Podcast
Optimize to Monetize
Hosted by Michelle Fernandez · EN
Are you ready to unlock the power of 1% shifts to streamline your strategy, scale your offers, and start monetizing with more ease and less overwhelm?
Welcome to Optimize to Monetize™, the podcast for online coaches, course creators, and digital experts who are ready to stop relying on hustle and start leaning into data, systems, and sustainable strategies that actually work.
Hosted by Michelle Fernandez, marketing strategist, funnel expert, and creator of the 1% Conversion Effect™, this show is your behind-the-scenes look at what truly moves the needle in modern marketing. Michelle is your trusted guide on a journey to simplify, refine, and upgrade every part of your business, from your backend systems to your visibility strategy, your conversion flow to your CEO mindset.
Each episode breaks down what’s working right now in marketing, funnels, traffic, automation, and leadership so you can scale with strategy and sanity. You’ll discover how to rely on data instead of doubt, create consistency without chaos, and build momentum one small, intentional shift at a time.
Get ready to learn how to:
- Build scalable funnels that convert with confidence
- Attract steady traffic without living on social media
- Simplify your systems and automate with purpose
- Strengthen your customer journey from discovery to referral
- Lead like the CEO your business needs
- Embrace the 1% shifts that create long-term profit and peace
Michelle brings years of experience working behind the scenes in 6-, 7-, and 8-figure companies. She’s managed hundreds of launches, optimized buyer journeys, and tracked the data that drives real growth, and now she’s bringing those strategies straight to you.
Optimize to Monetize™ is the evolved version of The Traffic & Conversions Show, reflecting a deeper mission: to help you optimize what matters most so you can finally monetize what you’ve worked so hard to build. It’s not about following trends. It’s about strategy, sustainability, and scaling a business that supports your lifestyle and legacy.
If you’re ready to trade burnout for balance, hustle for harmony, and confusion for clarity, this is your next-level playbook. Because when strategy meets soul, systems create freedom, and every 1% shift compounds into unstoppable growth, you don’t just build a business. You build a legacy.
🎧 Tune in weekly for marketing insights, funnel fixes, mindset shifts, and practical strategies that help you grow your business smarter, not harder.
It’s time to optimize everything that matters… so you can monetize what matters most.
19episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How Coaches Can Use AI to Turn Comments into Conversions
Apr 2700:19:58Tap to summarizeIf content is already getting engagement but it’s not turning into clients… this is the missing piece.This episode breaks down how to take the comments already happening on posts and turn them into real conversations, deeper connections, and actual sales. Because every comment is someone raising their hand. Most people just don’t know what to do next. What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why engagement alone doesn’t lead to clients (and what actually does) How to recognize which comments signal real buying intent The exact shift from generic replies to meaningful conversations How AI can support responses without making them feel robotic A simple system to move from comment → conversation → clientEvery comment is someone raising their hand.Most people just don’t know how to continue the conversation—so it ends there.Ready to Scale Without the Tech Overwhelm?You can't truly scale a profitable business without a systematic way to bring in new leads and clients every day. If you're ready to grow faster, reach more clients, and simplify your processes, OptimaFunnels is here to help. This all-in-one platform makes building high-converting sales funnels and automating your marketing a breeze, saving you time and money.Head over to OptimaFunnels.com to learn more and start your journey toward a simpler, more profitable business today!Leave a Review or Share Your ThoughtsIf you found this episode helpful, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a review or comment below. What resonated with you? What’s one thing you’ll be trying in your business? Your feedback helps me create more of what you need to grow your business!CONNECT WITH MICHELLE:Instagram: @themichellefernandezWebsite: themichellefernandez.com
Transcribe →The Real Reason Your Ads Aren’t Converting (Even When They’re “Set Up Right”) with Samantha Fine
