MAKE YOUR MARKeting

The art of selling can be overwhelming and uncomfortable if you don’t have a process to follow. And can I let you in on a little secret? Selling isn’t about you. It’s about the person in conversation with you. It’s about your lead. Your prospect. Your connection. How you can make the selling process as easy as possible for them, so they get clear on whether they need what you’re offering.

Today I'm talking with Nikki Rausch, a sales expert and coach. And you should get ready to take a few notes, because she's dropping value bombs all throughout the conversation. Discovery calls, how to get the most of them. We also go through her 5-step sales process, The Selling Staircase, this is priceless! You'll even learn the difference between "Dog Calling" and "Cat Calling." And Nikki reveals the three secrets of the losing process. Plus so many more golden nuggets.

Remember, selling isn’t selfish. Selling is ultimately providing value to your prospects in a way that makes them excited to exchange their dollars for your offer. Why? Because they are confident that your offer will change their lives, and that transformation is worth the money.

Listen to this, and you'll see why I have hired Nikki as my Sales Coach, she is amazing! ~ Pia

Get all links, resources and show notes at https://makeyourmarketingpodcast.com

You might know how you acquired your customers, but do you know why they left? After making huge investments of time, money, and energy to acquire new customers, most companies see between 20 percent and 70 percent of those customers disappear in less than one hundred days. They break contracts, cancel memberships, stop using your product, or simply never come back.

Today on the show I have the great pleasure of talking with Joey Coleman. Joey helps companies and organizations create a comprehensive customer experience strategy. As he explains, by creating remarkable customer experiences, you can stop your customers from leaving and keep them coming back for more.

Joey is the author of the fantastic book, Never Lose A Customer Again (you should read this!) and during this episode, he outlines the eight different states or phases a customer goes through during their experience with a business. And if you meet your customer at the state they are in during their journey with you, they will stick with you and come back. If you drop the ball along the way, you will likely lose them.

Listen to this one, it's chock-full of goodness and powerful takeaways! ~ Pia

Get all links, resources and show notes at https://makeyourmarketingpodcast.com

Women are underrepresented in leadership roles. According to Harvard Business Review, only 3% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, and just over 5% of executives in Fortune 500 companies are women. The Women Presidents’ Organization, or WPO, reports that only 3% of women-owned businesses gross over a million dollars a year, worldwide.

Historically, men are looked to lead. There are some great examples of female leadership throughout history – Joan of Arc, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Margaret Thatcher – but we hear about them because they were the exception, not the rule.

Today I'm chatting with my good friend Andrea Heuston, CEO of Artitudes Design, and we talk about why women haven't been seen as leaders, challenges they face, and ways they can find success. We also dive into how younger women and girls can now be inspired to become leaders because, as Andrea puts it, "There are no barriers anymore, women aren't seeing the glass ceilings."

A great conversation full of stories, tips, and inspiration. I really enjoyed this one, and I'm sure you will too! ~Pia

Get all links, resources and show notes at https://makeyourmarketingpodcast.com

Do you know what’s better than a silver bullet when it comes to your marketing? A Video Case Story! That's right, stories are the most engaging content. And that might not be all they're good for - video case stories drive traffic, increase conversion, and speed up sales. Interested in learning how to properly collect or craft your own videos?

In this week's episode of the Make Your Marketing podcast I talked to Ian Garlic of StoryCrews.com. He is a storyteller and videographer, and he helps his clients tell their stories. I know storytelling is a hot topic right now, and he has a whole system that starts with strategy and 56 ideas or more of how you can use video to tell your story. And also how to get storylines from your potential clients and your current clients. You're going to want to listen to this episode. There's so much good information that we unpack! ~Pia

Get all links, resources and show notes at https://makeyourmarketingpodcast.com

Stories are magic. This might sound like an overstatement at first, but there’s an inexplicable effect that stories have on conversations and our sense of connection. And it’s also why storytelling has become a focus for business leaders and marketers.

There is a lot of research out there that explains the power of stories. It boils down to the wonderful capacity stories have to create shared memories. What does this mean? In short, when we tell a story to someone, their brain reacts as if they are reliving the same thing. A story can help make our communication more predictable and easier for brains to digest. Consumers are so familiar with stories that they immediately recognize the pattern and it serves as a fast track for our ideas.

My guest today, Melissa Reaves, draws upon her 20 years of tech sales, marketing, branding and professional acting to teach her clients and students how to make presentations genuine, authentic and memorable. Audiences lean in and wait for the next sentence, fully engaged and wanting more. Ready to learn how she does it?

