Podcast Summary: Grow Your Local Business Episode Title: How to Market Like You’re Fully Booked
Host: Leslie Presnall
Release Date: August 5, 2025

Introduction

In episode 128 of the "Grow Your Local Business" podcast, host Leslie Presnall delves into the transformative strategy of marketing as if your business is already fully booked, even if it's not yet the case. Leslie, a local marketing expert and life coach, unpacks the mindset and actionable strategies that can help local business owners attract a steady stream of clients by projecting confidence and authority from the outset.

The Concept of Marketing Like You're Fully Booked

Leslie begins by addressing a common concern among local business owners: the fear of appearing too confident before they've achieved a fully booked status. She acknowledges the logical inclination to highlight available slots but emphasizes that true success lies in embodying the fully booked persona before reaching that milestone.

Key Quote:
"A fully booked business owner doesn't wait until they are fully booked to start showing up bigger and bolder and with more confidence." [02:00]

Key Points:

• Mindset Shift: Transitioning to a fully booked mindset involves thinking beyond current results and projecting the energy of success.
• Authentic Presence: It's not about faking availability or urgency. Authenticity is crucial; people can discern genuine confidence from superficial claims.
• Local Go-To Persona: Position yourself as the go-to expert in your local area by consistently demonstrating confidence and authority in your marketing efforts.

Two-Pronged Approach: Marketing Strategy and Self-Concept

Leslie outlines her comprehensive approach to achieving a fully booked status through the LocalPreneur Academy, focusing on two main areas:

1. Local Marketing Strategy: Developing strategies that position you as the preferred choice in your local market.
2. Self-Concept: Cultivating the right mindset and personal development to support your marketing efforts.

Key Quote:
"Inside the LocalPreneur Academy, we work on getting fully booked from two angles: your local marketing strategy and your self-concept." [04:30]

Key Points:

• Daily Behavior: Act and think like the successful business owner you aspire to be.
• Social Media Presence: Share your expertise confidently without over-relying on entertaining or educational content.
• Authority and Transformation: Focus on conveying the transformations you offer rather than just showcasing availability.

Common Pitfalls in Marketing

Leslie identifies several subtle shifts that occur when business owners do not market with the fully booked mindset:

Key Quote:
"When you're not marketing like someone who is fully booked, your marketing subtly shifts, sometimes without you even noticing." [08:15]

Key Points:

• Reduced Confidence: Marketing becomes less frequent and less assertive.
• Overemphasis on Education and Entertainment: Businesses may focus too much on providing tips and entertainment instead of highlighting their unique value propositions.
• Availability Focused Messaging: Overloading marketing with mentions of available slots can undermine the perception of high demand.

Emphasizing Transformation Over Availability

Leslie stresses the importance of shifting the focus of your marketing from your availability to the transformative results you provide for your clients.

Key Quote:
"Your marketing needs to focus less on your availability and more on the transformation that you provide." [16:45]

Key Points:

• Client-Centric Messaging: Highlight how your services solve problems and deliver results rather than merely stating available appointments.
• Authority Building: Position yourself as the expert who understands and can address the specific needs of your local audience.
• Content Strategy: Reduce the emphasis on entertaining and educating content and increase content that showcases success stories, unique processes, and client transformations.

Real-World Example: Student Success Story

Leslie shares a compelling example of a student from the LocalPreneur Academy who successfully implemented these strategies. By shifting her focus from following every viral trend and offering free tips to addressing specific client problems and showcasing solutions, her calendar quickly filled up.

Key Quote:
"One of my students...shifted her energy and her marketing shifted, and within weeks her calendar filled. People saw her differently because she showed up differently." [21:30]

Key Points:

• Energy Shift: Changing the underlying energy and approach to marketing can significantly impact client perception.
• Focused Messaging: Targeted messaging that speaks directly to client needs leads to increased bookings.
• Timely Results: Implementing these changes can yield rapid improvements in client acquisition and business growth.

Conclusion: Embracing the Fully Booked Mindset

Leslie wraps up by reinforcing that marketing like you're fully booked is about authentic energy, authoritative presence, and client-focused messaging. This approach attracts clients who are ready and eager to engage, ensuring a steady flow of business.

Key Quote:
"You have to start showing up like you are that fully booked go-to person in your city and that's what's going to attract those people who are ready right now." [25:45]

Final Takeaways:

• Shift Your Energy: Embrace the mindset of being fully booked to naturally attract more clients.
• Focus on Transformation: Highlight the value and results you provide rather than just your availability.
• Consistent Authority: Build and maintain your position as the local expert to sustain a fully booked calendar.

Additional Resources

For listeners interested in implementing these strategies, Leslie promotes the LocalPreneur Academy, a program designed to help local business owners become the go-to expert in their industry with a steady stream of clients. More information can be found at lesleypressnel.com.

By adopting the strategies and mindset outlined in this episode, local business owners can transform their marketing efforts, project confidence, and ultimately achieve a fully booked status that drives sustained business growth.