Apr 2000:37:11Tap to summarizeRunning Meta ads but not getting sales?You’re not alone. And most of the time, the problem isn’t the ad itself.In this episode, Michelle sits down with Meta ads strategist Samantha Fine to talk about what has changed in the ads landscape, why so many business owners feel like ads stopped working, and what actually needs to be in place for ads to convert in 2026.They break down the biggest mistakes people make when running ads, why boosting posts can cost you money, when AI helps and when it hurts, and how to build an ad strategy that supports your funnel instead of just sending random traffic.If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything right but still not seeing results, this conversation will help you understand what to fix first so your ads can actually lead to sales.Listen now and learn how to optimize your marketing so your ads work with your funnel, not against it.RESOURCES MENTIONEDInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/samanthafinedigital/Successful Ads Scorecard: https://www.samanthafinedigital.com/scorecardBook an Ads Audit Session: https://link.autopilotclients.io/widget/bookings/ads-audit-samantha-fine-digitalReady to Scale Without the Tech Overwhelm?You can't truly scale a profitable business without a systematic way to bring in new leads and clients every day. If you're ready to grow faster, reach more clients, and simplify your processes, OptimaFunnels is here to help. This all-in-one platform makes building high-converting sales funnels and automating your marketing a breeze, saving you time and money.Head over to OptimaFunnels.com to learn more and start your journey toward a simpler, more profitable business today!Leave a Review or Share Your ThoughtsIf you found this episode helpful, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a review or comment below. What resonated with you? What’s one thing you’ll be trying in your business? Your feedback helps me create more of what you need to grow your business!CONNECT WITH MICHELLE:Instagram: @themichellefernandezWebsite: themichellefernandez.com
Transcribe →The Conversion Layer No One Is Talking About: Micro-Automations That Add Thousands Without More Traffic
Apr 1300:14:49Tap to summarizeMost business owners chasing their next revenue goal immediately think they need more leads, more traffic, or a brand new offer. But what if the revenue you're looking for is already within reach, and you're just not set up to capture it?In this episode of the Optimize to Monetize Podcast, Michelle Fernandez breaks down the conversion layer that most entrepreneurs skip entirely and why skipping it is quietly costing them thousands in lost sales every single month.Michelle walks through four specific micro-automations that work inside your existing funnel to re-engage cold leads, bring back past buyers, and convert the people who were interested but never made it all the way through. These are small, targeted automations that run in the background without any additional ad spend, new content, or manual follow-up from you.If you've been focused on growing your email list, running ads, or launching new offers but your revenue still feels stuck, this episode will show you exactly where to look first and what to build to start converting the audience you already have.In this episode, we cover:What a micro-automation is and how it works inside your funnelWhy most funnels leak money after someone opts inHow to re-engage cold leads with a refollow sequence before deleting themWhat auto-resurfacing leads means and why timing is everything in salesHow an invisible nurture sequence builds trust and converts on autopilotWhy past buyers are your warmest leads and how win-back triggers bring them backHow to increase revenue without more traffic or a new offerWhat a conversion ecosystem looks like when all four automations work togetherThe one 1% action to take in your funnel this weekReady to Scale Without the Tech Overwhelm?You can't truly scale a profitable business without a systematic way to bring in new leads and clients every day. If you're ready to grow faster, reach more clients, and simplify your processes, OptimaFunnels is here to help. This all-in-one platform makes building high-converting sales funnels and automating your marketing a breeze, saving you time and money.Head over to OptimaFunnels.com to learn more and start your journey toward a simpler, more profitable business today!Leave a Review or Share Your ThoughtsIf you found this episode helpful, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a review or comment below. What resonated with you? What’s one thing you’ll be trying in your business? Your feedback helps me create more of what you need to grow your business!CONNECT WITH MICHELLE:Instagram: @themichellefernandezWebsite: themichellefernandez.com
Transcribe →Email Deliverability in 2026: How to Get More Opens, Clicks, and Sales with Cheryl Rerick
