Podcasts about direct sales

Can you help me make more podcasts? Consider supporting me on Patreon as the service is 100% funded by you: https://EVne.ws/patreon You can read all the latest news on the blog here: https://EVne.ws/blog Subscribe for free and listen to the podcast on audio platforms:➤ Apple: https://EVne.ws/apple➤ YouTube Music: https://EVne.ws/youtubemusic➤ Spotify: https://EVne.ws/spotify➤ TuneIn: https://EVne.ws/tunein➤ iHeart: https://EVne.ws/iheart SMART DETAILS ELECTRIC #2 AHEAD OF PARIS REVEAL https://evne.ws/bts2h RIVIAN GAINS WASHINGTON LICENCE FOR DIRECT SALES https://evne.ws/ku0s7 USED-DIESEL VALUES FALL; DIESEL COSTS AROUND 14PC MORE https://evne.ws/0fy3o GM AND PG&E OFFER FREE CHARGERS AND BILL CREDITS https://evne.ws/rhts9 HYUNDAI CONTINUES SOLID-STATE BATTERY DEVELOPMENT DESPITE COSTS https://evne.ws/9cz6h HYUNDAI TESTS 200 KWH USED-BATTERY STORAGE https://evne.ws/mtar4 POWERCO CANADA POSTPONES $7-BILLION ST. THOMAS FACTORY OPENING https://evne.ws/nl0c9 BOSCH WARNS COSTLY BATTERY REPAIRS COULD SHORTEN EV LIVES https://evne.ws/kcwrw KIA PV5 CHASSIS UK CONVERSIONS DUE FOURTH QUARTER 2026 https://evne.ws/e4uf2 THREE-QUARTERS OF 20 LEADING UK PHEVS CANNOT USE RAPID CHARGERS https://evne.ws/2awak VERTICAL OPENS £1.5M VALO ASSEMBLY CENTRE https://evne.ws/gl9d1

Authors face massive challenges with low royalties and zero pricing flexibility when using traditional distribution channels. Host Juliet Clark sits down with guest Becky Parker Geist, Founder and CEO of Pro Audio Voices, to discuss how authors can regain audiobook publishing control through direct sales platforms. They examine how creators lose rights and profits to retailer subscriptions that give away content for free. By taking back ownership, authors can build direct relationships with listeners and set their own promotional pricing. Discover why community building and direct author-to-listener engagement form the backbone of sustainable publishing success. Learn how human narration creates an authentic connection that artificial voices can never replicate.Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share! https://superbrandpublishing.com/podcast/

In this episode, Jennie and McKinley discuss: An essential companion for business Technology should be easy Gamifying to create habits Connecting to your team Key Takeaways: Technology has been business leaders' constant companion, it's a great tool for training and communications. Growing your business will mean that you embrace growing technologies. New technology shouldn't have to require a Ph.D. to operate, it has to be approachable and easily operable for it to be effective. Gamifying difficult or repetitive tasks is a good way to create and sustain good habits. Being connected to your team, being present in their milestones, and following up on each new success is essential on growing your team and your business as a whole "The tools had to do the work… they allow the individual to become the messenger and not have to be the message." — McKinley Oswald About McKinley Oswald: For the past 25 years, McKinley Oswald has been heavily involved in working with direct sales companies and industry leaders to help them achieve success. His full-time contributions at Verb began after graduating from the University of Utah in 1998 when he became involved in the culture and direction of Sound Concepts (the company that was acquired by Verb in 2019). Although it originally started with kit assembly and cassette duplication, the company has now progressed far beyond that to offer a diverse lineup of sales-enablement tools and marketing services on the Verb digital platform. In his role as President of Direct Sales, McKinley has worked with hundreds of direct sales companies to help enable their field to succeed.Connect with McKinley Oswald: Twitter: https://twitter.com/mckinleyoswald Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VerbTechCo Website: https://www.verb.tech/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mckinleyoswald/ Email: mjo@verb.tech CONNECT WITH JENNIE: Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenniebpl Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/badassdirectsalesmastery/app/307339332686535/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/badassdirectsalesmastery/ Website: https://badassdirectsalesmastery.com/ Show: https://badassdirectsalesmastery.com/blog/ YouTube: LinkedIn: Email: jennie@badassdirectsalesmastery.com Show notes by Podcastologist: Justine Talla Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

Join our next FASO Show Live!https://artists.boldbrush.com/p/the-faso-showLearn the magic of marketing  with us here at BoldBrush!boldbrushshow.com--Welcome back to another compilation episode. Today we're going deep on one relationship that shapes many painting careers, whether you love it or dread it: the one between an artist and a gallery. We pulled the best, most specific moments on this topic from across the show's run, from first impressions to knowing when to walk away. No new guest today, just the collected wisdom of the artists who've actually lived this. Let's get into it. Guests in order of appearance:111 Matt Smith138 Michelle Dunaway124 Hilarie Couture184 Jennifer Balkan176 Ellen Howard121 Paul Batch112 Philippe Gandiol122 Russell Gordon128 Sarah Yeoman118 Shuang Li105 S.C. Mummert168 Stacey Peterson164 Sandra Duran Wilson123 Michael Orwick144 Christine Code111 Matt Smith145 Erik Koeppel132 Keith Bond111 Matt Smith 110 Robert Johnson138 Michelle Dunaway170 Kim Lordier

