Summit Host Hangout®

The online space feels uncertain right now, with quieter funnels and smaller launches making many question whether B2B summits still work. And I'm excited to share that in today's episode that they absolutely do. You'll hear the key differences between what worked before and what's essential now, including why clear positioning matters more than ever, the power of human connection, and how a solid...

Ever wonder why some summit speaker pitches get ignored while others get an instant "yes"?   I receive a LOT of summit speaker pitches, and most of them make it way too easy for me to say no.   In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on what makes a speaker pitch fall flat - and more importantly, what makes one stand out in a GOOD way.   You'll hear about the 5 biggest mistakes I see in spea...

Have you noticed that your audience needs a higher level of trust before buying? You're not alone. In today's "trust economy," consumers are more cautious than ever about who they follow and buy from. This week, I'm chatting with the "Million-Dollar Copywriter", Anthony Obey, about how virtual summits can be your secret weapon for building instant trust and authority - even in this skeptical marke...

If you've been struggling with email frequency, worried about "annoying" your subscribers, or just not seeing the results you want from your current email marketing approach, this episode is going to be a game-changer. Fola brings this refreshingly honest perspective that treats email as its own unique medium - not just another social channel or sales pitch. His philosophy centers around building...

Have you ever had that moment when something you teach suddenly makes even MORE sense because you experienced it yourself in a new way?   In this week's video, I'm sharing how I went from feeling bummed about $7,600 in all-access pass sales to celebrating over $59,000 in total summit revenue all because of the monetization stacking strategy I teach but had never fully experienced myself.   You'll...

Sometimes the best thing you can do for your business is step away from the endless task list and actually think .   In this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of my recent solo planning retreat - two nights in a beautiful Airbnb with just me, my laptop, and zero distractions. You'll hear the simple questions I used to refocus my business direction and how I prioritized 19 projects for the...

Have you ever had a summit host ask you to PAY for the privilege of speaking at their summit? If you've received an invitation like this, I'm here to tell you exactly why this practice is wrong and what you should look for instead. I'll break down why this approach is predatory, what it tells you about the host, and share the specific benefits quality summit opportunities should provide speakers....

Your summit is meant to serve your business and your life, not completely consume it for a week.   While it's normal for summit week to be busy, there are simple things you can do to make sure you have plenty of time to rest, recharge, and take care of yourself.   And in this week's Summit Conversations episode, I'm sharing exactly how I approach summit week now (both with my current support syste...

You might think launching your offer through your summit sounds pushy, but what if NOT making an invitation is actually doing them a disservice? In this episode, I'm tackling one of the most common objections I hear: how to launch your signature offer through your summit in a way that feels respectful and genuinely serves your audience. You'll hear a story of someone who gained 240 new members des...

In this episode, I'm sharing some of the summit disasters we've weathered over the years, and walking you through what's in our new backup plan. From tech meltdowns to team members being unavailable, we're finally prepared for whatever summit chaos might come our way.   If you're planning any kind of virtual event, this behind-the-scenes look at contingency planning might just save your sanity (an...

Ever wonder what goes on behind the scenes when a summit strategist is planning their OWN event? I'm pulling back the curtain today to share some of the biggest experiments I'm implementing in Membership Momentum 2025 - and why innovation is becoming more critical than ever for B2B summits. If you've been thinking about hosting a summit or wondering how to keep your events fresh and engaging, this...

I'm giving you a real-time look at how I'm analyzing our Membership Momentum Summit numbers just days into promotion – and why conversion rates tell a more valuable story than straight numbers ever could.   You'll hear what our current conversion rates are (both good and concerning), how I'm using this data to make strategic tweaks instead of just hoping for the best, and the daily question I ask...

This week's guest hosts two annual virtual summits - one for knitters and one for crocheters - that have completely transformed her pattern design business. She's grown from hobby blogger to true CEO, built a thriving 260-member community, and even caught the attention of major yarn brands like Lion Brand. What I love about Hortense's approach is how she's adapted summit strategies specifically fo...

Testing your summit before launch isn't the most exciting topic, but it's a critical step that too many hosts skip entirely.   In this behind-the-scenes episode, I'm sharing what happened during our 6-hour testing marathon for our 12th summit - and you won't believe how many issues we caught!   You'll get an inside look at our detailed testing spreadsheet, see how we use test email addresses, and...

If you're an ideas person who wants to start ALL of your brilliant ideas at once, this week's Summit Conversations episode is for you!   After getting out of a time of hustle and almost diving right back into it, I created a simple tracker that has been saving me (and my team) multiple times per week from project overwhelm.   In this episode, I'll walk you through a simple system that helps me vis...

I share a lot about strategy and marketing for virtual summits, but there's one element that can majorly impact your summit that we haven't talked about on the podcast since 2019: design. In this episode, I'm joined by Tracey Albrecht of Soapbox Studio to discuss why amateur-looking graphics might be costing you registrations and sales. We'll break down the most common summit design mistakes, shar...

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...