Explore every episode of the podcast Sell With Authority
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to Steer Your Agency into a Niche, with Katy Doss | 20 Nov 2024 | 00:57:10 | |
I’m thrilled about welcoming today’s guest expert to join us on this episode of Sell With Authority, Katy Doss. Katy is the Founder and CEO of Script Marketing and Here Molly Girl. She owns and leads not one — but TWO agencies! Let me set the stage for why we thought this conversation would be so valuable. Katy took a bold, creative leap when steering her agency into a niche. Instead of gradually repositioning her agency over a couple of years — she and her team dove headfirst into the deep end by creating an entirely new agency focused on their target niche. Katy shares her remarkable journey of transforming her generalist agency, Here Molly Girl, into the niche powerhouse that is Script Marketing. Running two agencies at the same time creates some unique challenges. We talk with Katy about how she prioritizes the moving pieces — and keeps all of this running smoothly while balancing the demands of two agencies. Katy and her team show up like true partners — moving away from tactical, “vendor-like” conversations — to leading with outcomes. I’m saying “us” because Hannah Roth is also joining this episode. She’s our Director of Strategy and resident Mad Scientist here at Predictive. Hannah works directly with clients every single day, helping them drive results — and sell more of what they do. What you will learn in this episode:
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| How to Create a Successful Buyer’s Journey, with Sara Hanlon | 13 Nov 2024 | 00:47:33 | |
I’m excited to welcome our guest expert to this episode of Sell With Authority, Sara Hanlon. Sara is the President and Co-Founder of Peer Sales Agency, a B2B marketing agency that’s all about driving sales. If you’re meeting Sara for the first time, let me tell you — she’s not only super smart when it comes to B2B sales strategy, but she’s also created resources — like the B2B Sales Leader Guide — that can really help agencies level up. With her deep expertise in sales-oriented B2B marketing, Sara shares helpful strategies on how to shift sales conversations towards a more research-oriented approach. It’s about truly understanding your clients’ pain points and goals — at every stage of the buyer’s journey. Sara breaks down the essential approach of creating problem-focused content at the top of the funnel, introducing solutions in the middle, and building trust at the bottom with testimonials and case studies. She shares the “five deposits, one withdrawal” strategy for engaging right-fit clients and nurturing long-term relationships. Some parts of today’s conversation might feel like a push — and that’s okay. Other parts — you’ll likely find yourself nodding along, thinking, “Yep, we’ve got that one locked in.” If you take Sara’s insights to heart and apply them, you’ll be positioned to sell more of what you do — for higher fees — and head into 2025 ready to raise the bar of excellence. What you will learn in this episode:
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| Strategic Inspiration for Innovation and Vision, with Lori Jones | 11 Sep 2024 | 00:51:00 | |
For this episode of Sell With Authority, we have a special treat for you — we’re taking a big twist. We’re celebrating a significant milestone — episode 500 of StrategyCast, hosted by the brilliant Lori Jones. Lori is a seasoned marketing executive with a proven track record in strategic communications. Her expertise spans innovation, disruption, and visionary leadership — making her a standout in the agency space. For this milestone episode, Lori graciously allowed me the honor of interviewing her — flipping the script and delivering golden nuggets of wisdom galore. If you and your team are looking to maximize strategies and tactics that can help you close out 2024 strong — or to push past a plateau in your biz dev — don’t miss this opportunity to learn from Lori. What you will learn in this episode:
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| How to Nurture Leads with Excellence, with Stephen Woessner | 04 Sep 2024 | 00:37:11 | |
Welcome to the Sell with Authority Podcast – I’m Stephen Woessner, CEO of Predictive ROI. If we happen to be meeting for the first time — Predictive ROI helps agency owners and their teams sell more of what they do…typically for a higher fee. We do that by helping our clients build an authority position in the niche they’ve decided to serve — and then — monetize that position by creating a steady stream of right-fit prospects flowing into their sales pipeline. If learning proven strategies, tactics, and best practices to help you sell more of what you do aligns with where you want to take your agency — you’re in the right place. Today’s episode is going to be a solocast. If you’ve been listening to the show for a while now – you know that about every 4-6 weeks, I record an episode where it’s just you and me — so we can explore a topic with some real depth. But you may have noticed that within the last couple of months — I’ve recorded more solocasts than my normal cadence. I’ve done that for a couple of reasons. First — there have been a lot of biz dev situations, questions, etc., that we’ve helped agency owners in our community work through — and some are helpful examples that turn into specific teachable moments to share. Second — my Predictive team and I have been running at a breakneck pace with new experiments that we’re putting through our Lab and then sharing the results during our Intensives. If you joined us for our July Intensive — you saw the results of an experiment that included 121,000 repetitions in the data set. Wowza. We’re kicking off a brand new experiment in the Lab tomorrow that will include at least 50,000 repetitions, and we’ll share the data set in full transparency during our next Intensive on November 6th & 7th. And Praise God — we’ve had the blessing of onboarding some new clients into the fold here at Predictive. All of that is to say — my schedule for interviewing guests has been challenging. But thankfully — that is changing. In fact — during our quarterly leadership team meeting — my fellow leaders…Erik, Megan, and Hannah — said, “Okay, Stephen — what needs to come off your plate so you can stay in the biz dev lane.” Staying in my lane will give me the time and space I need to interview the long list of guests that I have been wanting to invite to the podcast…so stay tuned. But for today — I’m going to start us off by looping back to the new experiment and the 50,000 repetitions that I mentioned a minute ago. For years — we’ve taught a nurture and lead gen cadence that we’ve called “The 6:1 Ratio.” It was published back in my second book and focused primarily on social media and how many personal or professional posts ought to be made — 6 — to every 1 “ask” post to create the optimal opportunity for conversion. One of our core values here at Predictive is “Life is not static,” and we’re always testing, adjusting, testing, adjusting, and testing some more. So on Thursday — we’re launching a brand new, 4-part nurture email campaign and sharing it with all 50,000 agency owners and their teams inside our community. If you’re on our email list — you’ll receive a new email every Thursday for the next four weeks. We’re doing this for three reasons: One — 50,000 repetitions for the November Intensive — the full data set. Two — nurture matters — it removes friction from the sales process. Three — to break down and illustrate our “4-part Nurture Methodology.” What you will learn in this episode is:
Go here to download our WHO Framework™: Replace your dry sales pipeline with a steady stream of right-fit clients. Go here to download our WHAT Framework™: Design your irresistible offer and sell it for a premium-priced fee. Go here to download our HOW Framework™: Put a proven sales process into place and close 80% of your proposals. Go here to download our How You Help Framework™: Use this framework to make yourself an easy YES! for clients. Resources:
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| How to Price Creatively, with Blair Enns | 28 Aug 2024 | 00:41:21 | |
For this episode of Sell With Authority we are doubling down on value-based pricing to help you future-proof your agency. Our guest expert is a true authority when it comes to pricing and sales strategy. Blair Enns, the CEO of Win Without Pitching and the author of the widely acclaimed Win Without Pitching Manifesto joins the podcast. His latest book, Pricing Creativity: A Guide to Profit Beyond the Billable Hour, is a must-read for anyone looking to get a handle on pricing in their business. I was inspired by one of his articles on quantifying the value of pricing. Specifically, the part about ‘the elephant in the room’ when it comes to pricing really hit home — because we’ve all been there. The uncertainty pricing brings to agency owners is a challenge we just can’t ignore. So, I knew we had to bring Blair on the show to dive into this topic and help us all navigate the complexities of pricing with confidence. And to make this conversation even richer, also joining is our very own Mad Scientist and Strategist, Hannah Roth. Hannah works tirelessly in the trenches with our clients, helping them fill their sales pipelines with right-fit clients so they can sell more of what they do best. If you’re an agency owner struggling with pricing, this episode will give you the framework and confidence you need to untether from time-based billing. What you will learn in this episode:
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| SWA ConduitDigitalFiresideChatwithHannahRothandErikJensen V02 | 21 Aug 2024 | 00:42:24 | |
For this episode of Sell With Authority, we’ve got something really special lined up for you — something we’ve never done before. We’re calling it a “Fireside Chat.” It’s a more laid-back, informal conversation, but packed with expert insights on a crucial topic for your agency’s success — strategic partnerships. Also in the category of things we’ve never done before — Hannah Roth, our Mad Scientist and Strategist, and Erik Jensen, my business partner here at Predictive — are co-hosting the episode and interviewing our guest experts Tim Burk and TCB from Conduit Digital. Conduit Digital focuses on being a strategic partner, tailoring their methods to fit each agency’s needs. Discover how agencies like yours can streamline, upgrade, and scale while reducing the inherent risks that come as your agency grows. What you will learn in this episode:
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| No Friction Lead Generation, with Stephen Woessner | 14 Aug 2024 | 00:45:56 | |