In this episode of the Modern Direct Seller Podcast, we chat with Amy Konowal, a top Pampered Chef leader who has built one of the company's largest teams. Amy shares what team building really looks like today, why the usual fears around recruiting rarely hold up, and how she welcomes people onto her team no matter how long they plan to stay. She also gets honest about those crucial first weeks with a new member and offers a simple place to start for anyone ready to grow their team.You can connect with Amy on Facebook and Instagram. And if you're tired of building your business on rented land, be sure to grab your free capture-and-convert homepage from Oh My Hi today.Time-Based Notes:0:54 - Meet Amy Konowal of Pampered Chef2:54 - Rapid Fire Questions7:39 - Amy's Direct Sales Journey13:51 - Making the Recruiting Conversation Feel Natural15:52 - Recruiting Ping Pong20:11 - Who Belongs on Your Team23:47 - When Leadership Feels Out of Reach25:20 - Getting New Team Members to Stick28:07 - Team Building Myths Worth Rethinking34:36 - Starting Conversations That Grow Your TeamGet the full show notes at https://moderndirectseller.com/episode305

In this episode, Matt & Lauren explore four different direct sales solutions for authors, creators, and entrepreneurs at every stage of the journey! Learn how to sell direct by:

‘I think it absolutely the right action to increase the contribution from jewellery … and decrease exposure to the overall luxury watch category' – Tasneem Samodien from Private Clients by Old Mutual.

In this episode of the Modern Direct Seller Podcast, we're marking 300 episodes, a number that took five and a half years (and a lot of Tuesdays) to reach. We're using the milestone to dive into the future of direct sales, unpacking what has and hasn't changed about this industry since the show began. There are some honest predictions in here too, about where things are headed and what that means for the way you build.Want to celebrate 300 episodes with us? Enter the 300th episode giveaway for a prize package from the Modern Direct Seller Shop, and if you'd like early access to the manuscript of Becky's new book, sign up as a beta reader. And if you're a direct seller ready for a home base you actually own, grab a free capture and convert homepage from Oh My Hi. Time-Based Notes:0:51 - 300 Episodes in the Making8:15  - What Hasn't Changed in Direct Sales16:14 - Building a Brand Beyond Your Frank's List18:21 - Public Content and the End of the Secret Group22:15 - Trading Hustle for Systems You Own26:57 - AI's Brand New Chapter28:58 - Why the Future of Direct Sales Is Bright31:11 - Umbrella Brands, Younger Sellers, and New Ways to Earn42:13 - A New Book and a Call for Beta ReadersGet the full show notes at https://moderndirectseller.com/episode300

Ryan Pineda and Danny Bay brainstorm a strategy to turn caddies, golf coaches, and industry workers into an active direct sales team for Ryan's high-ticket golf mastermind. The conversation breaks down the mechanics of direct sales structures: determining commission tiers and leadership overrides, managing FTC compliance around joining fees, setting up automated onboarding systems, and keeping sales reps motivated without paying high up-front marketing costs.

Danny Bay details how he helped take a Korean skincare giant—which generated over $2 billion in South Korea alone—and scale its presence globally without relying on traditional paid advertising. He discusses navigating cross-border business culture, structuring direct sales teams across 16 countries, and building an active network of over 260,000 distributors through word-of-mouth marketing and localized leadership training.

Ryan Pineda and co-host Brian Davila sit down with Danny Bae to explore how he leveraged 20+ years of direct sales experience and his unique Korean-American background to build a 260,000-person global sales organization that generated over $400 million in Korean skincare revenue outside of Korea, while sharing lessons on leadership, network marketing, entrepreneurship, and scaling through people. ⁣⁣Connect with Danny - ⁣https://www.instagram.com/dannybaeofficial/ ⁣https://www.instagram.com/weareriman/ ⁣⁣Watch the podcast with Brad Sugars - https://youtu.be/nxyAdptUGcw⁣⁣__________⁣If you'd like my team to run your marketing & sales department to scale your business apply here https://www.pinedapartners.com⁣⁣Join our private mastermind for elite business leaders who golf. https://www.mastermind19.com⁣⁣Want to be featured on the Wealthy Way Podcast? Apply here https://www.wealthyway.com⁣⁣If you want to start your real estate investing business, we'll give you 1:1 coaching, seller leads, software, & everything you need. https://www.wealthyinvestor.com⁣⁣Tired of paying so much in taxes every year? We'll give you strategy, tax prep, and accounting all in one place. https://www.taylor-tax.com⁣⁣Join free Bible studies and workshops for Christian business leaders. https://www.tentmakers.us⁣__________⁣Chapters: ⁣00:00 - $400M Sales Success⁣02:19 - Expansion & Team Building⁣06:59 - Recruiting & Training⁣15:02 - Direct Sales & M19⁣18:44 - Career Journey⁣23:13 - K-Pop & Marketing Ideas⁣30:06 - Commission Structure⁣31:48 - Caddy Recruiting Strategy⁣36:48 - Onboarding & Compensation⁣45:14 - Network Marketing Strategy⁣47:01 - Recruiting Golf Pros⁣50:34 - International Expansion⁣1:00:20 - K-Beauty Opportunity⁣1:01:50 - Scaling with TikTok⁣1:07:03 - Caddy Sales Model⁣1:15:23 - Golf Sales Opportunities⁣1:17:02 - Network Marketing Lessons

In this episode, Lauren & Matt explore the top five most popular ecommerce platforms in the market today. We review Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix, Squarespace, and BigCommerce, taking a look at: 

