Podcasts about entrepreneur magazine

Jacques Spitzer is a 4x Emmy® award-winning creative agency founder who was named to AdWeek's Agency Vanguard as one of the top 20 leaders shaping the future of advertising. His agency, Raindrop, has generated billions in campaign sales for powerhouse brands like Dr. Squatch, Native and Grüns and insurgent brands like Good Culture, Hello Panda, Magic Spoon and more. Raindrop's creative force has been showcased by their work on three Super Bowl campaigns and their recent execution of the largest brand launch in Procter & Gamble history for Spruce. As a champion for the next generation of disruptive companies, Jacques serves as a strategic advisor to high-growth CPG brands that Raindrop Ventures has uniquely helped launch and invested in, including Grüns, Laundry Sauce, ForAll, VitaWild, Maeva and Magic Mind. With a trophy case boasting over 50 advertising awards, Jacques' work is consistently recognized for its rare blend of viral creativity and massive ROI. His insights have been featured in Forbes, AdAge, and Entrepreneur Magazine.  He was recently named one of the “most influential people in San Diego” by the San Diego Business Journal and one of “California's most visionary CEOs” by the Los Angeles Times, who noted: “Raindrop's creative success and results have put San Diego on the map for creative work across the country.” In addition to his work in advertising, Spitzer helped produce the full-length documentary Wampler's Ascent, which won over 38 international film festival awards. In This Conversation We Discuss:  [00:00] Intro [02:43] Scaling Ecommerce through storytelling  [04:41] Maximizing current growth channels first  [08:14] Managing multiple priorities as a founder [10:11] Shifting from product to customer worth [15:26] Callouts [15:36] Overcoming a leader's limiting beliefs  [24:03] Taking balanced risks to protect equity  [25:17] Combining math with strategic stories Resources: Subscribe to Honest Ecommerce on Youtube Marketing that people love raindrop.agency/    Follow Jacques Spitzer linkedin.com/in/jspitzer5/    If you're enjoying the show, we'd love it if you left Honest Ecommerce a review on Apple Podcasts. It makes a huge impact on the success of the podcast, and we love reading every one of your reviews!

In this episode, Gloria sits down with Jason Feifer, Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, bestselling author of Build for Tomorrow, and host of two top podcasts, to pull back the curtain on what editors are really looking for.After reviewing hundreds of thousands of media pitches, Jason shares why most founders pitch themselves the wrong way—and what actually gets his attention.You'll learn why journalists don't care about your product until they understand how it helps their readers, why paid media placements often aren't worth the investment, and how even the smallest business can earn meaningful press without hiring a PR agency.Whether you're pitching your first story or looking to land bigger media features, this episode will completely change the way you think about PR.In this episode, you'll learn: Why most media pitches get ignored  What Entrepreneur Magazine editors actually look for  How to pitch journalists without sounding promotional  The biggest mistake founders make when telling their story  Why your "why" matters more than your revenue  How to find the right publications for your business  Why paying for press usually isn't worth it  The difference between publications with real audiences and pay-to-play media  How small businesses can earn national media coverage organically If you've ever wondered how journalists choose which stories to feature, this conversation is packed with practical advice you can use immediately.Resources mentioned:• Jason Feifer's book: Build for Tomorrow • Jason's website: https://jasonfeifer.comWant more people to discover, trust, and buy from your business without spending thousands on ads or a PR agency?In my free AI Visibility Masterclass, I'll show you how small business owners are using PR, media features, and credibility signals to get recommended by AI tools like ChatGPT, land press opportunities, and become the obvious choice in their industry.Watch here: www.gloriachoupr.com/masterclassJoin the Small Biz PR Facebook Group to get the best PR TipsDM the word “PITCH” to us on Instagram to get a pitching freebie https://www.instagram.com/gloriachoupr Connect with Gloria Chou on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriaychou 

If you've ever told yourself "I'm too small to worry about trademarks," this episode is the wake-up call. Kelly sits down with trademark and IP attorney Berkeley Sweetapple — the rare lawyer who makes legal genuinely fun — to break down why protecting your brand isn't a someday problem, it's a business growth investment you make early. Kelly opens up about the most expensive lesson of her career. when she figured she was too small and insignificant to bother with a trademark, and ended up needing a full rebrand across thousands of files, podcasts, and videos, millions of dollars lost, and years of focus pulled off growth. Berkeley shares how she went from "most likely to quit law and become a housewife" to building a law firm serving online entrepreneurs, and gets into where IP is heading in the age of AI. Celebrities like Taylor Swift and Matthew McConaughey are already trademarking phrases, faces, and likenesses to control how their persona shows up online, and Berkeley explains why the law is always playing catch-up while AI moves at full speed. Berkley shares why everything in your business probably needs a legal refresh after the changes of the last couple years, and where to start if you're mid-panic. The common denominator: if you stay in business long enough, these things will happen to you. The move is to get the right people in place early, stay in your CEO energy, delegate the legal, and build the systems so you can keep moving the company forward. In this episode: Kelly's Unstoppable Entrepreneur lawsuit and the cost of trademarking too late How Berkeley turned a legal lifestyle blog into a law firm for online founders Trademarking your likeness, face, and voice as AI reshapes IP Real trademark horror stories (and one big USPTO win) What a legal VIP day / audit actually covers Why your business is probably exposed after recent changes Kelly's partnership cautionary tale Staying in CEO energy: delegate legal, build systems, expect the hard stuff Timestamps 00:00 — Cold open: Kelly's Unstoppable Entrepreneur trademark story 00:44 — Welcome and introducing Berkeley, the "fun lawyer," and trademarking for Madison 01:56 — Berkeley's path: law school, a legal lifestyle blog, and finding her niche 04:06 — Trademarking your likeness, face, and voice in the age of AI 06:42 — Can you trademark your voice? Why the law is always behind 08:47 — Trademark horror stories (the conference and the 25K-follower takedown) 10:08 — Kelly's story: the Unstoppable Entrepreneur lawsuit with Entrepreneur Magazine 12:54 — The FTC scare, the company audit, and the Miracle Hour earnings disclaimer 15:30 — What a legal VIP day covers: audit, copyright, contracts, disclaimers 17:25 — Why everything in your business changed, and where you're now exposed 19:13 — Client win: getting Julie Solomon's Influencer Podcast trademarked after a refusal 20:22 — Where to start if you're having an "oh no" moment 21:03 — The Seven Figure CEO Bundle and code KELLY20 22:24 — Kelly's partnership cautionary tale 24:08 — "If these things aren't happening to you, you're not playing big enough" 25:58 — Staying in CEO energy: delegate legal, build the systems 26:51 — Closing: trademark before you need it, and licensing the Miracle Hour   RESOURCES:  Connect with Berkley on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkleysweetapple/  Check out Berkley's trademark packages HERE: https://berkleysweetapplelaw.com/trademarks/#start  Schedule a VIP day: https://berkleysweetapplelaw.com/vip-day/#start  Get Berkley's 7-figure CEO Bundle: https://www.thebusinessstudio.com/pages/7-figure-ceo-bundle  Schedule a free discovery call: https://berkleysweetapple.as.me/schedule/72c2f17c/appointment/41570219/calendar/13957087?calendarIds=13957087 

