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Streamlined Solopreneur: Helping Solopreneurs Take Time Off Worry-Free

Streamlined Solopreneur: Helping Solopreneurs Take Time Off Worry-Free

562 episodes — Page 6 of 12

S1 Ep 290Why Gear Doesn’t Matter as Much as You Think it Does with Dan Bennett

It’s easy to think your content will get better if you just have the right gear. Alas, a $1000 camera can’t save you if you’re not spending time on the content. But that doesn’t mean you can’t look and sound good. So today brought in Dan Bennett, who’s built his business on making people look and sound great on camera. Spoiler alert: This almost never results in buying new gear. Instead, we talk about small tweaks you can make. Then we talk about the growing importance of videos for podcasting.Top Takeaways:Audio is king. If you can only upgrade one thing, make it audio. And remember that you don’t need the top-of-the-line mic. In fact, you can sound great on a $40 mic if you have the right technique and environment.Looking good doesn’t require an expensive camera. Lighting is a big part of it - get a few white lights and position them properly to give yourself the best possible picture for your camera to capture. Oh, and a little makeup to reduce your face shine goes a long way too.But really, it’s about story-telling and getting your reps in. You can’t make a good video if you don’t make video. So use the best of what you have and start recording!Show Notes:Dan Bennett on AntipreneurDan Bennett on 1 Minute MediaDan's WebsiteSony a6400 videoBlue YetiRiversideEnvato ElementsMotionarrayThe Secret to Finding YourselfJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Oct 24, 20221h 6m

S1 Ep 289The Most Important Thing You Can Do as a Creator with Marie Poulin

If you’ve been listening for a while, you’ve heard this lesson 100 times: ship with what you have. Ship what you have. In other words, don’t waste time looking for the perfect tool or process. Instead, ship quickly and iterate. And no one embodies this credo better than Marie Poulin. As one of the best Notion instructors out there, Marie has illustrated time and time again that shipping early and iterating leads to success. We chat about how she uses Notion from delivering her course, gets feedback earlier, and leverages YouTube to grow her audience and make sales…around 90% of her sales come from there! Plus, in Build Something More, We chat about my potential switch from Airtable to Notion.Top Takeaways:Delivering her Notion course in Notion allows her to launch her course quickly without fussing with so many tools and allows her students a quick win by forcing them to log into Notion.Feedback is SO important. Too many people are afraid of it, but it will ultimately save you time and make your product better in the long run.Ship and iterate. Launching something imperfect is better than not shipping.Show Notes:Marie PoulinMarie on TwitterMarie on InstagramMarie on LinkedinNotion Skincare ThreadYou Need to Form Good Writing Habits with Dickie BushBuilding a Second BrainJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Oct 17, 202259 min

S1 Ep 288How to Get Published in the New York Times with Stephanie Lee

How do you get the NY Times (or the WSJ) to publish your article? Do you just email them and hope for the best? Well…you can, but according to Stephanie Lee, you shouldn’t. See, Stephanie is a media strategist who’s been published in the NY Times, and has gotten her clients into publications like Entrepreneur…through cold pitching! She says the important thing for you is to build clout markers to show you are trustworthy. And today, she walks us through how to do that using her Slingshot method. Plus, we answer the question, “Will PR outreach make me rich?” In an extra long build something more, we chat conferences, World of Warcraft, and…Scranton? Like from The Office?Top Takeaways:Most people ignore this fundamental thing about the media: they work with people they can trust. Just like we buy from companies and brands we trust, the media needs to know you really know what you’re talking about. They are staking their reputation on it.You can build up trust by following the slingshot method. Don’t go for the NY Times at first. That’s like trying to pitch in the World Series. Instead, start with a trustworthy industry blog and build from there.When you are ready to pitch, do come out with the ask right away. Read an article and send a compliment. Open a dialog, then pitch what your article is about and why it’s important to write about today.Bonus: this, like everything good in life, takes time.Show Notes:Stephanie LeeStephanie on TwitterJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Oct 10, 202252 min

S1 Ep 287The RIGHT Way to Pitch Sponsors for Your Content with Justin Moore

Most brands don’t care about your numbers! It’s true, and I’m not the only one who thinks so. Justin Moore knows a thing about brand deals. He’s done 500 himself, and over 1,000 through his agency. Today he teaches creators how to get paid brand deals through his cohort-based course, Brand Deal Wizard. And in today’s episode, we cover a lot, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.Top TakeawaysYou need to be able to articulate why brands should pay you — and it’s not just about your numbers. Most brands want to pay me for access to your audience.There’s tremendous power for brands to be aligned with key voices in their industry.Don’t just put brands in a box that is your pre-defined offers. Get on a call (YES — get on a call), ask them what their goals are, and come up with offers that align with what they need.Show NotesJustin on TwitterCreator Wizard on YouTubeBrand Deal Wizard (Justin's Cohort-based Course)Creator Wizard NewsletterDon't be a Jealous CreatorJoin Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Oct 3, 20221h 2m

S1 Ep 286Want to Grow Your Business? Stop Using Someone Else’s Playbook with Cara Chace

Starting a business has never been easier. We can now sign up for a free ConvertKit account, get a nice-looking landing page, and even start selling products in mere minutes. Because of that, it can be tempting to jump into “making” the business without thinking about why your business exists. According to Cara Chace, that is a recipe for disaster. Listen on to learn why. Plus, in Build Something More, Cara tells us about her previous career as a special agent.Top TakeawaysYou need to define why you’re doing what you’re doing. This will be the guide for your decision-making. And here’s an important tip: define success in a metric other than money.When you feel like you’re in the “messy middle” and don’t know what to do, create a brain dump of everything you’re doing in your business. Keep what you need and eliminate the rest. It helps to ask, “Would the CEO of my company be doing that 10 years from now?”Don’t rely on someone else’s playbook for your own business because they usually have a WOW factor that you don’t have yet.Show Notes:Cara ChaseCara on InstagramCara on PinterestHow You Can Do $10,000/Hr WorkJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Sep 26, 202244 min

