Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank: Business Growth & Entrepreneur Stories

Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank: Business Growth & Entrepreneur Stories

By Robert PlankBusinessEntrepreneurshipMarketingManagement
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Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank: Business Growth & Entrepreneur Stories episodes

  • 113: Powerful Communication, Influence and Presence with Laurie Burton
    Laurie Burton joins Robert Plank for a hands-on conversation about communication, presence, and the way a speaker's energy reaches an audience. Rather than focusing only on the words in a presentation, she examines how voice, posture, gestures, and comfort with being seen affect the message people receive.
    Robert participates in Laurie's yes exercise, saying the word with increasing levels of expression and physical involvement. The exercise exposes the embarrassment that can accompany a bigger delivery, along with gestures that happen without conscious planning. Laurie uses it to explore expressive range and the imaginary boundary that can keep a speaker's energy from reaching the room.
    They discuss neutral posture and the habits people use to protect themselves, including crossed arms, hidden hands, and standing in a closed position. Robert recalls seeing a panel photograph in which he appeared relaxed but had both hands in his pockets. Laurie explains how movement can support meaning when it grows naturally from what someone is saying, rather than becoming a separate distraction.
    Pace is another part of the discussion. Robert describes deliberately speaking more slowly and discovering on playback that it sounded normal, even though it felt unusually slow while he was doing it. Laurie encourages greater comfort with silence, the stage, and physical insecurities. The episode offers a useful starting point for people who know their material but want to sound and look more comfortable delivering it.
    Practicing presence before your next presentation
    Explore vocal range instead of relying on a single level of energy.
    Notice protective postures and gestures you may not realize you use.
    Let gestures reinforce the meaning of your words.
    Use recordings to compare how your pace feels with how it sounds.
    Resources mentioned
    Laurie Burton
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu7-D2vv9cQ
    28 min
  • 112: Build an Online Presence and Connect with Your Ideal Customer with Ajay Prasad
    Ajay Prasad joins Robert Plank to discuss the connection between online visibility, reputation, and the customer's experience after finding a business. He argues that rankings alone cannot tell an owner whether marketing is working; leads, sales, customer value, and the quality of the service also belong in the picture.
    An urgent-care client provides the central example. A weak online reputation helped reveal that more traffic would not solve the whole problem. Ajay describes rebuilding the website, adding search and advertising work, and creating a more consistent process for obtaining feedback. That feedback also exposed an operational problem involving the front desk, showing how a marketing issue could lead back inside the business.
    Ajay connects being found with being trusted and making the next action easy. A website can attract a visitor without persuading them to call, and an advertising campaign can generate interest that a poor customer experience then wastes. Robert adds an example from his dentist's move from handwritten reminders to more interactive communication, illustrating how practical follow-up changes the relationship.
    The conversation also covers choosing suitable clients. Ajay recalls taking almost any customer early in his business and discovering the cost of a poor fit. His review-request work eventually developed into RepuGen because clients carried out the manual process inconsistently. The episode shows how customer feedback, operational improvements, and clearer marketing can support one another when they are treated as parts of the same business.
    Improving what happens after someone finds you
    Judge marketing by useful customer actions, not rankings alone.
    Use feedback to identify problems in service delivery.
    Make reviews and follow-up a consistent process.
    Define the kind of customer the business can serve well.
    Resources mentioned
    GMR Web Team
    RepuGen
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Uqz0Qpj-f4
    28 min
  • 111: Make the Right Business Decisions for Maximum Success with Donald Mazzella
    Donald Mazzella joins Robert Plank to discuss the everyday decisions behind small business success. Drawing on his publishing work and conversations with experienced entrepreneurs, he explains why a business's direction depends on a continuing series of choices about money, people, customers, and operations.
    Donald organizes those choices around leadership, marketing, operations, technology, human capital, and finance. Weakness in one area can create consequences elsewhere: an owner who underestimates funding needs may lose flexibility, while refusing to consider a useful technology can affect the company's ability to reach customers. He encourages owners to look at how decisions connect instead of treating each problem as an isolated event.
