AskPat 2.0: A Weekly Coaching Call on Online Business, Blogging, Marketing, and Lifestyle Design

Today's question comes from Phil, who has a question about monetizing a niche website. How do you find affiliates to work with your niche business? Where do you look for affiliates? How do you get your website visitors to comment on your website, especially if it is a narrow niche/industry? Phil's website is at http://www.buildingautomationmonthly.com/. In this episode I mention Will It Fly?, my book on validating your idea for a business. Pick up your copy at http://willitflybook.com. Do you have a question about monetizing a niche website? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Ernie, who has a question about starting a YouTube channel. Should you start a YouTube channel to complement your website and brand? What types of videos can you add to your channel and your website? How do you enhance your brand with a YouTube channel? Ernie's website is at http://www.militarydiscountscentral.com/. Do you have a question about starting a YouTube channel for your brand? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Z, who has a question about podcast episode titles. What are the pros and cons of using episode numbers? What should you keep in mind when you craft your podcast episode titles? Can you change the titles later after you publish? Do keywords in podcast titles matter? Z's website is at http://www.artofmfg.com/. In this episode, I mention SPI Session 78, which you can find at http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session78/. Do you have a question about improving your podcast episode titles? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Henry, who has a question about how to keep track of his sales funnels. How does he make his website scalable as he grows? Are there any specific strategies to put in place to make his funnels more efficient and simpler? Henry's website is at http://www.guitareasier.com/. In this episode I mention Ramit Sethi's website at http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/. I also mention the book Ask by Ryan Levesque at http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/ask-amazon/. Do you have a question about organizing your sales funnel? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from David, who has a question about missing podcast episodes in iTunes. What do you do if your feed is missing episodes? What do you do if your iTunes feed is not working right? How do you validate your podcast feed? What do you need to know about your ID3 tags? David's website is at http://www.salesvideos.com/. In this episode, I mention Cast Feed Validator, a place where you can validate your podcast feed, at http://www.castfeedvalidator.com/. Do you have a question about troubleshooting your podcast feed? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Ryan, who sells posters in different niches. He's selling them from the same store; should he separate them into different sites? Ryan's site is http://designdifferent.ca/. Do you have a question about selling products on your site? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Joshua, who has a question about hosting plans. Is there any downside to setting up multiple websites on a single hosting environment? Joshua's site is http://informationtechnologytraining.biz/. The dedicated server I use is at Linode (http://linode.com/), but when you are getting started I highly recommend using Bluehost (http://askpat.com/bluehost). Do you have a question about your website hosting? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Dan, who asks about using Fiverr. Is it a good source for finding writers to help with his site's content? Find Fiverr at http://fiverr.com/. I prefer Upwork (http://askpat.com/upwork) or the Problogger Job Board (http://problogger.com/jobs/) for finding writers. The transcription app and website I use is Rev (http://rev.com). Do you have a question about content creation? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Brandon, who asks about selling to his audience. How large of an audience does he need before he begins selling things? Brandon's site is http://www.startupmusician.co/. The episode of the Smart Passive Income Podcast with Brian Harris is Session #190 (http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/step-by-step-product-creation-with-bryan-harris/). Check out my new book on validating your idea for a business, Will It Fly?, at http://willitflybook.com. Do you have a question about selling to your audience? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Brian, who is planning to sell a video course. How does he keep his course private? Brian's site is http://www.coachingclarity.org/. Brian mentions the course hosting site Udemy (https://www.udemy.com/), as well as the video host Wistia (http://wistia.com/). I also discuss the video hosts Vimeo (https://vimeo.com/) and Podbean (http://www.podbean.com/). The WordPress plugins I mention are WP WishList (http://member.wishlistproducts.com/) and Zippy Courses (http://askpat.com/zippycourses). The course host I use is Teachable (http://askpat.com/teachable). Another option is Gumroad (http://askpat.com/gumroad) Do you have a question about creating and selling courses? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Lauren, who asks about online business training courses. Which is best for her? The courses Lauren mentions are Internet Business Mastery (http://askpat.com/ibm) and Ramit Sethi's Zero to Launch (http://askpat.com/ztl). I also discuss Chris Ducker's Youpreneur (http://www.youpreneur.com/) and Fizzle (http://askpat.com/fizzle).See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Taj, who has claimed his social media accounts but has not started using them yet. Is it too early to start posting if he's not ready to start his business yet? Do you have a question about social media? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Garrett, who has an interview podcast that he records through Skype. How can he improve the audio quality from his guests? Garrett's site is http://www.thesquadroom.net/. The tool I recommend trying is Auphonic (https://auphonic.com/), which can help you automatically process your caller audio. Do you have a question about podcasting? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. If you're planning to start a podcast, follow my podcasting tutorial (http://www.podcastingtutorial.com).See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Riley, who asks how to promote himself better on Fiverr. What can he do to stand out? Also, should he build his own website? Riley talks about the work he does on Fiverr (https://www.fiverr.com/). Do you have a question about marketing your services? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Travis, who asks about the ethics of working with ghostwriters and guest writers. Is it ethical to use ghostwriters for blog posts published under your own name? How do you involve guest writers on your site while still maintaining a relationship with your readers? The transcription service I use is Rev (http://askpat.com/rev). Do you have a question about writing for your website? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Corey, who has a question about the right tools for estimating website traffic. What are the best tools I can use to estimate web traffic of my competitors? Are there other things I should be looking at for website rankings, traffic, and the like? In this episode, I mention a few great analytics tools, including Alexa at http://www.alexa.com/, SEM Rush at http://www.semrush.com/, and http://www.similarweb.com/. Do you have a question about finding the right tools for estimating website traffic? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Aaron, who has a question about communicating with your competition without burning bridges. How can we support each other without creating conflict? Is there room for building relationships with your competitors? What are some ways you can set your website apart from your competitors in your unique niche? Aaron's website is at http://www.hamconnect.com/. Do you have a question about separating your business from your competitors without burning bridges? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. You can also share your thoughts on this topic on Twitter by using the hashtag #AskPat718See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Jessica, who has a question about organizing the content on her website. Is it okay to have different types of videos on your website? Where do I put those videos? How do you build your website to make your brand more clear for your audience? What are some ways you can instantly explain who you are on your website? Jessica's website is at http://www.jessicacrossasmr.com/. Do you have a question about organizing your website to better serve your audience? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Mark, who has question about the "cold subscribers" on email lists. What are the pros and cons of engaging with cold, or inactive, subscribers? Should I delete my bounced subscribers? What are the best ways to reach out with inactive subscribers? What happens when they do not respond? How many emails do I send to my cold subscribers? Mark's website is at http://www.firstresponderfitness.us/. In this episode, I mention ConvertKit. You can learn more about ConvertKit at http://www.convertkit.com/. I also mention my ebook, Email the Smart Way. You can get this ebook for free at http://www.emailthesmartway.com/. Do you have a question about engaging with your inactive email list subscribers? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Jeanette, who has a question about how her new book can help build her brand and monetize her website. How do I use my book to help promote my brand? What can I do to connect my book to my website? Can the book help me build my email list? Should I write a new book? You can find Jeanette's art and activity website at http://www.craftwhack.com/. In this episode, I mention SPI Episode 37 with Lain Ehmann on monetizing in a hobby niche at http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session37/. I also mention Survey Monkey to help you to get feedback from your audience through surveys. Learn more at http://www.surveymonkey.com/. Do you have a question about leveraging your book to support and monetize your brand and website? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Jake, who is interested in starting a niche site aimed at iPhone users. Is it okay to use the term "iPhone" in his website URL? Jake's website is http://www.goodnightjakeandtraci.com/. I have experience with this issue from my niche site, Green Exam Academy (http://www.greenexamacademy.com/). Jake mentions my book, Will It Fly? (http://willitflybook.com). Do you have a question about intellectual property? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Zubin, who is fatigued by spending so much time in front of his computer. What would I recommend to keep eye strain down? The tool I recommend for adjusting screen brightness is Flux (https://justgetflux.com/). Do you have a question about staying healthy as an entrepreneur? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Rob, who is in the process of migrating his email list from AWeber into ConvertKit. What's the best way to migrate people from AWeber lists into ConvertKit? I'm an advisor for and big fan of the email service provider ConvertKit. They have made advanced email marketing easy and affordable. Check out my affiliate link: http://askpat.com/convertkit. Do you have a question about email marketing? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Lucas, who started his animation business a year ago. He needs to grow his business but doesn't have a significant email list or fan base. What should he focus on right now? Lucas's website is http://mudbrickstudios.com/. Do you have a question about growing your business? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Glenn, who asks why I haven't built a marketplace for buying and selling successful niche websites. There are several marketplaces available where you can buy and sell niche websites, including Flippa (a past sponsor; http://www.flippa.com/). Do you have a question about buying a niche website? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Chris, who in the process of launching a website with a blog. How much content should he have prepared before launch? Here is the FoodTruckr launch post I discuss: http://foodtruckr.com/2013/10/what-i-wish-id-known-before-starting-my-food-truck/. Do you have a question about getting started? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Abel, who asks about how Tim Ferriss's business model compares to mine. Tim doesn't seem to focus as narrowly on a niche as I do—is that a bad business model? Tim was my guest on Smart Passive Income Episode 51 (http://smartpassiveincome.com/session51) and Episode 110 (http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session110). I also discuss Ramit Sethi (http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/) and Gary Vaynerchuk (https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/). Do you have a question about starting a business? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Bryan, who asks about using music in videos and on podcasts. Does he need to buy music or is it sufficient merely to give credit to the artists? Bryan's site is http://thebusinessplan.co/. You can buy music at iStockPhoto.com (http://www.askpat.com/istock-photo) or AudioJungle (https://audiojungle.net/) or use music in the public domain (http://www.pdinfo.com/public-domain-music-list.php). Do you have a question about copyright licenses? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Adriaan, who sends a regular newsletter to his clients. How can he "spice up" his newsletter so that it is valuable for his customers? I'm an advisor for and big fan of the email service provider ConvertKit. They have made advanced email marketing easy and affordable. Check out my affiliate link: http://askpat.com/convertkit. Do you have a question about email marketing? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Paul, who has a weekly podcast that relies on listener-submitted questions. How can he ensure that he gets enough submissions on an ongoing basis? Is there a baseline amount of traffic his website needs? Paul's website is http://godzoneshow.com/. Paul and I both use Speakpipe to collect recorded questions from our audience (http://askpat.com/speakpipe). Do you have a question about podcasting? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Khizer, who has a question about growing his audience. How do I grow an email list at the beginning stages of my website? As a musician, are there any unique ways to gain attention? What are some platforms I can use to grow my listening audience or subscriber base? Khizer's website is at http://www.hizerk.com/. In this episode, I mention Huzza as a neat interactive tool for creators. Learn more about Huzza at http://www.huzza.io/. Do you have a question about growing your email list or building your audience? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Tim, who has a question about rebranding a podcast. How do I go about rebranding a podcast? Should I rebrand my podcast to reach a wider audience? What are the pros and cons of rebranding? Tim's website is at http://www.aggrad.com/. In this episode, I mention Libsyn (http://www.libsyn.com/) and BuzzSprout (http://www.buzzsprout.com/). Do you have a question about rebranding for your podcast or business product? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Keri, who asks about Udemy (https://www.udemy.com/). Is Udemy a good platform for repurposing content? For course hosting, I'm using Teachable (http://teachable.com/). Here's Udemy's Course Quality Checklist (https://teach.udemy.com/course-quality-checklist/). I also mention Smart Passive Income Session 009 with Nicole Dean, where we discuss PLR content (http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/podcasts/make-money-making-web-wonderful-place-nicole-dean). Share your thoughts on this topic on Twitter using #AskPat702. Do you have a question about courses? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Amy, who has a question about forums. How can she increase traffic on her forum? Should she replace the forum with a different solution? Amy's site is http://www.mphgrads.com/. Do you have a question about website forums? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Saj, who asks about video podcasting. What is the procedure for posting a video podcast? I recommend using Podbean for your file host (http://www.podbean.com/). Check out my audio podcasting tutorial for more on audio podcasts. (http://www.podcastingtutorial.com) Do you have a question about video production? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Tyler, who has a question about what to do if you have a great business idea but don't have the necessary funds to get started. How do you validate your business idea before spending money? What are a few strategies to get your business running without having to go into debt? In this episode, I mention Will It Fly?, my book about validating your business idea, which you can get at http://willitflybook.com. I mention crowdfunding options like Kickstarter, which you can find at http://www.kickstarter.com/. And I mention my niche site, Green Exam Academy (http://www.greenexamacademy.com/). Do you have a question about getting your business off the ground without breaking the bank? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Karyn, who has a question about how she can shift her mindset to overcome adversity. What do you do when you face adversity? What do you do about negative comments on your website? Do you allow yourself time to grieve? How do you overcome those obstacles? What are a few tips to change your perspective for the better so you can move forward and stay positive? Karyn's website is at http://www.theremotecoach.com/. In this podcast, I mention my book, Will It Fly?, which documents some of the adversity I've encountered and how I've moved on. You can order a paperback or Kindle copy of Will It Fly? at http://www.willitflybook.com./ If you sign up for Audible, you can also get Will It Fly? for free. Go to http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/willitflyaudio/. Do you have a question about shifting your mindset when you face adversity? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Eric, who has a question about how he can create a niche website as someone who's just starting out. What are the essential elements of a niche website? How do I host a niche website? How do I monetize my niche website? In this episode, I mention Niche Site Duel where you can learn more about how I launched, grew, and monetized my niche sites. You can learn more at http://www.nichesiteduel.com/. I also mention my three integral niche websites, which can be case reviewed as case studies: http://www.securityguardtraininghq.com/, http://www.greenexamacademy.com/, and http://www.foodtruckr.com/. Lastly, I also mention Bluehost as a great option for your new niche website. You can get an exclusive discount at http://www.askpat.com/bluehost/. Do you have a question about creating a niche website? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Mark, who has a question about where to go to find affiliate links when you're first starting out. If you don't have a big following or recognition in your niche, how do you discover affiliates? Do you launch with Amazon's affiliate program? Do you start with the products you trust? How difficult is it to get affiliate links for those products? In this episode, I mention Amazon Associates, which is an easy place to start for building affiliate income. You can learn more at https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/. If you want to learn more about how I built up an income through affiliate marketing, be sure to check out my free guide, Affiliate Marketing The Smart Way, at http://www.affiliatemarketingthesmartway.com/. In this episode, I talk about my niche site, Green Exam Academy, which you can find at http://www.greenexamacademy.com/. Do you have a question about finding affiliate relationships when you're first starting out? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Mark, who has a question about how he can attain a truly "passive" income. How do I find the right balance of effort and passive income? When do I have the time to stop actively working and start passively reaping the rewards? Mark's website is at http://www.exceptionalpoker.com/. In this episode, I mention the 4-Hour Work Week from Tim Ferriss as an example of earning a passive income. You can get Tim's book at http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/fourhourworkweek/. Do you have a question about finding a balance between your active work and earning a passive income? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Jerold, who is in cycling niche. There are no lasting podcasts in this niche—why is that? Jerold's site is http://www.cargobikelane.com/. If you're looking to start a podcast, check out my podcasting tutorial (http://www.podcastingtutorial.com). Do you have a question about podcasting? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Today's sponsor is Freshbooks.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from someone who wishes to remain anonymous. If he wants to link to other web shops from his site, does he need to work with the owners of those sites? In this episode, I talk about Houzz (http://www.houzz.com/). Do you have a question about working with web shops? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Nick, who has started a business model, but he has discovered that he does not enjoy the work involved in running the business. Nick's site is https://compassionateman.com/. In this episode I talk about a few exercises from my book on validating your idea for a business, Will It Fly? (http://willitflybook.com). Do you have a question about running a business? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Brad, who has a question about podcasting. How do I feel about podcasters who ask for reviews on a regular basis? Brad's site is http://89days.net/. Brad mentions my podcasting tutorial (http://www.podcastingtutorial.com). Do you have a question about podcasting? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from John, who is a photographer with several different client types. Should he build a separate website for each specialty? John's site is http://naccaratophotography.com/. I recommend Ryan Levesque's excellent book on how to conduct audience surveys (http://www.amazon.com/Ask-Counterintuitive-Discover-Customers-Business/dp/1939447720/&tag=smartpassiveincome-20). Do you have a question about setting up your website? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Thanks to Zip Recruiter for sponsoring today's episode. Go to http://www.ziprecruiter.com/pat to get started posting jobs today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Matthew, who has asks about using ConvertKit. Can ConvertKit help him set up a system for delivering ebooks to new email subscribers? Is a free ebook even a good idea? I'm an advisor and big fan of the email service provider ConvertKit. They have made advanced email marketing easy and affordable. Check out my affiliate link: http://askpat.com/convertkit. The conversion tool I recommend is LeadPages (http://askpat.com/leadpages). Do you have a question about email marketing? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. To learn how to create a great resource for your website, check out my free guide, Ebooks the Smart Way (http://ebooksthesmartway.com). See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Kamil, who asks about my blog planning process. How do I decide what to do and how often? Kamil's site is http://www.excelonomia.pl/. Check out Smart Passive Income Podcast Episode 215 with my managing editor, Janna Maron (http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/podcasts/keep-your-editorial-calendar-ahead/). The two biggest tools we use are CoSchedule (http://askpat.com/coschedule/) and Google Sheets (https://www.google.com/sheets/about/). Check out my book club at http://patsbookclub.com/. Do you have a question about managing your editorial calendar? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Thanks to today's sponsor, Pelican Business Capital. To learn about their financing options, call 949-299-1999. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Cynthia, who has a huge backlog of YouTube videos. How can she turn these videos into a podcast? Cynthia's site is http://signbabysign.org/. For audio podcasts, check out my podcasting tutorial (http://www.podcastingtutorial.com). For hosting, my favorite audio hosts are Libysn (http://www.libsyn.com) and Buzzsprout (http://www.buzzsprout.com); my favorite video podcast host is Podbean (http://www.podbean.com). The download tool I mention is ClipConverter (http://www.clipconverter.cc). My video podcast is SPI TV (http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/tv). Do you have a question about video podcasting? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Today's sponsor is Freshbooks. Go to http://www.freshbooks.com/askpat and enter "Ask Pat" for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Nadeem, who is a real estate agent and is starting a blog. Is it okay to include the "I appreciate you" phrase at the end of posts? In this episode I talk about Gary Vaynerchuk's social media appreciation (https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/). Do you have a question about blogging? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Thanks to our sponsor, Design Crowd. To learn more about working with their designers, go to http://designcrowd.com/askpat. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today's question comes from Max, who asks about my new website design. It doesn't include a feature box on the home page. Why did I leave that out? Max's site is http://copypulse.com/. Max references Derek Halpern's critique of my old website design (http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/conversion-strategies/). Do you have a question about web design? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Today's sponsor is Freshbooks. Go to http://www.freshbooks.com/askpat and enter "Ask Pat" for more information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.