How I Scaled It and Closed Venues for WISK Without Ever “Selling”

When I launched Wisking It All, I wasn’t thinking about growth metrics or ROI. I wanted to talk to the people who keep this industry running—founders, operators, chefs, and tech leaders. The podcast started as a passion project.

But what I didn’t expect was how powerful it would become as a growth engine.

No sales funnel. No cold outreach. Just real conversations that, over time, turned into real partnerships—and yes, real revenue.

This newsletter is about how I’ve used podcasting to organically close venues for WISK, build trust in the industry, and create a flywheel that keeps getting stronger with every episode.

How It All Started: From Passion Project to Pipeline

At first, Wisking It All was simply a platform to showcase others. I’ve always believed that if you give people a space to talk about their journey, their pain points, and their wins—they’ll remember you.

So I started inviting operators I admired to be guests. I wasn’t pitching them anything. I just wanted to hear their stories.

But the thing is, when you have a one-hour conversation with someone about their business—when you really listen—something shifts. It builds a foundation most cold emails will never achieve: trust.

That’s where the magic started.

After the episode wrapped, they’d often ask,

“So what exactly is WISK again?”
“Can it help with our beverage costing?”
“Do you integrate with our POS?”

Suddenly, I wasn’t just the podcast host—I was the founder of a platform they were genuinely curious about. The conversation naturally transitioned into a discovery call. And from there, into a demo. And for some—into a signed contract.

Turning Conversations into Closings

Here’s how that flywheel works in practice:

• A guest joins Wisking It All to talk about their journey.

• We build rapport—not over a sales call, but through genuine storytelling.

• They see that WISK isn’t just another SaaS tool—it’s built for them, with a deep understanding of the industry.

• We schedule a demo.

• We close the loop.

Some of our recent venue partners came through this exact process.

Others came from referrals: guests who shared the episode with their network or introduced me to someone who was struggling with food or bar cost control. Suddenly, I was in conversations I never could’ve reached through cold email or ads.

We’ve had venues where the deal closed in under two weeks—because the trust was already there.

Scaling It Without Losing the Personal Touch

As the show grew, I didn’t want it to lose the authenticity that made it effective in the first place.

So here’s what I did to keep it organic and scalable:

• Every episode is repurposed into short-form clips for LinkedIn, Instagram, and email. That visibility sparks inbound interest—people who say, “I saw your clip with [guest name], and I’d love to learn more about WISK.”

• Guests become evangelists. They share their episodes with pride. They tag us. They open doors.

• It creates community. Instead of chasing leads, we’re attracting the right ones.

It’s a marketing channel, a sales touchpoint, and a brand-builder—all in one. But most importantly, it’s a bridge. A way to connect with decision-makers and operators without ever making it feel transactional.

Lessons Learned

Here’s what I’ve realized about podcast networking:

• Give before you ask. Most people are tired of being sold to. But they’re always open to being seen and heard.

• Don’t overthink production. What matters is the connection, not the lighting.

• Show up consistently. You never know who’s listening—or how many times they need to see your name before they reach out.

And perhaps the biggest insight?

Podcasting isn’t just media. It’s leverage.

It’s a long-game strategy that deepens relationships while building brand equity. I’m not chasing numbers; I’m building relationships that lead to sustainable growth.

What’s Next

I’m doubling down on Wisking It All this year.

We’ve got some incredible guests lined up—multi-unit operators, tech innovators, and F&B leaders who are reshaping hospitality. Every episode sharpens our understanding of operator pain points. Every conversation opens up new doors.

If you're thinking of launching a podcast to build your network, here’s my honest advice: do it. But don’t think of it as a content engine. Think of it as a relationship engine.

It won’t scale overnight—but it compounds in ways no ad budget can match.

Let’s Talk

Are you using podcasts to build relationships in your business? Have you thought about starting one but didn’t know where to begin?

Shoot me a reply or connect with me on LinkedIn—I’d love to swap ideas or help you think through how to make it work for your industry.

And if you haven’t tuned into Wisking It All yet, you can check it out here. There’s something powerful about listening to real operators talk about real challenges.

The mic is just the beginning.

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Talk soon,
Angelo