Why Direct Response Marketing Still Wins (and Scales Fast) John Dwyer
Fri Jan 30 2026
Most companies don't have a marketing problem —
they have a response problem.
In this episode of WINNERS FIND A WAY, Trent Clark sits down with direct-response master John Dwyer to unpack why incentives, personalization, and execution still outperform brand-only marketing — and how even small businesses can scale fast without massive budgets.
About the Guest John Dwyer is a world-renowned direct-response marketer and Founder of The Institute of Wow. His work spans global brands like Disney, McDonald's, Kellogg's, Hilton, and challenger brands that needed fast, measurable growth. He's also known for his legendary campaign that featured Jerry Seinfeld for an Australian financial institution — built not on branding fluff, but bold response-driven strategy.
John's philosophy is simple:
👉 Don't make people fall in love with your brand first —
👉 Get them to experience value, then loyalty follows.
Key Moments & Ideas Why direct response ≠ infomercial marketing Disney's "Plus One" philosophy and how it applies to leadership How personalization turns customers into advocates The psychology behind incentive-based marketing Facebook lead contests that generate red-hot, self-qualified leads Why most businesses hear great ideas — but never implement them The difference between branding spend and measurable ROI How Seinfeld said "yes" after relentless (and smart) persistence Resources Mentioned 🌐 https://theinstituteofwow.com 🌐 https://leadscontest.com John Dwyer media & bio: https://theinstituteofwow.com/media-resources-2/ 🎯 If your growth feels stuck, stop guessing and start responding.
▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipity
🎧 Listen on the Podcast: https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast
More
Most companies don't have a marketing problem — they have a response problem. In this episode of WINNERS FIND A WAY, Trent Clark sits down with direct-response master John Dwyer to unpack why incentives, personalization, and execution still outperform brand-only marketing — and how even small businesses can scale fast without massive budgets. About the Guest John Dwyer is a world-renowned direct-response marketer and Founder of The Institute of Wow. His work spans global brands like Disney, McDonald's, Kellogg's, Hilton, and challenger brands that needed fast, measurable growth. He's also known for his legendary campaign that featured Jerry Seinfeld for an Australian financial institution — built not on branding fluff, but bold response-driven strategy. John's philosophy is simple: 👉 Don't make people fall in love with your brand first — 👉 Get them to experience value, then loyalty follows. Key Moments & Ideas Why direct response ≠ infomercial marketing Disney's "Plus One" philosophy and how it applies to leadership How personalization turns customers into advocates The psychology behind incentive-based marketing Facebook lead contests that generate red-hot, self-qualified leads Why most businesses hear great ideas — but never implement them The difference between branding spend and measurable ROI How Seinfeld said "yes" after relentless (and smart) persistence Resources Mentioned 🌐 https://theinstituteofwow.com 🌐 https://leadscontest.com John Dwyer media & bio: https://theinstituteofwow.com/media-resources-2/ 🎯 If your growth feels stuck, stop guessing and start responding. ▶️ Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@leadershipity 🎧 Listen on the Podcast: https://podcast.winnersfindaway.us/podcast