What if that launch that didn't quite hit your goals wasn't actually a failure, but a gold mine of data waiting to be uncovered?

In this episode of the Crush the Rush Podcast, Holly sits down with Danielle Klemm, conversion strategist and funnel expert, to unpack why so many entrepreneurs are growing their email lists without actually growing their sales.

With nine years of experience in digital marketing and seven years focused on funnels, Danielle helps course creators and digital product sellers identify what's happening between someone downloading a freebie and becoming a paying customer.

Together, Holly and Danielle dive into the psychology behind high-converting lead magnets, why more information doesn't necessarily create more sales, and how to use the data already inside a business to make smarter marketing decisions.

Danielle shares why an underperforming launch can actually be one of the most valuable learning opportunities in business, how to create different customer journeys for low-ticket versus high-ticket offers, and why understanding buyer behavior matters more than obsessing over vanity metrics.

They also explore how AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT can support funnel optimization, why strategy needs to come before automation, and how to recognize when it's time to stop tweaking and start testing.

For entrepreneurs who have ever wondered why their freebie attracts subscribers but not buyers, this conversation offers a practical, refreshing perspective on creating marketing systems that actually convert — without rebuilding everything from scratch.

00:01:30 — Building a life-first business during a low-capacity season
00:03:00 — Creating flexible, no-call strategy offers that support business growth
00:04:30 — How to use launch data to test messaging, bonuses, and sales strategies
00:06:00 — Making real-time funnel improvements to increase conversions
00:07:30 — Why most lead magnets grow email lists but fail to generate sales
00:09:00 — How offer pricing and buyer psychology shape a high-converting freebie
00:10:30 — The three lead magnet paths and why high-ticket offers need more trust
00:13:30 — How to identify where your funnel is losing potential buyers
00:15:00 — Which funnel metrics to review before changing your marketing strategy
00:18:00 — How to tell if your lead magnet is overwhelming your audience
00:19:30 — What makes a lead magnet effective in today's digital marketplace
00:22:30 — Using AI for funnel execution without outsourcing your strategy
00:25:30 — Knowing when your funnel is good enough to launch and test
00:28:30 — Why click-through rates and customer behavior matter more than vanity metrics

CONNECT WITH DANIELLE:
Website: https://danielleklemm.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/danielleklemmm
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@danielleklemmm
Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/per-my-last-promo/id1348918295
Freebie to Buyer Free Quiz: https://learn.danielleklemm.com/quiz

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:

🤝 2027 Collective Co-Op - www.hollymariehaynes.com/coop

🌎 Website → hollymariehaynes.com

📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes

🗨️ Chat with Holly → hollymariehaynes

Have a book idea sitting in a Google Doc or maybe just living in the back of your mind for months (or years)? Before writing chapter one, there’s a bigger question to answer: Is it the right book for the business?

In this episode of Crush the Rush, Holly sits down with book and publishing coach Holly Ostrout to unpack why successful business books require more than great writing. Holly shares the strategy behind creating a book that readers actually finish, remember, recommend and ultimately use as a pathway into an entrepreneur’s business.

Drawing from her experience revitalizing an established publishing brand and bringing hundreds of books back into print, Holly explains why she believes most entrepreneurs shouldn’t start by simply brain-dumping everything they know. Instead, she introduces her approach to creating a clear book promise, using emotional anchors to make ideas memorable, and choosing a “strategy stack” that connects a book to larger business goals.

They also dive into how a strategically written book can generate leads, build trust, create speaking opportunities, establish thought leadership, and continue working for a business for years without requiring a massive audience or blockbuster launch.

