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Navigating the Best Digital Agency Conferences With Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran of Rise25

Jeremy Weisz

Dr. Jeremy Weisz is the Co-founder of Rise25, a company whose mission is to help businesses connect to their ideal prospects, referral partners and strategic partners using a podcast. With over 15 years of experience in podcasting, he has been featuring top entrepreneurs with video interviews since 2010 and was a senior producer at one of the early top business podcasts, helping to put systems in place for backend operations. Jeremy strongly believes that podcasting is an essential tool for B2B businesses, as it fosters valuable connections and relationships that can lead to clients, referral partners, and even business partnerships.

John CorcoranJohn Corcoran is the Co-founder of Rise25. He is a former Clinton White House Writer and Speechwriter to the Governor of California, with a diverse background spanning law, entrepreneurship, and writing. John has authored three books on relationship building and client acquisition. He has been hosting the Smart Business Revolution podcast since 2012, interviewing entrepreneurs and business leaders from various fields. John’s experience includes working in Hollywood and Silicon Valley, and running his own law firm catering to small businesses.

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Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

  • [2:30] Why meeting just one new person at a conference can have lasting benefits
  • [3:44] The impact of small group conversations on trust and relationship-building in business
  • [6:24] How forming connections at conferences can lead to beneficial mentorships and partnerships
  • [7:43] Why the true worth of attending digital agency conferences is multi-faceted
  • [13:00] The diverse range of speakers and attendees that big conferences like Inbound attract
  • [16:36] How online events like Niche in Control can also provide valuable learning experiences
  • [18:14] Unique aspects of international agency communities like Taan Worldwide
  • [19:24] Maximizing conference attendance through pre-event podcasting and building relationships

In this episode…

As the owner of a digital agency, have you ever questioned the real value of attending conferences geared toward your industry? With the hassle of travel, the costs involved, and the time away from day-to-day operations, is it really worth it?

According to Rise25 Co-founders John Corcoran and Dr. Jeremy Weisz, business conferences offer immense value that often extends far beyond the scheduled sessions and keynote speakers. They believe the true worth of these events lies in the organic connections and spontaneous conversations that occur when like-minded professionals gather in one place. From casual chats at the hotel bar to impromptu networking during meal breaks, these unscripted interactions frequently spark game-changing insights, lead to valuable partnerships, and foster a sense of community that is difficult to replicate in a virtual setting. John and Jeremy emphasize that even a single meaningful conversation can justify the investment in attending a conference, as it may unveil a fresh perspective, introduce a groundbreaking solution, or forge a relationship that propels your business to new heights.

In this episode of the Top Business Leaders Show, John Corcoran and Dr. Jeremy Weisz, the Co-founders of Rise25, join host Chad Franzen to dive into the benefits of attending digital conferences for agency owners. They reveal how interactions with other attendees – whether from a podcast, over dinner, or during a chance meetup – can foster trusting relationships that are vital for business success. In the vast landscape of conferences, from intimate gatherings to grand events, they outline the unique opportunities each provides.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Special Mentions:

  • Darwin Buck
  • Ian Garlic
  • Carl Smith
  • Jesse Gilmore
  • Lee Richter
  • Larry Benet
  • Jason Swenk
  • Drew McLellan
  • John Morris
  • Corey Quinn
  • Kevin Hourigan
  • Spinutech
  • Ryan Reynolds
  • Serena Williams
  • AJ Wilcox

Quotable Moments:

  • “If I meet one person at the conference, that I can carry on a relationship with beyond or even solidify, it’s worth it.”
  • “Sometimes the best conversations are at a random dinner… and someone gives really pointed advice.”
  • “Being face to face with someone can’t be replaced.”
  • “The power of being around a conference accelerates the experience of getting to know them.”
  • “I have a low bar when I go to conferences; if I get one tip that I can bring back to the business, it’s a win.”

