They Got Acquired - Now that's clout

May 9, 2023
​Read on web​

Public relations agency owner Christina Nicholson wanted an easier way to find podcasts for clients to appear on.

So she built a tool, a searchable database, to do just that.

“I don't know anything about tech or software, so I hired people who were smarter than me to bring my vision to life,” she said.

She called it Podcast Clout. In addition to using it for her own PR agency, she made it available to others.

She got customers through PR Facebook groups and by appearing as a guest on podcasts. She also used a lead magnet to generate sales and introduce people to the software.

A few years later, Nicholson decided it was time to sell, so she could focus on her agency. “My heart wasn’t in creating and scaling and selling software,” she said.

After listing the business for sale, she received four offers. The first nearly resulted in a deal, but it fell through, which she said was mentally challenging: “Getting so close to the finish line, to have someone back out after 99% of the due diligence portion was finished... You feel like you’re starting over again.”

In the end, she reached her goal of selling:

​How this PR agency owner created and sold her own SaaS podcast database for 3x revenue​

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Behind the business (a TGA update)

It feels like we're gaining traction in terms of how many entrepreneurs we're helping.

Last week I tweeted this:

Alexis Grant @alexisgrant Nothing like getting updates from founders I've chatted with saying: + They've got an offer + They're expecting an offer + They've decided to sell + They've sold! Each update has me grinning like it's MY company that's hitting the milestones. April 27th 2023 2 Retweets 12 Likes

Every time I get a note saying our content or coaching or an intro we made helped a founder reap the rewards from what they've built, I am even more convinced that I'm doing exactly what I'm meant to do at this moment.

The story at the top of this newsletter, about how Christina Nicholson sold her business, is a great example.

She found an M&A advisor through this newsletter! She leaned on Quiet Light, one of our partners, to find buyers and close her deal.

I'm thinking about adding something to my office — or maybe even on our website? — that helps us celebrate every time we help a founder in a meaningful way. Kind of like a sticker chart that makes these wins visible and serves as a reminder of why we're building this brand. (Got ideas? I'd love to hear them.)

Because increasing revenue is great...

And adding email subscribers is great...

But the satisfaction and joy of helping founders who otherwise might not achieve an awesome outcome? Those are the wins that keep me going.

See you next time,

Lexi Grant
Founder & CEO
​They Got Acquired​
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P.S. We have some openings this summer for newsletter sponsors.

If you want to reach an engaged audience of entrepreneurs, please reach out and we can share details.

🙌 How we can help

Here's what we offer for founders looking to sell in the next year:

- Help choosing an advisor or broker you can trust

- M&A coaching if you have a potential buyer or want to approach buyers on your own

- A sounding board (free call) if you're not sure where to start

- Reports full of case studies and data about other founders who sold

- Posts covering the basics of how to sell your business​