Rooted In Revenue

When Frank Scavo sent me his latest article about consulting skills, I knew we had to dig deeper. After 20 years of working together—first as his client, then as colleagues—we've lived the collaborative consulting model he champions. In this conversation, we explore why seasoned executives often struggle to transition into consulting, the critical difference between having authority and wielding influence, and why the best consulti...

Local SEO just got a reality check. Darren Shaw, founder of Whitespark, joins Rooted in Revenue to debunk some widely held myths while sharing what actually drives results for small businesses trying to dominate local search. If you're a real estate agent sharing office space with ten competitors, a service provider working from home, or any brick-and-mortar business wondering why your Googl...

I heard Aaron Grando drop the term "pretotypes" on Leader Generation this morning and had to hit pause. Three minutes in, I realized I'd been vibe coding for months without knowing there was a name for it.

But pretotypes? That's when I knew I had to get him on the show immediately.

We're talking about taking yo...

Lany and Susan dive into the sometimes murky waters of consultant-client relationships. Drawing from years of experience sitting on every side of the boardroom table, they tackle the age-old question: "Who is responsible for doing the tasks at hand?"

Let's face it—consultants don't come with magic wands, and CEOs don't get to toss the keys and walk away. Whether you've ever ...

In this episode, Susan Finch and Lany Sullivan revisit a topic we can’t stress enough: branded email addresses. Using Gmail, Yahoo, or even AOL for business? You’re losing trust before the conversation starts. We dig into real examples, onboarding requirements, offboarding protocols, and the risk of letting your team operate with inconsistent or unprotected emails. Your email isn’t just a communication tool—it’s your brand's handsh...

Struggling to make your real estate data stand out in a sea of generic market reports? In this episode of Rooted in Revenue, I share practical insights from my recent workshop with NRBA professionals Kelley Kesterson and Angelica Suarez, who are looking to elevate their marketing with meaningful data visualization. Discover how to transform complex market statistics into compelling visual stories that build trust and position you a...

Susan sits down with former team member Karen Mares, Content Creator at Event Builder, who serves as her company's "marketing anchor" as she navigates the evolving landscape of AI tools.

Karen shares her journey from initial concerns about AI replacing her writing role to developing a strategic workflow where she remains firmly in control. You'll discover how she has combined multiple AI platforms—each serving distinct purposes in ...

Grants Pass native Terry Hopkins has returned to his roots after a diverse hospitality career across five states. With over 25 years of business ownership and management experience in Southern Oregon, Terry recently spent 5 years as a business advocate with the Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association. Married for 20+ years with two sons, Terry is passionate a...

Lany Sullivan sits down with Mark Cleve, who shares his remarkable 32-year journey with Tom James, the premium custom clothing company that's grown from $119 million to over $600 million during his tenure. Mark reveals the business philosophy that has guided his success: "You don't build a business, you build people and people build a business."

F...

We're continuing our exploration of effective marketing strategies with the experts from iHeartRadio. In our first segment, we discovered how radio remains 'America's Trusted Companion' and explored the powerful geofencing capabilities that can target potential customers with remarkable precision.

Now, we're shifting focus to the strategic side - ...

Real estate brokers searching for an edge are discovering what radio professionals have known all along – radio remains 'America's Trusted Companion' even in our digital age. This special segment of Rooted in Revenue brings you face-to-face with iHeartRadio experts Julie Beaulieu and Kevin Cash, who share surprising insights about radio's continued growth and its unique ability to build community trust.

Learn how their advanced geo...

What happens after you've found that perfect addition to your team? How do you create an onboarding experience that makes new hires feel confident, valued, and ready to contribute? In the last episode, Susan and Lany walked you through establishing a solid hiring process. The topic is Beyond the Hire: Creating a Welcoming Onboarding Experience That Builds Lasting Teams.

In this second ha...

Are you planning to bring a new team member on board? Before you start interviewing candidates, there's critical groundwork that needs to be laid. In this episode of Rooted in Revenue, hosts Susan Finch and Lany Sullivan walk you through the essential steps to prepare your business for a successful hire. From mapping out processes to setting up the right tech stack, they share practical advice drawn from years of experience working...

Imagine Dolly Parton’s Jolene. Now, imagine Miley Cyrus singing it. It's the same song and the same lyrics—but they feel completely different, right? That’s exactly how typefaces work.

A typeface sets the tone before a single word is read. It tells your audience who you are—before they even realize it. And whether your brand feels classic and trustworthy like Dolly’s Jolene or bold and modern like Miley’s version depends on the cho...

Which task management and marketing strategy tools should you use? Spoiler alert—it’s not as simple as picking the most popular software.

Susan and Lany dive into the importance of discernment when selecting tools, sharing real-world experiences of software frustration, integration challenges, and team buy-in struggles. They emphasize the need to evaluate your team’s workflow, test software with real scenarios, and demand proper su...

Are your social posts starting to feel stale? Are you spending hours creating fresh content when you already have a goldmine of valuable material gathering digital dust? Stop the endless content creation cycle. Strategic content management isn't about constantly generating new material—it's about maximizing the value of your existing expertise and insights.

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