EPISODE SUMMARYFor 18 years, Shawn Walchef has run Cali BBQ in San Diego -three restaurant locations including a spot at Snapdragon Stadium and the local Navy base. But the story most people know isn't about brisket and peach cobbler. It's about the media company he built on top of his barbecue business after he sent a press release to 14 San Diego writers celebrating Cali BBQ's five-year anniversary and got zero replies. Crickets.That moment was the pivot. Shawn stopped waiting for legacy media to tell his story, started telling it himself, and 13 years later runs Cali BBQ Media - producer of 15 different shows including Digital Hospitality (nine years running) and Restaurant Influencers (with Entrepreneur Magazine), with brand partners that include Toast, Pepsi, US Foods, Amazon, and Google.In this conversation, Shawn and Bart dig into the courage it takes to look stupid on the internet, the "digital flash mob" metaphor for building an audience from zero, the grandfather lessons that shaped everything (stay curious, get involved, ask for help), why every business - yours included - is secretly in the hospitality business, and the truth that took Shawn five years to learn: no one is coming. If you build it, they will NOT come. The Field of Dreams is the biggest lie ever told to entrepreneurs.You'll also hear Bart's story about Storyville Coffee in Seattle - the $13 coffee where someone's entire job is bringing water to seated customers, and where they ask "What can we create for you today?" - and a tease about Bart's personal "humanality" framework for inserting human kindness into transactional moments.If you've been waiting for the perfect moment to start telling your story, or thinking "no one would care anyway" - this is the episode.

Technology moves fast. People, not so much. And the real transformation, according to Nikki Barua, is human, not technical. The conversation gets into what genuine reinvention actually requires. Skills matter, mindset matters, but the number-one blocker she’s found among thousands of professionals worldwide is identity. The title, the status, the credibility built over a career become the very things that keep you stuck. Letting go of that identity is what reinvention actually demands. For people early in their careers, the opportunity now is to identify your zone of genius, pair it with AI fluency, and stop looking for a safe, linear path, because that path no longer exists. The episode also touches on Ikigai as a way to navigate early career decisions, why education needs to teach people how to think and handle uncertainty, and why Nikki, a self-described “painfully shy introvert”, never followed the networking advice and actively prefers building real friendships over traditional networking. Our Guest: Nikki Barua Nikki Barua is a serial entrepreneur, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and globally recognized expert on transformation. She is the CEO & Co-Founder of FlipWork, the transformation partner helping organizations reinvent their culture, capabilities, and competitive edge for the AI age. For over 25 years, Nikki has worked with some of the world’s most iconic brands, guiding them through digital transformation, workforce reinvention, and organizational change at scale. She knows firsthand that technology is only half the equation; the real breakthrough comes from building the people and culture ready to use it. As a tech entrepreneur who has built and scaled high-growth businesses, Nikki brings both the strategic lens of a leader and the hard-won wisdom of someone who has navigated disruption herself. Her personal journey from humble beginnings to building global companies has made her a sought-after voice on resilience, reinvention, and what it actually takes to lead through change. Her story has been featured in CNBC, Bloomberg, Fortune, and Forbes. Nikki has been named Entrepreneur of the Year by ACE, honored as an EY North America Entrepreneurial Winning Woman, included in Entrepreneur Magazine's 100 Most Influential Women, recognized as one of the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century, and celebrated as a Woman of Influence by The Business Journals, and Top Entrepreneur by Comerica Bank & LA Lakers. References: Nikki Barua LinkedIn profile www.nikkibarua.com www.flipwork.ai https://www.nikkibarua.com/newsletters/reinvention-roadmap/subscribe Listen to the next Episode All Podcast Episodes

Even with social media, text, and DMs, email is still the best way to communicate and contact people who can help your career. Now we just need to make sure those emails are crafted in a way to catch the attention of busy readers! Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, Jason Feifer, will tell you a masterclass on:What bad email communication looks likeHow to assess your own email writing skillsTactics for formatting your email messagesThe power of responding to every emailShow NotesWeekly Newsletter Sign-Up: http://bit.ly/37hqtQW Follow Career Contessa: http://bit.ly/2TMH2QP Grammarly Link: https://bit.ly/3PiAtBy Guest Resources:Newsletter: jasonfeifer.com/newsletter Book: jasonfeifer.com/bookLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfeifer/Career Contessa ResourcesBook 1:1 career coaching session: https://www.careercontessa.com/hire-a-mentor/ Take an online course: https://www.careercontessa.com/education/ Get your personalized salary report: https://www.careercontessa.com/the-salary-project/ Browse open jobs: https://www.careercontessa.com/jobs/ SponsorsHead to cozyearth.com and use my code CONTESSA for an exclusive 20% off. That's code CONTESSA for an exclusive 20% off.Head to vitaclean.co and use code CONTESSA at checkout for 20% off your first purchase.Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial today at shopify.com/careercontessa.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Plant a Simple Seed and Watch Your Mindset Grow with Katie Wood  What if the smallest shift in perspective could change the entire trajectory of your life? In this powerful and heartfelt episode, Carrie sits down with thought leader, educator, and bestselling author of Simple Seed, Katie Wood—fresh off her recent appearance on the Today Show—for a conversation that will stay with you long after it ends. Get ready for goosebumps as Katie shares deeply personal stories that reveal how life's hardest moments are often the very ones shaping our resilience, character, and grit. From a moving story about her daughter's stitches that beautifully mirrors how we heal and grow, to the transformational journey of a teacher who went from burnout to Teacher of the Year by using the powerful practices inside Katie's journal—this episode is packed with moments that will shift the way you see your own story. Together, Carrie and Katie explore how planting simple, intentional “seeds” of gratitude and perspective can create lasting change—not just for ourselves, but for the next generation. As a former teacher turned mission-driven entrepreneur, Katie is on a path to bring these life-changing tools into schools—teaching what many of us were never taught, but needed most. In this episode, you'll discover: Why your hardest moments may be shaping your greatest strength How a simple shift in perspective can transform your entire story The real impact of gratitude practices—inside classrooms and beyond And don't miss the unforgettable moment at the end—when Katie shares the one sentence from a college basketball coach that completely changed the course of her life. This is more than a conversation—it's a reminder that the story you're telling yourself matters… and you have the power to change it. Tune in this Monday 5/25/26 at 5am & 5pm ET to listen live on the radio https://dreamvisions7radio.com/look-for-the-good/ Hey friends, although this is my last episode airing on Dreamvisions7Radio Network, the podcast is not going anywhere! You can still listen and download your weekly episodes at your favorite podcast platform  AND if you prefer to watch it live, find all the videos here: https://carrierowan.com/look-for-the-good-podcast-carrie-rowan/ Thank you Dreamvisions7Radio for spreading the goodness across the international airwaves! Forever grateful!  xoxo Carrie BIO: Katie Wood is a thought leader, entrepreneur, and author of the bestselling journal A Simple Seed who transitioned from a 10-year career in special education teaching to entrepreneurship in 2014 to help others grow through mindset, leadership, and personal development. She speaks at schools across the country as well as organizations including Athenahealth, Takeda, Splunk, Boston College, and Providence College, and has shared stages with Herm Edwards and Matthew Slater while also being featured on Today and in Entrepreneur Magazine. Her journal, A Simple Seed, became an Amazon bestseller and was recently acquired by Penguin Random House, while Katie continues to inspire audiences through her speaking, writing, and dedication to her family as a mom of four and proud fire-wife. FIND out MORE about A Simple Seed and Katie's powerful work with kids and schools at: www.GrowwiththeGoodness.com Want to find out when the next incredible episode of Look for the Good is dropping? Sign up for the Look for the Good Podcast Chat weekly newsletter to get behind the scenes insights, special tips, and insider only offers. Click HERE to sign up today! Learn More about Carrie here: https://carrierowan.com/