Today’s episode of the podcast is a solocast so that you and I could take a strategy from last week’s episode and explore it with more depth. Last week — you may recall — I shared that one of the strategies that we taught during our July Intensive was what we call “No Friction Lead Generation.” When you have built up enough trust, respect, and authority in the minds of your audience or prospects — that when they have an issue inside their business that aligns with your expertise — you get the call. Or — when you reach out to your audience and let them know you have a new program, service line, event, etc. at the agency — they raise their hands and want to attend or become your next new client. When that process runs smoothly — we call it No Friction Lead Generation — because, through your content and trust building, you have removed the “friction” from the sales process. And your prospects already know how you can help and they are eager for you to help when they have a need. No Friction Lead Generation is what we’re going to focus on in this episode so you can create the right content — without it being a heavy lift on your shop — and you can build a steady stream of leads flowing into your sales pipeline because you followed the right recipe. Sound awesome? I promise you — if you put the takeaways into practice — you and your team will sell more of what you do — for a higher fee. What you will learn in this episode is:
Go here to download our WHO Framework™: Replace your dry sales pipeline with a steady stream of right-fit clients. Go here to download our WHAT Framework™: Design your irresistible offer and sell it for a premium-priced fee. Go here to download our HOW Framework™: Put a proven sales process into place and close 80% of your proposals. Go here to download our How You Help Framework™: Use this framework to make yourself an easy YES! for clients. Resources:
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| Debrief and takeaways from the July Intensive, with Stephen Woessner | 07 Aug 2024 | 00:46:57 | |
Last week (July 30th and 31st) — my Predictive team and I hosted our latest “2-day Intensive.” Every March, July, and November — we get our Predictive clients together for an “Intensive” where we peel back the curtain and share the results of the most recent experiment in the Lab, the actual results, and how to install it into their agencies. We promised all our clients—and the guests we invited- for the July Intensive—that we’d share the exact recipe for how we 10’xed our email list from 3,900 agencies to over 40,000 agency contacts in about six months. We walked everyone through the strategies, process, and every step-by-step ingredient in the recipe. After two amazing sessions, we looked back on the experience and thought, “Holy bananas—there were some really awesome takeaways here…not just the content we taught.” For this episode of Sell With Authority, I will share that debrief with you and all of those bonus takeaways. Hope it’s helpful! I promise you — if you put the takeaways into practice — you and your team will sell more of what you do — for a higher fee. What you will learn in this episode is:
Go here to download our WHO Framework™: Replace your dry sales pipeline with a steady stream of right-fit clients. Go here to download our WHAT Framework™: Design your irresistible offer and sell it for a premium-priced fee. Go here to download our HOW Framework™: Put a proven sales process into place and close 80% of your proposals. Go here to download our How You Help Framework™: Use this framework to make yourself an easy YES! for clients. Resources:
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| How to Use Strategic Lenses for Niching Down, with Hannah Roth | 31 Jul 2024 | 00:49:26 | |
I am thrilled about this episode of Sell With Authority because it is super fun — and ridiculously helpful! Hannah Roth, our mad scientist and strategist at Predictive, is back for another episode to debunk the myth that niching down is just about picking an industry. Hannah has been diving into the latest Agency Edge research report. We walk through her observations and distillations — at a high level. One standout point in the research is the importance of having a well-defined niche. People are often scared to niche down because it feels like saying “NO” to revenue. But — niching down allows you to say no to clients that cost you time, money, and sanity, and say yes to clients that are more profitable, better to work with, and actually appreciate the work your agency is doing. We also discuss how to build a reputable brand, why consistent, helpful content is your golden ticket — and the importance of a solid referral system. Evolving through multiple lenses — from industry and audience to methodology — can make your agency stand out and make it so much easier for clients to say yes. Double down and future-proof your business by mastering your niche with the strategic lenses Hannah shares. You and your team will remove friction from the sales process — and sell more of what you do. What you will learn in this episode:
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| How to select the right CRM for your agency, with Erik Jensen | 24 Jul 2024 | 00:43:50 | |
This episode is going to be one of those episodes where you ask yourself… “What in the world was that!?! – because that was ridiculously fun and super helpful!” My guest expert today is Erik Jensen. In case you’re meeting Erik for the first time — he’s my business partner here at Predictive ROI, and we’ve worked alongside each other for well over a decade. Erik has a depth of expertise in helping agency owners go deep into their niche to build their authority position — and then — monetize that position in the form of a steady stream of right-fit clients flowing into their sales pipelines so they can sell more of what they do. If you’re a Predictive client — or if you’ve been a member of our community for a while now — you may also know that one of Erik’s superpowers is system design — and in particular — CRMs — so think all things email marketing, content, process automation, workflows, and e-commerce. When Erik and I were thinking about him coming back to the podcast for another conversation — we explored the idea of focusing our time together around CRMs — and, in particular — how putting the right strategy and tech into practice inside your shop could help you streamline biz dev and ops — and in the process — help you sell more of what you do. If you’ve ever considered or questioned how the right CRM — combined with the right automation — might help you and your team grow your audience, nurture leads, and increase sales — while streamlining processes and workflows — then this conversation with Erik is for you. I promise you — if you take and apply the insights, wisdom, and expertise Erik shares during this episode — you and your team will find new ways to streamline biz dev and ops inside your shop so that you have the capacity to sell more of what you do. What you will learn in this episode:
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| How to Design Your Digital Marketing Success Plan, with Corey Morris | 17 Jul 2024 | 00:37:42 | |
My guest on this episode of Sell With Authority has spent nearly 20 years working in strategic and leadership roles focused on growing national and local client brands with award-winning, ROI-generating digital strategies. Corey Morris, President and CEO of Voltage returns for an encore interview. Corey recently released his new book, The Digital Marketing Success Plan, and I’m thrilled to dive into the insights and strategies he shares. To set the stage for our conversation, here’s an excerpt from Chapter 10 of Corey’s book where he touches on a significant trend in the digital marketing landscape. Quoting Corey: “A trend I’m seeing personally and can validate through feedback I see with over two dozen other agency owners — that I believe will continue to grow–is brands having less patience with agencies. On the positive side — companies want to work with agencies that know what they’re doing and are the best at doing it. That means constantly bringing new ideas and thinking deeply about their business overall. Unfortunately — many companies have been burned by bad agency relationships. Whether due to talking big and not delivering, trying to be full service and do everything at a level of deep expertise, or just not being a right fit for other reasons like niche, price, strategy, etc. — most companies have had a bad experience with agencies at some point. Combine that with shorter-than-ever tenures for CMOs and the fact that so many agencies sound the same and have similar messaging — agencies are getting fired at a record rate. That means that being an expert or specialist and owning a niche is important to gain trust early, drive results, and have a quality relationship among all of the people on both sides. Shortening patience isn’t a one-way street. Agencies can be different and should be — and accountability will be a factor that wins out more and more in the coming years.” Corey’s observations are compelling and timely — and they resonate deeply with the challenges and opportunities faced by agencies today. I want to reinforce the relevance of his insights with some data from the latest Agency Edge research study conducted by Agency Management Institute and Audience Audit. This study aimed to quantify what clients want from their agencies, allowing respondents to choose more than one factor. Hannah Roth, our resident mad scientist and strategist here at Predictive, delved into the Agency Edge research and shared her thoughts on the implications. She summarized: “Clients want the strategy, the path, and the overall goal in nearly equal parts. To pack a powerful punch, agencies that want to attract advocates and exacting experts should offer elements of all three.” I couldn’t agree more with Hannah’s analysis — and it’s fascinating how the data aligns with Corey’s insights. This synchronicity is exactly why I invited Corey back for an encore. We explore how his book can serve as a roadmap for your agency to create winning strategies, paths, and goals for your clients. What you will learn in this episode:
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| The Sales Crucible and How to Build One, with Stephen Woessner | 10 Jul 2024 | 00:42:17 | |
