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Ever feel like you're saying all the right things in your business—but it still doesn't sound like you? Michelle Warner shares a powerful realisation: the missing link wasn't a better strategy, but a clearer brand voice. After years of wrestling with traditional branding methods, she finally cracked the code with the help of Justin Blackman, discovering not just how she communicates, but why it hadn't worked before.By identifying her unique voice and setting boundaries around it—like realizing she's the “general manager,” not the coach—Michelle unlocked clarity, confidence, and a whole new way to connect with her audience. It's a reminder that sometimes the breakthrough isn't a new plan, but a better understanding of how we show up.ResourcesJustin Blackman - Brand Voice ExpertCheck out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com
CONNECT WITH USFirst or Second time? Please click the title above or link below to fill out a digital connect card. www.engagetallahassee.com/connect THE NEHEMIAH INSTITUTE If you're interested in learning more about what it takes to become an Innovative Reconciler, please the link below so our team can follow up with you. www.engagetallahassee.com/nehemiah GIVE If you'd like to give this morning, please click the button "GIVE" on the top right of your screen or the link below to give directly. www.engagetallahassee.com/giving SERVE TEAMSDo you want to offer up your time and talent to be used to further the Kingdom? If that desire has been placed on your heart, sign up to serve on a Team here at Engage Online. www.engagetallahassee.com/teams ENGAGE BIRTHDAY WEEK 2025 Engage is turning 12 this year! For registration & more information on all the ways we are celebrating this year, please click the link below. We can't wait to celebrate with you! www.engagetallahassee.com/birthdayweek Follow along with us throughout the week on Instagram and Facebook at @Engagetlh #sermon #church #unity #holyspirit #selfdifferentiation #believe #doyoubelieve #believeingod
Are you unknowingly sabotaging your business by ignoring small but crucial patterns? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner introduces a game-changing journaling exercise: What's Working, What's Not, and Why. This simple yet powerful practice helps entrepreneurs spot small wins and red flags before they turn into major problems. By consistently tracking three things that worked, three that didn't, and analyzing the patterns, business owners can make smarter, data-driven decisions. Over time, this habit prevents reactive choices and ensures strategies align with real, observed progress.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com
What if surviving economic uncertainty isn't about drastic strategy changes, but about sequencing your moves wisely? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner breaks down how consumers react in tough times—whether they slam on the brakes, stay cautiously optimistic, or continue spending.At the same time, products fall into essentials, treats, postponables, or expendables, shaping how people prioritize their purchases. The real win? Instead of panicking, businesses should focus on sequence over strategy—identifying where their ideal customers fall and positioning their offer as an essential or a smart investment.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com
How can introverts build meaningful, purposeful connections in a way that aligns with their natural strengths? In this episode of The Quiet And Strong Podcast, host David Hall welcomes Michelle Warner, a business strategist and introverted networking expert, to discuss strategies that empower introverts to create and nurture valuable networks with confidence and intention.Listeners will discover practical tools tailored for introverts, such as the power of setting clear networking goals, finding ideal connections, and fostering long-term relationships. Michelle shares smart approaches like using structured assignments, creating purposeful projects, and mastering the art of small, meaningful asks to gradually strengthen relationships without overwhelm. You'll also hear eye-opening insights into how extroverts face their own networking challenges, and how building the right network—rather than the biggest one—can lead to professional and personal success.Whether you're an introverted business owner, creative, or professional looking to confidently grow your connections, this episode is packed with actionable advice and inspiring stories to guide your journey. Learn how to embrace your natural talents, honor your needs, and build connections that matter. Gain clarity, confidence, and effective strategies to make networking work for YOU.Listen in, and be strong.Episode Link: QuietandStrong.com/212- - -Michelle Warner designs tiny companies that are built for the long run. With an MBA from one of the world's top business schools and 15+ years growing small businesses, Michelle knows how to help you diagnose and fix what's not working while designing a new iteration of your business that will work for you.She's also the creator of Networking That Pays, the introvert-friendly, always awkward-free connection system that delivers reliable leads, consistent referrals and meaningful connections.Connect with MichelleWebsite: TheMichelleWarner.comPodcast: Sequence Over StrategySocials: LinkedIn- - -Contact the Host of the Quiet and Strong Podcast:David Hall Author, Speaker, Educator, Podcaster quietandstrong.comGobio.link/quietandstrongdavid [at] quietandstrong.com Take the FREE Personality Assessment: Typefinder Personality Assessment Follow David on your favorite social platform: Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Youtube Get David's book:Minding Your Time: Time Management, Productivity, and Success, Especially for Introverts You may also like:Quiet & Strong Merchandise