Jason Feifer started his career writing about middle school dances at a tiny local newspaper, frustrated and convinced he was capable of more. Stuck in a role that wasn't moving him forward, he quit, sat in his dumpy apartment next to a graveyard, and began cold-pitching major publications with no connections. That decision transformed his trajectory, eventually leading him to become Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine and a leading voice on career growth and adaptability. In this episode, Jason chats with Ilana about why doing only what's expected of you slows your growth, how to identify opportunities, and steps to take control of your career in an unpredictable world. Jason Feifer is the Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, a podcast host, book author, and keynote speaker who helps people build careers and companies they love by sharing lessons from the world's top entrepreneurs and leaders. In this episode, Ilana and Jason will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (03:48) Cold Pitches From a Bedroom Next to a Graveyard (06:41) Developing an ‘Opportunity Set B' Mindset (09:51) Building Skills Strategically Across Jobs (12:58) Renting a Title vs. Owning Your Name (17:02) The Mission Statement That Survives Any Job Loss (24:22) Why Jason Walked Away From His Biggest Hit (31:51) How to Test Multiple Ventures At Once (34:31) How a Lawsuit Accidentally Built Jason's Success (40:00) The Danger of Labeling Yourself (47:47) Q&A: How Do You Become More Adaptable? Jason Feifer is the Editor-in-Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, a role he has held for over 10 years. He is the author of Build for Tomorrow, host of the podcast Help Wanted, and a sought-after keynote speaker who has spoken for companies including Pfizer, Alibaba, Clorox, and more. Jason also advises startups, sits on multiple advisory boards, and writes the weekly newsletter One Thing Better. His work centers on adaptability, personal reinvention, and helping individuals and organizations thrive through change. Connect with Jason Jason's Website: https://www.jasonfeifer.com  Jason's LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jasonfeifer  Jason's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heyfeifer/ Resources Mentioned: Jason's Newsletter, One Thing Better: https://www.jasonfeifer.com⁠  Jason's Book, Build for Tomorrow: An Action Plan for Embracing Change, Adapting Fast, and Future-Proofing Your Career: https://www.amazon.com/dp/059323538X Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities.  Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training

Are you using AI in your business, or are you still just asking ChatGPT to write your captions and then calling it a day?I'll be completely honest with you. AI overwhelms me too! Every day, something new drops, and keeping up feels impossible. So I brought in my husband and business partner, Chris Winfield, who has gone fully all in on this, to break it all down for us.Chris explains the difference between the AI tools you already know and AI agents, the kind that actually go out and execute tasks for you. We get into what it looks like to have your own AI employee handling the work that's been sitting on your to-do list for months, and why the people who move on this now will be way ahead."You just need the skills. The skills are transferable. It doesn't matter what the technology is or what the product is, even if it goes away or a better one comes along." ~ Chris WinfieldIn This Episode:- Why everyone in AI feels overwhelmed and why that's okay- AI agents vs. AI chatbots and the difference that matters- Real examples of what an AI agent can do for your business- Why AI employees are changing the way small businesses operate- How Chris compressed a 3-hour content workflow into 15 minutes- What AI will look like in 5 years and how it will impact business- How to get your own AI employee and get ahead right nowAbout Chris Winfield:Chris Winfield is an entrepreneur, co-founder of Super Connector Media, and a contributor to Inc. and Entrepreneur Magazine. His work has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company, NBC's Today Show, USA Today, and over 200 other outlets. He has worked with clients from companies including Disney, Virgin, and Intuit, helping entrepreneurs build credibility, grow their media presence, and make the right connections.Connect with Chris:IG: https://www.instagram.com/chriswinfield/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriswinfield/Website: https://www.chriswinfield.com/Where to find me:IG: https://www.instagram.com/jen_gottlieb/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jen_gottliebFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenleahgottliebWebsite: https://jengottlieb.com/My business: https://www.superconnectormedia.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jen_gottlieb

Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS breaks down the relationship between SEO and PPC advertising. He explains that while PPC provides short-term visibility and acts as a catalyst for brand awareness, SEO builds the long-term foundation that makes ads more cost-effective. Favour emphasizes that these two strategies should not be siloed; instead, they must work together. By ranking organically for specific keywords, businesses can lower their ad spend for those same keywords. The conversation also touches on the importance of content pillars, Google Search Console, and the value of organizing your digital assets to prevent overwhelm.Who is this for?Business owners, digital marketers, and entrepreneurs looking to understand the differences and synergies between Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising. It's highly valuable for anyone wanting to build a sustainable, long-term marketing strategy while leveraging short-term wins through paid ads.Key Moments & Timestamps01:42 — The Core Difference: Understanding SEO (Search Engine Optimization) vs. SEM/PPC (Search Engine Marketing).03:34 — Short-Term vs. Long-Term: Why PPC is for short-term wins and SEO is for long-term sustainability.06:00 — The Synergy: How ranking organically for a keyword lowers the cost of bidding on that same keyword in ads.11:10 — Cross-Platform Strategy: Connecting your website to Google Search Console and Pinterest to build domain authority.32:47 — Tracking Success: Using Google Alerts and Search Console to track brand mentions and backlinks.107:41 — Final Takeaway: Organize your content pillars and don't feel overwhelmed by the technical aspects of SEO.FAQsQ: Should I focus on SEO or PPC first?A: You should focus on SEO first to build a strong foundation. PPC is a catalyst that drives immediate traffic, but if your website isn't optimized organically, you will end up paying higher costs per click over time.Q: How long does it take for ads to mature?A: Depending on the platform, it typically takes 7 to 28 days for an ad campaign to exit the learning phase and mature based on the target audience.Q: How do SEO and ads work together?A: When you rank organically for a specific keyword (e.g., "real estate planning") on your website, Google recognizes your authority. When you run ads for that same keyword, your cost per click is often lower because the destination link is highly relevant and authoritative.Action StepsBuild Your Foundation: Ensure your website is connected to Google Search Console so search engines can index your pages.Align Your Keywords: Use the same keywords in your organic content (URLs, titles) that you plan to bid on in your PPC campaigns.Set Up Alerts: Use Google Alerts to track when your brand or business is mentioned online to monitor your growing authority.Organize Content Pillars: Structure your website content into clear pillars and clusters to make it easier for both users and search engines to navigate.Book a Consultation: Reach out to Favour at info@playinc.online or favour@playinc.online to hire his SEO agency and streamline your digital marketing strategy.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

