Nicolas Cole is an author, writer, ghost writer and creative marketing strategist. He began his career as a writer for Quora and now has a column with Inc., a leading media brand for entrepreneurs and start-ups. His articles have been viewed 15 million times to-date. Before he was an independent consultant he worked for a digital marketing firm in Chicago.

Cole, as he likes to be known, has achieved much success in the digital marketing and content space at a young age. However, he also started off when he was very young as a blogger writing about gaming when he was 17 years old. So how has he achieved success at the tender age of 26? Cole shares with us one of the biggest contributors to his early success and his take on massive action is quite contrary to what you may think!

Cole gives us the details of how he adds value to his readers, customers and clients and why instead of selling his services he is constantly being approached by business owners to help them market their business. He then shares with us what he sees as the big knowledge gap that businesses suffer from and what can be done about it. Finally, he shares with us how he and many successful people like him flip the model of free versus fee marketing and why he does it.

More about Cole can be found at the following websites and social media platforms:

•    Website: www.nicolascole.com
•    Facebook: Nicholas Cole
•    Instagram: Nicholas Cole
•    Twitter: @Nicholascole77

Cole provides an affordable online course which teaches people how to write content and build an audience by adding value. More details about the course can be found here.

Cole’s book, Confessions of a Teenage Gamer, can be found on Amazon here.

Conference highlight

Content Marketing World Expo 2017

www.contentmarketingworld.com

Cleveland, OH: September 5th – September 8th 2017

SPRH Podcast is sponsored by:

Knight Dik Insurance

http://www.knightdik.com/

Cumulus Global

www.CumulusGlobal.com

Eric Hinson began his career at a digital innovation agency where he produced hundreds of videos for a number of global brands. But, he wasn’t satisfied with the way agencies were doing marketing videos and telling brand stories. So in 2012, he launched Explainify, a firm that specialises in simplifying brand stories, ensuring they resonate with customer and motivate action resulting in more sales. Since founding the company, Eric has assisted in the creation of award-winning videos for hundreds of great companies, from early stage startups to Fortune 100s like Pfizer, GE and Tyson Foods.

Eric begins by sharing his tip on taking massive action and surprisingly it has nothing to do with videos! He then shares some tips and tricks on how small businesses can get started in their brand storytelling journey via video. He gives us an idea of what really makes a good video and the biggest mistake companies make when producing a video and how to not fall into the same trap!

So, what level of video production will work for your business? Eric starts off with some insights into how some business can use “homegrown” videos which are easily made using your smartphones and which video tutorial resource is the best to guide you along this process. He then goes on to explain when is best to make that shift to using a more established firm, such as Explainify, to assist in your video marketing and brand storytelling needs. Eric elaborates on this by saying, “You can’t read the label from inside the bottle.”

Finally, Eric tells us how attending a conference inspired his new book and shares an invaluable tip on how to pick conferences to go to!

More about Eric and Explainify can be found at the following websites and social media platforms:

•   Website: http://explainify.com/
•   Facebook: Explainify
•   Instagram: explainify
•   Twitter: @erichinson @explainify

Eric’s book, Diamond in a Haystack: How to Uncover Your Brand Story, Rise Above the Noise, and Give Your Customers a Reason to Care, will be made available soon on Amazon. In the meantime he has made two free chapters available for SPRH Podcast listeners: explainify.com/SPRH

Here is the Nike Girl Effect video that Eric refers to in the podcast.

Conference highlight

DIGIMARCON EAST 2017

http://digimarconeast.com/

New York, NY: May 8th - May 9th 2017

SPRH Podcast is sponsored by:

Knight Dik Insurance

http://www.knightdik.com/

Cumulus Global

www.CumulusGlobal.com

Salvador Briggman is the founder of CrowdCrux, a blog that helps entrepreneurs raise money through crowdsourcing. The blog has been featured by the New York Times, The Wallstreet Journal and CNN among others. He has helped over 400,000 individuals raise funds through his websites and books.

Straight out of college, Salvador made the decision to, in his words, “take a bet on himself”. He began his journey to help other entrepreneurs by turning down a lucrative job in Washington D. C. Instead, he moved to New York City to put together his own business and started CrowdCrux.

Salvador walks us through the types of crowdsourcing available and the kinds of projects and products crowdsourcing are best for. Having helped thousands fund raise through crowdsourcing, Salvador shares his invaluable insights on how to create and execute effective campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. He focuses on how make the most of email lists for your campaigns but also how to serve and add-value to the crowdsourcing communities online.

