Have you ever heard a story so captivating it felt like you were living it? That’s the power of good marketing. In this episode, we explore why crafting a compelling story can make or break your brand.

Marketing is an art, blending creativity with strategy to connect with people on a level that goes beyond just features and benefits. I've come to realize it's not just what you sell that matters, it's the story you tell. When our stories align with our audience's values and experiences, magic happens. But, it's also more than just storytelling. It’s about creating a bond with consumers and often, introducing a common “villain” for your hero—your customer—to conquer.

Many brands still struggle to implement this approach effectively. They either overlook the importance of narrative in their marketing strategy or fail to create authentic stories that resonate with their audience. That's why I brought someone on board who knows how to tell a story that not only captivates but also converts.

Our guest is Danielle Harris, a marketing & messaging consultant who teaches coaches and service providers how to attract and sign dream clients by sharing their unique stories in their messaging. She has worked in marketing for over 10 years and believes that for most business owners, their story is their most underutilized asset.

Danielle is based in Metro Detroit where she was born and raised. Danielle is known for her love of chocolate and travel.

Links Mentioned:

drharrisconsulting.com/story

Have you ever sat across from someone, listened intently to their story, and suddenly realized it has completely changed your perspective? That's the kind of shift that happens when businesses truly start to listen to their customers—not just hear them, but deeply understand their experiences, desires, and frustrations.

It's this understanding that can pivot a company's direction towards real success. With such a cluttered and noisy marketing environment, where shouting the loudest often gets mistaken for being the most effective, the voice of the customer is often overlooked.

Many businesses are so wired into the loop of speculation and assumption that they miss the strong undercurrents of customer sentiment that actually drive sales. We're living in an era where the customer's voice can either crown you as a market leader or blatantly reveal that your "innovative" product is just not cutting it. Customer behavior and their buying journey are more important than ever, and businesses need to adapt by adopting a customer-centric strategy.

On this episode, I'm thrilled to explore this topic with Kristin Zhivago, the founder and president of a digital marketing agency, Zhivago Partners, where the bring in qualified leads to their clients, while helping clients with pre- and post-sale customer interactions that lead to higher revenue.

Kristin is the author of the 5-star book, “Roadmap to Revenue: How to Sell the Way Your Customers Want to Buy,” and is an expert on the customer’s buying process. She spent decades as a revenue coach to company owners and CEOs, helping them grow their revenue by understanding what their customers want to buy, and how they want to buy it. She’s worked for hundreds of companies and interviewed thousands of their customers.

She has developed a system that helps marketers and top management quickly and inexpensively find out what their customers are really thinking when they set out to buy, so they can use this information to reverse-engineer successful sales and create new sales in quantity. Kristin has spent her life helping others realize their dreams.

Links Mentioned:

"Roadmap to Revenue: How to Sell the Way Your Customers Want to Buy" on Amazon: https://amzn.to/49kgkmT

Zhivago Partners website: zhivagopartners.com

Have you ever found yourself at a networking event awkwardly waiting for a break in the conversation to deliver that perfectly polished elevator pitch?

Or maybe you've had a one-on-one meeting where you only received polite nods and “interesting” as feedback?

On today's episode, we discuss the art of creating genuine connections and becoming a person others can't stop talking about – in a good way!

The fact is, most of us understand networking and referrals to be integral to business success, but not everyone recognizes that the right way to go about them can make a world of difference. The fine line between a forgettable interaction and one that leaves a memorable impression often comes down to the way we share our expertise and engage in conversations. That's what makes today's talk especially important; it's about transitioning from formulaic pitches to fostering conversations that organically generate interest and lead to referrals.

So how do you become truly referable without resorting to aggressive tactics that can turn people off?

This is where our guest, Michael Roderick, comes into the picture. Michael Roderick is the CEO of Small Pond Enterprises which helps thoughtful givers become thought leaders by making their brands referable, their messaging memorable, and their ideas unforgettable. He is also the host of the podcast Access to Anyone which shows how you can get to know anyone you want in business and in life using time-tested relationship-building principles. Michael's unique methodology comes from his own experience of going from being a High School English teacher to a Broadway Producer in under two years.

Links Mentioned:

https://www.myreferabilityrater.com