No More Free For Free & Q1 Updates - Ep 207

In this episode, I share what changes when we stop doing free work that doesn’t lead anywhere and start building offers that respect our time and our audience’s goals. I break down how “No More Free For Free” reshapes speaking, webinars, memberships, and the way to plan paid events. Other topics include: • why we should stop apologizing for gaps and just jump back in • the “No More Free For Free” rule and what it means in practice • how we ask “Do you have a speaker budget?” early and confidently • why you consider stop doing free webinars, office hours, and masterclasses • my shift toward serving solopreneurs, small business owners, and teams with real budgets • how Marketing With Meller delivers ongoing value through monthly live, virtual sessions • how my signature program, The Recipe For Social Selling on LinkedIn, rotates coaching topics so members never feel behind • my goal of 24 paid speaking engagements and the lessons I learned from saying yes to a “free” gig • becoming an international speaker after UpLift Live 2026 in the UK • the Small Business Marketing Summit and the speaker lineup built for practical action https://www.mellermarketing.com/sbms2026 Shout Outs include: • Carol Dorsey (VA Services) https://www.linkedin.com/in/caroledorsey/ • Joshua Meller https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshmeller/ • Giulia Santos dos Reis https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuliasantosdosreis/ UpLift Live Planning Team: • John Espirian https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnespirian/ • Jeremy Freeman https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessbrainbox/ • Gus Bhandal https://www.linkedin.com/in/mguruuk/ Small Business Marketing Summit speakers & topics: • Pam Lippitt: From Hello to Success: Creating the Network that worked for you • Tom Wells: The numbers behind your best marketing decisions • Elaine Belson: Why people overthink marketing and how to stop • Umut Aslan: Building an ideal customer profile to move "from confusion to clarity • Linda Brubaker: Ditch Your What and Sell Your Why • Judi Hays: Building a LinkedIn presence that attracts high fee clients • Annette Richmond: Less stress, more fun, better video • Nancie Steinberg: Getting media coverage without a PR agency • Lori Jo Vest: Why certain AI-generated videos and copy fail to sell • Christopher G. Johnson: The 10 minute meeting fix • Lori Vajda: How to lodge expertise in an audience's memory • Liz M. Lopez: Dominating your business success Support the show (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2162051/support) ************************************** My name is Brenda Meller. I'm a LinkedIn coach, consultant, speaker, and author. My company is Meller Marketing and I help business professionals get a bigger slice of the LinkedIn pie.  Visit mellermarketing.com (https://www.mellermarketing.com/) Let's connect on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/brendameller (https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendameller)   (click MORE to invite me to connect and mention you listened to my podcast)