Listen in to this episode as we unpack some of the storyteller's "tricks of the trade" which will allow you to captivate, motivate, and inspire your prospects and customers. This is a good one! ~Pia

Get all links, resources and show notes at https://makeyourmarketingpodcast.com

When it comes to search engine optimization for a new or existing website, some businesses can be intimidated due to the amount of information out there. And often, they won’t have the help of an experienced in-house SEO marketer or consultant, so they end up doing nothing.

Today, we’re going to look at some easy things you can do to start your website’s SEO on the right foot – even if you can’t hire a professional to help you out. My guest, Chris Dreyer from Rankings.io, helps personal injury attorneys dominate the first page of search engine results. H joins me and breaks down where to start, what to focus on, and what to avoid when it comes to your SEO (search engine optimization) strategy.

This is something every business with a website needs to pay attention to, because it can completely change your business if done correctly. Google and other search engines reward sites that get this right with more traffic from your ideal prospect. There's definitely some work that needs to go into it, just like any marketing strategy, but I believe wholeheartedly that it's totally worth it. Listen in today! ~Pia

Get all links, resources and show notes at https://makeyourmarketingpodcast.com

Despite the popularity of social media, many small business owners don’t feel social media savvy. Their strength is usually in what they do or offer. That’s understandable and perhaps you even feel this way. However, the reality is that marketing is what’ll allow you to keep doing what you love and are so good at, and social media marketing is especially important these days.

Today I'm chatting with Jason Yormark of Socialistics, a social media marketing agency with a truckload of great tips and experience. A lot of businesses dabble in social media marketing just because they feel like they need to, as a "check box" marketing strategy. But there are specific platforms and approaches you should keep in mind depending upon your ideal customer.

If you're wondering how to use social media for your business, look no further than some of the tips in this episode or reach out to Jason and tap into his free tools available at Socialistics. Social media can be a powerful marketing channel if used correctly, and you shouldn't be afraid to utilize it. I guarantee your customers are there, and you can connect with them! ~Pia

Get all links, resources and show notes at https://makeyourmarketingpodcast.com

Videos can help you create an immediate emotional connection with your potential customers. And most business owners would agree, that videos and video marketing would help them look more professional and stand out from their competition. But yet, so many continue to struggle to employ video into their marketing mix and content strategy.

Why? For some, they are simply uncomfortable on camera, or they are unsure what to say. Also, the technical know-how and assumption it's too expensive may keep businesses who would benefit greatly from video from even considering trying.

My guest today is K'ai Roberts Fu, a video production specialist with a wealth of knowledge and experience. I've worked with her on several projects that have helped businesses get more leads and close more sales. And today, she's going to answer some common questions and debunk a few myths as well, along with giving you listeners some proven and easy strategies you an implement.

Video is here, it's been her for a while, and you should tap into it to elevate your business in a number of ways. You will raise more awareness and drive more sales using video, I know it. And I know you'll love this conversation, I sure did! ~Pia

Get all links, resources and show notes at https://makeyourmarketingpodcast.com

Today on the show, I speak with my mentor and agency coach Jason Swank, who helps other agencies scale and market. What I love about Jason is that he's constantly bringing other agencies together to inspire us to grow bigger and better and market our business in a way that works now.

And you don't have to own an agency to listen to the show. This is for all small business owners that might have a service industry focus.There's some good stuff in the show for everyone!

Get all links, resources and show notes at https://makeyourmarketingpodcast.com

Behavioral economics is the marketing research future of brands and business and today I'm thrilled to have business owner, consultant, podcaster, and behavioral economics expert Melina Palmer on the show to help us unpack this and show you how it can help you grow your business. Her new book, What Your Customer Wants (And Can’t Tell You) goes beyond an academic understanding of behavioral economics and into practical applications you can tap into right away.

During this fascinating conversation, learn how real businesses and business professionals just like you can use science to make your company better and more profitable. In her book and in our discussion, you can learn how to use the psychology of the consumer, innovation, and truly impactful branding to achieve real, bottom-line benefits.

Listen in as Melina and I chat about how the consumer brain works and discover tools you can quickly use to influence consumers. Effectively market your brand by clarifying and understanding the needs of your customers. This is a great book, I highly recommend it, and you'll love this episode!

Get all links, resources and show notes at https://makeyourmarketingpodcast.com