Podcasts about bundling

#945 What if you could make money while you sleep, at Disneyland, or anywhere else — just by creating a simple one-page PDF checklist? In this episode, we're featuring an interview from Nick Loper's Side Hustle Show, where Nick sits down with Chelsea Shelton, a former teacher, mom of three, and digital products coach at Gold City Ventures. Chelsea breaks down how she built a passive income stream selling simple printables and digital downloads on Etsy — think checklists, games, seasonal templates, and fillable forms. She shares how she made her first sale just five days after posting her first product, the research tools she uses to find high-demand, low-competition niches (eRank, EverBee, InsightFactory), and how she's grown her shop to over 700 products. She also touches on expanding to Teachers Pay Teachers, bundling products to increase average order value, and using AI to help with design and ideation. Whether you're looking to build a new income stream or just dip your toes into the world of digital products, Chelsea's story is proof that you don't need a big idea or a design background to get started! What Nick discusses with Chelsea: + First sale in just 5 days + "Riches are in the niches" + Best tools for product research + High search, low competition = sweet spot + Seasonal products run on autopilot + Bundling to increase average order value + Using AI for design and ideation + Expanding from Etsy to Teachers Pay Teachers + 700+ products and counting + Just start before you feel ready Thank you, Nick and Chelsea! Check out ⁠⁠The Side Hustle Show⁠⁠. Check out Gold City Ventures. To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 666 of the New Media Show, hosted by 2017 Podcast Hall of Famer Rob Greenlee, Rob talks with Greg Wasserman, Head of Relationships at RSS.com and host of Podcast Network Insights, for a deep conversation about one of the biggest questions facing podcasting, video, creator media, and digital networks right now: Podcast networks were originally built for an audio-first industry, but audiences have already moved the definition of a podcast beyond audio. Today, a podcast can be a YouTube show, a Spotify video, an Apple video podcast, a livestream, a short clip, a newsletter, a community, or part of a larger creator-led media brand. Greg brings a unique perspective from his work at RSS.com and from interviewing the leaders behind podcast networks, collectives, production companies, and niche media groups on Podcast Network Insights. He explains that podcast networks are no longer one simple model. Some are media-sales businesses. Some are community-driven groups. Some operate more like production companies, collectives, or full creator networks. Rob and Greg explore how the network model is shifting as video, live streaming, AI, Apple Podcasts, HLS video, YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, FAST channels, private communities, and creator monetization reshape what podcasting can become. The conversation also asks whether independent podcasters should join networks, what creators need to understand before making that decision, and why the future may depend less on downloads alone and more on trust, audience relationships, collaboration, niche value, and direct monetization. 00:00 Welcome to New Media Show #666 00:32 Are podcast networks becoming creator networks? 01:00 How audiences have already redefined podcasting 02:00 Introducing Greg Wasserman from RSS.com 03:00 Why Greg created Podcast Network Insights 04:00 How different podcast networks define community 05:00 Monetization, growth, and the changing role of networks 06:00 Internal network community vs audience community 07:00 Private communities, subscriptions, and audience relationships 08:00 Nova Podcast Network and media-company network models 09:00 Cross-promotion and collaboration inside networks 10:00 Are creators returning to collaboration? 11:00 Podcast networks as media companies 13:00 Owned-and-operated shows vs independent rev-share shows 15:00 Why ad revenue is not the only network business model 16:00 Marketing Podcast Network and niche value 17:00 Jay Shetty, Netflix, and platform exclusivity 18:00 Is Netflix becoming a podcast network? 19:00 Collectives, media companies, and different network definitions 20:00 What is a podcast network today? 