CONNECT WITH USFirst or Second time? Please click the title above or link below to fill out a digital connect card. www.engagetallahassee.com/connect THE NEHEMIAH INSTITUTE If you're interested in learning more about what it takes to become an Innovative Reconciler, please the link below so our team can follow up with you. www.engagetallahassee.com/nehemiah GIVE If you'd like to give this morning, please click the button "GIVE" on the top right of your screen or the link below to give directly. www.engagetallahassee.com/giving SERVE TEAMSDo you want to offer up your time and talent to be used to further the Kingdom? If that desire has been placed on your heart, sign up to serve on a Team here at Engage Online. www.engagetallahassee.com/teams ENGAGE BIRTHDAY WEEK 2025 Engage is turning 12 this year! For registration & more information on all the ways we are celebrating this year, please click the link below. We can't wait to celebrate with you! www.engagetallahassee.com/birthdayweek Follow along with us throughout the week on Instagram and Facebook at @Engagetlh #sermon #church #unity #holyspirit #selfdifferentiation #believe #doyoubelieve #believeingod
What if trying to market your business the same way you serve your clients is actually hurting your success? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner reveals why prioritizing relationship marketing over traffic-based tactics is key for businesses offering high-end, service-based services. She explores how focusing on meaningful connections with a select group of clients—not overwhelming yourself with mass marketing—can lead to better results. Warner also shares strategies for addressing the potential disconnect between how you market your own business and the services you provide to clients, helping you navigate these challenges with confidence.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com
Today we're revealing the third tool in your 2025 marketing toolkit, and I'm resharing our BEST OF episode where Michelle Warner teaches us all about relationship marketing!With an MBA from one of the world's top business schools and 15+ years experience growing small businesses, Michelle designs tiny companies that are built to last. She's also the creator of Networking That Pays, the introvert-friendly connection system that brings in reliable leads, consistent referrals and meaningful connections for your business — in just 5 minutes a day. Together, Michelle and I talk about:What relationship marketing isThe difference between relationship marketing & traffic marketingHow a network can support your businessWho needs to be in your network (& who doesn't)How to “borrow an audience” & why it's so effectiveThe one type of content you need to have for relationship marketing to work MORE FROM MICHELLE⏱️ Get Michelle's free workshop 5 Minutes A Day to a Network That Pays
Happy New Year & welcome to season five of Off the Grid! Today we're kicking off this year-in-biz with a fun new format — five episodes in five days!Press play to hear all about it, and tune in this week to learn:Our top 3 marketing strategies for 2025Need-to-know advice for email marketing beginners & prosHow to be a better guest on better podcastsWhy relationships always matter& What trends will grab extra attention in the year ahead!You'll hear from amazing guests like Allea Grummert, Taylor Elyse Morrison, Michelle Warner, and Amanda Laird. It's basically a mini-of-the-moment-marketing-masterclass all for free on the pod feed this week! So please subscribe and share it with a friend xo RESOURCES + LINKS
Are you struggling to get your marketing to connect with the right people? It might be time to shift your focus from strategy to sequence! In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner explains why the sequence of actions in your marketing—specifically, the awareness stage—is more important than the strategies you use. She breaks down how to build impactful relationships with your audience by focusing on three key components: what you say, who you say it to, and the strength of the trust transfer. By mastering these, you can create a powerful awareness strategy that sets the stage for long-term success in relationship marketing.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.comSign up for Relationship Funnel Bootcamp
What if everything you thought you knew about marketing is wrong—especially when it comes to attracting the right clients? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner reveals why relationship marketing is now more crucial than ever, as businesses that once thrived on traffic marketing are seeing their success dry up. She explains how the market has matured, shifting power from business owners to consumers, who now prefer a more personal, relationship-based approach. Warner urges entrepreneurs to embrace this change and realign their strategies to meet consumer expectations in this new era of marketing.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.comSign up for Relationship Funnel Bootcamp
Ever feel like some business strategies work perfectly for others but never quite seem to hit the mark for you? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner dives into the hidden advantages behind success stories—things like timing, natural charisma, or a solid network—that often go unnoticed. These “unfair advantages” can make it hard to see the full picture. Michelle helps you recognize these biases, ask the right questions, and make smarter decisions that actually work for your business. It's time to take control of your strategy and set yourself up for success!Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com
If you're on the shallow or deep end of the “introvert spectrum” spectrum, I'm guessing the sales part of web design is your least favorite part of the job, right?For some, going to in person networking, business meetups, chamber of commerce events or even calls can be energizing but for others, it's draining. It is, however, part of being a web biz owner if you're the one doing the selling…There must be some strategies for making sales easier as an introvert, right?There is! And that's why I'm pumped to have Michelle Warner on the podcast who specializes in networking and has many introvert-friendly sales techniques.That's exactly what we cover in this convo, including:How to create comfortable sales environmentsHow to find referral partnersThe power of creating a “connection avatar”Mindset shifts that make sales less ickyHow to network efficientlyHead to the show notes to get all links and resources we mentioned along with a full transcription of this episode at joshhall.co/355Get my entire suite of courses in the Courses Tier = $49/moGet courses + all community features in the Community Tier = $99/moGet everything + direct coaching with me in the Coaching Tier = $199/moJoin today (in the tier that works for you) at: webdesignerpro.com*** upgrade & downgrade available ***
