Beyond Influencer Marketing

Dan LeFave, renowned mentor to spiritual entrepreneurs, Prepare-to-Sucess coach, speaker, and author, talks about how investing in himself and taking bold action allowed him to expand his skills and build a solid network of true advocates.

Dan LeFave's Journey

Dan had been in corporate for years, helping companies generate millions of dollars in revenue. However, he didn't feel satisfied at work. When he was laid off, he was presented with the opportunity to turn around his career.

He invested heavily in books and programs from top mentors in the coaching industry, particularly Bob Proctor. The skills he gained and the connections he made helped him jump-start his coaching business.

Now, Dan's influencer network is made of people who fully support him, and he's been able to make a significant impact in the lives of his business connections, followers and clients.

How to Build a Long-Lasting Network of Supporters

• Invest in events and programs. You'll have the opportunity to meet like-minded people and to grow as an entrepreneur.
• Always have a clear intention when you attend an event.
• Place your focus on others and find ways to be of value. Understand people's motivation and needs.
• Seek social interactions online, too. Facebook groups are ideal for that.
• Assume the right mindset. Take 100% responsibility for your life and business, including your network.

One thing you're most excited about

Dan is excited to share his free eBook (link below,) a lifestyle plan so you can design the lifestyle you want and deserve. A new book is also in the works!

Resources and tools mentioned

• GIFT from Dan: Creating Your Personal Lifestyle Plan eBook
• The Go-Giver by Bob Burg
• Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill
• The Power of Your Subconscious Mind by Joseph Murphy

More about Dan LeFave

Dan LeFave is a mentor to spiritual entrepreneurs, the-prepare-for-success coach, speaker and author. His passion is teaching spiritual entrepreneurs how to tap into their own inner wisdom and direct their thoughts so that they get their greatest work into the world and achieve purpose, passion and prosperity.

Bob Ruffolo, Founder and CEO of IMPACT (2017 Hubspot's Partner Agency of the Year), talks about how to build a thriving community to connect with influencers and clients.

Bob Ruffolo's Journey

Bob started providing marketing services as a freelancer. The growth of his client base inspired him to create IMPACT, his inbound marketing agency. The agency has experienced dramatic growth in the past few years, leading to its designation as Hubspot's Partner Agency in 2017. Now, Bob is growing the company's impact and presence by focusing on the power of community.

Your influencer marketing story

During our conversation, Bob reveals:

• How to leverage local networking events and associations to meet influencers and grow your business.
• The important role of mentorship in your personal and professional life.
• The #1 factor to deepen your business connections.
• How to build a community and its role in your ability to connect with new clients and influencers.

One Thing You're Most Excited About

Bob is thrilled about his growing community on Facebook: IMPACT Elite--where the sharpest minds in marketing are hanging out! The community plays an important role in the fulfillment of IMPACT's mission as a resource to support entrepreneurs.

Resources and Tools Mentioned

• IMPACT Elite Facebook Group
• IMPACT Live, the annual live event in Hartford, Connecticut.
• Gino Wickman's Books, such as "Traction: Get a Grip on Your Business."
• Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us by Daniel H. Pink
• Double Double: How to Double Your Revenue and Profit for 3 Years or Less by Cameron Herold
• Hacking Marketing: Agile Practices to Make Marketing Smarter, Faster, and More Innovative by Scott Brinker

More About Bob Ruffolo

Bob is the founder and CEO of IMPACT, a company focused on helping people find success with inbound marketing through education, events, and agency services. In 2017, IMPACT was recognized as HubSpot's Partner Agency of the Year. Join IMPACT Elite: https://www.impactbnd.com/blog/marketing-community-impact-elite

Don Hutcheson, lifelong entrepreneur, inventor, author, coach, and host of "Discover Your Talent Podcast," shares the role that his network and podcast play in the success of his product launches.

Don Hutcheson's Journey

Don's entrepreneurship story started decades ago when his friend presented him with an idea for a magazine, which is still in circulation. Now, as the host of "Discover Your Talent," he connects with hundreds of influencers, and inspires thousands of people eager to pursue their true passion.

