Have you observed an increase in people sending poorly crafted cold pitches via Direct Messages lately? This not only discourages potential clients but also casts a negative light on your business and branding.
In this episode of Next Level Influence, Samantha Riley and Melanie Benson speak with Adam Urbanski and delve into the art of elevating your social selling strategies. Drawing on his proficiency in developing Strategic Marketing Plans and nurturing the expansion of service-based selling enterprises, Adam provides insights so you can enhance your approach.
Adam shares his insights on how to effectively leverage social platforms to organically market your business. He steers clear of excessive self-promotion and instead concentrates on consistent enhancements in key areas: your profile, messaging, content creation, and the demonstration of your expertise.
Join us for this valuable and high energy conversation where we explore ways to constantly provide value to clients and excel in the art of social selling.
What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Adam's rich entrepreneurial journey (04:15)
• The value of knowing which marketing platform is best for your business (06:25)
• Why is Facebook Adam's go-to platform? (08:33)
• What does organic marketing through social media look like (11:11)
• How to implement congruence in social media (15:23)
• The three-step process to selling effectively in DMs (21:30)
• How to be of service and add value while networking (27:26)
• The importance of researching who the client is and what they do (30:48)
• Understanding the purpose of interruption through content (33:27)

Quotes:

"Being in business means you have to sell something to someone, that's how it works. And if you're unwilling to do that, perhaps you should reconsider being in business for yourself." -Adam Urbanski

"The way you make more money is by being of service through your unique genius to more of humanity and you do this by interrupting everybody you possibly can." -Adam Urbanski

"We need to start moving from the idea of selling, to the idea of serving." -Samantha Riley

"Creating content that demonstrates your value proposition and establishes authority, whether it's selling in the DMS or getting booked on podcasts, is something everyone should be doing anyway." -Melanie Benson 


Resources:
Four Ways to Generate Leads Out of Social Media
Next Level Influence
Connect with Adam Urbanski

• Website - https://themarketingmentors.com/ 
• Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/adamurbanski/ 
• LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/AdamUrbanski/ 
• Twitter - https://twitter.com/AdamUrbanski 
• Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@AdamUrbanski
  
  

Melanie Benson, host of Amplify Your Success PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Samantha Riley, host of Influence by Design PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Produced by Your Podcast Concierge 

Achieving beyond your wildest dreams is an incredible accomplishment. It shows the strength of your determination and your refusal to accept limitations on your potential.
Continuing the thread from our previous episode, “Is Playing Safe in Business Keeping You Small?”, we explore some ways you can pivot your thinking so you can accelerate your business results and show up at the next level.
In this episode of Next Level Influence, Samantha Riley and Melanie Benson talk about the key pillars to achieve more impact and income. While business owners might think that growth is painful, reaching the next level can actually be an exciting adventure filled with valuable insights that you can use to move your business forward.
If you want to have a greater impact and more revenue, you need to be willing to play outside your comfort zone and adopt strategies that can help you realise your unlimited potential and purpose. Discover how these pillars can lead you to expand your influence which will bring new opportunities and unprecedented growth.

Here are some of the highlights of this episode:

• The importance and impact of constant exposure (02:39)
• Two critical areas in embracing new paradigms (04:23)
• The power of association and having the right support (06:00)
• Strategic investments in time, money, and energy to achieve next level success (07:25)

Quotes:
"At all times in our business we should be thinking, “How do we remove ourselves from the bottleneck?”, so we can be in our zone of genius." -Samantha Riley

"Sometimes you need to stop or slow down to move forward faster. It's not about doing more things or doing them faster. It's about stopping and feeling into what the needle mover activities are." -Samantha Riley


"When we are not stuck in the present moment and we're not feeling trapped in what is, we have unlimited potential." -Melanie Benson

"We either normalize next level behaviour or we're normalizing comfort zones and staying safe." -Melanie Benson

"Who you ask for support will always define the level of success you can go to." -Melanie Benson


"Look at things not as they are, but as they can be." -David J. Schwartz, The Magic of Thinking Big

Resources:

• The Million Dollar Plan: Discover The 9 Key Growth Areas For Your Business That Will Give You More Income, Freedom and Impact  https://samanthariley.global/plan/ 
  
  
  
• The 7-Step Proven Framework to Leverage Other People’s Audiences By Melanie Benson

• Next Level Influence Episode 50:  Is Playing Safe in Business Keeping You Small?

