No More Free For Free & Q1 Updates - Ep 207

In this episode, I share what changes when we stop doing free work that doesn’t lead anywhere and start building offers that respect our time and our audience’s goals. I break down how “No More Free For Free” reshapes speaking, webinars, memberships, and the way to plan paid events. Other topics include:• why we should stop apologizing for gaps and just jump back in • the “No More Free For Free” rule and what it means in practice • how we ask “Do you have a speaker budget?” early and confidently • why you consider stop doing free webinars, office hours, and masterclasses • my shift toward serving solopreneurs, small business owners, and teams with real budgets • how Marketing With Meller delivers ongoing value through monthly live, virtual sessions • how my signature program, The Recipe For Social Selling on LinkedIn, rotates coaching topics so members never feel behind • my goal of 24 paid speaking engagements and the lessons I learned from saying yes to a “free” gig • becoming an international speaker after UpLift Live 2026 in the UK • the Small Business Marketing Summit and the speaker lineup built for practical action https://www.mellermarketing.com/sbms2026Shout Outs include:Carol Dorsey (VA Services) https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroledorsey/Joshua Meller https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshmeller/Giulia Santos dos Reis https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuliasantosdosreis/UpLift Live Planning Team:John Espirian https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnespirian/Jeremy Freeman https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessbrainbox/Gus Bhandal https://www.linkedin.com/in/mguruuk/Small Business Marketing Summit speakers & topics:Pam Lippitt: From Hello to Success: Creating the Network that worked for youTom Wells: The numbers behind your best marketing decisionsElaine Belson: Why people overthink marketing and how to stopUmut Aslan: Building an ideal customer profile to move "from confusion to clarityLinda Brubaker: Ditch Your What and Sell Your WhyJudi Hays: Building a LinkedIn presence that attracts high fee clientsAnnette Richmond: Less stress, more fun, better videoNancie Steinberg: Getting media coverage without a PR agencyLori Jo Vest: Why certain AI-generated videos and copy fail to sellChristopher G. Johnson: The 10 minute meeting fixLori Vajda: How to lodge expertise in an audience's memoryLiz M. Lopez: Dominating your business successSupport the show**************************************My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie.  Visit mellermarketing.com Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller (click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)