Your influencer marketing story

During our conversation, Don reveals:

• How to transition into a new category or industry.
• His criteria to select guests for his show.
• The system he uses to stay in touch with his influencer connections.
• How he leverages his podcast to develop and launch new programs.
• The important role that his podcast guests have played and continue to play during the launch of his programs.

One Thing You're Most Excited About

Don is excited about a new project called the Talent Team, a platform where his audience digs deeper into their inner talents and learns from selected experts.

Resources and Tools Mentioned

• Don's Book: Don't Waste Your Talent: The 8 Critical Steps to Discovering What You Do Best
• The Go-Giver by Bob Burg and John Mann
• The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment by Eckhart Tolle
• What Should I Do with My Life?: The True Story of People Who Answered the Ultimate Question by Po Bronson

More About Don Hutcheson

Don Hutcheson is a lifelong entrepreneur, inventor, author and coach. He hosts the podcast: "Discover Your Talent—Do What You Love," three days a week, which he created to help you find your true talents and use them to build a career of success, satisfaction and freedom. He's never had a "boss" and has created 6 innovative companies in advertising, publishing, coaching and career planning—and now on the Internet—over the last 40 years.

• Discover Your Talent Podcast
• Discover Your Talent Podcast Facebook Page
• Don Hutcheson on Twitter
• Don Hutcheson on LinkedIn

Author Brian Jud, Executive Director of the Association of Publishers for Special Sales and President of Book Marketing Works, shares the role that a solid network of connections plays in the success of your self-published books.

Brian Jud's Journey

After spending 20 years in the corporate world, Brian was laid off. The change inspired him to write a book.

Since then, Brian has authored 17 books, many of them bestsellers. His roles have evolved from being an author, to becoming a consultant, to leading APSS, a national association.

Your influencer marketing story

• Find a mentor: Brian received immeasurable advice from a mentor he met playing racquetball. The guidance he received saved him time and tens of thousands of dollars.
• Connect with a diverse group of people to gain a different perspective: Brian expanded his network by connecting with people of various backgrounds and industries.
• Just get started! As Brian's network expanded, his opportunities multiplied.
• Take your relationships offline. There's nothing like face-to-face interaction to build relationships.

One thing you're most excited about

Brian is launching Book Selling University, where aspiring authors will learn everything about book marketing. They'll be awarded a certification and earn discounts from printers, publishers, designers and more.

Resources and tools mentioned

• How to Make Real Money Selling Books: A Complete Guide to the Book Publishers' World of Special Sales
• Beyond the Bookstore: How to Sell More Books Profitably to Non-Bookstore Markets
• Book Marketing Works
• The Association of Publishers for Special Sales
• IdeaScale
• The Compassionate Achiever: How Helping Others Fuel Success

More about Brian Jud

Brian Jud is an author, book-marketing consultant, seminar leader, television host and president of Book Marketing Works, LLC. He is the Executive Director of The Association of Publishers for Special Sales.

Brian is active in special-sales marketing. He created The Promotional Bookstore, a catalog used by thousands of independent sales reps to sell books on a commission basis to non-bookstore buyers. He is the author of "How to Make Real Money Selling Books," "Beyond the Bookstore" and five titles on career transition that are distributed internationally. He sold over 1 million of these to non-bookstore buyers.

Brian is the prolific creator of several eBooks on publishing success, and the editor of 3 monthly newsletters on special-sales topics.

Brian was the producer and host of the television series The Book Authority that aired six hundred and fifty shows. In addition, he is the author, narrator and producer of the media-training video program "You're On The Air."

Sonia Thompson, INC columnist and founder of Try Business School, shares how she built authentic connections with influencers through her podcast and virtual summits.

Sonia Thompson's Journey

Sonia had always dreamed of running her own advertising agency. After eight years in a healthcare company, she finally quit and started her own business.

Now, she teaches the success principles used by large corporations to entrepreneurs at Try Business School.

