This episode originally aired on KDNL-ABC30 in St. Louis, Missouri as part of the Fall season of The Rise To The Top. You can catch new episodes every Sunday at 9:30 AM CST before “This Week”, with replays at 1 AM CST every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday after “Jimmy Kimmel Live”. In This Episode 1. I have a rapidly expanding practice that is very niche-focused and growth is becoming quite a challenge. When what you sell is not a computer program or a can of beer, but instead is your time, what is the best way to grow and scale up your operations? – Question submitted by Martin Kamenski, President, Rock Star CPA. Panelists:   JoAnna Dettmann, Co-Founder, tSunela       Ryan Mortland, Founder, MB Consulting Group       Interview with Jeff Michelman, Principal, Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal P.C.     2. Learning about sales incentives. Briefly, explain what is sales incentives? If you wanted to get started with a sales incentive program, what are maybe three tips?   Interview with Michelle Pokorny, Solution VP – Sales Incentives, Maritz     3. Two massively successful restaurants. You have cloned yourself. This is a problem many entrepreneurs have. So let us know the secrets.   Interview with Brad Beracha, Founder, Beracha Concepts     4. Becoming a better storyteller. All marketing and media is really stories. What would be one tip for entrepreneurs? Panelists:   Interview with Jamie Allman, Show Host, Allman In The Morning on FM NewsTalk 97.1… Read More

This episode originally aired on ABC (KDNL-ABC30). You can catch the new season every Sunday at 9:30 AM CST (before “This Week”), with replays Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday after “Jimmy Kimmel Live”, and of course here on The Rise To The Top. In This Episode Discussions on… 1. How do you find the right partners for your biz? – Question submitted by Michael Daehn, Founder of Marketing Genius. Panelists:   Bruce Gibbs, President, GFI Digital       JoAnna Dettmann, Co-Founder, tSunela       Kevin Gagnepain, Marketing Coordinator, APC Direct     2. The LLC is commonly known as the best way to setup a company. Why would someone do something else? What is the absolute WORST legal mistake entrepreneurs can make?   Interview with Jeff Michelman, Principal, Paule, Camazine & Blumenthal P.C.     3. How do you spice up your content?   Interview with Jamie Allman, Show Host, Allman In The Morning on FM NewsTalk 97.1     4. Big vs. Small: What are the keys to selling to big companies vs. small companies? Panelists: Ben Scully, President of Business Development, Abstrakt Marketing   Scott Scully, President of Agency Division, Abstrakt Marketing       Michelle Pokorny, Solution VP – Sales Incentives, Maritz     5. Customer Service: What are two ways to keep customers coming back? Panelists:   Johnny Londoff, President, Johnny Londoff Chevrolet       Brad Beracha, Founder, Beracha Concepts       Ryan Mortland, Founder, MB Consulting Group     6. Does every… Read More

Word Of Mouth Marketing To say word of mouth marketing is powerful would be an understatement. Especially in the era of the social web. Good news travels fast. Bad news travels faster (yikes). One of the best ways to spark referrals, buzz and generate excitement around your business is to offer what Johnny Londoff calls a “Wow customer experience” at Johnny Londoff Chevrolet. Londoff, even after the big car crash (pun intended?) has consistently been one of the top Chevrolet dealerships in the country. And the reason for that? Pure and simple: Customer service and innovation. Johnny understands the world is changing and I think that is powerful lesson for every business owner and entrepreneur. But that being said, word of mouth marketing is nothing new. The amplification of word of mouth is huge (thank you social media for your blazing speed). (On that note, a random shout out. A friend of RISE Terrie Rowles just opened a new firm by the same name: “Wow Customer Experience Group” which is a consulting/training agency to help businesses with creating a wow experience. Terrie was a veteran with HP and has now branched out on her own.) Because happy customers talk. They come back. They do the marketing work for you. They tell their friends. The Internet And Social Media Has Changed Word Of Mouth Marketing Now one person can tell more people than ever before. And faster. Instantaneous. Johnny is just getting started on Facebook and Twitter and already forming great… Read More