Marketer of the Day with Robert Plank: Get Daily Insights from the Top Internet Marketers & Entrepreneurs Around the World

Here's what Lance Tamashiro and I have to say about membership sites: This is perfect for you if you've been CONFUSED with all the overwhelm/choices when it comes to creating a COMPLETE and PROFITABLE membership site... Ever heard anyone say: "just use one of these 10 plugins, one of these 10 themes?" And been left more confused when you started? Yeah, me too... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v80VK2gyLB0 Membership Site Solution What helps instead: is, first, have a clear plan of action. Use WordPress to host it on YOUR OWN website. We'll give you the theme (design) and plugins to take payments and do everything else. We include a special tool inside our Membership Cube course that sets it all up in 1-click:Your theme, plugins, and "framework" for content so you can edit to make it your own... Worry about the "fancy" stuff later. It's easier to edit crap than air. Don't let yourself get bogged down with unnecessary choices. Second, keep things simple. Don't get in your own way creating 2 months or 6 months of content out of the gate. What's the point if no one will see it? Focus on completing that membership site and creating the BARE MINIMUM so that someone could join TODAY. If that means you only have time for a single web page (sales letter) with a one-time payment button for $50, that's something you'll put in place TODAY (a must-have) and improve on a rainy day if and when you feel like it (a nice-to-have). Create a way for people to buy access first,because you don't want to wait until the last minute to do that AND you don't know if you'll feel like it later... Do It Before Your Time Runs Out Third (and in keeping with having a clear plan and keeping things simple), do it FAST. Chances are you're the most excited about your membership site NOW and, six months from now, if a "membership site" is a burden that you never setup, you'll never finish. Do it NOW while it's still fresh on your mind... Fourth, only focus on the things that matter (this is called "80/20"). Drip content, how "pretty" your site looks, are NOT things that could double or triple your income, so focus on the low-hanging fruit instead... Fifth, sell something that solves a real problem, as opposed to what seems "interesting" to you. This alone is HUGE and most of your competition (most) doesn't get this... what if you sold access to a membership site about how to knit your own cable knit sweaters? Is that an actually a DESPERATE problem people are willing to pay money for? (I doubt it) how about a course on how to flip real estate or lose weight (Yes! People are asking for that, looking for that, and buying that, so you just have to add your own unique spin on it) a course about how to get better grades, how to learn to play the tuba, how to save money couponing, how to quit your day job in 9 years... are people really asking for that AND looking to pay money for it?(Probably not) on the other hand... drone racing, dating, weight loss (some very specific solution or method), stock market trading... people want those things Have a Purpose (Don't Just Run Out the Clock) What's great about having a real purpose, keeping it simple, doing it fast, focusing on what matters, and solving a problem: you can get to the money FASTER because you're not letting a bunch of things get in your way... you have course-correction. It's good to make mistakes in this case, because every mistake leads to more money... Listen, I started with info-products and membership sites by teaching something super nerdy... computer programming... and was it a super sexy topic? Heck no, it wasn't... I quickly realized that my buyers were made of up two groups: other nerdy programmers like me who wanted to pick up some new skills (who refunded often and didn't pay all that much)... and... Actual business owners who had websites and wanted to use my plug-ins and templates to make more money with their online...

Joseph Hogue from My Work From Home Money is an online entrepreneur, and on the podcast, he explains how he built his business by spending 30 hours per week blogging plus 20 hours per week with freelance writing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngRoaz5nHV8 Quotes: “Websites are real estate development in a digital format.” – Joseph Hogue “You have to have a passion. You have to start with a passion for the subject, because the money won't be there immediately, and it's going to grow slowly over time.” – Joseph Hogue “An online business is just that—a business. And you have all those other little parts that you have to learn and understand.” – Joseph Hogue Takeaways: 06:09 Start with action and adapt quickly, rather than over-planning your online business strategy. 11:52 Maintain a structured daily work schedule to avoid procrastination and feel good about your progress. 17:57 Treat your online business like a real business, addressing all aspects including SEO, sales, and communication. 20:25 Use broken link building as an effective, scalable strategy to improve your website's search engine ranking. 27:57 Choose a niche you're passionate about, as money won't come immediately and you'll be writing about this topic for a long time. Resources My Work from Home Money blog (Blog) Peer Finance 101 (Website) Crowd 101 (Crowd Funding Blog) Screaming Frog (SEO Spider Tool) Ahrefs (Backlink Research) BuzzStream (Track Conversations With Influencers) Joseph's Schedule 7:30-10:30AM: Just write 10:30-11:00AM: Check traffic & emails 11:00-11:30AM: Blog commenting & sharing Afternoon: Writing & products 1-2 hours: Reading, research, monetization, affiliates, ideas

Anthony Couch from GetSuitable has created a tool called Cachet that cleans up social media. Listen in as he explains what people need to do to keep themselves "hireable" and likable on social media, as well as the struggles and breakthroughs he's had gaining popularity from social media, as well as his trials and tribulations getting his apps to catch on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlKa27j3FLk Quotes: “I'm not passionate about helping people hide who they are. I'm passionate about helping people avoid losing opportunities for things they did years ago.” – Anthony Couch “Whatever you do for a living, you have to have your social presence reflect you as a professional.” – Anthony Couch “We need to build a product that our customers or ideal users want, instead of building something that we have to sell them on.” – Anthony Couch Takeaways: 02:26 Cleaning up inappropriate social media content is crucial for future employment opportunities. 10:25 Social media profiles should reflect your professional identity and career goals. 13:40 Reading and sharing industry-specific content demonstrates professional growth and commitment. 21:35 Using strategic hashtags can help build a professional online brand and attract relevant followers. 25:03 Employers view blank or hidden social media profiles as suspicious and potentially problematic.

Motivational speaker Jason Treu wants you to enjoy better relationships in your entrepreneurial journey, career changes, and business transitions. He says that there are three pillars to success: have the right systems, processes, strategies, and best practices find coaching and mentors to shrink the path to where you want to go get peer support, others who know your pain, and develop relationship building skills https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSTLteFrPz0 Jason provides a great deal of actionable advice in our discussion today to make those three items the best they can be. For example: To improve your networking opportunities at events, research some of the speakers and perhaps high-profile attendees. Aim for 25 or so people. Pitch meetings beforehand, offer value, and interview them for podcast episodes To locate a great mastermind, join one that costs money, dig into who's leading that group, and try it out for a meeting or two To find an amazing mentor who's on their way up but is still approachable, read blogs and find successful people who look like rockstars but aren't quite to the "Pat Flynn" level yet Quotes: “Everything we accomplish in life is with or through other people. So unless you're out there actively building relationships in the right way over time and managing those, you're leaving a significant amount on the table.” – Jason Treu “If books could solve our problems, then no one would need coaching. It just doesn't work like that.” – Jason Treu “Do what 99% of people aren't willing to do, and you will be significantly more successful, especially over the long term.” – Jason Treu Takeaways: 02:05 Most personal limitations stem from childhood experiences and beliefs learned before age 10. 08:41 Success relies on three key pillars: systems/strategies, coaching/mentorship, and peer support. 16:50 One powerful connection can open doors to multiple unexpected opportunities. 22:48 Finding emerging experts who are skilled but not yet top-tier can provide high-value, cost-effective coaching. 26:32 Entrepreneurs must understand their core purpose and have clear metrics beyond just money and listeners. Resources Social Wealth (Book) Jason Treu (Official Site) Jason Treu's (Blog)

Tom Morkes and his company Insurgent Media specialize in virtual summits, affiliate marketing, and book launches. A virtual summit is a virtual online event where 10 to 30 subject matter experts each present in their sub-area of expertise with you as the organizer. This is a fantastic way to build a list, get credibility, and network with your peers. He walks us through his entire 4-6 month process in 5-6 phases that he plans with clients: strategy/planning: 1 month (two half-hour calls) research/recruitment: celebrities, leaders, popular/interesting topics (14 days for research, 2 months for recruitment) trust building: start conversations pre open-cart / pre-promotion: 2 weeks summit: 1-2 weeks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UkLBEckHsB0 Tom also discusses upsell opportunities. For example, summits are not very evergreen and tend to contain specific, cutting-edge information, while a membership site (which you can have as an upsell) contains evergreen information. You can also have a lot of fun with your summit and offer it for free, but later charge for replays and shownotes. Quotes: “The nature of a summit is that it's live to some degree. It's exciting because it's happening now, so it's cutting-edge material.” – Tom Morkes “There has to be congruence across everything you do. There has to be a purpose behind it.” – Tom Morkes “Summits that work best are selling something beyond just content—some kind of service, software, experience—not just ‘here’s more content.” – Tom Morkes Takeaways: 01:55 Virtual summits are powerful lead generation tools that offer free, high-quality education to potential customers. 12:42 Successful marketing campaigns focus on solving specific problems within a narrow, well-defined niche. 27:16 The most effective summit upsells are services or experiences, not additional content. 25:50 Virtual summits work best as time-sensitive, live events that create excitement and urgency. 29:46 Selling more content after a free content-rich summit is challenging and often ineffective.

