Real Business Connections

Create Content That Makes People Care w/ Simona Costantini (LST #145)

Learn Speak Teach Episode #145 with Simona Costantini.Making video content is not just about having the right equipment. Videos resonate most with your audience when they are crafted with strategy, authenticity, and a deep understanding of their needs.In this episode, we learn from Simona Costantini, Founder and CEO of VOLT Productions, podcast producer and strategist, and host of As It Relates to Podcasting and Happiness Happens.Simona shares insights into what it takes to be great on camera, how to ensure your videos & livestreams add value, and how to choose content topics that truly resonate with your audience. Additionally, she explains how to craft sound bites that make your message memorable and shareable.Beyond content creation, Simona explores the meaning of happiness and the importance of choosing yourself and prioritizing your own well-being. Let’s tap into some of her wisdom.During this episode, you will learn about:[00:00] Trailer [01:32] Being Great on Camera[05:38] Valuable Content[10:42] Content Topics[12:47] Podcast: https://www.voltproductions.co/podcast• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-tlry97spKc8_lJ-7g3hew[13:03] Sound bites[22:02] Happiness[31:36] Choosing yourself[41:27] Integration assignment[41:58] Connect with Simona• Website: https://www.voltproductions.co/• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volt.productions• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simona-costantini-25653a30/Key Takeaways:• When creating videos, podcasts, and livestreams, answer every question as if you are speaking in sound bites. ~Simona Costantini [06:37]• "Happiness happens when you are least expecting it." ~Simona Costantini [13:58]• “Podcasting is the most intimate relationship you will ever have with your audience.” ~Simona Costantini [14:28]• “Happiness is inner peace.” ~Simona Costantini [22:27]• “Happiness is a choice. ~Simona Costantini [22:38]Keep In Touch with Simona Costantini:Website: https://www.voltproductions.co/Website (Personal): https://www.simonacostantini.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volt.productionsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/simona-costantini-25653a30/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-tlry97spKc8_lJ-7g3hew—Follow Balbert…Facebook: www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnectionsInstagram: www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/Website: https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/–LST is made possible by www://balbertmarketing.com/

Ask Me Anything w/ Liz Wilcox at GrowGetters ONLY (GG #30)

Email marketing remains one of the most effective ways to engage your audience and drive meaningful results. By understanding the strategies, tools, and techniques behind successful emails, you can turn your email list into a powerful growth engine for your business.Today’s exclusive “Ask Me Anything” episode from the GrowGetters Only community features Liz Wilcox, famously known as the “Fresh Princess of Email.” Liz shares her journey to becoming the “Fresh Princess of Email” and the unique strategies that set her apart in the world of email marketing.Liz also discusses how to use video effectively in email marketing, the power of the PS (postscript), and how to craft emails that capture attention and keep readers engaged. Additionally, she shares practical tips for making every email you send truly valuable to your audience.Beyond writing great emails, Liz discusses open and click rates, boosting engagement, and building an email list that people actually read and respond to.During this episode, you will learn about:[00:00] Introduction[00:46] Community: weallgrowtogether.com[02:28] Fresh Princess of Email[04:01] Email Strategy[08:26] Video in Email Marketing[14:40] Artificial intelligence (AI)[16:12] The Power of the PS[21:02] Emails that get read[27:42] Value [37:15] Open & Click Rates[47:13] Email List[53:58] Connect with Liz Wilcox• Website: https://lizwilcox.com/• Email Marketing Membership: https://benalbertfylc315--lizwilcox.thrivecart.com/email-marketing-membership/ Key Takeaways: • Instead of storytelling in emails, share personal updates with your audience. ~Liz Wilcox [05:49]• Emails should never exceed 400 words. ~Liz Wilcox [21:03]• Email is the most effective way to make money through marketing. ~Liz Wilcox [21:55]• Email metrics are never entirely accurate due to technological glitches. ~Liz Wilcox [38:18]• The best way to boost your open and click rates is to ensure your welcome sequence engages people. ~Liz Wilcox [39:33]People Mentioned and Other Resources:1. Kit: https://kit.com/2. Website: https://lizwilcox.com/?affiliate=benalbertfylc3153. Email Marketing Membership: https://benalbertfylc315--lizwilcox.thrivecart.com/email-marketing-membership/4. The Power of the PS: https://lizwilcox.com/episode-38-the-power-of-the-ps/5. Boosting Open & Click Rates: https://lizwilcox.com/episode-34-boosting-open-and-click-rates/6. 7 Reasons You Hate Email and Why to Ignore It: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TE0mprUg2D07. 7 Complaints About Email: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3Nn4imuLxc&t=1s8. 7 Different Ways to Use AI in Email: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aIySNDCWpo9. AI Podcast Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jWlx8l_kVE&t=182s10. Funnels in 2025 and Beyond: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqqFUJz2MAM&t=26s11. Opens and Clicks Deep Dive: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHSvbjJb1U0&t=1026s12. Extra Email Training: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I6I4jhvYdMKeep In Touch with Liz Wilcox:Website: https://lizwilcox.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelizwilcox/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thelizwilcoxFacebook: https://facebook.com/groups/emailmarketingwithlizFacebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/emailmarketingwithliz—Follow Balbert…Facebook: www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnectionsInstagram: www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/Website: https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/–GrowGetters ONLY is made possible by www://balbertmarketing.com/

