Special Guest: Dave Valentine Giveaway: https://calendly.com/dave-dreamagency/finch-consulting   In this episode, I sit down with Dave Valentine, a digital marketing veteran and the CEO of Finch, a global performance marketing agency that’s revolutionizing how e-commerce brands scale. With over two decades in the game — and after building and selling multiple agencies and SaaS companies — Dave shares the hard truths, smart strategies, and untapped opportunities that most business owners overlook. From launching his first Facebook ad agency in 2013 to now managing over 100 clients worldwide with a 60-person team, Dave has seen it all — the good, the bad, and the wildly profitable. Together, we unpack what’s holding brands back, why more traffic isn’t the answer, and what really drives conversion in today’s marketing landscape. 🔑 Key Takeaways: Conversions > Clicks: I learned that most businesses focus too much on vanity metrics. Dave reminded me (and you!) that traffic without conversion is just expensive noise. Positioning Is Everything: Finch’s strategy is rooted in storytelling — where the customer is the hero. It's not about your brand; it's about what your brand does for them. Fear Is the Real Blocker: Whether it’s fear of wasting money, losing control, or being burned by bad agencies in the past — it all keeps businesses small. In-House Isn’t Always Cheaper: Internal teams are often young, overwhelmed, and under-experienced. Dave made it clear: the right agency can generate results faster, smarter, and with better ROI. Growth Requires Risk: Dave’s biggest wins came when he bet on himself — and his willingness to make bold, strategic moves. 🔥 My Favorite Moment? When Dave said, “If spending $2K could make you $14K, you’d do it… if you trusted the process.” That hit hard. 💡 Final Thought: The biggest cost is not doing anything. If you’re sitting on the fence, book the call, ask the questions, take the leap. Whether you're running ads or still figuring out your offer, this episode is a game-changer. 🎯 Don’t just survive—scale smarter. Let’s stop buying traffic we can’t convert. 👉 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.   Welcome back to Podcasting Tip of the Week! I'm Karen Roberts, and in this solo episode, I'm breaking down exactly how to hit your first 1,000 podcast downloads—the smart, strategic, and totally doable way. If you’ve just launched your show and are staring at that little download number wondering how to grow it, this episode is packed with real talk, step-by-step tips, and no-fluff strategies that work—because I use them myself! 🎯 Key Takeaways: I tap into my inner circle first—friends, family, and colleagues are my best early supporters. I don’t just post once and move on. I promote every episode multiple times using different formats like quotes, snippets, carousels, and blog posts. Strategic social media beats being everywhere—choose platforms where your audience already hangs out (LinkedIn is my go-to). Getting on other podcasts is one of the fastest ways I grow—because their audience already listens to podcasts! I repurpose episodes into blog posts and LinkedIn articles for better SEO and accessibility. Consistency is the magic. I remind myself that podcasting is a long game, and I stay in it. I walk you through how I promote each episode across an entire week—from teaser clips and livestreams to pull quotes and audiograms. I also share my exact approach for pitching myself to other shows, and even how to create powerful blog content from your episode transcripts. If you've been wondering why your show isn’t gaining traction—or if you’re just unsure where to start—this episode is the clarity boost you need. 📍 Ready to launch your podcast? Book a free strategy call at podcastprofitsunleash.com/appointment and let’s get you started. Until next week—keep showing up, stay consistent, and podcast like a pro!