#STSNation! Welcome to the podcast that promises to bring you the very #BestGuests in all of #TrueCrime. Join us for a gripping episode as we review the interrogation tape from the Michelle Warner murder case, analyzing the techniques that led to a critical confession. Without this confession, as Detective Fil Waters himself said, the killer would never have been convicted. Learn how seasoned investigators use expert interrogation methods to uncover the truth. #BestGuests: America's most respected detective, Fil Waters, retired Houston Homicide PD Retired FBI Special Agent Scott Duffy, Wilmington, Delaware office. Support the show:Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SurvivingTheSurvivorYouTube: Surviving The Survivor: #BestGuests in True Crime - YouTubeJoel's Book: Https://www.amazon.com/shop/surviving...Website: https://survivingthesurvivor.com #TrueCrime #TrueCrimeCommunity #DetectiveFilWaters #ScottDuffy #Interrogations #MichelleWarnerCase #HomicideInvestigation #CriminalConfessions #BestGuests #FBI #HoustonPD #Detectives #SurvivingTheSurvivor #MurderInvestigation #CriminalJustice #truecrimepodcast #truestory #murdermystery #crimestory #crimestory #criminal #interview #newsupdate
Get connected with us through our Engage Tallahassee App or on our website at www.engagetallahassee.com. If you'd like to give to Engage Church, you can give at www.engagetallahassee.com/give. Follow along with us throughout the week on Instagram and Facebook at @Engagetlh #sermon #church #unity #holyspirit #selfdifferentiation #believe #doyoubelieve #believeingod
Are you tired of social media feeling like a numbers game? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner shares how to transform social media into a powerful tool for building relationships that generate high-quality leads. She discusses why service-based businesses should shift from traditional traffic marketing to a more intentional, connection-driven approach. Michelle offers practical tips on creating authentic content that not only attracts the right clients but also establishes trust and builds lasting business relationships.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com
Have you ever thought about how to generate leads that feel as powerful as referrals without waiting for them to come in? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner breaks down how to engineer leads that act like referrals through relationship marketing. She explains why service-based businesses, in particular, need to move beyond traffic marketing and focus on creating meaningful, impactful first impressions that build trust and convert potential clients quickly. Michelle shares actionable insights on how to be proactive in building the relationships that matter most for your business's growth.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com
Have you ever wondered why some marketing campaigns capture attention but fail to convert that interest into sales or lasting relationships? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner emphasizes the pivotal role of engagement strategies in effective marketing. She discusses how businesses often excel at creating awareness but falter when it comes to engaging their audience, which is essential for converting interest into action. Michelle introduces her framework that prioritizes a clear marketing sequence: awareness, engagement, and then sales, stressing that each stage is interconnected.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com
Have you ever considered the role of trust transfer in borrowing audiences for relationship marketing? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner explores how establishing trust through collaboration can greatly enhance an individual's impact on new audiences. The key to success lies in whether the host understands and values the guest's expertise, facilitating a smooth trust transfer between the guest and the audience.Through real-life examples, Michelle contrasts successful collaborations, where the host is well-informed and invested, with less effective partnerships based on transactional motives. She highlights how to vet opportunities by assessing the potential for trust transfer and explains why working with collaboration-minded partners can lead to long-term value, even when the immediate audience fit may not be perfect.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com
Many entrepreneurs find themselves asking, “Is my marketing working?” It's a question Michelle Warner addresses in this episode of Sequence Over Strategy. Rather than trying to figure out if a strategy is failing or not, Michelle emphasizes the importance of sequence—the order in which marketing steps are implemented.Michelle explains how breaking marketing down into three steps—awareness, engagement, and sales—can provide a clear framework for diagnosing issues. Often, the problem lies not in your ability to sell, but in failing to target the right people in the awareness stage. If the wrong audience reaches your engagement stage, sales won't follow, no matter how polished your approach is.By focusing on the sequence of actions, you can diagnose problems and determine whether adjustments in one step might improve the entire process. Instead of blindly tweaking your sales tactics, step back and ask: Am I engaging the right audience from the start?If you're struggling to understand where your marketing falls short, start by breaking it down into these steps. The sequence will guide you to more productive solutions.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com/sos
Is your business missing the mark by not speaking to customers at the right level of understanding? Are you losing customers because your messaging is either too advanced or too basic for where they are? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner unpacks the crucial concept of customer maturity and how it directly impacts your marketing success. She dives into why understanding exactly what your customers know and care about is the key to designing offers that truly resonate. You'll learn what customer maturity is and what it means for you and your business. You will also hear about how aligning your marketing, messaging, and product strategy with your audience's maturity level can bridge the gap between what you offer and what your customers actually need.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com/sos
