Episode 1206: Become the Most Trusted Voice in Your Market with Marcus Sheridan

If your pipeline feels stuck, this playbook shows how honest answers and self-service tools can unlock demand fast.   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Marcus Sheridan, World-Renowned Communication expert, Author, and Keynote speaker, famed for turning a struggling pool company into a category leader through radical transparency. Marcus shares the “Big Five” topics buyers obsess over, why publishing pricing and comparisons builds trust, and how AI-driven, zero-click search makes being the definitive answer more important than SEO alone. He breaks down practical self-service tactics (like pricing estimators), free tools for topic ideation and AI readiness, and the communication habits that help small teams outperform giants.   Key Takeaways: → They Ask, You Answer 2.0: Obsess over buyer questions and address them openly in text and video → The Big Five: Cost, problems, comparisons, reviews, and “best” content reliably drives traffic, trust, and sales → Publish Pricing (Smartly): Teach ranges and cost drivers—humans, search engines, and AI reward clarity → Be the Answer in AI: As zero-click search grows, optimize to be cited by AI systems, not just ranked by Google → Self-Service Wins: Interactive tools (e.g., pricing estimators) give control to buyers and lift conversions   As a world-renowned communication expert, author, and keynote speaker, Marcus Sheridan helps brands, sales teams, and leaders build deeper human connections and establish more trust with their audiences. With over 13 years of experience in the speaking industry and 23 years as an entrepreneur, Marcus has honed his craft as a master communicator, helping individuals and organizations transform the way they connect, engage, and influence. His expertise has been tactfully applied across a diverse range of subjects including Sales, Leadership, Marketing, AI, personal development, and trust.   Connect With Marcus Sheridan: Website: https://marcussheridan.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcussheridanspeaks/ X: https://x.com/thesaleslion LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcussheridan/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Behind every highlight reel is a messy maze of contacts, gatekeepers, and missed opportunities—until someone maps it. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Ryan Rottman, actor-turned-founder who conceived an “IMDb for athletes,” and Sean O’Brien, CEO and former CMO who scaled Modloft from ~$25M to nearly $100M and helped Kevin Costner’s Autio build engineering in-house. Backed by marquee investors (including super-agent Scott Boras) and a recent CNBC debut, AthleteAgent.com centralizes accurate, validated contacts for athletes and agents across growing pro leagues. Ryan and Sean share how they’re boosting deal flow for the 99% of athletes, tightening product focus, and building trust in an industry famous for being fragmented and insular.   Key Takeaways: → How a dinner with Aaron Rodgers sparked the idea for an “IMDb for athletes” → Why athlete representation and endorsement deals are so fragmented—and how they’re solving it → The surprising industries subscribing to AthleteAgent (from Coca-Cola to financial advisors) → How AthleteAgent is bringing transparency, trust, and deal flow to athletes and agents → Why sports representation and endorsements are so fragmented—and how a centralized “pro LinkedIn” changes the game   Ryan Rottman is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of AthleteAgent.com, a groundbreaking sports tech platform. In his role, Ryan oversees business operations, strategic partnerships, and platform development, helping expand the site’s reach across professional leagues and enhance its database of verified athlete and team contacts. Before stepping into the tech and sports business world, Ryan built a successful career in entertainment, starring in films such as Billionaire Boys Club, The Open Road, and a variety of Hallmark originals, as well as television series like 90210(CW), The Middle (ABC), and The Lying Game (ABC Family). His background in production and storytelling has been instrumental in shaping AthleteAgent.com’s user experience and brand identity. Ryan combines business acumen with creative vision, bringing a unique edge to the intersection of sports, media, and tech. Sean O'Brien is a seasoned entrepreneur and executive with a track record of scaling successful ventures across multiple industries. In his early 20s, Sean co-founded a patented eCommerce company that achieved $10M in sales and was acquired after being featured as a “Product of the Year” on The View. He went on to launch The DivotCard, a Groupon-like platform for golf, which earned recognition in Inc.. By the age of 30, both startups had exits. Sean later served as CMO/CTO at Modloft, a luxury D2C furniture brand, helping scale it to nearly $100M in revenue and earning accolades from Forbes, CNN, and Architectural Digest. He also played a key role at Autio, a startup backed by Kevin Costner and other investors, which turned down a $1M offer on Shark Tank. Currently, Sean is the CEO of AthleteAgent.com and Swingzy, while also being a part-time venture capitalist at NGVP and Hustle Fund. He has studied at prestigious institutions such as Wharton, Stanford, and UC Berkeley.   