    The conversation pays particular attention to inadequate financing, changing industries, and personnel choices. Donald uses the example of an owner estimating a $50,000 need when the business may require substantially more. The point is to question optimistic assumptions before they become a cash shortage, rather than assume the initial estimate will be enough simply because the business idea is appealing.
    Robert and Donald also discuss learning from other people's experiences. Donald uses Kodak's response to digital photography as a cautionary example of how a decision can shape a company's future. His book Recalculating: 97 Experts on Driving Small Business Success brings different perspectives into that process. The episode encourages listeners to examine the choices they repeatedly make, the information behind them, and the circumstances that should trigger a change in direction.
    Questions behind a stronger business decision
    What assumptions are you making about the capital the business will need?
    How will this choice affect customers, employees, and operations?
    What changes in the industry deserve attention?
    What can both successful and unsuccessful entrepreneurs teach you?
    Resources mentioned
    Recalculating: 97 Experts on Driving Small Business Growth
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_50cMmVQqBQ
    24 min
  • 110: Take Your Money Back By Removing the Fear and Greed with Joshua Belanger
    Joshua Belanger of OptionSizzle joins Robert Plank to discuss the emotions behind financial decisions: fear that keeps people from acting, greed that keeps them in a position too long, and the temptation to confuse a lucky result with a reliable process. The conversation follows Joshua's route from delivering pizzas and professional wrestling to the trading floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the options business.
    His early experiences were hardly a straight path to success. A pizza customer helped him understand how to enter the industry, and persistence eventually landed him a job as an exchange runner. Later, brokerage work revealed how much of the job involved selling and opening accounts. Losing an entire $2,000 trading account taught him another distinction: passing licensing exams did not automatically make him a disciplined investor.
    Joshua explains his approach to deciding how much to risk, identifying an exit before entering a position, and keeping cash available rather than committing everything. He treats stocks, options, and futures as different tools, with the choice depending on the situation and the downside. Robert adds that even simulated trades can stir up real emotions, making paper trading a useful illustration of how quickly judgment can change.
    The discussion also reaches beyond markets. Joshua's stories about buying wine and selling an Amazon business connect customer expectations, persuasive storytelling, and knowing when to take a gain. These are examples from his experience at the time of recording, rather than a promise that any particular trade or business will produce the same outcome.
    Risk, expectations, and repeatable decisions
    Why fear and greed can undermine an otherwise sensible decision.
    The difference between understanding financial products and managing your own behavior.
    Why a favorable probability still leaves room for a losing outcome.
    How predetermined exits and realistic expectations create a more consistent process.
    Resources mentioned
    OptionSizzle
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNDFFBynj-M
    40 min
  • 109: Flip Websites Using Amazon Associates and Amazon FBA with Jon Haver
    Jon Haver joins Robert Plank to explain how he combined Amazon affiliate websites with physical products and the eventual sale of an online business. The interview follows the decisions behind the model, including what traffic was worth, where additional margin might come from, and why a successful first project did not make the next one automatic.
    Jon began with sites earning Amazon Associates commissions. Their sales data revealed products visitors were already buying, creating an opportunity to investigate private-label versions. Instead of relying solely on an affiliate commission, he explored whether an owned product could serve the same demand. Supplier research, the concentration of sales around particular products, and the economics of the existing site all mattered.
    He describes one project in which an investment of roughly $50,000 produced about $350,000 through operating profits and a later sale. He also shares a less successful attempt that earned much less than expected despite apparently suitable traffic. That contrast is central to the discussion: the method required testing, and a previous result did not explain every difference in visitor behavior or conversion.
    Robert and Jon also consider email capture, coupons, reinvestment, and the expectations attached to selling a business. An email offer added another way to maintain contact with visitors rather than lose the relationship when they left for Amazon. The episode is a detailed historical case study of improving an existing traffic asset, with both the promising results and the uncertainty left in view.