Executive Leadership Coach Lolly Daskal, author of The Leadership Gap, says that entrepreneurs fall into one of seven archetypes: the Rebel, Explorer, Truth Teller, Hero, Inventor, Navigator, and Knight. Knowing your type allows you to identify your gap and achieve greatness. For example, if you're a "rebel" then you lack confidence and suffer from impostor syndrome. In this case, identifying your uniqueness can be the key to improving your competence and confidence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iukn9zQCpYI Lolly also opens up about her morning ritual where she reads a book every morning and lists what she's grateful for. Every evening, she also asks herself, "What did you do well today" And, "What can I do better tomorrow than I did today?" Quotes: “Within all of us, I believe we have greatness, and my job is to unleash that greatness for every single client I work with.” – Lolly Daskal “Confidence isn't believing in yourself, but knowing that you're able to do the things you need to do.” – Lolly Daskal “Imposter syndrome comes from always looking over your shoulder and thinking, ‘I need to be like this one, and I need to be like that one.’ The truth is, you need to be like no one but yourself.” – Lolly Daskal Takeaways: 05:24 Confidence alone isn't enough; true leadership comes from developing genuine skills and competence. 09:16 Daily self-reflection rituals can help individuals track personal growth and avoid comparing themselves to others. 11:21 Continuous learning through daily reading can expand perspectives and improve professional capabilities. 17:23 Leaders should focus on understanding their unique strengths rather than trying to imitate someone else's path. 20:55 Vulnerability and sharing personal stories can create deeper connections with teams and clients. Resources Lolly Daskal (Official Site) The Leadership Gap (Book) Lolly Daskal (Twitter)

AJ Wilcox, an advertising specialist from B2Linked, wants to tell you about LinkedIn ads. They're not for every type of business, but they're great for specific B2B targets, for example, enterprise-level medical companies and high-dollar software as a service companies (where deals are worth $15,000 or more). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H06ejjYxvXk Quotes: “If you're not making $15K from a deal, LinkedIn's initial cost per click is probably going to be too expensive, and you should probably stick to Facebook ads.” – AJ Wilcox “When you're on LinkedIn, people are either thinking about their work or their career. So when you give them an offer that helps augment either of those, they're really eager to participate in it.” – AJ Wilcox “LinkedIn is awesome because most people don't check it nearly as often as they do Facebook. So if you're showing ads, those ads are going to have a higher lifetime.” – AJ Wilcox Takeaways: 02:20 LinkedIn ads work best for B2B companies with high-value transactions over $15,000, targeting specific professional audiences like HR departments or enterprise software sellers. 10:11 LinkedIn's ad targeting allows hyper-specific audience selection based on job titles, company sizes, departments, skills, and professional groups, making it powerful for precise marketing. 11:12 LinkedIn ads require less frequent creative refreshes compared to other platforms, with ads typically maintaining effectiveness for 28-33 days. 17:03 Successful LinkedIn ad strategies involve testing multiple ad variations, understanding conversion bottlenecks, and creating landing pages that make job opportunities or offers feel special. 22:14 When creating LinkedIn ad campaigns, name audiences by their professional characteristics instead of content names, which helps track performance and create evergreen campaigns. Resources B2Linked: LinkedIn Ads Performance (Agency) How to Target Your Ideal Prospect on LinkedIn (Article) AJ Wilcox (LinkedIn)

Kenneth Bator from BTCINC.net says that you should align your brand, culture, and strategy for maximum results. Pay attention to the little details that your customers love, that keep you consistent and removes your decisions. Write and implement service standards. For example, you may always show up 15 minutes to meetings, greet customers in a certain way, or respond to calls and emails within 3 hours. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3d2j4PehvM Also, ask yourself: 1. Who do I want to serve, and 2. What problem do I want to solve? Quotes: “People aren't buying products and services. They're buying solutions to their problems.” – Kenneth Bator “If you're going to put a service standard on paper, you darn well better have the resources and the wherewithal to adhere to it.” – Kenneth Bator “If you're the smartest guy in the room, you're probably in the wrong room.” – Kenneth Bator Takeaways: 04:47 Create a consistent, detailed customer experience that goes beyond just delivering a product or service. 05:18 Write down clear service standards to remove decision-making friction and ensure team consistency. 14:57 Focus on solving specific problems for a well-defined target audience rather than trying to serve everyone. 16:53 Understand that customers buy solutions to their problems, not just products or services. 22:03 Regularly review and adjust your business standards and offerings to maintain brand alignment.

Shannon Hernandez from MShannonHernandez.com and Content Strategy Academy wants you to take a content personality quiz for a very important reason: the content you're creating (audios, videos, books, live streaming) is most likely clashing with your personality. Listen in as Shannon shares content ideas with us (benefits, drawbacks, why vs. alternatives), how to pace yourself, stay in alignment, and attract the right people into your business. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKbgcFvo9n4 Quotes: “Don't be who you're not. People will see through that—whether it's your message, your marketing, or the content you're putting out into the world.” – Shannon Hernandez “When you're having fun in your business and fun in life, it's fun to keep going, it's inspiring, and you're getting results.” – Shannon Hernandez “Honor people's time and space, and let's give them what they need right away.” – Shannon Hernandez Takeaways: 07:43 Matching content creation to your personality helps you enjoy marketing and attract the right audience. 15:22 You don't need to create content in every format - focus on your top two content personality types. 18:31 Quality matters more than quantity when producing content for your business. 22:05 Consistency in content creation builds your brand's reputation and expertise. 23:25 Give yourself permission to stop creating content that feels like a chore.

Sell Both High and Low Ticket Membership Cube: full price or payment plan Video Sales Tactics: just get them buying again Funnel, levels, conversions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYmBR8JVMvs Content Marketing Touches Go the extra mile It's ok to look homemade and authentic Don't slow down (put out tons of podcasts and blog posts to see where you're at, restaurant menu mentality) Course Correction The Mirror: if someone criticizes you about something, they're secure about that themselves. Don't ignore $1000 because you're looking for $100,000 Repetitions, checklists and templates (move the raw materials around) -- same podcast interview questions, 3x3 for podcasting Be aware but still optimistic Quotes: “Price doesn't matter that much. A lot of marketers obsess over the price, putting all their energy into thinking they'll have something really high-priced or really low-priced, and they don't give much thought to their offer, their package, or the problem it solves.” – Robert Plank “It's okay to look homemade and authentic, as long as you need to pump out a bunch of stuff.” – Robert Plank “If someone criticizes you about something, it's usually because they themselves are insecure about that thing.” – Robert Plank Takeaways: 05:57 Price doesn't matter as much as the value and problem-solving capability of your product. 07:18 Build a list of buyers by offering low-ticket items that get people to take action and spend money. 12:03 Don't let perfectionism stop you from putting out content - it's better to start and improve over time. 16:07 Consistently create content across multiple platforms to keep your audience engaged and growing. 24:57 Have both high-ticket and low-ticket offers in your product lineup to cater to different customer needs.

Adam Houge is a preacher, teacher, novelist, and #1 international best-selling author of over 100 books on the Christian faith. A health crisis forced him to become a full-time Kindle author, and he's learned all the secrets about Amazon's ranking algorithm, how to produce lots of books quickly (and consistently), how to research books, get lots of buyers and reviews, and send traffic. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6FvjjlRlYE Quotes: “Turn your lemons into a lemonade stand and share it. Turn your mess into a message, and share that with others.” – Adam Houge “If you can't get it in front of eyes, you can't get it out there. If it's a product you're trying to sell, the more eyes you get on it, the more you're going to sell.” – Adam Houge “A target audience isn't defined by who you are targeting—it's more about the interest that they have.” – Adam Houge Takeaways: 10:35 Set clear, achievable writing goals to overcome procrastination and boost productivity. 19:18 Build an engaged email list to drive consistent book promotions and gather reviews. 22:15 Focus on defining a specific target audience and genre before creating multiple books. 25:46 Understand and adapt to platform algorithms to maintain book visibility and sales. 29:58 Invest time in crafting a compelling book description, as it's your primary sales tool. Resources Adam Houge (Official Site) Adam Houge's books (Books) The Fanbase Formula (Free Video Series)

Gabe Arnold from CopywriterToday.net wants to write your emails, blog posts, and press releases, so that you don't have to. Listen in as he tells you how content marketing can help your business, and how he discovered (and grew) this "service-as-a-service" model that provides unlimited content to monthly buyers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUdNU5tftgU Quotes: “If you can commoditize your product or service, you can reach the masses. And when you can reach the masses, you have a business that can scale and is far more profitable and stable than doing one-off consulting or project-based work.” – Gabe Arnold “You have to be able to jump in and do whatever it takes. You need to get your hands dirty and do everything to truly understand what's going on.” – Gabe Arnold “The people who have been most successful with us came in with the mindset of taking the first few weeks to a month to get everything synced up and get everyone on the same page.” – Gabe Arnold Takeaways: 07:58 Getting your hands dirty and understanding every detail of your business is crucial for long-term success. 14:31 Launch quickly and simply, then refine based on customer feedback rather than getting stuck in over-complicated planning. 18:57 Create an automated hiring process that filters candidates through practical tests, ensuring only top-tier talent joins your team. 24:50 Build a content service that offers flexibility across different business sizes, from small businesses to large agencies. 27:35 Expect a 90-day learning curve when starting with a new service, focusing on clear communication and feedback. Resources Copywriter Today (In The Referral Field, Answer "Robert Plank") Design Pickle (Website) The Foundation Podcast: Interview with Dan Norris of WP Curve (Podcast) WP Curve's hiring process (Blog Post)