S1 Ep 285Define Your Business’s Values to Prevent Burnout with Shante Cofield

“Get a real job.” “If you’re going to start a business, you need to grow.” “Hustle.” If you’re starting a business, you’ve probably heard this “advice.” You’ve also probably heard that you need to do exactly what someone else did. But all of that is poison to our creator businesses. And Dr. Shante Cofield has the antidote: Moar You. If you want to know the importance of values-based marketing, how to be vulnerable enough to grow, and the seasonality of life, this episode is for you. My conversation with Shante is real — and it’s important for anyone who works for themselves to hear.Top Takeaways:On imposter syndrome: We need to get objective and trust the data. It’s easy to get down on yourself, not want to brag and feel like you’re not the real deal. But you need to listen to what people are telling you. If you help them, you are helpful.It’s easy to want to talk implementation of your new business or content because that’s concrete. But you need to define your values first. Without values, you are directionless.On values: value-based marketing is not shouting your opinion on Twitter. Values are verbs. They are things you do, vs. the things they say. They are how you build your best life, and they need to be at the core of your business.Show Notes:Shante CofieldShante on InstagramThe Bridge Framework by Chris LemaJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Sep 19, 202248 min

S1 Ep 284Creating Sponsorable Content with Melanie Deziel

Perhaps it’s fitting that today’s interview is a play in 3 acts. After all, I’m talking to Melanie Deziel, speaker, author, and founder of Story Fuel. It makes sense that we talk about creating good content in 3 acts: idea generation, brand deals, and coming up with headlines. This discussion is completely packed with fantastic advice to help up your content creation game.Top Takeaways:When it comes to content, we often focus too much on the format, and not the actual message. instead, determine what you’re saying first. Then figure out how to best say it. The “how” drives the format and where you’ll publish.Brand-sponsored content is being created in collaboration with or on behalf of a brand that wouldn’t be created otherwise. They are leveraging your trust, so find overlap between what the brand wants to say and what your audience wants to hear.When writing headlines, remember they are a formula. Ask “What’s the purpose of this headline,” or put differently: what is this content doing? That should help you determine the type of headline to write.Show Notes:Melanie DezielMelanie on LinkedinMelanie on TwitterMelanie on YouTubeMelanie on InstagramSay it Again: Your Business NEEDS to be on TikTok with Alex RossmanJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Sep 12, 20221h 1m

S1 Ep 283Building a Niche Podcast and Newsletter Through Free Content with Jeff Utecht

Imagine being perfectly positioned to deal with the pandemic from a k-12 school's standpoint. That’s Jeff Utecht. Instead of just being in the K12 space, he specializes in technology implementation for K12 schools. But he didn’t just fall into that. He spends years building a brand, understanding his audience, and giving away content. How has that helped him? Listen to find out! Plus, we get deep into education during the pandemic in Build Something More.Top Takeaways:You create great content by understanding your niche and your audience. Jeff and his team know what their audience is asking, and created content to answer those questions.Their podcast is a big piece of their sales funnel. Every time they put out a free guide, they do a podcast episode and encourage people to download the guide, which requires an email list. As a result, they have a great list to sell directly to (as well as continue to provide free value).If you’re going to leverage social media, make sure to be where your audience is, and further, find the right hashtags people are following. Doing that allows you to target the right people and grow your audience!Show Notes:Jeff UtechtJeff on TwitterJeff on LinkedinJeff on InstagramJeff on YouTubeJeff on FacebookShifting Schools PodcastBuilding in CanvaCreating Better Online Courses (That You can Charge More for) with Wes KaoLearning Management and WordPress: LifterLMS with Chris BadgettJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Sep 5, 202255 min

S1 Ep 282My Failed Attempt at Building a Community

When I was in college, building a community felt pretty easy. Have some event, get free food, people come, people talk. Maybe they will bring some of their friends. This happened all the time – campus events, weekends at the bar, over the summer. So I thought building a community online would be similar. Easier even! There are no geographic boundaries. I would just invite people to come to my community, and they'd go and hang out.But that didn't happen. In fact, my community was a baron wasteland. And in July, I decided to shut down that aspect of my membership. So what went wrong? Well, I think there were a few reasons...and that's what we'll talk about in today's episode.Top Takeaways:Think about community as you start a new endeavor. I thought about mine too late and most of my students were already done with my content and had no reason to come back.You need to help your members with the habit of going to your community every day. You can do that by doing more events, or even having content exclusive to your community platform.It’s up to you to drive the community. People won’t just go to an online community and start conversations at the beginning.Show Notes:SPI 603: The Secret to Building the Best Community Online with Drew DillonCircleJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Moft | Nexcess | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Aug 29, 202229 min

S1 Ep 281Want to be a Better Podcast Guest? Be Open and Honest with Sara Loretta

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Today’s episode is a little different. Sara Loretta and I met through Jay Clouse’s Creative Companion Club. I mentioned I was offering free podcast coaching for episodes of this show, and she pitched coming on to talk about podcast guesting. While I thought we were going to talk about her advice for being a good guest, what we ended up doing was having a great conversation about our experiences. But don’t worry: it gets tied together at the end. Because we’re constantly told that online business owners need to be on brand. But the truth is being open, and showing the personal side, establishes the like and trust factors. And ultimately, that is how you be a good podcast guest.Top TakeawaysIt’s up to the podcast host to reach out to you with a topic in mind. They need to come up with the topic and questions based on what best serves their audience.As a potential guest that’s pitching yourself, you should have a few topics ready to send out to people. Podcasts are, after all, a great way to establish authority and expertise.Have a few stories to tell that reinforce your points and add background to your topic. Personal stories help people connect with you. And while you won’t win over everyone, you shouldn’t try to.Show NotesSara LorettaSara on InstagramSara on TwitterSara Loretta at NotionWhy We Succeed Podcast Join the Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Aug 22, 202255 min

S1 Ep 280Live Coaching: Growing Your Podcast Through Your Website with Scott Cowan

It’s another live coaching call. Scott Cowan runs a podcast called Explore Washington State. It’s part of a greater site all about Washington. The podcast publishes 3-4 times per week, and he’s looking to grow his audience and potentially increase his output to 5 times a week. Listen in as I give Scott advice about SEO, website improvements, and pointing his enormous Instagram following to the show.Top Takeaways:Having a good website with easy-to-speak URLs is the best way to send people to your podcast. Easy to share on social media, and easy for listeners to share too.Optimize titles and descriptions. Use them to tell people what the episode is about, and use keywords that will help the episodes show up in searches.Instead of trying to grow your podcast directly, grow your newsletter and social media followings. Then share your show with those audiences — your newsletter especially can be ripe for growth and promotion.Show Notes:Scott CowanScott on FacebookScott on InstagramScott on TwitterJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Moft | Nexcess | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Aug 15, 202251 min

