The Rundown with Ramon - Ramon Ray - small business podcast for entrepreneurs

Does branding really matter? 9 minutes of insights on- Under Armour is back to the NFL (lessons in branding for small biz)- Google's new AI is rocking (but wait there's more...)- Amazon's new shopping assistant - is it scary?- Dollar Tree and Family Dollar - didn't work out (know your customer)- Kudos to Jotform for their new form to task feature!SO JUICY don't miss this - don't miss out - sign up to ZoneofGenius.com and subscribe to our YouTube Channel

In this episode of The Rundown with Ramon, Ramon Ray sits down with global business expert Dr. Daniel Thadani to discuss how American business owners can successfully expand internationally. With deep experience across Europe, Asia, and now the U.S., Dr. Thadani shares powerful insights on local marketing, cultural adaptation, hiring, and building sustainable global strategies. Whether you're a startup or a mid-sized business, this conversation will help you think beyond borders and grow globally.#InternationalBusiness #GlobalMarketing #Entrepreneurship #RamonRay #BusinessGrowth

Choosing the right customer is so important.Choose the wrong customer and you and your team will have weeks or years of difficulty and more.Choose the customer that wants the cheapest work with the most difficult fulfillment, and you'll go home frustrated daily.Choosing the right customer is essential.You get to choose how your business grows and operates day to day.Having the right customer for you and your business, is a key part of that choice. See the full article here - https://zoneofgenius.com/pick-right-customer/

The Power of Relationships in Business | Jon Ferrara & Ramon RayIn this insightful conversation, Jon Ferrara, founder of Nimble, and Ramon Ray, publisher of ZoneofGenius.com, discuss the keys to business success in today’s digital world. Jon shares his thoughts on the importance of authentic relationships, why businesses should focus on serving rather than selling, and how CRM tools need to evolve beyond just tracking sales.Key takeaways include:✅ The power of human connection in a digital-first world✅ Why businesses should prioritize relationships over transactions✅ How AI can enhance—but not replace—authentic engagement✅ Practical advice for new and seasoned entrepreneurs“People don’t buy great products; they buy better versions of themselves.” – Jon Ferrara#Entrepreneurship #Networking #CRM #BusinessGrowth #Nimble

In a world dominated by TikTok, Instagram, and the latest AI technologies, it's easy to question whether email marketing still has a place in your business strategy. According to Pam Webber, CEO of Drip, the answer is a resounding yes. In a recent interview with Ramon Ray, publisher of ZoneofGenius.com on his "Rundown with Ramon" podcast, Webber made a compelling case for why email marketing remains not just relevant but essential for entrepreneurs and small business owners. Sign up to our YouTube channel

In a recent interview on "The Rundown with Ramon," Regine Fiddler, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Direct for Hiscox USA, shared insights about small business success. She spoke with host Ramon Ray about how entrepreneurs can thrive amid uncertainty. Full interview - https://zoneofgenius.com/embrace-uncertainty/Key Points:Small business ownership inherently involves risk and uncertaintyResilience is essential for navigating economic and political challengesThe passion that drives small business owners can sometimes hinder growthKnowing when to delegate and bring in help is crucial for scalingPersonal experiences often shape entrepreneurial journeysHiscox provides affordable insurance tailored to small businessesSmall businesses are the heart of America's economy

We don't realize that if we just unlocked the power in our brain, we could live better lives. Dr. Philippe Douyon, is a board-certified neurologist and brain coach who helps people optimize their brains to create the health, lives, and businesses they desire. This interview revealed powerful insights about brain science and how we can leverage our understanding of the brain to overcome obstacles and live more fulfilling lives. See the full article here - https://zoneofgenius.com/better-brain-health/

