Business

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

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”

Latest Episodes:

🤝 People Hate Being Sold To. Here's What Works Instead. - 167 Nov 02, 2026

Show notes

A lot of new business owners think they need to spend thousands of dollars on advertising to start getting clients.

But that's not necessarily true.

In this episode of Brand Up Podcast, I break down how to attract your first customers using simple referral strategies, local marketing, and building relationships with people you already meet every day.

We talk about why offering someone $25 to refer a new client can be a smart investment, how to calculate what you're actually paying to acquire a customer, and why getting a lead doesn't automatically mean you've made a sale.

I also explain the difference between Google Ads and Instagram Ads, how to create content that makes people stop scrolling, and why understanding your ideal customer matters before spending money on marketing.

We get into something that a lot of business owners overlook: people hate being sold to, but they love to buy.

That's why building trust, finding common ground, and creating multiple opportunities for potential customers to connect with your business can make such a big difference.

I also share how to research your local competitors, what to look for in their negative reviews, and why protecting your business reputation should be one of your top priorities.

Finally, we talk about setting up your Google Business Profile, choosing a business name that's consistent across platforms, and building an online presence that makes it easier for customers to find you.

Here's the biggest lesson:

Getting clients costs something. You either invest your time building relationships or invest money into advertising.

The goal is to understand what works, track your numbers, and eventually build a system that brings you customers consistently.

📈 How to Start a Business the Right Way - 166 Oct 26, 2026

Show notes

A lot of people want to start a business, but they're afraid to commit because they don't know if it's going to work.

So they wait. They overthink. They start doing things halfway.

And sometimes, they end up wasting an entire year that could've been spent building something.

In this episode of Brand Up Podcast, I break down some of the biggest mistakes new business owners make when they're getting started, especially when it comes to branding, marketing, content creation, and setting up the business properly.

We talk about why your business name should be consistent across Google, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms, and how building a strong online presence can help potential customers find and trust you.

I also explain why you should be repurposing your videos across multiple platforms instead of creating content for Instagram alone.

And if you're uncomfortable being on camera, I share two simple ways to start recording content without having to talk directly into your phone.

We also get into something that a lot of business owners overlook: making it ridiculously easy for people to book and pay for your services.

Because you can have great marketing, amazing reviews, and beautiful content, but if someone has to jump through five different steps just to book an appointment, you're making it harder to get customers.

Finally, we talk about setting up your business structure, opening a business bank account, building business credit, and why I believe it's worth thinking about these things early instead of waiting until your business gets bigger.

Here's the biggest lesson:

If you're serious about building a business, start making decisions like a business owner.

You don't have to have everything figured out.

But you do need a plan, a professional presence, and the willingness to commit to what you're building.

💰 Stop Chasing Leads. Start Turning Them Into Clients - 165 Oct 19, 2026

Show notes

Most business owners spend so much time trying to get new clients that they forget what happens after someone actually reaches out.

Getting the lead is one thing. Turning that person into a paying customer is a completely different skill.

In this episode of Brand Up Podcast, I break down how to build a simple customer acquisition and conversion system using referrals, advertising, follow-ups, reviews, and social media.

We talk about why not every potential client should be treated the same way. Someone who's never tried your service needs a different conversation than someone who had a bad experience with a competitor or someone who's simply looking for a new provider.

I also explain why video testimonials can do a lot of the selling for you, how to follow up with people who didn't book the first time, and why referrals typically convert differently than leads coming from Google or Instagram.

We also get into choosing the right advertising platform, building your online presence, knowing when to raise your prices, and getting comfortable creating content even when you don't feel ready to be on camera.

And because building a business goes beyond marketing, we touch on reinvesting in your business, understanding the difference between personal and business debt, and why having the right financial structure matters as you grow.

Here's the biggest lesson:

Stop measuring your marketing only by how many people contact you. Start paying attention to how many actually become paying clients.

Because you don't build a successful business by collecting leads.

You build it by converting them, delivering a great service, and giving people a reason to come back.

🤖 How to Use ChatGPT for Business (Even If You’re a Beginner) - 164 Oct 12, 2026

Show notes

Most business owners have heard of ChatGPT, but very few actually understand how to use it beyond writing captions or asking basic questions.

And that’s where they’re missing out.

In this episode of Brand Up Podcast, my wife Cosmina puts me in the guest seat as we break down how beginners can start using ChatGPT to save time, create better content, and grow their businesses.

I explain why the way you ask ChatGPT a question matters, how to avoid generic answers, and why giving AI a specific role and clear instructions can completely change the results you get.

We also talk about how I organize ChatGPT across multiple businesses, why I separate conversations by topic, and how to use projects, instructions, and saved information to keep everything organized.

I share practical examples of using ChatGPT to brainstorm podcast topics, create Instagram Reels, identify your ideal audience, improve your marketing, and even practice speaking on camera.

And here’s one of the simplest things you can do if you’re a beginner:

Stop asking ChatGPT basic questions and expecting advanced answers.

Give it context. Explain what you’re trying to accomplish. Tell it who your audience is and what kind of expert you want it to act as.

You don’t need to be an AI expert to start using it.

You just need to learn how to ask better questions.

This is the first episode in our ChatGPT series, where we’ll break down how to use AI for business, marketing, content creation, and everyday productivity.

🤯 This One Prompt Makes ChatGPT Better - 163 Oct 05, 2026

Show notes

If ChatGPT keeps giving you generic answers, the problem might not be ChatGPT.

It might be the way you’re prompting it.

