with Patrick Donadio, author of the book " Communicating with Impact," which outlines a process designed to improve communication, increase profits, and boost performance in less time. Our conversation kicks off stressing the pivotal role of setting intentions in communication, underscoring that...

From our archive: Scott Murray thinks marketers have to stop selling, promoting and clinging to outdated strategies and tactics.  Instead they need to create content to spark engagement,  conversation and inspiration from their audience. As we've moved from print to digital, control has shifted from the marketer to the consumer.  They decide when they will stop and look at your content and when th...

A great auto response campaign starts with an exchange, you offer something of value to a prospective customer, and in return, they give you their contact information. What can you trade?  What is your inbound offer? The short answer is anything; any information that you have access to, that a prospective customer might be interested in. Here are just a few examples: Industry data, survey results...

You know, so many business owners say, “I know some of my marketing is working, but I’m not sure which 50%.” Well, if you want to up your success rate, you need a plan. Laura Wagenknecht the owner of Mosaic Business Consulting,   is the perfect guide for this. She emphasizes the importance of unveiling your marketing gradually, focusing on niche markets, and tailoring your approach to different au...

Stories are a valuable element in building your personal brand, marketing your business, and as you will discover today, they can add value in your sales process too. As our guest T om Jackobs  explains  your need two types of stories in  your sales process.  The first is your personal story which explains why  you do what you do and the second is a story of results. How you helped someone achieve...

You have a whole year ahead of you. You will accomplish amazing things. So, what I want you to do right now is close your eyes and imagine that it's not January but December. Imagine all the things you've accomplished this year. Go ahead, write them all down. Put that piece of paper in an envelope and seal it.  Don't open it until the last day of the year Dream Big Dream big both personally and pr...

Today we're diving into the world of pay-per-click advertising. You know, it'd be fantastic if customers just stumbled upon our businesses, but we all know that's not how it works. Sometimes we need to invest in advertising, especially in this age of the internet where pay-per-click is an affordable option. But there are right ways and wrong ways to do it, and that's what we're chatting about toda...

Jake Stahl, a pioneer in conversational dynamics, joined me for a conversation about how business owners can better communicate the value they offer. The key is to understand your customer's needs and desires and create a compelling value statement that addresses those needs. Stahl suggests using the "3 Whys" technique to uncover the true dream outcome driving your customers. He suggested four sim...

The failure rates for early stage companies are staggering.  Depending on the source the numbers range from 40% to 90% in the early years. And while the economy can play a role, one of the biggest reasons small business owners fail in the early years is they try to hedge their bets. There’s  always that safety valve in the back of their head. “I can get a job, or I can do something else.” That bac...

I am pumped to have Tom Ruwitch on the show. Now, Tom is not your average business growth guru; he's a storytelling aficionado and a pioneer in content marketing. He is on a mission to rescue us from the clutches of mundane, prospect-repelling content that makes marketing feel like a never-ending drag. So, I kicked off the conversation with a simple question:  Why do storytellers sell more? Tom br...

Creating great marketing content takes a while It is important, but if you’re not careful, it can take over so much of your time that you don’t have any time left to run your business. Our guest, Elizabeth Pampalone shares the secret to creating a year’s worth of content in a week through a process she calls  Absolute Marketing.   The system actually consists of five, the five pillars of marketing...

Once someone starts to fill out your form, you want to be sure they take that last step to submit the form. But the truth is, people don’t actually like to submit. Although that is almost always the default choice when you build a form it is actually one of the least effective phrases you can use.   Here are some better choices Use a word that commands action: click register, go or download Use la...

I had a great conversation  with Jennie Wright, an email list building and lead generation strategist about how to leverage peer platforms to grow your email list. Jennie explains the easiest way to build your email list is by leveraging other people’s platforms. This can be done by appearing on other people’s podcasts, participating in giveaways and bundles, and speaking on panels and summits. Sh...

Albert Kaufman is a lifelong networker.  His tips are timeless, which is why I am rereleasing this conversation from 2017.  If you missed it back then, you don't want to miss it now. 

Last week, I shared some tips for creating great landing pages. This time I want to focus on the submission form because, that's where the magic unfolds. When it comes to submission forms  the more you ask for, the less you'll receive. Every additional question you toss in there is a chance your prospect will say "No Thanks" and leave before submitting their response.  Keep it simple and only requ...