The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast

#441: Today I'll be speaking with Ramit Sethi about the psychology of selling. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session441See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#440: Tracy Hazzard is here to talk about what gives a podcast that "binge factor" (which also happens to be the name of one of her podcasts). Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session440See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#439: Randy Rayess is the cofounder of Outgrow, and in this show he shares the different use cases for these email list growth tools, and how they might be useful for you. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session439See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#438: Today's guest, Eric Partaker has dedicated his life to helping others be their best selves in business, relationships, and life. Podcast show notes available at https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session438See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#437: Jon Oringer is the billionaire founder of Shutterstock.com. Podcast show notes are available at https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session437See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#436: In this episode, I'm speaking with Dave Stachowiak, and he's the host of the podcast Coaching for Leaders. Podcast show notes available at https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session436See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#435: On this session of the SPI Podcast, I give you a heads up about seven terrible pitfalls that entrepreneurs often encounter. Podcast show notes available at https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session435See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#434: Of all the things that seem vital and urgent in your business, how do you know what you should be focusing on right now? You can't address everything at once, so how can you stop putting out urgent fire after urgent fire so you can continue to grow? That's what we're talking about today with Mike Michalowicz. Podcast show notes are available at https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session434 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#433: In June we asked Black entrepreneurs in the SPI community to share their experiences, and we're once again handing them the mic. This episode includes some things Team SPI has especially needed to hear. We're trying to do better and face our unconscious biases so we can make progress in the fight against racism. Warning: this episode includes mentions of violence and prejudice and may not be suitable for younger listeners. Podcast show notes available at https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session433 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#432: In this session of the SPI Podcast I talk to Sophie Walker. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session432See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#431: In this session of the SPI Podcast, I talk to Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session431See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#430: In this session of the SPI Podcast, I talk to Jacques Hopkins, who started six unsuccessful passive income ventures before finding the right niche. After years of work, Jacques has finally started to make significant money with his course, Piano in 21 Days [affiliate link]. We cover the importance of mapping out the customer journey, what's working well right now for online course creators, and the value of customer feedback. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session430 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#429: I couldn't be more excited to finally reveal a project we've been working on in secret for almost a year! My business partner, Matt Gartland, joins me to talk about the exciting new SPI Pro Community, a membership community for aspiring entrepreneurs. Online community development, a private network rooted around common goals, focus, ethics, and vision. It all starts with our Founding Members. Will you be one of them? Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session429 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#428: In this session of the SPI Podcast I speak with Kevin Fremon, an entrepreneur who's just getting started building an online membership community to better serve and support his audience. We discuss why it's so important to test your idea before you commit, the differences between various membership platforms, and what makes a community leader smile like a giddy kid. Podcast show notes are available at https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session428 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#427: This episode of the SPI Podcast is about the business at SwitchPod, a physical product my videographer, Caleb Wojcik—who joins me—and I created. From an idea in 2017, to a $418K Kickstarter launch in 2019, to building and shipping it, to placement on Amazon and retail stores... It's been awesome, and we want to share what we're learning along the way to help you fast-forward your own physical product success. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session427 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#426: In an effort to spend more time listening to and amplifying the voices of SPI's Black community, we invited people to submit a recording via SpeakPipe sharing whatever they felt comfortable. Team Flynn did not disappoint. Numerous Black entrepreneurs responded, sharing their challenges, promoting their businesses, sharing advice and resources, and telling their stories. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session426 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re pausing our regular content this week to honor and mourn the lives of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and the countless others in the Black community who have been taken too soon. My teams at SPI Media, Fusebox, Flynndustries, and SwitchPod are taking stock of what we need to do to help bring an end to systemic racism. We’re also opening up a forum for our Black community members and Black entrepreneurs to be heard at http://smartpassiveincome.com/contribute. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#425: Imagine you sell a valuable premium product—one people aren't buying because of the high price point. How do you get them to buy? In this episode I share an honest, authentic marketing tactic used successfully by my friend Rick Mulready, from The Art of Online Business Podcast and RickMulready.com. Here is step-by-step guidance on leading people to a higher-priced product using a lower-priced workshop. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session425 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#424: Ann Handley is a Wall Street Journal-bestselling author who helps businesses escape marketing mediocrity to ignite tangible results—and she's here to talk about how we can best portray our authentic selves to effectively market our brands. Learn why so many people are bad at marketing, an incredibly simple way to approach marketing that turns what most people do on its head, and whether likability is even that important. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session424 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#423: In this episode of the SPI Podcast, I talk to Prerna Malik about how to become a better conversion copywriter. You'll learn the elements of Prerna's proprietary copywriting process, how to lead a browser to become a buyer, the difference between a bad testimonial and a great one, and how to get social proof before you even have your first customer. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session423 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#422: In this solo show, I share a little ten-point quiz you can take to test the strength of your email marketing strategy, and I let you in on some of my email marketing secrets. This isn't the traditional stuff I hope you’re doing already, like writing great subject lines, cleaning your email list, and paying attention to deliverability. No—these are tips from deep inside the Smart Passive Income toolbox. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session422 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Podcasting has definitely been affected by the pandemic. Numbers are down for some, however, in some industries, the numbers are way up. Why though? Also, why might now be a great time to start a podcast, and how do we, in this environment, best grow our podcast? All that and more in this episode. Check out Buzzsprout, which we talk about in this episode: smartpassiveincome.com/buzzsprout. And download the SPI Podcast Cheat Sheet, which gives you step-by-step guidance on starting your podcast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#421: In this episode, I interview Deborah Niemann, who helps people all over the world raise their goats and make cheese and soap via her online courses. We cover how to position yourself as the expert and actually be that expert, ways not to create your online course, and the importance of collecting email addresses early on. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session421 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#420: Self-proclaimed serial entrepreneur and childhood classmate of mine Jeff Fenster is here to tell us how he's created multiple successful businesses in an all kinds of spaces. These include a small payroll company, a digital marketing agency, a construction company, and most recently, a healthy-dining establishment. You'll learn about the different "types" of entrepreneurial minds, what it means to "reverse-engineer" a business, and why it's good to be the dumbest guy in the room. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session420 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

At a time when we are craving connection and the ability to connect with others, there's an amazing opportunity in the online world that you may be able to create a business from - membership websites. Memberships right now are thriving, bigtime. In fact, we at SPI are working on one of our own right now, and we wanted to bring Stu McClaren on to talk about this opportunity and even how to validate a membership idea and how to get started today. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#419: For this special episode, I asked some of my parent entrepreneur friends a few questions about owning your own business and working at home. Then, the unprecedented health crisis of 2020 happened, and they found themselves in even closer quarters with their kids. You'll learn tips, plans, strategies, and tools for juggling family and business, and how to ask for forgiveness when the inevitable ball does fall. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session419See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#418: Jordan Harbinger, often referred to as “The Larry King of podcasting,” talks about the role of luck in business success and how to cultivate relationships with publicists, agents, and others. His podcast, The Jordan Harbinger Show, has been a top 50 iTunes podcast for over twelve years and receives over six million downloads per month. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session418 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#417: Joining me for this episode is Michael Hyatt. He's been a guest here on the show several times in the past, and he's one of our favorites. He has a book that just came out called, The Vision Driven Leader. In this episode, Michael talks about the ideas in this book and how he came to be such a successful and admired leader. You'll learn: how to figure out which opportunities are relevant and which are distractions, why it is a mistake to take action without first thinking about the vision you have for your business, and what a vision actually is. Read show notes here: www.smartpassiveincome.com/session417 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#416: On this SPI podcast episode, Grant Baldwin from TheSpeakerLab.com is here. Grant loves to be up with a microphone in front of a group of people. He just released a book called The Successful Speaker, and he's here to share some great advice about preparing for a presentation. Have a listen. You'll learn, why speaking might be a great gig for you, the most important questions to ask yourself as you prepare your talk, the number one most powerful thing to include in every talk, and more. Read show notes here: www.smartpassiveincome.com/session416 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pat and Matt discuss getting laid off, and the next steps you can take to turn your knowledge into a potential freelancing career, either on the side, or potentially full time. Pat discusses his layoff in 2008 during the recession and how to set yourself up for success mentally, and Matt takes it home to give you specific advice on where to potentially go from here. Read more here: www.smartpassiveincome.com/toolkit See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Pat Flynn and Matt Gartland (CFO + COO of SPI Media) come together to chat about the current state of businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health comes first, however almost every business, online and offline, is being affected by what's happening, and Matt and I wanted to come on to share some thoughts about how to navigate these turbulent times with your business. From finances to team culture and mental health, we hope this episode provides some help to you during this time. For more information and other helpful resources Team SPI has put together for you, please visit: http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/toolkit See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#415: If you've ever thought about getting into the world of voice-over work, today's guest is here with a ton of information about how to use your voice to make money. Mike Russell and his wife, Isabella, are co-founders of Music Radio Creative. Today, he shares his story about how he got into voice-over work and built his amazing agency. You'll learn how you can break into the voice-over space, how to get started, and more. Read show notes here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session415 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#414: In this episode, we talk with Erika Vieira who started a podcast because she was curious about the world of successful female YouTubers. She now has a six-figure business and amazing relationships with YouTubers who are helping her grow her own audience and authority. You'll learn about unexpected opportunities that podcasting can create, how you can turn your curiosity into something that pays, and more. Read show notes here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session414 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#413: In this episode, I talk with Mark Dawson who made more than $1.5 million last year alone from self-published books. Now, he teaches other people how to put out self-published books, and he has very unique strategies and a formula for doing that. Listen in and learn why self-publishing worked better than traditional publishing for Mark, how to position yourself for success when publishing books, strategies for placing Amazon ads, and more. Read show notes here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session413 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#412: In this episode, we're talking with Darrell Vesterfelt who can give us the low-down on all things partnerships. A partnership brings another pro onto your team to focus on what they do best, so you can focus on what YOU do best. And you both have ownership of the venture. Listen in to learn why sole entrepreneurs might consider forming a partnership, the first steps toward bringing a partner on board, and what needs to happen legally to be in a partnership. Read show notes here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session412 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#411: Is the market that you are serving viable for a long-term business model? Is it actually possible for you to succeed and make money in that space? Well, that's what we're going to talk about today with special guest Ryan Levesque. You'll learn the two most important things you need to be successful in business, how to not choose a bad market, and how to find a market-size sweet spot. Read the show notes here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session411 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

