Email Mistakes Killing Your Open Rates (and How to Fix Them) w/ Michael Barber

Small Business PR

#Entrepreneur #Business #Self-Improvement #Marketing #Gloria Chou #Public Relations #Podcasting Education

1:40:41

Episode Notes [00:00] The Power of Vulnerability [01:57] Meet Ashley Kirsner [03:55] The Impact of Active Listening [05:02] A Transformative Call [06:25] The Magic of Open-Ended Questions [13:28] The Role of Basic Needs in Emotional Well-being [17:10] The Birth of Skip the Small Talk [25:18] The First Skip the Small Talk Event [28:39] The Evolution of Skip the Small Talk [32:56] Online Events During COVID-19 [34:58] Work At An Anxiety Lab [38:08] The Importance of Positive Questions [42:40] The Power of Repeated Questions [45:33] Attending a Skip the Small Talk Event [46:14] The Speed Dating Format [47:21] Encouraging Anxious Participants [48:45] The Power of Sharing Deeply [49:32] Consistent Findings on Vulnerability [50:13] Understanding Oversharing [51:11] Structure and Time Management [52:18] Facilitators and Norms [53:12] Contact Information Norms [55:06] Intentional Iteration and Safety [56:37] The Role of Participants [59:01] Financial Accessibility and Investment [01:00:43] Balancing Accessibility and Compensation [01:01:49] Compensating Facilitators [01:04:39] Physiological Benefits of Deep Conversations [01:07:00] Research on Loneliness and Connection [01:09:02] The Impact of Loneliness on Health [01:10:41] The Role of Sleep in Connection [01:13:42] The Importance of Group Interactions [01:15:10] The Power of Intentional Conversations [01:20:26] Learning from Gathering Experts [01:23:19] Right Now Question & Following Curiosity [01:30:18] Where You Can Find Skip The Small Talk [01:35:45] Takeaway Thoughts & Questions Resources Mentioned Skip The Small Talk Chris Voss Finding Good with Brian Fretwell Dr. Nicholas Epley DBT - Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Brene Brown How We Gather by Priya Parker Power of Ritual by Casper ter Kuile How We Gather by Dr. Angie Thurston - Harvard Divinity School Death of Rasputin Harvard Graduate School of Education Harvard Wharton Business School MIT GE Aviation Act Blue Beauty Pill Producer Ben Ford Questions Asked When did you first understand the power of questions? How would this possibly work? What are we doing here? How could this possibly be effective? What is it that asking questions actually does for us? In this deep end of the pool, for what you experience as a suicide hotline counselor, what does that look like? How did that impact you? Were there questions that you found most impactful on that end? Are you feeling suicidal right now? Do you have a weapon? Do you have a plan? Do you have any objects to complete that plan with you right now? Are you comfortable being in a different room from it while we're having this conversation? When's the last time you slept? When's the last time you ate? Can we get some food in you? Can we take a walk? Do they know anything you're experiencing right now? If the roles were reversed and it were your partner or your cousin or your parent who were going through something like this, would you want them to tell you about it? Do you think they wanna know if you're going through a tough time? What if we had a space where we were all on the same page? Can you take a moment to go home and be a little more vulnerable with your roommate, partner, family, or neighbors? Can you take that skill with you into the rest of your life? How are you doing right now? How did you decide to do your first skip-the-small-talk event? When's the next one gonna be? Is this even possible? How do you have people switch partners in a way that makes sense online? How do we do this? What do you got for us? How do we do this for like hundreds of people? Can you talk about that story of where you pulled the questions from, and why you chose the different questions that you did? Where do you live? What do you like about where you live? What's the worst thing you've ever experienced? When's the last time you cried? When's the last time you experienced awe? What's something you're proud of that you don't normally get to share with people or that might not be on a resume? Specifically asking what are pieces of yourself that you don't normally get to share? What is a favorite ice cream? What was something that this organization has done right to help you? What do you think it is about the structure that allows for that to happen? What other elements are at play here? Finances would be a barrier, can you help me out? Do you wanna do it for free? Due to your position in society, does it make you more or less likely to go to prison? How can we do subtle things so that you don't have to necessarily out yourself as having an invisible disability, but still get your needs met? How can we make people with marginalized identities feel comfortable opening up? How do we make those spaces feel safer? What is your right now question? What makes an experience awesome? What makes storytelling awesome? Why was this moment so powerful? Why do we dim the lights a little at dinner parties What little things can you do to trick your physiology to be more immersed in an experience? Does doing a new novel activity with someone, trick your brain into being more excited about hanging out with someone? How can you make these memories more tactile? What does the tablecloth feel like? What do the napkins feel like? Can you just do five more of these? Can we do this throughout the year? What assumptions are you making about how much others want to know about your inner world, and how might testing those assumptions change your relationships? How might your community benefit from structured opportunities to practice deeper connection, and what role could you play in creating those spaces? If you treated meaningful conversation as essential to your health, as sleep or exercise, how would that change your daily priorities and choices? Are your questions designed to extract information or to create conditions where others can share the best parts of themselves?…

