The Growth Show with Whitney Bateson

If your funnel feels like it's almost working but new subscribers aren't actually booking calls, this episode is the one to listen to. Whitney digs into the lead magnet itself, the open door at the front of your funnel, and explains why most freebies fail at the one job that actually matters: leaving someone in the exact mental state where working with you feels like the obvious next step. She walks through a real example with a hormone health dietitian, showing the difference between a freebie that just satisfies curiosity ("5 foods to boost your energy") and ones that genuinely create appetite for the offer. You'll learn the test every freebie needs to pass, the three ways a lead magnet can quietly fail, and the gut-check questions to ask about your own resource. If you've been wondering why your subscribers aren't converting into clients, this is your answer.Grab the Lead Generation Funnel Blueprint for Practitioners: whitneybateson.com/funnelblueprintTakeaways:Topic alignment is the bare minimum. Your freebie needs to create a specific mental state, not just match your offer's topic. A great freebie answers one question and creates the next one your offer is positioned to answer. Surface-level freebies (like "5 foods to boost energy") attract too broad an audience and rarely lead anywhere specific. Self-assessments and insight-driven resources work because they help the reader connect dots they couldn't connect on their own. The final page of your lead magnet should always point to the next step: your offer or a discovery call.Connect with Whitney:Follow Whitney on Instagram @whitneybatesonSubscribe & Review:If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to follow and leave a review! Your support helps others discover the show.

The phrase "lead generation funnel" gets a bad rap... and honestly, for good reason. I get those same sleazy emails promising 100 leads a week, and it makes me want to close my laptop, too. But underneath the bro marketing noise, a funnel is just an automated system that takes a stranger and warms them up into a ready-to-book client without you manually following up with every single person. In this kickoff to our new funnels series, I'm walking you through the cold-to-warm-to-hot lead spectrum, why most practitioners put all their marketing eggs on one end (and burn out doing it), and exactly how a funnel quietly does the warming-up work in the background. I'm also sharing why this matters especially for health practitioners — because your clients need a higher level of trust before they ever book that first call.Takeaways:A lead gen funnel is not a replacement for your other marketing, it's the thing that makes everything else (referrals, talks, social, ads) work better by capturing and nurturing the people you're already reaching. Leads come in at different temperatures (cold, warm, hot) and most practitioners over-rely on one source, either grinding on social media to cold strangers or hoping referrals stay consistent. You want leads coming in across the whole spectrum. Trust isn't built overnight. It takes consistent connection, and you simply can't manually follow up with every person who finds you. A funnel automates that nurturing so you stay top of mind without burning out. Email is where the warming up actually happens... someone can be on your list for eight months before they book a call, and that's totally normal. Social media can't replicate that kind of slow-build trust. Your funnel supports everything else you're already doing — ads, talks, blog posts, podcast mentions, Instagram bio links — by sending all those people through one centralized system instead of asking you to follow up manually.Connect with Whitney:Follow Whitney on Instagram @whitneybatesonSubscribe & Review:If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to follow and leave a review! Your support helps others discover the show.

Alissa Rumsey and I went to dietetics school together almost 20 years ago (truly, how), and getting her on the show to talk about client retention was such a full-circle moment. Here's the big idea: when clients stop showing up after a few sessions, we tend to assume it's about motivation, money, or that they weren't "ready," but Alissa argues that most of the time it's actually a systems problem in our practice. The expectations we never set, the friction we didn't realize was there, the onboarding that quietly told them this would be a one-and-done. We get into what to audit in your client journey, why setting expectations on your website (and in your intake forms, and on your discovery call, and at the start of session one) changes everything, and the specific language she uses to build trust and create emotional safety before the work even begins. If you've ever felt like you're working really hard with clients who quietly disappear after session three, this is the conversation.Takeaways:Client drop-off usually isn't about motivation, it's about unclear expectations and friction in your systems. People stop showing up because they feel overwhelmed or ashamed, not because they don't care. Set expectations everywhere: your website, your intake forms, your discovery call, the start of your first session. Tell people explicitly that behavior change takes time, that you typically work with clients for X months, and what to expect at each step. Reduce friction in your booking process. Letting people schedule directly on your website (instead of having to email you first) removes a real barrier and saves your admin time. The first session is not a place to info-dump. A 15-page meal plan and a stack of handouts often makes clients feel overwhelmed, not supported... and they don't come back. Slow down and trust the process. Two small language shifts that build trust fast: opening session one with "how are you feeling showing up today?" and asking permission before giving suggestions ("how does that sound?"). Both give the client autonomy and signal that this is collaborative.Connect with Alissa:Website: https://www.theliberatedclinician.com Instagram: @alissarumseyRD and @theliberatedclinician Free Client Retention Workshop: https://www.theliberatedclinician.com/client-retention-workshop/ Client Retention Toolkit: https://www.theliberatedclinician.com/retention-toolkit/ Book: Unapologetic Eating by Alissa Rumsey - https://www.amazon.com/Unapologetic-Eating-Make-Peace-Transform/dp/1628604255Connect with Whitney:Follow Whitney on Instagram @whitneybatesonSubscribe & Review:If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to follow and leave a review! Your support helps others discover the show

