Brand Up: Build an Unstoppable Brand That Conquers Sales (with Marian Esanu)

Marian Esanu
  • 5.0 (76)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

Do you want to build your brand online and become influential in your industry? The Brand Up Podcast ( previously Momentum Podcast ) helps you design your ultimate playbook for building a 7 figure personal or business brand from scratch. Each week host Marian Esanu, author of Brand UP, brings you the stories, strategies & lessons learned from interviewing thought leaders in marketing, sales & personal branding. For show notes and to download your Brand Up playbook, please visit www.thebrandupshow.com Brand-UP Show - ''Build an Unstoppable Brand That Conquers Sales, One Episode at a Time"

  1. 3d ago

    📈 Start Small. Build Confidence. Get Clients. - 152

    Most people don’t fail because they lack talent. They fail because they expect to feel ready before they start. In this episode of Brand Up, I break down how to go from learning a new skill to building confidence, getting your first clients, and eventually turning it into a real business. We talk about why YouTube Shorts is one of the strongest short-form platforms, how ChatGPT can help improve your content, and why Google, Instagram, and Facebook still matter even if you don’t personally use them. I also explain why there’s no perfect way to start. You can begin from home, practice on real people, offer a few services for free, and reinvest your early money into marketing before taking on expensive rent. The main lesson is simple: you do not need to have everything figured out. You need to keep practicing, stay visible, and avoid quitting before you get good. In this episode, you’ll learn how to build confidence in your skill, when to start charging, when to invest in ads, how to use social media as a business owner, and why the best business decisions depend on where you are right now. If you’re learning a new skill, starting a side business, or trying to turn your talent into consistent income, this episode will help you make the next move.

  2. Jul 13

    🔥 Why People Buy From Businesses They Already Trust - 151

    Getting customers isn’t about convincing strangers to buy. It’s about giving them enough reasons to trust you before they ever reach out. In this episode of Brand Up, I break down why visibility beats talent, how long trust actually takes to build, and why YouTube has become one of the most powerful platforms for selling high-ticket services. I also explain why every business owner needs to stop hiding what they do and start treating every conversation, social profile, and piece of content as an opportunity to build authority. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: Why people need multiple touchpoints before making a buying decisionHow reviews, testimonials, and content work together to build trustWhy YouTube creates stronger authority than short-form content aloneThe difference between getting views and creating customersHow social proof influences buying decisionsWhy every business owner should become more visible onlineThe role of long-form content in selling premium servicesWhy branding is about consistency, not perfectionHow content continues selling even while you’re offlineThe marketing system that keeps attracting customers long after you publishIf you’re building a service business and want people to trust you before the first phone call, this episode will change the way you think about content, branding, and customer acquisition.

  3. Jul 6

    🎯 Why Great Businesses Still Fail Without Marketing - 150

    You can be the best at what you do. If nobody knows you exist, it doesn’t matter. In this episode of Brand Up, I break down one of the biggest mistakes I see business owners make: spending years mastering their craft while treating marketing like an afterthought. We talk about why the best product doesn’t always win, how to identify your ideal customer before spending a dollar on advertising, and why every business owner needs to think differently the moment they decide to start a company. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: Why marketing is the skill that makes every other skill valuableThe difference between being great at your service and building a profitable businessHow to identify your ideal customer instead of trying to sell to everyoneWhy luxury businesses need a completely different marketing strategyHow customer avatars help you choose the right platforms to advertise onThe importance of recurring bookings and simple sales psychologyWhy urgency should be part of every customer conversationWhen to build a personal brand versus a business brandHow to structure your business so you can expand, franchise, or sell it laterIf you want more customers, stronger positioning, and a business built for long-term growth instead of constant hustle, this episode will change the way you think about marketing, branding, and customer acquisition.

  4. Jun 29

    🚀 Build a Business That Funds Your Life, Not Steals It - 149

    Most entrepreneurs start a business to gain freedom. Then they end up building a job they can’t escape. In this episode of Brand Up, I share the mindset shifts, marketing strategies, and lessons that completely changed the direction of my life—from arriving in the U.S. as an immigrant with three jobs, to building multiple businesses, speaking on stages, and helping entrepreneurs grow businesses that support the life they actually want. We talk about why leads are the lifeblood of every business, how to stop competing on price, and why becoming known is far more valuable than simply being good at what you do. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: Why getting comfortable being uncomfortable changes everythingThe small goals that eventually lead to big resultsHow my wife’s salon shutdown during COVID became a new business opportunityThe difference between search traffic and social media trafficHow Google, YouTube, TikTok, and Pinterest can become free market research toolsWhy your brand should become the thing people search forHow to create content people are already looking forThe three stages every customer goes through before buyingIf you’re building a business and want more clients, more freedom, and a brand that keeps growing long after you stop chasing every lead, this episode is for you.

