THE PADDLE BOARDING CPA

Caroline Raphael of Surf Shack Lebanon is passionate about stand up paddle boarding and is training to set a Guinness world record, paddling the farthest distance in 24 hours in open water. At the end of April, she will paddle for 24 hours along the coast of Lebanon. She is training with Paddle Monster and a local network of paddlers to work up to this event.  Find out more about Caroline's story, her motivation, training and the four causes that she is working to bring awareness to at ThePaddleboardingCPA.com/29

One of the most common questions I get asked is how to make money in the off season.  Over the next 6 weeks, your customers will be shopping online and spending money for themselves, their families and loved ones.  How can you get in front of these online shoppers, convert them into buyers and see money come in for your business this off season? Reduce the overwhelm by using these planning strategies and tips, while adding some off season revenue to your stand up paddle board, kayak or aquatics based business. In this episode, the following topics are covered: 7 steps to plan for the holiday season Recommended tools that save you time and reduce the overwhelm Tips and strategies for promotions that convert A free 2018 Holiday planning guide that provides worksheets, templates and video tutorials For more information: https://www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/28

Break down barriers by using the EXACT words, phrases and language that new customers and new paddlers know and understand. Understand the various types of customer personas or avatars in the paddling customer pyramid.  Discover my two favorite online tools that unveal EXACT words, phrases and questions people are asking and searching for online right now. How to setup new paddlers for success, how you can show up and answer their questions, earn their trust and grow your business. In this interview: Define 4 types of customer personas Why big box stores are successful to selling packages to newbies How you can show up to serve that newbie, be their guide, help them be successful to getting them on the water and gain that customer What is the #1 question asked online by new paddlers? Top 2 favorite online tools to use as a resource for discovering exact phrases and questions being asked MOST online How to use this information to serve new paddlers How to avoid overwhelm; the language you use breaks down barriers or builds them up Find out more: https://www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/27

Ash Bourgeois, owner of Wild Path, shares her story of bringing standup paddle board yoga to the prairies in Winnipeg, Canada.  She specializes in going places nobody knows about where SUP is the only way can get around.  Connecting through nature, with her customers and community, she leads adventures on land and water honoring her own wildness. In this interview, we discuss: Her summer and peak season strategies, including the four SUP yoga classes she offers weekly (Wild and Free, Float Class, Let Go and Flow and Soft and Sweet) Day and weekend adventures plus retreats that she leads with paddling and hikes How she connects with her customers and why they keep coming back How she honors, respects and works with the local 1st nation community and their traditions Her winter strategy and why creating group outdoor activities is a draw for her customers SUP teacher training and her unique approach Moving to digital in the off-season launching her Inner Compass Challenge Email marketing and social media strategies For more information: www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/26

Sam is making money doing what she loves on the water with both her loves: standup paddle boarding and dogs through SUP Pups California. Inspired by her rescue dog Jack, aka The Dingo Jack, she dove into a niche venture of teaching others and their pups to paddleboard together. She thrives in helping others share this joy with their pups and plays an active role in the rescue community. Join us as she talks about challenges, equipment, instruction, partnerships and shares her marketing secrets. Find out more: www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/25

If you aren't yet using Instagram Stories in your SUP, paddle board yoga, kayak or fitness business, now is the time! Build relationships with followers, reach non-followers through optimization and convert viewers into paying customers.  Julie Merrill, The Paddleboarding CPA covers what to share, how to use Instagram and why its an essential.  Plus a video tutorial to complement the episode. Find out more here: www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/24

Peter is a serial entrepreneur in Cologne, Germany with a passion for water sports and standup paddleboarding.  Peter runs an innnovation company and water sports business, and has found a way to combine his two passions with his SUP Online Academy. Peter is very involved in the German SUP community, is the standup paddleboarding head of the German Surfriders Federation and is a SUP instructor on the Rhine River. His online river SUP classes have enabled him to expand his reach to SUP students exponentially and in turn has driven more demand to local SUP shops for in-person follow-up coaching.  Inventing new ideas and trying to find new ways to do things more efficiently along with being on the water is his passion. Find out more: http://www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/23

