More than a Few Words
1,001 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★★ - 88 ratingsA marketing podcast for business owners. The brief conversations of this marketing podcast are filled with practical tips from business owners and marketing professionals from around the world.
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Episodes
#992 What is Your Problem Solving Style? | Kris Ward
April 15, 2024 16:59 - 11 minutes - 9.9 MBKris 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 ...
#991 Social Media Chef
April 14, 2024 09:20 - 1 minute - 1.98 MBMy 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....
#990 Selling on LinkedIn with Karen Yankovich
April 11, 2024 09:03 - 13 minutes - 12.9 MBIn 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 for...
#989 The Confirmation Process
April 09, 2024 09:13 - 10 minutes - 10.4 MBJoin 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...
988 - The Dangers of Marketing Wallpaper
April 07, 2024 10:02 - 1 minute - 1.31 MBHas 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. ...
#987 A Name You Can Own with Samantha Bradshaw
April 04, 2024 10:00 - 11 minutes - 8.23 MBI 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, und...
#986 Imposter Syndrome
April 02, 2024 10:21 - 12 minutes - 11 MBZach 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 emoti...
#985 Zero Click World
March 31, 2024 09:48 - 2 minutes - 2.48 MBThese 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 s...
#984 Build Authority with Authenticity
March 28, 2024 09:28 - 10 minutes - 8.35 MBI 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 content. Understa...
983 Build Your Brand with AI
March 26, 2024 09:57 - 10 minutes - 7.71 MBLaura 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 ...
982 Everyone is a Storyteller
March 24, 2024 09:56 - 1 minute - 1.94 MBThese 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...
#981 Selling on Amazon
March 21, 2024 09:21 - 10 minutes - 9.68 MBCan 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 pr...
#980 Adapt Your Sales Process to Your Customer's Personality
March 19, 2024 09:49 - 10 minutes - 9.43 MBImagine 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 ...
#979 Commit to LinkedIN
March 17, 2024 09:18 - 3 minutes - 3.56 MBThis 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 pe...
#978 Finding the Right Marketing Partner
March 14, 2024 09:04 - 10 minutes - 10.3 MBWhen 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...
#977 The Four "C"s of Accountability
March 12, 2024 09:28 - 11 minutes - 11.5 MBIn 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 ho...
#976 Find the Best Solution
March 10, 2024 09:13 - 1 minute - 1.79 MBEveryone likes to be right and to see their ideas put into practice but sometimes your ideas are not the best it. If, as a leader you are more focused on proving you're right and winning every argument people around you will acquiesce. You will have a solution but it won't necessarily be the best solution. This is tough, because it means you have to give up control. If you've hired the right people they will have good opinions about projects and about the way the company is run, so you nee...
#975 Find Your Niche
March 07, 2024 10:20 - 11 minutes - 8.53 MBCarolyn Patrick dropped by for a conversation about one of my absolute favorite topics—niche marketing. Carolyn’s a seasoned consultant and non-executive director hailing all the way from Australia, bringing a wealth of experience in customer brand and marketing across diverse industries like banking, wealth management, insurance, retail, and government. To explain why she thinks it’s crucial for businesses to identify their niche Carolyn shared a personal story of working with specific n...
#974 - A New Approach to PR
March 05, 2024 10:35 - 11 minutes - 12 MBDid you miss this conversation from my archive? Every business owner knows an article in the news can be a great boost to a business. The question is how do you get the media to notice you. My guest Mickie Kennedy explains it is not by sending another boring release about your product or service. You need to be creative, finding a unique angle. One way to do that is with a survey that uncovers an unusual data point or piece of information which might be the beginning of a great story. A...
#973 - The Three Truths of Marketing
March 03, 2024 10:31 - 1 minute - 1.94 MBI have been talking about marketing for a long time. And then funny thing? Although it is a big topic, managing marketing boils down to three simple truths. The first is that marketing hasn’t really changed in 50 or 60 years. The basics of marketing are about what they were half a century ago. What has changed are the tools. And that’s the second truth, there are always new tools on the horizon, new ways of doing things. And the third truth is that the most effective marketing is marketin...
