A Founder's Lab

Welcome back to Day 29 of my 30-day "Monetize Before You Make It" challenge! In this raw and honest update, I'm sharing why my cold email campaign didn't go as planned and the major pivot I'm making. Sometimes failure teaches us more than success ever could.🔥 What You'll Learn:- Why my manufacturing-focused email campaign had low reply rates- The technical issues I discovered that hurt my results - My strategic pivot from manufacturing to helping in-house marketing teams- How I'm repositioning to serve CMOs, VPs, and heads of marketing- My new approach: A/B testing different company sizes and messaging- Why "failure" only happens when you quit💡 Key Takeaway: A fail never means give up. The definition of fail is the day you decide to give up and quit.This is real entrepreneurship - messy, unpredictable, but full of learning opportunities. I'm pivoting my 4-week program to help in-house digital marketing teams become strategic thinkers and avoid layoffs.Coming up: One-on-one founder conversations and what I've learned in 60+ days on this channel.Drop a comment below - what challenges are you facing in your business? Would you like to see more challenge content?#entrepreneur #solopreneur #businesspivot #30daychallenge #digitalmarketing #startup

Lots goes into launching a new program, and what better way to share my experience with you than to have you join me on a 30 day challenge. You'll hear about my awful email campaign and my no-show VA and what I decide moving forward. Comment below and let me know your questions - and hey join me in this challenge!

If you've been watching or listening along - I'm all in on a 30 day challenge to build a brand new offer to a brand new group of potential students. I decided to finally go all in on group coaching and this is my way of moving from 1:1 deliverable client work to group coaching and you're watching my entire process.

This is week 2 of my 30 Day Beta Launch Challenge yo! Hey I'd love it if you wanted to join me here - if you've never launched anything but always wanted to - check me out and let's do this together!

In this episode, Janet Bartoli introduces her 30-day challenge aimed at launching a beta program for digital marketing professionals in the manufacturing industry. She shares her motivations, the structure of the program, the technology tools she will use, and her weekly tasks to ensure accountability and progress. The conversation emphasizes the importance of overcoming fears associated with launching new initiatives and she's inviting you to join her in the challenge!

In this episode of A Founders Lab, Brian Saemann shares the real story of building a business with his wife, surviving the Great Recession, handling toxic clients, and mastering mindset as a long-game entrepreneur. From “The Dip” to mental thermostats to scaling without burnout, this is a no-fluff conversation for founders who want to grow smart—and stay sane doing it.Show Notes and Resources:Brian's Cell Phone: +1 704-804-3287GoBeyondSEO: https://gobeyondseo.com/ Connect with Brian on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-saemann-seo-and-cro-05214230/

Welcome to A Founders LabThink SEO is dead? Think again—organic search is still huge, but 59% of Google queries now end without a click. In this video, I’m sharing three smarter marketing channels you need to invest in for 2025 to diversify your traffic and reach your ideal customers where they already are. From a strategic YouTube video plan to “zero‑click” brand touchpoints, these frameworks will ensure you’re not putting all your eggs in one SEO basket.

If you're still trying to serve everyone, you're falling behind. Want to Amplify Your Brand? Head over to https://www.bartoliconsulting.com/amplify I break down why niching down isn’t just a smart move—it’s essential for scaling your service-based business. I’ll share the exact process I used (including the niches I tested and dropped), how to know when a niche isn’t working, and what finally helped me grow faster with less effort.#nicheresearch #entrepreneurship #businessgrowth

In this episode of A Founders Lab, Janet Bartoli goes right at her own mindset shifts that have held her back. If you’re a solo founder, creator, consultant, or service provider… and you’ve been stuck in your head trying to get traction—this is for you.These 3 mindset traps held me back for years. I’ll share what they are and how to break free from them.I also share a few great resources to help you, the founder, make it through the tough times.

Struggling to stay sharp on sales calls? In this video, I’ll walk you through my exact pre- and post-call process using Fathom.video and ChatGPT—the two tools I never get on a sales call without. You’ll learn how to run smarter calls, prep faster, avoid rookie mistakes (like talking too much or asking cringey small talk questions), and actually close more deals. If you're doing any kind of sales calls, you need to watch this.✅ How to automate your call notes✅ What NOT to do on a sales call✅ How ChatGPT can act as your personal sales coach

Welcome to the reset.This trailer episode is where I tell the truth — about how this show started, what it was originally meant to be, and why I’m shifting direction now.I originally launched this podcast to support my consulting business in the B2B space (which I still run). But somewhere along the way, I realized I wanted to speak to a different group:Founders. Creators. Consultants. The ones building something new — and trying to do it smart.In this episode, I’ll share a bit about my journey — from corporate to laid off (3x), to landing clients like StubHub, and building my business from scratch — and how this show is now focused on helping you build real systems, launch authority platforms, and skip the hard lessons I had to learn the long way.If you're trying to figure out how to grow your business without burning out or guessing your way through it — you're in the right place.