Karen Tickner, an active free diver, pilates and SUP instructor has turned her passion for mermaids into a profitable venture.  Ina's Mermaid School teaches you and your kids how to swim and do tricks while wearing a mermaid tail.  Listen to Karen's story, how she was inspired to live life as a mermaid, her many gigs, challenges and how she is living out her passion in gulf coast Florida. Find out more: http://www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/22

Julie Merrill, aka The Paddleboarding CPA, talks business and marketing tips for new standup paddle board, paddleboard yoga, SUP, kayak and outdoor fitness instructors.  From setting up your business to collecting money, strategizing your class list, identifying your ideal customer and marketing 101. This podcast episode dives into many of the aspects needed before getting on the water to teach a class. Find more: http://www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/21

Adventure sports photographer Dylan Brown shares his journey reflecting on his 7 day, 96 mile Escalante River SUP adventure.  As the leader, photographer and cinematographer, he shares personal reasons for wanting to capture the beauty of this close-to-home,  endangered low flow serpentine style river.  Join us as he transports us to remote Utah on a paddle board, bringing you along for the ride to experience both some of his challenging and breathtaking moments.  He also shares his behind the scenes planning and post-trip reflection as he brings awareness, conservation and adventure to this majestic river in Utah. Find more here: https://www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/20

YOLO Board Adventures offers kids camps and a variety of other adventures in Sandestin Florida.  Jessica D'Aleo discusses the challenges and what's involved in the kids camp she manages including who they market to, what's involved behind-the-scenes in the camp as well as other offerings like YOLO Tribe Night, YOLO Board 101 and Paddle Core Pro, a HIIT like workout on a standup paddle board. Hear more here: https://www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/19

Jana Olenio is the owner and founder of SUP YO!, a standup paddle board yoga company based in Boston.  She has a team of SUPerstar SUP instructors and offers paddle board yoga classes in 8 locations throughout Boston and the New Hampshire seacoast from May to September.  SUP YO! is busy year-round with planning and hosting multiple events including SUP yoga teacher trainings, international retreats, indoor classes and so much more. Find out more here: http://www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/18

In this episode, we dive into IN-PERSON opportunities that enable you to to get in front of your potential customers for your SUP, SUP yoga, SUP fitness, SUP surfing, SUP racing class or tour.  One of the fastest ways to build trust and turn a potential customer into a buying or paying customer is to meet them in person, develop trust by example, display and exhibit your expertise and just be you! By giving them the ability to see, feel, touch, experience you, it will establish a level of trust and credibility and is so powerful.   Download the 7 TIPS To Filling Your SUP Class and Tours FREE GUIDE. Find out more: http://www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/17

Lindsay Lambert, owner of Paddling Yogini and One Mind Yoga, is a certified SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) Yoga instructor, a PaddleFit Core Coach, a Gold PiYo™ (Pilates/yoga blend) Instructor through BeachBody™, and a TRX Training™ Instructor through Fitness Anywhere™.  She has built a successful business on and off the water.  From traveling to bodies of water teaching SUP yoga, to opening her own yoga and fitness studio and now racing standup paddle boards, she talks business, lessons learned and give tips to others starting out. Find out more here: https://www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/16

Brock Johnson is a podcaster, entrepreneur, business coach and social media strategist.  His mission is simply to transform his listeners and followers into social media money makers.  In this episode of The Paddleboarding CPA podcast, Brock joins us to discuss Instagram and Snapchat stories, tips and new features.  We dive into strategies that when implemented with consistency, will help grow your engagement and followers across these social media channels. See more at www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/15

Outdoor Insurance Group and Surfer Insurance specialize in the active sport, outdoor adventure and water sport industries.  Whether you have a board shop, run surf or paddle board camps and lessons, or have a mobile rental business, they can customize the coverage that you need to stay protected.  In this episode, Julie asks questions as a standup paddle board instructor to owner Glenn Sudol about the ins and outs of insurance and what is needed for SUP. Find more info: www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/14

With all the possible online marketplaces and stores available today, where does a new seller start? Do they need to be on all marketplaces? Julie Merrill discusses her personal lessons learned and how her expectations differed from what worked with SUPchic, an online store for standup paddle board jewelry, clothing and accessories.  How her technical frustrations led her to Shopify, which has since made her a raving fan and how Amazon has caused frustrations and has yet to be profitable.  Hear all about her journey in this episode. Find out more here: http://www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/13

