Send us Fan Mail

$48,000 in 14 days sounds like a book sales fairy tale, until you hear the real numbers: Shelby has sold about $710 worth of books. The twist is the point. She writes “Market Like a Boss” to make money through her business, using the book as a lead magnet, a credibility shortcut, and a trust-building sales asset that walks into every room with her.

We talk through the mindset shift that changes everything for entrepreneurs, consultants, and service providers: the book is not the product, it is the marketing tool for your brand. Shelby breaks down how authorship helps her stand out in a crowded digital marketing space, open speaking opportunities, and turn 10 chapters into 10 ready-made workshop topics. She also shares what surprised her most after publishing: faster sales conversions, stronger pricing confidence, more inbound leads, and prospects who trust her before the first meeting.

Then we get tactical. Shelby outlines her launch and visibility strategy: recruiting 40 local “book influencers,” leaning on video for authentic storytelling, landing TV and radio interviews through PR relationships, and using podcast interviews for reach and SEO backlinks. Finally, she explains where the $48,000 actually comes from, including increased service pricing, new retainer contracts, website projects, branding shoots, and paid trainings, plus the lesson she repeats for every new author: do not disappear after launch day.

If you’re writing a business book, building a personal brand, or trying to turn your expertise into clients and speaking gigs, this is a practical blueprint. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s stuck on “perfect,” and leave a review with your biggest question about using a book to grow a business.

Purchase "Market Like A Boss" at shelbysmarketingbook.com

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

AI is not waiting for anyone’s comfort level, and small business owners feel that tension every day. We talk through the good, the bad, and the ugly of AI marketing from a real-world perspective, including what’s changed as of June 2026 and why “it knows too much” isn’t a strategy. The goal is simple: use AI to move faster and think clearer without letting it erase the thing that makes your business recognizable.

We get specific about what we avoid, especially AI-generated graphics and logos. If your posts suddenly look like everyone else’s, your branding stops working. We break down why consistency matters, why AI visuals often come out busy and uneditable, and the easy mistakes people miss when they don’t proof details like dates and business names. Then we dig into the logo problem from the production side: if you can’t get a true vector file (SVG, AI, EPS, print-ready PDF), you can’t reliably scale and print it for signs, vehicles, and high-resolution uses. AI can be great for inspiration, but professional execution still matters.

On the flip side, we share how we actually use ChatGPT daily as a collaboration tool: brainstorming content strategy, organizing thoughts, refining offers and packages, and workshopping ad ideas with real budgets. Think of it as a way to get unstuck, reduce overwhelm, and pressure-test decisions, while still applying your experience so you don’t sound copied. If you want practical guidance on using AI without sacrificing your brand identity, this one will help.

Subscribe for more small business marketing clarity, share this with a friend who’s overwhelmed by AI, and leave a review if it helped. What are you using AI for in your business right now?

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

I opened a second sign shop location, got three months in, and then lockdown hit. Suddenly my calendar meant nothing, my assumptions about growth got tested, and I had to figure out how to keep two employees paid while the world argued about curfews, safety rules, and who was “bringing COVID” into town.

What kept us afloat wasn’t luck. It was a fast pivot to the unglamorous work everyone needed right then: six-foot floor stickers, distancing decals, door signage, and simple instructions that helped schools and restaurants reopen. One school district referred another, and that referral chain turned into orders across roughly 25 school districts. I share what we priced, why we cut margins, and how that compliance signage became the cash flow that carried the business when everything else felt uncertain.

At the same time, the digital marketing side took a brutal hit: I lost about 75% of my clients in the first few months because marketing was treated like an “expense” to cut. That experience changed how I talk about marketing strategy, consistency, and why stopping your marketing often costs more than you think. I also get real about the second year being harder, closing the Stuttgart location, and what I learned about risk, leases, planning, and building a backup plan before the next big leap.

If you run a small business, a sign shop, or a marketing agency, this story will help you think clearly about resilience, client retention, and strategic planning when conditions change fast. Subscribe, share this with a business owner who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest lesson from 2020.

Support the show