All too often I hear so many small and medium businesses getting ripped off from their marketing agencies. In this episode, I'll share with you 11 Things to Look Out for and I'll address what to do if you were burned by one of these bad agencies. Show Notes: Recommended Links: 1. Amplify your brand head over to bartoliconsulting.com/amplify to take advantage of my free 3 part video series on helping you amplify your brand. 2. Head over to my YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@janetbartoli

Today I am interviewing Adam Levin, founder of Information Experts and NexCo National Adam has been in business since the late ‘90s - he’s been in the website building game for some time, lots has of course changed, and he shares a few really insightful and helpful bits for those of you just getting started. You can reach Adam via email [email protected] Or by visiting his website, informationexperts.com

Ever feel like you're not qualified to lead your business, even though the results speak for themselves? You’re not alone. Imposter syndrome is a hidden battle that affects even the most successful founders

Are you still relying solely on Google Search to drive customers to your business? In this episode, we deliver a wake-up call for business owners stuck in the one-channel mindset. As we enter 2025, the digital marketing landscape has shifted dramatically, with platforms like ChatGPT, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram becoming essential for customer discovery. Find out why your old strategies are no longer enough and uncover three critical steps to diversify your marketing efforts, avoid declining sales, and future-proof your growth. Tune in for actionable insights that will keep your business ahead of the curve. Join me Live on YouTube - head over to Youtube.com/@janetbartoli for a live stream on Jan 31 at 12Noon ET

Create a 90-day video content plan for your business to stay on track and determine what content is most effective. This will also give you data to analyze and improve upon. Make sure the content has a clear goal and mix of video and written text, focusing on middle-of-funnel information that AI cannot answer. Stick to a consistent publishing schedule and use YouTube as a platform to reach and engage with your audience. Also, consider monetizing your channel if your audience is actively watching and engaging In this episode, Janet discusses the importance of video marketing for businesses today. She shares some recent statistics and explains why video marketing can be a powerful tool for any type of business. Video marketing is more time-efficient, engaging, and builds trust and relatability with the audience. Show Notes: Links or products mentioned in this episode 1. Opus Clip https://www.opus.pro/ 2. Youtube - Janet’s channel youtube.com/@janetbartoli 3. Join the Waitlist - www.bartoliconsulting.com/join-the-waitlist

As we close out 2024, it’s time to reflect, reset, and get bold with our goals for 2025. In this episode, I dive into the power of goal-setting, why writing them down increases your chances of success by 42%, and the creative ways I track progress throughout the year—like my favorite “post-it note in a jar” method. We’ll explore how mindset can be your biggest asset or barrier, with insights from Amy Porterfield and Dr. Benjamin Hardy on setting goals that scare you and using time as a flexible tool for growth. I’ll challenge you to identify one audacious goal that will transform your life and business next year. Whether you’re gearing up for the new year or just starting your entrepreneurial journey, this episode will inspire you to aim higher, stay bold, and never give up.

In this episode, we dive into the mindset every founder needs to embrace: failure isn’t the enemy; it’s the path to success. I share lessons from my own entrepreneurial journey, including how ditching traditional proposals for a strategic assessment transformed my business. We’ll look at Sir James Dyson’s 5,000 prototypes, discuss why persistence always beats giving up, and explore the powerful insights from You2 by Price Pritchett, PhD. I’ll even read a pivotal excerpt on “Seeking Failure” from page 25 of this game-changing book. Ready to reframe failure as your biggest ally? Let’s get started! Links to my recommended Resources: You2 - Here's the link https://www.amazon.com/You-Velocity-Multiplying-Personal-Effectiveness/dp/0944002048 Amplify Your Brand - www.bartoliconsulting.com/amplify

Common mistakes small business owners make with marketing, such as hiring unqualified interns or outsourcing without a clear strategy. The importance of creating a marketing plan, determining your messaging, and consistently delivering content. Why consistency and measurement are critical to building traction in digital marketing. The value of starting small, testing strategies yourself, and hiring experts only after establishing a proven model. Recommended Resources: Justin Welsh's "The Saturday Solopreneur" newsletter. justinwelsh.me Insights from Rand Fishkin, founder of SparkToro. The BCG's Digital Marketing Assessment for a custom 6-month plan to improve your online presence and audience engagement.

In this special 1:1 episode of The Founder's Lab, Janet Bartoli, founder of The Bartoli Consulting Group, takes the spotlight, sharing her unique journey from corporate marketing to building her own business. Janet opens up about pivotal moments, mindset shifts, and the lessons that have shaped her as a founder. She also offers insights for aspiring entrepreneurs, highlighting the value of resilience, purpose, and aligning business goals with personal values. Links: www.bartoliconsulting.com/amplify to sign up to a Free 3 Video training. Head over to my youtube channel @janetbartoli

Feeling isolated as a business owner? You’re not alone. In this episode of A Founders Lab, I, Janet Bartoli, explore the deep sense of disconnection that can come with entrepreneurship—and how to find your way through it. If your friends and family don’t understand your business struggles, or you’re surrounded by advice but missing genuine connections, this mindset session is for you. We’ll dig into the reasons behind that endless mind chatter, the need to connect with like-minded people, and ways to shift your mindset for growth. Whether you’re up late with thoughts about your latest launch, a LinkedIn post’s impact, or how to make your next offer stick, join me for real talk and insights designed to keep you moving forward with clarity and purpose.

Most small business owners focus on 1 marketing activity or channel - But, Marketing campaigns using at least three channels or platforms have a 494% higher order rate than single-channel campaigns. I'll help you realize the differences and how to get started.

Welcome to A Founder's Lab! I’m your host, Janet Bartoli—a 20-year search marketing veteran, business consultant, and founder. In this podcast, we explore the three pillars of success: mastering skills, cultivating the entrepreneurial mindset, and learning from 1:1 conversations with industry experts and fellow business owners. Each episode will focus on one of the following critical business growth builders… mindset, strategy, and skills specifically designed for founders of businesses generating less than $5 million annually. Some weeks, I’ll dive deep into topics like growing your business without financial backing, handling the stress of maintaining consistent growth, and leveraging masterminds. We’ll cover everything from marketing and sales skills to the ins and outs of hiring and firing—always with a focus on how to reach the next level in your business. I’ll share my experiences, from helping small husband-and-wife teams grow their $1M business to consulting with mid-sized companies as they scaled from $30M to $70M, and even building marketing organizations for global brands across multiple countries. At times, I was juggling a full-time job while building my own business. Now, as a full-time founder, for the last 5 years, this is my lab.