In this episode, Julie dives deep into her story of selling physical products when she decided to source, design and sell standup paddle board SUP jewelry, clothing and accessories.  She walks you through things she would have done differently, where to get started, how sourcing and design works and provides some time saving tips. She covers design, sourcing, dropshipping, packaging, shipping savings, the must have label printer, seller permits, UPC codes, fulfillment and more! Also provided is "Selling Physical Products - The Checklist" - a free ebook! To find out more, visit www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/12 

Louise Adie is a veteran kayaker and guide who spends months out of the year on eco-tourism ships with the destination of Antarctica.  She vividly explains the humbling experience of physically being on Antarctica's shoreline and interacting with sealife during a kayak adventure from her ship.  Her love of Antarctica and preserving its state is evident in her interview in this podcast episode. In this interview, we discuss: Experiencing an eco-tour in Antarctica and what to expect Trip experiences with humpback whales, leopard seals and penguins The biggest challenges participants and guides face on eco tours The biggest takeaway for tourists on eco tours Other excursions and adventures available to tourists on eco tour ships How Louise came into the eco kayak adventure guide gig How the glaciers and the continent change and double before your eyes Find out more at www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/11

Hitting the standup paddle board racing circuit by storm, Seychelle has made a name for herself in 2 short years.  Only picking up paddleboarding 3 years ago, she has worked with coaches and implemented an incredibly focused training schedule and nutrition regimen to achieve elite performance.  Seychelle is currently ranked in the top 10 women standup paddle board racers in the world. In this interview, we discuss: How Seychelle made the transition from training for a marathon to standup paddle boarding SUP Coaching and how she has evolved with coaches from two short years ago, when she was just starting out to now that she is ranked worldwide The importance of nutrition, diving deep into Seychelle's nutrition pre-race strategy and training strategy and how being a vegan impacts her nutrition choices Sponsorships and how that has changed, her recommendations on how to approach a sponsor and why they are looking for athletes at all levels The transition from flat water paddling to racing in surf, her training and lessons learned Performance and improvement at the 2016 and 2017 Pacific Paddle Games Advice for paddle boarders looking to get into racing What being a professional elite stand up paddle board racer looks like on a weekly basis Find out more at www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/10

Nikki Johnston, owner of Sea To Sky Fitness, has taken her love of outdoor fitness and created a complete wellness offering with personal training, nutrition coaching, stand up paddle (SUP) fitness and yoga classes.  She is also adding an international standup paddle adventure retreat to her business this year. In this interview, we discuss: Nikki's background and what drove her starting a business in outdoor fitness How she started training on the water before she trained off the water How paddle instructor training drove her to get Yoga certified The entrepreneur mindset reflecting after 3 years in business Marketing strategies for a SUP business Water access and how a partnership simplified it How she gives back to new SUP instructors and travels with Master Training certifications Sea To Sky Fitness class structures and options from SUP Yoga, Sunset Paddles, Surfer Sculpt and Progressive Series Information on a once in a lifetime SUP retreat to Tulum Mexico co-hosted by Nikki Johnston - January 20-25, 2018. Find out more: www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/9

Dave Aidekman is the CEO and co-founder of Trip Tribe, a company specializing in coordinating destination retreats for yoga, photography, wellness, hiking, fitness, cycling, mountaineering and much more!  They handle the logistics and let you be the host taking care of payment, providing checklists, marketing tools and a network of interested participants. In this interview, we discuss: How early in advance to start planning a retreat Where to start as an interested host or participant What Trip Tribe provides to hosts to minimize the headache of planning, booking, accepting payments, marketing and more How many participants is ideal Contingency planning for weather and hurricanes What types of excursions can be included and how its arranged How the host makes money Marketing tools provided by Trip Tribe Most popular trips and destinations by season How properties get added to the lists Options for individual travelers finding their tribe within their age range and interests Training, guidelines and education for hosts

In this episode... Julie walks you through a tutorial and checklist on why you need a Facebook business page and how to optimize it so that you increase your followers, brand awareness and engagement. Did you know over 1 BILLION users login to Facebook worldwide?  Having a presence on Facebook is a MUST if you are a business owner, entrepreneur or professional athlete. From optimizing your cover photo, profile picture and about page to using Facebook live video, there are so many nuggets of information in this episode that you don't want to miss out on. This is an episode not to be missed. Find out more ->> www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com

Tyona Vallejo, a yoga instructor, mind and life coach, is hosting her second retreat in October of 2017 in Puerto Vallarta.  Working directly with the resort, she has taken a do-it-yourself approach and has lessons learned and tips to share with others looking to embark on a destination retreat.