Dr. Annie Cole is back on the show and this conversation might just give you permission to stop doing the marketing thing you secretly hate. Her new book lays out 15 different customer attraction strategies, and the central argument is that every business has one that's built for it... most practitioners are exhausting themselves on the wrong one. We talk through which strategies tend to fit health practitioners best (referrals and partnerships, SEO and AI optimization, lead magnet workshops, gig platforms for those side income streams), which ones to maybe leave behind, and how to do an honest audit of what's actually working in your business versus what just feels like it should be. Annie also shares how she's made almost half a million dollars in two years with an Instagram following of 800... a great reminder that audience size isn't the metric that matters. If you've felt stuck doing all the things and seeing none of the results, this one will land.Takeaways:There isn't one universal marketing strategy. There are 15, and the right one depends on how your customer actually finds solutions to their problem (Googling? asking their doctor? scrolling Instagram?).Partnerships and referrals tend to be one of the highest-leverage strategies for health practitioners, especially when you set up casual referral arrangements with complementary providers.Don't sleep on SEO and AI optimization. Getting your website to show up in Google and ChatGPT is a long game that pays off over months, not weeks.Borrow other people's audiences instead of trying to build your own from scratch — podcasts, media features, paid newsletter spots, and gig platforms all put you in front of people without building a following first.When you feel like nothing's working, do a personal audit: are people not seeing you (visibility problem) or are they seeing you and not converting (offer or messaging problem)? Pick two to three strategies and give them 30–60 days before pivoting.Connect with Dr. Annie Cole:Website: https://www.money-essentials.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-annie-cole-edd-16ab59135Book: How Six-Figure Business Owners Attract More Customers — https://www.money-essentials.com/6-figure-customer-attractionFree Quiz: https://www.money-essentials.com/6-figure-customers-quizInstagram: @buildwealthwithannieResources Mentioned:Quoted (PR pitching marketplace) — qwoted.comPaved (newsletter advertising directory) — paved.comGig and freelancer platforms: Upwork, Fiverr, Catalant, Contra, Freelancer.comConnect with Whitney:Follow Whitney on Instagram @whitneybatesonSubscribe & Review:If you're enjoying the podcast, don't forget to follow and leave a review! Your support helps others discover the show.

If the idea of stepping away from your practice for a week makes you cringe a little, this conversation is for you. Whitney is joined by Charlie Golightly, founder of Group Practice Partner, to unpack what real delegation looks like for human-centered practice owners — and why so many of us stay stuck doing everything even when we know it's not sustainable. Charlie shares the "house" metaphor for understanding what room you should actually be working in, the difference between delegating a task versus a full role, and the surprisingly common responsibilities practice owners cling to long past the point it serves them. They also get into trust, neurodivergent-friendly communication, and what to do when your last hire didn't work out and you're nervous to try again. It's a warm, honest conversation for anyone feeling the friction of growth... whether you're a solopreneur making your first hire or a group practice owner managing 20 clinicians solo.Takeaways:Good delegation should feel like an extension of you and your values, not another thing to micromanage. Do a "24-hour recall" of the tasks you've actually done this week, and sort them by category to see where your time is really going. Delegating a task is often a Hail Mary; delegating a role gives someone ownership and gives you lasting relief. If you've got 10+ clinicians and you're still the only manager, you don't need another admin... you need another leader. Trust doesn't have to be fully baked before you hire; setting clear expectations and talking about how you work is often where trust actually gets built.Connect with Charlie:Website: grouppracticepartner.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charliegolightly/ Free resource - Business Vitality Assessment: charlie.myflodesk.com/jivn5czyaResources Mentioned:Business Vitality Assessment (linked above)Connect with Whitney:Follow Whitney on Instagram @whitneybatesonSubscribe & Review:If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to follow and leave a review! Your support helps others discover the show.