21:00 Production companies and network partnerships 23:00 How creators should decide whether to join a network 24:00 Understanding your “why” before joining a network 25:00 iHeart, ad inventory, and the volume-based network model 26:00 Why sponsor status can distract from real monetization 27:00 Does network branding still matter? 28:00 Pineapple Street, GZM, Disney, and network identity 30:00 MCNs, YouTube networks, and the return of multi-channel networks 31:00 Silicon Valley, new media networks, and digital-native media 34:00 Traditional media adopts podcasting, video, and companion content 35:00 Apple Podcasts HLS video as a future distribution channel 36:00 Why video attracts higher media dollars 37:00 Know, like, and trust as a creator value 38:00 Will Apple Podcasts HLS video matter? 39:00 Free platforms, hidden costs, and creator control 41:00 Future ad dashboards across Spotify, Apple, YouTube, and Twitch 42:00 Platform exclusivity, Jay Shetty, Joe Rogan, and audience loss 44:00 Creator hustle and why networks cannot do all the work 46:00 Subscription fatigue and fragmented media access 47:00 More than 20 ways creators can make money 48:00 Lean creator teams, production help, and content scale 49:00 How podcast networks are using AI 50:00 AI-generated voices, sleep content, and audience behavior 52:00 AI for ads, scripts, show notes, social, and workflows 53:00 AI podcast networks and automated show creation 54:00 Agentic workflows and creator production systems 56:00 AI-generated content, humanity, and audience trust 57:00 Algorithms, AI interfaces, and future discovery 58:00 Platform algorithm changes and creator risk 59:00 Human connection, live events, and AI video podcasts 01:00:00 Why human storytelling still matters 01:01:00 Could creators build AI clones of themselves? 01:02:00 Avatars, HeyGen, Gemini, and disclosure 01:03:00 Human-hosted content labels and AI transparency 01:04:00 Video-first creators and separate audio/video feeds 01:05:00 Why The New Media Show still uses separate audio and video feeds 01:06:00 Audio-first creators, social media, and growth challenges 01:07:00 Different networks play different games 01:08:00 The future of compelling audio experiences 01:09:00 Spatial audio, AI audio, and interactive media 01:10:00 Personalized audience experiences and liquid content 01:11:00 Can audiences be moved from YouTube to Netflix? 01:12:00 Bundling, subscriptions, and platform experiments 01:15:00 Algorithms vs human curation 01:16:00 Netflix, FAST channels, and new distribution models 01:17:00 The technology challenge behind FAST channels 01:23:00 Greg's Tesla and the future of in-car video podcast listening 01:24:00 RSS.com, Podcasting 2.0, and AI labeling standards 01:25:00 Closing thoughts and where podcasting is heading Guest and Host Links Guest: Greg Wasserman Head of Relationships at RSS.com and host of Podcast Network Insights RSS.com: https://rss.com Greg Wasserman at RSS.com: https://rss.com/blog/greg-wasserman/ Podcast Network Insights: https://rss.com/podcasts/podcast-network-insights/ Greg Wasserman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregwasserman Host: Rob Greenlee New Media Show: https://newmediashow.com Rob Greenlee: https://robgreenlee.com Podcast Hall of Fame: https://podcasthall.com Rob Greenlee on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robgreenlee Rob Greenlee Booking: https://calendly.com/robgreenlee About the Host/Author: Rob Greenlee is a 2017 Podcast Hall of Fame inductee and Chair, a global new-media leader who bridges podcasting's human roots and its AI-driven future. As founder of Trust Factor Lab and host of the “New Media Show” and “Spoken Human”, Rob helps creators start, grow, monetize, and future-proof their content. He's held leadership roles at Microsoft, Spreaker, Libsyn, StreamYard, and PodcastOne, and serves as Chairperson of the Podcast Hall of Fame. Learn more at RobGreenlee.com and join the Trust Factor Lab Creator/Podcast Services. Personal/AI Disclosure Note: I used AI tools to help organize and edit this episode and generate show notes. I have made hand edits; the views, clarifications, responsibility, and industry perspective are mine and my guest's. I have been working in podcasting and platform adoption for more than two decades, and this article reflects my own position.The post Are Podcast Networks becoming Creator Networks? | Greg Wasserman #666 first appeared on New Media Show.