• The Magic of Thinking Big

Melanie Benson, host of Amplify Your Success PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Samantha Riley, host of Influence by Design PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Produced by Your Podcast Concierge 

Entrepreneurs are likely to face significant moments in their lives when they have to make crucial choices. These decisions can either lead them to greater success or keep them in their comfort zones.
In this episode of Next Level Influence, Melanie Benson and Samantha Riley chat about the pitfalls of playing safe in business. It is said that in the world of business, fortune will always favour the brave and this entails breaking through things that hold us back and keeping a lid on our potential.
Staying in what’s familiar may minimise risks but opting to always play safe can have far-reaching consequences that hinder an entrepreneur's visibility, thought leadership, and potential results.
Discover the impact of playing it safe on your progress and learn how to avoid its traps, so you can embrace new opportunities and reach new heights. 

Don't miss this episode to learn more!
Here are some of the highlights of this episode:

• The impact of holding back from sharing your thought leadership (03:30)
• What prevents us from reaching a higher level of visibility? (07:05)
• The influence of playing safe in investing and growing ourselves (10:08)
• Understanding which clients to focus on (13:38)
• How your network can affect your actions and results (17:15)
• How to breakthrough limiting thoughts, behaviours, and beliefs (21:13)

Quotes:
"We want to be around people who make us feel good about ourselves. But when we do that at the expense of stepping into our greatness, it's catastrophic." -Melanie Benson

"If you are not asking for wisdom from somebody who has set the pace beyond what you're doing, you're always going to get people who are afraid of you rocking the boat." -Melanie Benson

"It's uncomfortable to push boundaries. But unless we push those boundaries, we can't take our teachings to new levels." -Samantha Riley

"When you're hanging out with people that also have a mindset of keeping it safe, and don't take risks, that's going to play out in your business. It feeds fear and negative emotions that are going to hold you back." -Samantha Riley

"Ironically, in a changing world, playing it safe is one of the riskiest things you can do." -Reid Hoffman

Resources:

• The Million Dollar Plan: Discover The 9 Key Growth Areas For Your Business That Will Give You More Income, Freedom and Impact  https://samanthariley.global/plan/ 
  
  
  
• Uncover the #1 Barrier that's keeping your Authority in the Shadows through the Authority Quiz https://melaniebenson.com/authorityquiz/
  
  

Melanie Benson, host of Amplify Your Success PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Samantha Riley, host of Influence by Design PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Produced by Your Podcast Concierge 

As a business owner, you know that new trends and ideas can bring growth opportunities. But it’s important to note that for long-term success, embrace the "less is more" mindset. Cut out the unnecessary and focus on what truly matters.
In this episode of Next Level Influence, Samantha Riley and Melanie Benson talk about why less is more, and the business advantage of removing vs adding so you can identify and streamline your needle movers.
In the dynamic business arena, it’s easy to get caught thinking we need to add new products, services or tactics when we’re not getting the results we want. 
But rather than chasing every shiny new thing, what would happen in your business if you were more intentional about what to let go of, and prioritized what was going to move the needle?
Throughout this episode, Samantha and Melanie explore their personal practices and practical strategies for self-mastery, uncover the power of simplicity in business, and the impact of letting go of unnecessary complexity. 
Here are some of the highlights of this episode:

• The benefits of having a simplified approach in business (03:49)
• Why boredom doesn't always mean we have to change things (05:52) 
• The impact of recalibrating for increased business creativity (07:52)
• Areas in business to evaluate so you can create space (10:18)
• The four-quadrant approach for recognising opportunities (14:28)
• Why you need to delegate the things that drain you (15:35)
• Keeping tab of what's keeping you busy yet not producing results (17:27)
• Own your superpower and use it to shift your focus (20:30)

