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. 2d ago

    🎯 How to Get Your First Consistent Clients - 157

    Getting a few clients through word of mouth is a great sign. But if you want to build an actual business, you can’t depend on luck. In this episode of Brand Up Podcast, I break down how to turn early clients into a repeatable client acquisition system using referrals, content, social media, and simple tools like ChatGPT, Canva, and CapCut. We talk about why beauty and personal care services are luxury services, why that changes the way you market them, and why your reputation as the business owner becomes part of the brand. I also explain how to create a referral program that gives existing clients a reason to send people your way, why one bad review can cost you far more than fixing a customer problem, and how to start creating content even when you’re uncomfortable speaking English or being on camera. One of the biggest lessons in this episode: your accent, background, and personality are not things you need to hide. They can actually become part of what makes people remember and trust you. We also get into using captions on every video, batching content instead of creating something every day, using ChatGPT to solve everyday business problems, and turning the results you’re already getting into content that attracts more clients. If you’re starting from scratch, getting most of your business through referrals, or struggling to turn social media into actual appointments, this episode gives you a simple place to start.

  2. Aug 17

    💰 Make the Business Pay for the Next Level - 156

    A lot of business owners make the same mistake: they upgrade the overhead before they upgrade the revenue. In this episode of Brand Up Podcast, I break down how to decide when it actually makes sense to move from working at home into a salon or commercial space. If you’re making around $500–$1,000 a month, jumping into a $1,000 monthly lease can put unnecessary pressure on the business. A smarter move may be taking the cheaper space and putting the difference into Google and Instagram campaigns that actually bring people through the door. Because having a beautiful salon doesn’t automatically create customers. I also get into the sales side most new business owners overlook: every Reel, Story, photo, and client interaction needs a clear next step. If you want people to book, you have to ask them to book. We talk about using offers without automatically destroying your pricing, creating urgency around available appointments, asking for the next booking before the client leaves, and turning content into actual revenue instead of posting just to stay active. The goal isn’t to look bigger than you are. Build the revenue first, make the numbers work, then let the business fund the next level.

  3. Aug 10

    🚫 Stop Waiting for the Perfect Setup - 155

    A lot of new business owners think they need the perfect salon, office, logo, website, and setup before they can start taking themselves seriously. You don’t. In this episode of Brand Up Podcast, I break down why starting from home can actually be one of the smartest ways to build your first real customer base without burying yourself in expenses too early. We talk about how to position a home-based service properly, price yourself against local competitors, communicate the experience clearly, and accept that some people simply won’t be the right client for that stage of your business. I also explain why you should keep separate businesses separate, even when you’re collaborating with family, and how referral programs can bring in new clients without spending heavily on ads. The bigger lesson is simple: don’t take on $1,000 a month in rent just because you think having a commercial space makes you a “real” business. If the business isn’t producing that money yet, your first move should be getting more clients, building reviews, improving your offer, and creating recurring revenue. Build the demand first. Then let the business pay for the next level.

  4. Aug 3

    🧠 The Fear Keeping You Off Camera - 154

    A lot of business owners avoid creating videos because they are worried about their accent, their grammar, or what people from their past might say. But your clients are not paying you to teach English. In this episode of Brand Up, I explain why your accent can become one of the strongest parts of your personal brand. It tells people where you came from, gives your content personality, and helps you connect with others who share a similar background. I also break down why criticism usually comes from people who were never going to become clients in the first place. The only feedback that deserves serious attention comes from the people who trust you, pay you, and experience your service. We also discuss how to rebrand an Instagram account under your personal name when you offer multiple related services. Instead of building an account around one narrow service, your personal brand gives you room to add new offers, create educational content, work with other companies, and eventually launch your own products. You’ll also learn why captions can increase your reach, how to use ChatGPT to create content that reflects your culture and personality, and why YouTube Shorts can help your videos appear in search results long after you post them. Stop hiding the thing that makes you memorable. Your accent is part of your story. Use it.

  5. Jul 27

    🎯 Why Nobody Buys Until You Ask - 153

    Most business owners post content and hope people figure out what to do next. That’s the mistake. In this episode of Brand Up, I explain how to use the “jab, jab, jab, right hook” approach: give value, teach something useful, build trust, and then make a clear offer. I break down how to turn simple Instagram Stories into a sales system, why every promotion needs urgency, and why people will rarely buy unless you actually ask them to take action. We also cover the basic online setup every local service business needs, including Google Business Profile, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Pinterest. Your business name, contact information, and branding should stay consistent across every platform so customers and Google can clearly connect them. I also explain why your logo is not the priority at the beginning, how to create a simple referral program with Canva and ChatGPT, and when it makes sense to pay for tools that save your time. Once your business is ready to accept clients, Google and Instagram ads can help you reach people who are already looking for the service. With a small daily budget, one recurring client can cover the cost and continue producing revenue long after the first appointment. This episode is for local service providers who want a simple system to create content, attract clients, generate referrals, and turn attention into appointments.

  6. Jul 20

    📈 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

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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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