When your brand positions you as the only choice, clients stop asking how much and they start saying, “how do I sign up?”

That’s the power of this often overlooked brand positioner – your unique energy. When you sound just like your competitors, your audience can easily get confused. They will “price shop” or respond to the flashiest marketer.

But when your authentic self shines through the noise, your brand becomes compelling and irresistible, positioning your offers to stand out because of your “secret sauce.”

Today, I dive deep into the concept of differentiation and introduce what I call the fourth and most powerful differentiator – your brand energy. This isn't just about demographics or what you sell; it's about embracing your unique energetics and letting it become a powerful connection point with your audience. Many of us hide parts of ourselves, fearing they'll repel potential clients, but those deep, sometimes painful stories are exactly what can drive connection and trust.

In episode 430 of the Amplify Your Success Podcast I outline the three widely recognized differentiators—who you work with, what you specialize in, and how you do it—but where real transformation lies is in your brand energy, how you're authentically you, and how you resonate on an unseen level. I’ll show you how owning your signature vibe, telling emotional stories, and exposing your authentic quirks can make you unforgettable.

I'd love to hear what resonates with you and how you plan to amplify your brand's presence. Drop me a note, and let's continue the conversation on embracing your most compelling differentiator.

00:53 The three commonly understood areas of differentiation, and why some of them have stopped working.

03:56 Discover how your unique energy can be a powerful competitive edge in engaging deeply with your audience, setting you apart in a crowded market

04:50 5 key areas of your brand energetics that set you apart.

07:04 How to deepen your emotional resonance through storytelling to create connection, and become memorable, differentiating yourself.

09:41 How storytelling moves people into action.

10:10 Discover how embracing and sharing your unique traits, like navigating health challenges, can foster authenticity and deeper connections with others.

11:23 How your quirks can become part of your brand energy and what you're known for.

12:20 The difference between your quirks and what you want to be known for, vs leaning into your wounds and your origin story as a catalyst for connection.

14:12 How to build an authentic bridge of trust from the world that your ideal clients are in and the world that you're now in by sharing your journey.

14:42 Learn how embracing a bold stance and confidently sharing your unique 'lighthouse message' can cut through the noise and attract your desired audience.

16:39 Discover how to confidently embrace and articulate the parts of yourself that feel uncertain, as well as how to leverage your unique brand energetics to attract and engage your ideal audience.

• Blog Post: 6 Reasons You Should Specialize As a Coach

• FREE DOWNLOAD: Get my proven 7 Step Framework and learn how to tap into Million-Dollar visibility streams

• Authority Accelerator 6 month Cohort: Discover your Lighthouse Message, and your hottest selling offer, then amplify the reach of your message by borrowing other people’s audiences. Check out the details here

Hosting an in-person retreat is one way to make a greater impact with your clients, but many event hosts make a common mistake with how they design their events.

Instead of focusing on the elements that produce transformation, they get caught up in a lot of little details that don’t shift the field.

In this episode 429 of Amplify Your Success Podcast, Darla LeDoux joins host Melanie Benson to share her insights on developing and running impactful retreats that focus on energy transformation. As an expert in creating retreats that shift the field, she unravels the concept of trusting and embodying one's magic to create powerful and life-altering experiences.

Darla outlines crucial steps for structuring your retreats to enable both you and your attendees to step into greater alignment. She also highlights the importance of trusting one's inherent magic and the power of creating experiences that help attendees see their energy patterns, ultimately leading them to more empowered decisions.

It's not about nailing every detail; it's about understanding the energy dynamics and facilitating a space where participants can experience genuine transformation. With the right blend of structure and intuition, you can create retreats that magnetize clients and fuel your business growth in surprising and rewarding ways.

Whether you're new to hosting retreats or looking to deepen your impact, this discussion is filled with wisdom on creating profound and profitable in-person experiences.

04:54 How your thoughts shape your emotions, behaviors, and the energy field you operate in. (Master this, and everything shifts.)

08:14 Why many feel spiritually called to lead retreats, but hold back from offering them, and how to shift that limiting belief.

12:04 Why small, intimate group experiences create breakthroughs that traditional coaching can’t always reach.

16:59 How retreats activate your most powerful way of being—and why that’s your biggest asset.

19:56 The secret to handling uncertainty in retreat planning: backup exercises, adaptability, and reading the energy in the room.

22:32 Why energy alignment is the foundation of better decision-making and deeper learning.

27:28 Tips on structuring and pricing your retreat for both transformation and financial success.

28:19 The “truth toolkit” that helps participants shift deeply ingrained beliefs—this could change how you design your retreats.