Is your business struggling with aligning its advanced products with an evolving customer base? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner explores how a mismatch between your product sophistication and customer needs can lead to frustration and ineffective marketing. Learn how to address the common issue of feeling bored or frustrated with your clients by realigning your product, customer, and marketing strategies. Let's discover how to navigate these shifts smoothly to keep your business model in harmony and set yourself up for continued success!Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com/sos
Get connected with us through our Engage Tallahassee App or on our website at www.engagetallahassee.com. If you'd like to give to Engage Church, you can give at www.engagetallahassee.com/give. Follow along with us throughout the week on Instagram and Facebook at @Engagetlh #sermon #church #unity #holyspirit #selfdifferentiation #believe #doyoubelieve
This week on the podcast, we're doing something a little bit different. A pod takeover. I invited my friend, Michelle Warner to take over my podcast feed. Her podcast Sequence Over Strategy is the only business podcast that I religiously listen to. Michelle and I are incredibly aligned with how we approach business (and she's also the opening speaker for the Make Marketing Suck Less virtual event). Aligning Marketing and GrowthDo you struggle to decide your marketing strategy? Do you know if you want to reach as many people as possible or just your target audience? Michelle Warner, a business designer and strategist, discusses a shift in her marketing strategy. Previously focused on one-on-one work and relationship marketing, she's now transitioning to teaching more bootcamps, which requires a higher volume of leads. This shift means she needs to balance her marketing strategies, incorporating more traffic marketing alongside relationship marketing to align with her new product mix.Michelle explains the difference between relationship marketing (deep, authentic connections) and traffic marketing (mass outreach) and stresses the importance of aligning marketing strategies with your business model. She also highlights her involvement in Michelle Mazur's summit, "Make Marketing Suck Less," which aims to help businesses find suitable marketing strategies.For more details and to join the summit visit: https://drmichellemazur.com/event
Do you struggle to decide your marketing strategy? Do you know if you want to reach as many people as possible or just your target audience? Michelle Warner, a business designer and strategist, discusses a shift in her marketing strategy. Previously focused on one-on-one work and relationship marketing, she's now transitioning to teaching more bootcamps, which requires a higher volume of leads. This shift means she needs to balance her marketing strategies, incorporating more traffic marketing alongside relationship marketing to align with her new product mix.Michelle explains the difference between relationship marketing (deep, authentic connections) and traffic marketing (mass outreach) and stresses the importance of aligning marketing strategies with your business model. She also highlights her involvement in Michelle Mazur's summit, "Make Marketing Suck Less," which aims to help businesses find suitable marketing strategies.For more details and to join the summit visit: https://drmichellemazur.com/event
What if the key to successful relationship marketing isn't about trading audiences, but about providing value that makes others look better in front of their audience? In this episode of "Sequence Over Strategy," Michelle Warner challenges the common misconception that audience size determines fair exchange when borrowing audiences. By reframing the value exchange as a way to help others achieve better results, Michelle shares examples from her own business to illustrate how focusing on value can lead to mutually beneficial relationships.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com/sos
Ever stayed at a party too long? When you know it's kinda over but it's been going great and so much fun that you don't wanna admit it's over? Yeah - this happens in marketing when a new trend or interesting tactic loses its novelty, then loses its effectiveness. It's bound to happen, right? The cool, innovative, new thing gets adopted by *everyone* and stops working. So, how do you get out before it's too late? Before it stops working and you're pulling your hair out (again), tryin' to figure out how to make it work? Michelle Warner is here to tell you! Michelle's a business strategist who builds tiny companies built to last. We talk about the very real problems of: >Being constantly overwhelmed by needing to constantly adapt to new trends and strategies. >Feeling that "we're doing it wrong" when trends and strategies stop working. >Knowing which trends to jump on and which ones to hit "Send to voicemail!" on. >Deciding what to *actually* do when the trends or strategies stop working If the ever-changing marketing strategies and tactics and trends - OH MY! - have your head spinning (or even piss you off)... THIS IS YOUR EPISODE! Michelle shares invaluable insights to help you avoid the trappings of Marketing Shiny Objects and instead make smart, strategic pivots. PLUS! You'll love her very concrete examples of ways to revolutionize your own damn marketing approach. My favorite thing about Michelle (other than her big brain) is how she creates calm from her "Oh, this is all just so logical" approach. So listen in. And after you do, put her podcast Sequence Over Strategy on your queue and binge it. You can thank me later. One final note ~ she's no joke in the business space: Michelle's got an MBA from one of the world's top business schools and 15+ years growing small businesses. She'll help you diagnose & fix what's not working while designing a new iteration of your business so it works for you. She's also the creator of Networking That Pays, the introvert-friendly, always awkward-free connection system that delivers reliable leads, consistent referrals and meaningful connections. Find all things Michelle at www.TheMichelleWarner.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What stage of small business growth are you currently in, and are you prioritizing the right actions for that stage? In this episode of "Sequence Over Strategy," Michelle Warner discusses the importance of understanding and aligning with the five stages of small business growth, with a special look at what happens when you prematurely outsource or automate your processes. From the importance of validating your business idea to finding product-market-founder fit and building a solid foundation, Michelle provides invaluable insights to help you steer your business in the right direction and avoid the pitfalls that entrepreneurs often fall into.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com/sos