Finally, he also shares a few insider tips on how to give your fundraising campaign that extra edge. Most importantly, he points out the differences between a super successful and mediocre crowdfunding campaign!

More about Salvador and CrowdCrux can be found at the following websites and social media platforms:

•   Website: http://www.crowdcrux.com/
•   Podcast: http://www.crowdcrux.com/itunes
•   Instagram: CrowdCrux
•   Twitter: @sbriggman / @crowdcrux / @kickstartforum

Salvador’s latest book on crowdsourcing can be found here Kickstarter Launch Formula: The Crowdfunding Handbook for Startups, Filmmakers, and Independent Creators

Conference highlight

6th Annual Global Crowdfunding Convention at Planet Hollywood

http://thegccworld.com/

Las Vegas, NV: Oct 23  - Oct 24 2017

Crowd Invest Summit

https://www.crowdinvestsummit.com

Los Angeles, CA: September 6 to September 7 2017

SPRH Podcast is sponsored by:

Knight Dik Insurance

http://www.knightdik.com/

Cumulus Global

www.CumulusGlobal.com

Erik Wahl is an internationally recognised graffiti artist, a best selling author and corporate keynote speaker. He works to bring his message of creativity to the world through his epic audience experiences at conferences and corporate events.

Erik attributes his success to the fact that he has failed more than anyone he knows of because he also takes more risks than anyone he knows of. This guru of creativity shares how he is able to keep going despite these failures. He gets real with us and shares the lowest point in his life, during the DotCom bust, where as he describes it: “both my ego and my bank account were crushed”.  Erik attributes his success to many factors and shares with us how authenticity is key and plays a huge role in his business and presentations.

He also shares with us some practical advice on addressing fear through what he calls “Fear Vaccination Labs” and, setting up some discipline and structure in your life by using routines as a “compass and not a map”. He also shares why he thinks our addiction to security in our lives and businesses can be very harmful and how to move past that.

Having only started painting at the age of 30, Erik shares why creativity is stymied in so many people, how to reconnect with your creative side and how we can use EQ to make the most of our internet and social-media driven world.

More about Erik and his business and books can be found at the following websites and social media platforms:

•      Website: http://www.theartofvision.com/
•      Twitter: Erik Wahl
•      Facebook: I am Erik
•      Instagram: Erik Wahl
•      LinkedIn: Meet Erik Wahl

Erik’s books can be found here The Spark and the Grind: Ignite the Power of Disciplined Creativity and Unthink.

Conference highlight

HOW Design Live: Ignite Your Passion. Create Your Future

http://howdesignlive.com/

Chicago, IL: May 2  - May 6, 2017

SPRH Podcast is sponsored by:

Knight Dik Insurance

http://www.knightdik.com/

Cumulus Global

www.CumulusGlobal.com

Karen Yankovich is a social media marketing consultant, speaker, LinkedIn evangelist and CEO of Uplevel Media. Karen shares the secret to how she successfully took massive action for her business.

Karen focuses on how to proactively use LinkedIn to bring value to your business and also for those around you and in your network. A firm believer in building relationships, she shares with us tips on how to optimise your LinkedIn account using the various features on the platform. Facebook vs. LinkedIn - what are the differences and how do you use each one to your advantage? Karen gives us an insight into what each platform should be used for and why.

Which social media platform should YOU use? Karen shares with us her thoughts on this as well and you’ll be surprised to hear the answer because it is not LinkedIn!

Finally, Karen shares her tip for getting the best value out of conferences and how best to prepare for them.

More about Karen and her business can be found at the following websites and social media platforms:

• LinkedIn: Karen Yankovich
• Website: Karen Yankovich
• Twitter: Karen Yankovich
• Facebook:  Karen Yankovich

Karen’s free video series on LinkedIn at First3things.com

Conference highlight

LinkedIn Experts at Sea

https://LinkedInExpertsAtSea.com/Karen

Leaves Galveston, TX on November 12 and ends on November 19, 2017.