Your influencer marketing story

Although attending conferences and joining masterminds are great ways to build your network, having your own platform is very powerful. Thanks to her podcast and virtual summits, Sonia has met more than 150 influencers.

Her platforms serve as a starting point to build relationships, which she then nurtures.

Lessons to run successful virtual summits

• Don't expect the speakers to do all the marketing for you. Some speakers might not promote your summit, and that's okay. Provide the best guest experience they could get.
• Know your objectives and prioritize them.
• Use your summit to create a new program or curriculum.
• Make your summits smaller (quality over quantity.) Add value to your audience instead of overwhelming them.

Worst influencer marketing moment

Sonia has had guests who were not interested in building a long-lasting relationship with her. Instead of feeling bad about it, she just let them go and focuses on those who are aligned with her values.

One thing you're most excited about

Sonia's new summit is Website Conversion School, where she interviews experts regarding website design, traffic and conversion.

Resources and tools mentioned

• Try Business School
• FREE Mini Course: The Blueprint for Building a Thriving Business
• I Am The One: Entrepreneur Edition Podcast
• Book: Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success by Adam Grant

More about Sonia Thompson

Sonia Thompson spent nine years as a marketer growing healthcare brands around the world. Now she is a consultant, author and founder of TRY Business School. Sonia is also a columnist at Inc. and writes about how the entrepreneur's mindset, company culture and diversity help businesses win more customers.

Gina Hussar, speaker, intuitive brand strategist and copywriter, shares how she built a solid network of influencer connections and business partners through intuition, fearlessness and authenticity.

Gina Hussar's Journey

Gina has grown a business in marketing and writing, but her first passion was personal development and spirituality.

After becoming a certified healer, she has since been able to blend copywriting / marketing messaging, and spirituality.

Fearlessness to Connect with Influencers

Don't let fear get in the way. Gina first started a blog called Front Row, which later became a digital magazine. Her "what-do-I-have-to-lose" attitude got the cast of Dancing with the Stars and The Hills on her magazine cover.

Passion and authenticity help eliminate fear. For Gina, those factors are most important when connecting with influencers. As an influencer herself, she connects with those who share those qualities. She once reached out to Rich German, founder of the to-ranked community to build joint venture relationships, JV Insider Circle. She had just read Rich's book, and was eager to let him know the impact it had on her. The relationship grew, and now Gina is the copywriting expert for JV Insider Circle, a team I was also honored to join as one of their coaches.

Beat fear by detaching from the outcome. Influencer marketing involves rejection. Gina believes in divine timing, so if it doesn't work out with a connection, she moves on and does not take it personally.

Resources and Tools Mentioned

• GIFT: The 5 List Languages
• Book: Fascinate: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation by Sally Hogshead
• Book: Awaken Your Genius: A Seven-Step Path to Freeing Your Creativity and Manifesting Your Dreams by Carolyn Elliott

More About Gina Hussar

Gina Hussar is a Speaker, Intuitive Brand Strategist and Copy Writer and has built a successful company on the belief that a blend of spirit and strategy is the key to success! Gina helps entrepreneurs build businesses and offerings based on what she calls "In Crowd" values- integration, intuition and INCOME!

Tony D'Urso, an Amazon bestselling author and host of two weekly talk shows with over a million downloads, shares how he overcame the toughest life challenges, turned his life around, and became an influencer.

Tony D'Urso's Journey

Tony used to run a very successful lead generation business. It was so profitable that he found himself supporting several relatives. However, his industry was hit hard when Federal regulations changed 4 times in 7 years.

As his income started dwindling, he had to come up with creative ways to bring in more money. That's how his first podcast, "Revenue Chat," was born. Now, with over a million downloads, Revenue Chat has allowed Tony to pivot into a new way to leverage his talent and to share his message.

Your influencer marketing story

Tony needed to build an audience for his new show, so he tapped into his wide network of connections on social media to sign up new guests.

Because he had created solid business relationships, most of the people he contacted agreed to be on his show.

Tony emphasizes that people in his network share his values and style, so the relationships naturally grow, and many of those people become his podcast guests and advocates.

