Episode 261

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Published on:

27th May 2025

The Marketing Wasteland

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Your content isn’t failing–your platform strategy is. Discover why posting more is the worst advice and how to finally get traction.


In this episode, Sharran unpacks a marketing challenge most creators and entrepreneurs face: the “Marketing Wasteland.” If you've ever felt like you're creating content that gets no traction, this is your wake-up call. Sharran introduces the PARA Platform Filter, a practical framework to help you focus your efforts, find your ideal audience, and create consistent, resonant content without burning out.


He shares personal stories, including how he built a $1B brand by focusing on just three platforms and why going deep, not wide, is the most profitable strategy. From content misfires to scalable systems, Sharran breaks down exactly how to stop shouting into the void and start building real leverage online.


If you’re tired of posting everywhere with little to show for it, this episode will help you simplify your strategy, amplify your message, and connect where it counts.


“You don’t need a megaphone to reach the world. You just need to be in the right room having the right conversations.”


- Sharran Srivatsaa


Timestamps:

01:58 - The "Marketing Wasteland" explained

03:22 - The PARA Platform Filter: Present, Audience, Resource, Architecture

07:03 - Sharran’s YouTube experiment: 10 videos in 10 days

08:25 - Long-form vs. short-form: pick your trust and distribution platforms

09:32 - Cautionary tale: Startup fails trying to be everywhere

11:37 - Case study: Health coach builds six-figure business with two platforms

14:11 - Why you need a funnel, not a flat content plate

16:01 - How to find your audience and use AI to analyze their behavior

18:20 - Building connections in one anchor platform

21:25 - Going deep vs. going wide: the real path to profitability

21:59 - Sharran’s content strategy breakdown

26:02 - Visibility vs. leverage: where real influence comes from

26:51 - Final challenge: simplify your marketing and connect with purpose


Resources:

- Join the Future Proof Community - https://futureproofsecrets.com/

- The Real Brokerage - https://www.joinreal.com/

- Top Agent Power Pack - https://sharran.activehosted.com/f/121

- The 5am Club - https://sharran.com/5amclub/

- Join the 10K Wisdom Private Partner Podcast, now available to you for free - https://www.highlandprime.com/optin-10k-wisdom

- Join Sharran's VIP Community - https://sharran.com/vip/

- ARC Multifamily Real Estate Investing - https://arcmf.com/

- Sharran's Partnership Program - https://www.highlandprime.com/

- Grab Sharran’s 4-Week MBA for Free - https://sharran.com/4weekmba/


Connect with Sharran:

- Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/likesharran

- Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sharransrivatsaa/

- X - https://x.com/sharran

- LinkedIn - http://www.linkedin.com/in/sharran

- YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzpl_gT1bVB1iNZl9yQbWuA?sub_confirmation=1

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About the Podcast

Business School with Sharran Srivatsaa
Business School with Sharran Srivatsaa is the no-fluff, tactical podcast for founders, operators, and underdogs who want to grow with clarity, intention, and results. Hosted by entrepreneur, investor, and operator Sharran Srivatsaa—President and Managing Partner at Acquisition.com—this show cuts through the noise to deliver real-world strategies from someone who's built and exited five companies across multiple industries.

Sharran has helped scale two billion-dollar businesses, served as President of Real (NASDAQ: REAX), and led the 10x growth and sale of Teles Properties to Douglas Elliman (NYSE: DOUG). He brings lessons from Wall Street to Main Street, sharing what actually works—because he’s lived through what doesn’t.

Every episode offers simple, actionable playbooks for those who want to build extraordinary companies without the chaos. Whether you're a scrappy operator, a first-time founder, or a seasoned executive, Business School with Sharran Srivatsaa is your blueprint for building with purpose and winning on your terms.

For more free resources, visit Sharran.com

About your host

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Sharran Srivatsaa

Sharran is a serial entrepreneur, sought after keynote speaker, and a respected thought-leadership resource for publications such as the Wall Street Journal, SUCCESS magazine, Huffington Post and Forbes.

While Sharran has had 5 exits in the last 19 years, and also a several humbling failed investments and business initiatives. He talks all about them on his top rated Spotify podcast, Business School.

Most recently, Sharran led Teles Properties’ unprecedented 10x growth over 5 years and a 4-year consecutive streak on the Inc. 500 fastest growing companies list resulting in its acquisition by national real estate powerhouse Douglas Elliman.

Prior to Teles, Sharran worked at both Goldman Sachs and Credit Suisse, where he collaborated with management teams of fast-growing businesses around the country on investment advisory and corporate strategy. Sharran also spent several years building recreational programs in the Caribbean, Middle East, and Hawaii for some of the finest international resorts such as the Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, also has deep experience working with technology companies such as Lightera (acquired by CIENA) and Obopay, a fast-growth mobile payments company.

Sharran is a Principal at Srilo Ventures, a multi-factor private investment fund that focuses investing in and advising technology companies and operating businesses in the consumer space. Having successfully completed many acquisitions, joint-ventures, management buyouts, mergers, and capital raises, Sharran serves as a director and advisor on numerous company boards.

He is also a member of the Genius Network, the highest-level marketing mastermind in the world led by whizkid Joe Polish, and also a member of Young President’s Organization (YPO).

After competing on the professional tennis tour, Sharran received his Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Luther College and his MBA with Honors from Vanderbilt University.