Summit Host Hangout

It's not as easy to standout with a virtual summit as it was back in 2021, but today's guest is proof that it's still possible - even in the B2B space! In this episode you'll hear from Jacob Cass about how he brought his 2000 attendee goal to 23,000 attendees, how he managed that many people, the keys to his success, and more. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/296

Have you ever taken a "workcation" where you just answered emails from a prettier location? In this episode, I'm sharing something that might sound terrifying to some entrepreneurs - how I'm taking a REAL break from my business while on a Disney cruise with my family. I'm talking about why I left my laptop at home, uninstalled Slack, and chose not to buy wifi. You'll hear how complete disconnection actually makes me more productive when I return and the transformation in my approach to time off. Even if you're running a solo operation, I'll share practical ways to make breaks possible and the systems my team and I put in place to make this work. If you think you can't possibly step away from your business right now, I challenge you to schedule a true break within the next three months. Listen to the quick episode and then, join the conversation in the Summit Host Hangout Facebook group to share your thoughts and ask any questions you have. Join the community here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/summithosthangout/

Last week we talked about hosting a virtual summit as a Highly Sensitive Person. This week we're flipping the script to talk about hosting summits for a sensitive audience! Whether you're targeting HSPs, neurodivergent individuals, people healing from trauma, or those experiencing grief, I'm sharing practical strategies to make your event supportive and accessible. Learn how to focus on people over profit, be a cheerleader rather than stirring up pain points, create safe community spaces, thoughtfully implement (or reconsider) the ways you add urgency into your event, and so much more! The good news is that small adjustments can make a tremendous difference in how your summit is received by attendees who experience things deeply! For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/295

Have you been asked to pay to speak at a summit? Or told that your email list isn't big enough to participate after someone pitched you? I'm getting on my soapbox today about the speaker requirements in the virtual summit industry that I will never get behind. I'm sharing the 3 types of common speaker requirements that make me cringe, how these tactics actually reveal flaws in a host's summit strategy, and what experienced hosts do instead to create win-win relationships with their speakers. I'm even sharing a sneak peek at my new solution to help your speakers maximize their results! This conversation might ruffle some feathers and challenge common practices you've seen (or tried), but I promise it'll lead to better results (and more ethical summits) for everyone involved. Listen to the quick episode and then, join the conversation in the Summit Host Hangout Facebook group to share your thoughts and ask any questions you have. Join the community here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/summithosthangout/

Ever feel like your business is hitting a wall?

Are there any fellow HPSs (Highly Sensitive Person) in the house? If so, the thought of hosting a virtual summit might be a bit intimidating. In this episode, I'm sharing how being an HSP can actually be your secret superpower in the summit-hosting world! I'll break down what it means to be highly sensitive, how these traits have affected my own summit hosting journey, and practical strategies to protect your energy throughout the planning and hosting process. You'll learn how to honor your sensitivity when making strategic decisions, when to listen to your gut (and when to push through), and how to create summit experiences that feel good for everyone involved. If you've been worried that your sensitivity might hold you back from hosting a successful summit, this episode will show you exactly how to leverage your unique strengths while avoiding overwhelm! For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/294

Thank GOODNESS that our businesses aren't limited by the best possible outcome we imagined when we started. Right?! In this Summit Conversations episode, I'm sharing the unexpected evolution of my own business from a simple $197 product to multiple high-level offerings that I couldn't have imagined when I began. You'll hear the specific stages of my growth, including the surprising jumps from a $12/month membership to programs generating more in a single launch than my previous annual income. I also shared why not being able to envision your "next level" might actually be perfect for where you are right now. Listen to the quick episode and then, join the conversation in the Summit Host Hangout Facebook group to share your thoughts and ask any questions you have.  Join the community here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/summithosthangout/

Earlier this week I mapped out the next 4 months of projects for our company and I thought it would be fun to give you a behind-the-scenes look at my process! I shared about my flexible planning framework, how I prioritize business needs while honoring family commitments, and how I have a solid plan, but also leave room for inspiration to strike.   Listen to the quick episode and then, join the conversation in the Summit Host Hangout Facebook group to share your thoughts and ask any questions you have. Join the community here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/summithosthangout/