00:00:00 — Why most business books fail before a single word is written
00:01:30 — Meet book and publishing coach Holly Ostrout
00:03:00 — Building a life-first business and setting stronger boundaries
00:04:30 — Holly’s publishing background and revitalizing a struggling book brand
00:07:30 — Why the “brain dump everything you know” writing strategy falls short
00:09:00 — Emotional anchors, storytelling, and Holly’s Heroine’s Journey approach
00:10:30 — Five ways a strategically written book can grow a business
00:12:00 — The #1 step most aspiring authors skip: creating the book promise
00:13:30 — How to choose the right book idea when there are too many options
00:15:00 — What happens during Holly’s “Magic Morning” book strategy sessions
00:16:30 — How a book can turn readers into leads and paying clients
00:19:30 — Can a business book succeed with a small audience?
00:21:00 — Why long-term sales can matter more than a bestseller launch
00:22:30 — Writing in seasons and creating a life-first creative schedule
00:25:30 — The writing advice Holly disagrees with—and what to do instead
00:27:00 — The simple first step for anyone who wants to finally write a book

CONNECT WITH HOLLY OSTROUT:

Website: hollyostrout.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollyostrout/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hollyostrout
Free quiz to find your best strategy stack: hollyostrout.com/quiz
Free guide, What's Working in Books in 2026: hollyostrout.kit.com/whatsworking

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:

🤝 2027 Collective Co-Op - www.hollymariehaynes.com/coop

🎯 Access to the Backstage Pass 2027: www.hollymariehaynes.com/backstagepass

🌎 Website → hollymariehaynes.com

📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes

🗨️ Chat with Holly → hollymariehaynes

Kimberly Roy knows that getting booked on podcasts isn’t about sending more pitches—it’s about sending the right pitches.

In this episode of Crush the Rush, Holly sits down with Kimberly Roy, founder of Pitch with Kim, to break down the strategy behind podcast pitching that actually creates business growth. Kimberly shares her three-part framework of angle, fit, and proof, why she prioritizes quality over quantity, and why entrepreneurs may want to stop chasing the biggest podcasts they can find.

Kimberly also explains why a great podcast pitch shouldn’t start with a bio, how personal stories can become a powerful visibility advantage, and why researching the host and audience matters before ever hitting send.

The conversation goes beyond simply getting booked. Kimberly shares how entrepreneurs can approach podcast guesting as a relationship-building strategy, follow up without feeling pushy, and use visibility to create aligned opportunities, referrals, leads, partnerships, and clients.

00:00:00 — Meet Kimberly Roy and the podcast pitching strategy behind her 30%+ booking rate
00:01:30 — Building a life-first business through “time leadership”
00:04:45 — How loss, grief, and finding her voice led Kimberly from banking to podcasting
00:07:30 — Why sharing your story is one of the most powerful ways to stand out
00:10:30 — Moving past vulnerability and getting comfortable with visibility
00:11:30 — Why Kimberly doesn’t recommend relying on podcast pitch templates
00:12:45 — The three-part podcast pitching framework: angle, fit, and proof
00:15:00 — Why audience alignment matters more than podcast size
00:17:30 — How to research podcasts before sending a pitch
00:21:45 — Podcast research tools, Listen Notes, and using AI strategically
00:25:30 — Kimberly’s #1 rule: a podcast pitch isn’t really about the person pitching
00:27:00 — Why collaboration and promotion can help a pitch stand out
00:28:00 — Quality vs. quantity and the problem with chasing bigger audiences
00:30:00 — How many times to follow up after sending a podcast pitch
00:33:00 — Using breathwork to manage the vulnerability of putting yourself out there
00:34:45 — How to connect with Kimberly and learn more about her visibility audits

Connect with Kimberly:

Website: https://pitchwithkim.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pitchwithkim/

Visibility Audit - Book your free call here: https://pitchwithkim.myflodesk.com/visibility-audit

Book your free call here: https://pitchwithkim.myflodesk.com/visibility-audit

🔗 LINKS MENTIONED:

🤝 2027 Collective Co-Op - www.hollymariehaynes.com/coop

🎯 Access to the Backstage Pass 2027: www.hollymariehaynes.com/backstagepass

🌎 Website → hollymariehaynes.com

📲 Instagram → @thehollymariehaynes

🗨️ Chat with Holly → hollymariehaynes