They say you are the average of the five people you spend the most time with. What happens when you apply that line of thought to your business? It's your network that determines your business's worth. In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner discusses how to create and nurture strong networks and how specificity, involvement, and consistent communication will build deeper connections with the right people.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com/sos
If you know you're going to get new business after a keynote or other speaking event, should you also be getting paid for it? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner takes this question head-on, and immediately starts digging down into what we really need to answer instead. Using listener Jay Acunzo's question as a case study, Michelle emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between when speaking serves as a marketing tool versus a paid product, and shares the tools you need to do it for your own work.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com/sos
Get connected with us through our Engage Tallahassee App or on our website at www.engagetallahassee.com. If you'd like to give to Engage Church, you can give at www.engagetallahassee.com/give. Follow along with us throughout the week on Instagram and Facebook at @Engagetlh #sermon #church #unity #holyspirit
Listeners will learn what factors might get in the way of their leadership and business success related to having a poor strategy around where to start and why. We'll connect how Michelle Warner thinks about business development strategy with how Dr. Brancu thinks about leadership strategy when it comes to decision-making and actions for success. Do you ever feel like, “I don't even know where to start!” Like you have so many different paths you can take, you've gotten so much advice, but now you are left feeling overwhelmed with which path is right? Well, this might be the right episode to help you gain some clarity around where to start. Leaders need to spend time develop the right strategy to navigate the complexities of internal and external personal factors required for leadership success. And our guest today will bring a different take - how business owners in particular can develop the right strategy to navigate the complexities of business development and growth. Together we'll explore the overlap between how she thinks about business development strategy with how I think about leadership strategy when it comes to decision-making and actions for success. Michelle Warner designs tiny companies that are built for the long run. With an MBA from one of the world's top business schools and 15+ years growing small businesses, Michelle knows how to figure out what's wrong and get it fixed when you hit a revenue plateau, and how to stabilize your business when you're growing too fast and can't keep up. She's also the creator of Networking That Pays, the introvert-friendly, always awkward-free connection system that brings in reliable leads, consistent referrals and meaningful connections for your business in just one message a day. www.gotowerscope.com https://gotowerscope.com/towerscope-leadership-academyhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/warnermichelle/#SequenceOverStrategy #NetworkingThatPays #BusinessDevelopment #LeadershipDevelopment #Strategy #TheHardSkillsTune in for this empowering conversation at TalkRadio.nyc
If you're fed up with the endless marketing BS and tired of all the "must-dos" that don't actually boost your sales, you've found your new home.Welcome to The Standout Show's New Series: Market Less, Matter More - designed for entrepreneurs who want sustainable profitable growth and anyone who wants to do more of what they love, with more impact, and a whole lot less marketing. Each week we're sharing short, 10-minute presentations with entrepreneurs who've discovered simpler, more impactful ways to connect with their customers.In this first edition co-hosts Eva Y. Chen & Brad Powell are joined by Michelle Warner, Relationship Marketing expert (who's on a mission to design tiny companies that are built to last).Get ready to elevate your customer engagement through the power of relationship marketing. Takeaways: Michelle's map of the marketing landscape, from the warm, referral-like awareness at the heart of relationship marketing to the wide-reaching nets cast by traffic marketing.The alchemy of forging ideal networks, the gold standard for exponential business growth.Strategies for borrowing audiences and adding value in a way that leaves a lasting impact. Resources:Connect with Michelle WarnerEndless Video Ideas Guide
What does First Mover Advantage look like when we're talking about marketing strategies? At first, it looks like a lot of well-earned success, but then the wave crests and what used to work doesn't anymore. Today on Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner is talking about how to identify when you're benefiting from First Mover Advantage, and how to tell when it's about to come crashing down, so you can get out, pivot, or change your expectations before it's too late. Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com/sos
