Embodied CEO

Retargeting ads are a sexy topic in the digital marketing world - because, when they're done right, they work really well! But, I see a lot of entrepreneurs making the same mistake (i.e. using retargeting ads before they're ready). In this episode I'll explain how you can avoid this common mistake, when to use retargeting ads + how, and what to do *first* as a solopreneur. For complete show notes, visit - https://www.hirshmarketing.com/153-retargeting-mistakes-you-may-not-think-about/

In the last six months, a new marketing strategy has popped up inside the online influencer + digital marketing community… It's called, "The Paid Challenge (Fad)." The idea is, you create a short-term challenge at a low, accessible price point - with the intention to later sell these newly WARM LEADS into your higher priced offer. And it's a good strategy… for the people it's designed to help. But, it's likely NOT a good strategy for you! And in this episode, I'll explain how to know whether or not this strategy will work for you, plus how mega-influencers make the "paid challenge" look easy + why free content will (probably) make you more money! For complete show notes, visit - https://www.hirshmarketing.com/152-the-problem-with-the-paid-challenges-fad/

This is a common marketing question new + experienced business owners ask: Should I focus on organic or paid marketing first? My answer is not unusual - but it's more complicated than "this or that." In this episode, I'm debunking the out-of-date theory that organic social media marketing is *enough* for newbie business owners. AND, I'm walking you through the reasons for putting ad spend behind that organic content… i.e. you need to have both! Tune in to learn what to do FIRST if you have a small follower base, why your time is more valuable than the money you're afraid to spend, and the #1 thing to STOP doing now… For complete show notes, visit - https://www.hirshmarketing.com/151-organic-or-paid-traffic/

Thinking about planning a live event in 2020? In this episode, I'm taking you step-by-step through my thought process, including what works + doesn't work in the online "influencer" space right now. PLUS, I'll share 1 MAJOR misconception about marketing a live event, my 3 keys to SOLD OUT success, and why it's *worth* it… (even though you likely won't MAKE BANK)

The reality is, most of your sales will come from someone who has multiple touch points with your brand. But not everyone strategizes for this! My company uses intentional + strategic nurture campaigns to build trust with the people who don't buy the first time. Because eventually they'll be ready - and we'll be top of mind. In this episode, I'll explain how + why nurturing your audience is vital to optimizing your funnel + your sales.

Very few entrepreneurs are able to have the level of focus necessary to master + scale a marketing strategy. Because, quite frankly - it's hard to whittle down the good ideas that keep coming, to only a few that you put every ounce of dedicated work into… for years (not months! years). In this episode I talk about why this is one of THE hardest things we do as entrepreneurs +why it's entirely necessary.

My new book, "Ignite Your Impact," is out today! This 100+ page explanation of "holistic" marketing strategy is the culmination of 5+ years in the digital marketing world… with thousands of hours behind-the-scenes, for hundreds of influencer clients, with millions of dollars in ad spend. And in this 15-minute episode, I'll share WHO this book is for, WHY it's about more than Facebook ads, and WHAT is included (to ensure you take action on your marketing now!).

If you're the CEO of your company, you've likely used what I'm calling, "entrepreneur intuition," to get there. (And if you're not quite "there" yet, wherever you want to be - you'll need this mindset to get going!)

You know you need to track data to know whether your marketing efforts matter… But, do you know which numbers to track + WHY? Every metric you (or your ads agency) track should tell a story about what's going on behind-the-scenes. That's what will point you in the direction of where to focus your problem-solving skills next. In this episode I'll walk you through the actual spreadsheet we use to track funnel + ad performance, plus I'll explain 3+ common problems to troubleshoot.

Any marketing strategy you execute is only as strong as your foundation. Because, your foundation is everything. If you layer marketing strategies (even good ones!) on top of a shaky foundation… the whole thing is likely to fall apart. In this episode, I'll explain what I mean by "foundation," why tracking your process start-to-finish is crucial, and the mistake most people make (+how you can avoid it).

