Branding vs. Marketing: Riley Best on Building Trust, Consistent Messaging, and a Brand That Converts

Branding vs. Marketing: Riley Best on Building Trust, Consistent Messaging, and a Brand That Converts

If your business looks smaller online than it is in real life, your brand may be costing you opportunities. In this episode of Build Boldly, host Pat Rodgers sits down with graphic and digital designer Riley Best to break down the difference between branding and marketing, and why both matter for small businesses, service companies, and growing brands trying to be found, trusted, and chosen. Pat and Riley unpack why marketing helps people discover your business, while branding shapes how they feel once they find you. From websites and social media to Google Business profiles, online reviews, email domains, and visual identity, they explain how every digital touchpoint either builds trust or creates doubt. You'll learn: *  The difference between branding and marketing  *  Why brand consistency directly impacts sales and conversions  *  How outdated websites and scattered visuals can hurt credibility  *  Why small businesses need clear messaging before scaling marketing  *  How to define who you help, what problem you solve, and why customers should care  *  Practical branding-on-a-budget steps for business owners  *  When to evolve your brand without alienating your core audience  *  How AI, search behavior, reviews, and digital research are changing the way customers evaluate businesses  If you’re relying on referrals but want to grow beyond word-of-mouth, this episode gives you a practical starting point for building a stronger brand foundation that helps the right customers find you, trust you, and take action. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/prodg/] Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website [https://risecommercialdistrict.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/risecommercialdistrict/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSgpEzHQB4CFvbP5AqtThQg] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/risecommercialdistrict] Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.  [https://www.palmtreepodco.com/]

Scaling Smarter with Founder & CEO Jim Sapp: Leadership Teams, Mentors, Small Bets, and the Story Behind RISE Commercial District

In this episode of Build Boldly, Pat Rodgers sits down with entrepreneur and RISE Commercial District founder Jim Sapp to unpack the lessons behind scaling multiple high-growth businesses. Jim shares how he grew Indie Lube to 50 locations across the Midwest, why he learned early that no founder can scale alone, and how that experience helped shape the vision for RISE Commercial District. From hiring key leaders in operations, sales, finance, and accounting to building a bench of mentors across real estate, finance, and leadership, Jim offers practical insight for business owners navigating growth. Pat and Jim also talk about how to test new ideas without overextending, why small bets can protect your business from expensive mistakes, and how to know when it’s time to let go of control, failed experiments, or team members who are not aligned with the company’s future. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why founders need to build around key roles early * How mentors and advisors help de-risk big decisions * Why passion and ownership matter when hiring * How to test ideas before investing too heavily * Why leadership is about communication, not control * How RISE Commercial District grew from real entrepreneurial lessons If you’re a founder, operator, or small business owner trying to scale beyond yourself, this conversation is packed with hard-earned advice on leadership, team building, mentorship, and smart growth. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/prodg/] Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website [https://risecommercialdistrict.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/risecommercialdistrict/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSgpEzHQB4CFvbP5AqtThQg] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/risecommercialdistrict] Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.  [https://www.palmtreepodco.com/]

Marketing That Drives Revenue: Rachael Coverdale on Sales Alignment, ICPs, AI, and Finding the Right Marketing Partner

Marketing should not live in a silo. In this episode of Build Boldly, host Pat Rodgers sits down with Rachael Coverdale, CEO and founder of Coverdale Consulting, to break down how growing businesses can turn marketing into a true revenue engine. Rachael brings more than a decade of experience helping companies build marketing strategies rooted in sales alignment, customer understanding, analytics, and long-term business goals. Together, Pat and Rachael unpack why marketing and sales have to work together, how founders can move beyond the idea that they can “sell to everyone,” and why defining your Ideal Client Profile is one of the most important steps in building a focused, effective marketing strategy. They also cover how to evaluate modern marketing channels, use analytics to make better decisions, leverage AI for research and brainstorming, and avoid common mistakes when hiring agencies, consultants, or in-house marketers. In this episode, you’ll learn: *  Why marketing must be tied directly to revenue and sales goals  *  How to define your Ideal Client Profile and buyer personas  *  Why internal communication and culture matter in external marketing  *  How to use analytics, engagement metrics, and sales feedback together  *  Where AI fits into modern marketing strategy  *  Why consistency matters more than chasing every new channel  *  What red flags to watch for when choosing a marketing partner  If you’re a founder, operator, or business owner trying to make smarter marketing investments, this episode gives you a practical playbook for building a cohesive, ROI-driven strategy that actually supports growth. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/prodg/] Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website [https://risecommercialdistrict.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/risecommercialdistrict/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSgpEzHQB4CFvbP5AqtThQg] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/risecommercialdistrict] Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.  [https://www.palmtreepodco.com/]

How to Build a Repeatable Sales Process for Trade & Service Businesses with Dan Faber of Lushin

Dan Faber has spent years helping B2B and B2C companies build stronger sales systems, coach sales teams, and create accountability that actually drives revenue growth. In this episode of Build Boldly, host Pat Rodgers sits down with Dan, sales trainer and consultant of Lushin, to break down one of the biggest challenges growing businesses face: turning owner-led sales into a scalable, repeatable sales process. Pat and Dan look at what it takes to move beyond “winging it” and build a true sales machine for trade businesses, service companies, contractors, agencies, and growing entrepreneurial teams. You’ll learn: * How to define your Ideal Client Profile (ICP) * The difference between inbound vs. outbound sales strategies * Why referrals and networking partners are critical growth drivers * Building a frictionless sales process * Using CRMs effectively to track opportunities and accountability * Coaching vs. training salespeople * How founders can stop being the bottleneck in sales * Structuring goals, milestones, and accountability systems * Why sales is a learned skill, not just a personality trait Whether you’re still selling everything yourself or trying to scale a growing sales team, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you create predictable revenue and sustainable business growth.  Listen now and learn how to build boldly through better sales leadership, systems, and process. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/prodg/] Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website [https://risecommercialdistrict.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/risecommercialdistrict/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSgpEzHQB4CFvbP5AqtThQg] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/risecommercialdistrict] Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.  [https://www.palmtreepodco.com/]

Replay: Ryan Pape on Resilience, Franchise Growth, and Marketing Through Uncertainty with Archadeck

Today, we’re bringing back one of our most popular Build Boldly conversations from the archive.  Before taking the leap with an Archadeck franchise, Ryan Pape felt his career had stagnated. In this episode, host Pat Rodgers sits down with Ryan to explore his journey from starting a franchise to navigating the challenges of 2020, including disrupted supply chains, shifting demand, and the need for consistent, strategic marketing in uncertain times. Ryan shares how strong vendor relationships, franchise support, financial discipline, and a dedicated showroom helped him build momentum in the outdoor living space. He also offers practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs on capital planning, company culture, and building a business that can weather the unexpected. Whether you missed it the first time or are revisiting it with fresh perspective, this conversation is full of lessons on resilience, process, and what it takes to keep building boldly. __ This episode was originally published in March of 2025. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Connect with Pat Rodgers on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/prodg/] Learn more about RISE Commercial District Website [https://risecommercialdistrict.com/] | Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/risecommercialdistrict/] | YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSgpEzHQB4CFvbP5AqtThQg] | LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/risecommercialdistrict] Build Boldly is produced by Palm Tree Pod Co.  [https://www.palmtreepodco.com/]