Brad DeGraw from AZDoneForYou.com knows quite a bit about narrowing down the perfect product to sell on Amazon, how to negotiate with suppliers, market products and get reviews and sales. Listen in as he walks us through the process of getting samples, involving an inspection company, getting insurance, researching competitors, and creating images, titles, bullets, a description, and testing pricing. When selling on Amazon, be sure to notice customers' problems, fantasies, and desires to avoid becoming another "me-too" product. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=krpmHM914qA Quotes: “Find the problem or fantasy desire that exists in the marketplace. It doesn't have to match who you are—it just has to align with a proven model of success.” – Brad DeGraw “Don't just talk about the product. Don’t make it too technical—talk about the benefits, how it enhances people’s lives, and how it makes them better.” – Brad DeGraw “If you can save yourself time, money, and—most importantly—stress, do it. You can always get money back, and you always have another day, but minimizing the stress you're building in your life is what we really thrive on.” – Brad DeGraw Takeaways: 02:14 Amazon is the new Walmart, offering entrepreneurs a chance to change their income level by selling the right product. 08:13 Always aim for a minimum 300% markup when selecting products to sell on Amazon, with 5x markup being ideal. 11:09 Keep initial product orders small to minimize risk and allow quick improvements based on early customer feedback. 14:26 Outsource technical tasks like product listing and graphics creation to experts who can execute them more effectively. 22:58 Success in product creation comes from understanding customer problems, fantasies, and desires through careful review analysis. Resources AZ Done For You (Website) Amazon Sherpa (Site) Freeeup (Outsourcing For Graphics) JungleScout (Website)

Omar Zenhom from Webinar Ninja wants you to use webinars to make your business stand out. You can present a live webinar (on or off camera), automated webinars, summits, and hybrids. Your first webinar could simply be a Q&A session where you answer common questions. Webinars can also serve as a nice bridge for you to become a better public speaker and sell from the stage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KADkYF47_IY Quotes: “Trust is the most valuable asset you have in your business, and you want to earn it. The whole point of the webinar is to build trust with your audience.” – Omar Zenhom “Delivery is really what we're rehearsing here—not the content. The content is something you should already know, because it's what you're talking about.” – Omar Zenhom “The hardest part of doing a webinar is just doing your first one—so get that out of the way first.” – Omar Zenhom Takeaways: 00:33 Webinars are powerful lead generation tools that capture email addresses, allowing direct follow-up with interested audiences. 03:02 Trust and transparency are paramount - always clearly communicate whether a webinar is live or automated. 17:39 Your first webinar should be a simple, low-pressure Q&A session to build confidence and understand audience needs. 22:30 Rehearsing webinar delivery is more critical than knowing content, focusing on engaging presentation techniques. 30:31 Webinar platforms should simplify technology so hosts can concentrate on delivering valuable content. Resources Ultimate Webinar Course (Course) Webinar Ninja (Webinar) 100 Dollar MBA (Website)

Kevin Donlin from MarketingMultipliers.com has been an online copywriter and direct response master for over 23 years. Copywriting is salesmanship multiplied, and Kevin has tons of amazing advice about how to write copy (and web pages), that get attention and sell. Sell with a credible deadline, don't devalue your offers, and use clear (simple) wording. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bf6r6HUPJI Quotes: “If you never quit, you will succeed. It's as simple as that. The people who quit are the ones who fail.” – Kevin Donlin “There's no penalty for clarity. If you think so—if that concept offends you—you're going to struggle in your marketing.” – Kevin Donlin “The cure for writer's block is research. If you run into writer's block, it's because you didn't do your research.” – Kevin Donlin Takeaways: 07:12 Research and time are critical ingredients in producing high-quality marketing copy and business strategies. 13:26 Simplicity in marketing communication trumps complexity, making your message clear and easy to understand. 37:21 Consistent daily actions and never giving up are the true paths to building a successful business. 40:01 Creating multiple versions of marketing materials, especially headlines, increases the chances of finding truly compelling content. 44:53 Support from peers and accountability groups can significantly accelerate entrepreneurial growth and overcome challenges. Resources Marketing Multipliers Membership Site (Tell Kevin That "Robert Plank Sent Me" When Joining The Site To Get His Marketing Multipliers Book For Free) Marketing Multipliers (Book) Marketing Optimizer (Split Testing Platform)

Jennifer Hancock from HumanistLearning.com wants to teach you humanistic business management, which means you integrate ethics and critical thinking when dealing with team members, contractors, or even cranky customers. Stop rewarding bad behavior, and instead, examine how you respond (and what you reinforce), use confident body language, and finally, be calm, measured, and direct. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLK1rogwuE0 Jennifer says that angry customers respond in one of three stats: a child state (where you respond that you want to help but need to wait until they calm down), an adult state (where they are calm and professional), or a depressed state (where they "ghost" you). Quotes: “Humanistic business management is about being a good person and using your business to do good while also making money.” – Jennifer Hancock “If you're in business for yourself, obviously you want to make money, but if that's your only reason for being in business, you might make decisions that are unethical.” – Jennifer Hancock “An adult, compassionate thought is recognizing the other person as fully human and worthy of your compassion.” – Jennifer Hancock Takeaways: 01:40 Scientific understanding of behavioral psychology can help manage interpersonal dynamics and workplace challenges. 04:10 Personal ethics should be consistent across professional and personal environments. 14:21 When facing difficult interactions, remain calm and avoid rewarding bad behavior to encourage positive change. 22:02 Treat customers and team members with compassion, understanding their emotional state can help resolve conflicts more effectively. 37:34 Workplace culture can shift when a few individuals consistently model professional, ethical behavior.

Justin Cooke from Empire Flippers and the Web Equity Show has a marketplace to help you buy or sell a web business. His service has not only sold standalone websites, but also Amazon Associates, Kindle, and FBA businesses. Listen in as he tells you what pitfalls to avoid as both a buyer and seller. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p8gzPTvKhCc Quotes: “The truth is, at the smaller end—people are looking at multiples of profit, so your business has to be making money.” – Justin Cooke “If you get to the point where you've got another business blowing up, sell it off earlier rather than later.” – Justin Cooke “The money you put into the business isn't necessarily going to add to its value.” – Justin Cooke Takeaways: 06:30 Online business value is primarily determined by consistent monthly net profits, not development costs or personal investment. 13:05 Marketplace brokers like Empire Flippers provide critical vetting and guidance to reduce risks for buyers and sellers. 19:04 Collaborative investment models allow people with different skills and capital to jointly own and operate online businesses. 22:23 Buying an online business requires practical skills like WordPress management, content creation, and traffic generation. 24:27 Entrepreneurs should plan to sell businesses when they have stable 12-month earnings and are no longer passionate about the project.

Sophie Howard from Aspiring Entrepreneurs sold one US Amazon account in mid 2016 for over 7-figures USD. She developed the Minimum Viable Brand for physical products to be sold online at premium prices and scale fast. She loves sourcing products from around the world, usually in places where no one else is looking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRBmI90bYm0 Quotes: “If you're not growing on Amazon, you're actually going backward because everyone else is chasing the people doing well.” – Sophie Howard “I don't want to run an empire. I don't want an enormous team. I don't want to work 60-hour weeks. I want to pick my kids up from school and play every afternoon.” – Sophie Howard “I'm really focused on profitability and having a smart, small, scalable system for these brands, then being able to sell them, and keeping my time focused on growing the businesses—not being too busy in the businesses.” – Sophie Howard Takeaways: 04:05 Building multiple low-volume products across a brand is smarter than banking on a single high-selling product. 06:41 Amazon businesses are most valuable when they're built as scalable assets that can be sold, not just income generators. 18:27 Continuous learning and skill development are critical for staying ahead in the rapidly changing e-commerce landscape. 27:10 Successful e-commerce requires deep understanding of brand psychology, including color choices, packaging, and customer identity. 28:07 Sourcing unique products from less-competitive markets creates stronger brand differentiation and reduces direct competition.

Dan Meadors from The Wholesale Formula sells products on Amazon. But he wasn't satisfied with retail arbitrage (buying products at discount stores and selling them on Amazon) or private labeling (creating a branded physical product). Instead, Dan works with existing brands to get them more reach on Amazon. He discusses his thought process (find products that Amazon doesn't sell themselves, sells 50-60 per month, and he'll start with a monthly volume of $500-$600 per month). Many times, Dan find some easy low hanging fruit and improves the product description, adds images and bullet points. He also looks for add-ons that complement that Amazon product. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URSyH3jkfmM Quotes: “We started approaching it from the perspective of serving first, like we wanted to help our brands actually succeed on Amazonl.” – Dan Meadors “Our value is not necessarily in selling products; our value is in better serving our manufacturers.” – Dan Meadors “I went from being a person who traditionally had a job and basically had to build my life around that job to being able to do what I want.” – Dan Meadors Takeaways: 08:14 Creating repeatable systems is more important than simply hiring more people when growing a business. 14:36 Finding untapped product niches on Amazon requires creative thinking and looking beyond mainstream brands. 19:35 Wholesale selling allows entrepreneurs to start with minimal upfront investment and scale systematically. 20:19 Improving product listings can significantly boost sales without massive marketing investments. 30:13 Building strong relationships with smaller brands creates mutual business growth opportunities. Resources Free Report: "The Little Known Business Model We Used To Build a Multi-Million Dollar Company With Only $600" (Guide) The Wholesale Formula (Website) JungleScout SkratchLabs (Nutrition Drink For Bike Riders)

Harry Campbell is The Rideshare Guy who is an expert on ridesharing, which is basically peer-to-peer transportation. Anyone (including you) can register to become an Uber (or Lyft) driver using the app, and earn a side income driving your car around. There are also options for things like UberEats (food delivery), Turo (rent your car or rent cars from individuals), and Postmates (peer to peer package delivery). Harry also discusses the Mystro app that combines Uber and Lyft into one app for you. You're in for a real treat with this episode, so be sure to tune in if you haven't already. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7nrRr4o4rk Quotes: “Driving for Uber and Lyft is great for many kinds of people who have side gigs, businesses, or are entrepreneurs because it helps you practice basically all the things you would need as a real business owner.” – Harry Campbell “Consumers still love the product because they get into the car and connect with the driver; they're not necessarily connecting with the company itself.” – Harry Campbell “If you can get over that initial fear and apprehension and just go out and try these things, you never really know what will happen.” – Harry Campbell Takeaways: 09:30 Ridesharing offers a flexible side income opportunity with low entry barriers, requiring only a relatively new car, smartphone, and passing a background check. 19:50 Strategic driving during peak hours like Friday and Saturday nights can significantly boost earnings, with potential to make $30-$40 per hour during busy periods. 28:00 Successful rideshare drivers treat the gig as a small business, understanding nuances like insurance requirements, tax implications, and passenger/driver rating systems. 29:47 Exploring multiple rideshare and delivery platforms can maximize income potential and provide diverse earning opportunities. 32:53 Networking and building relationships with passengers can create long-term advantages, especially in smaller markets.