There have been many instances where Tony's passion for helping others has led him to amazing opportunities. On one occasion, as he volunteered at an event, he was introduced to the CEO of Voice America. Eventually, Revenue Chat became number one on the Voice America Influencers Channel.

Worst influencer marketing moment

Because Tony only connects with those who share his values, he hasn't had many bad experiences. Only one of his guests turned out to not have the best intentions, and that interview was never aired.

One thing you're most excited about

Tony is very excited to have recently released his new free eBook, The Vision Map: Beat the Odds for Your Business Succes (link below).

Resources and tools mentioned

• Tony D'Urso's Website
• The Vision Map: Beat the Odds for Your Business Success
• The Spotlight
• Revenue Chat
• Beach Money: Creating Your Dream Life Through Network Marketing by Jordan Adler
• The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing by Al Ries and Jack Trout

More about Tony D'Urso

Tony D'Urso is an Amazon Bestselling author and hosts two weekly Talk Shows:

• The Spotlight, which broadcasts from the VoiceAmerica Influencers Channel, every Friday and highlights Stars, Greats & Game Changers.
• Revenue Chat, which features an Elite Entrepreneur who achieved success in their field.

Bob Burg, a sought-after speaker at company leadership and sales conferences, and author of numerous bestselling books, including The Go-Giver, which has sold more than half a million copies, talks about his core philosophy to build long-lasting business relationships.

Bob Burg's Journey

Bob started his career as a broadcaster in radio and television, but later made his way into sales.

He had a rough start in the sales arena, especially because the training he was given was "negligible at best." That's why he decided to become a student of sales, and learned the importance of focusing on the other person first. Money became an echo of value rather than a primary goal.

When Bob began his speaking career, he found support in the National Speakers Association. There, he met people like Brian Tracy, who became a source of support and inspiration.

Bob's Philosophy to Build Long-Lasting Business Connections:

• Always give value first.
• Great salesmanship or influencing is never about the salesperson or the influencer. It's about the people you try to serve.
• Value is in the eyes of the beholder. The key is not what we think is valuable, or what we think they should think is of value. Understanding the other person is a must.
• Money simply is an echo of value.
• You will be able to get ahead when you shift from an "I" focus to an "other" focus.
• Stay in touch with your business relationships. A handwritten note or a quick check in on social media is all it takes. Do so because you're genuinely interested in them.

Worst influencer marketing moment

"In terms of writing, I've been very fortunate," Bob says. However, there have been instances when a business venture turned out to be a bad idea.

To avoid this kind of situation, Bob suggests doing extensive research before committing to any business partnership. Even then, there are no guarantees. You'll up your chances to succeed if there's alignment between your values and those of your partners.

One thing you're most excited about

The 10th anniversary of The Go-Giver. It's now a series of books, including Go-Givers Sell More and The Go-Giver Leader. The Go-Giver Influencer is the most recent book in the series.

Resources and tools mentioned

• The Go-Giver main website
• National Speakers Association
• The Science of Getting Rich by Wallace Wattles
• How to Become a Speaker - Interview with Jane Atkinson
• How to Find an Agent - Interview with Margret McBride and Faye Atchison
• Kolbe Test
• InfusionSoft
• How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie

More about Bob Burg

Bob Burg is a sought-after speaker at company leadership and sales conferences. He has shared his speaking platform with everyone from today's business leaders and broadcast personalities to even a former U.S. President.

Bob is the author of a number of books on sales, marketing and influence, with total book sales of well over a million copies. His book, The Go-Giver, coauthored with John David Mann has sold over half a million copies and it has been translated into 21 languages.

Bob is an advocate, supporter and defender of the Free Enterprise system, believing that the amount of money one makes is directly proportional to how many people they serve. He is also an unapologetic animal fanatic, and is a past member of the Board of Directors of Furry Friends Adoption, Clinic & Ranch in his town of Jupiter, Florida.

Chris Brogan, CEO of Owner Media Group, sought-after public speaker, and New York Times bestselling author of nine (soon-to-be 10) books, shares the essential mindset elements to build relationships in business.