Mar 3000:34:01Tap to summarizeEmail marketing is still one of the highest-converting strategies for coaches and course creators, but email deliverability rules have changed. If your emails are landing in spam, going to the promotions tab, or your open rates suddenly dropped, this episode breaks down what’s really happening inside the inbox in 2026.In this episode of the Optimize to Monetize Podcast, Michelle talks with email strategist and deliverability expert Cheryl Rerick about how email deliverability works today, why Google, Yahoo, and Outlook filters matter more than ever, and what business owners need to fix if they want better open rates, more clicks, and more sales from their email marketing.You’ll learn why deliverability is not just about copywriting, how domain reputation affects inbox placement, what changed with the new email sender rules, and why cleaning your email list is one of the most important things you can do right now.They also talk about AI inbox filtering, engagement signals, and simple best practices every coach should follow to avoid the spam folder and improve email marketing performance.In this episode, we cover:What email deliverability means in 2026Why emails go to spam even when you follow best practicesNew email rules from Google, Yahoo, and MicrosoftHow to improve email open rates and engagementWhy cleaning your email list matters for deliverabilityThe truth about the Gmail promotions tabHow AI inbox filters affect email marketingCommon email marketing mistakes coaches makeSimple steps to keep your emails out of spamRESOURCES MENTIONEDAI InboxesDeliverability UnboxedReady to Scale Without the Tech Overwhelm?You can't truly scale a profitable business without a systematic way to bring in new leads and clients every day. If you're ready to grow faster, reach more clients, and simplify your processes, OptimaFunnels is here to help. This all-in-one platform makes building high-converting sales funnels and automating your marketing a breeze, saving you time and money.Head over to OptimaFunnels.com to learn more and start your journey toward a simpler, more profitable business today!Leave a Review or Share Your ThoughtsIf you found this episode helpful, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a review or comment below. What resonated with you? What’s one thing you’ll be trying in your business? Your feedback helps me create more of what you need to grow your business!CONNECT WITH MICHELLE:Instagram: @themichellefernandezWebsite: themichellefernandez.com
Transcribe →Leading Through Human Connection with Megan Kuiper
Mar 2300:47:35Tap to summarizeWhat if performance problems aren’t caused by strategy… but by disconnection?In this episode of the Optimize to Monetize Podcast, Michelle Fernandez sits down with leadership expert Megan Kuiper to talk about what really drives high-performing teams, strong culture, and sustainable success. When people feel seen, energized, and connected, performance takes care of itself — and leaders don’t have to rely on pressure, burnout, or constant motivation to get results.Megan shares lessons from her book On Target and explains how human connection, accountability, and intentional leadership habits can transform the way teams show up at work and in life. This conversation explores how small shifts in how you lead, communicate, and show up every day can create powerful long-term results.If you lead a team, run a business, or want to improve performance without sacrificing energy, this episode will give you a new perspective on what leadership really requires.Listen in to learn how leading through human connection can help you build stronger culture, better accountability, and more consistent results.Resources MentionedMegan Kuiper website — https://www.megan-kuiper.com/On Target: 5 Lessons from a Leader Who Believed Culture Could Change Everything — Megan KuiperReady to Scale Without the Tech Overwhelm?You can't truly scale a profitable business without a systematic way to bring in new leads and clients every day. If you're ready to grow faster, reach more clients, and simplify your processes, OptimaFunnels is here to help. This all-in-one platform makes building high-converting sales funnels and automating your marketing a breeze, saving you time and money.Head over to OptimaFunnels.com to learn more and start your journey toward a simpler, more profitable business today!Leave a Review or Share Your ThoughtsIf you found this episode helpful, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a review or comment below. What resonated with you? What’s one thing you’ll be trying in your business? Your feedback helps me create more of what you need to grow your business!CONNECT WITH MICHELLE:Instagram: @themichellefernandezWebsite: themichellefernandez.com
Transcribe →The No-New-Lead Strategy: How to Multiply Your Revenue With the Leads You Already Have
