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Ep. 197 - Chris explores the challenging question: "What happens when your best isn't good enough?" He discusses the pitfalls of overcomplicated systems, the value of building with maintenance and scalability in mind, and the art of creating "dummy-proof" processes that even the least tech-savvy team members can execute. Chris shares insights on managing client expectations, real-life scenarios of complicated workflows, and why it's crucial to build strong foundations before adding advanced features. This episode is a must-listen for founders, marketers, and automation specialists looking to streamline processes and achieve better results with less complexity.

What You'll Learn:

• 5:58 - Why it’s important to create flow charts that are easy to follow for yourself and others
• 17:16 - The signs that a workflow in CRM software has become overcomplicated
• 19:12 - Why it’s crucial to understand the ecosystem of the software you're using for automation
• 23:15 - An expert tip that can improve efficiency in automation workflows
• 28:45 - What it means to create "automated conversations" within your workflow tasks
• 31:20 - The one thing you must keep in mind when building out a process to ensure any team member can execute it successfully
• 33:15 - Why it’s important to resist the temptation to add too many features too quickly when building automation systems

Resources:

• Subscribe to the Automation Bridge Newsletter
• Start Your Automation Bridge Community Membership
• Watch the 3 Segments Webinar Training

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Ep. 196 - In this episode, Chris delves into the often misunderstood world of MarTech, breaking down what the term MarTech really means and exploring its dual nature. He introduces the concept of a “MarTech Marketer” and explains how this role differs from a general Digital Marketer. He also discusses the relationship between MarTech, automation, and other tech-focused areas in business. Whether you're a seasoned marketer or new to the field, this episode offers essential knowledge to help you understand and leverage the power of marketing technology in your work.

What You'll Learn:

• 4:15 - How MarTech can be used as both an adjective and a noun
• 9:07 - The differences between a digital marketer and a MarTech marketer
• 11:30 - How MarTech relates to automation in marketing
• 13:45 - Why is it important to understand the distinctions between marketing technology and sales technology
• 15:20 - How is the increasing complexity of marketing technology affecting the industry?
• 17:59 - Why it’s crucial for hiring managers and job seekers to understand MarTech terminology
• 19:30 - The relationship between technology and software in the context of MarTech

Resources:

• ASG 195 - The Subjective Approach to Marketing
• Subscribe to the Automation Bridge Newsletter
• Start Your Automation Bridge Community Membership
• Watch the 3 Segments Webinar Training

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Ep. 195 - Have you ever wondered why some marketing strategies work wonders for others but fall flat for you? In this episode, Chris challenges the notion of one-size-fits-all marketing strategies and emphasizes the importance of finding what works specifically for your business. He discusses the complexities of marketing and highlights the importance of embracing experimentation, focusing on data, and doubling down on what produces results, even if it doesn't align with industry norms. With insights drawn from his consulting experience, Chris invites you to free yourself from the pressure of following the crowd and embrace the marketing approach that unlocks success for your unique business.

What You'll Learn:

• 4:12 - How the context and dynamics of your specific industry should impact your marketing approach
• 7:35 - Is there really a "one-size-fits-all" solution when it comes to effective marketing strategies?
• 19:10 - Why having an internal marketing team is crucial as your business matures
• 22:47 - How to use software to help identify your unique marketing needs before building custom solutions
• 26:10 - Why you should always trust your data over traditional “successful marketing frameworks”
• 32:40 - What cultivating a mindset of "marketing freedom" will do for your business

Resources:

• Subscribe to the Automation Bridge Newsletter
• Start Your Automation Bridge Community Membership
• Watch the 3 Segments Webinar Training

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Ep. 194 - Chris revisits and redefines the term "Automation Service Provider" - a term he coined years ago. He explains the need for a clear, unified language around automation services and gives permission for all technical professionals to adopt this term. Chris also covers the various areas where he is seeing automation thrive and announces an upcoming program aimed at helping Automation Service Providers secure consistent, high-value contracts and achieve stable, six-figure incomes. Tune in to learn about this exciting opportunity and gain clarity on positioning yourself as an Automation Service Provider in the quickly evolving automation marketplace.


What You'll Learn:

• 3:03 - Chris revisits and redefines the term Automation Service Provider
• 6:18 - The most common areas Chris has seen automation being deployed
• 8:50 - How to more specifically describe the type of automation services you provide
• 10:48 - Benefits of using the Automation Service Provider title
• 13:42 - Chris introduces and exciting new program offer
• 18:09 - The challenge the new program aims to solve for Automation Service Providers
• 19:39 - How to learn the 3 secrets for getting consistent, long-term contracts

Resources:

• Find out more about the 3 Secrets to Getting Consistent Contracts
• Subscribe to the Automation Bridge Newsletter
• Start Your Automation Bridge Community Membership
• Watch the 3 Segments Webinar Training

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In this episode, Chris is discussing the importance of gaining deep understanding in your business, particularly in the online space, where a lack of understanding can lead to costly mistakes. He argues that many entrepreneurs substitute buying more tools and chasing "gurus" for true understanding of what their business needs to succeed. Chris shares personal insights on how investing in understanding, through communities, programs and self-reflection, has been key to his own growth. You’ll also get a sneak peek into upcoming programs from Automation Bridge designed to help technical professionals and business owners alike level up their understanding and skills. Tune in to learn why slowing down to deepen your understanding may be the most important thing you can do to accelerate your business.