You should never launch any marketing campaign without first defining your GOAL numbers… even if you're selling something for the first time + have zero historical data to work with! This is vital to determining whether or not it works (+what to do differently next time). In this episode I'll walk you through a real-life example of how+why you need to define your success FIRST.

If you're an entrepreneur of any kind, you likely have a hard time giving up on possibility. This is both your greatest gift + your most detrimental weakness. That's why I want you to ask the question… "Am I turning down opportunities OR saying 'no' to distractions?" In this episode I'll answer your questions about "The Rule of One" in marketing. For complete show notes visit - www.hirshmarketingunderground.com/podcast-episode-142

Marketing that converts requires only 3 things… a stand-out offer, messaging that connects, and unique, custom-built strategy. That's it! No fancy "ninja" skills that only an ads strategist knows about. If you use this 3-part formula, it's not about "if" marketing will work for you, but "when." In this episode I'll explain how marketing is about following a formula (NOT finding secret strategies), why messaging matters more than strategy, and how we ensure 40% show up rates to our IGNITE evergreen webinar! For complete show up rates visit - www.hirshmarketingunderground.com/podcast-episode-141

"Why is Hirsh Marketing different?" It all comes down to urgency… but not in the way you think. I'm talking about urgency with your decision-making + how quickly you take action! In this episode I'll highlight my definition for URGENCY + how it saves our clients money, plus… why "wait+see" with Facebook ads is a MYTH, the difference between corporate agencies + Hirsh Marketing, and how I train my employees to take smart, QUICK actions now. For complete show notes visit - www.hirshmarketingunderground.com/podcast-episode-140

You want consistent sales, right? We all do. But in order to have consistent sales, YOU have to be consistent in your marketing - especially with building your warm audience. You do this by consistently creating Value Content every week. And let me tell you… it's a huge mistake to NEGLECT your content strategy (even worse if you rely solely on "organic" visibility). Listen in to this episode for more about how to build your warm audience + why it's vital to making money!

You might think you're being obvious about what you sell + how someone can purchase… but you're likely not (OR, you can be even more obvious!). If you want to optimize sales within your automated funnel, your email nurture sequence, and even your sales page - you have to be THOUGHTFUL, CLEAR, and over-the-top OBVIOUS. And in this episode I'm talking about how to do that well - plus my *secret weapon* to sales sequences that convert! For complete show notes visit - www.hirshmarketingunderground.com/podcast-episode-138

Before you get too far into planning your "2020 business goals," I want to remind you… Don't forget to nurture those leads you bring in (and therefore keep them around long-term!). It's a massive mistake to focus ONLY on your front-end marketing + sales… if you don't also plan out what happens after. In this episode I'll explain how high-quality delivery leads to higher quality referrals (+and why that matters more in 2020!) For complete show notes visit - www.hirshmarketingunderground.com/podcast-episode-137

The challenge with high-ticket sales is that the person buying is unlikely to watch an hour-long webinar. But then, how do you provide enough "nurturing" to build a relationship? Enter: The Microwebinar. This is a great high-ticket funnel strategy that we've tested for clients and for my own business. And in this episode, I'll explain what it is, how to set it up, and why it works better. For complete show notes visit - www.hirshmarketingunderground.com/podcast-episode-136

In 4+ years in business, I've struggled to really outsource marketing from myself… because "nobody can do it like me," right? WRONG. And in this episode I'll explain why, plus how that silly sentence is always to our detriment. Tune in for more about how I tore apart my marketing team to create a new one, plus the light-bulb moment that changed the game.

If you ask me about the 2020 goals for my business, all I have to say is… I want to simplify everything + make it even better! Here's what I mean: Last month I broke everything in my internal marketing department + re-built it. And this episode is all about how I CONNECTED every piece of my marketing to SIMPLIFY my business in the new year! Tune in for an inside look at Hirsh Marketing in action (+how this can help you plan better in 2020).