about a year ago 35:17

MP3•Episode home

In this must-listen episode, we break down the latest email marketing trends, how to improve your email deliverability, and actionable strategies to boost open rates and increase conversions. Don’t let these changes hurt your sales—learn how to optimize your email strategy today!

The Power of Email Marketing in 2024: What You Need to Know

How email marketing gives you full control over customer relationships
The 0.3% spam complaint rule and how to maintain a healthy email list
Why cleaning your email list regularly is more important than ever
Segmentation strategies that drive higher engagement
The right way to repurpose content without devaluing your email list
How AI Can Help Write Better Emails—If Used Correctly

Email marketing is evolving fast, and staying ahead of these updates is crucial for maintaining strong open rates, engagement, and revenue. Don’t let privacy regulations, new email categorization rules, or stricter spam filters derail your success! 🚀

If you want to land your first feature for free without any connections, I want to invite you to watch my PR Secrets Masterclass, where I reveal the exact methods thousands of bootstrapping small businesses use to hack their own PR and go from unknown to being a credible and sought-after industry expert. Register now at www.gloriachoupr.com/masterclass.

Watch the #1 PR Secrets Masterclass to get you featured for free in 30 days
Join the Small Biz PR Facebook Group to get the best PR Tips
Download the 10 ways to get free PR for your small business
DM the word “PITCH” to us on Instagram to get a pitching freebie https://www.instagram.com/gloriachoupr
Connect with Gloria Chou on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriaychou
Join Gloria Chou's PR Community- https://www.facebook.com/groups/428633254951941
Learn more about Michael J. Barber:
Website: https://michaeljbarber.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljamesbarber/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeljbarber/

201 episodes

Small Business PR

Email Mistakes Killing Your Open Rates (and How to Fix Them) w/ Michael Barber

Small Business PR

published about a year ago

MP3•Episode home

The Power of Email Marketing in 2024: What You Need to Know

How email marketing gives you full control over customer relationships
The 0.3% spam complaint rule and how to maintain a healthy email list
Why cleaning your email list regularly is more important than ever
Segmentation strategies that drive higher engagement
The right way to repurpose content without devaluing your email list
How AI Can Help Write Better Emails—If Used Correctly

Watch the #1 PR Secrets Masterclass to get you featured for free in 30 days
Join the Small Biz PR Facebook Group to get the best PR Tips
Download the 10 ways to get free PR for your small business
DM the word “PITCH” to us on Instagram to get a pitching freebie https://www.instagram.com/gloriachoupr
Connect with Gloria Chou on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriaychou
Join Gloria Chou's PR Community- https://www.facebook.com/groups/428633254951941
Learn more about Michael J. Barber:
Website: https://michaeljbarber.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeljamesbarber/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaeljbarber/

201 episodes

#Entrepreneur #Business #Self-Improvement #Marketing #Gloria Chou #Public Relations #Podcasting Education