Mar 1600:26:05Tap to summarizeMost online business owners believe the path to more revenue is simple: get more leads.More visibility.More traffic.More people entering the funnel.But what if the biggest growth opportunity in your business is already sitting inside your existing customer base?In this episode, Michelle breaks down The No-New-Lead Strategy and explains how online coaches and course creators can increase revenue without constantly chasing new leads. Instead of focusing only on customer acquisition, Michelle shares how to maximize the value of the customers who have already bought from you.You’ll learn how to create clear ascension paths that turn happy clients into your most powerful marketing engine.Michelle also explains why selling to existing customers is significantly easier than acquiring new ones and how mapping your customer journey and lifetime value strategy can create more predictable and sustainable revenue.If you’re tired of the constant pressure to generate more leads and want a smarter way to grow your business, this episode will show you how to unlock revenue opportunities that may already be in your audience.Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeOptimaFunnelshttps://optimafunnels.com/Ready to Scale Without the Tech Overwhelm?You can't truly scale a profitable business without a systematic way to bring in new leads and clients every day. If you're ready to grow faster, reach more clients, and simplify your processes, OptimaFunnels is here to help. This all-in-one platform makes building high-converting sales funnels and automating your marketing a breeze, saving you time and money.Head over to OptimaFunnels.com to learn more and start your journey toward a simpler, more profitable business today!Leave a Review or Share Your ThoughtsIf you found this episode helpful, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a review or comment below. What resonated with you? What’s one thing you’ll be trying in your business? Your feedback helps me create more of what you need to grow your business!CONNECT WITH MICHELLE:Instagram: @themichellefernandezWebsite: themichellefernandez.com
Transcribe →Wealth Worries to Financial Freedom with Penelope Jane Smith
Mar 900:00:08Tap to summarizePenelope Jane Smith is the real deal when it comes to money, investing, and financial freedom, and her story will punch you in the face in the best way.She went from turning $10,000 into over $6 million in real estate to getting completely wiped out in the 2008 crash, and then rebuilt her life and wealth from the ground up.In this conversation, we talk about what financial freedom actually means as an entrepreneur, why investing doesn’t have to be complicated, and how to start building long term wealth even if your income feels unpredictable.If you’ve ever thought “I need to make more money first” or “I’ll worry about investing later”, this episode will shift that.Resources: Grab Penelope’s free ebook, The Financial Freedom Formula, and get the details on her Financial Freedom 101 event at realprosperityinc.com Until next time, let’s grow your business together.Ready to Scale Without the Tech Overwhelm?You can't truly scale a profitable business without a systematic way to bring in new leads and clients every day. If you're ready to grow faster, reach more clients, and simplify your processes, OptimaFunnels is here to help. This all-in-one platform makes building high-converting sales funnels and automating your marketing a breeze, saving you time and money.Head over to OptimaFunnels.com to learn more and start your journey toward a simpler, more profitable business today!Leave a Review or Share Your ThoughtsIf you found this episode helpful, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a review or comment below. What resonated with you? What’s one thing you’ll be trying in your business? Your feedback helps me create more of what you need to grow your business!CONNECT WITH MICHELLE:Instagram: @themichellefernandezWebsite: themichellefernandez.com
Transcribe →The Return of Long-Form: Why 60-Second Content Is Dead and Trust-Building Depth Wins in 2026
Mar 200:08:30Tap to summarizeIs long-form content a new trend in 2026?Not exactly.It’s not new. It never left. We just got distracted.In this episode, I’m breaking down why the constant chase for 60-second visibility is exhausting, why attention does not equal trust, and why depth is quietly becoming the real advantage for serious business owners.We’re talking about the shift from trend-driven marketing to depth-driven positioning.If you’re building a real business, selling real transformation, and charging real money, this episode will help you rethink where you’re spending your energy.Your 1% action this week is simple: stop compressing your thinking and start teaching with depth.Because attention gets you noticed.Depth gets you chosen.If this resonated, share it with someone who’s ready to stop chasing trends and start building trust.Ready to Scale Without the Tech Overwhelm?You can't truly scale a profitable business without a systematic way to bring in new leads and clients every day. If you're ready to grow faster, reach more clients, and simplify your processes, OptimaFunnels is here to help. This all-in-one platform makes building high-converting sales funnels and automating your marketing a breeze, saving you time and money.Head over to OptimaFunnels.com to learn more and start your journey toward a simpler, more profitable business today!Leave a Review or Share Your ThoughtsIf you found this episode helpful, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a review or comment below. What resonated with you? What’s one thing you’ll be trying in your business? Your feedback helps me create more of what you need to grow your business!CONNECT WITH MICHELLE:Instagram: @themichellefernandezWebsite: themichellefernandez.com