Quotes:
"Making things simple and creating processes that can happen without you is the way we need to run a business to make it profitable." -Samantha Riley

"It's really important to reflect on the things that drain or deplete you - and then delegate those things. -Samantha Riley 

"The only way to know what moves the needle for you is understanding what gets the result when you do that activity." -Melanie Benson

"Money doesn't come from doing more, it comes from doing the right things more often." -Melanie Benson


Resources:

• The Million Dollar Plan: Discover The 9 Key Growth Areas For Your Business That Will Give You More Income, Freedom and Impact  https://samanthariley.global/plan/ 
  
  
  
• Learn the 7 Step Proven Framework for Getting Booked as a Guest Expert on the Hottest Stages and Podcasts to Attract High Ticket Clients (And Add Another 6 Figures To Your Business!) www.amplifywithmelanie.com 

• Zapier

Melanie Benson, host of Amplify Your Success PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Samantha Riley, host of Influence by Design PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Produced by Your Podcast Concierge 

Picking up where we left off from last week’s episode 047: AI Solutions To Boost Business Success, we dive deeper into the AI rabbit hole and focus on the dark side of AI, what business owners can do to protect their assets, and how to use it responsibly.
In this episode of Next Level Influence, Melanie Benson and Samantha Riley discuss AI ethics and thought leadership: empowering entrepreneurs in the digital era with Heather Pearce Campbell. Heather is an Attorney and Legal Coach who provides legal education and support and brand protection to information-based businesses 
AI is labelled as the ultimate game changer since it enhances productivity and efficiency across all business areas.  However, we’re also seeing counterarguments about how AI risks our information and a growing concern about data privacy and security.
Heather provides valuable insights into the immense capabilities of AI and the responsibility of business owners to make informed decisions. This empowers entrepreneurs about the types of information that can be fed to AI platforms, help them navigate the complexities of the digital business landscape, and preserve their thought leadership. 
What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to protect your IP and core assets (06:19)
• The risks of inputting your information into different AI platforms (13:07)
• Using AI ethically and how to preserve your thought leadership (16:47)
• Ways to verify content and prevent publishing inaccuracies  (20:45)
• Nurturing thought leadership by using AI (24:30)
• How to use Chat GPT with limited inputs (27:33)
• Things to remember when using ChatGPT (30:58)

Quotes:

"We're seeing some really wild stuff happening in the AI world. And primarily, it's because people are not slowing down to think it through all the way to the end." -Heather Pearce Campbell

"Like any other platform that you get on to, you are responsible as a consumer for understanding the terms that you agree to when you sign up for that platform." -Heather Pearce Campbell

"It's really important that we observe the marketplace, know what's up with these AI tools, and that we interact with them enough so that we are part of the conversation and be informed to contribute in a meaningful way." -Heather Pearce Campbell

"Thought leadership is where creativity and innovation gets rewarded. However, AI could potentially be the antithesis of that." -Melanie Benson

"People are already relying on AI, rather than using their own decision making skills or coming up with their own thoughts." -Samantha Riley

Resources:
LEGAL BASICS Bootcamp
Next Level Influence episode 047: AI Solutions To Boost Business Success

Melanie Benson, host of Amplify Your Success PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Samantha Riley, host of Influence by Design PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Produced by Your Podcast Concierge 

It’s only halfway through 2023 and yet we’ve seen tremendous growth in Artificial Intelligence (AI). And the AI market is expected to reach an astonishing  $407 billion by 2027. There seems to be no stopping AI so how can business owners leverage this technology to be their strategic ally to unparalleled growth and success?
In this episode of Next Level Influence Samantha Riley and Melanie Benson speak with Deborah Cole aka Coach Deb, Deirdre Tshien, and Alicia Lyttle. These three global leaders in their industries have been leveraging AI to create and deliver valuable content.
They elaborate on how to effectively use AI to your advantage and although the possibilities with AI are endless, the crucial thing is to know how to use these tools well. 
It is important to note that despite the many benefits and business potential that can arise through using AI, embracing it fully should come with caution and thoughts about responsibilities. Using it in a good way and combining it with human components creates a winning formula for business success.
AI strategies can be tailored specifically to business owners and being able to understand how to leverage them effectively can help you stay ahead of the competition, make a meaningful impact, expand influence, and drive business growth.
What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How our panelists each use AI in their business 
• Some of the tools available to content creators to build their audience faster
• How you can use ChatGPT to speed up the process of your  course creation 
• Some things to be cautious about when using AI