Generally speaking, when we're looking to increase our income we look at what we can *add*. Where can we add an extra two hours to fit in this strategy that just has to be the answer? In this podcast episode you'll hear from membership mentor Samantha Harris as she breaks down the idea of exponential income, which is income dependent on impact, not hours. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/293

“It can still be an amazing and fulfilling event, even if it's small” That was a sentence I scribbled down in my summit debrief doc on the 2nd day of my recent summit. It was a more impactful realization and experience than I expected! Of course big numbers are exciting, but a small summit definitely doesn't mean that you failed. In this episode, I'm sharing how my recent "small" summit still delivered impressive results - including hitting my revenue goals! I'll walk you through how I shifted my focus from obsessing over registration numbers to creating an exceptional experience for attendees and why a smaller, more engaged audience can sometimes lead to stronger connections and higher conversion rates. Whether you're planning your first summit or your tenth, my hope is that this video will help you redefine what success looks like for your virtual events. Listen to the quick episode and then, join the conversation in the Summit Host Hangout Facebook group to share your thoughts and ask any questions you have.  Join the community here at https://www.facebook.com/groups/summithosthangout/

“It can still be an amazing and fulfilling event, even if it's small” That was a sentence I scribbled down in my summit debrief doc on the 2nd day of my recent summit. It was a more impactful realization and experience than I expected! Of course big numbers are exciting, but a small summit definitely doesn't mean that you failed. In this episode, I'm sharing how my recent "small" summit still delivered impressive results - including hitting my revenue goals! I'll walk you through how I shifted my focus from obsessing over registration numbers to creating an exceptional experience for attendees and why a smaller, more engaged audience can sometimes lead to stronger connections and higher conversion rates. Whether you're planning your first summit or your tenth, my hope is that this video will help you redefine what success looks like for your virtual events. Listen to the quick episode and then, join the conversation in the Summit Host Hangout Facebook group to share your thoughts and ask any questions you have.  Join the community here at https://www.facebook.com/groups/summithosthangout/

Have you ever finished a summit feeling uncertain about what worked and what didn't? Or letting your numbers be the only thing that tells you whether your event was a “success” or “failure”?  In this episode, I'm breaking down my debrief process after our most recent summit.  You'll discover how I balance numbers with intuition, the surprising metrics I prioritize beyond registration counts, and how I use these insights to shape my next event strategy. I even share some honest numbers about our recent experimental summit! Listen to the quick episode and then, join the conversation in the Summit Host Hangout Facebook group to share your thoughts and ask any questions you have.  Join the community here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/summithosthangout/

Can you guess the #1 thing most summit hosts look for in a potential speaker? ....list size! Can you guess the #1 thing I DON'T CARE ABOUT when I'm looking for potential speakers? ...also list size! In this episode, I'm breaking down the top 8 things I look for in my summit speakers, two things I don't care about (that others do), and I stepped on my soapbox to talk about having a list-size requirement. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/292 Podcast playlists: https://www.summitinabox.co/playlist Find Your Dream Speakers: https://www.summitinabox.co/dream-speakers

It's tempting to agree to speak at a summit, send in your presentation, do a minimal amount of promotion, and consider your job done. But what what it look like if YOU were the amazing speaker who was active in the community, on live calls, and getting everyone else pumped up? Today, I've got Sara Alepin on the podcast to share how being that standout speaker leads to direct sales (and so much more!) in her business. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/291

The "2nd week slump" is traditionally the quietest period of summit promotion. While I love to share the benefits that summits bring and how fun most of the process is, I also want to be transparent about the less glamorous side. So I recorded a short video sharing a behind-the-scenes look at: The typical pattern of registrations you'll see throughout summit promotion. What my energy is like during the slump. A pattern my coach and I have noticed in my energy when I do any launch (not just a summit). The actions I take each day to keep things moving in the right direction, even during slow periods. What I do to keep my energy up when those tasks are done (and no, it isn't "rest"). Listen to the quick episode and then, join the conversation in the Summit Host Hangout Facebook group to share your thoughts and ask any questions you have. Join the community here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/summithosthangout/

