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

Nathan Hirsch explains how entrepreneurs can turn outsourcing into predictable growth by building systems that run without them. He frames Cracking the VA Code around interviewing, onboarding, training, and managing virtual assistants. The model splits work into operations and marketing, with SOPs for roles like lead generation, podcast outreach, backlinks, bookkeeping, and customer service. For marketing, VAs handle the before and after, while the owner only does the final 10 percent, such as appearing on a podcast. Nathan also uses a 90 day rule: test for 30 days, build SOPs in month two, and train someone by month three. Strong SOPs helped FreeUp answer buyer due diligence with updated 50 page process documents. The key takeaway is to stop adding work and start turning every repeatable task into a delegated system.

The post 736: Outsource School: Crack the VA Code with Podcast Outreach, Lead Generation, and Implement Standard Operating Procedures for Predictable Online Income with Nate Hirsch first appeared on Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank: Business Growth & Entrepreneur Stories.

Bob Wheeler explains how money shame can be replaced with clearer, healthier financial choices. He traces money habits back to childhood moments, family messages, and vows made at ages 5, 6, 7, or 8. His framework starts with examining personal history, then setting boundaries, advocating for yourself, and making conscious choices. Bob shares how his own debt pattern came from avoiding money so he would not have to support others. He also describes clients repeating cycles, including one who earned $1 million or $2 million before destroying her company to feel rescued. Better decisions come from awareness, trusted advisors, and asking "stupid questions" without shame. The most useful takeaway is to get curious about your money story before trying to fix the numbers.

The post 735: The Money Nerve: Conquer Money Shame and Make Better Financial Decisions with Bob Wheeler first appeared on Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank: Business Growth & Entrepreneur Stories.

John Meese explains how entrepreneurs can turn expertise into income by focusing on who they serve and solving urgent problems. He frames online marketing around audience building, email lists, content strategy, and digital products. At Platform University, members use a 90 day jumpstart program to get their first 100 email subscribers and make a first digital product sale. He also shares how 30 straight days of YouTube tutorials grew a channel from 100 to over 1,300 subscribers. His core principle is to do unscalable things first, like texting or calling ideal customers. He applies the same thinking to a coworking space by serving local entrepreneurs through Zoom lunches and Slack. The biggest takeaway is that a thriving business starts with people, not products.

The post 734: Dreams, Goals, Fears & Success: Build a Thriving Business with Platform University Dean John Meese first appeared on Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank: Business Growth & Entrepreneur Stories.

John Jantsch explains how entrepreneurs can turn reflection into steady progress by pairing daily introspection with focused, customer-centered action. His book The Self-Reliant Entrepreneur uses 366 short meditations, each with a reading, reflection, and challenge question. He connects writers like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau to modern habits such as journaling, walking, and morning routines. For business growth, he recommends doing less and serving the top 20% of ideal customers more deeply. That means asking what adds value, strengthens relationships, and solves current frustrations. His Duct Tape Marketing system starts with strategy, then aligns website, SEO, content, and other tactics around a clear customer journey. The key takeaway is to build clarity and connection before chasing tools, trends, or more activity.

The post 733: Duct Tape Marketing: Make Consistent Daily Progress Through Introspection and Consistent Focused Action with John Jantsch first appeared on Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank: Business Growth & Entrepreneur Stories.

B2B tech companies can use LinkedIn outreach to create fast sales conversations without relying on slow marketing plays. JC Granger explains a funnel built around Sales Navigator targeting by industry, company size, job title, and geography. The system sends 40 to 50 connection invites daily, adds accepted contacts to LinkedIn and email drip sequences, and syncs data into a CRM. Replies are handled manually using common scenarios like interested, not interested, or dead-end responses. The goal is to deliver sales qualified leads, not just marketing qualified leads. He also recommends demo libraries with 15-second to 2-minute feature clips, plus paid ads, email, and LinkedIn for quick results. The best takeaway is to double down on proven direct-response marketing instead of cutting the pipeline.

The post 732: B2B Lead Generation Through LinkedIn with JC Granger first appeared on Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank: Business Growth & Entrepreneur Stories.