What if the strongest moats in the AI era aren't algorithms, but the data those algorithms depend on?In the second episode of the Consumer Tech Napkin series, Andreas Munk Holm speakes with Renato Circi and Rafaël Michali, Co-Founders at Sava, and Joe Seager-Dupuy, Director, Investment at True, to discuss how founders should think about defensibility when technology is becoming easier to build.SAVA is developing advanced biosensing technology designed to access bodily information in a painless, real-time and affordable way. Their core belief is that while AI may accelerate software development, the hardest problems and the most valuable companies will be built around scarce data, difficult infrastructure and bottlenecks that cannot easily be replicated.Together, they explore what separates static moats from dynamic ones, why patents and regulatory approvals are often just the starting point and how the best companies create advantages that strengthen as they scale.Topics coveredWhy the best moats are often non-consensusStatic versus dynamic moatsWhy patents and regulation are not enoughIdentifying bottlenecks that create lasting valueAI, proprietary data and defensibilityBuilding platforms instead of productsWhy user experience can be a moatEurope's advantage in deep techTimestamps(00:00) Why moats matter in consumer technology(02:00) Introducing Sava and the future of health monitoring(06:00) What a moat actually is(09:00) The Apple Watch question and non-invasive sensing(12:00) Consumer experience versus incumbent medical devices(15:00) How great companies sequence moats(18:00) From patents to platforms(22:00) Bundling, ecosystems and long-term defensibility(24:00) Static versus dynamic moats(27:00) Why patents only buy time(29:00) Owning bottlenecks in health data(31:00) Why AI increases the value of proprietary data(36:00) Europe's deep tech advantage(40:00) The biggest misconceptions about moats(43:00) Why the best moats are often non-consensusConsumer Tech Napkin is brought to you in partnership with True.Subscribe to EUVC, the home of European tech, for more insights.

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Today, we explore what it means to invest in a world defined by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA). We discuss why geopolitical shocks... especially supply-driven ones... are creating persistent trends across markets, and why trend-following strategies are thriving despite strong equity performance. The conversation dives into how investors process information (or fail to), the limits of central bank responses to supply shocks, and why markets may not be fully pricing in current risks. Mark also shares new research comparing hedge fund strategies under different volatility regimes, highlighting why managed futures stand out as a robust diversifier. The episode closes with a forward-looking discussion on AI, replication strategies, and the growing role of narrative versus data in investment decision-making.-----50 YEARS OF TREND FOLLOWING BOOK AND BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FOR ACCREDITED INVESTORS - CLICK HERE-----Follow Niels on Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube or via the TTU website.IT's TRUE ? – most CIO's read 50+ books each year – get your FREE copy of the Ultimate Guide to the Best Investment Books ever written here.And you can get a free copy of my latest book “Ten Reasons to Add Trend Following to Your Portfolio” here.Learn more about the Trend Barometer here.Send your questions to info@toptradersunplugged.comAnd please share this episode with a like-minded friend and leave an honest Rating & Review on iTunes or Spotify so more people can discover the podcast.Follow Mark on Twitter.Episode TimeStamps:00:00 – Introduction: Preparing for the unpredictable00:36 – Entering a VUCA world: volatility, uncertainty, complexity, ambiguity02:00 – “Uncharted territory” in markets and beyond05:30 – Central banks, leadership changes, and policy uncertainty07:16 – Oil markets, OPEC shifts, and geopolitical tension10:16 – Trend-following performance update and market context14:06 – Reverse engineering CTAs and the role of AI18:42 – Replication strategies vs. true alpha22:41 – Trend-following performance metrics (April update)24:43 – Supply shocks and why they're harder to manage28:53 – Are markets underreacting to geopolitical risk?31:53 – Information overload, ambiguity, and trend persistence34:54 – Why more data doesn't mean better decisions38:34 – Government intervention vs. market-driven trends40:30 – Pandemic policies and unintended inflation43:00 – New research: hedge fund strategies vs. volatility regimes47:16 – Why managed futures stand out as diversifiers51:11 – Narrative vs. data in investment decisions55:36 – AI, sentiment analysis, and the future of models58:46 – Simplicity vs. complexity in strategy design01:00:49 – Bundling vs. unbundling investment strategies01:03:18 – Momentum crashes and new research directionsCopyright © 2025 – CMC AG – All Rights Reserved----PLUS: Whenever you're ready... here are 3 ways I can help you in your investment Journey:1. eBooks that cover key topics that you need to know