Interview

841: Sell Your Online Business: Engineer Your Way to Success with Joe Valley

February 23, 2022

Most people start an online business because they want the opportunity, autonomy, and money that comes with being an entrepreneur, but they typically find that they're stuck on a hamster wheel and can't get off. It's a different kind of issue for individuals trying to exit their business, and they don't know where to begin and have no notion how much their company is genuinely worth.

Joe Valley is the co-owner of Quiet Light Brokerage, an online M&A advisory firm. He has bought and sold a half dozen of his own companies and is the author of the best-selling book "The Exit Printers Playbook." Today, Joe discusses planning your business exit early, understanding the true value of your business, and maximizing the sale price through strategic accounting and financial management. He shares insightful stories of entrepreneurs who successfully sold their online businesses, highlighting the key factors that contributed to their success.

Quotes

“True wealth is built by selling a business, rather than by building and operating it on a daily basis.” - Joe Valley

“Your business is likely your most valuable asset, so why in the world would you go it alone?” - Joe Valley

“If you're going to set an exit goal in dollars, you need to know what the current value is, so you know how close or far you are from that.” - Joe Valley

Takeaways

01:31 Focusing on both writing a book to share expertise and running an M&A advisory firm can be an effective dual-track approach for an entrepreneur.

04:40 Planning your business exit early is crucial to maximizing the sale value.

12:45 Understanding the true value of your business, including proper accounting and financial management, is key to getting the best deal.

22:24 Seeking guidance from experienced advisors can help entrepreneurs avoid common mistakes and achieve their exit goals.

25:50 Treating your business as a separate entity, rather than just a source of personal income, can lead to greater long-term success.

Resources

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 30:02 — 41.4MB) | Embed

840: Make an Impact, Start your Business and Pursue Your Passion with David Finberg

February 22, 2022

David Finberg is the founder of Peaks Digital Marketing, a digital marketing agency that has generated tens of millions of dollars in revenue for its clients. With over 20 years of experience in website development and search engine optimization, David has been making websites since he was 9 years old. Today, David shares insights on the importance of website speed and how it can impact your search engine rankings, user experience, and overall business success. He discusses strategies for optimizing website speed and using split testing to improve conversion rates.

In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Finberg shares actionable strategies for improving website performance and conversion rates. He highlights tools like Google PageSpeed Insights, Google Optimize, Hotjar, and Crazy Egg to analyze and optimize sites, demonstrating how small changes—like refining hero content, simplifying forms, and adding social proof—can significantly boost conversions. Finberg encourages business owners to continuously experiment, measure, and iterate to maximize the value of existing traffic while complementing broader SEO and marketing strategies. Peaks Digital Marketing offers free audits and fractionalized marketing support, and Finberg actively shares insights on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn under David A. Finberg.

Quotes

“If we can better convert the traffic we already have, that’s a one-time fix that can dramatically improve all of your marketing channels.”

“PageSpeed is not just a ranking factor, it’s a conversion factor. Faster sites build trust, engagement, and confidence in your brand.”

“Small changes above the fold—like images, social proof, or simplifying forms—can triple your conversion rate without increasing traffic.”

“Start eating the elephant piece by piece. You don’t have to do it all at once—focus on data-driven experiments to improve your site continuously.”

Resources

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:54 — 46.8MB) | Embed

839: GreenPal: Create Apps, Solve Problems, Start and Grow Tech Startups with Bryan Clayton

January 25, 2022

Bryan Clayton is the CEO and founder of GreenPal, an online marketplace that connects homeowners with local lawn care professionals. Prior to starting GreenPal, he owned a landscaping company for 15 years. Today, Brian talks about the journey of bootstrapping GreenPal from the ground up, sharing insights on building a successful business without outside funding and the importance of focusing on customer needs and revenue growth.

In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Clayton discusses GreenPal’s approach to creating a seamless marketplace for homeowners and service providers. The app leverages data from Google Street View, aerial imagery, and Zillow to help landscapers provide fast, accurate quotes, streamlining payments and scheduling while maintaining a low take rate of 5–10%. Clayton also highlights the importance of vetting professionals, tracking repeat bookings, and creating a flywheel effect that promotes top-performing contractors. By adding value at every step—from lead generation to payment and rebooking—GreenPal differentiates itself from traditional directories. For homeowners and service providers alike, the platform saves time, reduces friction, and helps professionals build sustainable businesses. GreenPal is available on the App Store and Google Play, and Brian engages with users directly via Instagram @BrianMClayton.