33:17 Why fancy venues and social media posts won’t fill your retreat, and what will.

40:17 Darla’s life-changing career shift and how it led to more income and impact than expected.

• Access Darla’s Ultimate 57-Point Checklist for World Class Transformational Retreats

• Authority Accelerator 6 month Cohort: Discover your Lighthouse Message, and your hottest selling offer, then amplify the reach of your message by borrowing other people’s audiences. Check out the details here

• Are you ready to stop being a “best-kept secret” and start creating waves of impact in your industry? Take the Ripple Makers™ Readiness Quiz here and find out!

What if you could have more premium sales calls - without feeling pushy or salesy?

Many service professionals struggle with enrolling clients because their sales conversations lack the necessary elements to guide a prospect to a confident yes (without using emotional manipulation, scarcity and hard selling techniques).

The typical roadblock is not having a systemized approach that nurtures the lead, builds rapport, and informs the potential client why you are the only choice, before they ever get to your appointment. Without this process in place, sales calls can feel awkward, and conversion rates can remain frustratingly low.

If you are ready to transform your sales calls into high-converting conversations without feeling pushy or salesy, eavesdrop in as Melanie does an On Air Coaching Monetization session for Erin Davis on episode 428 of Amplify Your Success Podcast.

Outlining a simple 3-Step Sales Call System, Melanie coaches Erin on how nurturing potential clients, setting the right expectations, and creating a structured conversation can elevate sales calls. Erin shares her journey from being a therapist to expanding her business into coaching, and how refining her sales process is crucial for her future success.

Melanie provides actionable advice on crafting a nurturing sequence before the sales call, asking the right questions to understand client goals, and setting the container for a productive call. She also discusses the importance of identifying the cost of keeping a problem unsolved and making an effortless invitation to work together. Melanie unpacks these steps with rich examples that empower listeners to gain confidence and improve their own sales process.

Key Takeaways:

02:59 Melanie introduces the new segment, On Air Coaching Monetization & Visibility Hot Seats.

04:32 Erin gives background on how Authority Accelerator helped her have confidence to move from being a therapist to specializing in relationship coaching.

09:45 Melanie coaches Erin on how to warm up leads before the sales conversation to help boost conversion rates.

14:14 Why creating relatability is key in nurturing your prospects.

16:16 Discover how to make a seamless invitation to work together by empathetically connecting with the client's goals and challenges.

21:10 Understand the importance of giving potential clients a pre-call homework assignment to increase engagement and investment.

28:35 How to structure an enrollment conversation and set the container with clear expectations and focusing on the client's desired outcome

30:43 The one thing that will transform sales: Understand the emotional cost of a client's current problem

33:26 How to make sales feel more natural and create a sales conversation script that focuses on helping clients want the solution, rather than feeling sold to.

• Would you like to be considered for an On Air Coaching session for Monetization & Visibility? Apply here.

• Download my FREE Scorecard so you can avoid the 17 biggest mistakes, as a guest expert, that costs you leads and clients

• Authority Accelerator 6 month Cohort: Discover your Lighthouse Message, and your hottest selling offer, then amplify the reach of your message by borrowing other people’s audiences. Check out the details here

You’re showing up online, doing interviews on podcasts, and doing all the right things in those conversations to be a Lighthouse—but the sales just aren’t following. It’s frustrating, right? You’re not alone. But what if the real issue isn’t your offer, your message or even your visibility strategy.

There is a stage in your growth where you must shift out of “borrowing” other people’s audiences and build your own to keep the sales flowing in.

In episode 427 of Amplify Your Success, I dive into a game-changing shift: moving from chasing sales on other people’s platforms to cultivating your own community of engaged buyers. I’ve been having eye-opening conversations with applicants for my Authority Accelerator and noticing a common frustration—people are getting visibility, but they’re not seeing the traction they expected.

The missing link? Nurturing the right audience after that first spark of interest.

If you’ve ever felt like your visibility efforts aren’t translating into real momentum, this episode is for you. We’ll explore the best ways to build an audience that actually converts, whether through email, social media, or your own podcast. I’ll also reveal my top strategies for leveraging partnerships, engaging authentically, and turning casual followers into devoted fans.

By the end of this conversation, you’ll see why the key to predictable income isn’t just getting in front of more people—it’s creating a movement that keeps them coming back. And if you’re ready to get clear on where to focus your efforts, don’t miss my Ripple Makers Readiness Quiz—your personalized roadmap to sustainable success.

04:25 How your visibility on other people’s platforms is just one piece of a bigger puzzle.