Our guest today is Michael Drew a publishing veteran who's helped 131 books hit major bestseller lists and co‑authored Pendulum. TODAY'S WIN-WIN: There are two teams in your life that set you up for success: 1. The teams who choose you to be on their team; 2. The second are the people who you choose to be on your team.  LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:Schedule your free franchise consultation with Big Sky Franchise Team: https://bigskyfranchiseteam.com/. You can visit our guest's website at: ·       www.promotabook.com·       www.bookretreat.com Attend our Franchise Sales Training Workshop:  https://bigskyfranchiseteam.com/franchisesalestraining/Connect with our guests on social:https://www.facebook.com/michaelrdrewhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrdrew/https://x.com/PromoteABookhttps://www.instagram.com/promoteabookmd/ABOUT OUR GUEST:Getting books noticed is in Michael Drew's blood. Making books the essential reads that everyone needs to buy and talk about is also in his genes. With a string of national bestsellers (many of them number-one titles) that reads like an all-star team of today's most popular business writers, Michael loves books.He's launched 104 consecutive books onto national bestseller lists and has over 1,000 number-one Amazon titles. Michael has been marketing books for his entire career, perfecting his skills at such respected publishers as Bard Press, Entrepreneur Magazine, Longstreet Press, and Thomas Nelson Publishers, among others. Michael has mastered the intricacies of publishing and is always adapting his methods and processes to match today's fast-evolving industry and media landscape.This episode is powered by Big Sky Franchise Team. Big Sky Franchise Team is consistently recognized as one of the best franchise consulting firms in the United States, helping entrepreneurs franchise their businesses through a proven 3-Step franchise process rooted in ethical principles, hands-on guidance, and customized deliverables.  If you are ready to talk about franchising your business you can schedule your free, no-obligation, franchise consultation online at: https://bigskyfranchiseteam.com/. The information provided in this podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered financial, legal, or professional advice. Always consult with a qualified professional before making any business decisions. The views and opinions expressed by guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host, Big Sky Franchise Team, or our affiliates. Additionally, this podcast may feature sponsors or advertisers, but any mention of products or services does not constitute an endorsement. Please do your own research before making any purchasing or business decisions.

Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS and guest speakers (including Celese Williams and Rocki) discuss the problem-to-solution framework of converting traffic into revenue. Favour explains that traffic must first be intentionally created by planting "seeds" (content) across the web and nurturing them over time.He shares a real-life example of a client who returned after three years because of consistent, long-term marketing efforts. The conversation also highlights the importance of creating "easy buttons" to reduce friction in the buying process and the resurgence of community-based marketing (like Skool and Patreon) as a reliable revenue driver.Who is this for?Business owners, digital marketers, and entrepreneurs looking to turn their website visitors into paying customers. It's highly valuable for anyone wanting to understand the mechanics of traffic generation, the importance of planting "content seeds" for long-term SEO, and how to optimize the customer journey for higher conversions.Key Moments & Timestamps01:43 — The Traffic Prerequisite: Why you must intentionally create traffic before you can convert it.03:26 — Quality over Quantity: The "sandcastle" analogy for building valuable, structured traffic.05:50 — Planting Seeds: Why articles and SEO content are like seeds that can yield recurring traffic for years.08:23 — Building Authority: How consistent messaging turns you into the go-to solution when a customer is finally ready to buy.11:08 — Real-Life Case Study: A client who paid an invoice and returned for a 12-week marketing sprint after three years of nurturing.14:26 — The Power of CTAs: How well-designed calls-to-action can increase conversions by 38% to over 160%.16:10 — Guest Insight (Celeste): Why consumers want the easiest path to purchase and how to create "easy buttons" in your business.17:46 — Guest Insight (Rocky): The resurgence of community-based marketing (Skool, Patreon, Facebook groups) and the growing, yet controversial, impact of AI-generated ads.FAQsQ: How do I create traffic in the first place?A: Traffic is created by consistently publishing valuable content (seeds) on your website and distributing those links across platforms like Pinterest, Reddit, LinkedIn, and YouTube to build an interconnected web of authority.Q: How long does it take for SEO content to generate revenue?A: SEO is a long-term strategy. You should give your content pillars at least 24 months to build capacity. However, the content you publish today can continue to drive traffic and revenue for years to come.Q: What is the easiest way to increase conversions on my website?A: Reduce friction. Create "easy buttons" by minimizing the number of steps, forms, or questions a customer has to navigate before making a purchase or booking a service.Action StepsPlant Your Seeds: Commit to a 24-month content strategy where you consistently publish and update articles on your website.Distribute Your Links: Share your website links across multiple platforms (Pinterest, LinkedIn, YouTube) to create an interconnected web of traffic sources.Audit Your CTAs: Review your website's calls-to-action. Ensure they are clear, compelling, and strategically placed to maximize click-through rates.Create "Easy Buttons": Simplify your booking or checkout process. Remove unnecessary questions or steps that might cause a potential customer to abandon the process.Build a Community: Consider launching a community group (via Skool, Patreon, or Facebook) to nurture your audience and build long-term trust.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS and guest speakers (including Celeste and Jason) discuss the mechanics of getting discovered on Pinterest. Favour explains that Pinterest is a visual search engine powered by an algorithm called "Pixie," which prioritizes relevance, uniqueness, and content quality. He shares actionable strategies for connecting your website's RSS feed to automatically generate pins, using colors (hex codes) to influence search results, and expanding keyword lists using broad, exact, and phrase match types.The conversation highlights Pinterest's long lifespan for content, noting that pins from years ago can still drive significant traffic today.Who is this for?Business owners, digital marketers, and content creators looking to leverage Pinterest as a visual search engine. It's highly valuable for anyone wanting to understand Pinterest's algorithm (Pixie), how to optimize pins for discoverability, and how to use Pinterest to drive long-term, recurring traffic to their website.SummaryFavour Obasi-ike and guest speakers (including Celese Williams and Jason) discuss the mechanics of getting discovered on Pinterest. Favour explains that Pinterest is a visual search engine powered by an algorithm called "Pixie," which prioritizes relevance, uniqueness, and content quality. He shares actionable strategies for connecting your website's RSS feed to automatically generate pins, using colors (hex codes) to influence search results, and expanding keyword lists using broad, exact, and phrase match types. The conversation highlights Pinterest's long lifespan for content, noting that pins from years ago can still drive significant traffic today.Key Moments & Timestamps01:20 — Meet Pixie: Introduction to Pinterest's algorithm and the key elements of discoverability.02:50 — Automation Hack: How to connect your website's RSS feed to a Pinterest Business account to auto-generate pins.04:45 — The Four Elements of Discoverability: Relevance, uniqueness, content quality, and engagement.06:06 — The Power of Color: How hex codes and background colors (e.g., purple) influence what ads and related pins show up next to your content.08:01 — The Psychology of "Saves": Why the number of saves is the strongest indicator of value on Pinterest.10:08 — Keyword Expansion Strategy: How to turn 25 broad keywords into 75+ keywords using quotation marks and brackets.15:38 — Content Syndication: Connecting Instagram to Pinterest to create multiple traffic pathways for a single piece of content.18:27 — Guest Insight (Celeste): Why Pinterest is an underutilized goldmine for product-based businesses and artists.19:22 — The Lifespan of a Pin: Why Pinterest content lives forever and how updating old articles can trigger a resurgence in traffic.FAQsQ: What is Pinterest's algorithm called and what does it look for?A: Pinterest's algorithm is called "Pixie." It looks for relevance (keywords, titles, descriptions), uniqueness (trends, colors), and content quality (image dimensions, mobile optimization).Q: How can I automatically create pins from my website?A: Create a free Pinterest Business account, go to your settings, and connect your website's RSS feed. When you publish an article with images, Pinterest will automatically pull those images and create pins linking back to your site.Q: How do I find the right keywords for Pinterest?A: Start with broad keywords related to your niche. Then, expand your list by adding quotation marks (phrase match) and brackets (exact match) to those same keywords. You can also use trends.pinterest.com to see what's currently popular.Action StepsSwitch to a Business Account: If you haven't already, convert your Pinterest profile to a free Business account to access analytics and website integration.Connect Your RSS Feed: Link your website to Pinterest so your blog images automatically generate pins.Optimize for Color: Be intentional about the colors and hex codes in your images, as Pinterest's visual search groups similar colors together.Expand Your Keywords: Take a list of 25 broad keywords and create variations using quotation marks and brackets to capture different search intents.Update Old Content: Refresh old articles on your website to trigger a resurgence of traffic from existing pins on Pinterest.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS and guest speakers (including Celese Williams and Darren Shaw) discuss the mechanics of getting discovered on Google. Favour emphasizes that discovery starts with a strong technical foundation; specifically, connecting your website to Google Search Console and submitting a sitemap. He shares a case study of a client who grew from under 20,000 to nearly 300,000 organic impressions in six months. The conversation also covers the importance of prioritizing your website over social media profiles, understanding search intent, and leveraging local SEO (like zip codes) to rank faster in less saturated markets.Who is this for?Business owners, digital marketers, and content creators looking to improve their organic search visibility. It's highly valuable for anyone wanting to understand the technical foundations of SEO, the importance of Google Search Console, and how to structure a website to rank higher and drive long-term traffic.Key Moments & Timestamps01:30 — The Search Loop: How people search, find, click, and save information on Google.03:14 — SEO Foundations: Why discovery is heavily based on keyword research, search intent, and semantics.04:30 — Case Study: Growing a client's organic impressions from 19.1K to 298K in six months.05:49 — The Role of Google Search Console: Why your website must be indexed and have a sitemap to be discovered.07:25 — Guest Insight (Celeste): The power of "niche-ing down" and finding low-hanging fruit in keyword research.10:19 — Guest Insight (Darren): The psychology of language and understanding the mind of your target audience.19:59 — Social Media vs. Websites: Why TikTok is technically a website (registered in 1996) and how it connects to search.21:54 — The Red Flag: Why your website should always rank higher than your social media profiles on Google.25:44 — The Golden Rule: "The only way you can be on Google is by being on Google Search Console."29:27 — Local SEO: The importance of including your zip code or postal code on your website for localized ranking.FAQsQ: What is the first step to getting discovered on Google?A: The absolute first step is connecting your website to Google Search Console and submitting a sitemap. Without this, Google's bots cannot crawl, index, or discover your content.Q: How long does it take to rank on Google?A: It depends on the competition and density of your market. Generally, it takes 6 to 24 months for broader terms, but highly specific, localized keywords (e.g., "Easter bunny rentals in Portland") can rank in a matter of hours or days.Q: Should I link my social media profiles on my website?A: Yes, but be careful. If your social media profiles rank higher than your website on Google, it's a red flag. Your website should always be the primary "head" or asset, with social media acting as secondary channels.Action StepsConnect to Google Search Console: Ensure your website is verified as a property on Google Search Console and submit an updated sitemap.Niche Down Your Keywords: Identify "low-hanging fruit" or highly specific keywords in your industry that have lower competition.Optimize for Local Search: Add your specific location, zip code, or postal code to your website's URLs and content to capture local search traffic.Audit Your Links: Check your website's footer to ensure social media links are opening in new tabs and not draining your primary domain authority.Understand Your Audience: Use precise language that matches the psychological intent and search habits of your target audience.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS discusses the critical importance of bots and search engines for business discovery. He emphasizes that getting discovered starts with building trust through secure domains, consistent links, and structured content. Favour explains the difference between traditional search engines (Google, Bing) and AI search engines (ChatGPT, Claude), noting that while Google remains dominant, AI platforms are rapidly changing how consumers find information. using bot fetches.The conversation highlights the necessity of configuring websites correctly (e.g., HTTPS, WWW redirects) and the enduring value of backlinks and reviews. Favour also touches on the psychology of consumer behavior, explaining how different types of content and even background music can influence purchasing decisions.Who is this for?Business owners, entrepreneurs, and content creators looking to improve their online visibility. It's highly valuable for anyone wanting to understand the technical foundations of SEO, how to build trust with search engines, and how to adapt to the rise of AI-driven search platforms like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity.Key Moments & Timestamps00:00 - Intro: Why search engines are your best friends online.01:06 - Favour's background: Helping businesses with strategic technical SEO setups.02:50 - Building trust online: The foundation of discovery through links, tags, and community.05:31 - The importance of internally linking your website to external features.08:08 - Technical SEO basics: Securing your domain, enabling domain privacy, and using HTTPS.21:57 - Why content structure matters more than just the content itself for search engine discovery.29:38 - Real-world example: How a missing "www" configuration prevented a client's website from loading.01:00:32 - The rise of AI search: How ChatGPT and Claude are changing consumer search behavior.01:02:49 - Why backlinks are not dead: AI platforms still pull recommendations from directories like Yelp and MapQuest.01:52:48 - The psychology of marketing: How music tempo (BPM) affects consumer focus and purchasing decisions.FAQsQ: What is the first step to getting discovered on search engines?A: The foundational step is building trust. This starts with securing your website (HTTPS), ensuring your domain privacy and lock are active, and consistently linking your content.Q: Are backlinks still important with the rise of AI search engines?A: Yes. AI platforms like ChatGPT still rely on citations and backlinks from established directories (like Yelp or even MapQuest) to formulate their recommendations.Q: What is the difference between search engines and social media?A: Search engines are intent-driven (fetching, crawling, indexing based on queries), whereas social media is more about immediate engagement. You must document your social media features on your website to connect the two for search engines.Action StepsSecure Your Domain: Verify that your website uses HTTPS and that your domain privacy and lock settings are correctly configured.Check Your Redirects: Ensure that both the "www" and non-"www" versions of your domain correctly lead to your active website without error messages.Document Your Features: If your brand is featured on a podcast, magazine, or social media, create a post on your website linking back to that feature to build semantic trust.Research AI Recommendations: Ask AI platforms (like ChatGPT or Perplexity) for recommendations in your industry to see who is ranking and where the AI is pulling its data from.Optimize for Intent: Structure your website content clearly so that search engine bots can easily crawl, index, and understand the value you provide.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