For this episode of Sell With Authority — I break down a sales strategy that we’ve used here at Predictive for nearly a decade — but not until recently — did we build a framework around it. We call it the “Sales Crucible” — and I will tell you — whenever we have a new service line to begin selling here at Predictive – I design what we call a “Sales Crucible.” And just like a literal “crucible,” — I design a schedule and accountability points that intentionally put me under pressure so I’m forced to figure out the best way to talk about our newest offering, get at-bats in front of real prospects, strike out, and then eventually get some hits and score some wins. I know this might sound ridiculous — why would someone want to do that to themselves? Right? I promise you — if you put our Sales Crucible framework into practice — you will cut the time it takes to gain traction in your sales process. But before we dive in — have you heard about our upcoming July Intensive? Three times a year — we get our Predictive clients together on Zoom. We call it the “2-day Intensive.” We slice apart our best strategies for helping agencies sell more of what they do — and we break everything down in full transparency so you can install it into your agency. I know I’m biased — but holy bananas — each Intensive is off-the-charts awesome. Our next “Intensive” is Tuesday & Wednesday, July 30th & 31st, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon Central (on Zoom). Our goal for the July Intensive is to help you sell more of what you do. We have 30 guest passes available. Would you like to join us? And here’s the magic. The Intensive is a private client-only event. That means no selling. No pitching. You just get to be one of us. If that sounds helpful — just send me an email at stephen@predictiveroi.com with the word “ONWARD,” and I’ll get in touch with the full details, calendar invites, and Zoom links. What you will learn in this episode is:
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| Rethinking SEO in a Value-Driven World, with Michael Ter Mors | 06 Nov 2024 | 00:37:28 | |
This episode of Sell With Authority is all about demystifying that big, elusive buzzword we hear tossed around so often in marketing and sales — SEO. Depending on your agency’s focus, some of your clients and prospects might be total SEO aficionados, while others see it as a bit of a black box. And if we’re being honest — even those of us in the industry know that SEO can feel a little daunting at times. That’s why we invited Michael Ter Mors to join us. Michael is a partner at Conifr, an SEO consulting agency that’s carved out a niche working with B2B SaaS companies, helping them fill their sales pipelines with the right-fit prospects. Conifr has this knack for making SEO not just accessible — but actually useful for driving growth. We’re tearing down the myths of traditional SEO — and Michael shares how to align your marketing efforts to fill your sales pipeline with right-fit prospects. I’m saying “we” because I’m thrilled to have Hannah Roth, our Director of Strategy and resident Mad Scientist here at Predictive, joining us as well. Hannah works hands-on with clients every day, helping them drive results and sell more of what they do. Whether or not SEO is your agency’s bread and butter, you will walk away with fresh ideas on how to frame what you do — and help your clients sell more of what they do. What you will learn in this episode:
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| Skeptical thought leadership will work for you?, with Stephen Woessner | 03 Jul 2024 | 00:39:14 | |
For this episode of Sell With Authority, we’re shaking things up a bit. Instead of our usual format — I’ve got something special in store for you. Why this twist, you might wonder? There are a few reasons I’m excited to share with you. But before we dive in — have you heard about our upcoming July Intensive? Three times a year — we get our Predictive clients together on Zoom. We call it the “2-day Intensive.” We slice apart our best strategies for helping agencies sell more of what they do — and we break everything down in full transparency so you can install it into your agency. I know I’m biased — but holy bananas — each Intensive is off-the-charts awesome. Our next “Intensive” is Tuesday & Wednesday, July 30th & 31st, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon Central (on Zoom). Our goal for the July Intensive is to help you sell more of what you do. We have 30 guest passes available. Would you like to join us? And here’s the magic. The Intensive is a private client-only event. That means no selling. No pitching. You just get to be one of us. If that sounds helpful — just send me an email at stephen@predictiveroi.com with the word “ONWARD,” and I’ll get in touch with the full details, calendar invites, and Zoom links. Okay — now for the twist with today’s episode. Jody Sutter of The Sutter Company. For this episode — I’m sharing the full recording of a recent LinkedIn Live that I did alongside Jody Sutter. Jody invited me — and I was like — Holy Bananas, yes!! And here’s the thing — from the outside looking in — someone might look at Jody’s company and Predictive as competitors — and yet — we share content, and support each other any way we can — because we both want the same thing for agency owners — for them to win more business. So we’re going to play the entire LNKD Live recording here inside this episode. Enjoy. Hope you find it helpful. What you will learn in this episode is:
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| How to Grow Your Agency Through Community and Collaboration, with Jay Owen | 26 Jun 2024 | 00:37:00 | |
I’m thrilled to welcome Jay Owen to this episode of Sell With Authority. Jay is the Founder and CEO of Business Builders, and this is a bit of an encore because Jay and I connected a few years ago for episode 777 of Onward Nation. Today’s conversation is packed with insights you can apply to your own agency — to help you sell more effectively by focusing on how we help our clients grow as the catalyst for our own success. By leaning in to assist our audience, right-fit prospects, and clients, we can guide them through their most pressing business issues, challenges, and roadblocks. When we help them achieve their most vital priorities, remarkable things happen for them — and for us. Jay’s mission, shared by his team, is to help others grow their businesses because when we do that, good things happen. Jay has a vision for assisting other agency owners in overcoming the persistent challenges we all face. Or — more candidly — those issues we repeatedly bang our heads against the wall over. If you take and apply the insights and wisdom Jay shares during this episode — you and your team can find new ways to lean into the recurring issues and challenges your clients face — and then — find new, helpful solutions your clients will value — and value you more in the process. A big dose of gratitude to our presenting sponsor for the podcast, Conduit Digital. By using their expertise in streamlining, upgrading & scaling your clients…they promise to reduce your risk so you can become the best digital agency in your market in 30-days. You can find Conduit and all their helpful insights and smarts here. What you will learn in this episode:
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| Email Writing Workshop, with Stephen Woessner | 19 Jun 2024 | 00:50:03 | |
Welcome to the Sell with Authority Podcast – I’m Stephen Woessner, CEO of Predictive ROI. If we happen to be meeting for the first time — Predictive ROI helps agency owners and their teams sell more of what they do…typically for a higher fee. We do that by helping our clients build an authority position in the niche they’ve decided to serve — and then — monetize that position by creating a steady stream of right-fit prospects flowing into their sales pipeline. If learning proven strategies, tactics, and best practices to help you sell more of what you do aligns with where you want to take your agency — you’re in the right place. Today’s episode is a solocast — just you and me. I’ll take you behind the curtain into the content we created for an email writing workshop we delivered for Predictive ROI clients and then recently transformed into a new guide entitled “How to Write Effective Emails and Improve Your Open Rates.” The guide is so new that it hasn’t been added to our Resource Library yet. But — if you’d like a copy — just email me at stephen@predictiveroi.com and I’ll be sure to send it your way. During this episode — I’m going to share with you in full transparency our “Where to Begin” process for writing effective emails on behalf of our clients and as part of our own content strategy. How the content we create leans into the common questions we know our audience cares about. How our emails address the pain points we know our audience is feeling and how each message is designed to be helpful by sharing a relevant story. Honest — writing effective email content can be that simple. I look forward to your thoughts. A big dose of gratitude to our presenting sponsor for the podcast, Conduit Digital. By using their expertise in streamlining, upgrading & scaling your clients…they promise to reduce your risk so you can become the best digital agency in your market in 30-days. You can find Conduit and all their helpful insights and smarts here. What you will learn in this episode is:
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| How to close sales without closing, with Stephen Woessner | 12 Jun 2024 | 00:47:39 | |
Welcome to the Sell with Authority Podcast – I’m Stephen Woessner, CEO of Predictive ROI. If we happen to be meeting for the first time — Predictive ROI helps agency owners and their teams sell more of what they do…typically for a higher fee. We do that by helping our clients build an authority position in the niche they’ve decided to serve — and then — monetize that position by creating a steady stream of right-fit prospects flowing into their sales pipeline. If learning proven strategies, tactics, and best practices to help you sell more of what you do aligns with where you want to take your agency — you’re in the right place. Today’s episode is a solocast — just you and me. I’ll take you behind the curtain into what we call the “Help Me Understand” framework here at Predictive — and how we use it every single time we have a conversation with a prospective client. We use it every single time because the framework keeps us on track and focused on the most important thing during those meetings…the person we’re meeting with. This type of meeting is never about selling — and the last thing we ever want to do is look like we’re trying to close a sale. You don’t like when someone tries to close you so we would never suggest you try to “close” one of your prospects. Instead — the Help Me Understand framework sets the stage for a great business conversation where you ask helpful questions. Then — there’s some leaning in, peeling back the layers, asking more questions…and if you’ve applied the framework in full…your prospective client will ask you, “So — I’ve done all the talking. How do you think you can help us?” Honest — it can be that simple. I look forward to your thoughts. A big dose of gratitude to our presenting sponsor for the podcast, Conduit Digital. By using their expertise in streamlining, upgrading & scaling your clients…they promise to reduce your risk so you can become the best digital agency in your market in 30-days. You can find Conduit and all their helpful insights and smarts here. What you will learn in this episode is:
