The Builders

In this episode, host Matt welcomes back Nicky Billou to explore the transformative power of podcast guesting as a business growth strategy. With over 650 podcast guest appearances, Nicky shares his journey from business challenges to generating substantial revenue by appearing on other podcasts. He explains the importance of aligning podcast appearances with your business goals, creating a strong profile, and establishing intentional connections with hosts. This episode is packed with actionable strategies for turning podcast airtime into tangible business results. Key Takeaways: The Business Power of Podcast Guesting: Nicky has generated over $400,000 in revenue by strategically guesting on podcasts, demonstrating the potential of podcast appearances to drive growth. Cost-Effective Guesting Through AI Platforms: Using platforms like PodMatch, entrepreneurs can find relevant guesting opportunities without expensive PR firms. These tools make podcast guesting accessible and manageable for small business owners. The Triple Threat Intention: Nicky highlights the "Triple Threat Intention" approach for successful guesting: adding real value for the audience, impressing the host, and building genuine business relationships that can lead to future collaboration. Success Across Different Backgrounds: Nicky’s clients, from introverted accountants to non-native English speakers, have successfully leveraged podcast guesting to gain leads, sales, and credibility, showcasing its accessibility and effectiveness for a range of personalities. The Hidden Value of Building Relationships with Hosts: Guesting isn’t just about visibility; it’s about cultivating strong relationships with hosts, which can lead to referrals, joint ventures, and long-term business connections.

In this episode of The Builders, Brad Buccieri, co-director of Sensemaker, explores the art of creating a truly unique business identity by aligning deeply with purpose and personal narrative. Known as a "Sense Maker," Brad sheds light on how founders can dissolve competition by crafting brands that resonate emotionally and stand alone in the marketplace. Through powerful stories, like helping an artisan jeweler transform into a "memory catcher," Brad illustrates how connecting personal purpose to business strategy fosters customer loyalty and sustainable growth. This conversation covers practical steps for aligning your journey, values, and purpose with your business identity, making your brand one-of-a-kind. Key Takeaways: Purpose-Driven Uniqueness: Infuse your personal story into your business to create an uncopyable brand identity. Authenticity attracts a dedicated audience and turns your business into more than just a transaction. Crafting Strategic Messaging: Develop a clear and resonant message that illustrates the transformation you offer clients. Brad explains how storytelling and purpose-centered content can engage customers deeply. Creating Your Own Niche: Rather than searching for a market, focus on your purpose, and let your niche find you. A well-defined purpose naturally attracts the right clients, allowing you to stand out without direct competition. Scalable Business Structure: Integrate your founder identity into the business model, then create systems and processes as "scaffolding" to ensure the business maintains its uniqueness even as it grows. Overcoming Self-Doubt and Staying Resilient: Brad shares his journey, including his marathon metaphor, underscoring the importance of perseverance and challenging self-limiting beliefs. Mover vs. Taker Mindset: Approach business with a focus on helping others, which naturally fuels growth. Brad’s “Mover” philosophy is about lifting clients to a new space rather than just selling a product or service.

In this episode of The Builders, financial expert Gary Brode dives into the economic challenges that are squeezing businesses and individuals alike, with a spotlight on the real threat of inflation. He traces the roots of today's financial environment back to key historical events, including the creation of the Federal Reserve and the U.S. decision to abandon the gold standard. Hosted by Matt, the conversation not only outlines the hurdles small businesses face in an inflation-driven economy but also offers a pragmatic and hopeful roadmap for securing financial resilience. Gary shares expert insights on the flaws in modern monetary policy, the relentless devaluation of currency, and actionable strategies for protecting your business from the fallout. With a focus on key indicators such as inflation rates and federal spending, he explains why investing in hard assets like gold and Bitcoin is crucial for safeguarding wealth. Throughout the episode, Gary provides practical steps for business owners and individuals alike to navigate economic instability and ensure their financial future. Key Takeaways: The Federal Reserve and the move away from the gold standard have created lasting impacts on the U.S. economy. Today’s inflation is primarily driven by excessive money printing and government spending. Hard assets like gold and Bitcoin offer a hedge against inflation and currency devaluation, critical for business owners. Simple strategies like reducing spending and building personal and business security are essential steps. Despite challenging conditions, proactive measures can help secure both personal and business finances.

In this episode, Matt Levenhagen shares his personal story of overcoming email chaos in his agency. This solo episode of The Builders takes listeners through Matt’s transition from managing multiple inboxes, struggling with scattered communications, and searching for a more efficient system to finally discovering Front. The episode highlights the difficulties he faced with previous tools like Zendesk and Help Scout and how his decision to adopt Front has transformed his agency’s email management. Listeners will hear about Matt’s journey from frustration to success, as he reveals the real-world challenges of juggling emails across multiple clients and partners. He explores how Front's features like inbox zero, tagging, and seamless integration with tools like ClickUp helped streamline communications and improve productivity. Matt’s story illustrates how the right email management tool can prepare an agency for growth, ensuring better organization and response times. Key Takeaways: The Struggle with Multiple Inboxes: Matt shares his early struggles managing various inboxes and tools, explaining how this chaos affected his efficiency. Exploring Solutions: Learn about the pros and cons of tools like Zendesk and Help Scout, and why they ultimately fell short. Discovering Front: Matt’s transition to using Front and how it revolutionized his workflow, particularly in handling tasks, linking email threads, and improving collaboration. Inbox Zero in Practice: Hear about the impact of achieving inbox zero, reducing clutter, and increasing focus within the agency. Scaling for the Future: The episode also explores how Front prepares Matt’s agency for growth, ensuring the system can handle more team members and incoming emails as the business scales.