Jessica talks with Kristina Libby, her collaborator for The Cohort: an Ampersand community.Kristina is a storyteller, artist and technology executive originally from Damariscotta, Maine, and now based in New York City. She founded the Floral Heart Project, a COVID memorial initiative purchased by 1-800-Flowers, for which she was awarded a Hero of 2022 and named one of the leading public artists for Social Change. Last year, she wrote and produced her solo show, I Almost Died for This?!, which won the Best Storytelling Show Award at the prestigious United Solo Festival and is heading to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2026.Kristina writes for film and television. With co-creator Tim Cahill, she developed the award-winning television script Penny Starts A Cult, and the television show and indie pilot, Books. She is also a fiction novelist whose work is represented by Sterling Lord Literary. As a humor and non-fiction writer, she's been published in the New Yorker, McSweeney's, the Boston Globe, Salon, Popular Mechanics, and Entrepreneur Magazine.Kristina has served as a fractional Chief Communications Officer for numerous companies and start-ups and holds a Masters degree in International Security.Follow Kristina's work at kristinalibby.com, lightvlight.com, and on Instagram at @kristinamlibby.Check out Kristina's rom-com podcast, Couldn't Be You (Meet Cute Originals).~About The Ampersand Manifesto:What happens when you refuse to choose just one path? On The Ampersand Manifesto, host Jessica Wan sits down with “the most interesting people at the dinner party” – those who have made their mark in two or more seemingly different worlds. Through candid conversations, we explore what it takes to navigate multiple callings, find the connection points between them, and redefine success on our own terms. Together, we're co-creating The Ampersand Manifesto: principles for leading a multi-passionate life.~About your host, Jessica Wan:Executive Coach | Classical Singer | Former Marketing Leader & Tech ExecutiveJessica helps founders and leaders make the invisible visible. With 20+ years of experience scaling brands like Apple, Smule, and the San Francisco Opera, and as an ICF-certified executive coach, she provides the clarity and strategy needed to lead bravely and find fulfillment in a multi-passionate life.Work with Jessica: Book a Free Intro CallJoin The Cohort: An Ampersand Community for Dual-Career ProfessionalsFollow the Journey: @ampersandmanifestoConnect: Jessica's LinkedInListen: Singing Excerpts~CreditsCo-produced and hosted by ⁠Jessica Wan⁠Co-produced, edited, mixed, and original music by ⁠Carlos Schmitt

When Kim Perell was fired, she had to fire all her friends on the same day. The company she thought would make her a millionaire had just gone bankrupt, leaving her with no income or backup plan. Instead of giving up, she took a $10,000 loan from her grandmother to start her first company from her kitchen table. That bet led to a $20 million exit and eventually, a $235 million company. In this episode, Kim joins Ilana to share how to turn setbacks and mistakes into million-dollar breakthroughs and how to overcome the limiting beliefs holding you back. She also reveals the four pillars that helped her achieve success without burning out. Kim Perell is a 9x founder, 3x bestselling author, and investor in 100+ companies. Kim became a multi-millionaire by the time she was 30, and sold her last company for $235 million to Singtel, while simultaneously running multi-million-dollar companies. In this episode, Ilana and Kim will discuss: (00:00) Introduction  (04:08) Growing Up in the Shadow of Her Twin Sister (07:07) Learning Risk and Failure from Entrepreneur Parents (09:46) How Getting Fired Led to a Career Pivot (13:31) Her Grandma's Life-Changing $10K Loan (16:37) Using The 70% Rule to Make Business Decisions (18:48) The Four Pillars of Business Success (23:50) Selling Her Business for $20 Million (28:02) Building a Money Mindset  (30:59) The Dangers of Failing to Pivot Or Make Mistakes (40:13) Teaching Your Children Resilience (45:01) Q&A: How to Chase Success Despite Fear Kim Perell is a 9-time founder, 3-time bestselling author, top keynote speaker, and investor in over 100 companies. Her book, Mistakes That Made Me a Millionaire, offers a transformative guide to turning setbacks into million-dollar opportunities. An award-winning entrepreneur, Kim has appeared on major platforms and serves as a judge for Entrepreneur Magazine's Elevator Pitch. She is dedicated to empowering the next generation of business leaders for success. Connect with Kim: Kim's Website: https://kimperell.com/  Kim's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimperell/  Kim's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimperell/  Resources Mentioned: Kim's Book, Mistakes that Made Me a Millionaire: How to Transform Setbacks into Extraordinary Success: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1637747128  Leap Academy: Ready to make the LEAP in your career? There is a NEW WAY for professionals to fast-track their careers and leap to bigger opportunities.  Check out our free training today at https://bit.ly/leap--free-training

Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS dives into Podcast Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and discovery. He explains that getting discovered and getting ranked are two different processes requiring a strong technical foundation. Favour outlines the nine key areas where a podcast must resonate sonically and structurally, emphasizing optimized titles, descriptions, file names, and high-quality cover art (3000x3000 pixels). He also discusses RSS feed distribution, maintaining a consistent publishing cadence, and choosing the right podcast format (solo, interview, co-host, etc.).The session concludes with an interactive Q&A, encouraging creators to build a timeless content library.Who is this for?Podcasters, business owners, content creators, and digital marketers looking to maximize their podcast's visibility and reach. It's valuable for understanding the technical aspects of Podcast SEO, getting discovered and ranked across directories, and structuring shows for long-term growth and PR.Key Moments & Timestamps00:00 - Intro: The power of Podcast SEO for discovery, business growth, and PR.00:59 - Importance of RSS feed distribution and submitting to multiple destination websites.03:33 - Using Cast Feed Validator to check the health of your podcast's RSS feed.04:36 - The difference between getting discovered (visibility) and getting ranked (positioning).05:12 - Key SEO elements: Podcast title, description, author name, episode details, and file names.05:34 - Technical requirement: Podcast cover art must be 3000x3000 pixels for maximum visibility.08:21 - Importance of publishing cadence (every 8 to 12 days) to consistently refresh your feed.20:00 - The 9 places your podcast must resonate sonically and structurally.24:35 - Title optimization: Keeping titles between 50 to 60 characters to avoid truncation.01:13:40 - The 5 podcast formats: Solo, interview, co-host, round table, and faceless/theme content.FAQsQ: What is the difference between getting discovered and getting ranked?A: Discovery means your podcast is visible and accessible to a maximum number of people across platforms. Ranking refers to your podcast's specific position within search results based on its SEO structure and relevance.Q: How long should my podcast title and description be?A: Your podcast title should ideally be between 50 to 60 characters (including spaces) to prevent truncation on mobile devices. Your description can be much longer, typically 4,000 to 6,000 characters, allowing for rich keyword integration.Q: What size should my podcast cover art be?A: For maximum visibility and compliance with major directories, your podcast cover art should be exactly 3000 by 3000 pixels.Q: How often should I publish new podcast episodes?A: Favour recommends a publishing cadence of every 8 to 12 days. This consistency helps refresh your RSS feed regularly and keeps your audience engaged.Action StepsValidate Your Feed: Use castfeedvalidator.com to check the health and structure of your podcast's RSS feed.Optimize Your Metadata: Ensure your podcast title (50-60 characters) and description (up to 4,000 characters) clearly explain your content and include relevant keywords.Update Cover Art: Check your podcast image dimensions and update them to 3000x3000 pixels if they are currently smaller.Establish a Cadence: Commit to a consistent publishing schedule, ideally releasing a new episode every 8 to 12 days.Book a Discovery Call: Reach out to Favour Obasi-ike via his booking link for a complimentary 30-minute SEO discovery call.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