Jake Kelsick, a professional kiteboarder and content creator from Antigua walks us through his MUST HAVE video equipment, accessories and editing software.  His tips and expert advice is perfect for anyone running an active sport business in kiteboarding, stand up paddleboarding (SUP), kayaking, windsurfing and other outdoor sports or fitness business.  In this episode, he discusses the following: How he was introduced to the sport of kiteboarding at the age of 11 His unique approach to providing value to sponsors and what being a professional kiteboarder entails Instagram and YouTube strategies and tips for growth and engagement MUST HAVE video equipment, water accessories and editing software What GoPro he recommends and why How adding vlogging to his YouTube channel has created more engagement and brings subscribers back weekly to his channel. Cross promotion strategy for video and photos to YouTube, Instagram and Facebook How he secured his sponsors and how he adds value Find out more information at www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/5.

Krissy Snyder is the owner and operator of Stand Up Paddle Club in Chicago, Illinois. She is a World Paddle Boarding Association (WPA) certified instructor and is also certified by Paddle Into Fitness to teach Gentle Wave Paddleboard Yoga, Surfer Sculpt and Intro to Paddling. In this interview, we discuss: How a stand up paddle board excursion during a Hawaii vacation spurred a new passion and business The struggles, challenges and successes of starting a new business How she worked with a venue to provide safety, lifeguards and what was required of insurance The importance of proper standup paddle technique and proper stroke The mindset of a startup entrepreneur How the paddle board delivers a new level of stability and fitness performance Her plans to run a retreat with both yoga and standup paddle boarding in Costa Rica

The Paddleboarding CPA Podcast by Julie Merrill helps adventure seeking and active sport-related business owners create and grow their business around their passion.  Helping tours, lessons, retreats and trips in stand up paddle boarding (SUP), SUPyoga, SUPfitness, SUPsurf, kayaking, windsurfing, kiteboarding, fitness, and other outdoor sports.  In this episode, Julie walks you through how to recommend products to your customers and make passive income by doing so.  Using Amazon's Affiliate Program combined with Kit.com, your user experience and ease of setup is amplified.  Explode your traffic by adding on a YouTube video and a customized URL.   This information, the show notes and a downloadable checklist are all available at www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/3/ SUBSCRIBE and leave a REVIEW!

The Paddleboarding CPA Podcast by Julie Merrill helps adventure seeking and active sport-related business owners create and grow their business around their passion.  Helping tours, lessons, retreats and trips in stand up paddle boarding (SUP), SUPyoga, SUPfitness, SUPsurf, kayaking, windsurfing, kiteboarding, fitness, and other outdoor sports.  Julie interviews Roxy SUP Racer, Sports Model and Paddle Into Fitness owner Gillian Gibree.  In this interview, they discuss: Paddle Into Fitness and Float Into Fitness: Gillian's stand up paddle board (SUP) flat water, yoga and fitness certification program, what's involved and who it's for. The Master Trainer Program for students of Paddle Into Fitness and Float Into Fitness wanting to run their own certification programs Racing tips and preparation on training for stand up paddle races How to approach and obtain sponsors Sports Fitness modeling Behind the scenes insight into running and attending retreats Travel tips for equipment How Gillian balances being a business owner, model, athlete, wife and soon to be mom. Advice for new business owners wanting to start a business around their passion Find more on this episode at http://www.thepaddleboardingcpa.com/2/ SUBSCRIBE and leave a REVIEW!

The Paddleboarding CPA Podcast by Julie Merrill helps active sport-related business owners create and grow their business in standup paddle boarding, SUPyoga, SUPfitness, SUPsurf, kayaking, windsurfing, kiteboarding, fitness, and other outdoor sports.  SUBSCRIBE and leave a REVIEW today! In this introduction episode, Julie talks about her back story and how she combined her passion of standup paddleboarding with her business experience as a CPA and startup company consultant to create this podcast to help active sports business owners and adventure-seeking entrepreneurs build their business, expand their reach, improve their marketing and make more money. This episode and podcast can be found at: thepaddleboardingcpa.com