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| How to Design Your HERO Offer, with Jane Pfeiffer | 05 Jun 2024 | 00:36:54 | |
For this episode of Sell With Authority, I am thrilled to welcome back Jane Pfeiffer, the brilliant Founder and President of Fieldtrip, for an encore interview. Jane and her team have developed a new service offering that’s a game-changer for clients and prospects in their niche. We discuss how to design a service offering that is limited in scope, with a defined start and end date, and a set budget. This approach leaves your clients wanting more because you demonstrated your expertise, were incredibly helpful, and built trust from start to finish. Jane takes us behind the curtain to reveal how you can be the most helpful to your clients by showing them all the problems — but in a way that prevents them from getting overwhelmed. Jane also shares strategies for enrolling your team, preparing for client discussions — while creating a service line that makes your agency an easy yes for right-fit prospects. A big dose of gratitude to our presenting sponsor for the podcast, Conduit Digital. By using their expertise in streamlining, upgrading & scaling your clients…they promise to reduce your risk so you can become the best digital agency in your market in 30-days. You can find Conduit and all their helpful insights and smarts here. What you will learn in this episode:
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| How to Escape Founder-Led Sales, with Corey Quinn | 29 May 2024 | 00:44:28 | |
For this episode of Sell With Authority, I invited Corey Quinn, who has a 25-year record of extraordinary success as an entrepreneur, sales leader, and marketing executive, to come back for an encore. In episode 86 of the podcast, Corey and I went on a bit of a mining expedition where we unearthed a ton of golden nuggets around how to narrow down your target market — and then — how to avoid some of the typical roadblocks that agencies run into when they begin to specialize and focus on a particular vertical market. Today, we dive into an area that we’ve never explored with any real depth on the podcast before. And that’s — how to escape founder-led sales. If I had a dollar for every time I’ve chatted with agency owners celebrating the hire of that mythical, unicorn new biz salesperson who’s supposed to ignite a fire of new clients and profitable work, I’d be rolling in it. On the flip side — I’ve also heard countless stories of disappointment — owners lamenting yet another failed biz dev hire who couldn’t even cover their salary. Then there are the founders who desperately want to focus on biz dev, but just can’t find the time. As a result, lead generation stalls and conversations with right-fit prospects fall by the wayside. That’s why I asked Corey to join us today. He is a powerhouse in outbound marketing strategies, and he shares game-changing insights to help agency owners generate consistent sales and communicate their expertise. And — if you apply the strategies Corey lays out in his book, Anyone, Not Everyone, A Proven System to Escape Founder-Led Sales, you’ll be well on your way to filling your sales pipeline with a steady stream of right-fit clients — the clients you want to serve and those that bring opportunities to sell more of what you do. A big dose of gratitude to our presenting sponsor for the podcast, Conduit Digital. By using their expertise in streamlining, upgrading & scaling your clients…they promise to reduce your risk so you can become the best digital agency in your market in 30-days. You can find Conduit and all their helpful insights and smarts here. What you will learn in this episode is about:
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| How to Get Your Money, with Sharon Toerek | 22 May 2024 | 00:45:20 | |
I am thrilled to welcome our guest expert, Sharon Toerek, back to this episode of Sell With Authority. It’s her fourth time appearing on the show with us, but for those who are meeting her for the first time, she’s the Founder of Toerek Law and the host of the podcast “The Innovative Agency”. Sharon is also Predictive’s wicked smart intellectual property attorney and has reviewed and advised us with our client agreements and created our buy-sell and partnership agreements. She has been helping professionals in the advertising, marketing, and creative services industries protect and monetize their intellectual capital, and manage the legal implications of their marketing and advertising work. Many of us have faced the dilemma of wanting to have certain crucial conversations with our clients — but not knowing how to approach them without causing friction or damage to the relationship. On this episode, Sharon and I focus our discussion on how to ensure you get paid by having the right conversations with your clients at the right times. And — we discuss how to start relationships with clients on the right foot from the very beginning. Ensure that you and your agency get paid for your hard work. Sharon’s expertise provides the tools and confidence to have these essential conversations with your clients. A big dose of gratitude to our presenting sponsor for the podcast, Conduit Digital. By using their expertise in streamlining, upgrading & scaling your clients…they promise to reduce your risk so you can become the best digital agency in your market in 30-days. You can find Conduit and all their helpful insights and smarts here. What you will learn in this episode:
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| Strategic Moves for Agency Profit, with Marcel Petitpas | 15 May 2024 | 00:47:34 | |
This episode of Sell With Authority is one I have been eagerly anticipating! I’m excited to reintroduce you to our special guest expert — because this conversation has been about 6-months in the making. When Marcel Petitpas, the Co-Founder and CEO of Parakeeto, joined us for Episode 95, the insights he shared were just the tip of the iceberg. That’s why I immediately extended the invitation for an encore. Marcel has an unparalleled understanding of agency profitability and the essential metrics we need to focus on as agency owners to ensure not just growth — but profitable growth. Today, Marcel and I pick up right where we left off, delving deeper into the nuances of agency profitability. But that’s not all. Thanks to the timing of this encore, we have a unique opportunity to gain some exclusive insights. Marcel has been on the move, traveling the country, sharing his wisdom on countless stages, and fielding questions from eager agency owners like you. So, during this encore, we take a peek behind the curtain. I’m beyond excited about this encore with Marcel — because when you sell more of what you do at a higher fee — that’s awesome — but it’s only awesome if you’re also more profitable. A big dose of gratitude to our presenting sponsor for the podcast, Conduit Digital. By using their expertise in streamlining, upgrading & scaling your clients…they promise to reduce your risk so you can become the best digital agency in your market in 30-days. You can find Conduit and all their helpful insights and smarts here. What you will learn in this episode:
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| How to Find the Right Strategic Partnership for Your Agency, with Tim Burke | 08 May 2024 | 00:35:57 | |
In this episode of Sell With Authority, Hannah Roth and I welcome Tim Burke, CEO of Conduit Digital Marketing. We focus our discussion on strengthening your agency through strategic partnerships — and the effective use of white-label solutions. Tim shares his brilliant perspective on the power of choosing the right strategic partners, optimizing processes, and the crucial metrics that drive successful client outcomes. We explore how the right partnerships can prove pivotal in transforming your agency from just another vendor into a valued strategic partner. Be even more helpful to your right-fit clients with strategic partnerships that keep your agency competitive in constantly changing markets. Applying Tim’s insights and recommendations will put you and your agency in a better position to streamline, upgrade, and scale. And by doing that — you will sell more of what you do. A big dose of gratitude to our presenting sponsor for the podcast, Conduit Digital. By using their expertise in streamlining, upgrading & scaling your clients…they promise to reduce your risk so you can become the best digital agency in your market in 30-days. You can find Conduit and all their helpful insights and smarts here. What you will learn in this episode:
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| How to Grow Your Agency, with Stephen Woessner | 01 May 2024 | 00:58:39 | |
How to grow your agency to the next level? In this episode, reach even greater heights by learning how to grow your agency. For this episode of Sell With Authority, we’re shaking things up a bit. Instead of our usual format — I’ve got something special in store that’s related to how to grow your agency. We’re diving into an episode I recorded with Drew McLellan for his Build a Better Agency Podcast. Why this twist, you might wonder? There are a few reasons I’m excited to share with you. First off — Drew and I delved deep into the topic of niche, but from a perspective that might surprise you. We explored how Predictive pivoted its niche a few years back, the reasons behind it, and, candidly, how we got a bit too comfortable in our previous niche. Secondly — I believe the insights we share about building community and adding value will resonate with you, especially if you attended Day 1 of our March Intensive, where community was at the forefront. And third — buckle up for some powerful takeaways from Drew’s keynote at the Build a Better Agency Summit. He discusses steering our agencies out of safe harbors, embracing the storm, and why those risks we fear might not be risks at all. Drew’s wisdom adds a brilliant layer to the conversation. If you take and apply what we talk about in this episode on how to grow your agency — you’re going to be in a much better position to roar through 2024 by selling more of what you do. A big dose of gratitude to our presenting sponsor for the podcast, Conduit Digital. By using their expertise in streamlining, upgrading & scaling your clients…they promise to reduce your risk so you can become the best digital agency in your market in 30-days. You can find Conduit and all their helpful insights and smarts here. What you will learn in this episode about how to grow your agency:
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| Leveraging Your CRM to Deliver ROI, with Jason Kramer | 30 Oct 2024 | 00:46:55 | |