An award winning author, Business Consultant, and motivational speaker (including SXSW in 2023), Michelle Jacobik emphasizes the business success that can emerge when an entrepreneur aligns their vision with their cash flow strategy. She helps founders avoid the financial pitfalls that are all too common when launching a venture, and is an expert at empowering them to locate the profit streams that can transform a business (and an entrepreneur's life).At 23, Michelle Jacobik was obsessed with business, avidly consuming content from Zig Ziglar and Tony Robbins, living the high life with sports cars and vacations - and deeply in debt after years of credit card overages and payday loans. She began turning her financial life around; six years later, she purchased an insurance business and systematically expanded annual revenue from $600k to over $12 million. Jacobik later sold her business after decades of growth for 7-figures, and now advises startup entrepreneurs on mastering the financial planning necessary to build a profitable venture.She is the best-selling author of “The Path to Profits: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Having it All, and Still Having a Life” (which won two Stevie Awards for Best Business Book Of The Year 2023) and “Prosperity After Divorce: Take Charge of Your Finances and Create the Life You Want.” Her financial expertise extends beyond strategy; she also held a securities license for over 20 years. She has been a Media Contributor featured in a variety of popular media outlets, including ABC, CBS, FOX, Parents Magazine, Entrepreneur Magazine, and Thrive Global.She lives with her husband in Naples, Florida.Main Link: www.MichelleJacobik.combio.site/MichelleJacobikSocials:https://www.instagram.com/michellejacobik/https://www.facebook.com/michellejacobikhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michellejacobik/Connect and tag me at:https://www.instagram.com/realangelabradford/You can subscribe to my YouTube Channel herehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDU9L55higX03TQgq1IT_qQFeel free to leave a review on all major platforms to help get the word out and change more lives!

Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS breaks down push (outbound) vs. pull (inbound) marketing. Pull marketing (social media, SEO, content) attracts audiences long-term via consumer-driven engagement. Push marketing actively promotes products for immediate sales but can backfire if poorly targeted. Using interactive examples (e.g., sending gardening tool emails to a Pinterest list), Favour highlights the need to understand audience pain points. He also covers data ownership (first-party vs. third-party) and shares a client success story of scaling to 1M monthly Pinterest views.Who is this for?Business owners, entrepreneurs, digital marketers, and content creators looking to understand inbound (pull) vs. outbound (push) marketing. It's valuable for building long-term brand loyalty, optimizing social media and SEO, and targeting audiences effectively without being spammy.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS discusses the critical differences between "fat" (bloated) and "lean" (optimized) websites. He explains how large file sizes, unoptimized images, and poor technical setups negatively impact search engine rankings and user experience. Favour emphasizes technical SEO, structured data, and webpage indexing, providing actionable advice on compressing assets, improving site speed, and preparing websites for future search engine updates. The conversation highlights the value of consistent content creation and building a strong technical foundation for long-term business success.Who is this for?Business owners, web developers, digital marketers, and SEO professionals looking to optimize their websites for better search engine indexing, faster load times, and improved user experience. It's valuable for understanding technical web performance, managing page bloat, optimizing images, and implementing structured data for long-term growth.Key Moments & Timestamps00:00 - Introduction: Fat vs. Lean websites, technical SEO, and webpage indexing.02:08 - Impact of large images and web bloat on site speed and rankings.05:35 - Defining a lean website and benefits of compressing files (e.g., compressor.io).07:21 - Checking website health and page sizes using Siteliner and GTmetrix.09:38 - Historical context: Median mobile homepage file size increased from 845 KB in 2015 to 2.3 MB in 2025.29:08 - Importance of legible fonts and responsive design for users and search bots.31:34 - Utilizing structured data and Schema.org to enhance technical SEO.50:50 - Jason's feedback on Favour's consistency and the value of qualitative feedback.01:00:50 - Timeline for SEO results (3-12 months for initial impact, 6-24 months for realistic growth).01:05:29 - Final summary: Building lean websites with crucial semantics for future-proofing (2026+).FAQsQ: What is the difference between a fat and a lean website?A: A fat website has excessive bloat (large images, heavy code), slowing load times and hurting SEO. A lean website uses compressed assets and efficient code, resulting in faster load times, better UX, and improved indexing.Q: How can I check if my website is fat or lean?A: Use Siteliner.com to check page sizes and identify thick/thin pages. GTmetrix.com helps analyze loading speed and performance grade.Q: Does compressing images ruin their quality?A: Not necessarily. It depends on lossless vs. lossy compression. Tools like compressor.io reduce file sizes while maintaining acceptable visual quality.Q: How long does it take to see results from technical SEO improvements?A: Generally, 3 to 12 months for initial results, but expect 6 to 24 months for more realistic and substantial long-term growth.Action StepsAudit Your Website: Use Siteliner and GTmetrix to evaluate page sizes, load speeds, and site health.Compress Assets: Identify large files and use compressor.io to reduce size without sacrificing quality.Implement Structured Data: Visit schema.org to apply structured data mapping to help search engines understand your content.Optimize for Mobile & Accessibility: Ensure body text is at least 16px and scales up to 200% without breaking layout.Book a Consultation: Reach out to Favour Obasi-ike at info@playinc.online or via his booking link for a personalized website audit and SEO strategy or visit Favour's quick link here.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