The Essence of Impactful SpeakingSee the full blog post on ZoneofGenius.comGreat speaking isn't just about delivering information—it's about creating a meaningful experience for your audience. The most effective speakers focus on three dimensions: how their audience feels, what they learn, and what they experience during the talk.Tell Your Story: Share authentic experiences that allow audiences to see themselves in your journeyShare Knowledge: Teach something valuable in an accessible wayInspire Action: Move people toward meaningful changeMaster Stagecraft: Use body language, voice modulation, pauses, and audience interaction effectivelyStructure Your Talk: Create a clear beginning, middle, and endDefine Your Goal: Know exactly what you want your audience to think, feel, or doContrary to popular belief, many famous speakers aren't naturally gifted—their impact often comes from the urgency of their message, good timing, or the relevance of their topic. This means speaking excellence is a skill anyone can develop.The most compelling speakers combine confidence, engagement, information, appropriate humor, and clarity. They understand that structure matters, but so does authenticity. They recognize that while content is crucial, delivery transforms information into inspiration.Remember: The goal isn't perfection but connection. Focus on leaving your audience different than you found them—moved, informed, and inspired to take action.

Sales May Be Boring, But It's Essential for Business SuccessDon't miss out subscribe to our YouTube channelRamon Ray delivers a powerful, no-frills episode of The Rundown with Ramon focused on a critical but often overlooked aspect of business growth - sales. In this candid conversation, Ramon shares personal insights about his own business journey and why embracing sales, despite its potential "boringness," is essential for sustainable success. Systematic sales processes are critical for growing beyond the initial stages of business Post-COVID business landscape has changed, requiring adaptation in client acquisition Identifying perfect customers and influencers is essential for effective sales Consistent follow-up is where most sales processes fall short The right mindset matters more than specific sales tools Sales should be viewed as a service, not a burden to customersRamon begins by sharing a personal revelation about his business. For over twenty years, he enjoyed success through unsolicited business opportunities - speaking engagements, brand deals, and other opportunities that came to him through word-of-mouth and his reputation. However, the post-COVID landscape disrupted this pattern, forcing him to reevaluate his approach."Something changed, and I don't know exactly what it was, but something changed, and those deals slowed down. My business has been dramatically different," Ramon admits. This transition led him to an important realization: sustainable business growth requires systematic outbound sales processes, not just passive inbound leads.Ramon emphasizes that while businesses can reach certain revenue milestones through hustle alone, scaling beyond that requires purpose-built systems: "Yes. You can build a business up to about a hundred thousand, maybe even up to half a million or so. But after a while, hustle alone doesn't work."Throughout the episode, Ramon repeatedly stresses the importance of embracing discomfort for growth. He draws parallels to athletes, military personnel, and successful business figures who have all mastered the art of doing what's uncomfortable to achieve greatness."You have to do what's uncomfortable, what you don't like, what normally you wouldn't do. It doesn't fit you so well to get where you need to be," he explains. This perspective frames sales not as an unpleasant task but as a necessary growth practice that yields significant rewards.Ramon's raw honesty about his own challenges with sales creates a relatable moment for viewers who may share similar resistance. By acknowledging sales as "boring," he removes the stigma and encourages viewers to see it as simply part of the business growth process.Ramon outlines a straightforward framework for improving sales results: Identify your perfect (or almost perfect) customer: For Ramon's speaking business, this means events with 300-1,000+ attendees at major venues with professional production values - organizations with the budget to afford his services. He encourages viewers to define their own ideal customer profiles with similar specificity. Identify influencers: Beyond direct customers, Ramon emphasizes the importance of connecting with people who influence potential customers. "Not just knowing your customers, but knowing people who are the influencers of your customers," he explains. Build relationships through conversation: Following his Celebrity CEO principles (generate awareness, build trust, earn sales), Ramon stresses the importance of nurturing relationships with potential customers. Master the follow-up: "Most people don't follow-up enough," Ramon emphasizes, noting that persistent, professional follow-up is often what separates successful salespeople from the rest. Make the offer: Quoting Kim Walsh Phillips, Ramon encourages viewers to actually make offers once they've built awareness and trust.

All email newsletter platforms are not the same. There's basic email marketing, email marketing automation and then email marketing to build community and more. Ramon deep dives into the types of email to consider for your business and how to get better at email marketing - www.CelebrityCEO.com/emial-newsletter-platforms - Subscribe to you YouTube channel here - Are you signed up to Ramon's YouTube channel? Don't miss out! - https://www.youtube.com/@zoneofgeniusyes?sub_confirmation=1