I’m excited for today’s episode of Sell With Authority because we have an incredible guest expert joining us — Jason Kramer. If you haven’t met Jason, he’s the Founder and CEO of Cultivize, a consulting firm that helps businesses select, onboard, and implement a CRM — and then — put a lead nurturing and sales process in place so those tools deliver real ROI. Jason breaks down critical areas that will help your agency improve sales performance — from eliminating pipeline leakage to creating a structured, repeatable sales process. We cover the sales process end-to-end — focusing on how a properly implemented CRM can support every stage of the journey. It’s all about ensuring that every opportunity is nurtured with precision from first contact to closed deal. If you take and apply the insights and wisdom Jason shares with you during this episode — you and your team will sell more of what you do. What you will learn in this episode:
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| How to Focus And Get Work Done, with Stephen Woessner | 24 Apr 2024 | 00:47:27 | |
How to focus and get work done? Listen to this solocast to learn the secrets on how to focus and get work done. Welcome to the Sell with Authority Podcast – I’m Stephen Woessner, CEO of Predictive ROI. If we happen to be meeting for the first time — Predictive ROI helps agency owners and their teams sell more of what they do…typically for a higher fee. We do that by helping our clients build an authority position in the niche they’ve decided to serve — and then — monetize that position by creating a steady stream of right-fit prospects flowing into their sales pipeline. If learning proven strategies, tactics, and best practices to help you sell more of what you do aligns with where you want to take your agency — you’re in the right place. Today’s episode is going to be a solocast—just you and me. We’ll explore a topic at both a high level and an eye level so you and your team can take it and apply it. The goal is to answer the question, “How to focus and get work done?” Back when Drew McLellan, CEO of Agency Management Institute, and I decided to write our Sell with Authority book — we knew we needed to include some very practical and tactical recipes and guides on how to get all the work done. And I will tell you — when he and I teach our “Build and Nurture Your Sales Funnel” workshop — we spend a chunk of time on Day 2 helping attendees calendar and map out who in the shop is going to do all of the work so their plan doesn’t fall apart when they get back home. For today’s solocast, I’m going to take you behind the curtain into Appendices A and B in the back of our Sell with Authority book and share more about how to focus and get work done here at Predictive so you can take the same recipes and apply them to your shop. What you will learn in this episode is about how to focus and get work done:
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| How to Stand Out From Competitors, with Robin & Steve Boehler | 17 Apr 2024 | 00:49:24 | |
How to stand out from competitors and make yourself an easy yes? Get the answers here on how to stand out from competitors. If you’ve been listening to the podcast for a while now — you know we share insights and tactical examples for how to stand out from competitors and make your agency an easy yes for your right-fit clients and prospects. Two mentors who have been instrumental in our learning around this topic over the last decade are my very special guest experts on this episode of Sell With Authority, Robin and Steve Boehler. Robin and Steve run Mercer Island Group and are absolutely brilliant in how they help agencies win more business from right-fit clients because of how they help correctly position an agency from the start — how to uncover and find the strategic insight a client or prospect truly cares about — and how to write and deliver a proposal that demonstrates an agency’s smarts clearly and concisely. Robin and Steve have seen it all — the good and the bad. Today we lean into that wealth of experience to work through areas where agencies continually seem to struggle. I also invited Hannah Roth, our Mad Scientist and Strategist here at Predictive — because of Hannah’s unique perspective from working in the trenches day in and day out alongside our clients, helping them fill their sales pipelines with a steady stream of right-fit clients so they can sell more of what they do. If you take and apply the insights, advice, and recommendations Robin and Steve share during this episode — how to stand out from competitors — and — you’ll make yourself an easy yes. What you will learn in this episode about how to stand out from competitors:
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| Rewiring Leadership, with Audrey Kwan | 10 Apr 2024 | 00:44:19 | |
Rewiring leadership will help your agency grow. Listen to Audrey Kwan and start learning about empowering your team by rewiring leadership. When I sit down with agency owners and their teams for the first time, our conversations often revolve around the same themes — where new clients are coming from, how engaged their email lists are, and the consistency (or lack thereof) in sharing valuable content to grow their audiences. And without fail — I hear something along these lines: “We’re the cobbler’s kids, Stephen. We know what we should be doing, and ironically, we’re doing that work for our clients. But when it comes to our own agency, we either drop the ball entirely or we’re consistently inconsistent.” Sound familiar? Being consistently inconsistent is not just costing you opportunities — it’s costing you peace of mind. Having a predictable biz dev system in place can provide a sense of stability that’s priceless. We often talk about the Sell with Authority methodology — and how it can solve these issues. But for this episode of the podcast, I want to approach the cobbler’s kids syndrome from a slightly different angle. That’s why I invited Audrey Kwan to join as our special guest expert today to talk us through about rewiring leadership. Audrey is the Founder of AJK Consulting Inc. and specializes in helping agency owners who are at capacity leverage systems and leadership to reclaim more of their time — time that can be dedicated to business development if they choose. What sets Audrey apart is her deep understanding of how agencies, like yours and mine, operate from the inside out. Having worked alongside over 150 agency owners and their teams, she knows the ins and outs of agency life like few others. This conversation with Audrey about rewiring leadership shines a light on the constraints, obstacles, and roadblocks that may be silently hindering your progress. We tackle the feast and famine of biz dev head-on — and address that nagging feeling that your agency is the cobbler’s kids. Taking and applying the insights and wisdom Audrey shares during this episode will unlock opportunities so you’re equipped with the time, space, and capacity to Sell with Authority — and roar through 2024. What you will learn in this episode about rewiring leadership:
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| Strategic Hiring, with Sue MacArthur | 03 Apr 2024 | 00:44:48 | |
Strategic hiring will help free up your time for biz dev. In this episode, Sue MacArthur will share valuable insights into strategic hiring. In this episode of Sell With Authority, we tackle a question that’s fundamental to our success: Can we all be better at allocating our time so that we have the space, capacity, and focus to more effectively lean into business development? The short answer? Yes. Of course, we can with the help of strategic hiring. There’s always room for improvement in how we manage our time and efforts. Here’s the twist — there’s another crucial variable in the equation of biz dev and time allocation — and that’s putting yourself first. When it comes to filling the seats within your organization, putting yourself last doesn’t serve you well. We often hear the needs of others within our teams, and we rush to fill those roles. But — does that truly free up our capacity to sell more effectively? More often than not, the answer is no. In fact — it may even increase the pressure to sell more just to keep up with the added capacity. I recently read Buy Back Your Time by Dan Martell, which completely shifted my perspective. Rather than hiring for specific roles based on perceived needs, Dan advocates for hiring individuals who can take specific tasks off your plate, thus freeing up your time for biz dev. Today, I’m joined by a special guest expert, Sue MacArthur, President of Strategic Talent Management, who manages the firm’s business development, operations, and client services. Sue shares invaluable insights into strategic hiring — how to prioritize roles, hire effectively, and ensure that you have the right people in the right seats to propel your business forward. I’m thrilled to have Sue on board to guide us through this crucial aspect of building a successful business. Get ready to take notes because the golden nuggets Sue shares will revolutionize how you approach hiring and time allocation. By applying these strategies, you’ll free up your capacity, sell more effectively, and position yourself for success as we charge through 2024. What you will learn in this episode about strategic hiring:
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| The Power of Storytelling in Business, with Sean Tracey | 27 Mar 2024 | 00:53:37 | |
The power of storytelling in business can help create emotional connections. Learn more from Sean Tracey about the power of storytelling in business. Get ready for a marketing strategy that balances profit with authenticity to differentiate your brand by using the power of storytelling in business. In this episode of Sell With Authority, we unlock some rock solid awesome insights with our special guests, Sean Tracey and Predictive’s own Mad Scientist, Hannah Roth. Sean is an award-winning creative strategist and speaker with over 25 years of experience in brand marketing. He is the Founder and CEO of Sean Tracey Associates, a full-service advertising and marketing firm. Sean is sharing his groundbreaking P equals P framework, which has revolutionized the way his agency connects with brands and elevates their success. We dive deep into practical tactics, including the power of authentic storytelling and focusing on a customer-centric approach. This episode illuminates the path to creating meaningful emotional connections with your right-fit clients using the power of storytelling in business. Double down on strategies that resonate on a deeper level and drive unwavering loyalty to your brand. What you will learn in this episode about the power of storytelling in business:
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| Benefits of SEO Marketing, with Corey Morris | 20 Mar 2024 | 00:48:50 | |
