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Dawn Kennedy talks with Cat Holt, Founder, CEO & Pres @ Coologee, Inc. They delve into the essential strategies for building a durable, sustainable brand. Cat Holt, shares her extensive experience in marketing, consulting, and branding, along with insights from her work with Progressive Insurance. They discuss the evolution of branding, the importance of customer retention, and the transition from awareness to trust in branding. They also explore the role of in-person engagement, digital trust issues, and the significance of maintaining a welcoming and consistent onboarding experience, even as brands grow and evolve. The discussion provides valuable perspectives for business owners looking to adapt and thrive in a changing marketplace.

Who is Cat Holt, and whom does she serve? (01:02)

The Evolution of Progressive Insurance (01:54)

The Importance of Customer Retention (06:56)

Onboarding and Customer Experience (09:43)

Creating a Sense of Community (18:14)

Navigating Real Estate Transactions (23:56)

The Power of Niche Communities Online (24:26)

Evolving Trust in Digital Spaces (25:26)

Rediscovering Human Connections (26:18)

Generational Shifts in Business (31:33)

Cracker Barrel's Rebranding Journey (32:34)

Lessons from Restaurant Industry (36:21)

The Importance of Connection in Business (41:58)

Where to Find More Insights (42:34)

Website: http://coologee.com/

SUBSTACK: https://catholtcoologee.substack.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catkolodij/

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Dawn Kennedy talks with Adrienne Wilkerson, Co-Founder and CEO of Beacon Media + Marketing, to discuss the transition from being a business founder to taking on the CEO role. The conversation touches on the challenges of moving from a practitioner to a leader, the importance of delegation, the evolution of company culture, and the necessity of trust and communication in building a sustainable business. The episode emphasizes the ongoing evolution of leadership mindsets and the balance between control and freedom in effective business management.

In This Episode....

Who is Adrienne Wilkerson, and whom does she serve? (00:57)

Starting a Business in Anchorage: The Early Years (01:34)

Merging Businesses and the Birth of Beacon Media and Marketing (01:56)

Navigating the Wild West of Digital Marketing (02:44)

From Founder to CEO: The Identity Shift (03:39)

Delegating Tasks and Overcoming Control Issues (06:50)

Strategic Coach and the Four Quadrants Tool (10:00)

Hiring the Right People and Maintaining Company Values (17:21)

The Transition to Ownership (20:23)

Lessons from High School Leadership (21:51)

Delegation and Team Support (23:11)

Evolving Company Dynamics (25:15)

Building Middle Tier Leadership (27:22)

Navigating Employee Turnover (30:45)

Trusting Your Team (35:58)

Adrienne Information:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beaconmm/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adriennewilkerson/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BeaconMediaMarketing

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beaconmm

X: https://x.com/beaconmm

Podcast: https://www.beaconmm.com/the-beacon-way/

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Dawn Kennedy talks with Kevon Saber, a partner and transition architect at Legacy Outcomes, to discuss the intricacies of selling a business. They delve into the importance of succession planning, the differences between mergers, acquisitions, and outright sales, and the critical red flags to watch for. Kevon shares his experience selling two mobile software companies and the lessons learned from those sales. The conversation covers the emotional aspects of selling a business, how to prepare a business for sale, and the importance of a proper valuation. They also discuss seller-side financing, the role of SBA loans, and the significance of confidentiality during the sale process. Kevon emphasizes the need for a solid preparation phase, including clarifying goals, forensic analysis, and getting the right people on the team to ensure a successful and regret-free sale of the business.

In this episode….

Who is Kevon Saber, and whom does he serve? (00:48)

Understanding Mergers, Acquisitions, and Sales (02:43)

The Scary Statistics of Business Sales (04:07)

Preparing Your Business for Sale (06:06)

The Emotional Side of Selling a Business (16:30)

Navigating Financing and Red Flags (21:06)

Understanding the Risks of Time in Business (26:42)

SBA Policies and Seller Financing (27:07)

Valuation and Seller's Path to Regrets (31:25)

Steps to Prepare for Selling a Business (33:41)

Clarifying Goals and Building the Right Team (35:23)

Confidentiality and Screening Buyers (44:57)

Final Thoughts and Resources (46:53)

Kevon Saber’s Information:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevonsaber/

Website: https://legacyoutcomes.com/

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Links and Freebies: https://dawnkkennedy.com/resources

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Dawn Kennedy talks with Adam O'Connor, the Chief Commercial Officer at Gear Inc., about the intricacies and benefits of outsourcing customer service and integrating AI solutions. The discussion covers the pitfalls of implementing AI in flawed systems, the irreplaceable value of human empathy in customer service, and the importance of balancing AI with human intervention to maintain high customer satisfaction. The conversation also delves into how outsourcing can extend business hours, improve efficiency, and help businesses scale effectively. They discuss the ethical considerations of outsourcing, stressing the importance of partnering with reputable firms that treat their employees well.

In This Episode....