Connect With Ryan Rottman and Sean O'Brien: Website: https://www.athleteagent.com/ Instagram: https://www.athleteagent.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn how smart legal strategies can protect your brand and power your startup’s growth before costly mistakes happen.   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Jeff Holman, Founder and CEO of Intellectual Strategies, who shares insights on how startups and scaling businesses can protect their intellectual property and build strong brands. He discusses common mistakes companies make when it comes to trademarks and branding, and offers practical advice to avoid legal disputes that can cost thousands or more. Jeff also opens up about the unique approach his firm takes to work hand-in-hand with innovative companies, helping them navigate legal challenges while fueling their growth.   Key Takeaways: → The critical importance of valuing and protecting your brand early → Common pitfalls startups face with trademarks and intellectual property → How poor legal planning can lead to expensive rebranding battles → Strategies for choosing strong, protectable brand and product names → The passion behind helping innovators bring new ideas to market   Jeff Holman, founder and CEO of Intellectual Strategies, is changing the way startups and scaling businesses access legal support. As the creator of the first Fractional Legal Team at Intellectual Strategies, he’s made it possible for companies to tap into expert legal advice at key points in their growth—without needing a full-time, in-house team. This innovative approach means businesses get exactly the help they need, when they need it, and without the hefty overhead, helping them navigate everything from early-stage challenges to high-stakes scaling decisions.   Connect With Jeff Holman: Website: https://www.intellectualstrategies.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intellectualstrategies/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holman/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gold doesn't need to sit in a vault — now it can be spent just like regular money! In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Jeremy Cordon, Founder and CEO of Goldback Inc. He discusses an innovative solution for using gold as everyday currency. Jeremy explains how Goldback makes physical gold accessible, spendable, and practical for modern transactions, providing an inflation-proof way to protect and trade wealth. Learn how this unique product has quickly grown and what the future holds for Goldback in the world of finance. Key Takeaways: → Why people wanted to be able to use gold for everyday transactions. → How Goldback operates, and its value compared to the spot price of gold. → How Goldback addresses the problem of inflation and offers a practical alternative to traditional money. → Why small businesses are adopting Goldback for payments. → How financial advisors can use Goldback to provide clients with a tangible, inflation-resistant investment.   Jeremy Cordon, Founder and CEO of Goldback Inc., is passionate about precious metals and sound money. During an internship at the Libertas Institute, he connected with Larry Hilton, which led to a role at the United Precious Metals Association (UPMA). There, he helped grow membership from 400 to 25,000. Jeremy later focused his efforts on creating Goldbacks—a physical gold currency designed to preserve wealth and strengthen local economies. Under his leadership, Goldbacks have expanded to multiple state series, empowering individuals and communities with a practical tool for financial stability.     Connect With Jeremy:   Website Instagram TikTok X Facebook LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Marketing attribution in the digital age is harder than ever, but with the right approach, it can be turned from chaos to clarity. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Jeff Greenfield, founder of Provalytics, who shares his journey from media buying to developing a cutting-edge attribution platform that helps businesses solve the challenges posed by data chaos. With the privacy-centric shift in the industry, Jeff discusses how AI and machine learning are being leveraged to offer marketers a powerful tool to measure and optimize their marketing efforts. Tune in to learn how businesses can adapt to the future of attribution, and why building a single source of truth in data is essential for success. Key Takeaways: → The problem of multi-partner attribution and its impact on marketing budgets. → The transition from traditional, broad-based marketing to granular digital marketing. → How privacy concerns and cookie-less tracking have shifted the marketing landscape. → The role of Marketing Mix Modeling in today’s digital marketing world. → The rise of probabilistic models in place of user-level tracking. Jeff Greenfield is the Co-Founder and CEO of Provalytics, where he is revolutionizing marketing attribution with privacy-centric, cookie-less solutions tailored to a rapidly evolving digital landscape. With over three decades of expertise in strategy, growth, and marketing