Chris Brogan's Journey

Chris started out as a blogger in 1998, but many years passed until wide audiences started paying attention to his message.

He embarked in collaborative projects with friends until finally, through funding from another company, he started a consulting business to help entrepreneurs figure out digital media and the online space.

Chris's no-nonsense approach to business, hard work, and dedication helped him become a notable influencer. He has spoken for or consulted with the biggest brands you know, including Disney, Coke, Google, GM, Microsoft, and many more.

People like Paulo Coelho, Harvey Mackay, and Steven Pressfield enjoy sharing their projects and best ideas with Chris, because they know he'll share them with you.

Tony Robbins had Chris on his Internet Money Masters series. Forbes listed Chris as one of the Must Follow Marketing Minds of 2014, plus listed his website as one of the 100 best websites for entrepreneurs. Statsocial rated Chris the #3 power influencer online.

Building authority and creating new connections Grow your audience and connections by leveraging your skills

Chris created his own content platform (blog), which allowed him to build authority, but that alone wasn't enough to expand his reach.

He leveraged his writing skills as a guest blogger for prominent sites so he could reach a much wider audience.

The essential mindset to build long-lasting connections

In a few words: Be genuine and always be guided by your values.

He doesn't use formal systems when it comes to networking. instead, he tries to directly relate and connect with the person he wants to build a relationship with.

For Chris, a measure of success is "being able to say no to the things I don't want to do." When there's a disjoint between a business proposal and what he stands for, he simply moves on.

Clear communication is key. Chris spells out what he will and will not do early in every business relationship, setting the stage for long-lasting connections built on trust.

One thing you're most excited about

Chris is excited about fast-evolving technologies and how they'll affect businesses. Voice technology, artificial intelligence, and chatbots are changing the way businesses interact with their customers. He's dedicated to helping companies find better ways to connect and build trust through all these changes.

Resources and tools mentioned

• Chris Brogan's Website
• Chris Brogan's Newsletter
• Book: The Freaks Shall Inherit the Earth: Entrepreneurship for Weirdos, Misfits, and World Dominators by Chris Brogan

More about Chris Brogan

Chris Brogan provides strategy and skills for the modern business. He is CEO of Owner Media Group, a sought after public speaker, and the New York Times bestselling author of nine books and working on his tenth. Ask him about it!

Owner Media Group: http://owner.media

List of Books Authored by Chris on Amazon.com

"One of the best ways to be great is to surround yourself with greatness." That thought inspired entrepreneur, bestselling author, speaker, and YouTube host Evan Carmichael to create a series of videos about the top lessons learned from titans, billionaires, and leaders who changed the world.

As he continued sharing his own content for entrepreneurial success and more insights from leaders around the world, Evan's YouTube channel surpassed a million subscribers.

Now, he's pulled together the most popular 40 people he profiled, compressed their thoughts, and created a book titled "The Top 10 Rules for Success."

On this bonus episode of Beyond influencer Marketing podcast, Evan talks about the philosophies of all of those titans, billionaires, and leaders to achieve success in life and in business.

We focus on the relationship aspect of becoming a successful entrepreneur.

• What makes a difference when it comes to creating a long-lasting network of influencer connections?
• What can we learn from those who have left a legacy in the world?

More about Evan Carmichael

Evan Carmichael #Believe in entrepreneurs. At 19, he built then sold a biotech software company. At 22, he was a VC helping raise $500k to $15mil. He now run EvanCarmichael.com, a popular website for entrepreneurs. He breathes and bleeds entrepreneurship. He's obsessed. Aiming to help 1 billion entrepreneurs. Change the world. He has set 2 world records, uses a stand-up desk, rides a Vespa, raises funds for Kiva, wears 5-toe shoes and created Entrepreneur trading cards. He speaks globally but Toronto (#EntCity) is home. He loves being married, his son, salsa dancing, DJing, League of Legends, and the Toronto Blue Jays.

WEBSITE: EvanCarmichael.com

BOOK: The Top 10 Rules for Success

Evan Carmichael's YouTube channel