About Michelle Nedelec: Michelle is an international best selling author and expert in entrepreneurs and she's the founder of Awareness Strategies. She's run her own series of companies for over 22 years and for over 15 years has been helping managers and executives to continually double their profits and revenues. She not only has what it takes to help her clients build million-dollar businesses but she does it time and time again. Michelle particularly loves to talk about marketing automation, systems integration, and support both on and off of the stage. She teaches the key components of the business, strategy, systems, support, and state of mind so that you know how to continually elevate all four components to build a healthy thriving business. For the past 6 years, she's been focusing on helping entrepreneurs bring their businesses online from conceptualization to done for you IT automation. In this episode, Jennie and Michelle discuss: Competence vs. Confidence. You don't need to have the competence you need to have confidence. Focus on your goals, short term goals, long term goals, and ultra long term goals. Business automation systems, how to attract people gain their attention, and hook them in. Money and business, spending vs investing.   Key Takeaways: Fear is part of being human, embrace it instead of feeling scared of it. Build and embrace your confidence. Expand your comfort zone and confidence by setting goals and then proving that you can achieve them. Pitch marketing is over, everyone wants to buy, but no one wants to be sold on something. Work to solve a problem for them. Employee mindset vs entrepreneur mindset, ask yourself what you want to create and then do it, don't wait for people to tell you what to do.   "It's not rocket science it's just common sense in the business world." —  Michelle Nedelec   Michelle's Book Freebie: Business Ownership Mindset Connect with Michelle Nedelec: Facebook: Michelle @ Awareness Strategies Instagram: @michellenedelec Website: Business Ownership Mindset.com Show: The Little Blue Pill for Business Podcast (Coming to You August 11th) LinkedIn: Michelle Nedelec Email:michelle@awarenessstrategies.com   CONNECT WITH JENNIE: Twitter: https://twitter.com/jenniebpl Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/badassdirectsalesmastery/app/307339332686535/ Instagram: Website: https://badassdirectsalesmastery.com/  Show: https://badassdirectsalesmastery.com/blog/     Show notes by Podcastologist: Kristen Braun  Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it. 

In this episode of Brave New Bookshelf, hosts Steph Pajonas and Danica Favorite are joined by Greg Keogh, co-founder of Curios, to discuss the revolutionary shift toward direct-to-reader sales. Greg shares how Curios empowers authors by acting as the merchant of record—handling the complexities of sales tax and customer support—while providing a "permissionless" platform that welcomes AI-forward content and high-spice fiction without the fear of de-platforming. From the logistical ease of setting up a digital storefront in minutes to the exciting future of integrated print-on-demand services, this conversation explores how authors can reclaim their independence, own their reader data, and build a more resilient publishing business. Visit our website https://bravenewbookshelf.com to view the full episode notes, links and apps mentioned in the episode, and the full transcript.

In recent years, our No-Till Farmer editors have shared numerous conversations with no-tillers interested in finding new ways to expand farm income past traditional cash crop, milk and meat production. While we've seen many opportunities for developing a direct-to-consumer business, many growers maintain it seems like too much work.

Peter Hollins explores how Beethoven, despite losing his hearing, continued to create masterpieces and inspire others with unwavering commitment. Discover the power of focusing on your vision and pushing through challenges to achieve greatness. You'll learn practical insights to stay motivated and elevate your own craft.⏱ CHAPTERS0:00 Intro2:15 The Struggle Begins4:19 Live Performances and Masterpieces5:20 Challenges and Resilience6:25 Overcoming Adversity Through Music7:58 Beethoven's Symphony Premiere9:31 Early Musical Education12:08 Direct Sales to Publishers13:39 Unique Voice and Vision15:45 Personal Achievements and Goals17:25 Summary of Today's StudyJoin us as we dive into the fascinating world of neuroscience with Peter Hollins, where you'll discover how even legendary figures like Beethoven harnessed their creativity and self-discipline to overcome incredible obstacles. Whether you're a musician looking to boost your mental performance or someone seeking better time management and productivity hacks, our channel offers insights that blend leadership wisdom with scientific understanding to keep you motivated and committed on your journey of personal growth.

314 / Tee Harlowe, a fantasy romance author, shares tips for successful Kickstarters as well as how she's adapting to market shifts and why diversification is key to surviving income drops. ✨ This week's sponsor is Vellum: http://tryvellum.com/wishRapid release publishing strategiesInstagram tips for authorsFallacies in assumptions about genre size equating to sales  Challenges with Kickstarter fulfillmentDiversifying author income streams, including through traditional publishing and direct salesRunning a successful Shopify store

Are you interested in working 1:1 with Katy? Book a Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/katyursta-info/30min Sign up for Private Coaching: https://boards.com/a/NkqW1.9etKLQ 