Quotes

“Bootstrapping means funding the business off of its own revenue. Revenue is the best form of financing because it keeps you focused on what really matters—the customer.”

“Once we saw 30 people sign up on a Saturday, we realized people could discover this thing and use it, and if we could get 30, we could get hundreds more.”

“We offer a business in a box for landscaping professionals—they can plug in, get their first 100 customers in a couple of months, and improve their livelihood.”

“If you’re thinking about starting a business, get in the game. It’s never too late—you didn’t miss it.”

Resources

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 27:12 — 25.1MB) | Embed

838: Tactics vs. Strategies: Boost Your Social Engagement and Develop Consistent Traffic with Paid Ads, Funnels, and Tracking with Oliver Feakins

January 20, 2022

Oliver Feakins is the founder of Trusted Search Marketing (now TrackFive), a digital marketing agency that offers best-in-class SEO, paid search, and social media services, as well as recruitment marketing. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Oliver has established himself as an expert in the field of digital marketing. Today, Oliver discusses the challenges faced by marketers in the current digital landscape, particularly the impact of changes in platforms like Facebook and Google. He emphasizes the importance of adaptability, continuous testing, and a multi-platform approach to ensure consistent traffic and engagement for businesses.

In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Oliver shares insights into building sustainable marketing strategies that go beyond quick wins or flashy tactics. He emphasizes the importance of landing pages, video content, and continual A/B testing to optimize conversion rates, highlighting tools like Optimizely, Unbounce, and Surfer SEO for effective experimentation and content optimization. Oliver also discusses adapting to SEO trends, including conversational search and natural language processing, and the critical distinction between strategy and tactics—ensuring that all marketing efforts are guided by a coherent, long-term plan. His agency focuses on partnering with clients who are committed to best practices, scalable growth, and measurable results, making strategy, testing, and platform diversification core principles of their approach. For more information or to explore working with Oliver, visit trustedsearchmarketing.com.

Quotes

“It’s not that your ads are getting stale or your landing pages are stale—it’s that your competitors are releasing ads and pages that convert better than yours.”

“The foundation is strategy first. You can have tactics, fads, and trends, but without the why, you’re just throwing things at the wall.”

“Keep it simple. A clean, to-the-point landing page often converts better than a complicated page with a hundred bells and whistles.”

“Success in digital marketing comes from continual testing, iterating, and adapting, not from set-it-and-forget-it campaigns.”

Resources

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:58 — 30.4MB) | Embed

837: Remote Work From Home Masterplan: Implement the Entrepreneur Lifestyle with Mike Arnold

January 18, 2022

Mike Arnold is a work-from-home entrepreneur with expertise in business management, business development, time management, strategy, efficiency, and coaching. He is the author of the book "Slacking Off," which aims to help people be happier and more efficient while working from home. Today, Mike talks about the challenges of working from home, including the need to have a plan and set boundaries to avoid distractions and maintain productivity. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing self-care and being present during work tasks to ensure optimal performance.

In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Mike shares practical strategies for thriving as a remote worker, emphasizing the need for a personal plan, boundaries, and focus. He stresses that success in remote work comes from dedicating time to yourself first, managing distractions intentionally, and being fully present in meetings and calls. Mike highlights his book, Slacking Off, which provides exercises and insights to help remote workers analyze their habits, maintain work-life balance, and create personalized productivity strategies. He also discusses the broader impact of his work in medical technology, helping patients recover from home while providing efficiency for healthcare providers. Key takeaways include the importance of self-discipline, structured interaction for camaraderie, and mastering the balance between personal well-being and professional output.

Quotes

“The biggest principle is that when I’m 100% dedicated to me first, my performance is amazing. When I feel great, the rest of the day is effortless.”

“Working from home requires planning and intentionality—freedom without a plan often leads to wasted time.”