How to Make New Friends and Stand Out Online w/ Nick Gray (LST #144)

Learn Speak Teach Episode #144 with Nick Gray.Making new friends doesn’t have to be challenging. With the right approach, you can build meaningful personal relationships and grow valuable business connections with ease.Joining us today is Nick Gray, an entrepreneur and the author of the best-selling book The 2-Hour Cocktail Party: How to Build Big Relationships with Small Gatherings.In the episode, Nick shares practical tips on how to make new friends and expand your social circle. He also highlights trending tools that make connecting with others easier, whether for personal growth or business networking.Nick also dives into his viral blind date that gained 27 million impressions, offering an inside look at what made it so successful. Moreover, he discusses how to create a Personal Friend Newsletter that provides real value and fosters genuine connections.Finally, Nick discusses the importance of having a personal website and shares tips for creating one that stands out. He also provides guidance on how to tour a museum for the best possible experience.During this episode, you will learn about:[00:00] Trailer [01:17] Nick’s First Time On The Show https://realbusinessconnections.com/podcast/nickgray/[02:30] Making New Friends[03:40] The 2-Hour Cocktail Party: https://bit.ly/3Ix0OYk[06:05] Viral blind date[07:40] Friend Newsletter[20:33] Personal Website[24:01] PersonalWebsites.net[25:21] http://realbenalbert.com[29:18] PersonalWebsite.org[32:59] Museum Hack[48:01] Connect with Nick • Friend Newsletter: https://nickgray.net/signup-for-email-updates/• The 2-Hour Cocktail Party: https://party.pro/book/Key Takeaways: • When sending a friendship newsletter, focus on adding value first, such as offering personal recommendations. ~Nick Gray [10:56]• “Perfect is the enemy of good. ~Nick Gray [15:45]• Including a picture of yourself in your friend newsletter is helpful because it creates a personal and human connection. ~Nick Gray [19:52]• A personal website is one of the simplest ways to influence the first few results that appear on Google and ChatGPT. ~Nick Gray [20:56]People Mentioned and Other Resources:1. The 2-Hour Cocktail Party: https://bit.ly/3Ix0OYk2. Partiful: https://partiful.com/3. Luma: https://luma.com/4. Carrd: https://carrd.co/5. nownownow.comKeep In Touch with Nick Gray:Website: https://nickgray.net/Twitter: https://twitter.com/nickgraynewsLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickgraynews/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nickgraynews/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/newfriend?fref=tsYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/nickgray—Follow Balbert…Facebook: www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnectionsInstagram: www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/Website: https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/–LST is made possible by www://balbertmarketing.com/

How AI Changes Your Customers w/ Mark Schaefer (LST #143)

