Blake and Sarah came to NTV360 from Wyoming agriculture with no sales or marketing background, and now run Wild West Connect with nearly 50 screens installed (figures from Blake and Sarah, Wild West Connect owners; published April 2025). How they did it: show up at local businesses, start conversations instead of pitching perfectly, and run the day-to-day from a phone. The network they joined, NTV360 (formerly N-Compass TV), ranked No. 2,896 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 with 108% three-year growth (Inc. 5000, 2026).
When Sarah and Blake sat on the couch one cold March day in Wyoming, they weren’t planning to start a media business. They were Googling franchise opportunities. Vending machines? UPS stores? Nothing really clicked.
Then they found NTV360.
Today, they run Wild West Connect, a growing NTV360 franchise servicing a territory in Wyoming. With nearly 50 screens already installed and more on the way (screen count from Blake and Sarah, published April 2025), they’ve built more than a business. They’ve built trust, visibility, and real connections with the communities they call home.
And they did it all with no sales or marketing background.
We had no sales experience. No marketing experience. Just work ethic.
From Ranch Life to Running a Business
Blake is a fourth-generation farmer. Sarah grew up on a 100-year-old ranch. Both were working long hours in agriculture when they discovered NTV360. They were busy – but they were also ready for something new.
“This model lets us run a business from our phones,” Blake says. “And instead of managing inventory, we get to actually help people.”
They quickly realized it wasn’t about being perfect. It was about showing up, starting conversations, and offering something that helps.
I thought I’d hate sales. Turns out I just love talking to people.
Selling Without Feeling Salesy
At first, Sarah wasn’t sure she could sell. She pictured pushy tactics and awkward pitches. But once she started having genuine conversations, everything changed.
“If you think of it as helping a business grow, it’s completely different,” she says. “Sometimes what they need isn’t even a screen. And that’s fine. It’s about figuring out what’s right for them.”
One Day a Week, Real Presence
Blake and Sarah only have one full day each week to work on their franchise. Thursdays are reserved for new host meetings, ad revisions, follow-ups, and sales calls. The rest happens in early mornings, late evenings, or between other jobs.
Even with limited time, they’ve built a strong local presence. Business owners know their faces. Their names show up on screen. Referrals keep rolling in.
They’ve been able to help their customers with real life ROI. One gym-goer saw a brewery ad while on the treadmill and visited the same day. A roofing company landed a big job after a homeowner spotted their ad. A personal trainer got a client the day after her ad went live.
Some days you just have to get out of the car and go do it.
Lessons From the Road
Of course, there have been hiccups. Like the time they forgot to save a sample ad offline and showed up to a pitch unprepared. Or the money they spent early on covering install fees for hosts.
But they learned. Now, host locations handle their own installs, and the team works smarter, not just harder.
What They’d Tell a New Franchisee
If you’re thinking about joining the NTV360 network, Blake and Sarah have a few words of wisdom:
- Watch your recorded training calls. Rewatch them when you have time to absorb everything.
- Use the support team. They’ve already made the mistakes and are here to help.
- Start sooner. “We’d do it all again,” Sarah says. “Just faster.”
Ready to Build a Business in Your Community?
NTV360 gives you the platform, the playbook, and a team that has your back. You don’t need a degree or decades of experience. You just need commitment, curiosity, and a desire to see your local businesses thrive.