06:52 Why relying solely on borrowed platforms limits your growth, and how building your own engaged audience becomes your secret weapon for sustainable revenue.

10:16 Three distinct audience types to create an unstoppable client-enrolling engine.

12:19 Ways to transform your social media from a megaphone into a relationship-building powerhouse that consistently attracts ideal clients.

15:33 The critical difference between borrowed platforms and owned audiences - and why your email list is your most valuable business asset.

17:30 How to leverage strategic partnerships to exponentially grow your reach while maintaining authenticity.

18:24 Tips on optimizing your content strategy and authority positioning in your marketplace.

21:27 What is moving the needle in social media right now to attract and engage the audience.

24:48 Beyond list-building: How to create an irresistible community experience that keeps your audience coming back for more.

26:14 How to move your audience into action, and what kinds of sales triggers you need in place to make that happen.

• Are you ready to stop being a “best-kept secret” and start creating waves of impact in your industry? Take the Ripple Makers™ Readiness Quiz now!

• Authority Accelerator 6 month Cohort: Discover your Lighthouse Message, and your hottest selling offer, then amplify the reach of your message by borrowing other people’s audiences. Check out the details here

There is a unique conundrum that many highly ambitious and driven people experience in their pursuit of bigger goals: there is always a “next level” of success to pursue. But if you find yourself constantly moving the goalposts in life, never truly reaching a sense of satisfaction despite your achievements, then you might be trapped in a “should life.”

When our actions are dictated by societal norms, cultural expectations, and inherited rules, leaving us overwhelmed, anxious, burned out, and unfulfilled, it’s worth pausing to reflect if this is the life you want, or you feel you must accept to avoid blowing up what’s important to you.

In episode 426 of Amplify Your Success, I’m joined by Marni Battista to explore practical ways to break free from the suffocating "should life" and start embracing a more meaningful and authentic existence. Marni tackles this pressing issue by urging us to dismantle these invisible barriers and instead live a life that truly energizes us by blowing our hair back. She explains how identifying small, actionable changes, like recognizing one's self-worth and challenging ingrained beliefs, can lead to profound life transformations without completely overhauling your current situation.

Tune in to discover her seven-question framework from her new book, "Your Radical Living Challenge," guiding listeners on how to experiment with life design. By redefining success and focusing on creating and testing new opportunities, listeners can reclaim their power and transform their present into the dream life they desire.

04:43 Explanation of what the "should life" means - the unwritten societal and personal rules and expectations we live by that limit our choices

06:46 How to identify signs that you are living a "should life".

09:02 How a simple shift in belief—"I matter”-- can unlock profound changes in multiple areas of life, from career to relationships.

13:47 How the Design Thinking model can be applied to redesigning your life through experimentation.

17:40 Practical steps to transform from "hot mess to hotness" by examining what gives vs drains our energy.

25:23 Overview of the 7 spiritual questions from the Talmud that form the basis of Marni's new book

27:24 Personal story of Marni's bold decision to sell her house and travel by RV to redesign her life

• Learn how to Decode Your Destiny with Marni’s 2 minute quiz.

• Get Marni’s new book, The Radical Living Challenge, today here on Amazon!

• Authority Accelerator 6 month Cohort: Discover your Lighthouse Message, and your hottest selling offer, then amplify the reach of your message by borrowing other people’s audiences. Check out the details here

• Are you ready to stop being a “best-kept secret” and start creating waves of impact in your industry? Take the Ripple Makers™ Readiness Quiz here and find out!

Over the last 12 months, I’ve seen a shift occurring in the podcast guesting industry. As the market becomes saturated with podcast booking services and eager clients desiring the spotlight to share their message, many popular show hosts have radically changed the type of guest interviews they’ll host.

If you want to continue to borrow the popular podcast’s listener base that hosts work countless hours to build and nurture, most guest experts will need to improve their approach.

In episode 425 of the Amplify Your Success Podcast I’m diving into this shift to surface the changes I’ve seen both as a host, guest and a booking agent for my clients. From the need to ensure relevance and contribution to the host, to a deepening of the need to collaborate, you’ll discover what hosts look for that can practically guarantee a spotlight on their show.

Hint: the transactional approach is dying. Being a “Niche Celebrity” won’t be enough anymore to land spots on top shows. Recording then ghosting your host won’t be acceptable now. It's time to consider a partnering approach with podcast hosts.

Inside the episode I’ll unpack how to stop being a “taker” (even if that’s not your intention) and become essential to podcast hosts by contributing creatively, whether by promoting episodes like they are your own or coming up with joint promotions that benefit both sides. By positioning yourself as a partner, you can more effectively integrate into the podcast community and make a lasting impact.