John Faisandier explains how naming emotions helps people calm stress, handle conflict, and make better decisions. He starts with the physiology of emotion, including the amygdala, adrenaline, and the fight-or-flight response that shuts down clear thinking. His core practice is to name the feeling without judging it as good or bad. He shows how anger can hide more vulnerable emotions and how curiosity reveals what is underneath. In one example, naming frustration changed a tense car conversation into a useful discussion. He also applies the framework to veterinarians, where stress often comes from pet owners, staff, and clinic pressure. The most useful takeaway is simple: name the emotion first, because naming it helps tame it.

The post 731: Thrive Under Fire: Turn Difficult Customers into Business Success And Conquer Your Inner Demons with John Faisandier first appeared on Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank: Business Growth & Entrepreneur Stories.

Kevin Donlin explains how businesses can protect income during a crisis by adapting faster and serving clients more deliberately. His first step is to retain current clients with practical touches like a monthly printed newsletter or personalized gifts. Next, he says messaging must be relevant by acknowledging coronavirus, lockdowns, travel concerns, or other urgent buyer thoughts. He also stresses being available, including answering phones live and putting emergency instructions first in voicemail messages. Instead of discounting, he recommends adding value through payment plans, quick start guides, checklists, or better post-purchase support. Finally, he links business resilience to personal resilience through sleep, hydration, walking 20 minutes, and high intensity interval training. The key takeaway is to adapt offers, communication, and energy before a crisis forces worse choices.

The post 730: Protect Your Business and Your Income During COVID-19 (and Emerge Stronger When It’s Over) with Copywriter Kevin Donlin first appeared on Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank: Business Growth & Entrepreneur Stories.

Brian Orr explains how podcasting can turn personal curiosity into networking, content, and growth. He started The Twist Life after journaling and vlogging failed as ways to document stories for his kids. Within five weeks, he had released around 15 episodes by interviewing guests with unusual pivots and life challenges. His framework is to avoid crowded channels, find unexpected audiences, and position yourself where others are not competing. As DJ Twist, he used that strategy by aiming beyond DJ magazines and building visibility around celebrity environments. He also uses guest appearances on other podcasts as field research, promotion, and a way to borrow relevant audiences. The biggest takeaway is to stay flexible, follow real conversations, and use unexpected channels to create momentum.

The post 729: The Twist Life: Discover the Secrets of Life and Network Your Way to Success with Brian Orr first appeared on Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank: Business Growth & Entrepreneur Stories.

Dave Schneider explains how an agency-first strategy can create the stability and insight needed to launch SaaS products. He describes shortlist.io as a digital marketing agency offering design, development, SEO, link building, and conversion rate optimization. For link quality, he looks beyond Domain Authority to organic traffic, trust flow, citation flow, and whether the link is something a client would be proud to earn. Pricing stays transparent, with a three-link minimum and tiers around $150 to $350 per link including content. His SaaS approach starts with tools used internally, then tests whether customers also need them. He favors building a team so the agency can support software launches without splitting one person's focus across everything. The main takeaway is to build durable revenue first, then productize proven problems.

The post 728: Software-As-a-Service (SaaS) and Agency Growth Secrets with Dave Schneider first appeared on Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank: Business Growth & Entrepreneur Stories.

Jonathan Slain explains how entrepreneurs can turn a recession into a plan for survival, smart growth, and opportunity. His first step is benchmarking readiness with the 20 question recession readiness assessment, where zero signals bankruptcy risk and 100 means strong opportunity. The average score he cites is 52, making red, yellow, and green answers a practical roadmap for improvement. He urges owners to build cash reserves, protect the balance sheet, and watch for discounted assets like restaurant equipment. Instead of waiting like a spider, he recommends 10 conversations with bankers, owners, or sellers to create one or two real deals. He also advises writing an emergency break plan for income drops from 200,000 to 150,000, 100,000, or 50,000. The key is to preserve your best options before fear leaves you choosing only the least bad one.

The post 727: Rock the Recession: Reinvent Yourself, Start That Business or Pursue Gig Economy Side Hustles with Jonathan Slain first appeared on Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank: Business Growth & Entrepreneur Stories.