Quotes:

"If you want to get all your content out and compete with the next guy, you've got to start using AI apps. Otherwise, someone else will produce more content faster, easier, and less cost than you and you'll just get left off in the dust." -Coach Deb (Deborah Cole)

"The worst thing you could do when meeting people online is destroy the trust factor. So don't try to pretend it's YOU - the human, let people know it's your AI assistant or your AI bot. Combine humanity with the bot and that's the winning formula." -Coach Deb (Deborah Cole)

"We have to be mindful that although AI can help us, it should not be replacing us in critical places - our expertise, stories, and our IP, should be retained." -Deirdre Tshien

“The power of AI when you use it the right way is it opens up your mind to the possibilities of what you can do.” -Deirdre Tshien
"I realized that going all in on AI meant that it would totally transform my business, my clients, and those that I did business with. It helped me see that this AI wave was the only wave to be on." -Alicia Lyttle

"We should be educated about AI and what it's capable of - we know that people could use it for bad and for good. So just understand and remember to keep the human component with it." -Alicia Lyttle

"Whilst AI appears neutral because it's made by humans, a very large male industry has been working on AI so we've got this gender bias. And as women, if we don't input the data and really use this technology, AI can literally change history." -Samantha Riley

"AI can be a self-coaching opportunity to create better quality content." -Melanie Benson


Resources:
Coach Deb’s - Monetize Reels Playbook
Deirdre’s - FREE 14 Day Trial of Capsho & the Amazing $743 Bonus Bundle
Alicia's - ChatGPT Made Easy.  A Beginner's Fast-Track to Mastering ChatGPT 

Melanie Benson, host of Amplify Your Success PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Samantha Riley, host of Influence by Design PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Produced by Your Podcast Concierge 

We often applaud business owners for their unyielding ambition that drives progress and takes their companies to great heights. But when you're constantly chasing after your goals without a break, something called "ambition fatigue" can sneak up on you. It's like a threat that not only affects your business performance but also takes a toll on your personal well-being.
In this episode of Next Level Influence, Melanie Benson and Samantha Riley share their ideas on the impact of ambition fatigue on business performance. It’s typical to experience business turbulence regardless of the industry you’re in. These events lead to contemplating what you really want in business.
This frustration can create a narrative that questions your ability to operate a business.
Instead of constantly hitting your head against the wall and dwelling on diminished motivation, you can look for guidance that sets you on an aligned path and learning opportunities. 
It is crucial for business owners to recognise the importance of a well-balanced approach; where one can reset and plug back into the business. 
Uncover how you can reframe ambition fatigue and disappointments into something that can showcase business growth and performance when you tune into this episode.


Here are some of the highlights of this episode:

• Life tsunamis - how to deal with waves of varying experiences (05:09)
• The impact of operating the business while in a shame cycle (08:39)
• How health affects the way we do business (10:35)
• The power of reframing disappointments as learning opportunities (13:30)
• How Melanie and Samantha reclaim their motivation and energy (17:22)
• The importance of engaging in conversations and activities that help you plug back in (19:55)

Quotes:
"We need to turn off, take some space, reconnect, and plug into things that give us energy that has nothing to do with business, and reset." -Melanie Benson

"It's very important to be intentional about who you bring into that plugging back in space because if you invite somebody who drains you and doesn't give back, it won't work." -Melanie Benson

"Being able to reframe the disappointments and how they're affecting us is so important because otherwise, these can really drain us." -Samantha Riley