S1 Ep 280Introducing Make Money Podcasting

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Interested in starting or growing a podcast that actually generates revenue? Check out my new show, Make Money Podcasting! Listen to all of the episodes and subscribe at https://makemoneypod.com/ Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Aug 10, 202215 min

S1 Ep 279Finding Hope in Grief as a Creator with Sherry Walling

We all deal with grief. It could be the loss of a loved one. Maybe the loss of a job. Or the feeling that you’ve lost control of your life or your business. Throughout the pandemic, many of us experience grief in one way, shape, or form — and Dr. Sherry Walling is no different. But she decided to write about her grief. First, it was just for her. Then she shared it. Then she decided that her writings could help countless people and turned them into a book. I’m grateful she took the time to talk to us today. We get into how grief affects us, what creators can do, and the book writing process.Top Takeaways:When you experience grief, writing is a helpful exercise. It helps you process your feelings, but it also allows you to write a new reality for yourself.Life doesn’t necessarily stop, but you have more space and time than you think. It’s OK to slow down for a while.Reconnecting to hope happens in tiny moments, like getting up, hugging a loved one, and even making a meal. Listen to your body and do what is best for you.Show Notes:Get Touching Two Worlds: A Guide for Finding Hope in the Landscape of LossSherry WallingSherry on TwitterSherry on InstagramHow the Great Grief Led to the Great Resignation | FortuneJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Moft | Nexcess | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Aug 8, 202250 min

S1 Ep 278Finding and Converting Leads with Good Content with Anna Tutckaia

Grow your audience. Get leads. Sell your thing. Make money. This seems to be the formula for creators…but these are just nebulous ideas. How do we actually implement them? That’s what today’s guest, Anna Tutckaia, is here to talk about. She’s the Head of Marketing at ManyChat, and she’ll tell us all about how we can find leads by learning about our audience, how their virtual event garnered thousands of potential customers and helpful tools for personalization. In Build Something More, we answer the question, “Should you really move from Facebook to Circle?”Top TakeawaysTo find leads, you need to understand the product you’re selling and the audience you’re trying to sell to. You learn that by going where they hang out online and learning about their pain points, as well as their interests outside of your product.Talking regularly to current and potential customers is a must. Conversations make them feel heard, and you can understand your messaging and improve your content.Using automated tools to connect and serve customers can allow you to free up your time, answer common questions quickly, and even ask them pointed questions for better personalization, which in turn helps you get better leads and create impactful content.Show NotesAnna on LinkedInManyChat | Twitter | InstagramChartableTweetHunterBuilding and Evolving Profitable Project Plan with Jennifer BournJoin Creator Crew for Ad-Free, Extended EpisodesSponsored by: Moft | Nexcess | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Aug 1, 202255 min

S1 Ep 277How Creators can Find Hidden Profit in Their Business with Nev Harris

What’s the difference between making money on the side, and running a business? There are probably dozens of ways to answer that, but if I had to answer, I’d say that it has to do with how you manage your money. Early in the WordPress space, people were learning they could make money with their work, but we’re managing it properly. I think we’re seeing something similar in the creator space, so I’ve brought in Profit Expert Nev Harris to tell us the 4 ways to find hidden profit in your business and get your finances in order.Top Takeaways:People say, “you have to spend money to make money,” but Nev says, “spend smart money to make money.” Buying the latest and greatest CRM, microphone, or computer will actually make you money. But hiring a VA might.You need to find profit in your business by getting out of the dark. Nev says you need to focus on 4 areas: Revenue, Profit, Expenses, and Efficient. Start slow and pick one per quarter.When it comes to efficiency, If you’re spending too much time doing the work, you’re chasing pennies and leaving dollars on the floor. Get to a place where you only do what you need to do.Show Notes: Nev HarrisNev on LinkedinNev on TwitterStroop EffectProfit FirstAgile DevelopmentFree Expense KillerJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Jul 25, 20221h 3m

S1 Ep 276Using Your Podcast for Lead Generation with Sam Munoz

A drum I’ve been beating for a while is you don’t need sponsors to make money podcasting. In fact, it might not even be the best way to make money. What if you had a product so perfectly aligned with the audience of your podcast, that you could get your listeners to buy it? That’s exactly what Sam Munoz does, and her approach to free content is admirable. If you have ANY business where you’re creating content, you need to hear this conversation. Plus, in Build Something More, Sam and I exchange stories about the time we wrote code for robots.Top Takeaways:It’s OK to get paid for your thoughts. Whenever Sam thinks about free content, she tries to connect it back to her paid offerings. After all, if you’re doing something for your business, what you’re doing should be in the service of making your business succeed.You need to spend your time wisely. When you don’t have the margin to think about how your content, which is a lot of work, serves your business or your paid offerings. This hurts you, and your audience, who should benefit from your services.Sam’s podcast serves as the top of the funnel for her mentorship. The audiences align perfectly, and her consistent call to action provides enough repetition for people to turn into students. This works perfectly for her because everything aligns so well!Show Notes:Sam MunozSam on TwitterMighty NetworksHow Making Helpful Content is the Right Way to Sell Products with James LawsThe Intentional BookshelfJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Flexispot | Nexcess | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Jul 18, 20221h 2m

S1 Ep 276Troy Dean on Getting Your Students from Zero to Win

Creating a course isn't just about making a series of videos. It's about doing it in a way that gives the students skills or knowledge they can use at the end of the course. Troy Dean calls that taking a student from "zero to win."Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/027Be sure to subscribe at https://howibuilt.it/subscribeThis clip is brought to you by Sensei Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Jul 16, 202210 min

S1 Ep 275You Need to Form Good Writing Habits with Dickie Bush

I’m going, to be honest with you: I’m squarely anti-hustle culture. I think it’s unnecessary and puts too much pressure on people to make “Gary Vee money.” So when I saw Dickie Bush’s Ship 30 project, I thought we had more of that narrative. Well let me tell you, I could not have been more wrong. Dickie’s approach to writing and his frameworks can help anyone become a better writer, and Ship 30 helps brand new creators go through the roller coaster that is content creation faster, and with a better support system. There are TONS of gems in this episode, so you won’t want to miss it. Plus, in Build Something More, Dickie and I talk about competitive gaming.Top Takeaways:Twitter is a “home run-based” platform that allows you to go viral with the right stuff. Generally, that’s content Dickie called “Reach” content; these are tweets or threads that everyone can relate to.Dickie says creating content isn’t coming up with 1000 different ideas. It’s coming up with 1000 different ways to use the same idea across different platforms, so it resonates with different people.If you’re struggling to come up with content, do the 2-year review: look at everything you learned over the last 2 years, and then write content for you, two years ago.Show Notes:Dickie Bush 1Dickie Bush 2Dickie on TwitterDickie on LinkedinOtter.aiTypeshareJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Jul 11, 202256 min