Khierstyn Ross from CrowdfundingUncut.com is a crowfunding specialist who can make your Kickstarter or Indiegogo online fundraising campaign a huge success. She visits us today to talk about beta launch validation. Get on the phone with the customers on your list, not to sell, just to get feedback. Find out what they're struggling with, and have them give you a reason why they "wouldn't" buy from you to gauge those objections. She also talks to us about the success of her private webinars and 6-week courses. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuBdj7axsoU Quotes: “Successful crowdfunding comes down to three things: having the right product-market fit, having the right resources to boost your campaign, and having the right team to put it together.” – Khierstyn Ross “What I thought I knew about my audience was very different. I didn't realize how much money I was leaving on the table by not getting on the phone with people.” – Khierstyn Ross “It's powerful to be able to talk to your audience as you're growing it and figure out what they want.” – Khierstyn Ross Takeaways: 04:09 Success in crowdfunding depends on building an audience and generating initial momentum within the first 48 hours of launching a campaign. 12:01 Consultants can scale their business by transitioning from one-on-one services to group coaching or membership models that provide more comprehensive support. 14:45 Direct customer conversations are crucial for developing products that truly meet market needs, even if it means getting on the phone with potential clients. 16:45 Pricing and positioning should be flexible, with a willingness to adapt based on direct feedback from your target audience. 26:23 Transparency and clear expectation setting are critical when conducting customer discovery calls and potential sales conversations.

Are you familiar with Mr. Jackass? I think you are... Haven't you ever scrolled past a Facebook video, or maybe a YouTube video, or even listened to a podcast, and thought to yourself... "THAT jackass (Mr. Jackass) is getting all kinds of popularity and I could do way better than that" Then this is the most important course you'll ever join today -- price increases at 11:59pm Eastern time TONIGHT: Join Podcast Crusher: $127 Now, Soon to Be $147 (Seriously, the price increases in just a few hours from $127 to $147, so you are about to lose 20 bucks just because you waited when we both know you should have jumped on this.) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdjPLr3y0AE And here's why it's important that you create a podcast (iTunes radio show) even if that means a couple short (5 minute) audio only episodes this year: First, the Popularity of "Mr. Jackass" Is On the Rise And you're probably wondering... what can I do to get that sort of attention on my marketing and my websites, if not more? What can I do to avoid being passed over, lost in the crowd? Second, You May Have Been Told to "Get Out More" They tell you to network more, or maybe even land yourself some affiliates or joint venture partners... This is just my opinion, but in the last few years, offline marketing events have been either too small (just a handful of people so you don't get to meet the people you need to meet) or THOUSANDS of people, and it's such a huge event that you and "that next partner (or client) of yours" never get a chance to meet just because there are so many dang people in attendance! Also, many of those social groups (cliques) have already been established, so those people who would be a perfect match for your business might not give you the time of day. Heck, even if you find that special someone (business-wise)... what the heck do you say to them? "Here's my URL, mail to my stuff?" Here's what's always worked for me: I tell the person, "When you get home, email me and we'll record a 20-minute podcast episode talking about you and what you do." (They usually have a business card to give me, so I can follow up if they forget.) You don't even have to attend offline events if you don't want to. Email marketers you know, and even people who are guests on other podcasts. Good luck sending a "cold email" to get someone to buy from you. But a cold email to land a podcast guest to help THEM promote their business? Easy... This is what's great about this strategy: if they flake and the interview (over Skype) never happens, that "candidate" just weeded themselves out. If the interview goes great, you have an "in" with them and they now owe you a favor, because you promoted them first. And, if you decide that person was a dud or you're just too busy to partner with them, you have an "out" (to not do business with them) because you already did your part to get your word out about them... Just imagine, just for fun, if you had landed a young Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Gary Vee, Tim Ferriss, Pat Flynn, Jeff Bezos or Grant Cardone on your show for a quick 20 minute chat? Before they were famous and while they were still on their way up? Doesn't it make sense to interview someone now (in 2017) who grows up to be the Ryan Deiss of 2019 or the Armand Morin of 2021? Here's the best part: are you nervous and awkward on the phone? Great! Me too. With podcasting, YOU are interviewing THEM so THEY are doing all the talking. That guest is 10 times, if not 100 times more nervous than you because THEY are trying to impress YOU (and your listeners with their thoughts, ideas, insights, takeaways, and websites). We show and tell you what kinds of questions to ask in the Podcast Crusher course, but for the most part, ask about what they do, what makes them different, what valuable lessons would have saved them years of mistakes, and maybe even what mistakes they see happening in the marketplace... ...

You are in for a treat in today's episode. Danny Schreiber is the marketing director at Zapier, an app automation tool that helps professionals get more done. Zapier is a service that connects your web apps together to automate the tedious parts of your job or business. For example: when someone registers for a GoToWebinar session of yours, trigger a new lead in Aweber or your CRM monitor tweets about you in a Google Sheet get email notifications, push notifications, or SMS messages if someone mentions you on Reddit or fills in a WuFoo form replicate your blog posts across WordPress blogs or social media auto-blog (aggregate) your favorite YouTube videos and WordPress posts on one site And so much more. Zapier integrates almost any website together, including Twilio, Slack, Evernote, Facebook Lead Ads, Dropbox, MailChimp, Trello, HubSpot, InfusionSoft, and Instagram, just to name a handful. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoKZHu86DNo Quotes: “When we market Zapier, what we really try to do is talk about the different apps and integrations you can connect to, because that resonates with people.” – Danny Schreiber “We want to make it really simple. We have a good percentage of the user base with complex or customized needs.” – Danny Schreiber “If you're a young company, it's good to remember: don't be afraid to ask people to pay for it.” – Danny Schreiber Takeaways: 06:15 Marketing complex tools works best by focusing on specific app integrations rather than broad personas. 11:53 User forums are goldmines for discovering real product needs and solving specific customer problems. 16:57 Horizontal tools like Zapier can solve complex workflow challenges across multiple industries and job roles. 24:55 Growing a tech product requires listening to user feedback and continuously expanding integration options. 20:24 Small businesses can create powerful automation systems with minimal technical skills and budget. Resources Zapier (Website) AirTable (Site) Big List of Zapier hacks for marketers (Site)

Stacey Brown Randall from Growth by Referrals had learned three secrets from previous business failures: you need to "touch" your business every day, protect your mindset, and have conversations about how to scale. Listen in as she discusses how to identify who refers you (1-on-1 and face-to-face), find those experiences and touch points where you connect with them (hosting/attending events), automate that relationship (gifts, cards, emails), and track your results. Don't cold call. Instead, reach out to those connectors who refer clients to you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRIiSvSHMdw Quotes: “When you ask for a referral, you do two things: you commoditize the relationship and make it about work. You're now asking the other person to do something for you, and you're trying to manufacture something that doesn't exist—pain.” – Stacey Randall “Nine times out of ten, it comes down to their mindset. Because this information—what I always tell folks—is not new, it is not a silver bullet, and it is not rocket science. It's actually pretty simple.” – Stacey Randall “When you're on that roller coaster where your stress goes up as your pocketbook goes down, you start to pay attention.” – Stacey Randall Takeaways: 05:58 Creating a systematic touch point strategy helps keep potential referral sources engaged without feeling pressured. 10:22 Business failures can be stepping stones to future success when you learn from your mistakes and maintain a positive mindset. 11:53 Consistent business development requires a strategic approach that goes beyond traditional cold calling or networking. 19:10 Speaking at local events and understanding your ideal client's pain points can dramatically improve business growth. 23:06 Generating referrals works best when you build genuine relationships instead of directly asking for leads.

Stacy Tuschl from ShesBuildingHerEmpire.com has advice for you today about making money AND having freedom, scheduling vacations, daily rewards, batching, and having that freedom to change. She's had huge success selling do-it-yourself online courses, group coaching, and masterminds. She explains her launch strategy with a 90-day launch plan and 5-day challenge, as well as how she uses Facebook ads for traffic to those launches. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhPGzvdH2Sc Quotes: “When we're constantly growing and stretching ourselves, of course we're going to fall into some patterns that make us a little uncomfortable, or we get stuck in a rut because we don't know what to do next.” – Stacy Tuschl “There are ups and downs to being an entrepreneur. It's not something that goes away. If you're in the newer stages and thinking, ‘Okay, yes, it gets better,’ know that it's part of the journey.” – Stacy Tuschl “Don't be the smartest person in the room—get out of your comfort zone. Yes, it might feel scary, and yes, it's not the place we naturally want to go, but we need to surround ourselves with incredible people who can push us.” – Stacy Tuschl Takeaways: 03:18 Scheduling rewards before completing a project can boost motivation and help entrepreneurs push through challenging tasks. 09:30 Batching similar work activities into concentrated time blocks increases productivity and efficiency. 11:59 Intentionally leaving buffer time between appointments prevents burnout and allows for mental and physical breaks. 14:19 Five-day challenges are powerful marketing tools that can grow email lists, create high engagement, and convert participants into paying customers. 24:30 Preparing for a product launch requires at least 30 days of strategic planning and team coordination.