* Listen on Spotify* Listen on Apple* Listen on Youtube* Listen on Pocketcasts* Book Launch checklist: https://BookHip.com/BDSWRRT* Millionaire Author Mastermind Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/millionaireauthormastermind/* http://hapitalist.com/* https://link.tertulia.com/ykHxfSIn this episode of The Six Figure Author Experiment, Russell and Lee sit down with Lynda Hammes, co-founder of Tertulia, to explore a tool built to solve one of the most exhausting parts of the author business: the messy, expensive, duct-taped-together stack of websites, email tools, direct sales platforms, and assorted software subscriptions. Lynda explains how Tertulia began as a book discovery platform and online bookstore, then expanded into Tertulia for Authors, a streamlined author platform designed to make websites and audience-building dramatically easier.The conversation centers on a live walkthrough of the Tertulia website builder, showing how quickly an author can generate a site from an ISBN or ASIN and an Instagram handle, then customize colors, branding, books, blog posts, and calls to action. Lynda demonstrates how the platform imports metadata, reviews, retailer links, and book information, then layers in tools for lead magnets, blogs, custom pages, email campaigns, and direct sales. The core promise is simple but powerful: authors should be able to build a polished home base in minutes, not wrestle for weeks with a pile of disconnected tools.Russell and Lee also dig into a larger issue underneath the tech demo: why so many authors still avoid building a real online home base, even in 2026. The answer is not usually philosophical resistance so much as tool fatigue and intimidation. Tertulia's pitch is that authors already know they need a website, an email list, and better direct reader relationships. They just do not want to become accidental web developers to get there. That is where the platform is trying to meet them: less friction, fewer subscriptions, and less maintenance over time.A major thread in the episode is author audience ownership. Lynda notes that one recurring lesson from Tertulia's work with authors is that social media attention is far less durable than a reader email list, and that email campaigns often outperform social in actual sales. Tertulia's built-in tools are meant to make that shift easier by combining reader magnets, email capture, newsletter templates, and direct sales in one place. For authors tired of bouncing between MailerLite, BookFunnel, Shopify, and a website builder, this consolidation is a major part of the appeal.The episode also opens the door to Tertulia's broader ecosystem beyond author websites. Lynda describes the original Tertulia business as a book discovery and commerce platform, featuring curated recommendations, celebrity book clubs, indie press roundups, and author recommendation content. That context matters because it positions Tertulia not just as a software tool, but as a company thinking seriously about reader discovery, book buying, and the relationship between authors and audiences.By the end, the episode makes a clear case for what Tertulia is trying to become: not just “another website builder,” but an increasingly complete ecosystem for authors who want to look professional, grow an email list, sell direct, and simplify their business infrastructure without paying for five separate services or spending their creative energy on backend chaos.Topics Covered:* What Tertulia is and how it evolved from a bookstore and discovery platform into Tertulia for Authors* Lynda Hammes's overview of Tertulia's mission to simplify the author tech stack* Why authors still resist building websites, even though they know they need one* The “Frankenstack” problem: juggling Wix, WordPress, MailerLite, BookFunnel, Shopify, and other disconnected tools* Live demo of building an author website using only an ISBN/ASIN and Instagram handle* Importing books, metadata, retailer links, descriptions, and reviews automatically into an author site* The design process: choosing templates, updating colors, branding, and layout quickly* How Tertulia handles blogs and custom pages for authors who want more than a static website* Reader magnets and lead capture built directly into the website platform* Replacing the BookFunnel + MailerLite + website combo with a more unified toolset* Email campaigns inside Tertulia, including book-specific newsletter templates for cover reveals, preorders, and more* Why Tertulia prioritized easy, author-specific email templates before more advanced automation features* Selling ebooks and audiobooks direct through the site using Stripe checkout* Tracking direct buyers and audience data inside the platform* The option to prioritize direct buying while still linking to outside retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble* Discussion of embedding pixels for ad tracking and direct sales campaigns* Using Tertulia even if some products are sold elsewhere, such as Shopify or Kickstarter* Adding books manually when they are not widely distributed or do not yet have standard metadata in major systems* Review curation and why Tertulia prefers a cleaner “top review” approach instead of dumping in hundreds of raw reviews* The role of discoverability and how Substack-style discovery compares to bookstore-based discovery* Tertulia's roots as a discovery engine for books, with curated recommendations and retail built in* Author recommendation content and why author-to-reader recommendation paths can be especially powerful* Tertulia's celebrity and hosted book club ecosystem, including Bellatrist Book Club* The Tertulia co-op membership for readers and how it differs from the author-facing subscription* Pricing for Tertulia for Authors, including the free trial and monthly subscription tiers* Why onboarding without requiring a credit card lowers friction for authors who just want to test a site first* Domain transfer and setup options for authors moving over from older platforms* Future roadmap: automation sequences, author-fulfilled print commerce, and broader fulfillment solutions* Tertulia's Friday Zoom office hours and author community support model* Why the long-term maintenance burden is often worse than the initial website setup itself* Final takeaway: for many authors, the real value is not “more tech,” but less chaos, fewer subscriptions, and a website they will actually keep updated This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sixfigureauthorexperiment.com

Are you interested in working 1:1 with Katy? Book a Discovery Call here: https://calendly.com/katyursta-info/30min Sign up for Katy's Freshen the Feed Live Workshop Here: https://tinyurl.com/freshenthefeed 

After launching Wasabi Technologies, a successful cloud storage company, founder and CEO David Friend was ready to scale the venture rapidly. The company had focused primarily on direct sales, but an opportunity to pivot toward channel sales was on the horizon. However, making this pivot would mean changing its sales, marketing, and staffing strategies dramatically, and effectively veering the company away from its already successful course. Harvard Business School Senior Lecturer Lou Shipley joins Brian Kenny to discuss the case, “Wasabi Technologies” and the questions Friend wrestled with: Was channel sales the right play for the burgeoning cloud storage provider? If so, how should it best be implemented? They also explore ideas connected to Shipley's new book, Unlikely Entrepreneurs.