SPRH Podcast is sponsored by:

Knight Dik Insurance

http://www.knightdik.com/

Cumulus Global

www.CumulusGlobal.com

Peter Kozodoy is an author, speaker, serial entrepreneur, and the Partner/Chief Strategy Officer of GEM Advertising, a communications and marketing agency with four offices throughout North America. Peter’s work with GEM has been featured in CNBC, Yahoo!, Bloomberg and Reuters. His articles on business have been featured in Forbes and he was also recently invited to be a columnist for Inc.com. He shares with us how he achieved all this by tapping into his potential using two key values: honesty and integrity.

Peter talks about how honesty helped him achieve in a 9 month period what he failed to achieve in 9 years. He elaborates on this achievement, tells us his personal branding story and how he fast-tracked himself to becoming a well-known author, speaker and writer which inspired the hashtag #successinseconds. He goes on to share how honesty and passion go hand-in-hand and gives us insights on how without the former the latter can become dangerously skewed.

With years of experience in business consulting he also shares with us the one characteristic that is missing in most business owners which can mean the difference between getting by and making millions in revenue. He shares his experiences of businesses that are going through changes and the questions they should be asking themselves in the process. Finally, he also provides his rebuttal to Simon Sinek’s comments on millennials in the workplace and in business.

More about Peter and his business can be found at the following websites and social media platforms:

• Website: GEM Advertising and Peter Kozodoy
• Twitter: @PeterKozodoy
• Facebook: Peter Kozodoy Official Page

Peter’s e-book can be downloaded here 5 Essential Steps for Growing your Business with Millennials (and Generation Z).

Conference highlight

ACES Conference

https://acesconf.com

Phoenix, AZ: May 31 - June 1, 2017

SPRH Podcast is sponsored by:

Knight Dik Insurance

http://www.knightdik.com/

Cumulus Global

www.CumulusGlobal.com

Shannon Hudson is the CEO and Co-Founder of popular fitness franchise, 9Round Fitness. After multiple failed business ideas, which he covers in his book, Zero to 100: The Blood, Sweat, and Tears of Building a Fitness Chain from Idea to 100 Locations, Shannon finally hits upon a business idea and model that takes off with spectacular results. In this episode, Shannon shares how his passion for fitness and business came together allowing him to grow his business from just one outlet in 2008 to 100, just four years later!

Today with 450 outlets open in the US, Shannon has successfully franchised an idea that was inspired by his love for martial arts and his desire to keep it alive. He talks about how he managed the rapid growth of his company in its momentum phase and gives us some good insights into customer service in this age of social media marketing. Additionally, he outlines how he currently manages the expectations of his franchisees, creates common values throughout the business and maintains quality of all the outlets.

As a self-described visionary Shannon tells us how he maintains the right mindset to keep on going and growing. He understands how fear and the need to achieve perfection can be paralysing for many business owners and shares his hacks for overcoming this in the podcast which he also covers in more detail in his book in a chapter titled, Ready, Fire...Aim?

More about Shannon and his business can be found at the following website and social media platforms:

• Website: 9 Round - 30 Minute Kickbox Fitness
• Instagram: 9roundofficial
• Facebook: Shannon “The Cannon” Hudson

You can also reach Shannon directly at: [email protected]

Shannon’s book can be found here Zero to 100: The Blood, Sweat, and Tears of Building a Fitness Chain from Idea to 100 Locations

Conference highlight

Inspire35

http://www.ideafit.com/fitness-conferences/idea-world-fitness-convention

Las Vegas, NV: July 19 - 23, 2017

International Franchise Association Annual Convention

http://franchise.org/ifa2017

SPRH Podcast is sponsored by:

Knight Dik Insurance

http://www.knightdik.com/

Cumulus Global

www.CumulusGlobal.com

This week Dan and Matt speak to Ronii Bartles who owns and operates a marketing company: Bartles and Associates. Ronii began her career with a marketing research consultancy. When in the midst of the 2008 economic crisis the company began laying off people (she was not one of them) she had an idea to start her own business and so left of her own accord. With a great value proposition in hand she turned her former employer into her first client. In this episode, Ronii shares with us how she turned a challenging time into an opportunity by taking action!

Ronii’s love of research finds her working with creative entrepreneurs to help them address their consumers needs better. She shares why it is so important to ensure that small businesses do their market research and build consumer profiles before developing their products. She elaborates on the common mistakes that small businesses make when it comes to market research and how her business tries to address this problem. Ronii also delves into the importance of data, gives the listeners some insight into her methodologies, and the outlines what businesses do wrong when using Facebook for marketing.  