S1 Ep 275Nathan Ellering on coming up with a content marketing plan

Coming up with content can be a tough task, especially across multiple channels. But Nathan Ellering of CoSchedule gave us the perfect advice in episode 20: answer customer questions. Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/020Be sure to subscribe at https://howibuilt.it/subscribeThis clip is brought to you by TextExpander Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Jul 9, 202210 min

S1 Ep 274Why You’re Losing Money with a Bad Customer Experience with Marcus Merrell

“All of the worlds is experienced through code.” This is a statement Marcus Merrell makes on today’s podcast...and it’s absolutely true. See, even if you sell the most niche handmade thing, you probably sell it online, which means someone’s code is powering your business. And your buyers are experiencing your business through code. So the worst thing for your business is bad code because that makes for a bad experience. And I know what you’re thinking: “What if I don’t write code?” Well, if you’re listening to this show, you probably create user experiences. And today, Marcus tells us how we can do it better; we should all listen. Our businesses depend on it.Top Takeaways:Even if you sell physical products it needs to interface with some code. The exciting thing about the no-code movement is that you as a creator or business owner can focus less on testing that code, and more on business-related activities...as well as honing the experience.Products are good and improving, but not as fast as people’s expectations. People say they won’t wait at all if something is broken. They will leave and find an alternative.You don’t need to deeply test everything, but you do need to make sure the experience for the vast majority of your users is rock solid. Are people mostly signing up for your membership? Make sure that it is a perfect experience.Show Notes:Marcus MerrellMarcus on LinkedinMarcus on TwitterSauce Labs on LinkedinSauce Labs on TwitterSauce Labs WhitepaperMaking Your Website Accessible with Amber HindsA Book ApartJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Jul 4, 202257 min

S1 Ep 273What It’s Like Building and Selling a Content Company with Chris Coyier

“Creator” is a word that has really come into focus in an industry in the last few years. But content creation is nearly as old as the internet itself. And building businesses from your content…that’s not new either. Just ask Chris Coyier, the founder who recently sold his hugely popular blog, CSS Tricks, to Digital Ocean. We talk about his journey, how he made money, and answer the question: are we seeing an uptick in content acquisitions as more companies realize it’s a great way to establish trust.Top Takeaways:Kickstarting the CSS Tricks redesign generated a lot of revenue, but ended up resulting in a loss. Still, it did its job: it gave Chris capital to build the business.CSS Tricks has always been about ads as a way to make money. It started off as handshake deals at conferences, but the process became more formalized.The best thing you can do for advertisers and offer packages. Get them in front of all of the eyeballs you have access to. You can charge more and deliver better results.Show Notes:Chris CoyierChris on TwitterWP JukeboxKickstarter CSS TricksJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Jun 27, 20221h 1m

S1 Ep 272The Book You Need to Write Better Content with Maddy Osman

When you write content, who are you writing for? It’s an important question to consider— you need to have someone in mind when you write. But there’s another audience you should have the robots. Specifically, search engines. If you’re not writing for both, you could be missing out on traffic, signups, and sales. Luckily, Maddy Osman and her new book, Writing for Humans and Robots, is here to help.Top Takeaways:When writing for humans, you need to appeal to the people you’re writing for. This is where stories, empathy, and consistency come on.When you write for robots, you need to consider what your content is optimized for: keywords, good headlines, and spoiler alert: What humans what to know.The right headline can satisfy both humans and robots. Write something that gets people to click and search engines will recommend your content to more people.Show Notes:Order Writing for Humans and RobotsMaddy on LinkedinMaddy on TwitterMaddy on YouTubeNaNoWriMoAnywordKeywords EverywhereKeyword SurferahrefsCoScheduleJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Jun 20, 202254 min

S1 Ep 8Jeff Sheldon on how to choose the right ideas and prevent burnout

Jeff Sheldon does what he does extremely well. But he's also expanded his business from clothes to coffee and paper products. How does he do it without burning out? Listen to today's bit to find out.Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/013 Be sure to subscribe at https://howibuilt.it/subscribe This clip is brought to you by WP Wallet Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Jun 18, 20228 min

S1 Ep 271How I’m Growing My Audience

Over the last few weeks, I have been interviewing experts on communities, newsletters, referral programs, and more. As a result, I've taken some of my favorite advice and I've started implementing it. So today is going to be a solo episode where I'm going to tell you everything I've been doing to grow my audience. We'll take a look at some tools I've been using, some techniques I've been implementing, and perhaps the most important thing that I can do to grow my audience. In Build Something More, I tell you my next short-form podcast and what I liked from WWDC.Top Takeaways:Niching down to podcasting only has allowed me to focus my messaging and all of my energy and resources.I’ve been promoting my newsletter, which I’ve also focused on podcasting. All of my opt-ins now point to Podcast Tips, an evergreen newsletter that helps people grow and monetize.I’ve been using Tweet Hunter to plan and schedule useful tweets for folks. Using Dickie Bush’s advice, I put out helpful podcasting tweets designed to gain followers and send people to my newsletter.Show Notes:ConvertKitConnecting Revue to ConvertKitNewsletter Glue TipsSparkLoopTweet HunterJustin Moore’s Creative Wizard NewsletterCalm HistoryRecutPod CardsJoin Creator CrewSponsored by: WP Wallet | Nexcess | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Jun 13, 202249 min

S1 Ep 7Chris Lema on No-Code Solutions

Chris Lema knows a lot about a lot. But did you know he was doing no-code well before it became the movement it is today? In this bit, he tells us a little about how to successfully build a web app without code.Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/012Be sure to subscribe at https://howibuilt.it/subscribe This clip is brought to you by WP Wallet Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Jun 11, 20227 min

