Talk Triggers Show

Did you know that there are over 700,000 podcasts in the world right now? And, many of them fall into the sports category with most covering similar topic and show formats.  So, what should you do if you’ve got a sports podcast? How can you make it different enough from the avalanche of other sports podcasts so that listeners actually take notice and tell their friends about it?  Well, if you tune into episode 20 of The Talk Triggers Show, you’ll hear about a sports media personality on ESPN that managed to take the entire premise of podcast advertising and turn it on its head.  Oh, and did I mention this is the final episode of The Talk Triggers Show?   I’d like to thank you for tuning in each week and keeping up with the show, whether you listened to the podcast version of the show or the video series over on YouTube – I appreciate all of your support and I hope you enjoyed the show and maybe learned a thing or two along the way!  If you haven’t listened to all of the episodes yet, all 20 are available, so 

Minor league baseball has been around for over one hundred years and let’s be honest, it doesn’t usually cause much of a commotion after the cheering falls silent.   But there is one team in Savannah, Georgia, that happened to be bought by two people who not only believed in them, but that word of mouth would work and propel the team to new heights.  How is this possible? How can you make a baseball team that talkable?  On episode 19 of The Talk Triggers Show, you’ll hear about the most talkable baseball team in history that has not one, but dozens of talk triggers.  So, is two (or three or four) really better than one?  Tune into episode 19 to find out!  Mentioned in this episode:  The Savannah Bananas  To never miss an episode, make sure you subscribe to The Talk Triggers Show on YouTube and/or on your favorite podcast app!  For more information and to explore the show click here.  

Customers don’t expect much from their local pharmacy. They pick up their prescribed medication and maybe a few other things, pay the bill and leave. Going to the pharmacy is more of an errand than anything else.   But there is one pharmacy chain in the United States that knows how to get people talking about their stores. It’s nothing too wild or “out there,” but it is something that a lot of people like to talk, chat and tweet about.   On this episode of The Talk Triggers Show, you’ll learn about how one of the biggest pharmacy chains in the country dominates word of mouth by putting a small twist on something that usually ends up in the trash.  Mentioned in this episode: CVS Pharmacy  Subscribe to The Talk Triggers Show on YouTube and/or on your favorite podcast app to make sure you never miss an episode!  For more information and to explore the show click here.  

Graduation ceremonies are a snooze fest. Everyone wears the same cap and gown. You’re forced to sit and listen to a few unoriginal speeches about pursuing your passion. Then, you walk up on stage, take your certificate, shake hands with the Dean and that’s it.   It’s safe to say that if it wasn’t for all the embarrassing photos your parents took on the day, you’d probably forget what happened during your graduation ceremony. But it doesn’t have to be that way.  On this episode of The Talk Triggers Show, you’ll hear a story about a college in Japan that chooses to do things very differently. It’s one of the few graduation ceremonies where everybody in attendance is given an unforgettable experience that will stay with them forever.  What makes this college’s graduation ceremony so remarkable that attendees can’t wait to tell their grandkids about it?  Well…you’ll have to tune in to find out!  Mentioned in this episode:   Kanazawa College  To never miss an episode, subscribe to The Talk Triggers Show on YouT

Word of mouth influences 50% of all purchases. But did you know that in B2B, word of mouth influences 91% of all purchases!   This might shock you, but let’s think about it for a second. Most B2B companies come across as… I’ve got to say it… boring.   So, when a B2B company puts just a TINY twist on things, they can unlock a torrent of customer story-telling.    Now, the majority of examples I’ve told you about on previous episodes of this show are from B2C companies. But this time, you’ll learn how a 47 year-old, lumber company has stopped spending thousands of dollars on ads by coming up with a truly remarkable Talk Trigger.  Find out how a B2B manufacturer in northern California has turned their customers into their greatest marketing advantage.  Mentioned in this episode:  WindsorOne  To never miss an episode, subscribe to The Talk Triggers Show on YouTube and/or on your favorite podcast app!  For more information and to explore the show click here.  