04:25 The shift in the industry, and why many hosts (including myself) are moving to doing more solo episodes.

6:43 Why producing a podcast requires more thought, strategy and intention and how that impacts the types of guests we book.

7:23 The 4 primary ways you can monetize your podcast show.

07:56 Why sponsorships aren’t always the answer to a host’s monetization strategy.

13:24 The primary reason podcast guesting is shifting (and how guest interviews have contributed.)

14:52 Why hosts are increasingly selective about guests and seeking meaningful collaborations.

• Grab my Scorecard & Guide so you can avoid the 17 biggest mistakes, as a guest expert, that costs you leads and clients

• Authority Accelerator 6 month Cohort: Discover your Lighthouse Message, and your hottest selling offer, then amplify the reach of your message by borrowing other people’s audiences. Check out the details here

One of the most effective visibility strategies for experts to get in front of new audiences is being a guest on other people’s podcasts. But just because this approach CAN work, doesn’t mean you will get good results.

Actually, when it comes to podcast guesting, many coaches and service providers give up on the approach before they see an ROI because they don’t have a monetization strategy.

They’ve heard that podcast guesting is a great way to be visible, attract clients and boost their authority – but instead of getting a lot of clients and leads, they just get crickets. Since podcasting emerged in 2010, I’ve discovered four common monetization mistakes that guest experts make that cost them leads and clients.

In episode 424 of the Amplify Your Success Podcast, I’m re-airing a popular episode unpacking these 4 common mistakes so you can identify your mis-steps. From understanding the importance of having a unique and magnetic topic to mastering the art of communicating your message in a compelling way, these insights can revolutionize your results from podcast guesting.

Uncover the power of aligning with the right audiences and designing a strategic customer journey that amplifies your visibility and leads to impactful results.

04:06 Why embracing podcast guesting could unlock new lead generation opportunities for your business

06:44 How fixing common monetization mistakes leads to big, fast payoffs.

11:18 Why you want to stand out with unique, relevant, magnetic topics in your approach to podcasters..

13:20 What happens when you over-deliver in communication (hint: you don’t want to overwhelm listeners.)

18:07 Being mindful of choosing aligned audiences for better results.

20:01 The secret behind magnetic interviews that deliver consistent leads to your business.

• Grab my Scorecard & Guide so you can avoid the 17 biggest mistakes, as a guest expert, that costs you leads and clients

• Authority Accelerator 6 month Cohort: Discover your Lighthouse Message, and your hottest selling offer, then amplify the reach of your message by borrowing other people’s audiences. Check out the details here

Ever find yourself with a mind full of inspiring ideas but unsure how to turn them into that impactful book you've been thinking about for ages? It's a common struggle—when fears, doubts, and even imposter syndrome seem to block the way from concept to completion. The path to becoming a published author can feel daunting, and sometimes the confidence to make that leap just isn't there yet. But what if you could transform your mindset and embrace the writing journey with clarity and purpose?

On episode 423 of the Amplify Your Success Podcast, my guest Michelle Vandepas joins me to reveal how to unlock a successful author's mindset. Michelle shares actionable insights on overcoming imposter syndrome and building unshakable confidence. She discusses the importance of small wins and understanding the right timing for your writing journey.

Michelle, drawing from her vast experience as a co-founder of GracePoint Publishing, outlines key strategies to transition from fear to fearless action. She emphasizes the significance of aligning your book with your purpose and how that alignment can lead to impactful, transformative work. Tune in to learn more about finding your voice and amplifying your message.

01:30 Discover the mindset shift essential for impactful authors and entrepreneurs

05:56 One thing that can hinder you from achieving impactful work by blocking progress, and how to overcome it.

09:24 How to build your confidence back up plus practical ways to gain experience and small wins.

13:25 How to be aligned with your purpose to create impactful work.

15:25 Discover if you are in the percolation or procrastination stage and when the right time to write a book is for you.

16:48 Signs you're not ready to write your book and what to do instead.

18:40 Why having a guide or mentor can help you overcome writing obstacles.

21:56 The ripple effect of publishing a book and spreading an inspirational message.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Access Michelle’s Free Training to Get Out of Overwhelm and Get Your First Draft Written:

• Authority Accelerator 6-month Cohort: Discover your Lighthouse Message, and your hottest selling offer, then amplify the reach of your message by borrowing other people’s audiences. Check out the details here

• Discover your Ripple Making Readiness Stage! Are you ready to stop being a “best-kept secret” and start creating waves of impact in your industry? Take the Ripple Makers™ Readiness Quiz here and find out!