Michele DeFilippo is the founder and driving force behind 1106 Design, a full-service book publishing company based in Phoenix, Arizona. With more than 50 years of experience in the book publishing industry — spanning traditional publishing, the rise of indie publishing, and the self-publishing revolution catalyzed by Amazon — Michele is one of the most respected voices in author services today.She founded 1106 Design in 2001 after the publishing industry was disrupted by technology, with a singular mission: to help independent authors publish professionally, keep 100% of their rights and royalties, and produce books that compete on equal footing with traditionally published titles. Her company provides a complete "manuscript to market" solution, including editorial evaluations, copyediting, custom book cover design, interior typesetting, eBook conversion, audiobook production, author websites, and publishing support.Michele is also the author of Publish Like the Pros: A Brief Guide to Quality Self-Publishing, an 88-page guide available as a free download at 1106design.com. She has been featured across numerous podcasts, YouTube channels, and industry publications, and contributes regularly to IngramSpark's blog on self-publishing best practices.Schedule a call with Michele today >>WHO IS THIS FOR?Aspiring authors who want to publish without giving up their rights. Self-publishing authors who suspect they're leaving royalty money on the table. Business owners, coaches, and consultants who want a book as a credibility tool. Anyone pitched a "bestseller package" who wants to know if it's legitimate. Podcasters and content creators exploring long-form publishing as a brand extension.Episode SummaryIn this interview on the We Don't PLAY!™ podcast, Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS sits down with Michele DeFilippo to unpack one of the most misunderstood and financially consequential decisions an author can make: who to trust with your book. Over 22 minutes, Michele delivers a masterclass on the difference between traditional publishers, hybrid publishers, and true service providers — and why that distinction can mean the difference between earning $0.90 per book sold versus $6–$8.The conversation covers the full publishing landscape: how self-publishing emerged alongside Amazon, why so many "publishers" are actually double-dipping on author revenue, how to use KDP and IngramSpark to distribute without a middleman, what makes a book cover convert (and why it matters more than most authors realize), the truth about Amazon "bestseller" badges, the art of professional typesetting, and how to set realistic expectations before publishing.Michele closes with a transparent overview of how 1106 Design works, what authors should prepare before reaching out, and why the best way to make money with a book is often not through retail sales at all.TIMESTAMPS[00:00] — Intro: Michele DeFilippo, founder of 1106 Design, 50 years in publishing[03:20] — Publisher vs. service provider: the distinction that determines your royalties[06:12] — The hybrid publisher double-dip: earning $0.90/book instead of $6–$8[09:11] — KDP and IngramSpark: the two platforms every self-publishing author must know[10:01] — "Pump and dump" publishing: the automated book trap[11:00] — Book covers as the #1 conversion driver: the job interview analogy[12:48] — A/B testing covers the right way: "liking vs. buying"[14:34] — The Amazon bestseller badge: how it's manufactured in 45 minutes[17:08] — Professional typesetting vs. basic formatting: why it matters[20:49] — Using a book as a business development tool, not a retail productMEMORABLE QUOTES"If you have no investment in my book, what entitles you to any portion of my profits?" — Michele [06:45]"There's retail sales, and then there's making money with your book another way — and that other way is usually better." — Michele [20:49]"The question isn't which cover do you like. It's which cover would you spend money on." — Michele [12:48]"A book that earns $2,000 in royalties but generates $50,000 in consulting revenue is not a modest success. It's a high-ROI asset." — Favour [21:10]"Typesetting is working on every line, every word, every paragraph — it's not just formatting." — Michele [17:08]FAQsWhat is the difference between a publisher and a service provider?A publisher acquires your rights and pays a royalty. A service provider charges once and steps away — you keep 100% of all future revenue.What makes hybrid publishers problematic?They charge upfront fees and also take a cut of every book sold — reducing per-book earnings from $6–$8 down to $0.90 on a $19.99 title.Which platforms should every author use?KDP for Amazon and IngramSpark for bookstores and libraries. Both have royalty calculators so you know exactly what you'll earn.Are Amazon bestseller badges legitimate?Most are manufactured in 45 minutes by selecting a low-competition subcategory. A genuine Nielsen bestseller is an entirely different credential.How do authors actually make money with a book?Treat it as a business development tool. Speaking fees and consulting revenue typically far exceed retail royalty income.GLOSSARYService Provider — Charges a one-time fee; takes no ongoing royalties. The author retains 100% of rights and revenue.Hybrid Publisher — Charges upfront fees and also takes a percentage of sales. Double-dips on author revenue.KDP — Amazon's self-publishing platform for print-on-demand paperbacks and Kindle ebooks.IngramSpark — Distributes to independent bookstores, libraries, and international retailers.Typesetting — Professional design of a book's interior: fonts, spacing, margins, and chapter breaks.Print-on-Demand — Books printed individually as orders are placed. No inventory risk.Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today

Technical SEO delivers 117% ROI in as little as 6 months — compared to 16% for basic content SEO over 15 months. Favour Obasi-ike, MBA, MS breaks down what that means in real dollars and real client results.WHO IS THIS FORSmall business owners are wondering why their website isn't showing up on Google. Entrepreneurs paying for ads who want to know if SEO is a smarter long-term investment. Marketing professionals who need data-backed ROI benchmarks. E-commerce owners planning a 12–24 month organic growth strategy. Content creators who want to extend the shelf life of every piece they publish. Local business owners — local SEO delivers 750%+ ROI, the highest of any SEO category.TIMESTAMPS00:00 — Room opens; framing question repeated as attendees join: "What is the ROI of technical SEO?"10:00 — The Mario Kart analogy: Instagram = 72-hour boost, Pinterest = 5 months, website = 24 months12:00 — Live Glimpse research: "SEO for small businesses" costs $44.40/click in Google Ads17:00 — The 16% ROI / 15-month benchmark introduced20:00 — On-page vs. technical SEO defined; the relationship foundation analogy34:00 — Client case study: 30M-page site grows from 1.5M → 3.3M indexed pages after structural fixes40:52 — Technical SEO ROI: 117% in as little as 6 months45:40 — HTTP vs. HTTPS: why HTTP is "easily hackable"52:00 — ROI by category: basic 16%, technical 117%, e-commerce 2–5x, local 750%+59:12 — Celese Williams on Semrush and data-driven content strategy61:32 — Hayden: the Glossary Method — hidden keywords at 40x lower cost70:05 — HTML = the letter; HTTPS = the postal service74:00 — Closing: your website as a place of rest, connection, and long-term impactMEMORABLE QUOTES"Technical SEO is about 117%. And when you have a fundamental strategy, that 15 months could drop to six months." — Favour [40:59]"HTTP is easily hackable. Definitely get your HTTPS more than anything." — Favour [45:40]"You can't depend on social media to sustain a brand. It's going to enhance your brand, but it's not going to replace it." — Favour [51:14]"CEOs and bosses make data-driven decisions." — Celese [59:37]"The glossary method is the most powerful way — you can buy hidden keywords with thousands of views at 40 times less than the main broad topic." — Hidden [61:32]"Give yourself 6–24 months to see results. By year three, four, five, you'll be happy you built something sturdy." — Favour [71:38]Ready to Rank? Book Your SEO & Web Dev Services Today