This week I outline the top 10 most watched and listened to podcasts for 2024.

Of all the podcasts released this year, these were the most listened to.

Counting down from 10 to 1.

Listen in to get a brief summary of the best episodes.

I have also listed the top 10 episode numbers below ranked from most popular down so you can check them out individually as well.

Episodes:  202 Increase your sales results in just 2 weeks  197 Interview with master copywriter Scott Bywater  207 Top Mindset shifting books with Lloyd Thompson  211 3 ways to lift yourself out of a sales rut  212 How to get the best out of every sales opportunity  209 The two types of businesses that invest in sales training  199 How to put your sales results on steroids by reviewing sales call recordings  208 5 Top time management tips for maximising productivity  205 Top mistakes businesses make in sales meetings  200 3 big warning signs a new sales team member is not going to make it

I love this time of the year. I love the way it has a natural ebb to it and how each year I am drawn to literally pull my business apart and look at how I can add more value to clients this year. (more on this soon) 

One of the things I am super focused on right now is the concept of strategy and strategic planning.

In fact, I have 3 brand new clients who I am running strategic planning sessions within the next week to help them make 2025 their biggest year in business ever.

That’s what makes this week’s podcast so timely.

If you are doing some planning for 2025 you will love what we cover in this week’s episode.

If you want some help with your own planning, click here - https://johnblake.wufoo.com/forms/s1e2bc6q1sw4zyn/

I am working on something that will be incredibly helpful if you’re serious about growth for 2025.

Listen to this week’s podcast.

If you are like the majority of clients I speak to, you may not be working with a digital agency yet, but it’s probably on your radar to do at some point.

If you are paying a digital agency to generate leads for you, then this week's episode will be a super important one for you.

This week we are going to talk about what you should expect from a digital agency in terms of performance but just as importantly, how to spot it early if they are not doing the right thing.

Paid lead generation is so important and can literally make or break a business. (new enquiries are like oxygen for most businesses)

I have seen and had first hand experience with a number of my clients who stayed way too long with digital agencies who were underperforming.

Here’s how to spot the warning signs early so you can get out fast and stop the bleeding before the rot sets in.

Are you only getting low-level buying motivators in your client discovery before you make an offer?

If you are, you’re probably not converting a lot of sales. Today we spend a whole episode talking about how to uncover the core buying motivators BEFORE you make an offer.

Failure to do this will leave you with very low conversion rates.

Listening to this episode will give you a number of ways you can go way deeper with clients in terms of uncovering their motivators to buy.

Your clients will feel way more “heard” and have so much more trust in you when you get this right.

How are your sales tracking for the year?

More importantly, how is your planning for the last quarter of the year looking?

What about the first quarter of next year?

In this week's episode, we will cover the 8 keys to planning an insanely successful quarter of sales.

What you will learn in this episode will help you get crystal clear at the planning stage on precisely what you want to achieve. 

Getting the planning part right will make the deployment of your strategy way more smoother.

It will also make hitting your key outcomes way more likely.

After all, you can’t hit a target you don’t aim for.

Are you thinking about investing in paid leads? 

Even if you already are, this will be a super important episode.

Digital agencies are happy to take your money to generate enquiries for you but in my experience, they will never tell you what you’ll learn in this week’s podcast.

After you have listened to today’s podcast, you’ll know…

The 1 strategy that separates paid lead gen working and not working

The massive difference between referred and repeat business versus paid lead generation

A 60-day plan to optimize every cent you spend online

The 6 numbers to track to make sure your digital ad spend will give you a great ROI.

Do you just send them your monthly newsletter or EDM?

That’s what most clients say when I ask them how they keep in touch with past clients.

This week, I’m not only showing you what the data tells us about precisely why clients leave…

I’m also showing you exactly how to stay in touch with clients and what to say when you call so they find value in the contact.

After all, if your clients get value each time you contact them they will stay a client longer.

This is a much overlooked area in business that can make a massive difference to both the short-term profitability and the long-term value of your business.

Want to know if you’re maximizing every potential sale?

Today I am going to ask you 11 questions about your sales process.

I have noticed recently talking to clients there’s been a bit of a dip in the economy so the timing on this should be spot on right now.

As you listen and answer each question, giving yourself a mark out of 10, 

you’ll be able to pinpoint exactly where your sales opportunity system needs work.

These 11 questions form part of a 21-point checklist I have been working through with clients to know what they need to fix next.

Addressing any one of them can easily add another 5 - 30% to your conversion rate from lead to sale.

Which could easily add hundreds of thousands of dollars to your monthly, quarterly or yearly sales figures.

If you’d like me to send you the whole checklist, simply reply and I will email it to you (no opt-in).

Are you taking responsibility for your sales results?

It’s going to happen…

At some point, you will find yourself blaming your lack of results on things you have no control over.

And you’ll be right. And you’ll know you’re right…

And your righteousness won’t change one…single…thing

It’s only when you deliberately shift your focus onto what you CAN control that your situation will change.

I know about this because I have been the complainer

I have also been the complainee (the one people complain to)

This is a powerful episode on how to fix this in your business…for good.

Are you trying to convert every prospect you talk to into a client?

There are some clients you shouldn’t deal with. Today we talk about why and the three filters you should be applying to every client call you have.

I know most of my content is about converting as many leads as possible into paying clients so this week I thought I would briefly break away from that.

In this episode, you’ll learn…

• The three reasons you should not accept a new client and why.

• Why a large percentage of clients might think they need your help but they actually need something totally different.

• Why saying no can benefit you in the medium to long term.

• How to say no in a way that still serves your potential client.

Plus I share a few of my own examples where I have had clients who really wanted to work with me and why (and how) I politely said no.

This will be a very actionable episode for anyone who is speaking to potential clients.