Everyone is guilty of this at one time or another, even me sometimes... Getting too carried away and biting off more than you can chew... Filling up the "to-do list" (yuck) with way too much "stuff" Then, it's a huge distraction and that big long list becomes a thing you're scared to look at, or maybe even you feel bad when you do... I can also relate to my mindset ten years ago when even five minutes of money-making activities per day seemed like "too much work" for me... Send a quick email in the morning? I can't do that every day... People tell me to blog or post a daily video? How will I have time for anything else? "Forget about a daily podcast..."I expected myself to post once a day for maybe 4-5 days and then quit! Sound familiar? Of course it does... don't pretend it doesn't! So what changed? This... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHTEXOiQgwQ Insight #1: Exterminate "Not-Invented-Here" Syndrome and Used the Right Tools Don't invent from scratch if you can help it. In this day and age, you don't need to know HTML, CSS, how to edit graphics and upload files. Just use WordPress, grab whatever beautiful theme you want to use for your design (most look like you paid thousands of dollars), and you can grab whatever plugins you want to add pop-ups, social share links, and so on. Just grab what gets it done now instead of delaying yourself months or even years for no reason... Insight #2: Stop Switching Gears and "Chunk" Instead Speaking of WordPress, use its scheduling feature. Scheduling is one of the few hidden "Easter eggs" hidden in WordPress and I'm constantly amazed at how few people know that this is a thing... Here's how it works: let's say you create a WordPress blog and you decide that once per day, you want to post a new video reviewing the latest iPhone or Android app... That's a huge time commitment. Literally every day, you're going to have to login and research that latest app. There's no guarantee that you'll find something good. Maybe you won't be motivated that day. Maybe you'll have something better to do or a huge emergency will come up and stop you... And then... you might miss a day, two days, a week, and then think to yourself... it's been three months since I posted a video about the latest app. It wasn't a priority then, so why should it be a priority now? Posting one or two videos didn't seem to get me much traction, and maybe if I'd posted 50 to 100 videos I'd see real results, but who has that sort of patience? Solution: Schedule several posts every time. With WordPress, you can add a new "post" (journal entry) and Publish it, or set it to go live instantly. Or, you can change the date to go live tomorrow, in a week, or two weeks. WordPress has built-in drip content (just set the date and time of your posts into the future) without any special plugins. Just imagine, on a Monday, grabbing five YouTube videos from various sources reviewing the latest apps (with your link at the bottom) and you'll set those posts to go live on Tuesday morning, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday. Or, how about this: on April 1st, schedule two weekly posts in advance. That means that on April 1st, you just scheduled posts on your blog for April 1st and April 8th... Then, on April 8th, you already had that day scheduled. You schedule your two videos to go live on April 15th and April 22nd... Keep this up for 10 weeks (three to five minutes per day) and by June 3rd, you're already scheduled ahead to mid-August. And by August, you're scheduled ahead until the following year. Just by posting more than what you need, the website (WordPress) will work on autopilot for you, even after you've put it out of your mind. Constantly switching gears and putting out fires is a MASSIVE time waster. Avoid it by chunking up your tasks and scheduling things out on autopilot for many weeks to come. Insight #3: Imagine a Clear CONCRETE Vision of What ...

Nick Zyrowski from NuVisionExcel.com created one of the earliest online stores providing health advice, supplements, and lab testing to allow people to put themselves in the driver's seat of their own health. Listen in as he discusses his struggles of coming in "too early" (before online health became mainstream), his strategy of getting clients one at a time, his progress of getting his offers to "catch on" and his entrepreneurial attitude of trying new things. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ66vxjPxX4 Quotes: “Pain is your body saying, ‘Hey, we have an issue. Please pay attention to this.” – Nick Zyrowski “Most people think that many of the conditions they face are irreversible and that they have to live with them forever—that they have to stay on medication for life. But for those people, there's a lot of hope out there, because we've reversed many conditions all day long here.” – Nick Zyrowski “Start your business with nothing—with the leftover money that you have—and start working on it. See what comes out of it, and then go from there.” – Nick Zyrowski Takeaways: 00:35 Online health services can provide personalized, convenient care that traditional medical settings often fail to deliver. 02:02 Identifying the root cause of health issues through advanced testing is more effective than simply treating symptoms. 11:40 Starting a business with limited resources requires creativity, persistence, and a willingness to do everything yourself. 22:43 Proactive health management is crucial; waiting until symptoms become severe can lead to more complex and costly treatments. 28:43 Continuous innovation in health services, such as cellular detoxification, can help prevent chronic diseases. Resources NuVisionExcel (Blog) NuVisionExcel (Podcast) Cellular detoxification program (Website) NuVision Health Center (Store)

Are you ever afraid of the unknown? Do you sometimes doubt your capabilitity, are you worried about sounding stupid, and are you struggling to break out of your shell? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WmPszLzoYk Zaheen Nanji from ZaheenNanji.com wants to help you face your fear, be okay with falling down, course correct, have self-awareness, get help from a coach, make progress with baby steps, get your mindset right, and so much more. Quotes: “The reason we don't like change is, first, because we're scared of the unknown—what's on the other side of change. And second, we're scared of change because we doubt our own capability to handle it.” – Zaheen Nanji “You can learn a new habit, but it takes practice and effort. If it doesn't become part of your subconscious, it's never going to work.” – Zaheen Nanji “Falling down is okay. But if I stutter one day—hey, you know what? It's not the end of the world. I can dust myself off and bounce back.” – Zaheen Nanji Takeaways: 01:07 Change is inevitable, and the real challenge is not the change itself, but our fear of the unknown and doubting our own capabilities. 07:08 Facing your fears directly is the first step to overcoming personal limitations and building confidence. 15:37 Treat personal and professional growth like a daily habit, similar to brushing your teeth - something you do consistently without overthinking. 18:14 Always seek feedback and practice your presentations or important conversations with a trusted person before the actual event. 23:24 Start with small, repeated steps when trying to break out of your comfort zone, practicing each new skill multiple times until it becomes comfortable.

Christina Baldassarre creates successful brands. In her last year of college, she started Zebra Advertisement, a digital marketing agency, and the company grew to manage over $1 billion in advertising budget in just five years. During her journey, she became a leading brand strategist, successful entrepreneur and sought-after speaker. Zebra Advertisement has been named as one of the most entrepreneurial companies in America today by Entrepreneur Magazine. Their clients include Microsoft, Bing, Facebook, Google, Yellow Pages, Thomson Reuters, StateFarm, and over 21,000 other businesses from over 20 countries. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LftIWUylTv4 Quotes: “All branding is perception management. So if you get those specific layouts right and use them again and again with different content in the same layout, people will start recognizing your brand—and that's really important.” – Christina Baldassarre “People click on an ad because of the image, even if they do not understand the text.” – Christina Baldassarre “The color red triggers something subconsciously in your brain. It appeals to the really ancient part of your brain and triggers a sense of urgency.” – Christina Baldassarre Takeaways: 07:24 Consistent visual branding helps people recognize your brand even without seeing your logo or face. 12:30 The image in an ad makes 70% difference in click-through rate and 16% difference in sales. 17:50 Small businesses should be patient and let ad campaigns run for at least 1,000 impressions before making changes. 20:42 Different business sizes face unique marketing challenges that require tailored strategies. 23:01 Large businesses need comprehensive proposals to streamline their complex approval processes. Resources Zebra Advertisement (Website) Christina Baldassarre's (Blog) Christina (Twitter) Christina Baldassarre (Facebook)

Jonathan Rivera comes from a blue collar background. He left the rat race to pursue real estate. He runs a successful rental business in only 4 hours per week. Today, his main focus is running The Podcast Factory (podcast network and production company) where he is surrounded by some of the world's most respected direct response marketers. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zI-ePk13Sg Quotes: “If you're just trying, you might as well not bother—because podcasting is a long-term venture. You have to have an investor mindset. You have to put in your time.” – Jonathan Rivera “The big mistake I see is thinking that a podcast is the business, or that a podcast is going to save a business. That is not how it's going to work.” – Jonathan Rivera “My goal is to make it almost brain-dead simple—like the way people envision podcasting: ‘Oh, you just hit record and it's done.’” – Jonathan Rivera Takeaways: 01:11 Having mentors and investing in personal growth can dramatically accelerate business success. 11:35 When starting a podcast, commit long-term and avoid the "trying" mindset. 16:55 Understanding your customer deeply is crucial for creating content that attracts more of the right people. 25:39 Building a successful business requires creating systems that run with minimal daily input. 28:10 A podcast isn't a business by itself, but a powerful tool to boost an existing business. Resources The Podcast Factory (Website) BaseCamp team management tool (Management Tool) Doberman Dan (Podcast) Kyle Newell (Podcast)