The foundation to any successful marketing strategy is… listening to YOUR customer (and responding to the feedback). That's how I've built my company to multi-millions in revenue with a client roster that serves some of the biggest names in the industry. And it's why we recommend custom strategy for every business. (Cookie cutter marketing doesn't know what your customers need - but YOU CAN.) Tune into this episode for more about what propelled my business growth + how you can create a business that genuinely connects with your audience.

No one tells you that business has both… seasons of growth + hard seasons where you need to recalibrate (where you're NOT hitting $$ goals maybe). The "rough" seasons are way less fun, and if you're not prepared they can take you down. But actually, I consider them a gift. In this episode I'll explain why, plus - the moment I realized I was building an unprofitable business, why I dipped into our business savings to make payroll this year, and how I've been transparent with my team through it all.

You know the difference between cold, warm, and hot traffic… but do you know which marketing strategies work best for each? In this episode I'll explain specific marketing strategies for each "type" of traffic, how each one relates to a step in The Hirsh Process, and a common MISTAKE you can easily avoid.

It seems simple to replicate what works for someone else, but let me offer a few words of caution… There's a real danger to following the advice of even the most successful business owners - especially if their business is different from yours (or they're at a completely different level). In this episode I'm taking you through a real life conversation about how to determine whether to take the advice… or not.

Marketing is not as complex as people say. Here's a simpler way to think through your marketing… especially if you're making less than $1M in revenue. I'm talking about the Rule of One: focusing all your marketing efforts + resources on one target market, one product, one conversion tool, and one traffic source… for one year! Tune into this episode for why that's vital to your growth past your first million dollars (+why you're NOT the exception to the rule!).

Last quarter we had two separate clients live launch with 300+ affiliates each. (These are big client accounts, but that's still A LOT of affiliates.) We learned a hard lesson about what this means for you ad costs… and sales revenue.

I've been off social media for 1 month now, and I've never been more present in my life + business. It sounds like a dramatic change (especially for the CEO of a company that strategizes ads on social media... ) - but it's high-time for change. Tune in for the results of my month-long experiment, plus how my team's strategizing real, genuine visibility online now…

There's a lot of talk about the "Next Best Thing!" in marketing. And you'll notice, it's different depending on who you're talking to (and what they're selling). If you're feeling stuck, confused, and overwhelmed with all the 'noise,' please know that you're in good company. But, here's what to do first: STOP listening to what's working for everyone else! What's 'working' in 2020 is custom-built marketing strategy! Tune in for the details.

There's a trend happening right now in online business where entrepreneurs are choosing to build out in-house marketing teams v hire an agency. But honestly, I think this will change in 2020… In this episode, I'm detailing the 2 big companies that recently hired my team (after years of in-house marketing experience!) + diving into the pros/cons of in-house teams v agencies.

Everyone has a funnel, because a "funnel" is just a customer's journey to buying something. If you have a business and sell something online, you have a funnel. (Even if it's as simple as "go to my website + make a purchase," that's your funnel!) In this episode I'm explaining why this is VITAL to understand when you're creating or optimizing your marketing plan.

I used to expect my team to work basically all the time… like me. But, I learned the hard way - that's actually to my company's detriment. In this episode I'm detailing my "lessons learned" about time off, how we're replacing 'sick' days with 'wellness' days, and why doubling my team's paid vacation time costs less money!

Your 'brand new idea' or this 'once-in-a-lifetime opportunity' might feel like the next best thing, but watch out. If you keep following every good idea + saying 'yes' to every single opportunity… the success you're building now will fall apart. (Really, I've seen it happen too many times.) Because, scattering your focus stalls (or completely STOPS) your growth. Tune into this episode for a few examples you might relate with, plus how to avoid the scatter-brained trap!

Taking a week-long vacation to write my book helped me realize the areas in my company where I'm acting as a bottleneck. And you never want to be a bottleneck in your company! In this episode I'm digesting my takeaways from my five days away from work + the major gap in my company this helped illuminate.