- GM's $10 Billion Software Bet: Super Cruise and OnStar - Washington Dealers Cave on Direct Sales  - BYD's First Profit Drop In 4 Years - Solid-State Skepticism: 1% Market Share Still a Decade Away  - Chinese OEMs Stumble on Service in Mexico - Skoda Leads VV Group With 3-Row EV - Used EV Bargains Are A $8 Billion Nightmare - Ford's Record Recalls and Why Farley Scored A $27 Million Payday

- GM's $10 Billion Software Bet: Super Cruise and OnStar - Washington Dealers Cave on Direct Sales  - BYD's First Profit Drop In 4 Years - Solid-State Skepticism: 1% Market Share Still a Decade Away  - Chinese OEMs Stumble on Service in Mexico - Skoda Leads VV Group With 3-Row EV - Used EV Bargains Are A $8 Billion Nightmare - Ford's Record Recalls and Why Farley Scored A $27 Million Payday

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Your Story Isn't Your Message: The Shift to Pro Speaker | Terry L. FossumMy guest today is Terry L. Fossum.Terry is a survival reality show winner; a #1 Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble bestselling author; and his TEDxTalk debuted at #2 in the world — later recognized as one of the “Top 30 TEDx Talks That Made an Impact This Century.”He's a highly successful keynote speaker, a philanthropist who's helped raise millions for charities across the country, and in business, he reached the top fraction of 1% of his industry worldwide. Terry was named Los Angeles Magazine's Person of the Year for 2024, and Insights Success Magazine's Most Impactful and Visionary Personality to Watch in 2025.His award-winning book, The S.I.M.P.L.E. Guide to Public Speaking—Without Losing Your Lunch, has been praised by astronauts, beauty queens, executives, military leaders, and even adopted at the MBA level.⭐ But today, Terry is known for something even more powerful.After his TEDxTalk crossed a million views and completely transformed his life, Terry became obsessed with a simple, overlooked truth:Most people aren't lacking talent. They're lacking a message that deserves a stage.That realization lit a fire in him.Today, as the founder of The World Class Speaker Program and The Visionary Speaker Network, Terry helps authors, experts, executives, and movement builders clarify the one sentence they're truly here to say — and then turn that sentence into a speaking career, more impact, and significantly more income.From TEDx to paid keynotes to global stages, Terry teaches people how to stop talking… and start being heard.Terry L. Fossum, welcome to the show.Links:http://www.thestageadvantage.com/Tags:Business,Direct Sales,Fear of Public Speaking,De Keynote Speaker,Mindset,Money,Multi Level Marketing (MLM),Speaker Trainer,Success,TEDx Speaker,Podcast,Phantom Electric Ghost Podcast,Interview,Live Video Podcast InterviewSupport PEG by checking out our Sponsors:Download and use Newsly for free now from www.newsly.me or from the link in the description, and use promo code “GHOST” and receive a 1-month free premium subscription.The best tool for getting podcast guests:https://podmatch.com/signup/phantomelectricghostSubscribe to our Instagram for exclusive content:https://www.instagram.com/expansive_sound_experiments/Subscribe to our YouTube https://youtube.com/@phantomelectricghost?si=rEyT56WQvDsAoRprRSShttps://anchor.fm/s/3b31908/podcast/rssSubstackhttps://substack.com/@phantomelectricghost?utm_source=edit-profile-page

In this episode, Matt & Lauren explore three different ways creators can get started selling direct, and the tools you'll need along the way! Learn about:

In this episode, Lisa Duck and Susan Larimer engage with Stephanie Pressley, who shares her lifelong journey in direct sales, influenced by her parents. Stephanie discusses her transition from direct sales to speaking and coaching, focusing on empowering women through challenges. She emphasizes the importance of perspective and self-worth in business, the impact of family on entrepreneurial spirit, and the tools she uses for success.  TakeawaysStephanie's journey in direct sales began at a young age, influenced by her father's entrepreneurial spirit.Direct sales provided financial support for her family's extracurricular activities.Homeschooling her children was intertwined with her direct sales experience.Stephanie emphasizes the importance of community and adult interaction for homeschooling mothers.She transitioned to speaking and coaching to empower women facing challenges.The perspective of viewing challenges as situations rather than problems is crucial.Stephanie's passion lies in encouraging others to realize their potential.She uses a simple three-step framework to help women organize their daily lives.Family plays a significant role in shaping entrepreneurial spirit and mindset.Women in direct sales should recognize their value and earn their place at the table.#DirectSales #BusinessGrowth #TheOther99%Podcast #cinchshare

This week we dig into a viral RVTravel.com poll asking: How well built is your RV? The results surprised us—and they raise a bigger question: if so many RVers say their rigs are “well built,” why does the industry's quality reputation feel so rough… and why can't buyers easily choose truly better-built options? Then we're joined by Geneva Long, founder and CEO of Bowlus to talk about reviving a nearly-forgotten 1930s aviation-inspired aluminum travel trailer and turning it into one of the most interesting luxury RV brands on the road today. We get into what “built like an airplane” really means, why lightweight doesn't have to mean flimsy, and why Bowlus may be uniquely positioned for the future of EV towing. Plus: Abby's “black tank” story about everyday kindness (and a parking lot door ding), and Jason's take on the way people talk about travel safety in Mexico—especially Baja. *Support independent RV journalism and unlock great perks by becoming a Mile Marker