Our guest for this episode is rarely online. But when she is, she's telling small stories with big meaning.Meet Michelle Warner—she's a business strategist and consultant who architects business models and marketing strategies for clients who sell high-priced services. She also hosts the podcast Sequence Over Strategy—an idea that represents her entire platform's differentiated premise, and one the story she brings to us today reflects.Michelle has founded multi-million dollar startups, raised capital the traditional way, and generally followed “the blueprint” for business growth before burning out and finding a new path forward. She is an independent consultant and educator who doesn't need to rely on social media for growth.What I admire about Michelle is that she's designed her life and work in a certain way—she's intentional, genuine, and carefully curates anything she elects to spend time on. These characteristics are reflected in her life, in her work, and in the way she tells stories.In this episode, we dissect one of her signature stories she recently sent to her newsletter. It was well-received, but the ending needs work, and she recognizes there are some structural problems with the story. We work on that together to turn this into a signature story she can take with her everywhere, and we identify the job this story does for her audience and her business.You'll get a deep look at the small changes that you can make to a story to communicate with greater impact.Jump into the conversation: (03:39) Meet Michelle (17:40) Michelle's Story (21:28) Dissecting the Story (23:04) First, Last, FavoriteResources:⚫ Listen to Michelle's podcast: https://www.themichellewarner.com/blog/sos001⚫ Check out Michelle's website: https://www.themichellewarner.com/
What job are you asking your marketing strategies to do for you? In this episode of "Sequence Over Strategy," Michelle Warner, a business designer and strategist, shares her decision-making process behind starting a podcast and why she doesn't rely on it for awareness. Today's question concerns transitioning from private to group coaching. Michelle highlights the importance of understanding the job you need your marketing strategies to do and how to align them with your business goals.Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com
Today, as we continue to delve into the huge priority of chronic absenteeism, we want to shine the spotlight on Springfield Local Schools in Region 8. Springfield is a district just outside of Akron that had a huge hill to climb in terms of increasing student attendance, with more than 4 in 10 students chronically absent (meaning they were absent for at least 10% of school days) in 2021-2022. By working systematically through the Ohio Improvement Process and systemically across their entire district, Springfield saw stunning improvement in their chronic absenteeism rate in just one year. SST8's Frank Gant talks with Michelle Warner and Todd Lovell, two administrators from Springfield Jr/Sr High about the MANY things they did as a district and a building to make this happen. You'll quickly learn that data and decision rules aren't enough - building stronger relationships with students and families is at the heart of attendance work as well. Co-host: Frank Gant, SST8 Educational Consultant Additional Resources: Attendance Playbook (PDF) from Attendance Works - evidence-based strategies for addressing chronic absenteeism Root Causes of Attendance from Attendance Works website - overview and downloadable worksheet
How do you take the 'ick' out of networking when you need to scale your business? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner addresses this crucial question posed by Joy, a leadership coach looking to expand her practice to include an online course for emerging female leaders. It all comes down to identifying ideal connection avatars and adapting your networking strategies to reach a larger audience. That way, you can leverage your existing skills for business growth. It's Sequence over Strategy in building sustainable and successful businesses. Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the idea of expanding your business and adding new customer segments and products? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner guides you through the ‘Five Whys' exercise to uncover the root of your business challenges. By focusing on the impact of marketing efforts on your new ventures, you'll gain clarity on whether your current marketing strategy aligns with your growth plans. Discover the key to avoiding the chaos of running multiple businesses and embrace the power of asking the right questions with the Sequence Over Strategy mindset. Let's simplify your marketing efforts and set your business up for success! Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com
Are you tired of throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks in your business? In this episode of Sequence Over Strategy, Michelle Warner dives deep into the world of relationship and traffic marketing and helps you understand the importance of choosing the right marketing approach. You'll learn how to meet your leads in a powerful way, whether you're a coach looking for clients or an entrepreneur seeking sustainable growth. Toss the spaghetti back in the pot and embrace the sequence over strategy mantra for building a sturdy business. Let's make marketing fun and effective again!Check out the full episode at TheMichelleWarner.com
Today I'm talking about the most effective way to fill a signature program beyond private practice: Creating and nurturing Ideal Referral Partnerships. If I were to coach my clients to do only ONE kind of marketing, this would be it. Another word for this is networking. You're probably already doing this, but you might not be doing it very strategically. When I meet someone who says they don't do any marketing, but they've got customers or clients, I know they HAVE been marketing. They just didn't see their behavior as marketing. I often find out that the marketing they've been doing has been networking. If you have relationships with people who refer to you, even if you don't do any of it on purpose, you've been marketing. Maybe you've been networking with colleagues you met at trainings, at agencies you worked at, or from working with the same client at some point. You hit it off with these folks. Some of these people have referred clients to you or introduced you to other people who referred clients to you. If you're an extrovert, you might have experienced a TON of this with very little conscious effort. It's time to get strategic because your time is limited. Michelle Warner teaches a course called Networking That Pays. She points out that we can each only maintain a finite number of meaningful relationships (between 100 to 250, according to British anthropologist Robin Dunbar, author of How Many Friends Does One Person Need). We need to be strategic about WHO we spend our limited networking time and energy with. You'll also need to be more strategic when you're selling a signature