Benefits of SEO marketing is something the business owners should learn. Let Corey Morris be your guide on the benefits of SEO marketing. My guest on this episode of Sell With Authority has spent nearly 20 years working in strategic and leadership roles focused on growing national and local client brands with award-winning, ROI-generating digital strategies. Corey Morris is President and CEO of Voltage, a powerhouse in the digital marketing sphere and has a deep understanding about the benefits of SEO marketing. Corey is not only a VIP contributor to esteemed publications like Search Engine Journal and Search Engine Land but also the author of the eagerly anticipated book, Digital Marketing Success Plan, set to release later this year. We dive into the mystic dark magic voodoo that search engine optimization sometimes feels like — and we dispel some myths. Perhaps even more importantly — we highlight the strategies and tactics you and your team should focus on for 2024 — and beyond. Because if you do — you’ll attract more right-fit prospects into your agency’s sales pipeline. And what we discuss will also help you score some more wins for your clients. If you take and apply the insights and wisdom Corey shares during this episode — you and your team will raise the bar in how you help your clients when talking through the benefits of SEO marketing and where it’s headed — and — you can use it to fill your sales pipeline and roar through 2024. What you will learn in this episode about the benefits of SEO marketing:
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| Client Engagement Strategy, with Jamie Shibley | 13 Mar 2024 | 00:45:43 | |
Client engagement strategy must be established to allow better conversions. Learn from Jamie Shibley on developing your own client engagement strategy. I am so thrilled Jamie Shibley joins this episode of Sell With Authority for an encore interview. Jamie is the CEO of The Expressory, a strategic gifting agency that believes the key to accelerating your business growth and profitability relies on your ability to effectively nurture meaningful relationships through your client engagement strategy. Also joining this episode is Hannah Roth, Mad Scientist and Strategist here at Predictive. We dive into the critical world of nurturing client relationships and the artful science behind measuring the impact of your touchpoints. Jamie brings to the table her proven spreadsheet strategy for tracking engagement that’s skyrocketed results to an incredible 80% engagement rate. We also pull back the curtain on how to understand the goldmine hidden within your prospect list. Jamie shares key insights on the importance of knowing not just who’s on your list, but who they really are — their goals, ambitions, and what lights their fire. We tackle how to create emotional bonds that not only cut down the sales process — but build unshakeable trust. Don’t miss the chance to transform your client engagement strategy with Jamie’s expertise! What you will learn in this episode about client engagement strategy:
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| How to Sell With Confidence, with Hannah Roth | 06 Mar 2024 | 00:41:55 | |
How to sell with confidence? Join Hannah Roth in this episode as she teaches business owners how to sell with confidence. I am super excited to welcome our guest expert, Hannah Roth, to this episode of Sell With Authority. It is always a pleasure to have her on the podcast – so much so that this is her sixth time with us! And this time, she will be sharing her process to business owners on how to sell with confidence. Hannah is Predictive ROI’s mad scientist and strategist (that is her actual title, by the way) and works with clients to define and achieve their business goals, overcome challenges, and find new growth opportunities. In this episode, we uncover the biggest A-HAs that she’s identified from her time working alongside agency owners in the trenches. In our conversation, we highlight pitfalls for agency owners — and the best ways to overcome them. Hannah sheds light on how each of these observations are tied to one another, because solving one allows agency owners to solve the others. What you will learn in this episode about how to sell with confidence:
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| Build a Community for the Right Reasons, with Drew McLellan | 28 Feb 2024 | 00:48:46 | |
To celebrate our 100th episode, I am excited to welcome our guest expert, Drew McLellan, to the Sell With Authority podcast. This is Drew’s second time on the show and it seems fitting to have him mark this milestone. He is not only my most trusted business advisor — but he’s also been my best friend in the world for the better part of a decade. Drew is the CEO of Agency Management Institute — which advises hundreds of small to mid-sized agencies on how to grow their agency and its profitability – and of McLellan Marketing Group. He walks the walk — and he pours the best of what he’s got into his community. In this episode, we focus our attention on how to build a community around the niche you want to serve. In our conversation, we talk through how hosting a live event can be an exceptional strategy for growing your audience — and being helpful. Drew shines a light on how to become a leader in the community by coming from a place of great love and a true commitment to serve. What you will learn in this episode:
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| Building Profitable Agency-to-Agency Alliances, with Sharon Toerek | 21 Feb 2024 | 00:40:18 | |
I am thrilled to welcome our guest expert, Sharon Toerek, back to this episode of Sell With Authority. It’s her third time appearing on the show with us, but for those who are meeting her for the first time, she’s the Founder of Toerek Law and the host of the podcast “The Innovative Agency”. Sharon is also Predictive’s wicked smart intellectual property attorney and has reviewed and advised us with our client agreements and created our buy-sell and partnership agreements. She has been helping professionals in the advertising, marketing, and creative services industries protect and monetize their intellectual capital, and manage the legal implications of their marketing and advertising work. On this episode, Sharon and I focus our discussion on agency-to-agency collaborations. We delve into how to manage risk — and the key documents to have in place when agencies go down the collaboration route to save time, stress, and money. In our conversation, we go through the steps agencies should take before diving into an agency-to-agency strategic alliance. Sharon emphasizes the importance of creating agreements for each stage of the collaboration between agencies. We also discuss her recommendations on an ideal timeline to establish such contracts so agencies don’t put the cart before the horse. Applying what Sharon gives you during this episode will help you grow your agency in 2024 — and — protect your shop along the way. What you will learn in this episode:
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| How to Balance Personalization and Scale, with Dan Englander | 23 Oct 2024 | 00:41:53 | |
I’m thrilled to have Dan Englander as our guest expert on this episode of Sell With Authority. Dan is the CEO and Founder of Sales Schema, a fractional new business team for marketing agencies. He’s also the host of The Digital Agency Growth Podcast and the author of “Relationship Sales at Scale.” Dan’s book perfectly captures one of the biggest challenges agency owners and their teams face when it comes to business development — how to open doors efficiently, build meaningful relationships, and fill your sales pipeline without getting bogged down by a slow, one-by-one approach. How do you balance personalization with scale? This is exactly where Dan shines. “Building trust can be challenging, but the good news is that going in cold is no longer necessary. Your outreach does not have to summit a mountain but rather walk over a small hill — since the goal is not to build the trust needed to close a deal — but just enough to de-risk a conversation and create a relationship.” We dive into this core concept from his book — how balancing personalization and scale is not only possible, but essential. What you will learn in this episode:
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| Strategies to Stop Starvation Marketing with Chris Slocumb | 14 Feb 2024 | 00:41:34 | |
I am excited to welcome our guest expert, Chris Slocumb, to this episode of Sell With Authority. She is the Founder of Clarity Quest Marketing and has worked with digital health, life sciences, and technology firms on marketing strategy, business planning, and marketing implementation. Chris presently holds eight U.S. patents and is a Forbes Agency Council member. She is also author of the brilliant book Stop Starvation Marketing. In this episode, we dive deep into the challenges agency owners face when thinking about how to raise the bar of excellence in how we show up for our clients and right-fit prospects. During our conversation, we discuss the methodology and the moves that agency owners need to put into place to stop starvation marketing. Chris also sheds light on how we can double down on selling with our hearts and minds — and move past conversations that focus exclusively on features, advantages, and benefits. When we get all of this right — growing an audience and attracting a steady stream of right-fit clients is much more efficient because you focus on helping your audience solve real business issues, challenges, and problems that are creating chronic pain inside their business. What you will learn in this episode:
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| Maximize Agency Profitability with Thought Leadership and Metrics, with Jody Grunden | 07 Feb 2024 | 00:41:22 | |
I am excited to welcome our guest expert, Jody Grunden, to this episode of Sell With Authority. Jody has been on the front lines navigating agency ownership for over two decades. He Co-Founded Summit CPA Group, a trailblazing firm that pioneered fully distributed operations and became the top provider of Virtual CFO Services in North America. In 2022, Summit joined forces with Anders CPAs + Advisors, rebranding as Summit Virtual CFO by Anders. On this episode, we dive deep into the challenges, opportunities, and everything in between that agency owners — just like you and me — face everyday. In our conversation, we tackle key areas that can make or break your agency’s success. Jody sheds light on why building a thought leadership position is crucial — and — how to do it. We also take a comprehensive look into the key metrics that Jody and his team use to keep clients on top of their game, maximizing profitability and growth — and ensuring a healthy sales pipeline. What you will learn in this episode:
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| How to Build an Authority Position Serving Your Niche, with Brian and Kim Walker | 31 Jan 2024 | 00:40:20 | |