SPI #410: In one day, Mark Bowness' marriage ended, he lost his job, and he lost his community and sense of self. He was at rock bottom. Now he's a leading authority helping coaches, consultants, experts, thought leaders and entrepreneurs to build purpose-driven tribes. In this episode, you'll learn how to amplify your work and impact through building community, the four key elements of a tribe, and what makes a great leader. Read show notes here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session410 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#409: If you've ever thought that you don't have enough time to do everything you want to do, listen to this podcast episode. I interview my executive assistant, who has made it possible for me to focus on the big picture items on my to-do list. She's super organized, and, well, it's time for you to get to know her. You'll learn how to work with an executive assistant, how to build a strong relationship, and what tasks to handoff. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session409 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#408: In this episode, we're talking with Shannon and Bryan Miles from Belaysolutions.com. They have a three-pronged approach to helping entrepreneurs get the support they need— featuring virtual assistants (VAs), bookkeepers, and web assistants. You'll learn how to determine the right time to hire an executive assistant, what the qualities of a great virtual assistant are, and how to take the first steps towards finding help. Read the show notes here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session408 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#407: If you’re a parent and an entrepreneur, or a kid and an entrepreneur, or a parent of a kid-entrepreneur, or just want to be part of a fun conversation, this podcast with Steve Chou is one you’ll want to listen to. Steve and I have come together because our kids are both entrepreneurs. We talk about how our kids got started in entrepreneurship, how much influence we have (or don’t have) on their projects, how we deal with other issues of safety and social media and dealing with haters, and more. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session407 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#406: In this episode, we’ll focus on what to do—and what not to do—to drastically improve your open rates and make email marketing that works. We’ll talk about subject lines and why you need to be spending way more time on them than you think. We’ll also cover why I think most of you aren’t sending enough emails, while also going over that all-important question: how much is too much? Read full show notes: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session406 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#405: I’m super psyched to have a conversation with Gina Bianchini, the founder of a platform for communities called Mighty Networks. This tool lets you create your own groups and puts you back in the driver’s seat. You'll learn why people crave community, starting small in creating courses, Mighty Networks vs. Facebook Groups, and more! Read the full show notes: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session405 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#404: On today’s episode, we have Patrick Lencione, author of the bestselling book, The Five Dysfunctions of a Team. I can’t tell you enough how much of a gamechanger it’s been for me as I’ve been trying to build Team SPI. Don’t miss this episode, because the conversation we have is just mind-blowing in so many ways. Patrick is chock-full of so many great stories and examples to illustrate what a healthy team looks like, and where so many teams go wrong. Read the full show notes at: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session404 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#403: This episode is short and sweet, but I talk about two key time management strategies that have really helped me make the most of my time. The first is just in time learning, which is the idea that you only learn the things you need in order to take your next step. Balancing that is the twenty percent itch rule, which is the idea that I set aside twenty percent of my time each week to experiment and try new things. That way I still get to scratch that itch and explore some new things while keeping focused on what I have to do here and now with the other eighty percent of my time. Take a listen to learn more, and happy holidays from all of us here at Team SPI. Read the full show notes at: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session403 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#402: If you’re not already podcasting, I have just one question for you: WHY?! As I’ve been saying over and over on the Smart Passive Income Podcast, podcasting is just the most rapidly growing way to connect directly your listeners. Learn more at https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session402. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#401: On SPI 401, Jessie Cole, the Yellow Tux Guy, stops by to share one of the most inspiring and wackiest success stories I've ever heard on this podcast! You'll learn how Jessie has created unbelievable and amazing experiences for his fans, and how you can do the same. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session401 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#400: I share the top 10 things I've learned since recording 400 episodes of the SPI podcast. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session400 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#399: As Cyber Monday approaches I run through 10 strategies you can use to take advantage of the holiday and drive sales, including the kinds of special bonuses people pay attention to and why free shipping can be the best deal you offer. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session399 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#398: Today I have 5 strategies for the most underutilized, underrated, underappreciated form of marketing out there: affiliate marketing. Learn how interviewing the creator or founder of the product makes great content that sells, the right way to do product demo videos, and how I turned a time-sensitive challenge into something automated and evergreen. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session398 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#397: Chase Reeves is a niche reviewer focusing on travel bags and accessories. You can find his curated best-of lists at matterful.co and his reviews on his YouTube channel. I first met Chase when he was a web designer for smartpassiveincome.com. Chase shares how he found his passion for great bag design and what makes for a great product review video, which is a great skill for growing your affiliate marketing. Podcast show notes available here: https://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session397 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.