Win Clients by Leading, Not Following

Blair Enns is a globally recognized thought leader in creative agency sales and the founder of Win Without Pitching, a revolutionary approach that empowers agencies to lead client engagements without giving away free work. He is the author of bestselling books including Pricing Creativity and his latest, The Four Conversations. In this episode, Blair breaks down his powerful new framework for selling expertise—moving from pitching and price haggling to confidently leading sales conversations. Listeners will learn how to increase closing ratios, price based on value, and shift from being seen as a vendor to a trusted advisor. Today we discussed: 00:00 Opening 00:53 The Cost of Letting the Client Run the Show 04:36 What are the Four Conversations? 06:58 Show Your Expertise without Giving it Away 08:34 Avoid Evaluating the Client 10:08 Power Dynamics of the Sale 12:56 The Value Conversation 16:18 Working Around Client Budget 18:20 Price the Client, Not the Service 19:53 Moving From Vendor to Trusted Advisor Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts

Jon Mest is the founder of JustReachOut.io, a cutting-edge PR software platform, and ChatRank.ai, a breakthrough tool for AI-driven SEO. With over a decade of experience helping entrepreneurs and businesses land powerful media coverage, Jon shares his insights on how AI is transforming PR and search strategies. In this episode, he reveals how to build authentic media pitches, win attention in AI-powered search overviews, and why hyper-specific storytelling is the new secret to visibility. Tune in to learn how to future-proof your SEO and PR efforts in the evolving world of digital marketing. Today we discussed: 00:00 Opening 00:45 How Has AI Changed the Way You Should Approach PR 02:31 Why PR is Rebounding 04:56 Relationship Between PR and the New SEO 06:55 How to Impact AIO 11:11 What Mistakes Do People Make when Pitching Media 14:32 How Important are Compelling Hooks 16:04 The Importance of Social Proof 17:40 Amplifying Your Current Press Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts

As a small business owner, you're constantly wearing different hats, from CEO to salesperson to project manager – but what's the secret to juggling it all without burning out? In this insightful episode, John explores the seven critical roles every entrepreneur needs to master, offering actionable advice for delegating, automating, and optimizing your business operations. His practical strategies will help marketing consultants, agency owners, and small business leaders shift from being trapped in day-to-day tasks to focusing on meaningful growth, ultimately creating a business that serves you rather than consuming you. Today we discussed: [00:00] Opening [00:26] Juggling Multiple Roles [04:38] The CEO Role [05:37] The Sales Person Role [07:09] The Strategist Role [08:46] The Project Manager Role [09:49] The Marketing Role [12:59] The Client Manager Role [13:56] The 4-Prong Approach Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: ⁠https://dtm.world/freeprompts

In this solo episode, John unpacks why traditional SEO is no longer enough and how businesses must shift toward search visibility in the age of AI. He explores the impact of zero click searches, E-E-A-T, and AI overviews, and shares actionable strategies to stay visible across Google and beyond.

David Hunter is the CEO of Local Falcon, an AI-powered local SEO platform, and founder of Epic Web Studios, a leading digital marketing agency with over 15 years of industry experience. In this episode, he joins John Jantsch to explore how AI overviews and conversational search are revolutionizing local SEO and reshaping Google’s search behavior. From proximity ranking shifts to the power of structured content and authoritative sources, David shares cutting-edge insights that every local business and marketer needs to hear. Tune in to learn how to future-proof your local search strategy in the age of AI. Today we discussed: 00:09 Introducing David Hunter 00:42 How has AIO Affected Local SEO? 04:10 How is Proximity Affecting Local SEO? 08:02 Ranking Factors in Geographical Search 12:05 Structuring Content for AIO Search 15:10 Giving Your Website the Best Chance of Success 16:58 Unique Challenges for Multiple Location Businesses Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts

With over two decades of experience helping small businesses thrive, John dives solo into this episode to explore how AI is revolutionizing the buyer's journey. He breaks down the stages of his signature “Marketing Hourglass” framework and shares how businesses must adapt their strategies in an AI-driven world. Tune in to learn how to future-proof your marketing by aligning with evolving customer behavior, embracing self-service tools, and doubling down on authenticity and trust. Today we discussed: 00:00 Introducing Christine Perkett 00:09 The evolved buyer journey 02:29 Reintroducing the Marketing Hourglass as a flexible customer journey mode 03:43 How AI interrupts and reshapes journey stages like know, like, and trust 04:55 Recommendation engines and the rise of self-service experiences 06:12 The need to rethink SEO: focus on questions, not keywords 06:50 Combining digital efficiency with emotional, human-centered marketing 08:33 The journey is already changing—are you adapting? Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts

Christine Perkett is a seasoned entrepreneur, communications strategist, and co-founder of The Nova Method—a pioneering PR and marketing firm focused on audience-first strategy and brand trust in the age of AI. She is also the founder of Perkett PR and a faculty member at Northeastern University, where she teaches graduate-level social media and branding. In this episode, Christine shares how brands can stay authentic and human while leveraging technology, and introduces the Nova Method’s signature framework: Assimilate, Align, Activate. Listeners will gain insight into building trust, avoiding PR missteps, and navigating the fast-changing landscape of digital communication with confidence. Today we discussed: 00:00 Introducing Christine Perkett 00:49 How the Nova Method was Created 02:12 How is AI Changing PR? 03:24 How AI and PR Helps you Build Trust 06:51 The Three-A's Framework 10:38 Protecting your Brand From Bad Exposure 14:57 How Does PR Intersect with Modern Search 16:52 Understanding a Clients Brand 20:38 Gauging When to Use AI Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts

Derek Coburn is a seasoned financial advisor, entrepreneur, and bestselling author of Networking Is Not Working. He is the co-founder of Cadre, an exclusive community for CEOs and entrepreneurs, and a respected voice on redefining success and fulfillment. In this episode, Derek dives into the ideas behind his new book Let’s Retire Retirement, challenging the outdated notion of traditional retirement and offering a fresh, liberating approach to living well now and later. Listeners will gain valuable insights on how to align financial planning with purpose, connection, and long-term joy—without waiting for “someday.” Today we discussed: 00:00 Introducing Derek Coburn 00:45 The true history of retirement: Bismarck, FDR, and outdated milestones 03:24 Why 25–30% of retirees are going back to work 04:50 The concept of redefining retirement for personal fulfillment 07:37 Entrepreneurs and the myth of I’ll do it after I exit 08:49 Real-world case study: Jay Baer's pivot from agency to tequila influencer 10:13 Financial math: how working longer cuts required savings dramatically 12:07 The 401(k) rethink: taxes, Roth conversions, and planning smarter 13:38 Parenting, presence, and valuing your $50,000 moments 14:58 The mindset shift needed to fully embrace this new paradigm More About Derek Coburn: Pre-order Let's Retire Retirement and access exclusive bonuses: https://DerekCoburn.com Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts

Geoff Woods is the #1 international bestselling author of The AI-Driven Leader: Harnessing AI to Make Faster Decisions and the founder of AI Leadership and the AI Driven Leadership Collective. As a former Chief Growth Officer of a global company, Geoff brings real-world expertise in using AI to transform how leaders think and make decisions. In this episode, he reveals how AI can serve as a powerful thought partner—enhancing strategic focus, overcoming operational overwhelm, and unlocking breakthrough solutions using his CRIT framework. Tune in to learn how the most effective leaders are leveraging AI to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving business landscape. Today we discussed: 00:00 Opening 00:48 Introducing Geoff Woods 01:19 How AI Enhances Leaders Strategic Thinking 03:17 AI as a Thought Partner 04:46 How AI Can Help with Operation Tasks 06:16 Focusing on the 20% 07:52 The C.R.I.T. Framework 13:11 Addressing the AI Culture Shift 16:22 How is AI Changing Decision Making 17:45 What's AI's Role in Leadership 19:28 How to Start Integrating AI Into Your Leadership Practices More About Geoff Woods: The AI-Driven Leader by Geoff Woods on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/AI-Driven-Leader-Harnessing-Smarter-Decisions/dp/B0DB8QL3ZK?utm_source=chatgpt.com Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts

Mike and Kass Lazerow are seasoned entrepreneurs and investors, best known for co-founding Golf.com and Buddy Media—acquired by Salesforce for $745 million. They've backed nearly 100 early-stage startups, contributing to over $10 billion in realized gains. In this episode, they dive into the raw, often messy reality of entrepreneurship, sharing hard-earned lessons from their journey and their latest book. Listeners will gain powerful insights on thriving in uncertainty, embracing the grind, and building successful businesses and lives through focus, transparency, and relentless drive. Today we discussed: 00:00 Introducing Mike and Kass Lazerow 00:50 The Title of the Book 01:44 How to Make Working with Your Spouse... Work 03:39 The Imbalanced Life 05:58 Everyone is Born an Entrepreneur 07:54 Favorite Cheat Codes 09:47 Embracing Uncertainty 12:06 Lessons in Failure 15:05 When to Pivot 18:05 Leaving a Legacy More About Mike & Kass Lazerow: Check out Mike & Kass Lazerow's Website: https://kassandmike.com/ Shoveling $h!t by Mike & Kass Lazerow on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Shoveling-Story-About-Entrepreneurs-Success/dp/B0DY21NS7W Rate, Review, & Follow If you liked this episode, please rate and review the show. Let us know what you loved most about the episode. Struggling with strategy? Unlock your free AI-powered prompts now and start building a winning strategy today! 👉 Get Your Free Prompts: https://dtm.world/freeprompts