“Everyone benefits from understanding how they ‘slack off.’ Take a day, avoid work, and write down what you do—that’s the first step to mastering remote work.”

“Distractions, Zoom fatigue, and lack of camaraderie are real challenges, but structured focus and purposeful engagement can overcome them.”

Resources

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:13 — 31.5MB) | Embed

836: PodMatch: Network with Podcast Guests and Hosts to Build Your Reach, Influence, and Traffic with Alex Sanfilippo

January 13, 2022

Alex Sanfilippo is the host of the top-rated entrepreneurship podcast "Creating a Brand" now Podcasting Made Simple and the founder of PodMatch, a free service that connects podcast guests and hosts for interviews. Today, Alex discusses the importance of podcasting for building relationships and trust with listeners, as well as the challenges of finding guests and being a guest on other shows. He also shares insights on his new platform, Podcast SOP, which helps podcasters streamline their episode release process.

In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Alex discusses his current projects, including Pod Match and Podcast SOP, which streamline podcast guest matching and episode management. Pod Match connects hosts and guests efficiently, while Podcast SOP provides podcasters with a checklist-driven system to organize and track each episode’s production, including media uploads and real-time template updates. He shares practical strategies for pitching podcasts, emphasizing leading with value, making meaningful requests, offering credibility, and making it easy for hosts to say no. Key takeaways include treating podcasting as a consistent practice, focusing on serving audiences, and leveraging technology to reduce stress and improve workflow. Listeners can explore his work at creatingabrand.com, podmatch.com, and podcastsop.com.

Quotes

“People do business with who they know, like, and trust. Podcasting gives you the chance to develop that know, like, and trust in a way that a website or ad never can.”

“Lead with value, make a meaningful request, offer credibility, and make it easy for someone to say no. That’s the formula that gets responses.”

“Podcasting is practice—your goal is to serve people and help solve problems. If you focus on that, the rest falls into place.”

“The biggest reason podcasters fail is workflow stress. If you make releasing episodes easier, you make podcasting sustainable.”

Resources

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:40 — 30.1MB) | Embed

835: Leading Teams Effectively to Grow your Business with Amy Anderson

January 11, 2022

Amy Anderson is the Co-Founder of Wild Coffee Marketing, a widely respected and creative industry leader. She sees the unique opportunity to leverage creativity to transform both brands and entire organizations across multiple sectors. With her extensive experience as a marketing executive, Amy brings a strategic and client-centric approach to her work. Today, Amy talks about building a strong marketing team and developing a clear strategy before diving into implementation.

In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Anderson discusses her current work helping businesses accelerate growth through strategic marketing, content creation, and team management. She explains the value of fractional CMO services, emphasizing that her team functions as client-side marketers who both develop strategy and implement campaigns, covering channels from social media to video and AI-driven marketing. Key takeaways include the importance of time-blocking, clarity breaks, focused strategy before execution, and maintaining empathy and compassion for team members. Anderson encourages businesses to “not let great get in the way of good,” starting with practical, measurable actions that can be scaled and refined over time. Listeners are invited to learn more and explore her services at wildcoffeemarketing.com.

Quotes

“Your company’s own database is the most valuable asset you have, even if those leads seem cold; staying top of mind is critical.”

“Not letting great get in the way of good is key—deploy your work, iterate, and improve over time.”

“Empathy and compassion towards your team is essential, especially in a market with so much movement and chaos.”

“Marketing is simple: who are you, saying what, to whom, and when—everything else is execution around that core principle.”

Resources

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:15 — 32.5MB) | Embed

834: Built to Sell: Create a Business That Thrives On Its Own with John Warrillow

January 6, 2022

John Warrillow is an expert on helping business owners build, accelerate, and harvest the value of their businesses. He is the author of several books, including "Built to Sell: Creating a Business That Can Thrive Without You," "The Automatic Customer: Creating a Subscription Business in Any Industry," and "The Art of Selling Your Business: Winning Strategies and Secret Hacks for Exiting on Top." Today, John discusses his recent focus on launching a new product that aims to help entrepreneurs document their standard operating procedures, a crucial step in building a business that can run without the founder's constant involvement.