I am thrilled to welcome our special guest experts, Brian and Kim Walker, back to this episode of Sell With Authority. Brian and Kim are the Co-Founders of Shop Marketing Pros, an agency that specializes in top-tier marketing in their niche of the auto repair industry. In episode 90 of the podcast, Brian and Kim shared how they strategically and systematically stepped into a niche — and then — completely immersed themselves into the industry. They described how they dove in with both feet and how that level of proactivity has propelled the agency they own today in miraculous ways. In this encore episode, we talk specifics about how they carved out their authority position serving their niche. We shine a spotlight on how they approach content, teaching, giving, and acts of service — the kind of dedication that makes them an easy “YES” for right-fit prospects. Get ready to crush 2024 — with the tools and insights Brian and Kim share — and make it your best year ever! What you will learn in this episode:
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| Strategic Planning for Growth & Profit , with Marcel Growth and ProfitPetitpas | 24 Jan 2024 | 00:43:45 | |
For this episode of Sell With Authority, we invited a guest expert to help us navigate the critical intersection between growth and profitability in the agency world. Joining the podcast is Marcel Petitpas, CEO and Founder of Parakeeto. Not only is he the brains behind Parakeeto, but he’s also a sought-after speaker, podcast host, and consultant specializing in agency profitability optimization. Marcel helps agencies measure and improve their profitability by simplifying operations and reporting systems. As we charge forward into 2024, we’re all about growing revenues, expanding our teams, and achieving new heights. But here’s the catch — growth doesn’t automatically translate to more profit. Without a strategic plan, your enthusiasm could take a hit when your topline soars, but your bottom line doesn’t keep pace. Marcel guides us through the metrics that matter and when to pay attention to them — because — no matter how big or small your agency is, profitability should always be top of mind. We never outgrow the need to be smart and vigilant about how we run things. We help you craft a plan so that as you and your team grow revenue in 2024 — your profit also grows at the same or better pace. What you will learn in this episode:
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| Make Yourself an Easy Yes for Right-Fit Clients, with Colleen Gallagher | 17 Jan 2024 | 00:37:24 | |
In this episode of Sell With Authority, we dive deep into not one — but two opportunities that could be absolute game-changers for your agency. Opportunities that won’t just make your agency easier to say yes to — but will open up the door for more conversations with your dream prospects. More at-bats with right-fit clients — Holy Bananas! First, we shine a spotlight on getting in front of more prospects by growing your list. Our guest expert, the brilliant Colleen Gallagher, President and CEO of OnWrd & UpWrd, has an ingenious strategy. Imagine introducing your agency to your dream prospects without the typical, “Hey, let me email you our capabilities deck.” Colleen and her team cracked the code, and we unpack the brilliance behind it. We don’t stop there. After you implement Colleen’s savvy approach and find yourself in more meaningful conversations, we turn to the second opportunity — leaning into the business issues and challenges obstructing growth for your prospective clients. This is not just about identifying pain points — but removing the thorn from their side, addressing the issues causing real discomfort. Colleen walks us through how her team does it. It’s about becoming a strategic partner, not just another vendor. I’m not alone in this conversation; joining me is our very own mad scientist and strategist here at Predictive, Hannah Roth. With her hands-on experience working alongside our clients, she brings a unique perspective to the table. So, whether you’re a seasoned agency pro or just starting out, get ready to crush 2024 and sell more of what you do — because you got the at-bats you needed, and you made yourself an easy yes for right-fit clients. What you will learn in this episode:
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| How to Ask a Proper Question, with Jody Sutter | 10 Jan 2024 | 00:44:48 | |
How to Ask a Proper Question? Win business and elevate your communication skills with our guide on how to ask a proper question. How to ask a proper question? As the great Tony Robbins once said, “If you want to change the trajectory of your life … ask better questions.” Here at Predictive, we’ve taken that philosophy to heart — especially when it comes to working with our clients. Today, we’re turning the spotlight on the art of questioning and how it can be a game-changer for your agency. In this episode of Sell With Authority, we focus on how to raise the bar of excellence in the questions we ask clients and right-fit prospects. You see, in the world of proposals and client interactions, it’s not just about the pitch; it’s about asking the right questions at the right time. How can we map out questions, rehearse scenarios, and fine-tune our approach to help clients not just get proposals accepted — but truly understand if an opportunity aligns with their agency? Here’s a stat that will grab your attention — the typical proposal acceptance rate for an agency hovers around 25-30%. That means a lot of non-billable time is invested in opportunities with a low probability of success. But, armed with the right questions and a sprinkle of Conceptual Agreement, your agency’s win rate can soar to an incredible 80%. Asking good questions may be simple, but not always easy. That’s why I invited Jody Sutter for an encore episode so she could share her insights and wisdom about which questions we should ask — and when we should ask them. Jody is the brilliant mind behind The Sutter Company, a consultancy specializing in advising small agencies and marketing services firms on growth strategies. Her expertise lies in how to ask a proper question, asking questions and the kind of questions that break the ice, engaging clients in the process, and ultimately facilitating decisions that benefit both parties. If you apply the wisdom Jody imparts in this episode, you will change the trajectory of your agency for the better — so you roar through 2024! What you will learn in this episode is about how to ask a proper question:
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| Social That Sells for 2024 and Beyond, with Josephine Agrawal & Alina Sutherland | 03 Jan 2024 | 00:44:42 | |
As we pondered how to best be helpful in this episode of Sell With Authority, we realized that the landscape of social media has evolved dramatically. So — we decided to dive into a biz dev topic that’s been two decades in the making. It’s no longer just about “likes”, “comments”, and “shares” at the top of the funnel when utilizing social media. In 2024 and beyond, clients want more — they want measurable impact on sales at the bottom of the funnel. So, buckle up because today, we unravel the mystery of driving sales through social media with a methodology our guest experts have coined as “Social that Sells.” I was intrigued when I heard them describe it as a “strategic trifecta of tactics that will help your client or brand foster a community ready to convert.” Who wouldn’t want a community ready to convert, right? Leading us on this expedition are two brilliant minds, Alina Sutherland and Josephine Agrawal, Founders of Pomona Creative. They built their “Social that Sells” methodology brick by brick, and today, they graciously share the secrets behind its success. Also joining me is our very own mad scientist and strategist here at Predictive, Hannah Roth. She brings a unique perspective from the trenches, working daily alongside our clients, helping them build authority positions and fill their sales pipelines with the right-fit prospects. Throughout this episode, we quiz Alina and Josephine on how they built it, how they executed it, and the jaw-dropping results they’ve seen. If you take and apply the golden nuggets shared during this episode, you will be ready to crush 2024 and make it your most successful and profitable year yet — because you harnessed the power of Social that Sells. What you will learn in this episode:
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| Speaking Opportunities, with Katy and Gretchen | 27 Dec 2023 | 00:46:33 | |
Speaking Opportunities? Level up your communication skills by exploring our guide to discover and maximize valuable Speaking Opportunities. On this episode of Sell With Authority, the topic is one that we’ve not yet addressed — how to share your expertise, insights, and wisdom from the stage as a speaker. We are talking about why speaking on stage can be a game-changer. As Drew McLellan and I wrote about in our book, Sell With Authority, one of the most compelling reasons to consider speaking is the power of a third-party endorsement. When you’re invited to speak at a conference, there’s an implied stamp of approval that certifies you as an expert. Speaking from the stage is not just about the content you deliver in that moment. It can be the cornerstone of your content strategy, taking your expertise to new heights. Speaking as cornerstone content creates an intimate connection with your audience that’s hard to replicate in any of the other forms of content you might produce. Speaking opportunities will showcase your expertise confidently. The journey to becoming a sought-after speaker has its challenges. That’s why we are dedicating today’s episode to tackling the constraints. We explore how to get on stage and — more importantly — how to leverage the opportunities before and after your speech with a three-pronged strategy. To help us do that — I invited Katy Boos and Gretchen Schaffer from Remix Communications to share their insights about speaking opportunities. Remix Communications specializes in positioning their clients on prestigious stages, helping them reach and influence their right-fit prospects. We also have a special guest with us today, Hannah Roth — our mad scientist and strategist at Predictive. With her unique perspective from working in the trenches, day in and day out, alongside clients, Hannah provides additional insights into building authority positions through cornerstone and cobblestone content. If you take and apply the gold nuggets in this episode, you will be ready to crush 2024 and make it your most successful and profitable year yet — because you thought strategically about how you can be helpful by sharing the right stories and in front of the right audiences. What you will learn in this episode is about speaking opportunities:
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| Importance of Niche Marketing, with Brian and Kim Walker | 20 Dec 2023 | 00:39:51 | |