#972 What Drives Your Passion
February 29, 2024 11:00 - 11 minutes - 10.2 MBI had a chance to chat with David Ask, an accomplished entrepreneur and product development expert, to discuss the essence of creating a heart-centered business. As the leader of a mastermind group, David believes in the uniqueness of each person's spirit and soul. He encourages individuals to explore what lights them up and drives their energy. As the conversation unfolds, he reflects on his own journey, revealing his identity as a creative rather than a conventional entrepreneur. He stre...
#971 Influence Marketing
February 27, 2024 11:01 - 12 minutes - 10.8 MBI had a great time chatting with Jason Falls, a seasoned digital marketing thought leader, author, and speaker. The topic of our conversation was influence marketing, a topic often misunderstood by brands. While many people discuss the role influencers play in shaping buying decisions Jason brought a fresh perspective to the conversation, emphasizing the broader concept of influence marketing instead of fixating on individual influencers. He stressed the need for a holistic approach, urgin...
#970 A.I. Powered Video
February 25, 2024 10:16 - 1 minute - 1.6 MBThese days your audience wants bite size content. They're not going to sit through twenty or thirty minutes of video or read long blog posts. It's frustrating because you've got this long content, but it doesn't have to be. With the help of AI you can transform that long long post into a series of short social media posts. You can take cut that ten, twenty or thirty minute video into little thirty second sound bites. The little videos are just enough to hook the audience, get their atten...
#969 Don't be Afraid of SEO
February 22, 2024 10:10 - 10 minutes - 9.61 MBIn this conversation, Bear Newman, a seasoned digital marketer and author with over 15 years in the field joined me for a conversation about SEO. If you’re like many business owners, SEO might be a bit of a mystery, and that’s why I’ve brought Bear in to help us demystify it. We kick off by addressing common fears around SEO and highlighting the importance of taking action rather than striving for perfection right from the start. Bear dives into the conversation, shedding light on the misc...
#968 Start with a Process
February 20, 2024 09:01 - 10 minutes - 9.63 MBYour business does not happen by accident. You have to have processes and procedures in place to make sure that everything gets done when it’s supposed to. Does that sound a little overwhelming? It doesn’t have to be according to my guest Brittni Schroeder. She explains you are only one person, and systems help you streamline your activities and create processes you can share with others. The systems help you scale and handle more clients and bigger projects to grow your business.
#967 Get Rich Quick.
February 18, 2024 10:55 - 1 minute - 1.65 MBHave you noticed that the internet is filled with people claiming to have made thousands of dollars online and they're willing to share their secrets to success with you all for the low low price of $199. The problem is the only people who get rich from that slick package solution are the people who create it. Why? because the system they create is right for them or it is generic and not right for you. Instead what you need to do is invest money spending time with someone who can look at y...
#966 Irrelevant Competitors
February 15, 2024 10:39 - 12 minutes - 10.7 MBIn this insightful interview, I had a chance to chat with Anne Carden, about making competitors irrelevant by building a business that stands out. She emphasizes the importance of identifying and leveraging a business’s unique selling proposition or “sweet spot.” Anne explains every business, regardless of size, possesses a distinctive quality that can set it apart, emphasizing the need to position oneself around that expertise to become untouchable in the market. She provides practical ex...
#965 - Discover the Secret to Getting a Customer to Yes
February 13, 2024 11:35 - 12 minutes - 10.3 MBIn this episode of "More Than a Few Words," I had the pleasure of chatting with Susan Trumpler, the founder of Unstoppable Women in Business. We dove into the process of moving prospects from contemplation to a resounding "yes" and making the sales journey more comfortable. Susan emphasized the importance of understanding the prospect's pain points and aligning your solution with their immediate needs. We discussed the three crucial questions that need to be answered before a prospect can...
#964 Improve Landing Page Content
February 11, 2024 10:56 - 1 minute - 1.71 MBYou'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 with real proof. It gives you tremendous credibility 3. Use video to complement the images a...