Who is Adam O'Connor, and whom does he serve? (00:46)

The Rise of AI in Customer Service (1:30)

Challenges and Limitations of AI (02:25)

The Importance of Human Touch in Customer Service (03:29)

Consumer Expectations in the Digital Age (04:35)

The Role of Outsourcing in Modern Business (09:34)

Overcoming Resistance to Outsourcing (17:20)

Ethical Considerations in Outsourcing (27:08)

Conclusion and Contact Information (31:50)

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-o-connor-54766048/

Website: https://gearinc.com/why-gear/leadership/

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Dawn Kennedy talks with Jimi Gibson to delve into the challenges and solutions that businesses face in the age of AI-driven search engines. Jimi, the VP of Brand Communication at Thrive Internet Marketing Agency, returns to discuss how the advent of AI like Chat GPT and other large language models (LLMs) is reshaping the way people find websites. Key topics include the shift from traditional SEO keywords to the EEAT (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) approach, the importance of customer reviews, the value of an FAQ section on websites, and the impact of social media and local directories. Practical steps for improving your site's relevance and visibility in this new landscape are also covered, ensuring businesses can continue to thrive online.

In this episode….

Who is Jimi Gibson, and whom does he serve? (00:48)

Understanding the Shift in Search Engines (01:19)

The Importance of EEAT (03:14)

Impact of AI on Search Rankings (04:55)

The Role of YouTube and Other Platforms (07:21)

Adapting to New SEO Strategies (10:58)

Tactics for Improving Online Presence (23:45)

Answering FAQs on Your Website (26:39)

Technical Aspects of FAQ Placement (27:52)

Creating Effective Content for Answer Engines (30:5)

Email Marketing vs. Answer Engine Optimization (31:59)

Optimizing Content for AI and Search Engines (35:37)

Practical Steps for EEAT and Content Freshness (39:07)

First 30 Days Strategy for SEO (44:43)

Final Thoughts and Encouragement (50:43)

Jimi Gibson’s Information:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimi-gibson/

Website: https://thriveagency.com/about/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-thumbody-show/id1668588107

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Dawn Kennedy talks with Jimi Gibson, VP of Brand Communication at Thrive Internet Marketing Agency, to explore the critical importance of personal branding. The discussion delves into the evolution of the internet from 2005 to the present, highlighting key changes in digital marketing strategies, including the shift from traditional SEO to leveraging AI and large language models (LLMs). Jimi emphasizes the necessity for founders and business owners to develop personal brands to maintain visibility and engagement in an AI-driven market. The conversation also covers the impact of AI on customer interactions, the importance of adding human elements to digital content, and actionable steps businesses can take to adapt.

In this episode….

Who is Jimi Gibson, and whom does he serve? (00:45)

The Evolution of Internet Marketing (01:37)

Why personal branding is essential for founders and business owners. (4:34)

AI's Impact on Content Creation and SEO (06:18)

The Role of Personal Stories in Business (14:03)

What the future of AI looks like for business and marketing. (19:03)

Practical steps business owners can take to stay relevant in an AI-driven world. (33:42)

Conclusion and Next Steps (39:54)

Jimi Gibson’s Information:

LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jimi-gibson/

Website: https://thriveagency.com/about/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-thumbody-show/id1668588107

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Dawn Kennedy talks with Ruth Mannschreck, a dentist by profession, who shares her personal journey of compressing her workweek from five days to two and a half days following a family crisis. They dive into how licensed professionals in highly regulated industries, like dentistry, can effectively reduce their working hours without sacrificing revenue. The conversation covers the importance of building robust systems, leveraging team strengths through an A, B, C skillset approach, and establishing clear communication and business processes. They also discuss the benefits of culture-driven practice management and the use of technology to maintain compliance, efficiency, and team productivity. Ruth offers a free PDF checklist for listeners to start applying these insights in their own businesses.

In this episode….

Who is Ruth Mannschreck, and whom does she serve? (00:42)

Transforming the Business Model (01:39)

Why strong systems are the foundation for working fewer hours. (4:05)

Delegation and Team Roles (05:33)

Creating a Culture of Excellence (10:04)

Using communication and technology to stay compliant and productive. (29:34)

Final thoughts, resources, and Ruth’s free PDF checklist. (32:33)

Ruth Mannschreck’s Information:

GET THE FREE FRAMEWORK HERE: https://workfewerhours.com/

Website: https://shorelinestrategies.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruthmannschreck/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthmannschreck/

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Dawn Kennedy talks with Elina Panteleyeva, who runs a successful e-commerce brand catering exclusively to doodle dog owners. Elina shares her journey from losing her job to building a seven-figure business by focusing on a highly specific niche. She emphasizes the importance of choosing an audience first, engaging with them to understand their needs, and offering high-value products that solve their problems. Elina provides insights into the power of organic social media, the pros and cons of selling on Amazon, and the significance of building a relationship-based community over raw data analytics. She also offers practical tips on pre-selling, customer retention, and launching new products tailored to her dedicated fan base.

In this episode….

Who is Elina Panteleyeva, and whom does she serve? (00:41)

Finding and Engaging Your Niche Audience (01:11)

The Power of Niching Down (02:28)

Building Relationships and Humanizing Your Brand (05:12)

The Importance of Behind-the-Scenes Content (06:54)

Leveraging Social Media and Email Marketing (10:27)

Navigating E-commerce Platforms: Amazon vs. Website (12:17)

Developing and Launching New Products (14:40)

Data-Driven Decisions and Customer Engagement (21:10)

Final thoughts and where to connect with Elina (25:10)

Elina Panteleyeva’s Information:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elina-panteleyeva-24049ab5/

Website: https://ecomwithelina.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ecomwithelina/

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