After scaling a 7-figure online business, Ben Pyle and his wife Caitlyn Pyle founded The Work Anywhere Life where they help people start their first online business using an online course model. They also help people upgrade their mindsets to achieve their goals with Mindset University. In our call today, Ben talks to us about his and Caitlyn's failures and successes in business. Mistakes are part of entrepreneurship! Ben also shares some of his ah-ha moments when it came to finding new customers for his business. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qtIZCc0ZdU Quotes: “Entrepreneurship is a completely 100% experientially learned skill. You can read books, watch videos, or take courses—and those aren't bad; you can and should do them. But to really get it, you just have to be in your business, do something, and take action.” – Ben Pyle “Anytime you break out of your typical routine and do something new—whether it's traveling to a new country, visiting a new state, or even starting something like a yoga class—I think it's always really healthy for the brain.” – Ben Pyle “Mistakes are part of entrepreneurship, so you just gotta accept it.’” – Ben Pyle Takeaways: 07:23 Personal freedom and flexible work are often more important motivators than traditional business success. 13:19 Entrepreneurship is learned through direct experience, not just reading books or watching videos. 15:57 Identifying the right target market might differ from your initial assumptions about potential customers. 17:18 Traveling and experiencing new environments can expand creativity and make time feel like it's moving slower. 20:17 Pre-selling a product validates your business idea and ensures customer commitment before full development. Resources The Work Anywhere Life: (Free Strategy Guide) The Work Anywhere Life (Website) Proofread Anywhere (Website)

Joe Kashurba from KashurbaWebDesign.com grew the freelance web design business that he started in high school into a digital agency with a virtual team and clients around the world. He went from building $300 websites to building $30,000 websites and managing 6-figure digital advertising budgets for some of the largest manufacturing and construction companies. Joe now advises and mentors other freelance web designers and digital agency owners on how to develop and scale their businesses. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boPSaiTptGo He talks to us about his favorite traffic methods (cold emails, direct mail, and AdWords), as well as how he lands new clients by asking them about their needs and wants (for example, a member's area or employee training site). Quotes: “The start of all marketing is who, what, and why. Who are you actually marketing to? What are you actually going to offer them? And then why—what are their needs, what are their problems?” – Joe Kashurba “The only thing you need is one solid way to get leads—then you can scale up.” – Joe Kashurba “Sometimes people try to do a million things, when just having one thing that works would be enough to set them up.’” – Joe Kashurba Takeaways: 02:34 Target less competitive industries with high-value services for easier digital marketing success. 11:49 Focus on understanding client needs deeply rather than pushing technical website features. 17:57 Create a clear, structured project process that limits endless client revisions. 20:39 Develop a consistent lead generation system to maintain business flexibility and pricing power. 23:43 Prioritize one solid marketing strategy over spreading efforts across multiple channels. Resources KashurbaWebDesign.com: (Done-For-You Service) JoeKashurba.com: (Freelancer Advice Blog)

Chad Mureta from App Empire was making money but was working too hard at his real estate business when his car hit a deer and he was hospitalized. During that time, he cracked the code to app creating and built a thriving business (his Emoji app has had 150 million downloads). Listen in to hear about his advice on life, entrepreneurship, and becoming your best self. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFr55oLbAfY Quotes: “Wealth is health, balance, and alignment—doing what you want to do, showing up, and creating the day you want.” – Chad Mureta “Consciousness comes from conflict. For me, I was really able to see and understand that. Until that point, I wasn't truly able to give back to people and to this world.” – Chad Mureta “Typically in life, there are messages for all of us that we are either open to seeing or not open to seeing.” – Chad Mureta Takeaways: 04:41 Personal setbacks can be turning points that push you toward unexpected opportunities. 14:49 Creating successful apps requires understanding consumer needs and global market dynamics. 16:07 Marketing an app is as crucial as the app's functionality, especially with keywords and screenshots. 19:21 Building a lifestyle business means prioritizing personal happiness over constant work. 25:26 Developing apps around your personal interests increases the chances of success. Resources App Empire (Book) Chad's top resources (Website) App Empire blog (Blog)

Randy Rayess is the cofounder of Outgrow.co, a growth marketing platform where any marketer can build highly converting calculators & viral quizzes to increase customer engagement and boost demand generation. He is passionate about growth hacking, content marketing and personalized marketing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vol9-hayN4 He talks to us today about how we need to create interactive content to stay ahead of the game. That can be something as simple as a quiz (that requires an opt-in to get the results, or that redirects someone to a location based on their score -- or even alerts your sales team). You can use quizzes to complement long pieces of content, or even run a sweepstakes. Quotes: “The future of marketing is going to be more personalized and more interactive, and that's going to be a fundamental component to how everything works.” – Randy Rayess “As a user, what you care about is the ability to get your answer that's relevant to you as quickly as possible.” – Randy Rayess “If you start off with a very invasive question—like asking for a home address—that's not going to work, because you haven't built trust with the user.” – Randy Rayess Takeaways: 03:37 Interactive marketing tools like quizzes can help businesses quickly answer customer questions and provide personalized recommendations. 17:46 When creating quizzes, limit market research questions to 1-3 to keep users engaged and prevent them from abandoning the quiz. 19:51 Segmenting leads through interactive quizzes allows businesses to focus efforts on the most promising potential customers. 22:55 Advanced quiz features can create dynamic, personalized experiences by showing different questions based on previous user answers. 25:32 Start with a simple, useful quiz that complements existing content to improve lead generation and user engagement.

Stacey Hylen is an internationally recognized business growth strategist and coach and was named International Coach of the Year in 2016. Stacey helps 6-7 figure entrepreneurs with powerful marketing and sales strategies to get more clients. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLoPVcGBrl4 Quotes: “People who have come to the United States with $0 in their pocket, who don't speak English, don't know anybody, haven't gone to Harvard, aren't as smart or well-spoken as you are, have been more successful because they've been more resourceful.” – Stacey Hylen “Tony Robbins says it's 80% mindset and 20% strategy. What I see is that people have challenges around their money mindset. They struggle with their value and owning that value.” – Stacey Hylen “Stop going after all these different things. Look at what you have in the business right now.” – Stacey Hylen Resources Connect with Stacey Hylen on Facebook Follow Stacey Hylen on Twitter Scale your business, boost revenue, and gain freedom with a proven, hustle-free strategy. with Stacey Hylen Grab your free gift and discover how to get More Clients & Cash fast, without spending extra on marketing or advertising

Peter Mehit is a veteran of both the Fortune 500 and tech startups. He worked worldwide as a business process troubleshooter and outsourcing deal leader for Computer Sciences Corporation. He has also participated in internet and consumer product start-ups and has started four of his own companies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OBuFceeQV8 Today, Peter talks to us about why it's important to have a clear business plan. He also explains how important it is to know who you're selling to (demographically, psychographically, and physically). You also need to know what you're selling (and What's In It For Me). People want quick end results and they buy based on emotion, so know what problem you're solving and visualize what that is. Quotes: “Sit down and figure out specifically who you're selling to and why they're buying from you. Because if you're selling to anybody or everybody, you're selling to nobody.” – Peter Mehit “People don't care about you; they care about themselves. They care about their problems and the things they want to solve.” – Peter Mehit “Writing a business plan is your rehearsal and practice to succeed in your business.” – Peter Mehit Takeaways: 03:33 Designing a business plan is like practicing for success, similar to how athletes and artists rehearse before performing. 07:43 Investors now want more than just an idea - they want proof of concept and a clear understanding of the market. 10:49 Identifying your specific customer and their pain points is more important than showcasing product features. 18:12 People make emotional decisions first and then use rational thinking to justify those choices. 22:39 Visualization and meditation can help entrepreneurs create clear business strategies and goals. Resources Killer Business Plan: Why You Need It, How To Write It (eBook) CustomBPS.com (Website) Peter Mehit (YouTube) phone number: 800-741-8444 Napoleon Hill's Master Key to Riches (Book)

Tracey Osborne says that you should know what you want, be open to learning, and find that perfect virtual assistant to leverage your time and scale your business. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SM6PCGpQYig She tells us how to hire slow and fire fast, and makes us aware of the possibilities that come from hiring a "VA"... for example, her team of virtual assistants can organize entire telesummits for you, run podcasts, publish newsletters, create your funnels, and more. Quotes: “There are two types of virtual assistants: those that just do the tasks you assign to them, and those that actually think, strategize, and understand the big picture.” – Tracey Osborne “If I was going to be a success and make it in this business, I had better get my act together and get organized.” – Tracey Osborne “Hire slow, fire fast. If after 2–3–4 weeks you can tell it's just not a good fit, cut them loose.” – Tracey Osborne Takeaways: 01:01 Not all virtual assistants are created equal - some offer strategic thinking beyond basic task completion. 06:30 When hiring a virtual assistant, create a detailed "virtual assistant avatar" with specific qualifications and expectations. 16:03 Paying a higher hourly rate for an experienced VA can save money in the long run by reducing mistakes and increasing efficiency. 20:50 Proper project management and organization are critical for successful virtual assistant work. 23:50 Virtual assistants can provide comprehensive business support, from technical tasks to strategic planning.