#963 Match Your Strategy to the Stage of Your Business
February 08, 2024 10:28 - 13 minutes - 12.6 MBLet'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. Scott emphasizes the importance of understanding that there are seven specific stages of business...
#962 Be a Magnetic Speaker
February 06, 2024 10:06 - 10 minutes - 9.41 MBChatting 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 intentional communication, encompassing words, voice, body language, energy, and overall essence. T...
#961 Simple Email Tips
February 04, 2024 11:48 - 1 minute - 1.45 MBToday 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 Send them on Tuesday. Emails sent on Tuesday actually have the best open rate Keep your emails ...
#960 - Zencastr and the Future of Podcasting
February 01, 2024 11:00 - 9 minutes - 9.07 MBIn 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 are shortening, and people are leaning towards bite-sized, consumable content, especially in the ...
#959 Sell the Transformation
January 30, 2024 11:05 - 10 minutes - 9.53 MBDid 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 exciting. Joe delves into the significance of identifying this genius zone and aligning it with th...
#958 Start with Original Content
January 28, 2024 10:57 - 2 minutes - 2.26 MBToday'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 my specific question. In a way that is the same challenge content marketers have when using AI ...
#957 Time to Train Your Team
January 25, 2024 10:43 - 11 minutes - 9.83 MBToday'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. Small business owners often find themselves juggling individual tasks, with training sometimes ta...
#956 Simple Video Tips for Small Business Owners
January 23, 2024 11:00 - 9 minutes - 7.45 MBWe 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. Potential customers want to touch, see, feel and connect. Video lets you do all that. In addition to...
#955 Customer Focused Copy
January 21, 2024 10:23 - 1 minute - 1.23 MBLong 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, one a blue and one red. Print out that page of web copy and start circling every word that is ...
#954 Listen toThis
January 18, 2024 10:01 - 12 minutes - 11 MBI'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 a clear purpose steers the entire interaction. As we explore the significance of listening, par...
#953 Create Human Centered Content
January 16, 2024 10:08 - 11 minutes - 11.3 MBFrom 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 they will scroll right by. To earn their attention, you need to put the right content on the ri...
#952 What Will Your Offer Web Visitors?
January 14, 2024 11:02 - 1 minute - 1.47 MBA 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 and how-to guides. Customers always want to know how other people use your product or service....
#951 Strategic Marketing
January 11, 2024 10:52 - 11 minutes - 9.93 MBYou 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 audiences. In our conversation, Laura dives into the intricacies of strategic marketing, especial...
#950 -Sales Stories
January 09, 2024 10:27 - 10 minutes - 11.8 MBStories 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 Tom 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 their goal.
#949 Write Yourself a Letter
January 07, 2024 11:00 - 56 seconds - 1.07 MBYou 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 professionally. Maybe you want to lose weight, expand your team, launch new products, or close m...
948 A New Take on PPC
January 04, 2024 10:39 - 10 minutes - 9.75 MBToday 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 today. To help me navigate this terrain, I invited Nick Gosling to join me. He's a fractional COO a...
#947 Selling the Dream
January 02, 2024 10:52 - 10 minutes - 9.62 MBJake 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 simple questions you can use to build your value statement: Dream outcome: What do your custome...
#946 Burn the Boat
December 31, 2023 10:00 - 1 minute - 1.81 MBThe 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 back up plan approach doesn’t work. If you want to be successful, you have to treat your busines...
#945 Why Do Storytellers Have More Fun?
December 28, 2023 10:51 - 10 minutes - 10.3 MBI 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 broke it down, explaining that it's not just about regaling your own legendary origin story. It's...
#944 - Absolute Marketing
December 26, 2023 11:00 - 10 minutes - 10.7 MBCreating 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, branding, websites, social media, blogging, and email marketing. Start with a solid brand, def...
#943 - A Good CTA Drives Action
December 24, 2023 11:21 - 1 minute - 1.88 MBOnce 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 language that actually promises the benefit: Get the case study, watch the video The stronger ...