S1 Ep 270How To Build a $1000/year Membership with Jay Clouse

Can you build a business off of a Twitter challenge? Perhaps it’s not as simple as that, the core concept is there: create something for people to rally around, and you have a community. Participate with them and you have engagement. Jay Clouse knows a thing or two about building communities and successfully launched his own membership called Creative Companion…by basically starting with a Twitter challenge called #Tweet100. After comparing notes on how we manage our podcasts, we get into the crux of the matter: using Twitter in a helpful way, then building your business. We talk about mission, pricing, engagement, and tools in this absolutely packed episode. In Build Something More, we talk about workshops vs. course creation.Top Takeaways:Twitter is the ultimate experiment ground. You can get an idea out fast, it garners quick feedback from people, and it can be statically significant, given your audience.When it comes to positioning your membership, you need to have alignment with what you’re offering and who you’re offering it to. This will allow you to offer a high-price membership with meaningful engagement.When you build a community around something, you need to eat, sleep, and breathe it. Consider that as you go off and launch your own membership/community.Show Notes:Jay ClouseJay on TwitterJay on InstagramPodpageTweet HunterConvertkitJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Jun 6, 20221h 5m

S1 Ep 6Chris Coyier on being persistent

Chris Coyier is a man of many hats and has successfully started and sold websites, wrote books, and has a great tech startup. In today's bit, he offers some advice that is the key to his success.Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/006Be sure to subscribe at https://howibuilt.it/subscribe This clip is brought to you by WP Wallet Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Jun 4, 20229 min

S1 Ep 269The First Step You Need to Take to Launch Your Podcast with Alban Brooke

What is stopping you from creating content? That’s the question that Alban Brooke and I set out to answer. But it didn’t start that way. I thought we’d talk about podcast stats and what creators can do to make money. But there is no making money if there is no content. So we get back to basics. And if you’re stuck, this is a conversation you need to hear.Top Takeaways:it’s really easy to see the end result you want: a book, a hugely popular YouTube channel, or a podcast with millions of downloads. But it’s not easy to get there.Instead, you need to find your niche. Fly a flag you’re deeply interested in and people will come. 80% of your addressable audience is better than 1% of the unengaged general population.The best path to making money is niching down, showing your expertise, and selling your product or service. Your podcast is a marketing tool.Show Notes:Alban BrookeAlban on TwitterBuzzsprout Global StatsApple Podcast Creators Will Soon Be Able to Access Follower MetricsWhy Gear is Least ImportantJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: WP Wallet | Nexcess | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

May 30, 20221h 5m

S1 Ep 5Carrie Dils on building a community and doing your own dev work

Carrie Dils was building communities before it was cool. And was actually doing the building! In today's bit, Carrie tells us about how she built her podcast community and the pros and cons of doing your own dev work.Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/005Be sure to subscribe at https://howibuilt.it/subscribe This clip is brought to you by WP Wallet Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

May 28, 202211 min

S1 Ep 268Pitching, Writing, and Recording LinkedIn Learning Courses with Carrie Dils

LinkedIn Learning is a force in the online course space, with hundreds of courses, millions of learners, and a well-oiled machine for putting out great content. I, along with today’s guest, Carrie Dils, are fortunate to be long-time instructors for the platform. I invited Carrie on to catch up, and I thought it would be fun for us to exchange notes on how we come up with ideas for, and then record, our LinkedIn Learning courses. In Build Something More, it gets even more fun as we talk about the courses we thought would do SUPER well but turned out to…well…not.Top Takeaways:Carrie and I both followed in the footsteps of people we learned from; if you have an appreciation for learning, teaching is a great next step!Carrie likes to pitch ideas for courses on topics she wants to know more about. In order to teach something well, you need to know it well!We both shared our love of recording in LinkedIn Learning’s campus booths. Having a stellar process, and the right environment for instructors is a big win. If you’re creating courses, the advice we share in this episode can help you figure out what works best for you.Show Notes:Carrie DilsCarrie on LinkedinCarrie on TwitterMorten Rand_Hendrikson on TwitterJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: TextExpander | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

May 23, 20221h 3m

S1 Ep 4Cory Miller on building a solution to solve your own pain point

Cory Miller dolled out so much great advice in Episode 4 that we're getting a twofer. He tells us about how one of iThemes' most popular products came out of solving a big problem they had. Then he tells us the importance of maintaining an email list.Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/004Be sure to subscribe at https://howibuilt.it/subscribe This clip is brought to you by WP Wallet Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

May 21, 202210 min

S1 Ep 267Building a Personalized Email Newsletter That Works for You with Brennan Dunn

A few weeks ago we talked to Louis Nicolls about the importance of having a good newsletter that helps people — some targeted, educational resource. Brennan Dunn knows a thing or two about that and has built an empire around segmentation and personalization. The last time he was on the show, we talked about Right Message. Today, we talk to him about email templates and newsletter strategies that we can implement with his new tool, Palladio.Top TakeawaysBrennan equates emails to sales pages multiple times. Yes, they are a great way to establish trust and be a resource for subscribers...but we also want them to stand out and make them memorable for when we need to sell.Instead of doing educational emails, pausing them and doing a sales sequence, Brennan recommends mixing in targeted sales messages through your emails. This allows you to show helpful resources at a time the subscriber is ready to buy...making it a win/win for both of you.Evergreen, or “Shadow” newsletters as Brennan calls them, are a great way to build a resource, be consistent with your newsletter, and focus on other tasks around marketing or building your list.Show NotesBrennan Dunn | Brennan on TwitterPalladioCreate and Sell NewsletterCaboPressHow to Actually Sell to Your Email List with Samar OwaisBuilding a Newsletter People Will Actually Read (and Recommend) with Louis NichollsJoin Creator Crew for ad-free, extended episodes.Sponsored by: WP Wallet | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

May 16, 202257 min

S1 Ep 3Brian Krogsgard on determining membership benefits and preventing churn

When you have a membership or subscription, your goal is to prevent churn, or people leaving. The best way to do that is to deliver value. But it's also a matter of how often you ask your subscribers to evaluate the value they get. Here's what Brian Krogsgard recommended.Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/003Be sure to subscribe at https://howibuilt.it/subscribeThis clip is brought to you by WP Wallet Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

May 14, 202216 min

S1 Ep 266How Making Helpful Content is the Right Way to Sell Products with James Laws

