#176: Ryan Deiss—How to Scale Your Business and Sell It for Millions

Frustrated your marketing isn't working? Stuck wondering why customers aren't clicking "buy now"? Imagine turning that around in just five minutes. Get the help you need to clarify your message and grow your business with our free 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series. Get immediate access to the 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series at 5MinuteMarketingMakeover.com.   --   Does marketing yourself or your business on social media make you want to pull your hair out? We’ve all been there! Constantly coming up with original content can be both daunting and exhausting. It’s easy to run out of ideas and get burned out with the amount of content you have to crank out on a weekly basis. Even if you “batch” your content or use the help of AI, your content can start to feel stale very quickly. So what's the best way to keep fresh ideas flowing?   Continuing our Marketing Month series, guest hosts Dr. J.J. Peterson and April Sunshine Hawkins (of the Marketing Made Simple Podcast) talk with StoryBrand Certified Guide, Annie Schiffmann, about a game she created to help you revolutionize your social media content strategy. All you need is your StoryBrand BrandScript, some dice to roll, and a coin to flip. Within minutes, you’ll have multiple compelling posts that speak directly to your target audience, bringing more awareness to your brand and making your content feel fun and exciting again!   To access your free StoryBrand BrandScript, go to StoryBrand.com/sb7. To access the video of this conversation and gamify your BrandScript along with April and Annie, go to Storybrand.com/gamify.   Contact Annie Schiffmann directly at MarketingMadeSimple.com/Annie-Schiffmann.    --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE DON COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DON'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple  

Frustrated your marketing isn't working? Stuck wondering why customers aren't clicking "buy now"? Imagine turning that around in just five minutes. Get the help you need to clarify your message and grow your business with our free 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series. Get immediate access to the 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series at 5MinuteMarketingMakeover.com.   --   Often the difference between a team that does well and one that doesn’t is how clearly they communicate. For most businesses, it's not that they lack good ideas or hard workers, it’s that their scattered approach to messaging leaves employees confused and customers disengaged. Solving this problem starts with fixing how you talk about what your business does. So what’s the first step toward streamlining how your team communicates their core message?   As part of Business Made Simple’s Marketing Month series, guest hosts Dr. J.J. Peterson and April Sunshine Hawkins (of the Marketing Made Simple Podcast) focus on how to align a team with a simple and clear message. They share practical tips and a step-by-step process for crafting a powerful one-liner that can serve as a foundation for all marketing efforts. Your one-liner accomplishes 2 things: it clarifies your message for your staff and makes sure that customers immediately understand how you help them. Listen in and learn how to create a strong one-liner that everyone can use, helping your business make a bigger impact!   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE DON COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DON'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple    

Frustrated your marketing isn't working? Stuck wondering why customers aren't clicking "buy now"? Imagine turning that around in just five minutes. Get the help you need to clarify your message and grow your business with our free 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series. Get immediate access to the 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series at 5MinuteMarketingMakeover.com.   --   Once a customer gets curious about how you can solve their problem, they're hungry for more information. This is where your website comes in. A great website can deliver hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars for your business. The problem is too many brands are getting their websites wrong, which is why you need a website wireframe that works!    As part of Business Made Simple’s Marketing Month series, guest hosts Dr. J.J. Peterson and April Sunshine Hawkins (of the Marketing Made Simple Podcast) break down everything you need to create a business website that works. In this episode you’ll learn the 9 sections your website needs, the most effective layout for your website, and the 3 questions your website needs to answer in order to generate more revenue. April also talks with Holly Fisher, one of our amazing StoryBrand Certified Marketing Guides, who shares how overhauling her client’s cluttered and confusing website led to an instant increase in sales. Tune in and learn how to build a website that’s a sales-generating machine!   Contact StoryBrand Certified Guide Holly Fisher directly at ClarifyYourMessage.com/HollyFisher   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE DON COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DON'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple  