program because you'll probably be serving MORE new people each year than you do in your private practice. If you do long term work, you may only need 10 new clients a year to keep your practice full, or even less in some cases. To keep a signature program full, on the other hand, you might need 30 or 100 or more new participants each year. The math is a bit different, so the networking will be a bit more strategic. I just peeked at my own statistics. This year, over half of my participants have come through my referral partners, NOT by stumbling upon my podcast or finding me through IG or google or paid ads. But let's look for a moment at the OTHER kinds of marketing activities I do and you might do too: Sending out a weekly or biweekly email. Creating a podcast episode. Delivering a free live event. Updating my website. Creating a new lead magnet. Setting up an ad funnel. Posting on social. Some of these things do help people find me, and I love that I can do these things in relative isolation. AND… It's a really bad idea to leave relationships out of our marketing practices. Networking will help to amplify the effectiveness of those other activities. Dialing down your time spent on solo digital marketing activities and dialing UP your time and energy spent with ideal referral partners is going to grow your business WAY more quickly and more reliably. Why is this kind of strategic networking so effective? LOTS of your future participants are already in someone else's audience. The people who created those audiences are your Ideal Referral Partners. By PLACE I mean things like: a podcast, a free online community, a paid community, an email newsletter list, or a paid small group program. When the person who leads and curates that gathering place invites you in and vouches for you and the work you do, you're MUCH more likely to have the trust of members of that community. Compare that to the trust that you can establish in a video on IG that is 60 seconds long. I created a step-by-step process for this activity, not because it comes easily to me. Rather I created it because it is very important and does NOT come easily to me. Here's a quick summary of that process. First, you figure out: Who are my Ideal Referral Partners? They serve your niche They probably serve your niche in a different way than you do. (If you don't know what your niche is, that's your task before you can find your Ideal Referral Partners). You have aligned enough values You don't have to agree on everything, but you resonate with the way this person works and you feel that they have integrity. They have an audience They do NOT need to have a huge audience. A very small audience of people who are highly engaged and in your niche is better than a big audience of folks not in your niche That means they've already gathered a group of your potential participants. (It's OK to spend time networking with people who just work with folks 1:1. But your growth will happen a lot faster if they have at least a small audience.) They may be open to sharing their audience with you in some way How this sharing happens may become clear right away or later on. Then, once you've identified an Ideal Referral Partner: Step one: Find where their audience is gathered. (A podcast, a community, a newsletter, a paid program, for example.) Step two: Observe. (Listen to the podcast, hang out in the group, or read the emails.) Step three: Approach them with specific praise or observations and invite connection. (If there's any way to get an introduction, ask for it!) Step four: Meet (Come with a back pocket idea, but be open to their idea, a different idea, or NO idea happening.) Step five: Try it (Be a guest on their podcast, guest teach in their course, or share each other's work.) Step six: Check in (Get in touch in from time to time and collaborate again.) When you meet, you'll start with an open ended conversation. You won't rush in and say: “I want access to your group.” They are as protective of the time, energy and well-being of their participants as you will be of yours. Plant the seed for collaboration with no pressure. Make it easy to say no. Think about what might be in it for them. Maybe you're offering access to your audience if that would serve your audience. If you have no audience yet, what's in it for them is simply your willingness to serve their folks. You're not there to extract value. You want to build trust both with the person who gathered those folks, AND with the people in that community. Be open to giving more than you get. Be unattached to the particular outcome of you serving their audience. Embrace some emotional discomfort! You might feel tempted NOT to do any of this strategic networking stuff. You might think: What if they ignore my invitation? What if the person I reach out to doesn't like me? What if I don't enjoy my time with them? What if it stays completely awkward? I mean, have you ever had a horrible networking date? Those feel bad. I get it. I'm introverted. I find small talk exhausting. I don't say that because I think I'm above small talk. I understand that small talk is a way to test easy topics and start building a bit of trust. Small talk tires me out because I don't understand it well, and meeting new people in an unstructured way is a bit painful for me. And that's what networking dates ARE. I KNOW. Some of the time this process might not go well. But I promise you, some of the time it WILL go well, and it is TOTALLY worth it. Resources Discussed: Michelle Warner (https://www.themichellewarner.com/ Shownotes at: https://rebeltherapist.me/podcast/223
Marketing exists on a spectrum from Relationship to Traffic. It's important to know where you fall on that line and choose strategies that are the best fit for your business model AND how you're wired.Learn more about relationship focused marketing and the difference between Awareness, Engagement, and Sales projects with today's guest, Michelle Warner.Learn more about Michelle, including her program Networking that Pays, at https://www.themichellewarner.com/ Connect with Allegra on LinkedIn or send a direct note here.Podcast Cover Art: Catherine FergusonSound Mixing support: Cameron SteinTheme Song - I Am a Tiger by Buttercup
EP 94 - In this episode of the Share the Wealth Show, we're delighted to welcome Niki Perez once again. The conversation explores real estate underwriting and finance, offering valuable insights.