Most people who start a business hate it when they get away from the actual work and move towards managing — the business and the people. But not James Laws. James has started several successful businesses and his favorite part is building the culture, ensuring employees are happy, and ultimately making sure everyone feels fulfilled…so much so that he wants to help more founders do just that. And he plans to, with tools, software, coaching, and more. But that’s a long game. It all starts with his podcast. Tune in to learn how James is using his podcast and blog to establish authority, build an audience, and learn about this new field.Top Takeaways:Building an audience in a brand new space is hard! You need to essentially learn the “rules” of the field and play by them to gain a following and trust.If you’re trying to establish expertise, but do interviews, think of them as exchanging notes to help establish authority while also getting perspective.The first step to making money with your content is to build an audience so that you share future endeavors with them. The key is to solve their problems with your free content...then you’ll understand them (and vice versa) making your paid products worth it for them.Show Notes:James LawsJames on TiktokJames on TwitterJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash (00:00) - Hey Everybody! (03:22) - Creator Toolkits (04:18) - Welcome, James! (09:13) - Side Quest: Joey and Jamie (12:18) - Managing Multiple Brands (14:31) - Side Quest: The Boston Accent (16:10) - In Office vs. WFH (24:59) - Building Ciircles.com (28:28) - Side Quest: Movies (31:35) - Defining a Niche Outside of WordPress (39:05) - Side Quest: Jerry Springer (42:20) - Building a New Audience with TikTok (47:11) - Making Money with Content (56:08) - Quick Recap (01:01:42) - Trade Secret (01:07:59) - Find James and Sign Off Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

May 9, 20221h 9m

S1 Ep 2Rebecca Gill on Researching, validating, and launching an online course

Too many people decided they want to make an online course, spend 6 months making it, and launch to crickets. Rebecca Gill knew better, and her advice from Episode 2 can save you a ton of time (and heartache).Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/002Be sure to subscribe at https://howibuilt.it/subscribeThis clip is brought to you by WP Wallet Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

May 7, 202212 min

S1 Ep 265Listener Feedback and Questions

It’s the first-ever feedback episode! I read a couple of reviews — one good, one bad, and how I’m adjusting — and then answer listener questions. It’s a fun episode! We cover getting started in content creation, growing your audience, configuring a Stream Deck, and podcast interviews.Show Notes:My Live Stream KitMy Stream Deck blog postMy Stream Deck videoA specific use case for launching appsMasters of DoomFeedbackJoin Creator CrewSponsored by: WP Wallet | Nexcess | LearnDash Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

May 2, 202243 min

S1 Ep 265Jason Coleman on determining value and dealing with negative reviews

Jason Coleman was the very first guest on How I Built It, and he started the show strong with a ton of fantastic advice. Here's my favorite: a bit about why charging monthly might not align with the value you deliver, as well as how to handle negative reviews.Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/001Be sure to subscribe at https://howibuilt.it/subscribeThis clip is brought to you by WP Wallet Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Apr 30, 202214 min

S1 Ep 264How Niche Content can get You More Sponsors with Alexis Grant

How good is creating niche content? How about understanding the purpose of your content and focusing on providing value? Alexis Grant, founder, and CEO of They Got Acquired, understand the importance of both of these things. She has launched not one, not two, but 3 content businesses — successfully selling her previous ones. Today she’s here to share her insight on why she started They Got Acquired, doing research to produce good content, and how sponsorship is playing a bigger role than she expected.Top Takeaways:They Got Acquired has a very specific niche in mind: businesses that have sold for between $100,000 and $50M. All of their content is focused on telling those stories and helping similarly positioned businesses.They are using their podcast of the same name to build trust and grow their audience. Allowing people to hear them forges a better connection and gives the business more identitySponsorship has played a bigger than expected role! They are increasing the output of their newsletter and will monetize their podcast for season 2. Lexi’s advice: ask for too much at first. You can always come down if they say no.Show Notes:Alexis GrantAlexis on LinkedinAlexis on TwitterJoin the Creator CrewSponsored by: Tailor Brands | Nexcess | TextExpander Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Apr 25, 202256 min

S1 Ep 264Introducing How I Built Bits

trailer

Have you ever seen a great talk, video, or even podcast episode that dolled out some fantastic advice, only for you to forget it before you implement it? Maybe that feeling is amplified when you go to a conference. There are so many great takeaways...how can you remember it all? It's almost like you need a TL;DR for when that happens. And How I Built It has been going pretty much weekly for nearly 7 years! As we approach 300 episodes, I wanted to surface some of the best advice from asking "how did you build that" over all that time. So I'd like to introduce How I Built Bits, a weekly clip show that aims to be around 15 mins, replaying some of the best clips from How I Built It. New episodes come out on Saturday mornings. If you'd like to learn more, head over to https://howibuilt.it/clips. And of course, be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. ★ Support this podcast ★

Apr 22, 20221 min

S1 Ep 263Why You Should Spend 80% of Your Time Promoting Content Instead of Making It with Farzad Rashidi

What if I told you the answer to better organic traffic isn’t more content…it’s less content? That’s what today’s guest, Farzad Rashidi, argues. That when it comes to SEO, link building, and organic traffic, quality outperforms quantity every time. And he doesn’t stop there. He provides a process for figuring out what content to write, and how to get people to it.Top Takeaways:Quality is better than quantity. Instead of spending 5 hours on 5 blog posts, spend 5 hours on one blog post and make sure it answers a question people are asking.The 80/20 Rule for content marketing, according to Farzad, is 20% on writing the content, 80% on marketing it.The name of the game for backlinks is relationships. Form relationships with people who have similar-sized sites and work with them to present valuable resources to their...and your...audience.Show Notes:Farzad RashidiFarzad on LinkedinMarketing Strategy EbookThe Google Story (Google's PageRank)Creator CrewSponsored by: Tailor Brands | NitroPack | Nexcess Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Apr 18, 20221h 1m

S1 Ep 262Building a Newsletter People Will Actually Read (and Recommend) with Louis Nicholls

5 years ago, email was dead. Now it’s not only growing, it’s the life’s blood of the creator economy. As a creator or small business owner, without a good, helpful, and nurtured email list, you’re leaving money on the table. And to tell you why Louis Nicholls from SparkLoop is here this week. We talk all about what makes a good newsletter, what mistakes to avoid, how to come up with good content, and how to make money. It’s a packed episode, and totally worth your time — especially if you’re an independent creator.Top Takeaways:Your email growth goals are way smaller than they should be. You can double or triple your subscriber list if you approach it professionally — with a plan in place for growth. The people who fail to grow their list treat it like a hobby.When it comes to content, start with who you’re writing for. Talk to people in your target audience and answer their questions. By the time you’re ready to launch the newsletter, you should know of at least 50 people who would sign up for it.When it comes to making money, high ticket items are your best bet. Your worst bet? Low-priced subscriptions. Louis says that memberships for creators are like a golden hampster wheel. Sure it’s recurring revenue, but there’s also the pressure of delivering each month.Show Notes:Louis NichollsLouis on TwitterSparkLoop AppMorning BrewCreate&SellFree Tool: MagicCreator CrewSponsored by: Tailor Brands | NitroPack | Nexcess | TextExpander Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Apr 11, 202257 min

