I’m a sucker for fresh ideas, and this is the most unique marketing case study we’ve covered on the podcast in ages.

In December 2023, Nadine Nethery turned heads with a holiday-themed scavenger hunt on her website aptly named “I’ve Elfed Myself.” The concept? Nine hidden treasures tucked across her site that had her audience clicking, hunting, and completely hooked.

In just 24 days, Nadine grew her list by 50%, generated $9K in revenue from 68 buyers, and secured two new clients — all without spending a dime on ads. 

This innovative marketing campaign also unlocked long-term wins, including word of mouth buzz around the scavenger hunt experience in communities beyond her own, inbound summit and podcast invitations, and a surge in both site sessions and engagement time on her site - hello Google optimization!

Let’s break down the data-driven strategies behind Nadine’s festive marketing magic and the ripple effects it continues to create for her brand.

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/qzNnVyqobb4wiIWk1LL8W3FitNc?utm_source=copy_url

Thank you to our sponsor!

• Get the support you need to ignite your business' growth through the Women's Business Development Center! Visit https://wbdc.org to browse all the available programs, services, financial assistance and events they provide.

Connect with Nadine:

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It can be difficult to locate the leak in your business. Does scaling require a new strategy? Or does it require you doing mindset work to determine the real issues holding your business back? Today, expert scaling strategist, Celi Arias, shares her no-nonsense approach to helping entrepreneurs scale their businesses in a way that fits their lives.

Access the transcript of this episode HERE: https://otter.ai/u/eiLo3G-5nusBg50kSj-zkYMUuKY?utm_source=copy_url

Connect with Celi:

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

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The start of a new year is the perfect time to explore a new revenue stream for your business, especially one that produces residual income you can actually scale. In this roundup, you’ll hear insights from 5 business owners, including myself, on how we productized our expertise and got PAID to create our first digital course. In other words, pre-selling an offer that doesn’t exist yet using the beta launch framework we teach in our Paid to Create Challenge.

I’ll introduce each sound bite with the guest’s name and the original episode number, so you can dive deeper into the full interview if you want to hear more. All the episodes are linked below in one bingeable Spotify playlist for convenience.

And if you want me to hand-hold you through our proven 3 day process that has successfully launched over 2,700 courses, go to paidtocreate.com to enroll in our next live challenge. 

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/fs-6atl3dCqB_jwiGna6hdU4h7o?utm_source=copy_url

Link to our Paid to Create Spotify Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2UAmTGZhcNcmRz4OiYwcYo?si=VVmaYuNORHGo8ExSsVtJcQ

Check out our previous roundup episodes:

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

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Welcome back to our highly anticipated roundup series, this time featuring our top 10 guest insights on boosting customer acquisition and retention. Try these tested tips on creative lead generation, qualifying high-converting customers from the get-go, and lucrative ways to keep your buyers coming back for more.

I’ll set the stage for each sound bite with the guest’s name and the original episode number, so you can dive deeper into the full case study interview if an idea really hits home. And for your convenience, all the episodes are linked below in the show notes for easy, binge-able access. Let’s roll the clips!

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/gOGnJWYNsWtVJfSBZzsWpoZbYL0?utm_source=copy_url

Links to the featured episodes:

Check out our previous roundup episodes:

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

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With a new year around the corner, it’s time to rethink how we approach productivity. Could managing your energy—not your time—be the secret to unlocking major breakthroughs in your business and health?

In today’s case study, you’ll hear how Amina AlTai leveraged her energy cycles to transform her business and health. Initially driven by necessity following a brain injury and autoimmune challenges, Amina developed a productivity framework that aligned her work schedule with her body’s natural rhythms. 

Within a year, her income doubled from $220K to over $500K. She also created the mental space and energy to write a book that sold within a week of being shopped out in a lucrative pre-empt deal with a publisher. Her anti-hustle approach set her apart in the market, proving that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of well-being.

If you’re looking for a sustainable way to grow your business while protecting your health, this conversation is the perfect way to kickstart your year.

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/XkjdBAd3QUHc5MRBPi-yYawGrpg?utm_source=copy_url

Connect with Amina:

Listen to our episode with Kate Northrup: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/this-ceo-takes-7-weeks-off-while-growing-revenue-by/id1470966370?i=1000591876999

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

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Corporate gifting isn’t just a thoughtful gesture—it’s a $33 billion market opportunity. And for Julie Maskulka, founder of Anecdote Candles, corporate gifting now drives 25% of her company’s revenue. 

Known for combining storytelling with scent, Anecdote is carving out a unique space in this massive market, offering a custom candle gifting program that delivers an impressive average order value of $2,727.

Through testing different strategies like lowering minimum order quantities and tapping into distributor networks, Anecdote has been able to yield a 15% reorder rate from corporate clients.