Frustrated your marketing isn't working? Stuck wondering why customers aren't clicking "buy now"? Imagine turning that around in just five minutes. Get the help you need to clarify your message and grow your business with our free 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series. Get immediate access to the 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series at 5MinuteMarketingMakeover.com.   --   Even if you have the best product in the marketplace, you will lose to your competition if they explain more clearly how their products solve your customer’s problems. Business owners often miss the mark when it comes to communicating their value clearly. This confusion leads to lost sales, disengaged customers, and the frustrating feeling of being overlooked. The truth is, your product isn't the problem—your message is. So how do you create a clear, compelling message that captures your customers’ attention and makes your brand the obvious choice?   It’s Marketing Month here at Business Made Simple, and we’re kicking it off with a deep dive into the most critical aspect of any campaign: your message. Guest hosts Dr. J.J. Peterson and April Sunshine Hawkins (of the Marketing Made Simple Podcast) are stepping in for Donald Miller this week to tackle this issue head-on. They’ll unpack the elements of a powerful marketing message using the StoryBrand Framework. J.J. and April break down the 7 key elements of narrative marketing, showing you how to make your customer the hero of their own story. Listen in for practical tips and simple steps to create a compelling message that helps you win in the marketplace!   Ready to clarify your brand’s message? Access your free BrandScript at StoryBrand.com/sb7.   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE DON COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DON'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple

Frustrated your marketing isn't working? Stuck wondering why customers aren't clicking "buy now"? Imagine turning that around in just five minutes. Get the help you need to clarify your message and grow your business with our free 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series. Get immediate access to the 5 Minute Marketing Makeover video series at 5MinuteMarketingMakeover.com.   Have you ever wondered how to scale and sell your business? Many entrepreneurs struggle with scaling their operations or knowing the right time to exit. Without a plan, moving from a small to a mid-sized business is tough. And the complexities of scaling and selling can feel overwhelming. That’s why a lot of business owners end up hitting a wall. So what’s the secret to growing your business and making a profitable exit?   In this week’s episode, host Donald Miller sits down with Ryan Deiss, CEO of Digital Marketer and author of Get Scalable. Ryan shares how he went from starting businesses to buying them, and gives practical tips on how to make your businesses more appealing to buyers. You’ll also gain insight on the importance of a solid operating system and the benefits of partnering with experienced investors. Listen in for invaluable acquisition strategies for business owners at any stage!   For your free copy of Get Scalable, go to GetScalable.com/Free.   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE DON COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DON'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple

Do you find it difficult to take your product ideas from the drawing board to the market? When it comes to new products, too many teams encounter obstacles like missed deadlines, inflated budgets, and a final product that doesn’t align with the original vision. These pitfalls can be frustrating and destroy would-be successful product launches and growth plans. So how can businesses streamline the product development process? What steps should you take to turn visionary concepts into tangible, market-ready products without losing clarity or momentum along the way?   In this week’s episode, guest hosts James Sweeting and Bobby Richards talk with Kyle Reid, Senior Vice President of Design and Development at StoryBrand and Business Made Simple. Kyle shares a simple 5-step process he has perfected over years of launching successful products. From the first meeting to the final launch, Kyle’s method helps keep projects on track, within budget, and true to the original idea. Tune in and learn how to apply these strategies to your own initiatives to elevate your approach to project management, teamwork, and execution!   Access the product brief template mentioned in this episode for FREE at SmallBusinessFlightPlan.com.    --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE DON COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DON'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple

Are you tired of superficial connections and quick fixes in a world that seems to prioritize them? Many of us crave deeper meaning and genuine interactions, but often find ourselves detached from our own stories and the profound impact they can have on shaping who we are and how we relate to others. Can reconnecting with your own story change how you see yourself and improve your relationships with others?   In this week’s episode, host Donald Miller is joined by Allison Fallon, author of Write Your Story: A Simple Framework to Understand Yourself, Your Story, and Your Purpose in the World. Fallon shares how writing and sharing your personal story can improve your emotional, mental, and even physical health. Her insights, drawn from her book and supported by research, show how personal stories can promote personal growth and build stronger relationships. Tune in and learn how to leverage the power of storytelling to redefine your life and deepen your connections.   For more on Allison and to buy her book, visit WriteYourStory.com.   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE DON COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DON'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple

Often, the hardest part of any sales process isn't starting—it's closing. Many businesses struggle to seal the deal, especially during high-stakes, competitive shopping periods like Memorial Day. You've made the offer, you've attracted the attention—now, how do you convert that interest into actual sales? The secret lies in effective closing techniques that resonate with your audience and inspire them to take action. As Memorial Day draws nearer, the pressure’s on to make sure that your holiday promotions don't just generate buzz, but bring in big profits. So what’s the best way to usher folks through the checkout line?   In this episode, we wrap up our 3-part series on crafting the perfect Memorial Day promotion. Returning to the podcast are producer Bobby Richards, Business Made Simple Certified Coach Jessica Miller, and StoryBrand Certified Guide Wes Gay. They are joined by special guest Dr. J.J. Peterson, Head of StoryBrand and host of the Marketing Made Simple Podcast. Together, they delve into the critical final phase of your Memorial Day offer: closing the sale. From creating a sense of urgency to offering extra value, you’ll learn top strategies for making sure your promotions not only draw attention but also drive sales. Tune in to make the most of your Memorial Day offers and convert those last-minute decisions into holiday revenue!   Clarify all your marketing and messaging talking points by creating your free Brandscript at Storybrand.com/sb7.   Contact Business Made Simple Certified Coach Jessica Miller directly at HireACoach.com/Jessica-Miller.   Contact StoryBrand Certified Guide Wes Gay directly at MarketingMadeSimple.com/wesgay.   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE DON COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DON'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple

The marketplace can feel hectic during big promotional holidays like Memorial Day. So if you want to make it a record-breaking sales opportunity for your small business, there’s only one solution. Create an offer that's simply irresistible. That means you’ve got to understand what resonates for your audience and come up with a value proposition they can't say no to. With the shopping frenzy upon us, how do you ensure your offer not only stands out but calls out to the customers, compelling them to act immediately?    This week, we’re diving into Part 2 of our 3-part series on creating stellar Memorial Day promotions. Podcast producer Bobby Richards, along with Business Made Simple Certified Coach Jessica Miller and StoryBrand Certified Guide Wes Gay, unpack the process of taking those initial offer strategies discussed in Part 1 and locking them in. You'll learn a simple 3-part framework for building and refining your promotion so that it commands attention and drives sales. They’ll also show you what to add to your promotions to make them irresistible and actionable. Listen in and learn how to craft a holiday offer that’s too good to pass up!   Contact Business Made Simple Certified Coach Jessica Miller directly at HireACoach.com/Jessica-Miller.   Contact StoryBrand Certified Guide Wes Gay directly at MarketingMadeSimple.com/wesgay.   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE DON COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DON'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple

We’re all well aware of the shopping frenzy on Black Friday, but we tend to forget that other holidays like Memorial Day can be just as profitable. Many businesses miss out because they don't realize how ready their customers are to spend money during these holidays. With Memorial Day approaching—a peak time for consumer activity—not having a strong offer can mean squandering a massive chance to boost sales. So what steps can you take to ensure you have an irresistible offer prepared when customers are primed with cash and ready to buy?   In today’s episode, host Donald Miller and podcast producer Bobby Richards are joined by Business Made Simple Certified Coach Jessica Miller and StoryBrand Certified Guide Wes Gay. Together, they dive into how you can craft what Jessica has coined a "Hell Yes" offer for this Memorial Day weekend. They’re dishing out the top strategies for businesses to seize this prime shopping period to drive sales and visibility. You’ll learn the mechanics of creating a compelling offer that converts and how to effectively communicate it to your audience. Listen in and get the tools you need to take advantage of high-traffic opportunities and maximize your profits during this holiday season!   Contact Business Made Simple Certified Coach Jessica Miller directly at HireACoach.com/Jessica-Miller.   Contact StoryBrand Certified Guide Wes Gay directly at MarketingMadeSimple.com/wesgay.   --   STUCK TRYING TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS? SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE DON COACH THROUGH IT ON THE SHOW: BusinessMadeSimple.com/Podcast    ORDER COACH BUILDER, DON'S NEW BOOK, AND TRANSFORM YOUR EXPERTISE INTO A LUCRATIVE CONSULTING CAREER: CoachBuilderBook.com/Podcast   IF YOU'RE SERIOUS ABOUT IMPLEMENTING A PLAN TO GROW YOUR BUSINESS AND REVENUE, FLIGHT SCHOOL IS FOR YOU! JOIN NOW: SmallBusinessFlightSchool.com.   FIND AND FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: Instagram.com/BusinessMadeSimple