All episodes

Small Business PR

1
How to Get Your Product into Retail Stores and Wholesale Accounts w/ Katie Hunt 22:46

5 days ago22:46

22:46

In this episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, I sit down with Katie Hunt, founder and CEO of Proof to Product and host of the Proof to Product Podcast. Katie has helped tens of thousands of product-based business owners land wholesale deals with retailers like Anthropologie, Target, and The Container Store—without relying on paid ads or flashy trade shows. Whether you’re selling candles on Etsy or bath and body products from your kitchen, this episode is your go-to guide for getting started with wholesale. How to Know If You’re Ready for Wholesale Katie breaks down what really makes a product “wholesale-ready”—from pricing and inventory to minimum order quantities and production methods. Spoiler: You don’t need 15,000 units in stock to get started. Pricing for Profit (Not Panic) Katie shares why underpricing is a red flag to buyers and what the term “keystone pricing” really means. If you’ve ever been confused about wholesale vs. retail margins, this part is a must-listen. The Pitch Process That Gets Buyers to Say YES Pitching wholesale buyers is a lot like pitching the media. Katie walks us through: How to find the right buyers (hint: use LinkedIn, social, and direct mail) Why cold pitching still works—and what to say What not to do (like showing up unannounced at a shop!) Why PR and Social Proof Still Matter in Wholesale While emotional storytelling matters more in DTC, wholesale buyers still look for credibility. Katie explains how PR features, retail testimonials, and even just having your ducks in a row can help build buyer trust. Real Talk: It Can Take Time—But It's Worth It Katie shares how one wholesale buyer took four years to finally place an order—and why persistence, visibility, and relationship-building paid off. Success Story Spotlight: Alex from Shake On The A Katie highlights the journey of a client who went from making greeting cards on her kitchen table to building a multi-million-dollar brand in 3,500+ stores. Final Takeaway Don’t let fear or lack of knowledge stop you from going after wholesale. As Katie says, “If you don’t go to the tryout, you’re telling yourself no.” ✅ Know your pricing ✅ Build relationships ✅ Use systems (Katie teaches them!) ✅ Hit send—even if you’re scared If you want to see your products on store shelves, this episode is your first step.…

Small Business PR

1
Recession-Proof Retail: What’s Actually Working in 2025 w/ Cathy Donovan 23:17

14 days ago23:17

23:17

In this episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, I sit down with Cathy Wagner—retail industry veteran, founder of RETAILMavens, and host of The Richer Retailer Podcast. With nearly 30 years of experience in independent retail, Cathy has seen it all: running her own brick-and-mortar stores, navigating bankruptcy, and building back stronger to now help small retail businesses scale to 7-figure revenue. If you’re an independent retailer or product-based business owner struggling to adapt to inflation, tariffs, AI in retail, and shifting consumer behavior, this episode is your wake-up call—and your roadmap to survive and thrive in today’s economy. Why Retailers Fail (and What the 7-Figure Ones Do Differently) According to Cathy, retail isn’t dead—but staying stagnant is. The top-performing retail businesses embrace change, silence self-doubt, and make data-driven decisions, not emotional ones. She unpacks the four traits that successful retail founders share: Kill the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) Reframe fear as excitement Focus on what you can control Know and use your numbers for better retail sales growth Real Tactics You Can Use Right Now to Grow Retail Sales Forget the hype. Cathy breaks down real, proven strategies that help retail store owners boost profits: Adjust your retail pricing strategy to reflect actual cost increases Use email marketing for retail (minimum 2x/week) as your most profitable channel Curate tighter product assortments to reduce overwhelm and increase conversions Host low-cost retail events focused on connection and community Build brand trust by leading with your core business values AI for Non-Techie Retailers: A Simple Hack That Works No need to master tech. Cathy shares how small retail business owners can use ChatGPT to gain customer insights from top-performing content. Just copy and paste your best emails or product pages into AI and ask: Who is my best customer? Who is NOT my customer? What messaging drives purchase behavior? This simple AI habit has delivered surprising clarity and results for Cathy’s clients—and it can for you too. Why Neutrality Is No Longer a Strategy in Retail Branding You don’t need to be political—but you do need to be personal. Cathy makes a compelling case for ditching generic, faceless branding and embracing authenticity. Whether you’re selling confidence, comfort, or community, your brand story and values should shine through every retail marketing email, event, and conversation. Final Takeaway You don’t need to show up everywhere or master every tech tool. What independent retail business owners do need: ✅ A clear brand stance ✅ Consistent and authentic communication ✅ A community-first mindset ✅ Courage to evolve with market changes Whether you’re struggling to compete or trying to grow a small retail business in a noisy digital world, this episode reminds you: you’re not alone—and the best is still ahead. If you want to land your first feature for free without any connections, I want to invite you to watch my PR Secrets Masterclass, where I reveal the exact methods thousands of bootstrapping small businesses use to hack their own PR and go from unknown to being a credible and sought-after industry expert. Register now at www.gloriachoupr.com/masterclass . Watch the #1 PR Secrets Masterclass to get you featured for free in 30 days Join the Small Biz PR Facebook Group to get the best PR Tips Download the 10…

