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In this episode we get practical about what ROI in marketing really looks like when you’re running social media marketing, ads, email campaigns, and search. I walk through the hard truth nobody can control: you can drive clicks, build a funnel, and set up a CRM with workflows, but you cannot physically make someone buy, book, or fill out a form. That gap between attention and action is where most “guarantees” fall apart, especially when customers need repeated touchpoints across platforms before they trust you.

You’ll also hear the simple math I want you to do before you spend 5,000 to 6,000 dollars on any marketing agency or program. Can your pricing support the promised return? How many clients or sales would it take, and is that realistic in your timeframe? If you want a smarter way to judge offers and measure what’s working, listen now, then subscribe, share this with a business friend, and leave a review with the biggest marketing promise you’ve ever been pitched.

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One bad email can wreck your whole day, your mood, and your next sales call, unless you learn how to pause. Guest host Jason Fakouri sits down with Shelby McFarland, “The Marketing Broker,” for a candid conversation about confidence, boundaries, and the mindset shifts that quietly drive better marketing results.

Shelby shares how her “boss persona” started as pure survival, being the youngest person in the room and learning to carry herself like she belonged. Then motherhood, postpartum depression, and the chaos of COVID forced a deeper reset. We talk about how personal seasons shape business seasons, why “balance” is a myth, and how sustainable small business marketing starts with knowing what you can actually execute consistently.

We also dig into real numbers and real lessons: slow sales, losing clients, building an offboarding process to learn why people leave, and why cutting marketing budgets during uncertainty can backfire. Shelby explains how she went from more clients to fewer clients while doubling monthly revenue by tightening service, increasing pricing, and focusing her energy where it matters. Along the way, we swap practical tools like daily affirmations, the stoic pause for tough messages, and content repurposing strategies that turn one video podcast into blog posts and social media clips.

If you’re rebuilding your confidence, refining your brand, or trying to market through a hard season, this one will hit home. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs it, and leave a review so more entrepreneurs can find the show.

Purchase "Market Like A Boss" at shelbysmarketingbook.com

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Referrals feel like magic when they show up and like frustration when they don’t, so we get practical about what actually creates them. Shelby McFarland sits down with Hannah McDonald, a professional business developer in the insurance world, to talk through the real work behind relationship marketing: coffees, lunches, drop-ins, follow-ups, and the consistency it takes to become the name people trust. Hannah shares her path from radio sales to promotional products to remote corporate sales leadership, and how burnout pushed her back toward people-first growth.

We break down the business development ROI question every business owner asks: “How do I justify paying for relationships?” Hannah lays out a clear accountability system that starts with measurable activity goals (meetings and follow-ups), then graduates to referrals, then closed business once the pipeline has time to mature. We also get blunt about a common mistake: hiring one person to do both business development and social media marketing. Content creation is a full-time job, and mixing roles usually hurts both outcomes.

Then we zoom out to growth and purpose. Hannah talks about expanding into Northwest Arkansas without a traditional staffed office, what she looks for when hiring someone far from headquarters, and how a repeatable timeline can guide expectations. She also introduces her strategic mindset coaching, a personalized program focused on mindset, goals, and real accountability for professionals and business owners who feel stuck.

If you want better referrals, clearer KPIs, and a smarter way to hire for growth, hit subscribe, share this with a business friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What’s the one metric you wish you could track to prove your marketing is working?

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