In this episode of The Other 99%, hosts Lisa Duck and Susan Larimer welcome Emily Munns, a direct sales with experience in Norwex and Zyia. Emily shares her journey in direct sales, emphasizing the importance of systems for customer connection, the role of Project Broadcast in follow-up, and the necessity of having a personal website to build relationships. The conversation also covers social media engagement, the evolution of Facebook groups, and the significance of time management in running a successful business.Takeaways​Emily Munns emphasizes the importance of systems in direct sales.​Project Broadcast has transformed Emily's customer follow-up process.​Direct sales allows for flexibility in balancing personal life and business.​Having a personal website enhances brand identity and customer connection.​Social media presence is crucial but should be balanced with other engagement methods.​Feedback from customers can guide content and product focus.​The evolution of Facebook groups requires adaptation and understanding of customer needs.​Time management tools can significantly improve productivity and focus.​Building relationships is key in direct sales success.​Consistency in communication fosters customer loyalty.#DirectSales #BusinessGrowth #TheOther99%Podcast #cinchshare 

In this New Year episode of The Six Figure Author Experiment, Lisa Vino and Russell Nolte are joined by David Viergutz, founder of Scare Mail and CEO of Epistolary.com, to talk about a business metric Lisa now can't unsee: AOV (Average Order Value). What begins as a direct-sales strategy conversation quickly turns into a masterclass on premium experiences, fandom-building, and escaping the tired publishing “rat race.” David shares how he went from running ads in the 20 Books / SPS model to building a thriving story-letter empire, why epistolary fiction is story-first or die, and how authors can experiment with higher-priced offers without losing the magic. The through-line: in a world flooded with AI and noise, the advantage is human creativity, bold formats, and products that feel like experiences.Topics Covered:* What AOV (Average Order Value) is and why it matters for direct sales* Thinking like a business owner without losing your author soul* David's origin story: list-building, ads, and long-term strategy* Why niche audiences can still generate massive success* “Taylor Swift pricing” as a mindset shift for premium offers* Why experiences sell: readers remember how something made them feel* The birth of Scare Mail: the mailbox as a storytelling medium* Epistolary fiction basics: letters, artifacts, rabbit holes, and immersion* Why some stories should never be “novelized”* Building a blue ocean: creating a category people can't comparison-shop* Why the most online generation craves print and human touch* How fandom deepens through participation and interactivity* “Move closer to the customer” as a modern business principle* Building a cult-level fanbase one person at a time* The “thousand true fans” concept applied to premium fiction* Author archetypes and why “aquatic” creators win by reinventing formats* Premium experiences that scale like books: create once, sell forever* The customer journey is the same for gum, books, and Teslas (attention is the difference)* Why Amazon's rules aren't the only axis you can play on* Why KU is not the whole market (and why authors mistake it for the whole audience)* Pricing power: increasing prices without dips when the experience is unique* The economics problem: $20 customer acquisition vs. $3.99 products* Direct sales advantages: owning the customer relationship and reducing noise* Indie presses and “algorithm rain” strategies that don't actually market* The Fire & Ice offer: two versions, premium pricing, and upsells to raise AOV* Why customers should pay shipping (and why authors often sabotage margins)* Risk reversal: refunding + buying a competitor's book as a bold trust play* Testing product ideas cheaply: MOQ realities and starting with paper-based artifacts* Story-letter fundamentals: hook the story first, then explain the delivery* The epistolary rule: if you can't explain “why letters?” start over* Artifacts defined: what counts, what works, and what's lazy filler* Examples of artifacts: polaroids, recipes, journal entries, QR codes, audio links, word searches, ribbons, puzzles* Designing artifacts to enhance story, not add envelope weight* The “scavenger hunt” model: clues, interaction, and layered payoff* Creativity as competitive advantage in an AI-saturated world* “Get weird” as strategy: uniqueness creates true blue-ocean differentiation* Where to find David and how to pitch an epistolary project This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.sixfigureauthorexperiment.com

Today's episode of the Punk CX podcast features Paul Hughes, who is Head of Direct Sales for the UKISA region at Mitel, where he helps organisations use technology to deliver human experiences built on trust, empathy, loyalty, and logic. Paul joins me today to talk about why hybrid is the new default and not a compromise, the dangers of a CCaaS monoculture, the problem with AI sameness and why most bots feel identical, linking UC/CX investment to business outcomes like revenue, resilience, and wellbeing as well as Paul's best advice, his Punk CX brand and his very own good news story. This interview follows on from my recent interview – Loyalty is the core economic engine – Interview with Sara Richter and Fred Reichheld – and is number 573 in the series of interviews with authors and business leaders who are doing great things, providing valuable insights, helping businesses innovate and delivering great service and experience to both their customers and their employees.