Three fresh ideas that have captured my attention this week that I think you'll also find helpful. ------- Sign up for my daily emails : allegrastein.com/daily Jonathan Stark's Doing Daily podcast: https://doingdaily.transistor.fm/ Michelle Warner: https://www.themichellewarner.com/ Tad Hargrave's confidence vs composure video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12D_04-d9X0 Looking for 1:1 support? Learn more and set up a time to chat here .Connect with Allegra on LinkedIn or send a direct note here.Podcast Cover Art: Catherine FergusonSound Mixing support: Cameron SteinTheme Song - I Am a Tiger by Buttercup
EP 93 - In this episode of the Share the Wealth Show, we will explore Niki Perez's transition from the corporate world to entrepreneurship, focusing on her experiences in commercial real estate underwriting.
“I am great in the early, messy days and I know that about myself, so I designed my business around serving others in that stage.” In this conversation with business strategist (genius!) Michelle Warner, we cover the three growth stages most relevant to tiny business owners, how to fix broken business models, validating product-market-founder fit, the difference between traffic-based versus relationship-based sales and marketing, borrowing aligned audiences, leading a free monthly Q&A to “catch” their interest afterward, imagining sales as a downhill snowball, and how to scale while still staying Delightfully Tiny. More About Michelle: Michelle Warner designs tiny companies that are built to last. With an MBA from one of the world's top business schools and 15+ years experience growing small businesses, Michelle focuses on layering real world experience on top of classic business fundamentals to design businesses that are sustainable and scalable in the long term and resilient and adaptable in the short term. It's the way she grew her first business to 7+ figures, and it's what she's used to help 300+ CEO's create businesses that work for the important stuff: profit, energy, passion + time. She's also the creator of Networking That Pays, the introvert-friendly, always awkward-free connection system that brings in reliable leads, consistent referrals and meaningful connections for your business - in 5 minutes a day.
As we embrace the excitement of a new year, it's the perfect time to strategize about your speaking journey. Are you wondering where to make your mark this year? Let's delve deeper because the art of creating a robust speaking and visibility plan transcends merely scouting for random events, conferences, and podcasts. Here's what you'll discover: Identify Your Speaking Goals: Understand the different goals you can pursue through public speaking and how these can empower your personal and professional growth. Use the 5 Whys Method: I'll share with you the transformative 5 Whys technique. It's a journey I've embarked on myself, and I'll be opening up about how this approach helped me uncover the heart of my speaking objectives. The Importance of Local Groups: Learn how to connect with local groups and why focusing on a few, to begin with, can create more impactful connections and help you get known as a speaker. Choose the Right Conferences: We'll walk you through how to select conferences that align with your message and how these platforms can elevate your speaking career. The Right Way to Pitch to be a Guest on Podcasts: Discover the pathways to becoming a guest on podcasts that resonate with your brand and message. Optimize Your LinkedIn for Speaking Opportunities: Tips on making your LinkedIn profile a beacon for speaking invitations. Want to develop your speaking skills, thought leadership, and signature talk? Check out our online coaching program the Thought Leader Academy and our upcoming 3-day in-person speaking intensive. Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/367/ Michelle Warner's Networking That Pays course: https://www.themichellewarner.com/networkingthatpays Connect on LinkedIn: Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox Diane Diaz = https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianediaz Related Podcast Episodes: Episode 362: [Case Study] Integrating Thought Leadership and Lead Generation in Your Signature Talk with Danielle Hayden Episode 355: What a Signature Talk Is and What It Should be Doing for You Episode 356: What to Do Now to Position Yourself as a Thought Leader
This week I am delighted to be joined by Michelle Warner, a business designer and strategist and an expert on the topic of relationship marketing. The vast majority of what we see these days is traffic-based marketing, which is well suited to mass market brands, but not at all well suited to tiny service-providing businesses. What serves us well is strategic, generous fostering of relationships. In this interview, Michelle Warner talks us through some of the typical misconceptions, pitfalls, and, most importantly, winning approaches to cultivate our own relationship marketing skills for our own businesses. You can find more of Michelle Warner's work at themichellewarner.com You can find more of my work at Simple Prospering