The $100 MBA Show

We all love our customers — especially the ones who first bought our products and helped us build the foundation of our business. But “grandfathering,” the policy of keeping prices eternally low for those early adopters, may not be a sustainable long-term strategy. Your business has to grow, change, and evolve. Usually, that means prices have to rise too. We’re not saying you should never grandfather. Depending on where you are and the size of your market share, a little love for those first-generation customers can be a wise move. But when the math stops working, you can’t let sentimental feelings get in the way of taking your business to the next level. Here how we’re exploring our own pricing changes, and how we plan to navigate the effect on our current customers. Learn how to transition to a level of pricing that matches increased overhead on your part. See how delighting your customers is less about keeping prices down, and more about making sure your product is worth every cent. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors Fizzle Let’s be honest: entrepreneurship can be lonely. You’ve got a million questions about your business, and few people to ask. Get the knowledge and support you need with Fizzle. Fizzle can help you earn a living doing something you love, with training, tools, coaching, community, and their famous Roadmap. Join Omar and thousands of other entrepreneurs on Fizzle — Get a free 14-day trial at fizzle.co/omar now! American Express You said “yes” to starting a business. “Yes” to turning an idea into reality. “Yes” to earning your first dollar, and many more. Now, say yes to the American Express Business Card, with no annual fee, payment flexibility, and other solutions for a growing business. Get the powerful backing of American Express — and don’t do businesses without it. Learn more at americanexpress.com/no-annual-fee Show Links Profitwell WebinarNinja CartHook Blog Profitwell on YouTube The post MBA1356 Grandfathering Your Customers, Revisited appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Enough already! When you’re new to business, it can feel impossible to turn anything, or anyone, down. But if you’re not careful, you can “yes” yourself into a total productivity breakdown — leaving your business worse off than if you’d simply had the courage to say “no.” It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping a classic “yes” addict. What many of us don’t realize is that every time we say “yes” to one thing, we are — by definition — saying “no” to something else. That can only lead to one conclusion: a great entrepreneur has priorities, not an endless To-Do list. Learn how to support and impress the people who rely on you, without burning yourself out. Understand how doing less can create more opportunities. Tune in, and see how tackling fewer things empowers you to tackle them like a champ. Plus, hear our simple strategy for finally seeing the true value of your precious, limited time. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors Fizzle Let’s be honest: entrepreneurship can be lonely. You’ve got a million questions about your business, and few people to ask. Get the knowledge and support you need with Fizzle. Fizzle can help you earn a living doing something you love, with training, tools, coaching, community, and their famous Roadmap. Join Omar and thousands of other entrepreneurs on Fizzle — Get a free 14-day trial at fizzle.co/omar now! smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Show Links Must-Read: Essentialism by Greg McKeown Mastery by Robert Greene The post MBA1355 Q&A Wednesday: How do I learn to say no? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Marketing: should you hire out, or hire in? It’s kind of like deciding whether to cook or call for takeout. On the one hand, you have ease, convenience, and the experience of specialists. On the other, you have a chance to create something that’s yours — something truly grounded in your own business and message. We’ve done both, so we know the advantages of each option. Today, we discuss the true value of outside marketing agencies versus your own marketing staff. Which is the smarter play for you? With so many facets of marketing to consider (content, strategy, copy, etc.), building your own marketing team is no small project. But the long-term rewards can mean everything to your business. We break down the skill sets required to truly “market” — and what we mean by “market” — as well as the specific challenges of assembling your own team. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s right for you. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors Fizzle Let’s be honest: entrepreneurship can be lonely. You’ve got a million questions about your business, and few people to ask. Get the knowledge and support you need with Fizzle. Fizzle can help you earn a living doing something you love, with training, tools, coaching, community, and their famous Roadmap. Join Omar and thousands of other entrepreneurs on Fizzle — Get a free 14-day trial at fizzle.co/omar now! JustWorks Scaling a biz is easier with the right tools! JustWorks is a simple, intuitive HR platform that makes work easier and more fun. With JustWorks, entrepreneurs and their teams get access to high-quality affordable benefits, automated payroll, compliance support, and HR tools — all in one place. Offer competitive benefits on par with larger companies. Get 2 free months at justworks.com/mba The post MBA1354 Should You Hire a Marketing Agency or Hire In-House? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What are you worth? That’s the essential question of this week’s Must-Read book for entrepreneurs, Bob Burg’s The Go-Giver. It’s a book that’s simple, highly readable, digestible, and fun. But the lessons it imparts are as profound as they are practical. Honestly, it’s a book we couldn’t wait to read and review. Burg is a respected speaker, writer, and friend of the $100 MBA Show. The Go-Giver, in our humble opinion, should be on every entrepreneur’s shelf. It’s an easy read that packs an incredibly powerful punch, exploring 5 “laws” of business through fun, engaging narratives. Put simply, it’ll make you a better business person. Learn how to gauge your true value on the market. Define yourself and your business in terms of what you can do for others, and live by that clearly defined worth. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors MailChimp Ready to grow your business? MailChimp is your all-in-one marketing platform. MailChimp lets you manage more of your marketing from one place, without all the extra tools. Market smarter and grow faster with one tool that helps you create, publish, manage, and measure multi-channel marketing campaigns. Let MailChimp help you market smarter — learn more at mailchimp.com Capital One With the Spark Cash card from Capital One, you earn unlimited 2% cash back on all your business purchases. Think about it – unlimited 2% cash back on everything you buy for your business. That cash back can add up to thousands of dollars, which you can reinvest back into your business so you can keep growing. Imagine what unlimited 2% cash back could do for your business. Capital One: what’s in your wallet? Show Links The Go-Giver by Bob Burg Basecamp The post MBA1353 Must Read: The Go-Giver by Bob Burg appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What’s a leader’s job? As our business grows, we can find ourselves plateauing. That’s because a business founder has to make a difficult transition: at first, you’re the person responsible for everything. But ultimately, you have to let go of more and more responsibilities, handing them off so that you can focus on bigger, broader things. And that can be hard as heck. As CEO, refusing to let go of responsibilities will leave important things undone. Refusing to surrender your To Do list will take you away from CEO-specific priorities. If you can’t adapt to the new role that success hands you, you’ll stay exactly where you are — and that’s death for an entrepreneur. Today, we discuss how to make the switch from “I got this” to “they got this,” and become the leader you aim to be. Omar would know; he’s learned to let our growing team take over one spinning plate after another, so he can keep his eye on the horizon. And if he can do it, you can too. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors Fizzle Let’s be honest: entrepreneurship can be lonely. You’ve got a million questions about your business, and few people to ask. Get the knowledge and support you need with Fizzle. Fizzle can help you earn a living doing something you love, with training, tools, coaching, community, and their famous Roadmap. Join Omar and thousands of other entrepreneurs on Fizzle — Get a free 14-day trial at fizzle.co/omar now! Campaign Monitor Campaign Monitor made email marketing radically easy, so you can focus on bigger things. It’s an email marketing provider with an easy to use email builder, flexible pricing plans, and a great free trial. It’s straightforward, simple, and loaded with professionally designed templates and designs so your emails can get results. Best of all, their drag and drop email editor gets it all done in record time! Join over 250k organizations using Campaign Monitor at campaignmonitor.com now! Show Links EasyCourse The post MBA1352 Are You Doing Your Job as CEO? + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Before you try to sell, ask yourself: what’s the point? All products, and all marketing, should address the pain point. It’s about being customer-centric. Customers will choose your business if they think it offers the best cure for their pain. In other words, customers ultimately don’t want the most features or the coolest look or even the best price. They just want the best solution to their problem. Customers don’t care how cool we think our products are. And despite our assumptions, price is definitely not the deciding factor most of the time. All sales start with a problem, with the “pain” of needing a product that does x, y, or z. This trumps every other feature or benefit. If you keep your eye on the pain, customers will choose you. A pain-centric approach will help you differentiate your business and make the best argument against the competition. Tune in, and learn how to listen to your customers, not just pitch to them. Find out what’s hurting, and offer the fix. Articulate why — every other factor aside — your offer can cross one problem off their list. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors Kronos Kronos is workforce innovation that works. Kronos puts HR, payroll, talent, and timekeeping on a single, cloud-based platform specially designed to give HR professionals supporting a blended workforce a whole new level of confidence. Learn more at kronos.com/hrswagger Bank of America Feeling stuck in your job? Bank of America’s Academy for Consumers and Small Business can help. Bank of America can help you start on a long term career path through peer mentoring, immersive programs, and a variety of clear and distinct paths. Take the first step towards your long term career at careers.bankofamerica.com now! Show Links SAAS Academy ConvertKit The post MBA1351 Does Your Offer Address the Biggest Pain Point? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It’s gonna happen. If you make even a modest name for yourself in business or media, your inbox will become a very crowded place. Potential investors, partners, and guest writers and speakers will find your email address and fire away. We all want to network, but networking strategically is tough when you have a thousand unopened cold emails from perfect strangers. What’s an entrepreneur to do? It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener is wondering exactly that. Today, we discuss how to address the million demands on your time that come popping into your inbox every day. You can remain nice, polite, and professional without sacrificing hours of your workday to exchanges with everyone who finds their way into your inbox. Omar would know — he used to lose a ton of time to cold emails, until he discovered the solution we’re sharing today. Protect your time without being rude. Free yourself without missing out on genuine opportunities. Clean up that inbox with a clear conscience. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors M&M’S Hazelnut Spread Chocolate Candies Work got you bogged down? Treat yourself to new M&M’S Hazelnut Spread chocolate candies. They’re an instant classic, guaranteed to deliver a delicious combo of hazelnut spread and milk chocolate in every bite-sized piece. Add a little luxury to your workday — go Hazel-nutty and try the new MM’S Hazelnut Spread chocolate candies today! Onnit Alpha Brain by Onnit is a clinically studied nootropic that helps healthy adults with memory, focus, and mental speed. Whether it’s a work project, a test, or an athletic event, taking Alpha Brain is like having another gear for your brain. It’s made of Earth-grown, stimulant-free ingredients that you can feel good about. Plus, it’s cheaper than a daily cup of coffee. Alpha Brain is free to try — just pay shipping. Get a two week supply free at onnit.com/100mba now! Show Links $100 MBA Show Guest Teacher Application The post MBA1350 Q&A Wednesday: How do you deal with cold email pitches? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What’s the right website hosting platform for you business?There’s no shortage of options. Recently, we pondered whether Webflow would be a better fit for certain businesses, including ours. Omar did some intense research, comparing and contrasting Webflow with WordPress, Weebly, and the rest.The results are an in-depth lesson on what makes this platform unique, and how it might serve your business best — depending on your needs and your website design skills. It’s not about deciding which platform is “better” or “worse.” This episode is all about the unique features and functions of Webflow for anyone who’s interested. And no, this episode is 100%, absolutely, unequivocally not sponsored.You may decide Webflow isn’t for you at all. Of course, there’s only one way to find out. Tune in, hear what Webflow has to offer, and see if (like us), you’d seriously considering switching platforms. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebflowMBA1293: Product-Led Growth by Wes BushWeeblyWebinarNinjaThe post MBA1349 Should You Build Your Website with Webflow? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Every one of your goals depends on mastering one skill: what we normally call “focus.” Nir Eyal thinks of it a little differently. He knows that cutting out distractions and getting in the zone is the key that unlocks all doors. But rather than “focus,” he refers to “traction” — as in, the opposite of “distraction.” It’s a powerful philosophy — but he explains it better than we can. Nir is this week’s special guest teacher. After featuring his book Hooked on our Must-Read book episode, we were thrilled for the chance to have Nir come by and explain the premise of his new book, Indistractable: How to Control Your Attention and Choose Your Life. Today, Nir offers his 4 pillars of indistractability, the key strategies for cutting the “dis” and getting some traction. In an era of endless “pings, dings, and other things,” indistractability may be the most crucial skill in an entrepreneur’s set. Make yourself more focused, more efficient, and more valuable. Get business handled, and protect your free time while you’re at it! Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors Bank of America Feeling stuck in your job? Bank of America’s Academy for Consumers and Small Business can help. Bank of America can help you start on a long term career path through peer mentoring, immersive programs, and a variety of clear and distinct paths. Take the first step towards your long term career at careers.bankofamerica.com now! Capital One With the Spark Cash card from Capital One, you earn unlimited 2% cash back on all your business purchases. Think about it – unlimited 2% cash back on everything you buy for your business. That cash back can add up to thousands of dollars, which you can reinvest back into your business so you can keep growing. Imagine what unlimited 2% cash back could do for your business. Capital One: what’s in your wallet? Show Links MBA597: Must-Read: Hooked by Nir Eyal Indistractable by Nir Eyal+Supplemental Workbook Free Schedule Maker Forest App The post MBA1348 Guest Teacher: Nir Eyal- How to become Indistractable appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Who wins in business: the jack of all trades, or the master of one? It’s one of the most important questions an entrepreneur can ask about their business. Should your product be defined by versatility, mass appeal, and all-around utility? Or is it best to make your product uniquely, unbeatably awesome at solving one particular problem? Should you compete with everyone at everything, or should you make it so no one can compete with you at one thing? We’ve got a straightforward answer to this one, and lots of examples to make our case. We’ll even discuss how we chose a strategy for our own businesses, and why answering the broad vs. deep question is so fundamental to your chances of success. Learn where to put your focus, and how spread your focus should really be. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors MailChimp Ready to grow your business? MailChimp is your all-in-one marketing platform. MailChimp lets you manage more of your marketing from one place, without all the extra tools. Market smarter and grow faster with one tool that helps you create, publish, manage, and measure multi-channel marketing campaigns. Let MailChimp help you market smarter — learn more at mailchimp.com smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Show Links EasyCourse WebinarNinja Luxury Escapes The post MBA1347 Is it Better To Be The Best at One Thing or Good at Many? + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