S1 Ep 261How to Find the Right Tools for Creators (and Why an Open Platform is Better) with Jack Kitterhing

Jack Kitterhing has been in the WordPress space for a while; you can say he deeply subscribes to the ethos that owning your own platform is one of the most important things a creator can do. That a SaaS, like Teachable, won’t be there for you like an owned platform, like WordPress + LearnDash, will. We have a good discussion about the merits of both. Is it really easier to set up a course on Teachable? What are the benefits of your own platform? We’ll get into all of that and more.Top Takeaways:Finding the right tool comes down to skill and comfort level. WordPress (and other open platforms) are cheaper. A SaaS will save you time.You also need to think about your users. What best serves their needs? Make a list of must have features and seek the best tool for that...but be a little forward thinking. Teachable, for example, doesn’t do memberships well. If you never want memberships, that’s great. If you do, Teachable might not be best.Spinning up your own WordPress site is a lot easier than it once was. The promise of Nexcess’ StoreBuilder and WP QuickStart products are the easy of signing up for a SaaS with the flexibility of WordPress.Show Notes:Jack KitterhingJack on TwitterToolkit for Self-hosted vs. OwningBuilding Pages for Micro-Segments by Chris LemaCreator CrewSponsored by: Tailor Brands | NitroPack | Nexcess Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Apr 4, 20221h 3m

S1 Ep 260How Niching Down Allows You to Charge More Without More Clients with Tara Claeys

There are a few chains freelancers in the WordPress space carry if we’re being honest. Not charging what you’re worth is one. Not wanting to niche down is another. And thinking you need to grow to an agency to make “real” money is another. Tara Claeys bucks all of these trends, and we have a great discussion about it. How she decided to find a niche (and how her podcast helps her establish authority!), and why she doesn’t want to become an agent. In Build Something More, we talk about the new Macs.Top Takeaways:Niching downs forces you to learn an industry — which allows you to better serve them completely. That allows you to charge moreNiching also means having a higher close rate. By the time potential clients come to you, they are likely already sold on you.It’s OK to not want to grow from freelancer to full agency. And you don’t have to be an agency to make good money. People are willing to pay for your expertise.Show Notes:Tara ClaeysTara on LinkedinDesign TLCThe Incredible Journey from Agency to Solo Business Owner with Paul LaceyChoosing the Right Niche with Sara DunnThe Importance of Niching Down, Part 2 with Sara DunnBuilding a Better Business Part 1: Understanding Your CustomersJennifer Bourn Content CampWhat Baby Clothes Can Teach You About Understanding Your Customers12 Week YearMindful School MarketingThe Daily Stoic PodcastWhy You Need to Publish Content to Have an Expertise with Rochelle MoultonCreator CrewSponsored by: NitroPack | Nexcess | TextExpander Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Mar 28, 20221h 3m

S1 Ep 259Changing the National Conversation About Money through Podcasting with Brian Bristol

"We need to de-stigmatize lending money to friends and family." It's one of the first things Brian Bristol said to me in today’s episode. See, Brian is the co-founder of Pigeon Loans — a place where anyone can set up a private loan, backed with tracking, interest, and a legally binding agreement. And this ethos is as interesting as the approach they are taking to content: show people that everyone has a story about lending or borrowing money. So today, we talk about the Pigeon Loans content strategy and the important role their podcast, The Chrip, plays in de-stigmatizing money lending. In Build Something More, we talk about the incredible importance of talking to customers.Top Takeaways:There's a weird stigma that it's bad to lend money to friends and family. The Chirp aims to tell stories that show people there shouldn't be.The number of loans between friends, family, and loved ones in the US alone is $200 Billion. There needs to be an easier, more accountable way to track the loan. This makes more people likely to help those in need.Brian is a y oung guy who’s thrown himself into his start-up…but he’s mindful of burnout too. Find a way to unwind. You’ll come back with a new energy and clearer head.Show Notes:Brian BristolBrian on FacebookBrian on InstagramBrian on TwitterBrian on LinkedinChirp PodcastCreator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Mar 21, 202248 min

S1 Ep 258A Winning YouTube Process for Building Trust & Getting Clients with Nicole Osborne

YouTube has been a regular topic on the show this year, and for good reason. More people need to build trust to make their business work, and as the second largest search engine, YouTube is a great place to do it. This week, marketing coach Nicole Osborne tells us why she started a YouTube channel, her process for publishing, and how it’s helped her business. In Build Something More, we talk about how marketing and web design changed over the past 20 years.Top Takeaways:Don’t compare yourself to the big names today. Pick a content creator, look at their first video, and then understand it’s a process that takes time.Content creation is experimentation. Try different topics, recording processes, and approaches. See what works and what resonates with your potential audience.You need to make time to make content. Treat it as a client project and put time on your calendar to work on it.Show Notes:Nicole OsborneWhy You Need to Publish Content to Have an Expertise with Rochelle MoultonWorking Through Different YouTube Strategies with Alastair McDermottLeveraging YouTube to Build Trust and get Leads with Jessica FreemanGoWP Facebook GroupNicole’s Agency Growth Secrets eBookHow to Get Guest Spots on PodcastsLive Stream KitCreator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs | TextExpander Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Mar 14, 20221h 6m

