#10: Why Your Product Isn’t the Problem: Fixing Your Brand Message for Real Results with Ryan Holck
Release Date: 12/30/2025
#12: Strategic Marketing Planning: Unlocking Growth for Your Business with Ryan Holck
Brand on the Rocks
On this episode of Brand On The Rocks, host Ryan Holck invites you to rethink your marketing strategy for the year ahead. Whether you’re a solopreneur, a team leader, or part of a growing organization, this deep-dive solo episode is crafted to help you move beyond mere to-do lists and truly strategize for growth. Ryan Holck shares the inside track on how he facilitates VIP strategy sessions, breaking down his signature approach into three actionable focus areas: clarifying your ideal audience, identifying the stories your audience needs to hear, and building a marketing calendar that...
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#11: Reviews vs Testimonials: Building Trust and Real Connections in Your Brand Messaging with Ryan Holck
Brand on the Rocks
In this episode of Brand On The Rocks, Ryan Holck hops on the mic for a solo “On the Rocks” pour—cutting past the fluff to break down a deceptively simple, crucial distinction: testimonials vs. reviews. Drawing on personal experiences and candid client stories, Ryan Holck explores why relying on generic reviews may leave your audience cold, and how heartfelt, story-driven testimonials build trust and a lasting emotional connection with your best customers. He shares awkward (but honest!) conversations he’s had with clients about setting expectations, and lays out why transformation...
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#10: Why Your Product Isn’t the Problem: Fixing Your Brand Message for Real Results with Ryan Holck
Brand on the Rocks
On this episode of Brand On The Rocks, Ryan Holck dives into a challenge every business owner faces but rarely diagnoses correctly: when your product isn’t the problem—your message is. Too often, we blame slow sales on ads, algorithms, or even the economy, when in reality, it comes down to how (or if) people understand what you actually do. Ryan Holck shares the story of a seasoned glass installer whose stellar work remains a best-kept secret because his messaging just doesn’t connect outside his immediate circle. Sound familiar? In this “straight up” episode, you’ll discover: ...
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#9: Stop Losing Customers: Four Ways Your Story Is Broken and How to Repair It with Ryan Holck
Brand on the Rocks
In this episode of Brand On The Rocks, Ryan Holck dives straight into one of the most persistent challenges in business storytelling: the fog that keeps your message hidden from the very people you want to reach. He breaks down the four common ways business stories break down—being incomplete, confusing, not actionable, or failing to deliver results—and shares practical strategies to bring clarity back to your brand’s narrative. Whether you're struggling to articulate what makes your business special, finding it hard to connect with your ideal customers, or simply want your...
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#8: Unlocking Business Success Through Storytelling with Ryan Holck recorded live at The Thing Orlando 2025
Brand on the Rocks
Welcome back to Brand On The Rocks! In this unique episode, host Ryan Holck takes you inside a live workshop session recorded at The Thing Orlando – a conference for entrepreneurs. Instead of the usual interviews or marketing audits, you’ll join Ryan Holck as he helps real business leaders distill their stories on the spot, with practical guidance on crafting messages that stand out and get remembered. You’ll hear engaging conversations with audience participants, as they share personal experiences, ranging from camping lore to booking once-in-a-lifetime Disney adventures, and then...
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#7: How to Audit Your Website Messaging for Clarity That Converts with Ryan Holck
Brand on the Rocks
In this “On the Rocks” episode of Brand on the Rocks, host Ryan Holck tackles one of the most overlooked – yet absolutely essential – aspects of brand marketing: website messaging. Whether your site is the digital front door of your business or the first impression you make on potential customers, Ryan makes it clear that how you communicate your story online is make-or-break. Get ready for a practical, hands-on audit: Ryan lays out the exact steps you need to follow to evaluate your website’s messaging for clarity, effectiveness, and action. He breaks down the process into three...