I've heard a lot of people say over the years that summits only work when you have an audience of business owners. But that couldn't be further from the truth. If you target a B2C (business-to-consumer) audience, I'm happy to tell you that B2C summits tend to work even *better* than summits for business owners. I'm breaking down the reasons for that in today's episode along with sharing a long list of some of the B2C audiences we've helped clients host summits for! For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/290

Last year, I cut my work hours in half to homeschool my oldest daughter. While it hasn't been easy, I've managed to find a rhythm and accomplish a lot within just 20 hours per week. In this week's Summit Conversations episode, I'm sharing: - A few things you should know about my team and me before listening to anything I have to say. - 6 tips, routines, and habits I've developed that help me make the most of the limited time I have. - A couple of examples of how it's not all butterflies and rainbows.

If you run a B2C (business-to-consumer) business, this is for you! Take this as your personal invite to Sell with a Summit: B2C Edition. Learn more and register at https://www.summitinabox.co/b2c

I see a LOT of people totally obsess over numbers when they open summit registration and get stressed about the wrong things. In this week's short-and-sweet Summit Conversation ,I'm sharing our three-phase summit announcement process, what I look at in each stage, and why it's not worth getting bent out of shape about numbers right out of the gate. Listen to the quick episode and then, join the conversation in the Summit Host Hangout Facebook group to share your thoughts and ask any questions you have. Join the community here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/summithosthangout/

This is my first time hosting a summit on part-time hours and, the truth is, I miiiiight not have done a great job of accounting for working half the hours that I used to

You might think of gamification as a strategy that can make your life or business more "fun". But as this week's guest, Kimba, shared the truth is, "fun" isn't a business objective and gamification is so much more than that! In fact, in the world of summits you can use gamification in your marketing, sessions, live show-up rates, community engagement, all-access pass sales, affiliate promotion, speaker motivation, and so much more. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/289

If you don't love the thought of pitching sponsors for your summit, you're not alone. After getting turned down time after time when reaching out to sponsors for a summit that ultimately led to $121k in all-access pass sales, I got creative with my strategy. And I'm giving you a behind-the-scenes look today! In this episode, you'll hear why I dislike the traditional sponsorship approach, where my current approach originated, how I filled my sponsorship spots with our upcoming summit, how I created my sponsorship packages, and what to consider if you've never offered sponsorships before. Listen to the quick episode and then, join the conversation in the Summit Host Hangout Facebook group to share any thoughts or questions you have about sponsorships! Join the community here >>

I've always been a little envious of summit and bundle hosts who can put out an application for their event and get hundreds of responses. But after my experience with getting 60 applications for our upcoming summit...I'm not quite as sure

To keep a classic strategy like virtual summits working, it's important to experiment and innovate. However, we don't want that innovation to destroy the results you get from your event! In this episode, I'll break down why getting creative in summits is so important, the rewards and risks of doing so, and examples of what to have fun with vs. what you're better off to leave alone. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/288

I used to be firmly against using speaker applications to create a summit speaker lineup. I saw people using applications to be lazy and creating lineups that didn't benefit ANYONE. But I decided to give it a try in our upcoming summit for B2C business owners and leaned into speaker applications. It was an interesting process so I decided to give you a behind-the-scenes look! In this week's bonus episode, I shared… - more about why I've been against applications - what made me decided to give them a try, and  - what my thoughts are now that I'm through the process. Listen to the quick 4-minute episode and then, join the conversation in the Summit Host Hangout Facebook group to share any thoughts or questions you have about utilizing speaker applications! Join the community here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/summithosthangout/

I've been hearing a lot of doom and gloom about the online business space lately, but from my standpoint after being at it for nearly 10 years, it's all a part of the normal cycle. Tune into this week's episode to hear changes I've noticed over the past year in the world of summits, on online business as a whole, and what I think it means for us in 2025. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/287 B2C Summit Waitlist: https://www.summitinabox.co/sws-waitlist Make the Time: https://www.summitinabox.co/make-the-time