Action Steps:

  1. Identify and attend two or three key conferences each year relevant to your industry: Focusing on a select few conferences allows for deeper networking and learning opportunities.
  2. Use conferences as a springboard to foster deeper connections by scheduling meetings or get-togethers with other attendees: Personal encounters can enhance trust and open doors to future collaborations.
  3. Engage with speakers and exhibitors prior to the conference to establish a rapport that can be solidified in person: Pre-conference communication sets the stage for more fruitful in-person interactions.
  4. Stay open to spontaneous interactions and conversations that may yield valuable insights or advice: Organic networking often leads to unexpected and invaluable business wisdom.
  5. After attending a conference, implement at least one actionable tip that can benefit your business: Applying learned concepts helps to realize the tangible benefits of participation.

Sponsor for this episode…

At Rise25, we’re committed to helping you connect with your Dream 100 referral partners, clients, and strategic partners through our done-for-you podcast solution.

We’re a professional podcast production agency that makes creating a podcast effortless. Since 2009, our proven system has helped thousands of B2B businesses build strong relationships with referral partners, clients, and audiences without doing the hard work.

What do you need to start a podcast?

When you use our proven system, all you need is an idea and a voice. We handle the strategy, production, and distribution – you just need to show up and talk.

The Rise25 podcasting solution is designed to help you build a profitable podcast. This requires a specific strategy, and we’ve got that down pat. We focus on making sure you have a direct path to ROI, which is the most important component. Plus, our podcast production company takes any heavy lifting of production and distribution off your plate.

We make distribution easy.

We’ll distribute each episode across more than 11 unique channels, including iTunes, Spotify, and Google Podcasts. We’ll also create copy for each episode and promote your show across social media.

Co-founders Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran credit podcasting as being the best thing they have ever done for their businesses. Podcasting connected them with the founders/CEOs of P90x, Atari, Einstein Bagels, Mattel, Rx Bars,  YPO, EO, Lending Tree, Freshdesk, and many more.

The relationships you form through podcasting run deep. Jeremy and John became business partners through podcasting. They have even gone on family vacations and attended weddings of guests who have been on the podcast.

Podcast production has a lot of moving parts and is a big commitment on our end; we only want to work with people who are committed to their business and to cultivating amazing relationships.

Are you considering launching a podcast to acquire partnerships, clients, and referrals? Would you like to work with a podcast agency that wants you to win?

Contact us now at support@rise25.com or book a call at rise25.com/bookcall.

Rise25 Co-founders, Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran, have been podcasting and advising about podcasting since 2008.

Episode Transcript

Intro 0:04

Welcome to the Top Business Leaders Show. Powered by Rise25 Media, we feature top founders, executives and business leaders from all over the world.

Chad Franzen 0:20

Chad Franzen here, co host of the Top Business Leaders Show where we feature CEOs, entrepreneurs and top leaders in the business world. This episode is brought to you by Rise25. We help b2b businesses reach their dream relationships and connect with more clients referrals and strategic partnerships and get ROI through done for you podcasts. If you have a b2b business and want to build great relationships, there’s no better way to do it than to profile the people and companies you admire on your own podcast. To learn more, go to rise25.com, or email us at support at rise. 20 five.com I’m thrilled to be joined today by the two co founders of Rise25, Dr. Jeremy Weisz and John Corcoran. Guys, thanks so much for joining me today. How are you?

John Corcoran 1:04

Great. This is exciting.

Jeremy Weisz 1:05

Thanks for inviting us on the Top Business Leaders Show.

Chad Franzen 1:09

If it’s exciting for you, it’s twice as exciting for me. Hey, today we’re going to talk about it’s kind of a top top seven episode of digital conferences, the top seven digital conferences out there in your esteemed opinions. Tell me John, how often do you find yourself going to these conferences? And what value do they have for you?