What makes a good developer? More importantly, how can you find one? If you’re building an app, a website, or any other kind of digital product, your business is only as good as your devs. We know — we’ve spent the last several years building our own webinar software, including a radical top-down redesign that took some serious developer talent to pull off. We can’t do it ourselves, so finding that talent is one of our most important jobs. Today, we discuss how to attract the best developers, and separate them from the rest of their over-crowded field. There’s a bazillion of them out there, and it can be tough for non-devs to evaluate their ability. Fortunately, our experience has shown us what matters most. Learn what skills and abilities are non-negotiable, the lack of which instantly eliminates applicants from your search. Learn what attributes make a dev most likely to move your project forward. Learn how to interview, test, and hire the true keepers. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors Joy at Work There’s a new podcast that should be on your radar. We spend so much time driving results at work, but not driving joy. Joy at Work brings together business leaders, authors, and influencers to discuss how to infuse more joy into everyday work life. Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, or wherever you listen. To learn more, head to atkearney.com/joy JustWorks Scaling a biz is easier with the right tools! JustWorks is a simple, intuitive HR platform that makes work easier and more fun. With JustWorks, entrepreneurs and their teams get access to high-quality affordable benefits, automated payroll, compliance support, and HR tools — all in one place. Offer competitive benefits on par with larger companies. Get 2 free months at justworks.com/mba Show Links WebinarNinja The post MBA1346 4 Essentials When Hiring a Developer appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If your content isn’t marketing, you’re not content marketing. Blogs are fun to write, and valuable for your audience. But if they aren’t converting, they’re worth bupkus to your business. Today, we discuss how to move past the “spray and pray” method of throwing content into the wind, hoping for results. It’s time to start tracking, start measuring, and start using your blog to make progress.Of course, that takes a little know-how.It’s not enough to be a good blogger. You’ve got to get a handle on tracking content performance, lead attribution, and conversion rates. You’ve got to be able to reverse-connect the dots — from sales to traffic, and from traffic to content. Otherwise, you have no idea if your blog is worth the time it takes to write.Learn how to measure your blog’s performance, with or without helpful CRM software. Find out if your words are generating leads, and sales. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksDev BasuGoogle Data StudioThe post MBA1345 Q&A Wednesday: Is my blog working? How do I know? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We all want to move our business forward. But true success means reaching a point where your business moves itself forward. That’s momentum, and that’s the topic of today’s episode. At some point, you need to stop pushing the boulder uphill, and get over the hump. There’s a way of working that encourages this — a strategy that’s built for momentum, not just progress. You just have to change your routine. Today, we discuss how to revamp your approach, and schedule your workday in a way that maximizes momentum. A little discipline can go a long way towards making your results equal more than the sum of your efforts. It’s about focus, it’s about motivation, and it’s about time management. But most of all, it’s about creating self-propulsion for your company. Your work can work better, and finally get the ball of your business rolling in a big way. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors Fidelity Ready to start a career in financial services? Fidelity Investments is looking for talented people eager to help others. As a Career Relationship Advocate, you’ll be the voice of Fidelity. You’ll learn alongside other resourceful, friendly associates who are working to achieve customers’ financial goals. Learn more about the opportunities Fidelity offers at customeradvocate.fidelity.com Amazon Kindle Read as much as you want, from over a million books available on Amazon Kindle Unlimited. Kindle puts over a million e-books and 5,000 audiobooks at your fingertips. You can also choose from a rotating selection of current issues of popular magazines. With a variety of genres and titles to choose from, you can enjoy popular titles and discover your next favorite series. Read anywhere, on the device you prefer — even switch between automatically synced devices. Get 3 months of Kindle Unlimited for just $1.99 amazon.com/100mba The post MBA1344 How to Create Momentum in Your Business appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How do people make it in business? Every once in a while, a successful entrepreneur writes a book that helps answer that question. Explosive Growth has a title that sounds like it’s a bit much, but the content lives up to it. Clif Lerner is a startup founder who’s had his share of failures (and then some), but took each setback as a lesson in how to do better on the next try. Now, his app has over 100 million active users, and his lessons are worth hearing. This is the best kind of business book: an entertaining personal narrative with practical applications. It’s the story of an entrepreneur who didn’t stumble into success, but turned things around when things looked their worst. In this case, Growth doesn’t just refer to the shrewd strategies Lerner used to acquire more and more customers. It refers to taking your lumps, learning from your failures, and improving as a business person. That’s a lesson we could all use. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Zapier Running your own business can mean a never-ending to-do list. How can you automate your tasks? We use Zapier. It makes everyone’s life easier, integrating with over 1,500 apps. Payment processors, CRM, Slack; you name it! You can make Zapier work for you without writing code or asking developers for help. It’s truly drag and drop! Join more than 4.5 million people saving an average of 40 hours a month. From now through November, try Zapier free for 2 weeks at Zapier.com/mba Show Links Explosive Growth by Cliff Lerner The post MBA1343 Must Read: Explosive Growth by Cliff Lerner appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Most people think of podcasting as more of a B2C thing, reaching out to a wide audience of consumers to establish your reputation. But we’ve got a secret: podcasts are incredible marketing tools for B2B sales, too! Selling to other businesses is all about relationships and networking. As it turns out, hosting a popular podcast creates a ton of networking opportunities, as you can leverage the value of your own audience and offer it to other business leaders. With a good podcast, you don’t just cement your reputation among consumers — you make a name for yourself with other entrepreneurs. Today, we discuss how podcasting has supercharged our networking, and how you can use your podcast to navigate your own business community. Plus, we offer tips on how to get started if you’re new to the podcasting game. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors Earth Class Mail Transform the daily piles of mail, checks, invoices, and correspondence into digital documents. Earth Class Mail office mail automation is the easiest way to set up a physical business address. Earth Class Mail will process paper mail into digital format, and put it on the on cloud for easy access. Get your first month free at earthclassmail.com/mbamonth smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Show Links EasyCourse Audio-Technica ATR 2100 Audacity $100 MBA Show Archives The post MBA1342 How To Use Podcasting To Make More B2B Sales + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Thinking about offering a free version of your service? Do the math first. A free plan for your recurring payment/subscription model can be an incredible marketing and sales tool. Just ask Google: the free service can haul potential paying customers in by the bazillions. But it only works if the freebies convert. Every day, your free version costs you money — so there has to be an appropriate ROI. We’ve spent some time discussing the issue with Patrick Campbell of Profitwell. His insights had a direct impact on our choice not to create a free version of our own software, WebinarNinja. That said, the free plan model can work beautifully for the right kinds of services. Today, we discuss how to make this strategy work, what situations it’s perfect for, and why it’s not for everyone. With examples of the types of businesses it can help, you can decide if a free plan is right for you. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors Bank of America Feeling stuck in your job? Bank of America’s Academy for Consumers and Small Business can help. Bank of America can help you start on a long term career path through peer mentoring, immersive programs, and a variety of clear and distinct paths. Take the first step towards your long term career at careers.bankofamerica.com now! smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Show Links Profitwell The post MBA1341 How to Have a Free Plan Alternative That Won’t Cost You Money appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Refund requests happen. They’re unavoidable. But how you respond can make all the difference in the success of your business. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener learn how to turn those refund requests into opportunities — to keep the sale, to keep the customer, or to improve your company’s reputation in the long run. You won’t stop every refund, but you’ll make a positive impact on your customer relationships no matter what. We’ll discuss the most common reasons customers request refunds, and how to address those reasons so the customer is more likely to change their mind. We’ll also explain what to do when a refund is appropriate, so that it’s not a total loss. Plus, we’ve got tips on preventing customers from wanting refunds in the first place. Customers need the option of a refund to feel secure in their purchases. But that doesn’t mean every refund is a good idea, or a lost cause. Find out why — Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Earth Class Mail Transform the daily piles of mail, checks, invoices, and correspondence into digital documents. Earth Class Mail office mail automation is the easiest way to set up a physical business address. Earth Class Mail will process paper mail into digital format, and put it on the on cloud for easy access. Get your first month free at earthclassmail.com/mbamonth Show Links WebinarNinja The post MBA1340 Q&A Wednesday: How can I convince a customer they don’t need a refund? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

So. Little. Time. It’s every entrepreneur’s curse. But there might be more time than you think — if you know how to manage it properly. We all wish there were more than 24 hours in a day, and we’ve all hit our pillows anxious about what we didn’t accomplish. But there is hope. There is time you haven’t been using. And we’ve got 3 ways to find it. As we like to say, time is not money; it’s way more valuable. Today, we’ll explain the three methods anyone can use to make the most of those precious 24. You can improve productivity for your business, and add more R&R time to your life. You can use one, two, or all three of these tricks to finally have the time you need to succeed. We use all 3 methods ourselves. From endless long days at the beginning, we’ve finally found ourselves with some time to enjoy existing while building our businesses. You can too — Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! MailChimp Ready to grow your business? MailChimp is your all-in-one marketing platform. MailChimp lets you manage more of your marketing from one place, without all the extra tools. Market smarter and grow faster with one tool that helps you create, publish, manage, and measure multi-channel marketing campaigns. Let MailChimp help you market smarter — learn more at mailchimp.com The post MBA1339 Not Enough Time? How To Add More Hours to Your Day. appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When it comes to branding, words are everything. Trademark rules are complicated, and new entrepreneurs face two dangers when choosing company names, product names, and any other brand-identifying language. First, there’s the risk of running afoul of trademark laws. More likely, though, is the brand-killing possibility of not protecting your own business’s uniqueness from potential rippers-off. Good thing we know a trademark expert! Ali Smith is the marketing manager for trademark.com, a site that helps business owners protect their brand. She’s here to discuss the major pitfalls to avoid when choosing your words, so you can knock out the knockoffs early on. Plus, Ali will explain how the trademark process works, and what happens when you file one for your business. Get the unique branding you need, and choose trademarks that’ll set your brand apart from the rest. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors M&M’S Hazelnut Spread Chocolate Candies Work got you bogged down? Treat yourself to new M&M’S Hazelnut Spread chocolate candies. They’re an instant classic, guaranteed to deliver a delicious combo of hazelnut spread and milk chocolate in every bite-sized piece. Add a little luxury to your workday — go Hazel-nutty and try the new MM’S Hazelnut Spread chocolate candies today! smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Show Links Trademark.com WebinarNinja The post MBA1338 Guest Teacher: Ali Smith- Tips to Avoid A Trademark ‘War of Words’ appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The business meal: effective relationship builder, or Mad Men throwback?While the 3-martini lunches of the past may no longer be in vogue, buying someone a meal can be an incredibly good investment. A meal can add a layer of personal connection that’s often missing from today’s mostly virtual business relationships. It can open doors. It can even be the start of a long-term partnership.Of course, you have to do it right.Today, we’ll discuss how the modern business lunch or dinner works. From choosing the restaurant to setting your expectations, the casual bite requires thought and planning. It’s warm, it’s personal, and it’s even a little old-fashioned. But it’s a strategy, one with serious business potential. With a little forethought, you might be one falafel away from moving your business forward. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksEasyCourseThe post MBA1337 Do Business Lunches & Dinners Still Work? + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We usually think of content as something we give away. But should you be getting something in return, besides exposure? Today, we discuss whether to build the wall — the paywall, that is. Or at the very least, whether you should require an email address or other opt-in to access your premium content. Does it deter people from accessing your content, and possibly being converted? Or does a gate have the opposite effect, signifying value and moving visitors closer to becoming customers? Whether you host a podcast, create videos, or write guides and e-books, a solid gate may be ironic; rather than separating you from your audience, this barrier might actually bring people closer. When someone chooses to exchange something for content, they’ve bought more than access — they’ve bought in. Tune in, and decide if some of your content would be more effective if it wasn’t just given away. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Kronos Kronos is workforce innovation that works. Kronos puts HR, payroll, talent, and timekeeping on a single, cloud-based platform specially designed to give HR professionals supporting a blended workforce a whole new level of confidence. Learn more at kronos.com/hrswagger Show Links WebinarNinja The post MBA1336 Is Gated Content a Good Idea? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Success requires the right tools. For entrepreneurs, tool #1 is usually the laptop. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener decide which laptop is best for her business. She’s an online coach, so her window to the online world will have a major effect on her business. With so many options and so many features available, the mind can boggle at the sheer variety of computers out there. Fortunately, we know a thing or two about online business, and the tech available. Today, we’ll explain what really matters when it comes to laptops. From screen size to RAM to storage space, your choice has to fit your needs. Whatever your budget, there’s a laptop out there can help you reach your goals. You just have to distinguish it from the other (approximately) billion laptops on the market. Tune in, and hear what specs actually make a difference. Plus, we’ll share our favorite laptops at various price points — and don’t worry, these recommendations are sponsorship-free. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors Bank of America Feeling stuck in your job? Bank of America’s Academy for Consumers and Small Business can help. Bank of America can help you start on a long term career path through peer mentoring, immersive programs, and a variety of clear and distinct paths. Take the first step towards your long term career at careers.bankofamerica.com now! smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Show Links Logitech C920 Webcam WebinarNinja MacBook Pro Surface Book 2 Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Lenovo Yoga The post MBA1335 Q&A Wednesday: I am a business coach. What is the best laptop to buy? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We work from home. Why? More importantly, should you? Some of the reasons are obvious, like the convenience of having no commute and the money saved on renting a space. But those aren’t the only reasons we’ve chosen to run our entire business — remote team included — from the same building in which we sleep and eat. There’s a lot more to it. We’ve been doing it this way for about 6 years. We’ve also tried the alternatives: coworking spaces, cafes, and even a full-on office. After all our experimenting, we don’t only know that working from home is our best option. We know why it’s our best option. Today, we’ll discuss how working from home affects our productivity, sanity, and success. We’ll also be clear about what can go wrong with a home office, and why this one size doesn’t necessarily fit all. Listen in, and decide where your business should call home. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors M&M’S Hazelnut Spread Chocolate Candies Work got you bogged down? Treat yourself to new M&M’S Hazelnut Spread chocolate candies. They’re an instant classic, guaranteed to deliver a delicious combo of hazelnut spread and milk chocolate in every bite-sized piece. Add a little luxury to your workday — go Hazel-nutty and try the new MM’S Hazelnut Spread chocolate candies today! Earth Class Mail Transform the daily piles of mail, checks, invoices, and correspondence into digital documents. Earth Class Mail office mail automation is the easiest way to set up a physical business address. Earth Class Mail will process paper mail into digital format, and put it on the on cloud for easy access. Get your first month free at earthclassmail.com/mbamonth The post MBA1334 Why We Decided Against Renting an Office appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How long will this take? It’s a question we have to ask about every task, big or small. One of the toughest parts of managing a team is coordinating a long-term project with some sense of timeliness. Multiple people, multiple agendas, all adding up to one result. It can’t take too long, but it can’t be rushed, either. You need some idea of how long a project should take, but everyone has to be on board. That’s where this week’s special guest teacher comes in. Laura B. Janusek is a project management expert, and founding member of Modern Teacher. She knows that accurate timelines can empower a team, especially if everyone buys into the target completion date. She also knows that “deadline” can be a scary concept, especially with a complex goal. Today, Janusek lays out a specific technique she uses to bring the team together and decide on a realistic timeline. By making the estimate a shared task, the team takes ownership of the company’s time, and avoids feeling either rushed or complacent. Before you tackle your next big project, tune in. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! HoneyBook HoneyBook is an all-in-one business management platform for creative small businesses. They make it easy to streamline your process with client and calendar management tools, plus custom branded proposals and contracts. Save hundreds or thousands of hours a year. Get 50% off your first year by using promo code MBA at honeybook.com Show Links WebinarNinja The post MBA1333 Guest Teacher: Laura B. Janusek- How to Estimate How Long a Group Project Will Take appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Social media can be hard to keep up with. But for entrepreneurs, every marketing opportunity counts. So what’s up with TikTok? There’s always a “next big thing” in social media, and many platforms are more hype than usefulness. But TikTok is making waves, and its success has reached a point where ignoring it is no longer the wisest option. It’s currently the 4th largest platform online — bigger (we kid you not) than Twitter. With hundreds of millions of active users, it’s pretty inconceivable that none of them are potential customers. TikTok’s explosive growth in the last few years indicates that spending a little time exploring the potential of this video sharing platform may be in your company’s best interest. See if TikTok can make a difference for your business — Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors Earth Class Mail Transform the daily piles of mail, checks, invoices, and correspondence into digital documents. Earth Class Mail office mail automation is the easiest way to set up a physical business address. Earth Class Mail will process paper mail into digital format, and put it on the on cloud for easy access. Get your first month free at earthclassmail.com/mbamonth smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Show Links EasyCourse TikTok The post MBA1332 What is TikTok and Do You Need To Start Using It? + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Get better at what you do. Get faster. Get more efficient. Get things done. Today, we’re highlighting the 5 best productivity tools an entrepreneur could ask for — when the budget is $0. It’s almost shocking that these tools are free, because the value they add is incalculable. At zero cost to you, you can organize your life and work in ways that maximize your output. If you’re putting the “lean” in lean startup, these tools are musts. Some you’ve heard of, some maybe not. But all of them help you get more out of every minute you work, and help you reach your goals that much sooner. Boost your productivity, and hasten your growth, without spending a dime. We use each and every one of these tools ourselves, and we almost feel guilty for not paying…almost. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Earth Class Mail Transform the daily piles of mail, checks, invoices, and correspondence into digital documents. Earth Class Mail office mail automation is the easiest way to set up a physical business address. Earth Class Mail will process paper mail into digital format, and put it on the on cloud for easy access. Get your first month free at earthclassmail.com/mbamonth Show Links Trello LastPass EverNote Bonus Tool: MarkUp Hero: Screenshot and Annotation Tool The post MBA1331 My Top 5 Free Productivity Tools appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Entrepreneurship is challenging. But the biggest challenge is the mental challenge to leave guaranteed outcomes behind, and strike out on your own. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a risk-averse listener who’s terrified of failing in business. He needs to know how to bridge the emotional gap between a comfortable day job and the wild ride of independence. Getting started means taking a leap, a brave, scary, momentous leap into a world of total freedom — and undeniable uncertainty. We can’t blame our listener for being a little hesitant. Today, we’ll discuss how to overcome the mental barrier between you and entrepreneurship. We’ve got specific strategies for confronting the dark unknown, and getting comfortable enough with the prospect of failure to beat your fear. Being afraid is normal. Being afraid is healthy. But being afraid should never hold you back. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Today’s Sponsors M&M’S Hazelnut Spread Chocolate Candies Work got you bogged down? Treat yourself to new M&M’S Hazelnut Spread chocolate candies. They’re an instant classic, guaranteed to deliver a delicious combo of hazelnut spread and milk chocolate in every bite-sized piece. Add a little luxury to your workday — go Hazel-nutty and try the new MM’S Hazelnut Spread chocolate candies today! smartwater smartwater alkaline has 9+ ph to help keep you hydrated while you’re on the move — whether you’re climbing a mountain, or doing mountain climbers on your mat. If you’re looking for a moment of zen, smartwater antioxidant with added selenium helps you find balance for body and mind. Plus, there’s a new way to order smartwater; just ask “Alexa, order smartwater,” and the rest is taken care of. smartwater – that’s pretty smart! Show Links Shoe Dog by Phil Knight The Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz Elon Musk by Ashley Vance Born Standing Up by Steve Martin I Can’t Make This Up by Kevin Hart MBA1323: How to Build a 7-Figure Business Without Quitting Your Full-Time Day Job with Shaan Patel The post MBA1330 Q&A Wednesday: How do I get ready to take the leap into business? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You busted your butt. You worked the long hours. You poured yourself into your business. Now, it’s going well.Time to take some of that time back.It may take some serious effort to get a startup started, but once that business is off the ground, you deserve to refocus on your own life and happiness. It’s way, way too easy to get stuck in the habit of overworking. Hell, it’s necessary at first. But you have to know when it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your (extraordinary) labor. Easier said than done, of course.Today, we discuss how to gradually, safely, confidently take your hands off the wheel a bit, at least on the weekends. Pumping the brakes and slowing down the pace for yourself doesn’t mean slowing the pace of your growth or your business’ success. It means taking care of yourself, so that you’re in a condition to be a great long-term leader.Learn how to make a smart, intentional transition into a semi-normal schedule that won’t disrupt you or your business. Reward yourself with the knowledge that you can kick back, relax, and take your mind off business for a bit, every week. Click Play! SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSStitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewThe post MBA1329 How to Reclaim Your Weekends appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You don’t need to start a business to be an entrepreneur. You just need to find one.Sometimes, there’s an alternative path we just don’t see. Jaryd Krause saw one, as a working plumber who wanted to get into business for himself. Instead of creating a whole new operation from scratch, he got into the business of businesses — buying existing companies and turning them into largely passive income streams.Today, Jaryd stops by to show us exactly how to hunt for that perfect pre-fab company.The statistics make a compelling case for Jaryd’s approach; with most startups failing, acquiring something with a proven track record is a pretty intelligent strategy. Jaryd’s experience has shown him exactly what to look for in a pre-existing business, and how to find it. Tune in, and learn how to research, what to spend, and what questions to ask. This lesson is a perfect beginner’s guide to buying online businesses, for those who want to split the difference between the security of conventional employment and the risk of entrepreneurship. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksBuying Online Businesses PodcastDue Diligence FrameworkFlipperExchange MarketplaceEmpire FlippersThe post MBA1328 Guest Teacher: Jaryd Krause-How To Buy Website Businesses Instead Of Building Them appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Apple does not sell the most devices. Apple does not bring in the most revenue. Apple does not dominate the market. But Apple makes more money than literally every other company.Today, we discuss how, and what it can mean for you. Your business isn’t the size of Apple’s, but the profit strategy Apple uses can work just as well at any scale. It’s about putting profit first, and making sure the margins reflect a strategy that means every dime you spend is returned to the maximum.In short, it means competing for value — not price, revenue, size, or anything else.With a profit-first mindset, you can create incredible stability for your business. It’s what allows Apple to completely outperform the competition, without bothering to offer sales or discounts. It’s what allows them to rake in the profits, without breaking a sweat over what percentage of the market they control. For Apple, it’s all about profitability, and it shows. Take a page from the Book of Jobs: Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksEasyCourseThe post MBA1327 Why Apple Is Still The Most Profitable Company In the World + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It might’ve taken months, or more, to earn a customer’s business — but you don’t have that long to make sure you keep it.The first phase after the initial transaction is where the most important impressions are made. Before the purchase, the customer’s excitement about your product is theoretical. Once money has changed hands, though, it’s reality time. Either this customer will get the most out of your product and trust you for the long haul, or not.If not, you’re wasting some of your investment in sales and marketing. Churn kills. The customers you have are a far greater source of revenue than the customers you don’t have yet. Treat them right from the jump, and you invest in something that will sustain your business for years. Today, we’ll discuss how to give your new customers the early wins and immediate satisfaction that kicks off a long, mutually beneficial relationship.When the cash register rings, you’ve got one more sale to make: the one you just made. Tune in, and learn how. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebinarNinjaAnything You Want by Derek Sivers“The most successful email I ever wrote”The post MBA1326 How to Please Your Customers in Their First 5 Minutes appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A big project is like a big meal: you can’t swallow it all at once. When the task before you is huge, where do you start?It’s Q&A Wednesday! We’ve got a question from a listener with a conventional job, but a problem that’s very common in entrepreneurship. Our listener’s new boss wants her to implement a comprehensive new approach office-wide, but has left it completely up to her to decide how. When all you have is an endgame, finding the beginning can be tough.Today, we explain how to turn a general goal into an actionable plan. From defining the goal more precisely, to establishing milestones, to measuring success, you can turn vague hopes into winning realities. We’ll discuss our listener’s specific task, and how to extrapolate her example to apply to any large undertaking — including starting a new business. You’ve got big ideas. Let’s turn them into results. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe post MBA1325 Q&A Wednesday: HELP! I have a huge project with no framework or instructions. Where do I start? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Staying focused and motivated over the course of long projects is one of those skills an entrepreneur simply has to have. It’s one of the key differences between entrepreneurship and conventional work — you’re responsible for the long term, not just the day’s or week’s to-do list. That said, we understand how tough it can be to sustain morale over months and months, especially when the endgame seems so far away.Fear not! Today, we explain exactly how to keep your eye on the prize, however long it takes. We’re at the tail end of our own project, one that’s currently in its 18th month. When we started a year and a half ago, the finish line was well over the horizon. Now, our consistency and patience is paying off. We’ll discuss the organizational and management strategies you can use to make every day of your project feel like Day One, all the way through. From writing a book to launching a product, you can handle shifting timelines, hard-to-envision outcomes, and the sheer unknown. You know what the say about a journey of a thousand miles. Take the first step today — Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebinarNinjaTrelloThe post MBA1324 How to Stay Motivated with Large Projects appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Interested in entrepreneurship, but afraid to quit your day job? We’ve got incredible news: you don’t have to. This week’s special guest, Shaan Patel, built a multimillion-dollar business on the side, while working full-time as a doctor. He’s the cofounder of ClearHat digital marketing, a best-selling author, and a successful Shark Tank contestant — and he did it all without giving up his 9-to-5.Today, Patel explains exactly what it takes to build a viable, profitable business in your spare time. From finding your niche, to marketing efficiently, to taking your first steps, Patel’s got the strategies that work. And yes, he also explains how to find the time!You don’t have to risk it all to start your own business. With a little discipline, a little creativity, and a smart approach, you can venture into entrepreneurship without losing your stable income. Patel did it; others have done it. How about you? Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksSelf-Made Success by Shaan PatelClearHat Marketing 0 To $10 Million Digital Marketing CourseThinkificCreateSpaceThe post MBA1323 Guest Teacher: Shaan Patel- How To Build A 7-Figure Side Hustle Without Quitting Your Full-Time Day Job appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In many ways, the earliest phase of starting a new business is the most fun. The possibilities are endless. The sky’s the limit. The only boundaries are imagination. But eventually, you have to make a decision.Today, we discuss some general, universal truths we’ve discovered in the course of founding multiple businesses. We’ll share what we’ve learned to best determine what’ll work and what won’t, from idea validation to business modeling. Whether you’re starting your first business, or moving on to your next, these tips are timeless.We’ll explore some atypical options that you may not have considered, even if it’s not your first rodeo. From the philosophical to the practical, these tips can improve your chances of picking the right business to get into next. Every journey starts with Step One. Make sure yours is in the right direction: Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksEasyCourseEmpire FlippersWebinarNinjaSuperhumanThe post MBA1322 Where to Find Your Next Business + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Finding great employees takes time and money. But are you getting the most from your hiring budget?No entrepreneur should be afraid of investing in great team members. That said, there are smarter, less costly ways to find the right fit. With a little knowledge, you can save thousands that would otherwise be wasted on redundant efforts. We would know — we’ve found employees the wrong way ourselves, only to find out we could’ve discovered the same talent without all the expense..Today, we share 5 specific strategies we use to find, attract, and hire the right person for the job. Without recruiters or agencies, you can widen the search field while narrowing down to the best prospects. We’ll detail each strategy, and explain why the best hire isn’t always the cheapest. Plus, we’ll share the best websites to post for your open positions. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksZipRecruiterUpWorkWe Work RemotelyThe post MBA1321 5 Ways To Save When Hiring appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Your workspace matters. Efficiency, productivity, and overall well-being are greatly influenced by the feng shui of your office. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener is curious about our own setup, specifically the workspace of our intrepid host, Omar. Over the years, Omar’s tried different arrangements to facilitate writing, podcasting, video recording, and everything else. His current setup gives him the minimalist, all-business access to his daily tools that makes for maximum efficiency.In other words, Omar’s workspace works for him. Depending on your needs, it might work for you, too.Omar will discuss how he keeps clutter down and productivity up, by removing the distractions and disruptions that plague many a desk. With a podcast to record and a million other multimedia tasks to perform, integrating the right tech into the space took some trial and error. Not only should your office setup promote productivity, it should promote posture, energy, and overall good health. Compare notes with Omar, and see what you can do to make your space a business advantage. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksIKEA SkarstaATR2100 by AudioTechnicalogitech webcamsWebinarNinja WorkshopsGoogle Home MiniIKEA AlexThe post MBA1320 Q&A Wednesday: Hey Omar! What’s your office setup look like? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

SEO means traffic, and traffic means sales. If you’ve hit an SEO plateau, we can help.Today, we offer a few simple fixes that can really move the needle on your website. Search Engine Optimization is a cottage industry, with loads of experts claiming to have the “secret” to getting your site noticed by Google, et al. But sometimes, the simplest tricks are the most effective.We’ve got some easy-to-apply strategies that, with a few hours’ work, can boost your traffic in a matter of weeks. We’ve tried them (among many others) for ourselves, and found that these are the simplest, best bang-for-your-buck tricks in the bag.Take a smarter approach than stuffing keywords, or shelling out cash. Make your content as SEO-fficient as possible, with a few tactics you may not’ve thought of. Keep driving traffic, keep growing your audience, and keep moving forward. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksBacklinkoGTMetrixThe post MBA1319 How to Give Your Site a Quick SEO Boost appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you getting the most from your customers? Don’t be shy: when your product delivers, customers have no problem rewarding you. If they can invest in even more value from your business, that’s a win-win. But as the business owner, you can’t just expect customers to offer you more revenue. You’ve got to make a proposition.Today, special guest Mark Thompson stops by to explain exactly how to get more overall CLTV (Customer Lifetime Value) from each and every customer. With a few smart pitches or pricing structure changes, you can maximize the ROI on every conversion, while delighting your customers even more.We met Thompson at a recent conference, and his expertise left us no choice but to ask him on the show. He’s the co-founder of PayKickstart, and a revenue expert who’s helped scores of entrepreneurs get the most out of every happy customer. Along with his lesson, Thompson has a revenue-accelerating gift for our listeners!Your existing customers have just as much (or much more) potential to increase your revenue than newly acquired customers. Don’t leave money on the table — Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe Revenue Accelerator from PayKickstartThe post MBA1318 Guest Teacher: Mark Thompson- 8 Ways to Increase Your Customer Lifetime Value appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Every entrepreneur knows you gotta keep the marketing content coming. But life being life, everyone needs a break sometimes. So how can you pump the brakes without losing momentum — and disappointing your audience?There is a way.Whether you host a podcast, write a blog, or run a YouTube channel, a little planning can give you the space you need to take a pause. With relatively small adjustments to your content creation schedule, you can invest in a “savings account” of content to deploy whenever you need a break.Alternatively, entrepreneurs with an established audience and a solid backlog of content can take a true break: not releasing any new content at all for a while. With some specific examples, we’ll discuss how to prepare your audience for such a hiatus in a way that doesn’t damage the long-term following you’ve built.You work hard to produce great content, and your audience looks forward to it. Give yourself the time you need and deserve, so that you can continue to delight your fans. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksEasyCourseCompany of One by Paul JarvisMBA1183: Guest Teacher – Paul JarvisThe post MBA1317 How to Take a Content Creation Break + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You have too much website traffic. What a great problem to have!As your business grows, so will your site hosting needs. You can’t afford to have a slow website that loses all the traffic you’ve worked so hard to gain. This is one of those crucial conversion turning points, when the fruits of your marketing can become the next crop of leads — or not. A bad user experience on your site will turn people off, and hurt your credibility. It’s time to upgrade.Don’t worry — we’ve been through many hosting upgrades. Today we’ll explain (in plain layman’s terms) how to scale up at different price ranges and levels of technical expertise. Whether you’re a knowledgeable techie who just needs the tools, or a technophobe who just wants it taken care of, there are options for you.Congratulations on winning an audience. Now, let’s serve them. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWP EngineAmazon Web ServicesDigital OceanMBA297: Crash Course in Google AnalyticsThe post MBA1316 Upgrading Your Website Hosting When You Grow appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Writing ain’t easy, but it’s necessary.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener wants to know if it’s ok to farm out the blogging. The written word is irreplaceable as a form of marketing content, especially when it comes to SEO. People love blogs — and so does Google. But if you’re not a natural wordsmith, should you just delegate to one of the many talented full-time writers out there? Yes, and no.Today, we explain how you can cultivate your own writing craft while trusting a pro for the day-to-day content. We discuss how to find a great writer, what to look for, and how we utilize our own go-to Word Guy. We’ll also explore how becoming a better writer makes you a better overall communicator, marketer, and entrepreneur. Words market, words sell. Words matter! Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe post MBA1315 Q&A Wednesday: I don’t enjoy writing. Can I hire out a writer for my blog? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Motivation: it’s not all about the money.When you’re running a lean startup, every cent counts — and there often aren’t that many of them. Plugging away day after day for a long-term result can get tiring, even demotivating for your staff. So how can you keep your team genuinely excited about what they do, and wanting to do their best?Today, we’ve got 5 answers to that question.We’ve built our own businesses from the ground up, and couldn’t always afford big trips or fancy dinners. We’ve learned from experience that (besides money) appreciation is the most valuable thing you can offer a dedicated employee. By going out of your way to show someone how much they’re valued, you invest in a productive relationship.Money buys their work. But appreciation buys their best work.Check out our creative, low-cost ways to show the love, and see how they work for your team. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksWebinarNinjaThe post MBA1314 5 Low Cost Ways to Boost Team Morale appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Office drama is unavoidable. But how you respond to it is your choice.Today, we have a ridiculously qualified guest teacher, Anne Grady. She’s a speaker, consultant, and academic with more expertise on the psychology of intra-office relations than just about anyone. Grady is here to explain how to proactively head off the drama, and keep your workplace as low-stress as possible.We don’t always think of it, but a leader’s first job is navigating human nature — especially in business.If you consider drama-quashing just another part of your job, it becomes much easier to manage conflicting personalities. Grady will discuss some of the science behind our emotional reactions to disagreement, and how to manage, rather than avoid, natural human tendencies towards drama.Keep it real, not reality TV. Learn how to cultivate harmony and be a balanced, emotionally intelligent leader. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksAnne Grady GroupText “Strength” to 555888 for Resilience Self-AssessmentThe post MBA1313 Guest Teacher: Anne Grady- Stop Reacting to Office Drama appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you ready for this. Really ready?Here at The $100MBA Show, we don’t sell “the dream.” We want our audience to go into business for themselves armed with the knowledge they need. Sometimes, that means asking extremely tough questions, and accepting the honest answers for better or worse. If you don’t go in confident and sure, things can end badly.Today, we discuss 3 specific questions that must be asked and answered before you actually try to launch a business. With these questions, you can get a definitive answer as to your true readiness. Entrepreneurship is a massive, life-altering decision. Rather than encouraging every listener to jump in, we prefer to separate people into two categories: people who would like to run a business, and people who are ready to. Which are you?Even if you’re not ready, you’ll have a better idea of what to do next. Maybe you’ll stick with a rewarding conventional job. Maybe you’ll take a few steps to get truly ready for entrepreneurship. Maybe you’re actually ready to go, and all you need is to know for sure. Either way, let’s find out! Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksEasyCourseThe post MBA1312 Are You Ready To Start a Business? + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Which Spice Girl are you? Which Skittles color matches your personality? Take our quiz and find out!Many, many companies and websites use quizzes to capture email addresses. But for all their silliness, is there a serious lead generation strategy here? We’ve been researching this method in-depth recently, and we thought we’d share our findings. Today, we discuss how quizzes work, how well they work, and whether they’re appropriate for your business. The key, as always, is tying in genuine value for the audience.We’ve found that quizzes offer a potential gold mine of data for business owners — data that can help you make better decisions and meet the specific needs of your subscribers. A great quiz doesn’t just produce a laugh; it helps you segment your audience in a way that brings them one step closer to buying.Learn how to target potential customers with a better, smarter information-gathering strategy. See how to keep the process streamlined and easy for you, with some of the best and easiest-to-use tools available now. See if you can design a quiz that’s relevant, valuable and useful. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksBucket.ioLeadshookRightmessageWistiaThe post MBA1311 Should You Start Using Quizzes for Lead Generation? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Nobody likes a huckster.There’s an unfortunate trend in the online course business: hype-heavy “personalities” trying to seduce their audience with flair instead of substance. In this week’s Q&A, one listener wants to know how to sell a course on its merits, with a marketing strategy that’s more genuine, more serious, and more respectable.We agree with our listener. If you want to project value, be real.Today, we discuss four specific examples you can model your sales approach on. These course creators educate, rather than “sell.” They make reasonable claims, and back them up. They don’t “sell the dream.” They make a value proposition, and invite their audience to see for themselves.Learn how to sell like you’re serious, at any price point. Build a relationship with customers, rather than trying to seduce them. Create trust, not hype. Earn long-term customers instead of short-term targets. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksBacklinkoRamit SethiDiscover Double Basswatchandride.comThe post MBA1310 Q&A Wednesday: Can I sell my course without being an overhyped sales personality? appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

All things come to an end, including employment. When the inevitable parting of ways occurs, you shouldn’t just wing it. For the sake of your team, you need a plan.Today, we discuss what procedures your business should have in place when someone moves on, retires, or has to be let go. Intentionally managing the effects of a departure on your team is smart business, and reinforces the kind of thoughtful, respectful company culture you want to instill.We’ll explain how to handle the practical and emotional aspects of losing a team member — from changing passwords and managing access to protecting the feelings of all concerned. Having exit plans built into your company from the start will serve your business as it grows, but it’s just as important when your team is small and relationships are closer. Plan for amicable goodbyes. You won’t regret it. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe post MBA1309 Your Procedure When Someone Leaves Your Company appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Every entrepreneur tries to validate their product idea before they try to sell it. But what about validating your potential business model?Today’s special guest teacher, Justin Lokitz, believes that business model validation is just as important as product idea validation. And just as the idea validation process can reveal tweaks or alternatives that improve your initial idea, your business plan should be flexible and open to improvement, too.By arming yourself with a toolkit of different business model options, you can quickly adapt your marketing strategy to whatever works best. Lokitz is an author, speaker, and consultant with a flexible approach to business. He sees different marketing components as moveable pieces that can adapt to the market itself, as you test and validate strategies along the way. Today, he’ll explain (in great detail), how to create your own multi-optional framework.Get the notepad out, friends. Today’s episode is a crash course, an in-depth lesson from a deeply knowledgeable expert. Plus, Lokitz has a special discount on his business model workshop for our listeners. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksBMI (Business Models Inc.)BMI Masterclass 30% DiscountBusiness Model GenerationDesign a Better BusinessThe post MBA1308 Guest Teacher: Justin Lokitz- How to Create a Go-To Market Strategy by Developing Multiple Business Model Options appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If there’s one quality every entrepreneur needs, it’s decisiveness.Going into business for yourself is a bold decision, the first of many. As an entrepreneur, you’ll have so many important decisions to make — and you don’t have time to mull them over for too long. For every huge call you have to make, there’s another one coming just around the corner, so confidence is key.With the stakes high, doubt can creep in. That leaves all of us at risk for a common entrepreneurial ailment: Analysis Paralysis.We can help. Today, we’ll help you learn the difference between healthy self-questioning and harmful self-doubting. We’ll discuss specific, strategic ways to deal with Analysis Paralysis, and where to reach out for support. This episode will help you win the psychological battle that every entrepreneur has to fight sometimes.As independent business people, we don’t have someone making decisions for us. Learn how to focus on decision-making as a skill, rather than obsessing over individual decisions. Learn what it takes to make the call, every time, with confidence. Click Play!SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTSSpotify| Podcast Feed| How To SubscribeGive us a Rating & ReviewShow LinksThe post MBA1307 How To Stop Second Guessing Yourself + Free Ride Friday! appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.