How do you remain competitive while creating a sense of community and personal connection in a world increasingly driven by technology? This week, Mark is joined by Mari Smith, often referred to as "the Queen of Facebook." An expert in Facebook marketing, Mari is known for her ability to merge cutting-edge social media technologies with the human touch. She has helped SMBs, major brands, and direct sales organizations leverage Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger to dramatically increase their online presence and impact. In this episode, she shares her insights on creating meaningful, profitable online engagements that harmonize technology with genuine human interaction. Here are some of the topics Mark and Mari discuss in this episode: How to leverage Meta's evolving advertising capabilities for improved ad targeting and customer engagement The importance of relationship marketing Why authenticity is making a comeback How to leverage Meta's extensive data to optimize the user experience and improve conversion rates How to distinguish your brand in a market saturated with generic advertising messages Why Mari is such a huge proponent of doing a combination of organic and paid marketing Why you need to pay attention to your audience and monitor comments on both paid and organic marketing efforts The advantage to capitalizing on the use of stories and posting less on your feed Why you should be using lead generation ads on Facebook and Instagram  How establishing a community beyond social media platforms ensures lasting relationships with audiences Follow Mark: LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager Instagram:  https://hi.switchy.io/KcKi Want more free tools? Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe  

How much thought do you give to the content you post?  And after sharing, how invested are you in reading and responding to the comments?  Do you take the feedback to heart?  This week, Mark is joined by Amanda Natividad, VP of Marketing at audience research startup SparkToro, to pinpoint what your audience values most. At SparkToro, Amanda has launched a popular webinar series and an audience research newsletter with over 50,000 subscribers. No stranger to innovation and engagement in her field, she previously spearheaded marketing at Growth Machine and contributed to Fitbit’s B2B team.  In this episode, they explore how prioritizing content that resonates with your audience helps enhance your brand and foster community. Here are some of the topics Mark and Amanda discuss: Why community management and growth means rolling up your sleeves and doing the work Why often the best way to respond to other people’s posts is by posting your own take How genuine engagement and responsiveness foster community The importance of showing people that you're actually engaging and listening to their feedback Why your content has to be a good match for the platform you’re posting on Why you shouldn’t post for the sake of posting, but post when you have something to say Focus on business outcomes, not marketing metrics How to create content that grows your business in a meaningful way How creating your own IP allows your content to be more sustainable over time What Amanda values most in her work and career   Follow Mark: LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager Instagram:  https://hi.switchy.io/KcKi Want more free tools? Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe  

With such a massive influx of great talent on the market right now, employers in growing industries have found themselves in a unique position: securing top-tier talent that was once out of reach. So, if you have the budget and growth plans in place, perhaps one company’s loss can be your company’s gain.  This week, Mark discusses ways employers can attract and keep top sales talent with Billy Stein, an expert in sales leadership, and the Director of Sales, Central, at Soci, Inc. Renowned for his “detective capability” — a unique listening approach to deeply understand customer needs — Billy has a proven track record with tech giants like ServiceTitan, First Resonance and Seismic. Beyond his impactful sales strategies, Billy also shares his expertise as a co-host of the Sales RX Podcast, influencing the broader sales community with his insights. Mark and Billy discuss how leaders can use another company’s downsizing to their advantage and the various ways businesses can do a better job of creating an organization where top talent wants to work. Here are some of the topics Mark and Billy discuss in this episode: Why downsizing elsewhere means opportunity for your company How to make your company an attractive option for top-tier sales professionals Actionable strategies for not just attracting but retaining top sales talent Tips for keeping your sales team motivated The importance of fostering a positive and supportive environment for your sales team Qualities top sales professionals seek in an employer How employees priorities change at different stages of their career The critical role networking plays in navigating career transitions effectively Companies don't train people, people train people   Follow Mark: LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager Instagram:  https://hi.switchy.io/KcKi Want more free tools? Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe

You’ve finally landed a long-sought after meeting with C-suite executives. Now what? Time is of the essence, so forget the demo and focus on what’s important to them. This week, Mark is joined by Julie Thomas, the president and CEO of ValueSelling Associates. Julie is an expert in sales leadership and value selling strategies, specializing in helping organizations effectively engage and sell to high-level executives. They discuss some of the secrets to establishing credibility early with C-suite executives, and how aligning with their objectives rather than pushing your own agenda is key to forming successful business partnerships. Here are some of the topics Mark and Julie discuss in this episode: Why time is probably one of the scarcest resources for most executives Why trust is the foundation of any C-suite relationship The importance of referrals as a key to the executive suite How getting to talk to the top leaders is a mix of skill and who you know Why selling to the C-suite requires a shift from product features to strategic outcomes How to prepare for C-suite meetings  Why C-suite executives don't care about the solution Why how you sell is just as important as what you sell The importance of being authentic What you put out there is what you’re going to get back Follow Mark: LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager Instagram:  https://hi.switchy.io/KcKi Want more free tools? Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe

What’s the secret to getting -- and keeping -- more customers? How do you make them feel more valued? Appreciated? Heard? The answer is more straightforward than you might think. This week, Mark is joined by Robi Ganguly, an expert in guiding businesses towards more effective and ethical customer acquisition strategies. As GM of Alchemer Mobile, Robi understands the importance of developing deeper and more meaningful relationships with customers, and that fostering truly meaningful and deep connections takes time. Mark and Robi talk about the difficulty companies face in getting and keeping customers in a saturated digital market and why the way to make a difference isn't found in shortcuts or automation alone. Here are some of the topics Mark and Robi discuss in this episode: How genuine enthusiasm for solving customer problems not only enhances solution quality but also deepens customer engagement with your brand Why transparent communication about product capabilities and limitations builds trust and fosters long-term customer relationships How actively incorporating customer feedback into product development signals responsiveness and drives innovation How educating customers about your products and services empowers them to make informed decisions and strengthens their connection to your brand Why passionate advocacy for customer interests within your business promotes a customer-centric culture and leads to improved satisfaction and loyalty Why creating genuine connections is a skillset worth investing in How to develop your connection skills close to home so you’re ready for when your budget allows time to travel  How developing strong in-person connections is an opportunity to differentiate yourself The magic behind getting a small group of customers and prospects together in person Robi’s #1 tip for selling more Follow Mark: LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager Instagram:  https://hi.switchy.io/KcKi Want more free tools? Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe

What if you could effectively communicate in a way that truly engages and connects with your audience? You’d sell more, right? This week, Mark speaks with respected leader and Intrigue Agency CEO Sam Horn about the art of turning information overload into captivating and easily understandable ideas. They discuss how simplification, visualization, and relatability can become your greatest allies in connecting with your audience, elevating your communication skills and driving success in sales, marketing, and leadership ventures. Here are some of the topics Mark and Sam discuss in this episode: The importance of making verbiage visual Why traditional “elevator pitches” are a bore, a snore or a chore How asking the right questions can guide your audience to see the value of your offer  Strategies to overcome “infobesity” How to transform complex ideas into engaging concepts that resonate with your audience Why you need to include practical examples in your pitch How to engage your audience by relating your message to their experiences The effectiveness of props or visual aids in your pitches  Why you should pause and punch instead of rush and blush to capture and keep attention and keep attention The success behind content that offers vicarious value Why confused people don’t say yes!   Download Sam Horns' guide to connecting with your audience!  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1biTUd1m1v16l8pL_nMw2pXPas0_BXrvK8IODejSq740/edit?usp=sharing Follow Mark: LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager Instagram:  https://hi.switchy.io/KcKi Want more free tools? Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe

How do you effectively integrate creative thinking with a strategic business approach to make yourself or your brand stand out?    This week, Mark welcomes Ron Tite, a renowned expert in advertising and thought leadership, to discuss strategic creativity for dynamic branding. As the founder and Chief Creative Officer at Church+State, he helps brands navigate the unified worlds of advertising and content. Ron shares his insights on how blending creativity with strategic thinking can lead to innovation and success in today's competitive market. Here are some of the topics Mark and Ron discuss in this episode: How blending creativity with a strategic business approach can drive brand success Why a distinct, relatable message is crucial for capturing attention and building lasting trust How understanding and addressing specific client problems leads to more meaningful and successful business relationships Why adapting to economic changes and uncertainties is important for brands to ensure sales effectiveness The importance of diversifying sales strategies and adding value to existing offerings How top leaders are adapting their sales approach for today's challenging market Why companies need a brand operational strategy The sliding scale of trust between brands and individuals Breaking down the Think/Say/Do approach  Ron Tite’s #1 tip for selling more Follow Mark: LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager Instagram:  https://hi.switchy.io/KcKi Want more free tools? Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe

Learn from branding master Mark Levy as he reveals the power of irrationality in standing out, how major entrepreneurs operate outside the norm, the importance of being relevant and valuable to your audience, and why you need to get uncomfortable to differentiate yourself in the market.

If you’ve been searching for ways to forge deeper customer connections in a world inundated with electronic communication, be prepared to go old-school. Handwritten notes are back and may be the perfect way for you to stand out from the crowd and foster meaningful relationships with your customers. This week, Mark discusses the revival of personal connections in the digital age with David Wachs, founder and CEO of Handwrytten. A serial entrepreneur, David revolutionized our approach to personal communication. His scalable, robot-based solutions for handwritten notes offer a smart blend of technology and personal touch, reshaping how brands interact with consumers. Here are some of the topics Mark and David discuss in this episode: The profound impact of handwritten notes in a digital age where electronic communication dominates The significance of thoughtful gestures in building and deepening business relationships Real-life examples where handwritten notes have influenced business outcomes, including customer retention and even winning back lost clients How handwritten notes have been used across different industries, ranging from real estate to e-commerce When surveyed, consumers agreed that handwritten notes walk the line between not being annoying and being highly personal How expensive is it to implement handwritten notes as part of a business strategy Follow Mark: LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager Instagram:  https://hi.switchy.io/KcKi Want more free tools? Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe

What does it actually take to sell someone on a concept, or an idea? When you’re trying to make an impact — to motivate, influence, or sell — what does it take to be able to remove all risk and uncertainty and make a prospect say yes? This week on the podcast, Mark gets personal. Using a story about his 15-year-old son’s plea for privacy, Mark explores some sure-fire strategies for creating the “perfect” pitch, one that removes all of a prospect’s doubts and uncertainties so they have no choice but to move forward with you. Here are some of the topics Mark covers in this episode: The importance of structuring requests Why you should be clear about what is being asked and provide a rationale for why it's needed How to explain the benefits and the necessity of the request to the decision-maker Consider potential objections and address them proactively How to remove doubts and make it easier for the decision-maker to say yes The importance of organizing your thoughts in a structured format Why you need to tailor your pitch to the audience's concerns and interests Knowing how your request aligns with your prospect’s values or goals can significantly impact the outcome Why you need to ask more questions and encourage dialogue  What Mark’s son is ready to pitch next Follow Mark: LinkedIn: https://hi.switchy.io/markdrager Instagram:  https://hi.switchy.io/KcKi Want more free tools? Go to our podcast page at https://hi.switchy.io/KcKe