In this episode, Matt sits down with father-daughter duo Steve and Suzy Kirch to explore how AI can transform small businesses. Drawing from Steve’s extensive experience in business coaching and Suzy’s technical expertise in AI, they break down the practical ways artificial intelligence can revolutionize business operations, especially for knowledge workers. The conversation highlights why businesses must adopt AI to stay competitive, emphasizing the rapid rise in AI tools and their diverse applications. Suzy shares her journey from mathematics to AI expert, focusing on making AI accessible for non-technical users. Throughout the discussion, they address common misconceptions about AI, such as the fear of job displacement. Instead of replacing jobs, AI is portrayed as a tool to enhance efficiency, automate mundane tasks, and free up time for strategic thinking. The duo also explains generative AI, custom GPTs, and AI agents, offering concrete examples of how businesses can use these technologies for tasks like content creation, brainstorming, and workflow automation. The episode wraps up with actionable tips for getting started with AI and insights into Steve and Suzy’s comprehensive AI training program, designed to help businesses and employees maximize AI's potential.Key Takeaways: AI is becoming essential for modern businesses, especially for knowledge workers. Companies that don’t embrace it risk falling behind. Generative AI can streamline tasks, making work faster, easier, and more efficient, allowing businesses to focus on strategic goals. Providing clear context in AI prompts greatly improves the accuracy and relevance of AI-generated outputs. AI offers fresh perspectives on problem-solving, generating novel ideas and approaches that humans might not consider. Comprehensive AI training can significantly boost productivity for both individual employees and entire organizations. Free Masterclass Offer: Steve and Suzy Kersh are offering a free 1-year access to their AI Transformation Masterclass exclusively for The Builders listeners. This training will help you implement AI in your business, guiding you through practical steps to boost efficiency and productivity. You can access the Masterclass via the special link below: Special Masterclass Link for The Builders Listeners:https://simpleacademy.ai/6825/the-builders-podcast Additionally, they offer their AI Transformation Method™ Black Belt training for businesses looking to further empower their team and scale AI integration: AI Transformation Method™ Black Belt Training:https://simpleacademy.ai/6825/levenhagen

In this episode of "The Builders," Matt sits down with Nancy Zare, the "Sales Whisperer," for an insightful discussion on the power of softer selling through understanding buyer personalities. Nancy, a psychologist turned sales expert, shares her journey and reveals why the Platinum Rule—Treat others the way they want to be treated—is the cornerstone of her Likeability System. Built on 35 years of research, this system transforms traditional sales tactics into authentic, buyer-centered conversations that foster trust and genuine connections. Nancy introduces her framework for classifying buyers into four distinct styles—Buyers 2, 4, 6, and 8—each with its own decision-making process and communication preferences. By matching your sales approach to the buyer’s personality, you not only build rapport but also minimize sales resistance. Throughout the conversation, Nancy provides actionable insights on quickly identifying these buyer types, emphasizing the importance of listening, adapting, and being present in every interaction. She also discusses how the shift to digital communication has changed the sales landscape and how her system helps navigate these changes effectively. Key Takeaways: Understand Buyer Personalities: Learn to recognize buyer types (2, 4, 6, and 8) to tailor your sales approach to their needs. The Platinum Rule: Prioritize the buyer’s preferences—treat others the way they want to be treated—and avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Confidence is Key: A confident demeanor in your product, company, and self plays a critical role in successful sales conversations. Listening Skills: The best salespeople listen more than they talk, responding to the unique criteria and desires of each buyer. Adapt and Connect: Flexibility in your approach fosters deeper connections, leading to reduced sales resistance and better outcomes.

Welcome to another enlightening episode of The Builders podcast! In this episode, host Matt engages with Bob Taylor, founder of Copybean, to delve into the nuances of copywriting versus content writing, and how businesses can optimize their websites for conversions. Bob shares his insights on creating copy that not only draws in potential customers but also guides them towards taking specific actions, such as joining an email list or making a purchase. Throughout the episode, Bob and Matt discuss the critical differences between content writers and copywriters, emphasizing the strategic approach copywriters take to meet clients where they are and lead them through a journey. Bob illustrates the importance of understanding the customer’s mindset and building a bridge from their current thoughts to the desired solution using SEO-optimized keywords and effective call-to-actions. They also touch on the significance of design elements like color and placement in conversion rates, and the impactful role of understanding buyer awareness stages in crafting persuasive copy. Key Takeaways: Difference Between Content Writing and Copywriting: Content writing is more about informing and educating, while copywriting focuses on persuasion and driving specific actions. Understanding Customer Psychology: Knowing where the customer is in their journey is crucial for effective copywriting. This involves addressing their current thoughts and seamlessly leading them to your solution. Effective Call-to-Action (CTA): Utilizing strategic CTAs throughout a website, and ensuring these are highlighted with distinct design choices, can significantly boost conversion rates. Sales Page Optimization: Crafting a sales page involves careful consideration of the buyer’s awareness level and ensuring the content corresponds to their current needs and understanding. Strategic Utilization of Color and Placement: The use of specific colors and the strategic placement of buttons and CTAs play a vital role in drawing attention and guiding user behavior on your site.