Subscribe to our Newsletter: https://theultimatepartner.com/ebook-subscribe/ Check Out UPX: https://theultimatepartner.com/experience/ In this high-impact podcast episode to kick off 2026, Vince Menzione sits down with Jay McBain (Canalys/Informa) to decode the tectonic shifts reshaping the technology ecosystem. Jay reveals why the tech economy is forecasting double-digit growth while the broader economy lags, introducing a “Tale of Two Cities” where direct infrastructure sales are booming but partner influence is more critical than ever. He explains the drop in channel transact share to 66.7% and why the “96% Partner Assist” is the new metric for success. Jay also details the shift away from traditional “Gold/Silver/Bronze” programs toward point systems that recognize partners at every one of the “28 moments” in the customer journey, from influence to long-term retention. Key Takeaways The tech industry is forecast to grow 10.2% in 2026, outpacing the global economy’s 2.7% growth. Channel transact share has dropped from 75% to a forecast of 66.7% as infrastructure deals go direct. Nvidia and the “Magnificent Seven” are driving a massive direct infrastructure build-out for the next era. Microsoft measures a 96% “Partner Assist” rate, with up to seven partners involved in every deal. 80% of customers now prioritize partner certifications and competencies over relationships when choosing partners. The number one request from partners is to be recognized for value across all 28 moments, not just the point of sale. If you're ready to lead through change, elevate your business, and achieve extraordinary outcomes through the power of partnership—this is your community. At Ultimate Partner® we want leaders like you to join us in the Ultimate Partner Experience – where transformation begins. Key Tags: Jay McBain, Canalys, Informa Tech, Partner Assist, 28 Moments, Tech Growth 2026, Channel Strategy, Nvidia, Infrastructure Buildout, Partner Economics, Microsoft Ecosystem, AWS, Direct Sales, Indirect Sales, Partner Influence, Multiplier Effect, Customer Journey, Partner Programs, Tech Economy, Ecosystem Orchestration. https://youtu.be/ntogEr6mjKg?si=_AaBPBfv9KcMRA9D Transcript: [00:00:00] Jay McBain: By the way, marketplaces, the massive growth in marketplaces for everyone that doesn’t own the marketplace is also an indirect sale. It should be helping these numbers. Yeah, so, but there’s one company that’s driving and happens to be the most valuable company in the world right now. [00:00:15] Vince Menzione: Let’s start off with the first, my burning question I have first, let’s cover it first. [00:00:21] Vince Menzione: If you had a sum up 2026 for partners in one sentence. What is it and what are people still underestimating? [00:00:29] Jay McBain: Yeah, it’s one, one word is probably opportunity. Opportunity. Um, so we look around the world, uh, the world economy without technology in it is gonna grow at 2.7%. That’s about $120 trillion with technology in it, technology industry, we’re forecasting to grow by double digits. [00:00:47] Jay McBain: Amazing. You know, in a world that’s growing at two, uh, we’re expecting 10.2%. Growth. And this industry, as you know, is surrounded by partners. Yes. And there are opportunities in hardware, in software, in services, in telco, all the different parts of the customer’s budget. And to look through the double digits though, I mean the, the extension of the sentence is, it’s a tale of two cities. [00:01:11] Jay McBain: Yeah. I was gonna ask you about this. Police do. There isn’t an opportunity in every slice. You know, some of the slices are shrinking by single digits. Some of them are growing by low single digits, but some of them are in the 20, 30, 40% growth range. And this is what partners are starting to think, these tectonic shifts that are happening, the ultimate partnerships that are happening are in very specific places that you kicked off this session talking about. [00:01:35] Vince Menzione: Yeah. So I would love to di dive in here because we have your, we have your slide up behind us. In fact, in talking about this $6.1 trillion economy around te uh, tech and telco and this opportunity. So, you know, we’re, there are gonna be winners and losers right in, in terms of these, uh, these segments or slices of the economy. [00:01:55] Vince Menzione: We can talk about that now. I, I think maybe it would be a good idea to talk about both the channel and, and why the par the channel plays such a big role in this growth. And then talk about what the winners and losers are gonna be. [00:02:07] Jay McBain: Yeah, I mean, broader. Um, actually if we go to the next, uh, slide, there is, um, a declining number and in the world economy that 120 trillion, 75% of it. [00:02:20] Jay McBain: Uh, moves indirectly. You bought your last car from a dealer. Yeah. You bought your last, uh, TV from a retailer, you know, peanut butter from a grocer, that type of thing. But the agencies, the brokers, the resellers, the retailers, the franchisees, the gas stations, pharmacies, grocery, all the different parts of the 27 industries, you know, play an incredible role. [00:02:40] Jay McBain: Our industry was at 75, not just three years ago. Wow. It dropped to 73.2. Two years ago, down to 70.1 last year, and this year’s forecast to be 66.7, so it’s dropping by about 3% each year and it’s this how money changes hands. Yeah. By the way, marketplaces, the massive growth in marketplaces for everyone that doesn’t own the marketplace is also an indirect sale. [00:03:05] Jay McBain: It should be helping these numbers. Yeah, so, but there’s one company that’s driving and happens to be the most valuable company in the world right now, Nvidia. Yeah. And the broader data center buildup mostly on consumer side, but this infrastructure data center build out globally happening right now is mostly happening direct. [00:03:22] Jay McBain: Yeah. There are the magnificent seven who are spending hundreds of billions of dollars each. On these chips and on this, uh, capability and capacity for this next 20 year era. And this is not a resell gain. They’re not buying through distribution and not buying through a reseller. And that’s where you talk about haves and have nots. [00:03:40] Jay McBain: You talk about this economy that, you know, Nvidia for example, was growing at triple digits, quarter in, quarter out, you know, becoming the most valuable company. And it’s not. A traditional technology opportunity, right? There isn’t managed service providers inside these data centers. There isn’t technology folks like VARs and system integrators in plugging in the equipment. [00:04:02] Jay McBain: Yeah. So we gotta watch and, and look at where this next shift takes us and where this multiplier opportunity wraps around it. So that’s the second number here. 96%. Which hasn’t changed. This is a number by the way, that Microsoft measures Yes. Understand. And, and Microsoft looks at it and, you know, second most valuable company in the world measures every deal they’re in and then have been for decades. [00:04:26] Jay McBain: And they measure this 96% of partner assist upwards of seven partners in every one of their deals. And looking at this partner assist number is what drives them. And in Microsoft’s case. You know, perhaps without a better product price or uh, promotion than their lead competitor. AWS, they’ve outgrown them for 26 straight quarters. [00:04:45] Jay McBain: Yes. And they point to place as the reason why that two, three, maybe even four of those seven partners may be leading with Microsoft in critical moments. And so every company, large, medium, and small, look at this partner assist number. And this is where we take that ecosystem conversation. [00:05:02] Vince Menzione: So with 96% partner assist, why do partners touch, touching, everything still feel invisible in many cases. [00:05:11] Vince Menzione: And what’s the one move that they, they make? Or need to make to make them undeniable to [00:05:15] Jay McBain: vendors in 2026? Yeah, I mean, this is a long legacy. There’s 44 years of legacy of being measured at the point of sale where programs were built and paid at the point of sale. Yeah. Assuming you did a bunch of stuff like consulting and design and advisory before the point of sale, assuming you’re gonna stay after the sale and get the renewal and get the upsell, cross sell, and enrichment, there was this assumption, but you were really recognized only at one moment. [00:05:41] Jay McBain: And when we did the survey last year across, you know, 20,000 partners around the world, the number one thing they’re asking vendors for now. Is to recognize, measure monitor me at every moment. Mm-hmm. 28 of them before the sale every 30 days. Forever after the sale. Yep. At the point of sale, the provisioning, the procurement, all the pieces of where we add value. [00:06:02] Jay McBain: And now Microsoft was one of the leaders that came out with a point system over three years ago to say, we’re gonna start measuring and, you know, spreading the program dollars around a little bit like peanut butter. There’s over 400 companies now who have followed suit. You know, Cisco goes live in two weeks, so we’re in this mode now where the world is changing of economics, of partnering. [00:06:23] Jay McBain: It’s changing how recognition happens and it’s the number one thing partners want. [00:06:27] Vince Menzione: Yeah, we’re moving away from the gold, silver, bronze, uh, days of the past and, and tying ’em to these moments. In particular, the Ultimate Partner Winter retreat is gonna be here in the Boca Studio. This is the third year. [00:06:41] Vince Menzione: That we’re gonna be here in Boca. This is always a favorite of our community members, our executive members, our sponsors and speakers. We’ll all be here in the studio, which is a really intimate setting. We can see it upwards of 40, 50 people. We’ll be hosting an incredible dinner at the Boca Resort overlooking the golf course. [00:07:01] Vince Menzione: That’s an incredible property and uh, we’d love to have you join us. Thank you for being part of the ultimate Partner community, and I hope to see you this year at one of our events. Thank you.