Small Business PR

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The End of the ‘Online Expert’ Era? 21:10

21 days ago21:10

21:10

In this episode of the Gloria Chou PR Podcast, I share the three massive shifts shaking up the online business world—especially in the age of AI, content saturation, and consumer fatigue. If you’re a coach, service provider, or expert selling digital products, this episode is your wake-up call. Why the “Information Business” Is on Life Support AI has made information ubiquitous. The era of selling access to templates, funnels, and plug-and-play “secret formulas” is over. People are tired of cookie-cutter advice. They want real results and real connection. In this episode, I break down why thought leaders clinging to old tactics are struggling—and what’s working instead. Why Pain Point Marketing Is Dead—and What to Do Instead The “I help” bio. The pain, agitate, solve framework. The fear-based FOMO countdowns. All of it? Losing its impact. I explain why today’s buyers are more discerning than ever—and how I’ve pivoted my messaging from fixing people to illuminating their power . How Community Is Outperforming Celebrity in the New Digital Economy Spoiler alert: solo “gurus” are out. Shared connection and community-driven growth is in. From handwritten notes in gift bags to DMs that turn into Forbes features, I share how building actual relationships—not just followers—has helped our small business community thrive. This Episode Is For You If: ✅ You’re exhausted by outdated marketing tactics ✅ You’re wondering why your funnel isn't converting like it used to ✅ You want to market with integrity and actually enjoy your business again ✅ You believe in service over sleaze, and connection over clicks Key Shifts We Cover: Why consumers now spot inauthentic marketing in 5 seconds flat How to personalize and humanize your offers—without scaling burnout What happens when you follow up years later just to help (and how that builds brand trust) Final Takeaway: We’re in a new era of business. Fast, big, and automated isn’t better—it’s broken. If you want to stay relevant, profitable, and aligned , this episode is your must-listen roadmap. If you're building content to sell and not to influence, this is your tactical blueprint. If you want to land your first feature for free without any connections, I want to invite you to watch my PR Secrets Masterclass, where I reveal the exact methods thousands of bootstrapping small businesses use to hack their own PR and go from unknown to being a credible and sought-after industry expert. Register now at www.gloriachoupr.com/masterclass . Watch the #1 PR Secrets Masterclass to get you featured for free in 30 days Join the Small Biz PR Facebook Group to get the best PR Tips Download the 10 ways to get free PR for your small business DM the word “PITCH” to us on Instagram to get a pitching freebie https://www.instagram.com/gloriachoupr Connect with Gloria Chou on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/in/gloriaychou Join Gloria Chou's PR Community- https://www.facebook.com/groups/428633254951941…

Small Business PR

30 weeks ago21:23