Jim welcomes John Dwyer, founder of the Institute of Wow, for a dynamic and entertaining conversation packed with real-world marketing wisdom and a few cheeky stories along the way.
Jim and John dive deep into the world of direct response marketing, sharing how classic principles from marketing legends like Claude Hopkins are still at the heart of successful campaigns, even as platforms and technologies evolve.
From tales of masterminds and marketing “cartels” to the behind-the-scenes secrets of incentive-based promotions, you’ll hear how the best marketers have relied on hooks, storytelling, and creativity for decades.
JD brings his trademark flair, offering actionable insights for small business owners, sharing real-life examples of sales promotions, database-building strategies, and the power of “Happy Meal toy” incentives.
Plus, hear how he’s adapted big-brand tactics for local businesses—and why collecting customer data remains a game-changer in today’s hyper-digital economy.
Whether you’re a digital marketer, entrepreneur, or just marketing-curious, this episode’s full of laughter, candid life lessons, and loads of practical tips you can use to “wow” your customers and scale your business.
So grab your notepad (and maybe a drink), and get ready for a candid, story-filled episode that’ll challenge your assumptions and spark your next big idea!
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🧰 Resources mentioned or used making this episode 🧰
➡️ Competitor Analysis - https://geni.us/similarweb
➡️ Market Analysis - https://geni.us/builtwith
➡️ SEO Toolkit - https://geni.us/semrush_jimbanks
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➡️ PPC Management Software - https://geni.us/optmyzr
➡️ Heatmaps, Recordings and Surveys - https://geni.us/luckyorange_jimbanks
➡️ Teleprompter App - https://geni.us/promptsmart_jimbanks
➡️ Competitor Ad Analysis - https://geni.us/pipiads
➡️ Track Winning Products - https://geni.us/ppspy
➡️ Targeting for YouTube Ads - https://geni.us/tubesift
➡️ YouTube Ad Spy Tool - https://geni.us/videoadvault
➡️ Text to Speech and AI Voice Generator - https://geni.us/elevenlabs_jimbanks
➡️ Workflow Automation - https://geni.us/make_jimbanks
➡️ Managed Web Hosting - https://geni.us/cloudways_jimbanks
➡️ Chatbot Automations - https://geni.us/manychat_jimbanks
➡️ Media Buying Community - https://geni.us/unik360
➡️ Text to Video Creator - https://geni.us/synthesia
➡️ Audience Research for reddit - https://geni.us/gummysearch
➡️ Project Management Suite - https://geni.us/teamwork
➡️ Content Workflow Automation with AI - https://geni.us/castmagic_jimbanks
➡️ AI Video Clipping Tool - https://geni.us/opusclip_jimbanks
⏰ Time Stamps ⏰
0:00 – Timeless marketing ideas
0:47 – Modern hooks
1:02 – Info-product launches explained
5:01 – Platform-agnostic marketing
7:22 – Ego vs. accessibility at marketing events
8:54 – Lessons from gambling: Risk, reward, and relationships
14:56 – The origin of The Institute of WOW
15:11 – Power of storytelling for marketers
24:18 – Authenticity vs. salesy tactics
32:05 – The #1 restaurant data collection strategy
36:23 – Facebook contest formula for lead generation
41:18 – Scaling strategies for small businesses
44:21 – How incentives create “wow” moments in marketing
51:15 – Harley Davidson Test rides and vacation promos
53:22 – Bringing big-brand tactics to small businesses
54:47 – Why “done-for-you” marketing works for local businesses
56:46 – Prize insurance, contests, and making impactful campaigns
1:01:47 – The power of demonstrating expertise live
1:02:16 – Old-school marketing methods that still work today
1:12:16 – Building a client pipeline without paid ads
1:22:48 – Surround yourself with “Why Not” thinkers