Paul Millerd is the author of The Pathless Path, which has earned Paul $325,000 in royalties to date. In the process, Paul turned down a publishing offer from Penguin, one of the major publishers in the industry. Then, in December, Paul decided to double down and produce a new version of The Pathless Path, an ultra-premium hardcover book that is just beautiful. So in this episode, we talk about that decision, the dark side of traditional publishing, the book deal Paul WOULD have taken, and when traditional publishing actually makes sense. → Get The New Hardcover Pathless Path ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Full transcript and show notes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Paul's Website / Twitter *** TIMESTAMPS (00:00) Intro (05:53) Why He Self-Published (08:01) Designing Books Beyond the Obvious (13:13) Money Isn't A Reason to Write (16:54) Book's Success and New Opportunities (20:30) Rejecting Penguin (22:00) Redefining Self-Publishing Potential (25:00) Author Rights and Publishing Deals (30:29) Reviving Unpublished Books (31:33) Publishing Challenges and Opportunities (37:11) Write a Book You Love (39:38) Inside The Pathless Path Hardcover (43:02) Overcoming Doubts, Achieving Success (46:23) Inspired by Steel Brothers (48:43) Direct Sales for Higher Margins (53:04) Amazon Book Bundling Limitations *** RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#182: Noah Kagan — Behind the scenes of writing (and marketing) Million Dollar Weekend → #163: David Moldawer — Diving deep into book publishing with an industry insider *** ASK CREATOR SCIENCE → ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Submit your question here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ *** WHEN YOU'RE READY

Is Direct Sales Dead — or Just Evolving? The Truth About Personal Branding in Today's Market In this deeply insightful episode, Rory and AJ Vaden break down the seismic shifts happening in direct sales, affiliate marketing, and influencer-driven commerce. From the collapse of traditional MLM structures to the rise of personal brands owning their audiences, this conversation explores what it really takes to build lasting success in today's volatile sales environment. Rory shares his record-breaking journey in direct sales and how that shaped his philosophy on people-first business models. AJ challenges the profit-over-people mindset driving many companies to ditch field forces for digital links—and asks the uncomfortable questions about what we lose when relationships are replaced by reach. If you're a micro-entrepreneur, direct seller, or building any kind of business based on trust and community, this episode is your playbook. You'll learn: The critical difference between affiliate, influencer, and direct sales Why owning your audience is now non-negotiable The real reason major brands are shifting models—and what that means for you How in-person experiences are making a comeback in a digital-first world Why community, trust, and human connection are your biggest competitive advantages Whether you're starting from scratch or leading a massive team, this episode will shift how you think about marketing, monetization, and the power of your personal brand.