S1 Ep 257Working Through Different YouTube Strategies with Alastair McDermott

How often should you publish? Should you use affiliate links? DO those 30-day challenges really help? Alastair McDermott and I are both at the relative beginning of our YouTube journeys, and we’re each taking different approaches — hopefully, ones that suit our needs and goals appropriately. Listen in as we talk about what we're doing, how we’re doing it, and of course, why. We’ll also tell you why your phone is the best camera for you and your channel. In Build Something More, we talk about when we’ve each bartered for work.Top Takeaways:YouTube is a content channel that can help you build trust quickly because people can see you. You have the ability, and the opportunity, to show people what you know and how you can help them.When it comes to making money, most people can make more bringing in new clients with their videos, as opposed to running ads to monetize. Alastair said he’ll likely never run those ads because it could affect his credibility!The thing that keeps people engaged after clicking through is good storytelling. You need an arch, with tension that keeps people watching. This is possible with just about any video, if you do it right!Show Notes:Alastair McDermottAlastair on LinkedinAlastair on TwitterAlastair on YouTubeAlastair on InstagramLive Coaching: Launching a Course & Growing a Podcast with Alastair McDermottWhy You Need to Publish Content to Have an Expertise with Rochelle MoultonHow to Make Your a6400 camera a WebcamYouTube/LiveStream SetupCreator ToolkitsCurrent DeskAlzay Calhoun: Coveted ConsultantCreator CrewSponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Mar 7, 202258 min

S1 Ep 256Creating Better Online Courses (That You can Charge More for) with Wes Kao

Since leaving the classroom in 2016, I've missed one aspect of teaching more than any other: connecting with students in real-time, as I teach the material. And while I love creating evergreen courses, today's guest has a better way to teach online. Wes Kao, a co-founder of both altMBA and Maven, tells us about Cohort-based Courses (CBCs), and I am all in! She'll tell us how CBCs have better completion rates, allow for much less upfront work, and allow you to charge more. If you want to create an online course in 2022, I strongly recommend you consider them. Plus, in Build Something More, where does YouTube sit with all of this?Top Takeaways:Most online learning is one direction. The teacher pre-records a video and teaches. But Cohort-based Courses offer bi-directional learning, which is huge in the online space. It allow instructors to get real time feedback and pivot when needed.When deciding what to teach, you need to consider what you're an expert in. Ask yourself, "If Harvard were asking me to guest lecture, what topic would they invite me to teach?" You should also survey your audience to understand where they are at and what they want to learn.CBCs are best when they are interactive. You should shoot for 75% interactive, 25% knowledge transfer. Think about how your students can learn something, and practice it right now; this allows them to reinforce what they learn, and get real time feedback from you and fellow students.Show Notes:Wes KaoWes Kao on TwitterWes Kao Podcast10 YouTube Statistics That You Need to Know in 2021The Future of Education is Community: The Rise of Cohort-Based Courses - Forte LabsMaven: Create and teach cohort-based coursesMasterClassMorning BrewSeth GodinBuilding and Evovling Profitable Project Plan with Jennifer BournCreator CrewSponsored by: Riverside.fm | Nexcess | Ahrefs | TextExpander Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Feb 28, 202257 min

S1 Ep 255Who is the Pro iPhone for, and Other Creator Tools

One of the core beliefs at Apple is telling a good story; it’s weaved into everything they do — every product, service, and publication. Something you’ll notice with their commercials is that they open by telling you it was shot on iPhone 13 Pro. And in-fact that story they told at the iPhone event in September, about iPhone 13 Pro, was that it’s for movie makers and cinematographers. But who is the iPhone really for? And what other great tools are out there for creators? That’s what we’ll explore in this episode.Top TakeawaysIf you are a content creator, the iPhone 13 Pro is for you. It allows you to look like the pros, without dropping thousands of dollars of gear like the pros.The simplest solution is a tripod for your iPhone with a remote or timer. You’ll also want good lighting; since this is such a mobile setup, you can likely find some good natural lighting.Finding the right tools is tough, which is why I’ve put together Creator Toolkits: simple lists to help you know which tools you should use when creating projects.LinksWho is iPhone 13 Pro Really For?Creator ToolkitsSponsored by: Riverside.fm | Nexcess | Ahrefs Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Feb 21, 202230 min

S1 Ep 254How Influencers Help Sell $5,000 Watches with R.T. Custer

Exactly how important is your marketing funnel? Ask R.T. Custer, who's built a funnel that allows his company, the Vortic Watch Company, to routinely sell out of watches that are priced between $2,500 and $10,000. In this conversation, R.T. tells us all about how he and his business partner came up with the idea to repurpose old pocket watches into all-American-made wristwatches, and how his 200-day email funnel is the key to their success. Part of the secret sauce: getting influencers to drive traffic…not to buy the watches, which are usually only available one per day…but to sign up for their mailing list to get notified when a new one drops.Top Takeaways:People say email marketing is dying, but that could not be further from the truth. R.T. knows their nurture sequence needs to be 200 days because it takes 4-8 months to build enough trust to sell a $4,000 watch.As a creator, the affiliate marketing route can be a great way to get paid as an influencer, as long as your find the right brand.Knowing your worth is super important. It allows Vortic Watches to be sold at the price their sold...it will also allow you to get paid what you deserve.Show Notes:R.T. CusterCampaign MonitorProducts Worth Talking About on YouTubeLewis Howes: The School of GreatnessStart With WhyBuilding a StoryBrandCreator CrewSponsored by: Riverside.fm | Nexcess | Ahrefs | TextExpander Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Feb 14, 20221h 0m

S1 Ep 253Building a Successful Content Empire in a Crowded Field with Christine Pittman

Finding time as a busy creator or small business owner can be tough. But what about being a single mom, running a content business, in a competitive space, and making money doing? That's exactly what Christine Pittman does, running her hugely successfully cooking blogs and podcasts. Tune in to get tips about starting, staying consistent, making money, and the important role analytics plays in all of it. Plus, in Build Something More, we talk about what it's like cooking for our kids as business-running parents.Top Takeaways:Batch your content! You want to plan ahead, build a stock pile, and release it slowly. That way you can create consistently and build your content empire.Analytics is the key to everything. You will best serve your audience by understanding what resonates most with them, and putting out more content like it. Christine found her niche in a crowded field by focusing in on a couple of specific food types.Repurposing content allows you to reach more people based on their preferred way to consume. Christine has thousands of recipes she can resurface thanks to her podcast, which she uses to drive traffic to her blogs.Show Notes:Christine PittmanChristine on Instagram (cookthestory)Christine on Instagram (thecookful)Christine on Pinterest (cookthestory)Christine on Pinterest (thecookful)Google AnalyticsGoogle Search ConsoleSemrush for Keyword ResearchAdThriveThe Time Mangement Insider PodcastAuphonicHuman Connection Digital Marketing AgencyCreator CrewSponsored by: Riverside.fm | Nexcess | Ahrefs Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools ★ Support this podcast ★

Feb 7, 20221h 2m