John Corcoran 1:32

Sure, just to clarify, so we’re talking about conferences for digital agencies. So in person conferences, primarily, that are valuable for digital agencies to attend. And yeah, we’ve attended a bunch of these, you know, we have been to many over the years, and we’re gonna go into many of them. And there’s, for me, the value is being able to be in a room with a bunch of other people that are experiencing or going through the same types of challenges as you are. And you know, oftentimes, you know, the content is great, but also the epiphanies that you get just from a little casual conversation with someone at the bar or in the hallway or in between events or over a meal or something like that a lot of times you get one of those types of conversations that just ends up making the whole event worth it. So that’s, that’s personally for me as a co founder of an agency, that is what I get value out of it, Jeremy, how are you?

Jeremy Weisz 2:30

Yeah, I think, Chad, I love the in-person. And the way I view it, maybe I have a low bar, low expectation. But I view if I meet one person, at the conference, that I can carry on a relationship with the beyond or even see someone to solidify a relationship maybe because you know, the bonding and person is so much better than just virtual. And then if I get one tip that I can bring back to the business that will help and one tip, it could be from a speaker, it could be like John said, sometimes the best conversations are at a random dinner that you find yourself with a couple with a couple people and you’re just talking shop about a few issues you’re experiencing, and someone gives really pointed advice on something so one person I get to meet, that’s valuable one tip that I get that I can bring back to the business.

Chad Franzen 3:30

Was there a you know, you’ve you’ve been operating Rise25 For several years now has that was there ever, like a an aha moment where you were at a conference and you thought, you know, I really do appreciate what these have to offer.

John Corcoran 3:44

I think, you know, I can’t put myself to one particular, you know, point where I felt that way, but I just know that there have been many times where I’ve been usually in a smaller group, getting to know people on more of a personal level, much better than you would, you know, if you were, you know, doing a zoom call with them, because there’s there’s no replacing that, you know, there’s no replacing the being face to face with one another. And so there’s been many times where I’ve been in that kind of context with a small group of three or four or five people or something like that, or whether it’s over a meal or in the bar or something like that. You know, just talking shop and, and comparing notes and talking about challenges and sharing what’s worked for us and hearing what’s worked for them. There’s been many times where I’ve had those types of experiences where I’m like, oh, you know, I’m really it was worth the trouble of getting on the plane and flying off here and checking into the hotel and buying a ticket, all that kind of stuff. All of it is worthwhile because of the those types of relationships you get to build.

Jeremy Weisz 4:43

And Chad, you know, for me, I think of actually one of the what we’ll get into but one of the conferences that we’ve been to several times that we recommend people check out is digital marketer, you know, Traffic and Conversion conference and I remember what’s cool about the conference too is like, you’ll be talking to one person, and they’ll pull over a friend or two. And so you, you get to meet people really organically. And I remember I was talking to Scott Gray in the Traffic and Conversion a couple years back. And then he had this friend, he knew I and garlic. And so he’s like, hey, I can come over here. And I didn’t really know I in that, well, I’d heard of heard of him. And I NMB I became like best friends from that conference, I was meeting him, him pulling over someone. And then we collaborate a lot, we’ll refer people to him, he’ll refer people to us. And so that conference got pulled over I am. I mean, I and I remember at that conference, too, I stumbled across Larry Benet was there and I found myself in a conversation with Larry at like 11 at night that probably went till 1230 or something. And he’s like a master of relationships. And so I just sat actually with him. And he was talking to Lee Richter. And they were just talking relations, both of them are very, like, just amazing, with different relationships, and just give like, true givers, and I just sat and like, listen to them talk for 45 minutes, and I was just, you know, chiming in. But it was one of those things that I remember just for, like forming these little groups calm, and other people come into the group, and I get to meet those people. So I do remember that being really valuable.

John Corcoran 6:24

And just to piggyback on that, you know, actually come come to realize that you earlier today, I had a conversation over zoom with someone, we were talking about, you know, some kind of business partnership arrangement. And I realized that one of his business partners, I have hung out with at conferences at agency conferences, and because of that, you just have a much higher level of trust. And so that’s, for me a big part of the reason why, because when you’ve hung out with someone in person, or with their business partner, or someone they know closely, then it just accelerates that, that experience of getting to know them. And that that experience of building trust in one another.

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