In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Warrillow discusses his current focus on helping entrepreneurs build businesses that succeed without their constant involvement. He highlights the risks of cross-selling multiple products and the importance of remaining disciplined in offering one differentiated service or product to maximize business value, illustrated by the story of Stephanie Breedlove, who sold her $9 million niche business for $54 million. Warrillow also shares the philosophy of treating a business like a child, nurturing it to independence. He promotes his books, including Built to Sell, The Automatic Customer, and The Art of Selling Your Business, as well as free resources and tools available at builttosell.com/marketer to guide entrepreneurs in systematizing their businesses and increasing long-term value.

Quotes

“Most of us entrepreneurs are Quick Starts; we’re great at starting things but not at systematizing them.”

“The biggest mistake most entrepreneurs make is cross-selling existing customers new things instead of focusing on the one thing they do best.”

“Think of your business as a child—you want it to grow into a happy, functioning entity that can succeed without you.”

“Once your business can succeed without you, you have all the cards: sell it, delegate it

Resources

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:15 — 26.1MB) | Embed

833: Have Meaningful Customer Surveys and Conversations to Create Meaningful Ideas with Darshan Mehta

January 4, 2022

Darshan Mehta is the founder of iRESEARCH, an insights platform to quickly and affordably extract insights from consumers worldwide. He also runs ConnectQuick.com, an app for instant connections and engaging interactions. Darshan has over 25 years of experience in branding, marketing, insights, strategy, and technology. Today, Darshan talks about tapping into consumer conversations to uncover valuable insights that can help businesses make informed decisions. He emphasizes the power of using humor and observations to understand consumer behavior and shares a case study of how a retailer improved their sales by adjusting their store hours based on customer insights.

In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Darshan explains how AI Research’s platform allows businesses to extract insights affordably and at scale, combining focus group-style conversations with survey validation. He stresses the importance of understanding the full customer experience, from pre-purchase research to post-purchase engagement, and how companies can use these insights to improve products, services, and marketing strategies. Darshan also discusses his upcoming book, Getting to Aha: Why Today’s Insights Are Tomorrow’s Facts, which explores how to identify and leverage actionable insights for business success. To learn more, listeners can visit ai-research.com or contact Darshan directly at DM@ai-research.com.

Quotes

“An insight is the combination of things put together that helps you understand what motivates or triggers consumers to act.”

“Most people nowadays are no longer buying products and services—they’re buying experiences.”

“When you have a group engaged in a conversation, patterns and commonalities emerge that let you validate or challenge your suspicions before scaling.”

“Sometimes simplicity and just doing it, guided by what your market is telling you, is the best way to reach the North Star you’re seeking.”

Resources

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:45 — 23.8MB) | Embed

832: Brand Strategy 101: Market and Product Research, Product Design, and Brand Awareness with Michael Keplinger

December 30, 2021

Michael Keplinger is the founder of SmashBrand, an agile brand strategy agency that specializes in market research, product design, and testing for consumer-packaged goods. Today, Michael shares his expertise in building successful CPG brands, highlighting the importance of leveraging partnerships, conducting thorough consumer research, and taking a strategic approach to branding and packaging to differentiate products in crowded marketplaces.

In this episode of Marketer of the Day, Michael shares his approach to brand strategy, including real-world examples like reimagining packaging for Red Gold canned tomatoes to capture attention and engage a younger, millennial parent audience. He explains that successful CPG branding requires a combination of market research, design, testing, and ongoing optimization to reduce risk and maximize shelf impact. Smash Brand works primarily with mid-sized CPG brands that need to make bold moves to stay relevant and competitive. For more insights, case studies, and resources, Michael directs listeners to smashbrand.com and his LinkedIn profile, where he shares examples of his agency’s work and thought leadership in the CPG space.

Quotes

“What gets me excited is putting a really good product on the shelf, not just what’s in the box, but how people perceive it.”

“Consumers have a lot more choices today, so elevating your brand and connecting emotionally with your audience is key.”

“The first objective is to stand out on the shelf, and then you bring your message and story forward.”

“Testing is an integral part of every step we do, helping clients make bold moves without risking their market share.”

Resources

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 24:28 — 22.6MB) | Embed

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