innovation, Jeff has a proven track record of building transformative companies and delivering measurable results. At C3 Metrics, which he co-founded, Jeff developed industry-first technologies like the cookie-less identifier. These innovations helped clients such as JP Morgan and Nestlé achieve marketing ROI improvements exceeding 25%. Jeff’s journey began with his studies in biochemistry at the University of Maryland, where he developed a data-driven approach that has shaped his career. His diverse expertise spans strategic leadership, technology innovation, and creativity, drawing from experiences that include aviation, magic, and healthcare. Today, Jeff leads Provalytics with a commitment to empowering marketers to make smarter, faster decisions that drive measurable impact, helping businesses thrive in a privacy-first world. Connect With Jeff Greenfield: Website https://provalytics.com/ X https://x.com/JeffGreenfield LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffgreenfield/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you struggling to make sense of your marketing data? GA4 could be the cause, but it doesn’t have to be this difficult. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Joshua Lauer, Founder of Lauer Creations Inc., who shares his journey from musician to data guru and explains how he helps businesses simplify their data for more effective marketing. With a focus on fixing common GA4 headaches, Joshua reveals the steps every business should take to ensure their data is driving the right insights. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or just starting, this episode is packed with actionable tips for overcoming the complexities of Google Analytics and making your data work for you. Key Takeaways: → What is GA4, and why is it so different from its predecessor, Universal Analytics? → Common mistakes businesses make when setting up Google Analytics. → How to identify the real goal of your website and ensure your data aligns with it. → The key reports that every business should automate for better decision-making. → The step-by-step process for fixing GA4 setup issues and ensuring accurate reporting. Joshua Lauer is a seasoned marketing intelligence professional and the founder of Lauer Creations Inc., where he’s helped over 100 businesses turn marketing confusion into data-driven clarity. With over 12 years of experience, he specializes in GA4 troubleshooting, digital analytics, and building strategic data warehouses for $20M+ revenue companies. In just two years, he’s generated over $500K in consulting revenue by helping brands shift from scattered reporting to actionable insights. Joshua is known for making complex data simple—translating technical noise into powerful growth strategies. Connect With Joshua Lauer: LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauerjoshua/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you ready to break free from business frustration and unlock sustainable growth?. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Lisa Levy, Founder & CEO of Lcubed, who shares her journey from a dream job to creating a revolutionary consulting model that prioritizes results over profits. With over 16 years of experience, she reveals how she guides businesses through adaptive transformation by fostering self-reliant leadership teams and embracing uncertainty. Tune in to discover practical strategies for implementing the innovation engine and improving your organization's performance and culture. Key Takeaways: → Learn how a moment of frustration sparked a major entrepreneurial shift.. → Discover the key values that drive effective leadership in any organization. → Hear about the difference between traditional change frameworks and Lisa’s unique approach.. → How can businesses move beyond siloed thinking to create cross-functional collaboration? → Explore the concept of an "innovation engine" for driving continuous improvement. Lisa L. Levy, the Founder & CEO of Lcubed is a trusted advisor who helps organizations and leaders to adapt and thrive. Lcubed Consulting works with a collaborative group of alliance partners to bring the appropriate experience and subject matter experts to each engagement.The Lcubed Consulting model is a unique consulting approach to providing strategic clarity and team enablement by implementing the Adaptive Transformation Framework™. The framework will allow your organization to achieve agility, productivity and growth. Connect With Lisa Levy: Website: https://lisallevy.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lcubed.consulting/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisallevy/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to make your book a bestseller? Discover how to navigate the changing publishing landscape and land your book on the coveted Success Bestseller List. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Michael Drew, CEO and Founder of Promote a Book, who discusses the evolving world of book marketing. He explains how the end of the Wall Street Journal’s bestseller list opened the door for new opportunities, and how he’s helped authors succeed through the newly launched Success Bestseller List. With 131 consecutive books placed on top lists, Michael’s insights are a must for any aspiring author or publisher. Key Takeaways: → The transition from Wall Street Journal’s list to Success Magazine’s list → Why brick-and-mortar bookstores still dominate book sales → How to get your book onto the Success Bestseller List → The role of sales volume and reporting channels in bestseller rankings → New monetization opportunities for authors with Success Magazine Michael has mastered the intricacies of publishing and continually adapts his methods and processes to match today's rapidly evolving industry and media landscape. Beyond merely helping their books sell well, Michael R. Drew also works with aspiring authors, giving them guidance and support in writing books worthy of bestseller status. He also works with authors on an essential component of their continuing success: building a platform that will expand their audience. He has helped authors become even more effective business women and men who nourish today's idea-hungry marketplace. Connect With Michael Drew: Website  https://bookretreat.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/guatemalabookretreat X https://x.com/WriterGetaway Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want to 10x your impact and build a championship life and career? Discover how Corey Dissin transformed his journey and now helps others unlock their true potential.   In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Corey Dissin, owner of The Corey Dissin Companies, LLC and author of Going the Distance: 10 Rounds to a Championship Life and Career, who shares his unconventional journey from broadcast production to becoming a high-performance coach. With decades of experience and a background in boxing and mixed martial arts, Corey combines his love for personal development and business strategy to guide solopreneurs and small business owners toward success. In this episode, he discusses how consistency, systems, and a relentless mindset are key to achieving extraordinary results.     Key Takeaways: → Why consistency and routine are overlooked marketing muscles → The importance of building a personal brand and marketing yourself → The mindset shift required to go from solopreneur to business owner → The importance of quality time and balancing work with life → How boxing and mixed martial arts shaped Corey’s business mindset   Corey Dissin is a high-performance coach and the owner of The Corey Dissin Companies, LLC. With over 27 years of experience, he helps entrepreneurs 10x their lives and careers through practical, no-BS marketing strategies and mental toughness. Corey has worked with professionals across various industries, including automotive, financial planning, and digital media. As the author of Going the Diss-Tance, he specializes in branding, time management, and personalized business strategies that drive growth. Corey’s tough love approach makes him a trusted advisor for entrepreneurs worldwide.   Connect With Corey Dissin: Website https://coreydissin.com/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/thecoreydissin/ X https://x.com/bigdaddydissin Facebook https://www.facebook.com/GoGetItWithCoreyDissin/ LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/coreydissin/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s the secret to peak cognitive performance? How optimizing your mind and brain can dramatically improve both your personal health and professional success. In this episode of Sharkpreneur, Seth Greene interviews Dr. Ryan Williamson, Board-Certified Neurologist & Owner and Founder of Transcend Health, who shares his insights on brain optimization, longevity, and how entrepreneurs and leaders can maximize their cognitive potential. After years of working in healthcare and a deep passion for helping others, Dr. Williamson has built a business helping individuals achieve their best mental and physical performance. In this episode, he discusses the key pillars of health and brain function, the importance of purpose in life, and the role of sleep in high-level performance. His new book, The Incredible Brain, offers even more in-depth knowledge to help you perform at your best. Key Takeaways: → The difference between lifespan and health span → How brain optimization impacts entrepreneurial success → The power of purpose in enhancing cognitive resilience → Why quality sleep is key to better performance → Understanding the habits that lead to high-functioning leadership. Dr. Ryan Williamson is a board-certified neurologist, U.S. Navy veteran, and advocate for human longevity.  As the owner and founder of Transcend Health, he uses his expertise to help individuals optimize their health, extend their lifespans, and create more meaningful legacies.Ryan is deeply interested in improving the lives of others. Throughout his career, this has largely been accomplished through the practice of clinical medicine—but now, he is looking to affect change on a larger level, so more people can feel better and perform at their best. Today, Ryan accomplishes his vision by educating people on evidence-based principles and proactive methods to improve brain health and expand longevity.Connect With Dr. Ryan Williamson: Website Instagram LinkedIn Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices