SEO isn’t what it used to be—and AI is changing the rules faster than anyone expected. In this Close The Deal Podcastepisode, host Ewell Smith talks with Lonnie, founder of Local SEO Help, about how AI, Google updates, and voice search are transforming visibility for every business online.

From website redesign mistakes that destroy rankings to why Google now rewards human expertise over algorithms, this conversation reveals what’s working, what’s broken, and how to stay ahead of the wave. Whether you’re a marketer, entrepreneur, or business owner, this episode explains how to future-proof your brand in the age of artificial intelligence.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

Sales is changing faster than most people realize, and artificial intelligence is leading the charge. In this episode of the Close The Deal Podcast, I sit down with Henry Hayes, founder of Disrupt Ready and adjunct professor at LSU, to unpack what AI really means for sales pros today.

We dig into why buyers instantly spot self-serving sales tactics, how mentorship pulls your career forward, and why ignoring AI is like ignoring the internet back in the ’90s. Henry shares practical ways to get started—plus the tools he recommends, including ChatGPT, Otter.ai, Fireflies, Heygen, and Synthesia.

Henry’s bottom line is clear: AI won’t replace great salespeople, but it will replace those who refuse to adapt.

If you’re ready to cut out the boring work, sharpen your focus on customers, and thrive in a world that’s changing fast, this conversation is for you.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

Knowing how to overcome objections is one thing - but hearing it in action is where the real learning happens. In Part 2 of this Close The Deal conversation, sales trainer Lisa Laird role-plays the most common objections salespeople face from owners and demonstrates exactly how to respond with confidence.

You’ll hear Lisa walk through:

 > The perfect response when prospects ask you to “Send an email with prices”
 > What to say when you hear “I’m not interested”
 > Turning “It’s not a good time” into a future meeting
>  Rebuilding trust after a prospect’s bad past experience

This isn’t theory - it’s word-for-word practice you can adapt to your own sales conversations. If you want to sharpen your objection-handling skills and close more deals, this role-play session is pure gold.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

Every salesperson has heard it before: “Leave your card.” “Just email me.” “I’m not interested.”

In this episode of the Close The Deal Podcast, sales trainer and 20-year insurance veteran Lisa Laird reveals how to flip the top 5 most common objections into opportunities that close.

Lisa shares:

• Why confidence (not aggressiveness) is the key to sales
• Her GET Method for securing appointments fast
• How to respond when a prospect wants you to “just email prices”
• The persistence strategy that turns “not a good time” into a meeting
• How to rebuild trust after a prospect’s bad past experience

Lisa’s mindset shifts and field-tested tactics apply to every industry. If you want to sharpen your objection-handling skills and boost your close rate, this episode is a masterclass.

👉 Visit CloseTheDeal.com
 for more sales tools, podcast episodes, and resources.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

At 79 years old, Harlon Pierce is still leading, innovating, and creating opportunities in the seafood industry. From Katrina to catfish, hear how he embraced change, built new markets, and mentored a generation of leaders.

This milestone episode dives deep into crisis management, pricing strategies, and the power of mentorship.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

Hurricane season isn’t just about weathering the storm - it’s about surviving the insurance battle afterward. In this episode, I sit down with Jonathan Frazier of Forefront 360 to reveal how preparation, documentation, and technology can save homeowners and businesses millions.

Takeaways:

• Why most policyholders fail to prepare for claims
• The five most common insurance mistakes
• How property data transforms the claims process
• Real-world examples of claims increased by 3x or more
• How businesses leverage property scans for safety and daily operations
• Why now is the most crucial time to take action

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

What if you could fast-track your franchise success by learning directly from someone already doing it? That’s exactly what Painter1’s mentorship program delivers.

In this episode of the Close the Deal Podcast, host Ewell Smith talks with mentor Keith and two new franchisees, Mikeand Dallas, about their experience going from training to revenue in record time.

What You’ll Discover in This Episode:

• Why Painter1’s mentor-led onboarding helps new owners gain confidence fast
• How Mike leveraged his leadership background to build a scalable business
• How Dallas used his data-driven mindset to evaluate opportunities and win early
• Painter1’s proprietary software for marketing automation, CRM, and analytics
• The power of community: why collaborative franchisees outperform competitors

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, exploring home services, or curious about why Painter1’s model works, this episode gives you an inside look at a franchise system designed to help you win.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

What if you could overhaul your life—and your business—in 30 days? At 61, Mike Pedersen did just that. On this episode of Close The Deal, he reveals how he left a comfortable life in Arizona to travel the world, and in the process, built a powerhouse B2B consulting practice. We talk sales systems, CEO blind spots, the 21-Day Revenue Sprint, and his viral “Decide Fast” app.

🔥 Key Topics:

• Rewiring sales teams for results
• Overcoming crisis with clarity
• What stops CEOs from acting
• And why action beats overthinking—every time

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

Are you done getting lowballed (screwed) by insurance companies?

Ted Patestos was too—and now his franchise, Tiger Adjusters, helps homeowners and business owners fight back. With a model that puts franchisees in control and customers first, this low-overhead, high-impact business is rewriting the playbook on public adjusting.

💥 Real franchisee: $861K in revenue, $655K profit
🛠️ Work from home, control your schedule
💸 Be a hero for people who feel powerless after disaster

If you’ve ever felt screwed by an insurance claim… this one’s for you.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.

What do you get when you mix UPS-level safety protocols, jungle animals, and teenagers learning to drive? A franchise that’s saving lives and building a business around it.

Zach Butler joins me to share the story of Jungle Driving—a radically better, more effective, and wildly memorable driver’s ed franchise. Backed by 20+ years of data and a mission-focused mindset, this brand is making the roads safer for all of us.

In this episode:
✔ Zach’s early failures and mindset reboot
✔ The power of accountability and vision
✔ Jungle Driving’s fun but effective approach to training
✔ Why the market is wide open for this model
✔ The referral system that turns teens into marketers

Whether you're a parent, entrepreneur, or franchise seeker—this is a ride you don’t want to miss.

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Visit www.CloseTheDeal.com to see all episodes.

The Close The Deal Podcast is where decisions and broken promises to oneself  get made.

Hosted by Ewell Smith, this show features real conversations with high achievers - entrepreneurs, business owners, leaders, and competitors who are at a crossroads facing the decision they’ve been putting off. 

This isn’t about theory, tactics, or surface-level advice.
Every episode is built around one thing:

👉 A clear decision
👉 A real commitment

If you’re building something, you already know the truth -
there’s a decision in front of you that matters.

This show is where you face it.

🔥 CALL TO ACTION 

Want to be part of it?

Go to CloseTheDeal.com and put your name on the board.