In this engaging episode of "The Builders," host Matt Levenhagen welcomes back AJ Saunders for a rich discussion diving deep into the nuances of SEO, content optimization, and strategic marketing. Their conversation is not just a theoretical overview but is filled with practical advice drawn from real-world experiences and case studies that make SEO a tangible and actionable practice for businesses. AJ starts by emphasizing the common misconception that SEO is solely about traffic; instead, he asserts, it’s about conversions. This foundational idea sets the stage for discussing how different business models require tailored SEO strategies. Whether running an e-commerce site or selling high-ticket items like automated recycling plants, the content must drive targeted traffic that leads to conversions. They also delve into the importance of creating content that answers specific user questions, thereby addressing both keyword optimization and user intent. Matt and AJ cover critical aspects of optimizing web pages, from the strategic placement of keywords in titles and meta descriptions to the significance of interlinking and external links. They discuss the art of balancing keyword density and the role of user experience in SEO. AJ introduces the concept of thinking in phrases rather than single keywords to better align with how people use search engines. Additionally, they touch upon the importance of having a structured internal linking strategy to signal to search engines which pages are the most valuable, thereby bolstering site authority. The episode concludes with insights into leveraging content and email marketing for user engagement and retention. AJ and Matt agree that understanding the end purpose of content—whether it’s to book a demo, sell a product, or collect email sign-ups—is crucial. With these actionable insights, anyone from novice marketers to seasoned professionals can glean something valuable to apply to their business strategies. Key Takeaways: SEO is About Conversions: Effective SEO strategies focus not just on driving traffic but on attracting quality traffic that leads to conversions. Content Optimization: Utilize keyword phrases and questions users are likely to search for to enhance relevance and improve search engine rankings. Technical SEO Elements: Optimize meta titles, descriptions, and implement structured interlinking to improve page authority and user experience. Resourceful Use of Content: Create content that not only educates but also integrates well into your sales funnel to move prospects through the buying process. Continual Adaptation: SEO is not a one-time activity. It requires continuous refinement and adaptation to stay aligned with evolving search engine algorithms and use

In this solo episode of The Builders podcast, Matt shares the real-life story of a weekend website meltdown that turned into a lesson-packed experience. Two of his websites went down due to unexpected memory issues on the server, forcing him to dive headfirst into troubleshooting mode. Throughout the episode, Matt walks you through the steps he took to identify the problem, solve it, and most importantly, the lessons learned from the process. He offers practical solutions for small business owners and agencies on how to prevent these issues, with a focus on the importance of reliable hosting, effective memory management, and the value of having solid processes in place. Whether you’re juggling multiple projects or trying to keep your website running smoothly, this episode provides real solutions and actionable insights from the trenches.Key Takeaways: Reliable Hosting Matters: Why choosing a dependable hosting provider like Liquid Web can be a game-changer for solving issues quickly. Mastering Memory Management: How managing your server’s memory effectively can keep your site running smoothly and prevent downtime. The Right Backup Strategy: Regular backups are essential—but keeping them organized and under control is just as important to avoid server overload. A Plan for Troubleshooting: Developing and following a standard operating procedure (SOP) can make diagnosing and fixing web problems easier. Learning from Experience: With the right processes and lessons from past challenges, you can tackle website issues like a pro.

In this insightful episode of "The Builders," host Matt invites Roger Einstoss , co-founder and CEO of Braintly, to discuss the nuances of the nearshore software development industry. With years of entrepreneurial experience, Roger shares his journey from a software developer to a successful business owner, highlighting the advantages of hiring software talent from Latin America. Roger elaborates on the distinct benefits of nearshore versus offshore hiring, such as reduced time zone differences and better cultural alignment. He explains how Braintly bridges the talent gap for U.S. companies by providing dedicated software development teams that are both cost-effective and highly skilled. The conversation delves into specific client scenarios, including staff augmentation and building complete squads to handle projects for clients. Additionally, Roger sheds light on how events like Argentina's economic crises have contributed to a resilient and creative workforce in Latin America. Key Takeaways: Nearshore Advantages: Hiring from Latin America offers time zone compatibility and cultural alignment compared to offshore options like India or the Philippines. Cost Efficiency: Companies can save 50-60% on hiring costs by choosing talent from Latin America. High-Quality Talent: Despite lower costs, the talent pool is skilled and often more innovative, driven by a history of economic challenges. AI Integration: Utilizing AI in the recruitment and development process significantly enhances productivity and quality of work. Client-Centric Approach: Braintly focuses on providing tailored teams that integrate seamlessly with clients' existing structures, offering both technical expertise and project management.