"Even when these tsunamis are happening, it's not always bad because they showcase growth opportunities." -Samantha Riley


Resources:

• The Human Design Advantage: Discover How To Align To Your Design To Achieve More Profit And Ease In Your Business https://samanthariley.global/advantage/ 
  
  
  
• Learn the 7 Step Proven Framework for Getting Booked as a Guest Expert on the Hottest Stages and Podcasts to Attract High Ticket Clients (And Add Another 6 Figures To Your Business!) www.amplifywithmelanie.com 

• Next Level Influence Episode 030: The Winning Mindset: How to Level Up Your Business and Achieve Next-Level Success

• Next Level Influence Episode 041: Flipping the Impact of Scarcity Thinking To Discover Abundance

Melanie Benson, host of Amplify Your Success PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Samantha Riley, host of Influence by Design PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Produced by Your Podcast Concierge 

Establishing credibility is more crucial than ever before. Whether you're a business trying to attract customers or an individual seeking to gain influence, credibility is the foundation upon which trust is built.
In this episode of Next Level Influence, Samantha Riley and Melanie Benson delve into the power of case studies and testimonials as effective marketing tools. They explore the differences between the two, discuss their advantages, and provide practical tips on how to use them to showcase your products or services.
Case studies and testimonials are indispensable marketing assets that can significantly boost your business's credibility and attract new customers. By understanding the differences between the two and implementing effective strategies for structuring and presenting them, you can leverage their power to showcase your products or services, build trust, and drive growth.
If you’re ready to leverage social proof and build credibility, this episode is for you. 


Here are some of the highlights of this episode:

• Case studies vs. testimonials (01:53)
• What is a case study, and how you can use it to your advantage (03:20)
• How to structure a case study in a podcast (08:39)
• How to use testimonials on product pages (10:39)
• Ways to capture great testimonials and case studies (16:10)
• How to seed your offers (20:16)
• Melanie’s framework for testimonials and case studies (25:05)

Quotes:“Sometimes you can give a case study, and you don't have to divulge somebody's name.” -Melanie Benson

“Social proof is way more influential than you and your words.” -Melanie Benson

“You need to think about your processes so that you can capture case studies and testimonials at the right time.” -Samantha Riley


Resources:

• The 7-Step Proven Framework to Leverage Other People’s Audiences By Melanie Benson
• How Andrew Eggelton Added $10K+ Recurring Revenue To His Business In Just 2 Weeks (With No Extra Marketing) by Samantha Riley
• How Cathy Carr Launched Her First Global Online Program by Samantha Riley
  
  

Melanie Benson, host of Amplify Your Success PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Samantha Riley, host of Influence by Design PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Produced by Your Podcast Concierge 

In the world of coaching and consulting, your success hinges on your ability to attract and engage clients. However, some coaches are finding it more and more difficult to fill their programs, and tactics that were once working are no longer bringing in clients. 
Despite the coaching industry being highly competitive and always changing, coaches need to embrace the challenge and develop strategies to attract more participants to their courses so they can increase their income and make a greater impact.
In this episode of Next Level Influence Samantha Riley and Melanie Benson speak with Shay Wheat, Ryan Bowles and Cindy Schulson about the strategies they are currently using to fill their courses and programs. 
They share useful tips on what’s working in social media right now, understanding how your ideal clients are most likely to spend their time, and how conducting market research before launching a program can benefit you. 
The strategies shared in this conversation will help you generate more leads and increase the number of people enrolling in your programs.
Here are some of the highlights of this episode:

• An introduction to the panel - what they do and how they help clients (02:30)
• Common challenges with filling online courses and coaching programs (04:23)
• The best strategies to help clients fill their programs (11:15)
• The ACE formula and how it boosts client connection (14:30)
• The value of doing market research in launching programs (15:11)
• The power of counter offers in your buyers journey (18:19)
• Leveraging social media to attract leads for your program (21:15)
• The best platform for finding an audience of buyers (25:52)
• The importance of knowing where your audience hangs out (29:00)
• What derails coaches' success? (32:45)

