Close The Deal Podcast

You're attending networking events, meeting people, and making connections. But are those connections turning into real business relationships? On this episode of Close The Deal Podcast, Ewell Smith welcomes longtime friend and business relationship expert John Barranco to discuss why networking doesn't end when you exchange business cards. John has spent more than 20 years working in sports, sales, marketing, and relationship building. He's also helped grow the Breakfast of Champions network...

You're spending money on Google Ads, but are those leads actually becoming customers? For many business owners, the problem isn't simply getting more leads. It's what happens after someone clicks an ad, visits your website, or calls your business. In this episode of Close The Deal Podcast, Ewell Smith sits down with John Sanders, founder of RevKey, to discuss three areas that can make or break your Google Ads results. John shares lessons from managing advertising for mental health practices, ...

You're collecting leads, booking appointments, and staying busy. But are you actually closing deals? Sales trainer and author Lisa C. Laird, known as The Closer, joins Ewell Smith on Close The Deal Podcast to tackle one of the most persistent problems in sales: poor follow-up. Lisa explains why sales teams can become obsessed with prospecting numbers while overlooking the opportunities they've already created. She shares three practical ways to improve your follow-up process and turn more act...

AI is changing how we sell. But are we sacrificing the human connection that actually closes deals? In this episode of Close The Deal Podcast, Ewell Smith talks with Christopher Hughes, a sales professional with more than 25 years of experience, about the growing dependence on artificial intelligence in sales. AI can speed up research, improve writing, and automate repetitive work. But Christopher warns that when everyone relies on the same technology, sales communication starts sounding the ...

A private equity buyout can deliver a big check. But what happens after the deal closes? For business owners, private equity offers a chance to monetize years of hard work and address succession challenges. But the payout may come with a loss of control, staffing pressures, and an uncertain timeline for future returns. Ewell Smith welcomes John Scott, a partner at Anders CPA in St. Louis, to Close The Deal Podcast for a practical conversation about the risks and opportunities of private equit...