In 100% of the agency business development engagements I work on, this is almost always one of the first statements I make. And you may think that’s a harsh thing to tell an agency, but according to this year’s 2026 Agency Core Report, the agency owner probably already knows it. In this year’s report, 50% …
52% of referrals never call. Want to know if you’re the reason? Learn how to check your Google Referral Index Score.
...TL;DR: This article explains how to make impactful presentations by applying proven principles from cognitive science and brain research. It’s written for anyone who uses PowerPoint or slide-based presentations at work and shows how to reduce cognitive overload, align visuals with how the brain processes information, and design slides that actually improve learning, retention, and understanding …
Recently, after delivering one of my Perfect Pitch™ webinars, an attendee asked me: “How do we build credibility DURING the discovery call?” Great question! Truthfully, I told him, if you’re waiting till the Discovery Call to create credibility, you may be too late. Before the prospect ever agreed to a meeting with you, they Googled you, and …
Learn how to win your next agency pitch using science-backed techniques that build trust, inspire belief, and get prospects to say YES.
...Discover the FACE framework to enhance your LinkedIn connection acceptance rates. Learn how strategic engagement outperforms cold outreach.
...When you sit across the table from a prospective client, you aren’t selling services; you’re selling belief. The modern pitch isn’t a laundry list of deliverables or a gallery of Instagram-worthy portfolio pieces. It’s an invitation to envision a future where conversation drives conversion, where proof validates possibility, and where emotion cements commitment. In my …
Learn how to craft pitch decks that build trust, avoid confusion, and master the art of overcoming buyer skepticism in pitches.
...Master effective prospect follow‑up: the psychology behind failed outreach, overcome barriers, and use proven strategies to win more clients.
...Here’s the truth that too few agencies want to hear: if your agency business development strategy is focused on selling strategy, media, digital, creative, or PR services, you’re replaceable. Harsh? Maybe. But real. In today’s market, clients negotiate on execution. But they hire the agency they believe is most likely to deliver the outcome they …
How AI thinks human content can be more effective than AI-created content.
...Selling creative ideas in today’s marketing world can feel like navigating a minefield. Clients are more cautious than ever, prioritizing data and performance over bold, imaginative campaigns. As someone who’s been in the agency game for over 30 years, I’ve seen the tides turn. But don’t worry—there are effective ways to pitch those innovative concepts …
If creating new customers is your goal, here’s why you should choose Social Agents over influencer marketing every time.
...Most people believe buyers choose sellers based on knowing, liking, and trusting someone. But that’s only part of the story. In reality, people do business with those they know, like, trust, and find credible. Credibility is the often-overlooked linchpin in sales success. Especially in today’s digital-first world, where your digital persona forms the first impression, …
Unlock the psychology behind effective freelancer pricing strategies. Learn about the anchoring effect, loss aversion, and perceived value to set rates that attract loyal clients.
...Contract negotiation – the very idea can send chills down the spine of even the most hardened professional. Images of high-stakes poker games and back-alley deal-making can fill the mind. But, as the renowned negotiation expert, Christopher Voss would say, a successful contract negotiation strategy is more akin to navigating a labyrinth than engaging in …
Today’s post is the final installment of our three-part series — LinkedIn Sales Prospecting for Introverts. If you missed the first post, Building Connections That Matter, or the second post, How To Leverage Content Marketing Strategies On LinkedIn To Attract Qualified Prospects, feel free to read those before continuing on to today’s post, Introvert-Friendly LinkedIn …
In business development pitches, the right messaging combined with an effectively designed PowerPoint deck can make all the difference in closing a deal. But with so much competition and noise in the market, it can be challenging to differentiate yourself from the competition and connect with your best prospects. However, a recent Corporate Vision …
Competitive differentiation is crucial to delivering compelling sales pitches that close quickly and generate higher margins. When sales prospects view you, your organization, and your product or service as something extraordinary—and not just a commodity — you can avoid price concessions as your primary tool to win more business. Suppose you’re lucky enough to …
Wait a minute… Is flipping your customer the BiRD the missing link between branding and profit? Sounds crazy right?
But believe it or not, there’s a lot of money and profit in that middle finger.
...Every one of us—every person, company, organization and sales team—is surrounded by hidden forces that make it harder to convince others to adopt the new ideas or beliefs necessary to close more sales. So when your sales numbers aren’t meeting expectations, when you’re struggling to gain traction and achieve your sales goals, what do you …
I recently discovered some incredibly interesting social media advertising research produced by Travis Chambers and his firm. They analyzed $80,000,000 in social ad spend covering 30,000 different creative assets to try and figure out what kind of ad types are most effective on social media. And frankly, what they discovered will probably surprise you and …
That last little “R” is HUGE — read this post to understand the difference between Influence and InfluenceR marketing.
...In a world of marketing automation, artificial intelligence (AI), and mass personalization, human beings are craving connection. But you can’t mass produce connection.
But the good news is… it doesn’t have to for you to succeed in sales. Read On….
...Last week Skift posted an article, Business of Loyalty: What the Travel Industry Could Learn From Amazon Prime, suggesting travel brands could learn a lot from Amazon’s famous Prime Service. Nothing could be further from the truth… here’s why. Amazon Prime Isn’t a Loyalty Program According to Webster’s Dictionary, loyalty is an act of “faith” …
What if I told you I could create a 161% change in consumer perception by simply changing the background of a headshot photo? Would you believe me? Would you believe that something so small could cause such a massive improvement in your consumer marketing programs? And not just any perception, a meaningful one — the …
Back in 1950, psychologists Leon Festinger, Stanley Schachter, and Kurt Back launched a study to investigate how friendships developed among students at the new Westgate Complex at MIT. They found that the strongest friendships developed between students who lived next to each other on the same floor. Where friendships developed between students who lived on …
Recently the super smart Jeff Rohrs of ExactTarget/Salesforce wrote a great post about the lack of CTA’s (Call to Action) in Super Bowl ads. You can read it here. In it, Jeff makes the argument that Super Bowl advertisers that fail to place a mobile friendly CTA in their ads are guilty of “marketing malpractice” …
The reason your sales prospects love all the free, helpful content marketing you create is because they end up using it against you. Self-educating buyers are using Google Searches and your (and your competitors’) digital content marketing efforts to do their homework. And they think they know what they need to know in order to …