    Evaluating the business behind the traffic
    Use existing purchase behavior to investigate demand.
    Compare affiliate income with the operational demands of an owned product.
    Test assumptions when repeating a successful model.
    Consider customer relationships and a potential exit alongside short-term revenue.
    Resources mentioned
    BrandBuilders
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rOzpGDTKlLA
    22 min
  • 108: How to Sell a Business the Smart Way with David Barnett
    David Barnett joins Robert Plank to discuss preparing a small business for sale and understanding the work involved in a transaction. Drawing on his brokerage experience, he explains why owners need a realistic view of what is being sold, what a buyer can finance, and which professional services the deal requires.
    David discusses private sales alongside the traditional broker model. Valuation, legal work, accounting, and presenting the business are distinct tasks, and an owner needs to understand how each will be handled. He describes the commission structure he encountered as a broker and how that experience influenced his later approach to helping sellers.
    Price and preparation receive particular attention. An unrealistic asking price can discourage suitable buyers and consume valuable time. Having financial information and buyer-facing materials ready helps an owner respond when interest appears. The conversation also considers seller financing and situations in which separating property from operations can make a transaction more workable.
    Two examples show how structure affects the outcome. A restaurant sale failed to come together, leaving a building rather than a functioning business to sell. In another case, separating an excavation operation from a towing and recovery business made it possible to find different buyers. The episode encourages an owner to examine the actual parts of a business and the needs of prospective buyers well before announcing that it is for sale.
    Preparing a business that a buyer can understand
    Identify exactly which operations, assets, and property are included.
    Prepare reliable financials and a clear explanation of the business.
    Question an asking price that is disconnected from the transaction's economics.
    Consider whether a different deal structure broadens the suitable buyer pool.
    Resources mentioned
    How To Sell My Own Business
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRbbBRxeo_c
    22 min
  • 107: Stop Dreaming and Take Action with Anmol Singh
    Anmol Singh joins Robert Plank to discuss the gap between wanting a result and doing the work required to pursue it. His business experience began with trading, then expanded into education, software, and other activities connected with skills and needs he had already encountered.
    Anmol describes acting on a university conversation while others continued discussing the idea. The next year involved study, experimentation, and losses rather than immediate success. The story gives context to his emphasis on execution: beginning an activity also means accepting a learning period and examining what actually happens.
    Requests from people reading his market commentary led to an education business. Students' interest in tools he used created another opportunity, eventually supporting a dedicated software operation. These examples concern adjacent needs revealed through existing work, rather than chasing unrelated businesses because they sounded profitable. Trading experiences and results in the recording describe his own history.
    His time-management approach is deliberately straightforward. He plans the following day, writes down the tasks that matter, follows a routine, and checks whether his actions matched what he intended. A small example involving a sugary drink shows how easily a stated commitment can be contradicted in ordinary life. The episode connects larger business ambitions with that everyday question: did you do what you said you would do, and what adjustment would make tomorrow's action more consistent?
    Turning an intention into a manageable action
    Begin with a skill or opportunity you can investigate directly.
    Expect learning and setbacks after the initial decision.
    Notice related needs revealed by customers and existing work.
    Review the difference between the day's plan and what you actually did.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsTaO4EFCKE
    25 min
  • 106: Strengthen Your Faith While Building a Profitable Business with Tasha Scott
    Tasha Scott joins Robert Plank to discuss faith, personal responsibility, and the private challenges that can coexist with visible business success. After reaching a strong income early in her court-reporting work, she found that money had not resolved fears, relationship problems, or the way she saw herself.
    Tasha describes working with a life coach and confronting fear of rejection, failure, and success. The experience helped her look at her own choices rather than explain every problem through other people. Journaling provided a private place to express thoughts she had been reluctant to say aloud, and that writing later contributed to her book Don't Limit Me.
    The conversation also considers boundaries. Speaking honestly and respectfully, saying no, and recognizing which problems belong to someone else became important parts of her approach. Taking responsibility for your own behavior does not require taking responsibility for every difficulty in another person's life.
    Tasha recommends a small support system with people who know the person behind the public image, including a coach or accountability partner where appropriate. Robert recalls repeated complaint conversations that produced more agitation without resolving the underlying issue. The episode asks what changes when someone stops hiding the problem, brings it to a useful source of support, and takes an action within their own control. It connects business progress with the personal work that public achievement can make easy to overlook.
    Taking responsibility with honest support
    Recognize that visible success does not resolve every private concern.
    Use reflection to examine fears and recurring reactions.
    Communicate boundaries without making every problem your own.
    Choose support that helps you act rather than repeat the same complaint.
    Resources mentioned
    Don't Limit Me
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3To4gbcDWFg
    21 min
  • 105: Leverage LinkedIn and Network Your Way to New Connections with Mike Shelah
    Mike Shelah joins Robert Plank to discuss using LinkedIn to start better professional conversations. His approach combines a complete profile with the ongoing work of connecting, cultivating relationships, and customizing the way you reach out. The emphasis is on discovering a real reason to talk to someone rather than sending the same request to everyone.
    Mike's ABC framework gives those activities a simple structure. A connection is the beginning of the relationship, and cultivation requires attention after the invitation is accepted. Customization means noticing the person's experience, interests, mutual contacts, and other details that can make an introduction relevant. Second-degree connections can be particularly helpful when someone you both know can provide context.
    Two examples show how that preparation changes a conversation. Mike used a prospective client's university affiliation and a reference to its mascot to open a discussion. Another person's interest in Guitar Hero created an extended conversation before business became the focus. These details were useful because they reflected the person, not because the same line would work with every prospect.
    The interview also covers the profile itself: a professional photograph, clear experience, appropriate keywords, and contact information. Robert explores features during the conversation and discovers connections and opportunities he had not noticed before. Mike's networking-event example challenges another habit: sitting beside people you already know while hoping to meet someone new. The episode offers a relationship-focused way to make professional networking more intentional, both online and in person.
    Connect, cultivate, and customize
    Give a new contact a specific reason to recognize the relevance of your message.
    Look for trusted introductions through existing relationships.
    Make your profile explain your experience and how to reach you.
    Use shared interests to begin a conversation without forcing a sales pitch.
    Resources mentioned
    Mike Shelah
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vdzggQbIWc
    28 min
  • 104: Be a Baller, Be Bold, and Transform Into Your Best Self with Melissa Krivachek
    Melissa Krivachek joins Robert Plank for a conversation about simplifying life and business, directing attention, and dealing with unfinished personal concerns. She connects sales and performance with the practical reality that finances, relationships, health, and confidence can all affect the energy someone brings to work.
    Melissa describes rebuilding after serious personal and financial setbacks. Rather than trying to change every area at once, she favors choosing a focus and committing resources to it. The discussion asks what is consuming attention, what can be completed or removed, and whether constant information consumption has become a substitute for using what someone already knows.
    Her own productivity examples are concrete. She describes reducing the apps on her phone and organizing work into focused periods so competing notifications do not dictate the day. She also discusses learning the numbers behind a business, including acquisition costs, overhead, customer value, assets, and liabilities. Personal confidence does not eliminate the need to understand those details.
    Stories about writing, changing her business name, and letting go of difficult relationships illustrate how she reassessed the things she was carrying. Robert and Melissa also discuss using natural strengths rather than adopting someone else's personality as a business strategy. The episode is useful for an entrepreneur who feels occupied all day but wants to examine whether that activity supports the results and life they actually want.
    Reducing distractions and applying what you know
    Choose a priority instead of scattering effort across every problem.
    Notice unfinished commitments that repeatedly consume attention.
    Know the practical numbers behind the business.
    Create focused work periods and reduce unnecessary inputs.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjgKXnQTcpM
    22 min

About Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank: Business Growth & Entrepreneur Stories

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Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank is a daily business podcast for entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, consultants, agency owners, coaches, authors, speakers, and expert-led service businesses that want…