Having successfully run a small business since 2008, Ronii also shares tips on how best to network especially if your business is niche, how to pick conferences and get the best value from them, and how to prevent yourself from isolating yourself - a common trap that small business owners often fall into.

More about Ronii and her business can be found at the following websites and social media platforms:

• www.bartlesandassociates.com
• www.roniibartles.com
• Instagram: iamronii
• Facebook: iamroniibartles
• Twitter: @iamronii

Conference highlight

American Marketing Association Annual Conference -

https://www.ama.org/events-training/Conferences/Pages/Annual-Conference.aspx

Las Vegas, NV: September 11-13, 2017

SPRH Podcast is sponsored by:

Knight Dik Insurance

http://www.knightdik.com/

Cumulus Global

www.CumulusGlobal.com

This week Matt and Dan speak to David Greenwood a video marketing specialist. He went from a self described “trainwreck” child with ADHD to running a successful PR business, David shares with us how he turned his potentially biggest weakness into a strength. So, how exactly do ADHD and business work together?

David always knew he had to be his own boss and he tried his hand at several businesses on his journey to becoming a successful video marketer. In his book, Overcoming Distractions - Thriving with Adults ADD/ADHD, David not only relays what he learned from his own journey but also from the stories of several other business people and serial entrepreneurs. He outlines core principles which when followed can turn ADHD into an ally rather than an enemy. He emphasises on the fact that there are no “brain hacks” and shares with us the best strategies, from his experience, for ADHD business owners.

For the conference goers out there David shares some tips on how to stop being distracted at conferences and get the best value for the amount you shell out to attend these events.

More about David and his business can be found at the following website and and social media platforms:

• www.overcomingdistractions.com
• Twitter: @davidagreenwood
• Facebook: OvercomingDistractions

David’s book can be found here Overcoming Distractions - Thriving with Adult ADD/ADHD.

Conference highlight:

Martech Management Marketing Conference -

http://martechconf.com/

San Francisco, CA: May 9-11, 2017

Boston, MA: October 2-4, 2017

SPRH Podcast is sponsored by:

Knight Dik Insurance

http://www.knightdik.com/

Cumulus Global

www.CumulusGlobal.com

Tyann talks a bit about where she has come from, how she managed to find her first product and launch her small business.

She talks about bootstrapping her business from the beginning

Yahoo moment…

Created a product from just a simple idea.  She couldn’t find the product she needed to hang something in her house.  So she created a niche product.  Produced it, and sold it!

She explains how this need met her passion.

Square Peg Round Hole Moment…

She was working for the largest gift store in her state.  She wasn’t challenged.  She learned a great deal from this family business, was so valuable at the company that when she left, she was replaced by 2 employees.  Proof that she was valuable to that small business!  She learned customer service and business ethics from the owners.

Takeaway…..

Watch and learn from where you work.  You may not be happy there, but use that as a tool to learn, so that you will be ready when you are launching your own business.

Presentation is everything in business.  The effort you put in to that will be so much more valuable on the other side when the product or service is received.

Mindset is big when it comes to small business growth.  It empowers you to think properly when it comes to growth.  Mindset isn’t about a long term process, it can be just one small situation, one instance, and just one small mindset change at one time can change the future of how you think.

“Conference really changed the way I viewed them”.  Tyann talks a bit about how she had trouble justifying the investment and the ROI.  So she set some goals.  She has a specific idea to be more social online, and from that she started getting invited to be an expert speaker as the Leading Vacation Rental Photographer in that industry.

She talked about not feeling that she fit in when she walked into a room at the conference.

Her point overall was that she came up with a vision, but she took massive action.  Some of those actions were out of her comfort zone.

One tip she had for having success at conferences was to be open.  Introduce yourself, say Hi and ask what they do!  Show interest in them, don’t just talk about yourself.

When you have multiple businesses, you need help.  “There are people smarter than you and more knowledgeable than you”, so get some help.  Hire out what you are not good at.

Something most people don’t know about Tyann, is that she was named after her Dad’s former Girlfriend!

You can find Tyann Online at her website, www.tyannmarcink.com

[email protected]

www.littleleaphantcompany.com

www.VacationHomeInBranson.com

You can get her book here: Create Killer Vacation Rental Property Photos

Conference Highlight

Vacation Rental Success Summit - http://www.vacationrentalsuccesssummit.com

May 16th and May 17th 2017