There's an old saying in the marketing world, "With good marketing, you can sell anything!" And here's my 15-minute speech about why that's WRONG. Yes, you can market a bad product or service for a limited time - but eventually, people will find out + your business will take a dive.

I wrote a book within 2.5 days on a quick trip to Hawaii! And this episode is all about HOW, the pre-planning that made it possible, the immense number of snacks required, and the advice I'd give anyone with a book-writing dream!

You are the expert - not your client or customer. That's why you have a job! That's why people hire you. So no, your customer is NOT always right. If she knew how to do the thing you know how to do, she wouldn't spend money for your product/service/coaching. Which means, it's your J.O.B. to own what you do + how you do it.

The people who regularly engage + connect with their warm audience (i.e. email list, social media followers, podcast listeners) generally CRUSH their launch goals, especially compared with the business owners who don't. So, in this episode I'm sharing a variety of tried-and-true strategies for warming up your audience before, during, and after the launch.

Nobody talks about the detailed ups + downs of growing a MULTI-million dollar business… but, we need to start! Because it's not as 'pretty' as growing past your first $100K. In this episode, I'm talking about the importance of protecting your time+energy as CEO of your company, so you can get comfortable in the (inevitable) discomfort that comes with real growth.

I'm diving into the huge RED FLAGS for ads + landing pages (i.e. what not to include in your messaging), plus walking you through a short list of what Facebook likes + how you can build trust with the company. Social media companies are getting smarter. If you think you're going to outsmart Facebook and Instagram… you're not. Tune into this episode for all the do's + don'ts for Facebook ad approval.

I'm detailing our behind-the-scenes launch prep for the second round of IGNITE. Of course, I use The Hirsh Process in my business, too - so you'll get those details right here!

Goal-breaking ads are NOT the result of finding the best audiences, using the latest 'ninja' strategies, and knowing the best technique… Those things help, of course! Otherwise I wouldn't have a company. But really, the foundation of any good marketing strategy is the *skill* behind pivoting + adjusting to meet your end goal.

Not every CEO is a good leader - but it's a skill you can learn! And in this episode, I'm detailing one of the most important leadership lessons I've learned: Every business relationship should be a collaboration (not a one-way street).

Tracking your immediate results is one thing (i.e. what's happened in one week?). But tracking long-term + cross-checking with third party systems is where you'll find the goldmine of information. In this episode, I'll explain 2 ways we do this at Hirsh Marketing.

You can find basically anything on the internet at this point. And yet, your followers read your emails, and ask you questions, and buy your courses... Why? Because people aren't paying you for information! They're paying for the results you advertise + the experience you offer.

There comes a point in business when you're ready to hire out your marketing - but when? And how do you know when you're ready? I'll answer that question, plus dive into details about the major difference between hiring a TEAM + hiring an ads manager.

In my longest podcast episode to-date (30 minutes!), I'm taking you behind-the-scenes of my day-to-day life + business, to explain how I "balance" a full work schedule + quality family time, why I run my household like I run my business, and the most important things I do every day to enjoy BOTH success + happiness.

"What if I'm not selling to every lead on my list? Do I create a downsell/upsell offer?" My advice is - not immediately! It's a mistake to shift your focus before you're ready (but I'll explain what to do instead + how to know when you *are* ready, inside this episode!).

If you're an entrepreneur who hates feeling boxed in by calendars, schedules, systems, processes… you're normal - but you really need those things to scale your business! Here's how we make it happen at Hirsh Marketing.

Wondering how to make "realistic" ads projections for your company? Start with the numbers (your numbers!) - and move backwards. Here's how.

Marketing is an intricate puzzle of moving parts. And sometimes it's confusing to pinpoint the exact "problem" that needs fixed… Is it the ads or your funnel? In this episode, I'll help you troubleshoot!