What You'll Learn:

• 2:35 - How the lack of standardized learning in online business lead to reckless decision-making
• 4:44 - The main symptom of people substituting understanding with tools and gurus
• 6:38 - Could it be that you don't need another tool, funnel, or expert, but rather a better understanding of your current situation?
• 8:11 - How to assess what you actually understand and identify areas where you need help
• 11:14 - Why clarity, which often comes with understanding, is so powerful in business decision-making
• 15:44 - The purpose of the new program Chris is launching for technical professionals
• 22:30 - Why it is crucial to slow down, deliberate, and align with people who can help you do things the right way

Resources:

• Subscribe to the Automation Bridge Newsletter
• Start Your Automation Bridge Community Membership
• Watch the 3 Segments Webinar Training

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Ep. 192 - Chris brings back a guest that is no stranger to the show, Samantha Pointer Foxx, to discuss the latest updates and features from Keap. Samantha explains Keap’s new strategic focus on automating entire small businesses, not just their marketing and sales. Chris and Samantha also cover Keap's refreshed user interface, improved integrations, and new AI capabilities. You’ll learn how Keap is positioning itself as a holistic solution for businesses looking to automate operations, onboarding, hiring, and more through a combination of software and strategic services. Tune in to find out if Keap might be the right fit for your business automation needs and how partners like Samantha can help drive success with the platform.

What You'll Learn:

• 4:15 - What made Samantha want to dive deeper into learning about Keap
• 10:44 - The areas beyond just marketing and sales that Keap is now aiming to automate for small businesses
• 15:00 - Changes Keap has made to streamline and modernize its user interface
• 22:35 - How Keap is improving its pricing with bundles
• 28:17 - How partners are bringing strategy and implementation services to Keap
• 31:47 - Improvements Keap is making to their integration capabilities with other tools
• 32:35 - New features Keap is rolling out, like two-way text messaging and email health monitoring
• 33:16 - How Keap is leveraging AI for capabilities like content writing support
• 37:58 - Samantha shares why Keap’s capabilities align with Chris’ “Significant Six" principles

About Our Guest:

Samantha Pointer Foxx, CASP™ is a Certified Automation Service Provider™ & owner of Samantha Pointer Enterprises and founder of Sam’s Tech Academy. She helps small business owners and CEOs who need their marketing systems automated, but don't want to touch the tech or do it themselves. Her from Audit to Automation™ service connects strategic planning, process documentation, technology, automation implementation and data to help organizations optimize and grow.

Resources:

• Fill out Samantha’s Form to Learn More About Keap
• ASG 004 - The Significant Six
• Subscribe to the Automation Bridge YouTube Channel
• Start Your Automation Bridge Community Membership
• Watch the 3 Segments Webinar Training

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Ep. 191 - Looking past the typical marketing automation, where else in your business can you implement automated systems to drive efficient scaling? This week, Chris invites on Irit Levy to discuss the vast potential of automation beyond just marketing processes. Irit shares successful use case scenarios where she optimized task management which led to automating daily recurring tasks and reducing both overwhelm and human error. She also highlights unique ways she’s using automation in her own business, like using Airtable for her CRM which allows proposals to be generated with a single click after calls. Tune in to learn how you can identify new areas that are ready for automation in your own processes, from project management to customer interactions.

What You'll Learn:

• 4:36 - Chris and Irit share their opinions on using AI in your business
• 13:18 - Why it’s important to look at software choices through the lens of future scalability needs rather than just current requirements
• 21:50 - Irit’s secret process that will lead to identifying optimization opportunities in your business
• 25:12 - The hidden costs of team members constantly switching between disparate tools and doing manual data entry
• 27:03 - Why consistent naming conventions are so crucial for automating processes effectively
• 34:34 - What makes Google Workspace such a powerful hub for automations
• 37:51 - How has Irit been able to use Airtable as her full CRM system while integrating proposals, contracts and more

About Our Guest:

Irit helps coaches, creatives, and consultants scale their businesses with process, strategy, software, and automation. She has provided 13,697+ software recommendations over the years. But at her core, she's about SCALABILITY, not software. Her approach is different because she believes technology is just a tool. It's only as valuable as it is helpful.

Resources:

• Airtable
• Google Workspace
• Subscribe to the Automation Bridge YouTube Channel
• Start Your Automation Bridge Community Membership
• Watch the 3 Segments Webinar Training

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• 3:21 - Brian shares what inspired him to create Puzzle
• 14:45 - The key difference between shallow documentation tools like Lucidchart and the deep documentation approach of Puzzle
• 17:57 - How Puzzle's relational database allows you to pivot and view processes connected to teams, roles and tools
• 27:47 - Recommended ways for getting started with mapping processes in Puzzle's blank canvas
• 29:41 - Which tools Puzzle integrates with to easily visualize existing workflows
• 38:56 - Why Brian views Puzzle as an "operational journal" for continuous process improvement
• 43:19 - High-level maps VS granular detailed maps - and which works better in Puzzle

• Start Your Free Trial of Puzzle
• Subscribe to the Automation Bridge YouTube Channel
• Start Your Automation Bridge Community Membership
• Watch the 3 Segments Webinar Training