Katie Dodd didn't set out to be an entrepreneur. She was a geriatric dietitian happily working for the VA — with a plan to stay there until she was 68 and a half, as she puts it — until a chance conversation on a plane sparked her first side hustle opportunity. From that one freelance writing gig, she built a thriving multi-stream business that eventually gave her the freedom to leave her full-time job, be present for her kids, and build a life on her own terms. In this episode, Katie shares her full journey and breaks down 34 (yes, 34!) different side hustle opportunities available to dietitians and healthcare professionals. She explains the real difference between active and passive income, why passive income isn't actually "do nothing and get paid," and how to approach building multiple revenue streams without overwhelming yourself. Whether you're curious about starting a side hustle or ready to go all in, this episode is packed with inspiration and a clear-headed framework for getting started.Takeaways:Passive income takes real groundwork. Katie spent 18 months building her blog before it generated meaningful income, but now it earns thousands of dollars per month on autopilot through ads, digital products, affiliates, and courses. Systems and traffic are everything. Start with "now money" before chasing "later money." Active income keeps the lights on while you build passive revenue in the background. Don't try to skip the active income phase, it's a necessary part of the journey. Pick one thing and do it well. Katie started with her blog, then added digital products, then a course, then a food blog... strategically and sequentially. She credits this focused approach with her long-term success. Your expertise is worth more than a salary. Dietitians have a wide range of monetizable skills — writing, speaking, teaching, consulting, culinary work, brand partnerships — that most never consider because they were only taught one path in school. Failure is part of the plan. As Katie says in her book: if you keep going, your dreams are probable. Not everything will work, and that's okay. The entrepreneurs who succeed are the ones who don't take themselves out of the game.Connect with Katie:Website: katiedodd.com Instagram: @thekatieddodd Podcast: Dietitian Side Hustle Book: Dietitian Side Hustle: A Comprehensive Guide for Starting a Side Hustle, Making More Money, and Loving What You Do — available on Amazon in paperback, hardcover, Kindle, and Audible (https://dietitiansidehustlebook.com/)Resources Mentioned:RD to RD / The Well-Resourced Dietitian: platform for selling dietitian-created handouts Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): Amazon's free self-publishing platform Mediavine: ad revenue platform for bloggers Fullscript: supplement dispensing platformConnect with Whitney:Follow Whitney on Instagram @whitneybatesonSubscribe & Review:If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to follow and leave a review! Your support helps others discover th

Ads Made Simple: whitneybateson.com/adsmadesimpleIf you listened to the three-part ads series and still had questions, Whitney and Priscilla recorded this bonus FAQ episode just for you. They walk through the most common concerns holding practitioners back from getting started — including budget worries, tech overwhelm, and not being sure if the timing is right — and give clear, honest answers to all of it. They also break down each of the three options inside Ads Made Simple so you know exactly what you'd be signing up for, what's included, and what other costs (if any) to plan for. Whether you're brand new to ads or you've tried them before and had a frustrating experience, this episode will help you figure out your next step.Takeaways:You don't need a big budget. $5/day is enough to get started, and that number is likely already being spent somewhere in your business that isn't generating the same return. Ads Made Simple is focused on one funnel, one campaign, one result. Not everything under the sun. Think of it like learning to make meatballs, not learning all of Italian cooking. Before enrolling, you need three things in place: an email platform, a lead magnet, and a website. If you're missing any of those, Whitney and Priscilla can help with that too. Besides the enrollment fee and ad spend, the only additional tool you'll need to Zapier ($20/month) - and they'll show you how to use it well beyond jsut your ads. All three options inside Ads Made Simple include two weeks of live Slack support from Whitney and Priscilla, plus lifetime access to the course and any future updates.Connect with Priscilla:Website: priscillazaehringer.comConnect with Whitney:Follow Whitney on Instagram @whitneybatesonSubscribe & Review:If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to follow and leave a review! Your support helps others discover the show.

Ads Made Simple: whitneybateson.com/adsmadesimpleIn the third and final part of the ad series, Whitney and Priscilla wrap things up with the question that's probably been sitting in the back of your mind: how do you actually know when you're ready to run ads? Whitney shares that she held herself back for two or three years longer than she should have, feeling like she hadn't "earned the right" to run ads yet — and she doesn't want that for you. Priscilla lays out the three clear things you need before spending a single dollar: a clear niche, a lead magnet connected to a proven offer, and at least $5/day in budget. They also walk through what's inside Ads Made Simple — their new course designed to get your first lead-gen campaign live in an afternoon — and explain why Facebook and Instagram remain the highest-ROI ad platforms for practitioners serving women 30–50. If you've been on the fence, this episode will help you get off it.Takeaways:You need a proven offer before you run ads. If people who already trust you aren't buying what you're selling yet, do the validation work first - network, get referrals, talk to warm audiences - then scale with ads once you know it sells.A clear niche makes your ads dramatically more effective. Ads that speak to everyone convert for no one. The more specific your copy and creative, the more traction you'll get and the lower your cost-per-lead will be.Your "offer" doesn't have to be a course or program. It can be your services, a package, or even a waitlist — as long as it leads to some kind of financial return. The funnel just needs a destination.Waiting costs you real data. Every month you delay is a month you're not learning what works in your funnel, what your conversion rates are, or how to optimize. The longer you wait, the longer it takes to see results.Running ads signals you're a serious business. There's a confidence shift that happens when you invest in ads... and people who find you through them notice too. It signals that what you offer is worth paying to promote.Connect with Priscilla:Website: priscillazaehringer.comConnect with Whitney:Follow Whitney on Instagram @whitneybatesonSubscribe & Review:If you’re enjoying the podcast, don’t forget to follow and leave a review! Your support helps others discover the s