Is it possible to run a successful restaurant business without spending a penny on advertising?  Maybe if you’ve got a remarkable menu serving dishes fit for royalty you can. But, when you’re a burger restaurant selling the same product as thousands of other restaurants in the city, you’ll need more than a delicious hamburger to drive hungry customers through the door.    On this episode of The Talk Triggers Show, I share a mouth-watering story about a hamburger restaurant in Sacramento whose burgers were named 29th best in America by USA Today.    Oh, and that’s not the story that has the people of Sacramento talking about the restaurant and although it helps, it’s also not the reason why this restaurant has never spent a penny on advertising since the day they opened. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is no joke.  How do they do it?  Discover the answer on episode 15 of The Talk Triggers Show!   Mentioned on this episode:  Skip’s Kitchen  To never miss an episode, subscribe to The Talk Triggers Show on YouT

There are few things in this world as painful as a vasectomy. Believe me, I’ve had one. And, in case you were wondering, it did not go smoothly. Mind-boggling swelling, intense pain, and instant regret are just a few things that flood to mind when I recall my experience. If I could go back and do it all over again, I would go to the surgeon I talk about on this episode of The Talk Triggers Show. What makes this guy different from the thousands of other ‘snipper surgeons’ in the country? What is his unique talk trigger that helps him continue to stand out amidst competition? Mentioned in this episode: DrSnip – The Vasectomy Clinic Keep up with new episodes by subscribing to The Talk Triggers Show on YouTube and/or on your favorite podcast app! For more information and to explore the show click here.

Did you hear the news? The zombie apocalypse is finally here. But, the zombies are only interested in retailers. And, their king rules from his throne of stacked cardboard boxes in an Amazon warehouse somewhere in Seattle, Washington. Amazon offers cheaper prices on just about everything in existence. With Amazon Prime offering free shipping and next day delivery, it’s the most convenient way to shop for the modern-day consumer. Competing with Amazon is an intimidating reality for today’s online and offline retailers. After all, why would shoppers want to buy from anywhere but Amazon? The only way that a retailer can step out of Amazon’s shadow is to offer something to customers that the e-commerce giant can’t. Something that gets customers buying from their store over and over again. Listen to this episode of The Talk Triggers Show to discover how an outdoor retailer differentiates their business in a way that gets customers talking and more importantly, laughing. Mentioned in this episode: Moosejaw To nev

I’ve talked about a lot of businesses and their remarkable talk triggers on this show. But, now it’s time for me to take center stage and reveal how I use word of mouth to build my own speaking business. I’ve been a professional speaker for over a decade and let me tell you, it’s not an easy business. The competition is ferocious, and it's only getting harder to stand out. There are more professional speakers than ever. And, we all want the same thing. A podium and a microphone. So, where does that leave me? Lost in the crowd? Desperately banging on the door of every meeting planner I cross paths with in hopes they’ll hire me? Of course not. I wrote a book on Talk Triggers. I host a show all about Talk Triggers. You can bet that I’ve got a talk trigger worth talking about up my sleeve that appeals to meeting planners all over the world. So, how do I do it? What is the unique talk trigger that helps me book speaking gigs? Tune into this special episode of The Talk Triggers Show to find out! Mentioned in this e

Nothing drains the life out of you like waiting on-hold. You have no choice but to listen to the anonymous smooth jazz music and think about all the things you’d rather be doing with your time. It takes every inch of your will power to resist the temptation to hang up and call it a day.  So, it shouldn’t come as a surprise to hear that 85% of Americans say they hate to wait on hold. As you can imagine, this universal agreement that we are a nation of on-hold ‘haters’ poses an issue for companies providing free conference calling services over the internet.  Not only does nobody want to wait on hold, but all of the free conference calling services offer the same thing. When differentiating yourself with price and core functionality isn’t an option, your only choice is to differentiate with customer experience.  On this episode of Talk Triggers, I tell you about a business that not only still uses on-hold music but actually uses it as their most effective marketing tool.  Trust me, this is on-hold music that yo