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#6: From Confusion to Trust | Building Brand Consistency Across Every Touchpoint with Adam McLaughlin
Brand on the Rocks
In this episode of Brand on the Rocks, Ryan Holck is joined by guest Adam McLaughlin for a candid “shared pour” conversation on a topic that every leader, marketer, and entrepreneur wrestles with: clarity. Together, they dig deep into the practical reasons why clarity isn’t just a nice-to-have for your brand, it’s the spark that exposes confusion and sets the stage for true consistency, trust, and lasting customer relationships. Episode highlights include: Adam’s unique ladder approach to brand trust, breaking down how clarity leads to consistency, consistency builds trust, and...
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#5: Distilling Your Brand Story | Three Steps to Clear Messaging that Connects with Ryan Holck
Brand on the Rocks
In this straight-up episode of Brand on the Rocks, Ryan Holck invites you to take your bold business ideas and distill them down into crystal-clear messaging that actually works. Drawing inspiration from the art of distilling high-quality spirits, Ryan walks listeners through a three-step brand clarity framework designed to cut through the marketing noise: knowing your big story, simplifying your message, and building a strategic plan for sharing it. Tune in as Ryan shares practical insights and analogies, from closet choices to Lego manuals, that make the sometimes-daunting process of...
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#4: From Campfires to Conferences | Mastering the Art of the Elevator Pitch with Adam McLaughlin
Brand on the Rocks
Want a Game Changing Elevator Pitch? In this episode of Brand on the Rocks, host Ryan Holck welcomes Adam McLaughlin, founder of Trust Marketing Agency and seasoned digital nomad. Not only does Adam run his business from the road (campgrounds, foreign countries, and even driveways!), he’s perfected the art of making first impressions count. Especially when every chat around the campfire could be a potential business moment. Here’s what you’ll get in Episode 4: Elevator Pitches That Actually Work Ever blurted out your entire business catalog in 60 seconds and gotten nothing but...
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#3: Building Brand Trust | Lessons from Maxwell House and Walmart
Brand on the Rocks
On this episode of Brand on the Rocks, host Ryan Holck dives deep into the concept of the “trust recession” and why brands are struggling to connect with their audiences in today’s noisy marketplace. Using timely case studies from Maxwell House and Walmart, Ryan explores how even legacy brands can miss the mark when they lose sight of their core audience and try to solve problems their customers don’t actually have. Through relatable stories and actionable insights, you’ll learn the importance of understanding your audience, aligning your products to their real needs, and the...
info_outlineOn this episode of Brand On The Rocks, Ryan Holck dives into a challenge every business owner faces but rarely diagnoses correctly: when your product isn’t the problem—your message is.
Too often, we blame slow sales on ads, algorithms, or even the economy, when in reality, it comes down to how (or if) people understand what you actually do. Ryan Holck shares the story of a seasoned glass installer whose stellar work remains a best-kept secret because his messaging just doesn’t connect outside his immediate circle. Sound familiar?
In this “straight up” episode, you’ll discover:
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Why even the best products fail when paired with a muddled pitch
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The hidden cost of forcing customers to “decode” your marketing
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Five foundational questions that uncover the real story your brand should be telling
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Simple ways to distill your message so a 12-year-old—or busy scrolling prospect—immediately gets it
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How to move from “right product/wrong pitch” to a message that actually gets attention and action
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The strategic shift from struggling with scattered ads to building consistent, clear communication where your audience spends time
Whether you’re frustrated by wasted ad spend, tired of complicated funnels, or just wondering why no one talks about your business, this episode is for you. Ryan Holck serves up practical, honest guidance to help you clarify your brand message, simplify with confidence, and build a repeatable strategy—so your business finally gets the attention (and sales) it deserves.
Curious to see what happens when you fix your story, simplify your pitch, and quit playing marketing roulette? Pour yourself a glass and press play! Listen now and follow Brand On The Rocks so you never miss the ideas that help your brand stand out—neat, bold, and unmistakably clear.
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Want to cut through the noise and create a brand story that actually connects? Schedule a call with Ryan Holck at DistillYourStory.com.
Get the free guide: Website Essentials — The 8-Part Blueprint for a Lead-Generating Business Website. Download it now at DistillYourStory.com/Website-Blueprint.
Ready to simplify your message and grow your business? Explore Ryan’s Distill Your Story Framework — proven to help entrepreneurs and teams craft clarity that drives revenue. Learn more at DistillYourStory.com.