  5. Jun 22

    🧠 The Difference Between Attention And Intent - 148

    Most business owners are asking the wrong question. It’s not who you know. It’s who knows you. In this episode of Brand Up, I break down one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from building businesses across different industries: understanding the difference between search traffic and interruption marketing. We talk about why Google and YouTube attract people who are actively looking for solutions, while platforms like Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, and LinkedIn help create awareness before someone is ready to buy. Inside this episode, you’ll learn: How to find content ideas directly from Google, YouTube, TikTok, and PinterestThe difference between organic content and paid advertisingWhy most business owners waste time trying to reinvent the wheelHow to research competitors and model what’s already workingA simple strategy for finding high-demand YouTube topicsWhy Google Business Profile is one of the most overlooked marketing tools available todayHow we turned a salon shutdown during COVID into a successful online training businessThe mindset shift that helps local businesses grow fasterIf you’re trying to get more attention, generate more leads, or create content that actually attracts customers, this episode will change the way you think about traffic, branding, and growth.

  6. Jun 15

    🎯 How To Build A Brand People Search For - 147

    Most new business owners overcomplicate marketing. In reality, if you’re starting a local service business, you only need 2 platforms: Google and Instagram. That’s it. In this episode, we break down: why Google captures buying intentwhy Instagram builds trust and attentionhow to research competitors the smart wayhow to use ChatGPT to save hours of workwhy branding changes everythingand how to stop competing on price aloneWe also talk about: customer psychologydifferent buyer awareness stagescreating your first customer avatarusing Google reviews correctlyresearching competitors through Facebook Ads Librarywhy “competition” is actually proof of demandand how to build a brand people search for by nameThis episode is for: beauty businesseslocal service businesseslash artistssalon ownersbeginners launching a businessanyone trying to get more leads consistentlyIf you’re confused about where to start with marketing… Start here.

  7. May 11

    🔥 Why Nobody Trusts Your Brand Yet - 146

    Most business owners think they need more followers, more ads, or a better website. In reality, most people just don’t trust the brand yet. In this episode, we break down why some businesses pay way less for leads, why branded searches convert better than generic searches, and how authority changes everything when it comes to marketing. We talk about: the difference between someone searching “lash salons near me” versus searching your actual brand namewhy Instagram DM ads outperform most beginner campaignshow to use low-ticket offers to bring clients through the doorwhy you should never launch ads with an empty Instagram pagethe “9 posts” strategy for new accountshow to create urgency without sounding desperatewhy most beginners price themselves wrongand how to build trust before you become well knownThis episode also goes into: Google Ads vs Instagram adsbranding psychologycustomer lifetime valuesetting up your business properlyand how to turn content into actual paying clientsIf you’re building a local service business, this episode will save you a lot of wasted time and money.

  8. May 4

    🎥 How To Turn 1 Hour Of Content Into Clients - 145

    This episode breaks a simple idea most business owners ignore: You don’t need more time. You need a system. We’re talking about how to take just 1 hour per week and turn it into consistent content, leads, and paying clients — using tools like Opus Clip and a simple posting structure that actually makes sense. No complicated setup. No overthinking. Just a repeatable system that works. Inside this episode: Why 1 hour of recording = 7–10 pieces of contentHow Opus Clip turns long videos into ready-to-post short clips (with captions + titles done for you)The simple rule most people ignore:    → every post should either educate or attract The posting ratio that works:    → 1 in 7 posts = an offer Why service businesses win when they focus on search intent (Google) firstHow one Google search can turn into a client (real example from the episode)Why most people don’t call multiple businesses — and how to be the one they choose firstThe difference between Instagram traffic vs Google intentHow to combine Google Ads + Instagram content the right wayWhy niche services (like post-op massage) attract higher-paying clientsHow to think about recurring revenue instead of one-time bookingsThe importance of setting a monthly client target (and reverse engineering it)Why you need a CRM system early (and how it changes everything)How tools like GoHighLevel help manage bookings, follow-ups, and client communicationWhy missing calls = losing money (and how to fix it)And one big shift: The moment you become a business owner, content is not random anymore. Every post has a job. This episode is for: service business ownersbeauty / wellness professionalslocal businessesanyone trying to get clients consistentlyIf you’ve been posting without a system… this will fix that.

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About

Do you want to build your brand online and become influential in your industry? The Brand Up Podcast ( previously Momentum Podcast ) helps you design your ultimate playbook for building a 7 figure personal or business brand from scratch. Each week host Marian Esanu, author of Brand UP, brings you the stories, strategies & lessons learned from interviewing thought leaders in marketing, sales & personal branding. For show notes and to download your Brand Up playbook, please visit www.thebrandupshow.com Brand-UP Show - ''Build an Unstoppable Brand That Conquers Sales, One Episode at a Time"

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