Sales as Service

Selling Starts at First Sight: The Brand Psychology Behind Buy-Ready Clients with Emily Paulsen

Tamara Smith Season 1 Episode 21

If your brand is getting attention but not turning into action, you’re not alone—and you’re not broken. This week, I’m joined by Emily Paulsen, founder of Electric Collab, a psychology-based brand studio that helps founders go from "getting seen" to getting chosen.

With a background that spans global brands like Abercrombie & Fitch and The Wendy’s Company, Emily brings a grounded, emotionally intelligent approach to branding—one that helps small teams show up with more clarity, connection, and conversion across the entire buyer journey.

We dig into the real reasons your brand might be attracting the wrong clients (or none at all), and what it actually takes to build a brand that supports—not sabotages—your sales process.

Inside this episode, we talk about:

  • The difference between branding for attention vs. branding for action
  • How brand psychology shapes client perception before the first call
  • What it really means to “own your brilliance” and show up with clarity
  • The silent friction points that could be costing you conversions
  • Why your brand visuals and messaging need to evolve as you grow


Sales as Service Challenge — Start Now!

Block 15 minutes for a brand audit.
Pick one high-visibility entry point—your homepage, Instagram grid, LinkedIn bio, or email opt-in sequence—and ask:

  • Does this reflect who I really am today as a founder?
  • Is the info current and accurate?
  • Does it clearly communicate who I help and how?
  • Would it make my ideal client feel seen and understood?

If the answer is “sort of” or “not really”—choose one small update you can make this week to better align your brand with your buyer’s journey.

Links & Resources:

Have an episode idea? DM me on LinkedIn and let me know!


Tam Smith is a Sales Growth Strategist and founder of ST49 Sales Marketing, where she helps female founders and agency owners ditch feast-or-famine cycles with sales systems that actually feel good to use.

With 15+ years in sales leadership, Tam’s work focuses on building genuine relationships, crafting smart outreach strategies, and creating consistent client pipelines—no pressure tactics required.

When she’s not helping clients build reliable sales systems, you’ll likely find her rock climbing or mapping out her next adventure with her Supermutt, Ila, in Durham, NC.