Myke Metzger from MykeMetzger.com (email him directly at [email protected]) has had a lot of online success in a short amount of time, and not only has an amazing lifestyle, he also generates income getting traffic for top performers. Myke explains his affiliate marketing strategy. Instead of the outdated MLM model of recruiting friends and family, Myke says that it makes more sense to position yourself in front of people who are already looking for a particular solution. (For example, software, luxury automobiles, and high-end water filters). He also believes in focusing on higher conversions and testing your results. Don't be like most people who simply "get ready to get ready"... take small actions today that pay off in the near future. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk0Bo5_zLNU Quotes: “If you can get the skills and you understand how it's done with one product, then you can branch out and use it in so many different ways.” – Myke Metzger “Nobody really knows why some things work better than others. The only thing that's ever going to determine that is by testing it.” – Myke Metzger “The further you go in life, you take on all these responsibilities, and sometimes it can be hard to find a way around them when you're already committed.” – Myke Metzger Takeaways: 07:55 Finding online audiences already searching for solutions is smarter than trying to create new markets from scratch. 11:30 Focus on high-ticket affiliate products with bigger commissions instead of selling many low-value items. 16:30 Master one skill or product thoroughly before expanding into multiple areas. 26:58 Always test and gather real audience feedback instead of relying on personal opinions about marketing strategies. 31:46 Stop getting "ready to get ready" and take uncomfortable actions that push your business forward. Resources Myke Metzger (Website) Freebie Hacks (Site) Travel Hacks (Site)

Dawn Jensen from DawnShowMeHow.com is all about reusing your content. If you're ready to live the laptop lifestyle and enjoy a huge social media reach with your content marketing, without working too hard, then you're in for a treat. Dawn discusses: how to repurpose videos and audios (for example, turn a 90 second video into an audio and a podcast episode) how to curate your own evergreen content into shareable facts, figuers, statistics, quotables, and checklists curate from other sources including Hewes, Forbes, Entrepreneur Magazine and Inc Magazine why you should look back at your last few years of blog posts to find new ideas to update that speak to what your audience is doing now the feedback loop prep, presence, plan, and pivot https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MePOuXQqBrQ Quotes: “People sometimes don't understand who they are for the people they serve, and they're not sure what to share or how to share it.” – Dawn Jensen “You are a strategic partner for your clients, whether you think about it that way or not. The more you can educate and inform through your information, the better educated your buyers will be.” – Dawn Jensen “Typically, when businesses seek help, they usually need assistance in one of three areas: visibility, credibility, and digital leadership.” – Dawn Jensen Takeaways: 04:06 Old content can be a goldmine for fresh social media posts and marketing materials. 05:36 Repurposing content allows you to meet different audience preferences and expand reach. 12:16 Businesses should focus on creating consistent, branded content across multiple platforms. 22:06 Understanding your clients' needs and perspectives is more important than demographic data. 28:37 Visual marketing through infographics, checklists, and quote graphics is crucial for engaging audiences. Resources Social Mention (Website) Social Searcher (Site) KnowEm (Site) NameChk (Site) Dawn Show Me How (Site)

Jena Rodriguez from BrandWithJena.com wants you to understand the difference between a brand (the inner game of what you stand for) vs. branding (the outer game of how you express those core values). She has a 12 component system called branderity that involves communicating with those brand fans to understand their problems, their language, and combine that with your unique story. That leads to your website colors, positioning, price, marketing message, and so on. She also tells us how to prevent getting bogged down with your branding and why you should be clear instead of clever. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzcE_dCklxs Quotes: “Clarity is better than clever. So if you want to create a business that's kind of like the Google of the world, Google means nothing without the concept behind it, without the story.” – Jena Rodriguez “Your brand is who you are and what you stand for. It's the experience of who you are, and branding is simply the process of expressing it.” – Jena Rodriguez “Entrepreneurship is not the easy way; it's the brave way, and we as entrepreneurs have to wear many hats.” – Jena Rodriguez Takeaways: 01:45 Brand is the inner core of who you are, while branding is how you express that identity to the world. 12:25 Successful branding requires understanding your target audience and speaking their specific language. 20:28 Entrepreneurs should prioritize cash flow and basic consistent branding over expensive, complex marketing strategies. 30:54 Clarity comes from taking action and getting real-world feedback from actual clients. 33:49 Branding is an ongoing process that can be refined and updated as your business grows and changes. Resources Brand with Jena (Website) Brave Entrepreneur Podcast (Podcast) Digital Maestro (Case study)

Todd Lemense (Twitter.com/todd_lemense) becomes the first ever return guest on our program! A motivational speaker, he says that most people fall into the trap of "destination thinking" ... the idea that a single event, such as a product launch, wedding, or birth of a baby will be the "single moment that changes everything" when in reality, it's all about those consistent daily actions. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uan7uiTbTpo Instead of being disappointed when "that one event" didn't change much, learn to enjoy the process. Manage your fear, hope, and expectations with daily goals. Don't cop-out by thinking "I don't have that problem." Educate yourself about your own emotional maturity, and spiritual/health/financial status to reach that higher standard. Everyone, including celebrities like Carrie Underwood and Tom Brady, have multiple coaches just to become 1% better (or maintain the same skill level), so you need a similar resource as well. Quotes: “We have to concentrate on processes. Life isn't static, it keeps moving.” – Todd Lemense “Life is short and ends quickly, so do as much as you can while you can; it's never going to get easier than it is right now.” – Todd Lemense “The quality of our lives is the quality of our relationships. I try to enjoy everyone for who they are right now, and I don't plan on changing them.” – Todd Lemense Takeaways: 02:14 Success isn't about reaching a single destination, but consistently putting in daily effort across all life areas. 09:16 Appreciate relationships and people as they are right now, instead of expecting them to change. 11:03 Not every day will be perfect, and that's okay - managing expectations is crucial for personal growth. 13:14 Top performers always seek coaching and feedback, regardless of their current skill level. 18:25 Challenging experiences can be valuable learning opportunities that ultimately help you improve.

Quotes from Thought Leaders "The secret joy in work is contained in one word: excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it." -- Pearl Buck "You get good (and fast) at what you do a lot of." -- Robert Hunt "If I had more time, I would have written you a shorter letter." -- Winston Churchill Productivity tip: set high resolution pictures of nature as your desktop background (and set it to change once per hour if possible) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A10Dg2H_IaU Self-Publish a Book on Amazon Get out more: stop showing off to your peers so much and solve real problems that people are looking for. The danger in copying what's right in front of you is that you only copy "the top layer." Most people have a tendency to make simple things complicated (including your future buyers, your fellow competitors) and blindly copying someone else just leads to something that's hard to follow. You need to be a content machine (hint: content can be videos, podcast interviews, not necessarily articles and blog posts) 80% of life is just showing up. You should have at the very least, a short book with your best blog posts. Dish some helpful advice anyone can pick up. Be the person that stuck around and kept selling books after everyone else gave up because it was "too hard." Giving up and procrastinating aren't "real" things. It's just a matter of incorrect priorities. Amazon books last forever, even if you die and your websites are gone (although you can edit or unpublish at any time) -- use it to silence the haters in your life and show them you have a real business. It's a must-have credibility tool that ALL successful people have (celebrities, politicians, thought leaders) It's free. Amazon only takes a cut. You can publish unlimited books, with unlimited pen names, so why not do it? It's easier to edit crap than air. Get that first draft completed so you have something to edit. Your message is more important than one or two typos in a book. Don't quit. Take action now. The time will never be just right. A year ago, you'll wish you had started today. Write a Book with Lightning Speed Speak out the book YOURSELF and get it transcribed. That way you don't take forever on it, and you're saying it in your voice the way you "would have said it." It's done while you're still within the three day window of excitement. You need a guide from someone who has done it before. And a proven system so that you can easily follow in their footsteps, and then repeat the process yourself over and over again. Have a real deadline, know why you're doing what you're doing and know exactly how much progress you've made. There's no such thing as being 80% or 90% done with a book. Are you in the outline stage, speaking stage, editing stage, cover stage? Use 10-7-4 to pile in "too many ideas" and reduce down to just the important ones, and then WWHW to ensure those short chapters are packed with value. Use the step by step process to overcome uncertainty, scope creep, and negative associations to "that damn book I can't seem to finish. Quotes: “The secret joy in work is contained in one word: excellence. To know how to do something well is to enjoy it.” – Robert Plank “The time will never be just right, and a year from now, you'll wish you had started today.” – Robert Plank “Giving up and procrastinating are not real things. Those sorts of things just mean that your priorities are out of whack.” – Robert Plank Takeaways: 03:39 Self-publishing a book doesn't have to be expensive, time-consuming, or complicated. 13:30 Creating content that solves real problems is more important than trying to impress peers. 20:20 A published book serves as a powerful credibility tool that can impress potential clients and silence critics.

Jason Hartman (JasonHartman.com) is all about having that healthy entrepreneurial mindset and wants to talk to you not only about his own up's and down's, but the common mistakes and solutions that we all face. First, Jason realized early on that he loves to work and that his business actions represent his own creative expression. He also discovered that to narrow down that perfect niche, find your passion (that also results in income) and diversify so that it remains evergreen. To tackle frustrations and roadblocks, he treated himself as his own first client when it came to solving a problem and "building a better mousetrap." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyEB8I-NGDo Finally, Jason explains what drew him into the world of podcasting, as well as his number one secret about podcasting: that it's all about the listener, and not the guest. Quotes: “Every business starts out of somebody's frustration with something. If it frustrates you, it probably frustrates a lot of other people too.” – Jason Hartman “People want someone who's real, so I share my failures and problems on my show because I learn from them, and I want my audience to learn from me so they don't have to make the same mistakes I did.” – Jason Hartman “A higher level of thinking would be to look around at what other businesses are doing and think about how you can bring that idea to your industry.” – Jason Hartman Takeaways: 01:48 Real estate remains a reliable investment because land is a fundamental asset that doesn't disappear. 06:23 Every great business starts from solving a personal frustration in the market. 14:15 Stop following competitors and instead look at successful strategies in other industries. 22:25 A podcast or content show should always prioritize listener value over guest comfort. 23:49 Consistent content creation doesn't mean you'll become overexposed if the content remains high quality. Resources Jason Hartman (Official Website) Hartman Media (Website) Jason Hartman Economist (Website)

Neil Berman has a lot to say about multi-channel marketing (site, blog, social, SMS, postcard) and his service Delivra.com can help you stand out from the blizzard of emails with some smart marketing. He dives into many different scenarios and case studies showing how you can use analytics to draw conclusions about your visitors, send alerts to your staff to directly contact your visitors, and segment your list into three groups (those that don't respond, those that are always active, and your true fans). Neil also shares the best advice he ever received about starting a business: creating a solution that is faster, better, AND cheaper than what's out there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJQGNc6vGnE Quotes: “Multichannel marketing, all connected through a single database, is really the next phase of making it on the internet.” – Neil Berman “The challenge in sales and marketing is the timing or urgency of the sales opportunity.” – Neil Berman “You can't just set it and forget it. You have to go back in, see what's working, see what's not working, and adjust accordingly.” – Neil Berman Takeaways: 01:57 Multi-channel marketing connects different communication platforms to boost customer engagement and sales opportunities. 07:41 Personalized, timely follow-ups significantly increase conversion potential. 08:58 Successful marketing requires constant analytics review and customer behavior understanding. 14:19 Small businesses can now access advanced marketing technologies at affordable prices. 18:13 Email remains a critical communication infrastructure, despite claims of its decline.