Learn Speak Teach Episode #143 with Mark Schaefer.AI is evolving every day, and it is getting incredibly close to producing human-like responses. As this happens, the big question becomes: will the most human companies still win?In this episode, Ben is joined by Mark Schaefer, author, marketing thought leader, and a fourth time guest on the podcast. Mark also has a new book titled How AI Changes Your Customers. Together, they dive into the intersection of AI and humanity in business and unpack a critical question for our times: does the most human company still win even as artificial intelligence becomes more sophisticated?Whether you want to stand out against the rising tide of AI or find new ways to blend technology with real human connection, this episode offers nuggets of wisdom to help your brand move to the next level. Grab a notebook and pen and tune in.During this episode, you will learn about:[00:00] Trailer[01:31] Human first companies[04:56] Tactical empathy[05:45] Strategic awkwardness[10:19] Creativity and art in businesses[17:15] AI in a decade[18:01] The Diaper Business blog[20:00] Offsite versus onsite marketing[23:08] AI as a decision marker vs overrides[26:46] Creating override in decision making[30:24] Transcendent content[35:39] Brand culture[39:05] AI relationships[45:03] Get Mark’s bookAmazon: https://www.amazon.com/How-Changes-Your-Customers-Marketing-ebook/dp/B0FQ67TBHF [47:19] Creative ways to use AIKey Takeaways: • "In the future, the most human company might be a blend of real people and AI."~Mark Schaefer [02:51]• "AI is not empathetic. It gives the illusion of empathy." ~Mark Schaefer [03:46]• "Behind these AI interactions is a business plan."~Mark Schaefer [05:01]• "The real human value comes down to vulnerability and shared experiences." ~Mark Schaefer [08:35]• What's missing in the business voice today is this human connection, friendliness, accessibility, and vulnerability. ~Dr. Philip Kotler [12:01]• "There's no such thing as a weakness.There's just an overdone strength." ~Mark Schaefer [40:16]• You've got to bring the thunder every time. In everything that you do, double down on the quality. It's really the only way to win in this noisy world.~Mark Schaefer [51:52]People Mentioned and Other Resources:1. Marketing Rebellion2. Belonging to the BrandKeep In Touch with Mark Schaefer:Website: https://businessesgrow.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markwschaefer/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MarkSchaefer —Follow Balbert…Facebook: www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnectionsInstagram: www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/Website: https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/ –LST is made possible by www://balbertmarketing.com/

This Corporate VP Quit to Build an 8-Figure Business w/ Eric Winegard (RBC #152)

Rochester Business Connections Episode #152 with Eric Winegard.Watch this episode on Youtube: https://youtu.be/lemHfNQRwbAIs it too late for you to transition from corporate to entrepreneurship? Eric Winegard believes it’s never too late. He walked away from corporate life as a top-producing Vice President and took a leap into entrepreneurship. Together with his wife, Eric has built Rare Blue Moon Marketing into an eight-figure business heading toward nine figures.In this episode, Eric Winegard joins Ben Albert on the show to share nuggets of wisdom on how we can create successful businesses no matter where we are. Eric advocates for starting marketing efforts by first understanding social media platforms and creating content that resonates with your audience. He also emphasizes the power of networking and shares how we can use AI to generate unlimited leads.Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Grab a notebook and pen, Eric has some powerful notes for you to take home.During this episode, you will learn about:[00:00] Trailer[01:22] Timing[02:22] The competitive Eric[04:37] The exit from corporate[08:21] Entrepreneurship mindset[10:23] Entrepreneurship takeaways[11:28] Services: addition vs subtraction[17:14] Limitless leads[24:02] Learn about Eric’s AIrunday.ai[24:35] Inception of Rare Blue Moon Marketing[32:50] Working with your partner[40:55] Business owner marketing[50:53] Support Eric WinegardInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericwinegardofficial/Website: https://rarebluemoon.io/eric-alexis-winegard/[52:27] Sales tipKey Takeaways: • People will tell you that the best producers don't always make the best managers, but a lot of times you can learn so much from them. ~Eric Winegard [03:46]• “There's a lot to learn in business. It's not just sales.” ~ Eric Winegard [09:51]• I think in a way AI is going to be a blessing because the birth rate is so low, the people to service these low-level jobs aren’t even going to be there. ~ Eric Winegard [15:23]• “No business relationship is built without trust, and trust is built through conversation.” ~Ben Albert [21:53]• “I can't stress enough how many people don't take this step because they're just insecure about what other people are going to say.” ~Eric Winegard [45:25]• “People do business with the best people.” ~ Eric Winegard [53:40]Keep In Touch with Eric Winegard:Website: https://rarebluemoon.io/eric-alexis-winegard/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-winegard-93892717/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ericwinegardofficial/ —Follow Balbert…Facebook: www.facebook.com/realbusinessconnectionsInstagram: www.instagram.com/realbenalbert/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/realbenalbert/Website: https://www.realbusinessconnections.com/ –RBC is made possible by www://balbertmarketing.com/