Quotes:

"You need to utilize different types of events at different times in your business, so you can continue to serve your audience where they're at." -Shay Wheat

"It's important to have a connection with clients because you're going to spend a lot of time with them and you’ll be helping them to move through something that is not comfortable for most people." -Shay Wheat 

"We see clients that have people in their groups get results that aren't even in their programs, just because of the way that they show up and serve." -Ryan Bowles

"It's not about the size and quantity of your leads.  It really is about the quality and the connection that you implement." -Ryan Bowles 

"You want to coach clients on tailoring the journey that best applies to them so they can implement it in a way that feels right for them." -Cindy Schulson 

"You can't overwhelm your clients with too much content thinking it's doing them a favor because it's actually doing them a disservice." -Cindy Schulson

"It makes perfect sense that coming out of the pandemic, so many people are looking for ways to feel more connected." -Melanie Benson

"Helping people understand that we need to meet our prospects where they're at is so important." -Samantha Riley


Resources

Cindy Schulson’s Signature Program Template
Download Shay Wheats guide - The Five Phases of Events to Scale Your Business & Leverage Your Time Guide
Join Ryan Bowles Facebook Group - Conversion Pros
Profitable Group Academy Grab The Sell by Chat Audit™
Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges
Connect with Shay Wheat

• https://graceandeaseproductions.com/ 
• https://www.facebook.com/shay.wheat
• https://www.facebook.com/GraceandEaseProductions
• http://instagram.com/shaywheat/ 
• http://instagram.com/graceandeaseproductions/
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/shaywheat/ 
• https://www.linkedin.com/company/graceandeaseproductions/
• https://www.youtube.com/@graceeaseproductionsinc9388
• http://twitter.com/ShayWheat/

Connect with Ryan Bowles

• https://www.profitablegroupacademy.com
• https://www.facebook.com/itsryanbowles
• http://instagram.com/ryanlbowles/ 

Connect with Cindy Schulson

• http://marketingfromwithin.com 
• https://www.facebook.com/cindyschulson
• https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindyschulson
• https://www.twitter.com/cindychulson

Melanie Benson, host of Amplify Your Success PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Samantha Riley, host of Influence by Design PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Produced by Your Podcast Concierge 

Mistakes are an inevitable part of life. From the simplest errors to the most significant blunders, we all make them at some point. While the immediate aftermath of a mistake can be disheartening and discouraging, it is crucial to recognize that mistakes are not the end of the world. They offer us valuable opportunities for growth and learning.
In this episode of Next Level Influence, Samantha Riley and Melanie Benson dive deep into why it’s not only okay to make mistakes, but it’s an essential part of being an entrepreneur.  As Albert Einstein once famously said, "A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new."

Being an entrepreneur is a journey filled with risks, challenges, and, inevitably, mistakes. The path to success is often paved with failures and setbacks. While making mistakes may be daunting, embracing them as valuable learning opportunities rather than sources of discouragement is important.
In this era of constant change and complexity, embracing learning from mistakes is crucial. Doing so unlocks our potential for growth, resilience, and success. 


Here are some of the highlights of this episode:

• Normalizing making mistakes as an entrepreneur (02:22)
• Making mistakes and resourcefulness - how are they related? (04:05)
• Understanding the deeper problems, rather than just seeing what presents at face value (06:12)
• The importance of understanding what data is telling you (09:25)
• The dangers of hiring people too quickly (13:18)
• How to set the right mindset around making mistakes (20:05)
• The importance of a support network (22:28)

Quotes:“When we normalize making mistakes, it's easier to recover. It also allows you to be more resourceful.” -Melanie Benson

“The more you make mistakes, the more you realize you're going to be okay.” -Samantha Riley

“If you aren't making mistakes, you probably aren't growing.” -Melanie Benson



Melanie Benson, host of Amplify Your Success PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Samantha Riley, host of Influence by Design PodcastInstagramFacebookTwitterLinkedIn Produced by Your Podcast Concierge