Damion Lupo says that when it comes to choosing the people you want around you, "The way they do SOMETHING is the way they do EVERYTHING." For Damion, money is a side effect of what he does, and he's more focused on circulation and contribution, helping others succeed financially. Listen in to our conversation as Damion talks about owning our own life, absorbing values, and modeling the right people (paying close attention to what's under the hood as opposed to that external visible lifestyle). He's got lots of life advice about everything from disconnecting digitally, to noticing/observing nature and spending time thinking about those bigger issues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yg7z2ulwUkM Quotes: “The way people do something is the way they do everything.” – Damion Lupo “Today, when I think about my goals, it's not necessarily to make 10 times as much money this coming year; it's to create 10 times as much impact.” – Damion Lupo “We have to make sure that we know what's under the hood with people that we're spending time with.” – Damion Lupo Takeaways: 02:05 Money follows impact, not the other way around. Focus on contributing value and solving problems, and financial success will naturally follow. 05:45 Choose your inner circle carefully, as the people around you significantly shape your values, ethics, and personal growth trajectory. 09:56 Authenticity in business means being transparent about costs, services, and intentions, rather than manipulating client emotions. 15:37 Develop a consistent morning routine that sets a positive tone for the entire day, prioritizing personal development and gratitude. 20:17 Create intentional space in your schedule for stillness, disconnection from devices, and personal reflection to maintain mental clarity and prevent burnout. Resources Total Control Financial (Website) Reinvented Life (Book) Hal Elrod's The Miracle Morning (Book) The One Thing (Book)

Do you sometimes feel that money is in control of you, or otherwise has you backed into a corner? Hilary Hendershott is a financial advisor who believes your money operating system (that limits your beliefs) is based on your first money experience. If there's never enough money, you need to allow different results. Replace your beliefs with new ones, stop saying the same tired phrsaes, create a spending plan, and then follow actions that support that plan to completely change your life and outlook on money. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGHXDMnZAHA Quotes: “Money is a very adult concept. It's very hard for the young human brain to grapple with. People are basically crazy about money.” – Hilary Hendershott “When you have a money operating system called ‘there's never enough money,’ when money comes into your bank account, the only thing to do is get rid of it.” – Hilary Hendershott “Most people think they have an earning problem, but the truth in my experience is most people actually have a spending problem.” – Hilary Hendershott Takeaways: 02:42 Your early money beliefs shape your financial behavior, creating a personal "money operating system" that can limit or empower your financial growth. 12:14 Changing your financial narrative starts with deciding to transform your money story and replacing negative self-talk with empowering language. 15:53 Practical financial health requires getting real with your numbers, creating automated systems, and separating emotions from financial decisions. 18:35 Abundance comes from asking for more, negotiating better, and taking control of your earning and saving potential. 20:02 Anyone can overcome financial challenges by forgiving past mistakes and taking consistent, intentional actions. Resources Hilary's TEDx talk (Youtube) Hendershott Wealth Management (Official Website) Money Blueprint for Business Owners (Website) Profit Boss Radio (Podcast)

Tim Kitchen from Exposure Ninja (claim your free website review at ExposureNinja.com/review) is an expert at creating five-page sites. If your business needs a website, or just a website makeover, Tim's process involves discovering your businesses core services. Each of those sub-services requires a separate page on your website. Also, every business needs a blog to answer the 20 most important questions your customers have, in the form of in-depth blog posts. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XioJWys7REc Quotes: “Modern SEO is arranging the information about your business in a way that makes Google want to rank your website highly.” – Tim Kitchen “Your blog is a way to get search visibility as well as a way for you to introduce your business to people who might be new to you.” – Tim Kitchen “The stuff that's obvious to you might not be obvious to them. We're not saying they're stupid. We're just saying they don't know your business like you do.” – Tim Kitchen Takeaways: 00:48 SEO is about arranging business information so Google wants to rank your website highly. 09:31 Create website content by listing your top services and answering the most common customer questions using tools. 14:17 Web designers often focus on design without understanding SEO, creating gaps in website optimization. 19:34 Get a free, detailed website review to understand your site's marketing potential without sales pressure. 21:16 Improve website visibility by sharing helpful, informative content that genuinely assists potential customers. Resources Exposure Ninja (Website) Free Website Review (Website) Answer The Public (Find Common Questions)

Do you know how time seems to speed up as you get older? The solution for that is to change up your experiences and do new things to slow time back down. Get out of the usual routine. Go on a trip, spend weekends off the computer, walk, run or drive. Go to the movies. (Not TV.) Productivity. Shut off email, phone and Facebook, and complete four money making tasks per day. Wake up early. Drink water. Anchoring. If you're not making money at the computer, you associate computer time with "all that frustrating stuff." Know when you're "stuck" and leave the computer when that happens. Stop resting on your laurels. You'll never get today back, ever again. Fish before you're hungry and don't try to play "catch up" so often. Small wins. What can make you $10 or $100 today? Know what questions you're answering in your mind. Know why you're doing what you're doing. For example, maybe the current problem you're trying to solve is to complete a website. Don't worry yet about making sales or dealing with refunds. Get the website COMPLETE first. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4MJw53rrqQ Sell what you sell. Membership site. Single payment. Deliver some videos that get them from point A to point B in four milestones of 60 minutes or so. Most people want beginner training. Quotes: “Any amount of money is better than nothing. You have to start somewhere, and don't psych yourself out before you've even started.” – Robert Plank “Figure out what question needs answering, and then you can do it. Don't worry yet about your 1000th sale; just focus on getting a website online right now.” – Robert Plank “You'll never get today back ever again. So you can look at that as sort of a depressing thing, or a reason to sort of get yourself in gear and fish before you're hungry.” – Robert Plank Takeaways: 00:09 Breaking routine and changing experiences can help slow down the perception of time passing quickly. 05:41 Completing four specific money-making tasks daily is crucial for maintaining productivity and business growth. 08:30 Don't psych yourself out before starting - any amount of money earned is better than nothing. 09:45 Focus on solving one specific problem at a time when creating a membership site or product. 10:41 Let your paying customers guide your next product or service by listening to their needs. Resources Membership Cube (Membership Cube Complete Course)

Aaron Anastasi from TheVoiceOfYourDreams.com has been on a journey from being an up-and-coming singer to a online teacher. He shares many of his success principles, including finding the joy in service, having a big "why", skylining it, talking to a singular customer avatar, and making use of deadlines and structures. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mdIn2k9sZ-c Quotes: “We all have this voice of our dreams that calls to us, but it can be hard to hear and hard to follow when our voices of limitation are shouting so much louder.” – Aaron Anastasi “When I went from ‘it's all about me’ to ‘it's all about serving others,’ there was a big shift in my life, my focus, my level of joy, and certainly my level of income.” – Aaron Anastasi “It's good enough. We can fix it later and get feedback later. Let's just keep moving and get it done, because done is better than perfect.” – Aaron Anastasi Takeaways: 02:42 Shifting focus from self-interest to serving others can dramatically improve personal and professional success. 11:15 Perfectionism can block progress; sometimes it's better to complete a project and improve it later. 12:04 Structured creativity allows for more productivity and innovation than complete artistic freedom. 14:01 Creating content with genuine intention and a desire to help others can lead to organic growth and success. 22:07 Identifying and challenging personal limiting beliefs can unlock new opportunities and potential. Resources The Voice Of Your Dreams (Books Website) The Voice of Your Dreams (Book) The Voice of Your Dreams on Audible (Audio Book) Aaron Anastasi (Instagram) Aaron Anastasi (Twitter)

Maribeth Kuzmeski from RedZoneMarketing.com has some breaking news: most companies' messaging sucks! They don't have a value proposition, story, elevator speech, or anything of the sort. Instead, specialize in something specific, focus on what's in it for your customers, model your competitors, and think about the outcomes/emotions you can provide for people. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRmlqjjiLb4 Quotes: “Marketing isn't working at all if nobody's selling anything.” – Maribeth Kuzmeski “The key to getting someone to pay attention is more about who you work with than what you do, especially if what you do isn't really all that compelling.” – Maribeth Kuzmeski “The biggest mistake in marketing is not that you're not doing enough or spending enough; it's that you're not messaging yourself correctly.” – Maribeth Kuzmeski Takeaways: 05:02 Craft a specific, targeted message that focuses on who you help and the outcomes you deliver, not just what you do. 07:57 Develop multiple messaging templates tailored to different target markets and events. 16:03 The most unique part of your business is often the people behind it, not just the product or service. 16:53 Word-of-mouth and personal recommendations are more powerful than generic marketing efforts. 21:56 Your marketing message should address what people want, not just what they need.