Transcribe →Long Term Visibility with SEO and Content Repurposing with Maggie Schneider
Feb 2300:41:39Tap to summarizeSEO does not have to be a mystery. In this episode, I’m joined by Maggie Schneider from Hilltop Help to break down what long term visibility actually looks like, and how tiny, consistent tweaks can compound into traffic and leads that don’t disappear when you stop posting.We talk about why SEO is worth the upfront effort for coaches and course creators, how to repurpose content across multiple platforms without creating more work, and the simplest “start here” steps you can take even if you’re a solopreneur.Maggie also shares how to use webinars and past content like a visibility engine, what to track so you’re not guessing, and why your website should never have dead ends.If you want to apply the 1% Conversion Effect to visibility, this one is for you.What we coverWhy SEO is a foundational long game strategy that compounds over timeThe repurposing sweet spot and why showing up on multiple platforms can boost resultsHow to turn one webinar or podcast into content that drives traffic back to your offersThe first SEO basics to set up today, including Google Analytics and Search ConsoleHow to use data to improve what already exists instead of constantly reinventingWhy keyword research matters and how to think like your audience searchesWhat to do after someone finds your blog so they don’t bounceConnect with MaggieMaggie is most active on Instagram at @hilltophelp and you can find her resources, blog, and services at hilltophelp.com.She also mentioned:A free website SEO checklist Her $17 SEO challenge for simple keyword research and optimizing one page fastReady to Scale Without the Tech Overwhelm?You can't truly scale a profitable business without a systematic way to bring in new leads and clients every day. If you're ready to grow faster, reach more clients, and simplify your processes, OptimaFunnels is here to help. This all-in-one platform makes building high-converting sales funnels and automating your marketing a breeze, saving you time and money.Head over to OptimaFunnels.com to learn more and start your journey toward a simpler, more profitable business today!Leave a Review or Share Your ThoughtsIf you found this episode helpful, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a review or comment below. What resonated with you? What’s one thing you’ll be trying in your business? Your feedback helps me create more of what you need to grow your business!CONNECT WITH MICHELLE:Instagram: @themichellefernandezWebsite: themichellefernandez.com
Transcribe →The Show-Up Shortcut: Stop Trying to Be Everywhere
Feb 1600:13:36Tap to summarizeAre you showing up everywhere… but still feeling forgettable?In this episode of Optimize to Monetize, Michelle breaks down why 2026 marketing isn’t about omnipresence, content volume, or chasing every platform. It’s about being remembered.If you’re tired of creating more and more content just to stay visible, this conversation will feel like a deep exhale. Michelle reframes visibility as consistent, strategic touchpoints that compound over time. Not random posts. Not constant reinvention. But clarity, repetition, and familiarity that build trust and drive decisions.You’ll learn the difference between being seen and being associated with something specific, how to create recognizable messaging that sticks, and why stacking familiarity is the real show-up shortcut.Because attention gets you noticed once.Memory gets you chosen.Let’s grow your business together.Ready to Scale Without the Tech Overwhelm?You can't truly scale a profitable business without a systematic way to bring in new leads and clients every day. If you're ready to grow faster, reach more clients, and simplify your processes, OptimaFunnels is here to help. This all-in-one platform makes building high-converting sales funnels and automating your marketing a breeze, saving you time and money.Head over to OptimaFunnels.com to learn more and start your journey toward a simpler, more profitable business today!Leave a Review or Share Your ThoughtsIf you found this episode helpful, I’d love to hear from you! Leave a review or comment below. What resonated with you? What’s one thing you’ll be trying in your business? Your feedback helps me create more of what you need to grow your business!CONNECT WITH MICHELLE:Instagram: @themichellefernandezWebsite: themichellefernandez.com
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