It’s no secret that the crowds at a college basketball game don’t hold a candle against the swarm of fans that pack out NBA stadiums across the states. In fact, the average attendance for a college basketball matchup is just 4,686 people, and honestly, you can only expect those numbers on a really good day. On this episode of The Talk Triggers Show, I share a story about how a university that once struggled to fill 942 seats in the student section for free increased attendance by 230% thanks to a talk trigger that creates a ton of conversation. If you want to find out how a mediocre basketball team attracts thousands of spectators, despite being in a hyper-competitive sports market, check out episode 10 of The Talk Triggers Show! Mentioned in this episode: Arizona State University Make sure you never miss an episode by subscribing to The Talk Triggers Show on YouTube or to the podcast on your favorite podcast app. For more information, click here. 

When we arrive at a hotel, we expect a polite greeting at the checkout counter and, if we’re lucky, we might pick up a few leaflets or brochures of local attractions and things to do in the area. What we definitely do not expect is to be met with a warm welcome that’s so unexpected it leads to roughly 22,500 stories being told about a single talk trigger, every single day. The story I reveal in this episode of The Talk Triggers Show is about a global hotel chain that has used the same talk trigger for 33 years and counting. Talk about a word of mouth strategy with serious staying power! Could this be the most effective and successful word of mouth strategy, ever? Possibly. But, you’ll have to check out episode 9 of The Talk Triggers Show to find out! Mentioned in this episode DoubleTree Hotels by Hilton To never miss an episode, subscribe on YouTube to keep up with the video series or head over to your favorite podcast app and subscribe to the podcast version of the show. For more information click here. 

Do you remember when music was expensive? Most of us had to save all of our pocket money just to buy a single cassette. But nowadays, you can listen to your favorite musicians on repeat, and it won’t leave you scrounging for pennies. While monthly streaming subscriptions and unlimited access to the latest tunes is great news for us, it doesn’t leave a whole lot for the actual musicians.   The internet has hollowed out the revenue, leaving musicians with nothing but scraps. If a performer wants to make a living from their music, they’ve got to tour and sell overpriced merch. It’s a tough business. You could be the most talented singer in the world and still struggle to catch your ‘big break.’   So, what can you do to make yourself stand out in a sea of Swift’s and Springsteen’s?   Well, coming up with a talk trigger is a good start. A talk trigger like the one that a funk band from Nashville uses to sell out their shows every night.   Find out what has fans filling venues whenever this band puts on a concert o

Sardines are to the Portuguese what hamburgers are to Americans - a lunchtime necessity. But not everyone likes sardines, and I can’t blame them. I mean, half the time they arrive on your plate with their wide-eyed gaze staring right at you. No thanks. But in Portugal, sardines are on every menu. Heck, even the kids opt for this oily fish over a plate of French fries. If you’re in the restaurant business in Portugal, you’re ultimately competing to see who serves the best sardine dish. And, with 3,988 restaurants in Lisbon alone, that’s no easy feat. With so many competitors offering the same menu in the same location, how do you stand out? Join me on this episode of The Talk Triggers Show to find out how a single location restaurant in Lisbon propelled their place to the top of a highly competitive local restaurant scene by daring to be different. Mentioned in this episode: Clube de Jornalistas If you enjoy this show and want to keep up with future episodes, make sure to subscribe to The Talk Triggers Show

Debt collectors aren’t known for being the nicest people to deal with. That’s hardly a surprise when their method for getting their customers to pay often involves threats and coercion. It’s safe to say that it’s not a business where you’ll make many friends…unless you’re a debt collector that does things differently. The story I share with you on this episode of The Talk Triggers Show is one of my favorite case studies. It’s about a medical collection agency that has become one of the fastest growing companies in all of Wisconsin and is one of the leading debt collections agencies in America. How did this happen? Well, the owner of the business decided to toss the typical debt collections playbook out the window and collect debts his way. If you want to find out how this debt collector turned the entire industry upside down with a single, strategic, operational approach, make sure you don’t miss episode 6 of The Talk Triggers Show! Mentioned in this episode: Americollect Make sure you never miss an episode