From targeting unexpected industries to creating scalable systems for customization, you’ll hear from Julie on how to turn an idea for an untapped market into a powerful revenue driver.

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/cSH042hHHArR9LfWelvikkJzKS0?utm_source=copy_url

Thank you to our sponsor!

• Learn from the best of the best with Masterclass! Get up 50% off a year-long Masterclass subscription this holiday season when you go to https://masterclass.com/cubicletoceo

Connect with Julie:

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

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What if writing a book could triple your rates and position you as the top expert in your field?

Today’s case study explores how a self-published book became the ultimate lead generator for Abi Prendergast’s service-based business. Abi is the creator of Day #1 Evergreen, the evergreen funnel system that has helped clients generate up to $1.8 million annually — without the stress of live launches.

But it wasn’t her system that put her on the map—it was the book she wrote about it.

In 2023, Abi turned her proven framework into a book designed to position her as the go-to expert in evergreen strategies. With a small email list of just 800 subscribers, her book gained traction almost entirely through Amazon and word of mouth recommendations. 

The result? Dream clients started reaching out to hire her and ask her to speak in rooms she never imagined being in, Abi’s evergreen funnel service tripled in price to $50K while staying in demand, and she began generating $1-2K per month in passive course sales—all without ads or a large audience.

If you play in the high ticket space, discover how a self-published book can amplify your authority and sell out your services.

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/mixuJmG8eHVWvu9NOk-rFHfNYgU?utm_source=copy_url

Thank you to our sponsors!

Connect with Abi:

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

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Today’s case study dives into how subscription box queen Sarah Williams achieved her highest-ever conversion rate during the annual launch of her subscription box coaching membership, Launch Your Box.

Sarah’s $15 Subscription Box Week combines interactive exercises, live Q&A sessions, and daily interviews with successful members to give participants a hands-on preview of her program. And since the pre-launch experience has a cost of admission, Sarah is literally getting paid to sell to her people.

This year, she fine-tuned her approach with new strategies like staggered expiring bonuses, the first-ever ticket price increase, and a deeper, more personal connection with her audience.

The result? A staggering 43% conversion rate from Subscription Box Week attendees to members—her best launch yet, even as many online programs face declining enrollments. Learn how Sarah used data-driven decisions to boost urgency, engagement, and trust, inspiring nearly half of her participants to swipe their cards again by the end of their week together.

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/6uyVHR7cG3ecg_vp0YWDvlQoeq8?utm_source=copy_url

Thank you to our sponsor!

• Learn from the best of the best with Masterclass! Get up 50% off a year-long Masterclass subscription this holiday season when you go to https://masterclass.com/cubicletoceo

Connect with Sarah:

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

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Today’s case study centers on a highly requested, sparsely covered topic on our podcast: adding sponsored brand deals as a revenue stream to your business.

In our conversation with Lisette Calveiro, CEO of Influence with Impact, we specifically lean into the pricing and negotiation strategies that generated her $130,000 from brand partnerships this year alone — accounting for 20% of her 2024 revenue.

Lisette breaks down all the overlooked pricing factors beyond views and follower counts that net her higher rates and give her leverage in negotiations with brands, as well as reveals transparent insights on creator earnings and recent brand deals.

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/QEba4T4H01Wl1e3ewK0O75djK9U?utm_source=copy_url

Thank you to our sponsors!

Connect with Lissette:

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

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Today’s case study is the business poster child of making lemonade out of lemons, starring the husband/wife duo Michelle Luchese and John Ruggiero who turned a bad wedding ring buying experience into founding Manly Bands, the #1 digital marketplace for men’s wedding jewelry and a multi-million dollar business. 

Helping to catapult their brand to #1 are lucrative licensing deals with household brands like Jack Daniels, Jeep, and Fender. In this conversation, we specifically unpack their partnership with the Tolkien Estate —a rare deal that positioned Manly Bands as one of only two brands with official Lord of the Rings licensing rights.

Since the launch of their epic Lord of The Rings Collection in 2022, it’s become one of Manly Bands’ top-selling collections, adding over 7,000 new customers and a $1M lift in revenue from 2022 to 2023, with projections to exceed that increase in 2024. From crafting standout pitches to conducting thorough market research and negotiating high-profile licensing deals, follow the data-driven decisions driving Michelle and John’s impressive growth with Manly Bands.

View the transcript for this episode at: https://otter.ai/u/sUHr_Qlm61FvEsNFNTnzdfPYcLA?utm_source=copy_url

Thank you to our sponsor!

• Uplevel your healthy habits with Soursop's Cell + Immunity gummies and shakes! Get 20% when you use code 'CEO20' at https://www.soursopnutrition.com/

Connect with Michelle + John:

Iconic business leaders all have their own unique genius. Take this quick 10 question quiz to uncover your specific CEO style advantage: https://ellenyin.com/quiz

If you enjoyed today's episode, please:

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