The other day I was thinking about what I wish people knew about summits.  I'm a practical thinker, so I was surprised when what came up didn't have to do with a strategy people get wrong. But what did come up was this: I wish people knew that summits don't have to be done a certain way.  If you see something in other summits that makes you think, “I could NEVER do that”...you probably don't have to. Listen to the quick 5-minute episode for examples of what you could change and why you'd want to. Then, join the conversation in the Summit Host Hangout Facebook group to share the top things you'd want to change in your summit or what you've seen others do! Join the community here >> https://www.facebook.com/groups/summithosthangout

Summits are powerful for visibility but what can we do to get more visible outside of summit season? And what should we do to make the most of that visibility? Tune into my conversation with Teresa Heath-Wareing as she shares her framework for preparing to show up confidently, how to make the first few asks feel easy, and her scrappy way of landing collaborations with some of the biggest names in online business. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/286

I share a lot about the list growth revenue you'll see as a result of hosting a summit, but to be honest, those are some of the least-exciting benefits you'll see. And that's good news! While I use those immediate numbers to catch your attention, there are so many more long-term benefits you'll experience and I'm going to break those things down on the podcast this week. You'll hear the most surprising benefits I've seen in hosting my own events and then I'll share what 5 of my clients reported as benefits they would have never expected. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/285

Today I have a client sharing how she was able to host a 6-figure summit launch in her first year in business! In addition to the juicy numbers you'll also hear how she was able to avoid burnout, manage multiple businesses, and get incredible results as a sensitive and relationship-focused person. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/284

Many summit hosts claim to place a high value on diversity and inclusion in their speaker lineups, but don't take any action to truly give it their best. Today, I'm talking with visibility mentor, Mai-kee Tsang to talk about safe and inclusive speaker applications. You'll hear how she makes her events safer for attendees before a speaker even applies, the extra questions she includes in her application with the perfect wording, and how she filtered through the 85 applications for her most recent summit in a way that prioritizes speaker fit and having a diverse lineup. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/283

Outsourcing can be an intimidating subject, but in today's podcast episode, you'll hear how waiting to hire might actually be hurting your business. Faith Mariah is here to share how she made an initial hire for a few hours per week and now barely touches a thing when she runs virtual summits, bundles, and other launches. You'll hear how she recommends getting started, how to ensure you get an ROI, and more. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/282

Running a business can be tough when you feel like no one knows who you are. Connections not only speed up growth, but make things a whole lot more enjoyable. In this episode, you'll hear how Jas Maylin went from not having any industry connections to building incredible relationships with her speakers through her first virtual summit. Plus, she saw her list grow from 50 to 900 and brought in 5-figures in revenue! For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/281

This week's episode is a fun one. You'll get to hear from one of our clients, Bail Ansari of Just One More Project, about her totally unexpected success with virtual summits. She went from having a hobby to being a CEO, she "accidentally" added over 300 members to her membership, and then she did a beta course launch and generated $45,000 in revenue. Not to mention her summit revenue! Tune in to hear the powerful and fast impact a virtual summit can have on your business! For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/280

If you think sponsorships have to involve sending cold pitches to a bunch of companies and spending hours on follow-up, think again! In this episode I'm breaking down why I had written off sponsorships for Membership Momentum and how I got one anyway, even without packages or pitching. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/279

It's frustrating to have an offer that you know is amazing that's struggling to take off. That's what today's guest, Heather Levin, was experiencing prior to hosting her first summit. She had an amazing niche, a great membership, but nothing she was doing got it to take off the way she knew it could. The good news is that her first summit completely changed that. Tune in to this episode to hear what made Heather decide to go for it with her first summit, what the experience was like, and how it completely transformed her business. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/278

Customer service is a part of summit hosting that most look at as a "necessary evil". It can be hard to read a piece of feedback, detach yourself from what's being said, and keep emotions even while crafting a response. In this episode, Margaux Fraise is here to share how her extensive experience in retail prepared her to handle summit customer service in a way we can all learn from! For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/277

Love a good behind the scenes? In this episode I'm sharing 8 key takeaways from our Membership Momentum event. And it's not all rainbows and butterflies! You'll hear some good, but also some ugly. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/276