In this episode of Brand Up Podcast, I break down how I organize ChatGPT for different parts of my businesses, why I separate conversations by topic, and how giving AI the right context can completely change the quality of what you get back.

I share one of the simplest prompting tricks I use: write the basic version of what you want, then ask ChatGPT to rewrite your prompt from the perspective of the right expert before answering it.

We also talk about giving ChatGPT a specific role, asking it to question you when it needs more context, and training it around your actual communication style so your captions and content don’t sound like they were written by somebody else.

I also explain how I use my best-performing content as data. Instead of constantly guessing what thumbnail, hook, or topic might work next, you can analyze what already performed and create new variations around those patterns.

The goal isn’t to become a prompt engineer.

It’s to learn how to give ChatGPT enough context so it becomes far more useful for your business, content, and personal brand.

🤖 You’re Probably Using ChatGPT Wrong - 162 Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

Most people use ChatGPT to write a caption, answer a question, or rewrite an email.

That’s barely scratching the surface.

In this episode of Brand Up Podcast, I break down how I actually use ChatGPT across my businesses and everyday life—from branding and content creation to productivity, research, planning, reminders, design ideas, and solving random problems that would normally take hours.

We talk about using voice instead of constantly typing prompts, giving ChatGPT context about who you are, creating systems you can come back to, and asking it to act as a specialist depending on the problem you’re trying to solve.

I also share real examples of using it to rebrand businesses, improve social media profiles, generate content ideas, create files and productivity systems, redesign spaces, plan meals, practice languages, and help new business owners figure out where to start.

And if you have no idea what to ask ChatGPT, start with this:

Tell it who you are, what you do, and what you’re trying to accomplish. Then ask it for 10–20 ways it can help you save time and make more money.

You don’t need to understand everything AI can do.

Start using it every day, solve one problem at a time, and you’ll quickly realize how much time you’ve been wasting doing things manually.

💰 Don’t Get More Clients Until You Build This - 161 Sep 21, 2026

Show notes

Getting clients is only one part of building a business.

What happens when you’re with a client and the phone rings? Who follows up with new leads? Who sends reminders? Who gets the next appointment booked?

In this episode of Brand Up Podcast, I break down the basic systems you should start building before your business gets busy.

We talk about why a CRM should be one of your first tools, how to automate follow-ups and bookings, and why choosing the right software early can save you a massive headache later.

I also get into using ChatGPT as an everyday business tool, turning one hour of recording into a week of content with Opus Clip, and creating posts with an actual purpose: educate potential clients, attract new people, and occasionally make an offer.

We also break down how to think about Google and Instagram campaigns when launching a local business, setting a monthly client goal, and reverse-engineering the marketing needed to hit that number.

Don’t wait until you’re overwhelmed to build the systems.

Set them up early so when the clients start coming, the business can actually handle them.

🎯 Stop Marketing to Everyone. Find Your Ideal Client - 160 Sep 14, 2026

Show notes

A lot of businesses say they want “more clients.”

That’s too broad.

In this episode of Brand Up Podcast, I break down how to identify the type of client who can actually afford your service, stay with you long term, and become worth thousands of dollars per year to the business.

We talk about building a real customer avatar based on income, lifestyle, profession, location, and buying habits instead of just guessing who you want to work with.

I also explain why your best referral partner may be another professional who already has direct access to your ideal customer.

That could be a doctor, another service provider, a recovery facility, or anyone already serving the same person before they ever find you.

We also get into referral commissions, adding complementary products and services, increasing lifetime value, using partnerships to create new business, and even using a podcast as a relationship-building tool.

The bigger lesson is simple:

Stop trying to reach everybody.

Figure out exactly who spends the most, comes back the longest, and already has a reason to need what you sell.

Then build your marketing around that person.

💰 Your Content Should Bring Clients, Not Just Views - 159 Sep 07, 2026

Show notes

Most business owners know what they do.

The problem is they don’t know how to turn that knowledge into content that actually brings people through the door.

In this episode of Brand Up Podcast, I break down how to use your expertise, your story, and simple tools like ChatGPT, Opus Clip, and short-form video to create content that builds trust before a potential client ever calls you.

We get into why your differences matter, how to use your background and credentials as part of your positioning, and why being uncomfortable on camera is not a good enough reason to stay invisible.

I also explain how to make content easier by recording interview-style videos, how to turn one long conversation into multiple Reels, Shorts, and posts, and why every piece of content should either educate, attract, or lead to an offer.

We also talk about offer strategy, why some promotions work better than others, how to use a lower-entry offer to get people through the door, and why the content that performs best should get more attention instead of constantly creating something new.

If you run a local service business and you’re struggling with what to post, how to get comfortable on camera, or how to turn content into actual clients, this episode will give you a simple framework to follow.

🔎 Stop Chasing the Algorithm. Start Owning Search - 158 Aug 31, 2026

Show notes

Most business owners post content and hope the algorithm gives them reach.

That’s not a strategy.

In this episode of Brand Up Podcast, I break down how to build a content system around search, SEO, Google, YouTube, and short-form video so your content can keep working long after you post it.

We talk about why YouTube is still one of the strongest platforms for business owners, how Google can become one of your biggest sources of clients, and how to use tools like ChatGPT and Opus Clip to turn one hour of recording into multiple pieces of content.

I also explain how to look at the topics that perform best, feed that information back into ChatGPT, and create more content around the exact questions your audience is already searching for.

From there, we get into Google Business Profile, keyword themes, local search campaigns, business naming, DBA structure, and why keeping your brand information consistent matters when you want to rank and get found.

The goal is simple: create content around demand that already exists.

Stop guessing what people want.

Start answering what they are already searching for.

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