There’s nothing more tedious than waiting in an auto repair shop. Nobody likes to wait for their morning coffee, never mind waiting for a mechanic to give their vehicle the green light to go. But, what if I told you there was an auto repair shop out there that has a waiting room that people actually want to pass the time in? On this episode of The Talk Triggers Show, you’ll discover how a female mechanic uses unconventional choices to rocket fuel her repair shop to people’s top of mind. Want to find out what lies behind the doors of this auto repair shop’s waiting room that has customers singing its praises both online and offline? Tune into episode 5 of The Talk Triggers Show to uncover this gripping story. Mentioned in this episode: Girls Auto Clinic and Clutch Beauty Bar Keep up with new episodes by subscribing to The Talk Triggers Show on YouTube and/or on your favorite podcast app! For more information and to explore other episodes click here. 

Imagine if 58% of your potential customers admitted to being downright scared of you. Imagine also, that your business operates in an extremely competitive and saturated market. Would you just accept that growing your business is a constant, uphill challenge very difficult to achieve? Or…would you do what this business did and come up with a way to get new customers keen to come through the door despite the fact that your services are, for a lack of a better word, terrifying to a lot of people! Would you like to know how a very smart oral surgeon has kept his practice busy for over 32 years? Join me in episode 4 of The Talk Triggers Show to find out! Mentioned in this episode: Clifton Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, P. A. Don’t forget to subscribe to The Talk Triggers Show on YouTube and/or on your favorite podcast app! Click here for more information and to listen to previous episodes of The Talk Triggers Show podcast.

Finding a way to get your business noticed by the masses is a challenge in itself but throw in thousands of competitors all offering pretty much the same thing and you’ve got yourself an enormous undertaking. That is, if you don’t have a unique talk trigger that puts you into an entire league of your own. On this episode of The Talk Triggers Show, you’ll find out how a boutique hotel chain takes the most mundane element of the hotel experience and transforms it into a story that their guests tell their friends, family, colleagues and strangers online about over and over again.   Want to find out what has people so excited about staying in one of these hotels? Grab your headphones and listen to this episode of The Talk Triggers Show to find out! Mentioned on this episode: Graduate Hotels Never miss an episode by subscribing to The Talk Triggers Show on YouTube and/or go to your favorite podcast app and subscribe to the podcast version there! Click here for more information and to listen to previous episodes

The story I share with you on this episode of The Talk Triggers Show is about a bar in an extremely remote location that spends zero dollars on advertising. How is this possible? Well, it’s because their patrons do it for them. The bar industry is competitive. Even in a busy town with plenty of custom, the day-to-day operational running of a bar can be challenging to say the least. So, when the bar I talk about in this episode needs to entice patrons into their 56-year-old establishment without an advertising budget, they give them a story.  A story that is so compelling, so bold and so outrageous that it demands her customers to tell it. What is this remarkable story that the bar’s patrons can’t stop talking about? You’ll have to check out episode 2 of The Talk Triggers Show to find out! Mentioned in this episode The Slip ‘N Dip Lounge To never miss an episode, subscribe to The Talk Triggers Show on YouTube or to the podcast on your favorite podcast app. Click here for more information and to listen to pr

I’m very excited to announce the official launch of The Talk Triggers Show. The Talk Triggers Show explores the true power of word of mouth marketing, which influences up to 90% of ALL purchases. You can build an empire without lifting a finger. The trick is to develop something more than a unique selling point. I call this a talk trigger…something that gets people talking about you and your business. A huge mistake that a lot of businesses make is trying too hard to fit in. The truth is that the more you try to fit in, the more your customers tune out. On the first episode of The Talk Triggers Show, I share a thought-provoking story about a family business that completely upended the theme park business model using one very simple, but extraordinary talk trigger. Mentioned in this episode Holiday World & Splashin’ SAFARI I hope you enjoyed this first episode of The Talk Triggers Show. To listen to more episodes, click here. Never miss an episode by subscribing on YouTube and to the podcast on your fa