The energy of hosting a virtual summit is great...but what in the world can we do to keep that momentum up between events? In this episode, we'll hear from Kelly Sinclair about using a Visibility Tour to increase connections, become the go-to expert, open the door to new opportunities, and generate leads in just 10 minutes per day. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/275

Something I hear literally every day is frustration from people who want to host a summit, but honestly don't have the time for it. I'm not here to brush that off or say that they're making excuses. I know it's a real struggle. It's something I've dealt with myself. You're all trying to grow and sustain what you've built, stay consistent with strategies you're already using, and live your life outside of business. You can't throw a project as big as a summit into the mix without making some changes or sacrifices. To help, in this episode I'm sharing my 4 favorite ways to save time time in hosting a virtual summit plus one thing you'll need to do before you get started. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/274

I recently had someone ask me how I stay on the ""cutting edge"" of virtual summits to make sure I'm not teaching outdated summit strategies. As overrated as I feel like the ""cutting edge"" is, I'm peeling back the curtain in this episode and sharing how I do it, what I do with the new information, and why it's not immediately incorporated into our core strategies. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/273

If you have a proven membership that you're ready to scale and bring to the forefront of your business, it's time to host a virtual summit. We've consistently seen our clients add anywhere from 150-500 new members with their summits and in this episode I'll share 7 other reasons that summits and memberships are the perfect pair. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/272

Get a behind-the-scenes look at our upcoming virtual summit! While I always want my events to go well, I also use them as a chance to experiment with new strategies to see what's working NOW in the virtual summit space. In this episode I'm sharing the strategy behind my upcoming event, results I'm expecting, how I'm tying in our offers, the purpose behind bringing in a partner, and more. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/271

It's easy for me to show up on the podcast each week and share the big wins and strategies that I know work, but it's not often that I get to peel back the curtain and share the real side of things that didn't go so well. This week on the podcast I'm sharing my top 6 virtual summit fails. It includes topics related to pitching big-name speakers, sponsorships, launching a new offer, and more. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/270

I've coached hundreds of summit hosts and rarely see someone who makes it through the entire process without running into resistance. Sometimes, it's resistance with getting started and I'll hear, "I definitely want to join your program and host a summit, but will come back when I feel ready." Other times, it's resistance right before reaching major milestones in the summit-hosting process such as pitching speakers or opening registration. And even as someone who has coached hundreds of clients and hosted all kinds of my own events, I still run into that resistance myself! In this episode, I'm welcoming Alecia St. Germain who pulled back the curtain on what's behind that resistance and imposter syndrome and helped it all make a lot more sense. She also shared a behind-the-scenes look at her own growth and business shifts through the process of hosting 5 virtual summits of her own. This is an episode you won't want to miss! For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/269

I always love a good behind-the-scenes look at what other business owners are doing so today I'm sharing some fun details about our recent launch of Challenges That Make Bank! In this episode I'll share what made me go with a beta offer for the first time, why I launched with a webinar, the biggest "oops" moments we had in the launch, final results, and more. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/268

I've talked a lot about how great my team is over the years and today you get to meet some of them for yourselves! I brought all of my employees on to share what they do at Team SIAB, what they do outside of it, their favorite parts of working here, how we work so well together, and more. I know you'll love hearing from Elli, Kate, and Mel! For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/267

In this episode, I'm taking you behind the scenes of how my team has evolved over the last 8 years. You'll hear about nearly every hire I've made (the good and the bad), the reasoning behind the hires, and the biggest lessons I've learned while building my dream team. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/266

This episode kicks off a series that will give a fun behind the scenes into the way my business has evolved over the years. My hope is that it will be both interesting and inspirational from a listener standpoint! In this episode I'm sharing the 7 stages my business has gone through over the years and what's coming next. For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/265

"Limited-time access feels like a trick." "You send too many emails." "All you do is sell!" Feedback like that hurts, especially when you pay careful attention to always come from a place of serving your audience and running an ethical, values-based business. The thing is, no matter how careful you are, you're going to get negative feedback at some point in your business journey. I've gotten my fair share and in this episode I'm breaking down how I keep it from derailing me (at least most of the time). For show notes, head to https://summithosthangout.com/264