Importance of Niche Marketing? Discover the role of Niche Marketing in business through our guide on the importance of niche marketing. Importance of niche marketing? On this episode of Sell With Authority, I am excited to welcome two guest experts who have a fascinating story of success — and an unwavering commitment to specialization. It’s the key to having better results. In this episode of Sell with Authority, Kim and Brian Walker co-founded their marketing agency, Shop Marketing Pros, based on their first-hand experience in the automotive industry. They found that automotive shops wanted and deserved quality marketing strategies to promote their businesses but just didn’t have the time to do it themselves. And — they needed a partner that would understand the unique intricacies of their niche. Their journey underscores the power of going narrow and niching down. And — it’s not just about choosing a niche; it’s about immersing yourself in it strategically and systematically — plunging into the deep end of the pool. Brian and Kim shed light on the path to becoming an integral part of your niche, building relationships, exploring the importance of niche marketing, joining inner circles — and positioning yourself as the go-to authority. What you will learn in this episode is about the importance of niche marketing:
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| What is Imposter Syndrome, with Kris Kelso | 13 Dec 2023 | 00:44:10 | |
What is Imposter Syndrome? Discover the true meaning and strategies to overcome imposter syndrome by exploring this article. On today’s episode of Sell With Authority, we are leaning into what might be an uncomfortable topic but crucial for business growth. We’re talking about conquering imposter syndrome — that nagging voice of doubt that can derail your journey to success. If you’ve ever wondered how you found the courage to start your business, battled the persistent inner critic, or questioned why you’re pushing yourself so hard, you’re not alone. Our guest expert today, Chris Kelso, is a business owner, executive coach, keynote speaker, and an imposter syndrome expert. He’s here to guide us through understanding, confronting, and ultimately conquering this obstacle many high achievers face. What is imposter syndrome? In this episode, we uncover the underlying fears fueling imposter syndrome and explore why it’s particularly prevalent among entrepreneurs. We shed light on a common trap that successful people often fall into and discover how imposter syndrome weaponizes our unique gifts against us. Plus — Chris will equip you with the tools to redefine success on your own terms and identify when imposter syndrome is at play in your team. It’s a tall order, but we have the perfect guest guiding us through it. Chris is the author of Overcoming The Imposter: Silence Your Inner Critic and Lead With Confidence and has worked with countless business owners and their leadership teams to navigate obstacles to growth. What you will learn in this episode is about the true meaning of what is imposter syndrome:
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| Future-Proof Your Agency with SYSTEMology, with David Jenyns | 16 Oct 2024 | 00:40:19 | |
I am super excited about today’s episode of Sell With Authority because we have a returning guest expert sharing his smarts — and if you’ve met him before, you already know how much value he brings. David Jenyns is the brains behind SYSTEMology, and a master at helping agencies implement operational systems that elevate their game.
If this is your first time meeting David — buckle up — because his mission is something I know will resonate with you: freeing agency owners from the trap of being the “go-to” person for every problem in the shop. Instead, he teaches us how to put well-oiled operations systems into place — systems that allow us to step back, breathe a little, and lead at a higher level.
What would it feel like if you weren’t stuck managing the day-to-day chaos of operations? What if your time could be spent focusing on your most important priorities — the things only you can do?
And — how much more valuable would your agency be if it could run smoothly without you?
That’s what David’s Systemology is all about — giving owners like you and me the time, space, and focus to work on the business instead of being buried in it.
You’ll have the time you need to dedicate yourself to biz dev — and lead the charge for the agency.
If you take and apply the insights and action steps David shares during this episode — you’ll be well on your way to systematizing your agency so you can sell more of what you do. | |||
| Growth Strategy for Business, with Shawndel Spader | 06 Dec 2023 | 00:46:27 | |
Growth Strategy for Business? Discover techniques to move your business forward with our guide on developing a growth strategy for business. In this episode of Sell With Authority we’re taking a deep dive into a critical question that business leaders must ask themselves; are we strategically planning for the future, or are we too busy reacting in the moment? Growth strategy for business? Scaling your agency is a thrilling prospect, but it’s not just about selling more — it’s about ensuring that growth translates into lasting profitability. In fact, growth and profit are not always an elastic relationship or a perfect correlation with one another. Implementing a robust biz dev machine is just the beginning. The journey to a thriving business involves navigating unforeseen challenges and avoiding trap doors that could jeopardize your success. As we gear up to roar into 2024, our aim is not only to get you excited about the opportunities ahead, but also to equip you with the tools to build a foundation that can support a larger, more complex business. Joining this episode is Shawndel Spader, CEO of Spader Group. With a wealth of experience in helping owners navigate the intricacies of business growth, Shawndel shares insights on how to avoid those trap doors and build a foundation for success. I also invited Hannah Roth, our mad scientist and strategist here at Predictive, to join because of her unique perspective from working in the trenches day in and day out, alongside our clients, helping them build, scale — and then — sell with authority. If you take and apply the Golden Nuggets shared during this episode, you’ll be ready to crush 2024 and make it your most profitable year yet. What you will learn in this episode is about growth strategy for business:
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| Getting Back to the Strategic Seat, with Lenya McGrath and Hannah Roth | 29 Nov 2023 | 00:43:36 | |
Have you ever left a client meeting frustrated, feeling like you’ve lost that strategic seat at the table? On this episode of Sell With Authority, we dive deep into this issue with two incredible guests who have not only faced this challenge head-on — but have also successfully overcome it. Joining us is Lenya McGrath, the Executive Director of Business Development for BLVR, a company dedicated to helping wellness brands turn belief into behaviors that drive meaningful growth. Lenya and her team not only built a methodology to redefine their role beyond being seen as just a branding agency, but also quantified their impact with metrics, including the innovative concept of “Return on Belief.” But that’s not all — we’ve also brought in our very own mad scientist and strategist here at Predictive, Hannah Roth. She shares the unique perspective she gained from working in the trenches daily with our clients, helping them reclaim that strategic seat at the table. Our guests today guide you through the process of not just embracing the challenges — but turning them into opportunities. What you will learn in this episode:
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| How to Narrow Down Your Target Market, with Corey Quinn | 22 Nov 2023 | 00:47:03 | |
How to narrow down your target market? Refine your business strategy by exploring these techniques on how to narrow down your target market. For this episode of Sell With Authority, we are going on a bit of a mining expedition — and unearthing some super valuable golden nuggets that you can take and apply straight away. My guest is Corey Quinn — and if you’re meeting Corey for the first time — he has a 25-year record of extraordinary success as an entrepreneur, sales leader, and marketing executive. His most recent in-house role was serving as Scorpion’s Chief Marketing Officer, which is a small business-focused agency that Corey and his team grew from $20 million a year in recurring revenue to $150 million in under seven years. Holy Bananas — right! Corey is also the host of The Vertical Go-to-Market Podcast, where he interviews 7, 8, and 9-figure business owners who have been widely successful because they niched down. How to narrow down your target market? If we go a mile wide and an inch deep — we deplete our resources before we can have any impact. Instead of going wide and attempting to attract a broad audience by writing generic content that is suitable for everyone, true authorities do the reverse. They go narrow. That’s where the gold is! Not only did Corey help lead an agency that was niched, and they crushed it — but he’s also a curator and collector of stories and data points of other agency owners who are also crushing it because they niched. If you take and apply the golden nuggets that Corey shares during this episode, you will be positioned and ready to crush 2024 and make it your most successful and profitable year yet…because you went narrow. What you will learn in this episode is about how to narrow down your target market:
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| How to Own the Business, with Jeff Bush | 15 Nov 2023 | 00:43:47 | |
I am thrilled to welcome my guest to this episode of Sell With Authority, Jeff Bush. Jeff started his formal career in sales and marketing, and then transitioned into becoming a business owner of B2B and B2C companies. He has since become a seasoned entrepreneur with over three decades of experience under his belt and is President of Grow My Profit. He has quite an impressive track record, but what sets Jeff apart is his extraordinary ability to build and scale companies quickly and profitably. He’s not just a business owner; he’s a master at “owning the business” rather than “owning a job.” Jeff is a true expert in marketing, lead generation, and sales, but what distinguishes him is his perspective as an owner – always prioritizing the creation of systems, processes, and the acquisition of the right talent – to enable him to truly own the business. If your goal is to build and scale your agency so you can be in the best position to roar through 2024 and make it your most profitable year ever — the insights and wisdom Jeff shares are incredibly helpful! What you will learn in this episode:
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