about In my eBooks, I put together some key discoveries and things I have learnt during the more than 3 decades I have worked in the Trend Following industry, which I hope you will find useful. Click Here2. Daily Trend Barometer and Market Score One of the things I'm really proud of, is the fact that I have managed to published the Trend Barometer and Market Score each day for more than a decade...as these tools are really good at describing the environment for trend following managers as well as giving insights into the general positioning of a trend following strategy! Click Here3. Other Resources that can help youAnd if you are hungry for more useful resources from the trend following world...check out some precious resources that I have found over the years to be really valuable. Click HerePrivacy PolicyDisclaimer

#872 Think you're not creative enough to sell on Etsy? Think again. In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we sit down with Debbie Gartner, a math and science-minded entrepreneur who turned a simple side hustle into a thriving digital product business. With over 30,000 sales and an average of $6K/month in revenue, Debbie shares how she's built a systematized, low-stress income stream selling printable games and activities — without any inventory, shipping, or artistic background. Whether you're a total beginner or looking to expand your digital product empire, her insights on SEO, niching down, scaling with templates, and finding endless product inspiration will leave you inspired to take action! (Original Air Date - 8/21/25) What we discuss with Debbie: + Starting a digital product side hustle + Why Etsy digital beats print-on-demand + Creating and scaling with templates + Turning life experiences into products + Using SEO to boost Etsy visibility + Bundling products to increase sales + Finding endless product inspiration + Managing 500+ listings efficiently + Building repeat buyers with email + Generating $6K/month in passive income Thank you, Debbie! Get Debbie's free course, ⁠Start Your Etsy Shop⁠. Join a ⁠30-Day Challenge⁠. Learn ⁠SEO for Etsy⁠. To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kickstarter has become a key part of the author business for those who want to make more money per book, connect directly with readers, and produce beautiful editions they're proud of. In this episode, I share excerpts from interviews with Oriana Leckert, Head of Publishing at Kickstarter, Russell Nohelty, and Sacha Black, alongside my own hard-won lessons from six campaigns that have now made over $140K combined. Whether you're considering your first campaign or looking to refine your process, we cover everything from overcoming your fears to rewards, fulfilment, shipping, marketing, and why I keep coming back for more. In the intro, Writing StoryBundle; Spotify Expands Audiobook Features and Printed Books; Draft2Digital Activation and Maintenance Fees; comment by Kevin McLaughlin; and Barnes & Noble Press change to Minimum Retail Price for Printed Books; AI-Assisted Artisan Author webinars. This show is supported by my Patrons. Join my Community at Patreon.com/thecreativepenn  Joanna Penn is an award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thrillers, dark fantasy, short stories and travel memoir under J.F. Penn and also writes non-fiction for authors and hosts The Creative Penn Podcast. What Kickstarter is and why it works differently from a normal book launch The fears that held me back for almost a decade — and whether they were justified Starting small: Why you don't need sprayed edges and special hardbacks to run a successful campaign. Creative reward ideas beyond merch: digital rewards, experiential rewards, naming rights, and bundling your backlist Common mistakes that sink campaigns: overestimating your reach, getting shipping costs wrong, and not allowing enough time Fulfilment realities, printing timelines, and reinvesting profit into future stock Marketing your campaign: pre-launch signups, content marketing, email lists, social media scheduling, and Facebook/Meta ads My update for campaign #7, Bones of the Deep: what's changed, what I'm doing differently, and how AI tools are part of my process now Why I now love Kickstarter campaigns and how the spike income model fits a sustainable creative career You can find my Kickstarter campaign for Bones of the Deep here (until 5 May, 2026) and all my previous campaigns here. Introduction Jo: In this episode, I've included excerpts from my own previous solo show about Kickstarter, as well as excerpts from interviews with Oriana Leckert, the Head of Publishing at Kickstarter; Russell Nohelty, who has done lots of successful Kickstarter campaigns and teaches direct sales; and Sacha Black, who did a six-figure campaign last year. I've also added my updates to the end of the episode filling in any last thoughts. You can listen to the full episodes here: Kickstarter for Authors with Oriana Leckert The Mindset and Business of Selling Direct with Russell Nohelty Lessons Learned and Tips from Pilgrimage, My First Kickstarter Campaign Two Different Approaches to Selling Direct with Sacha Black and Joanna Penn What is Kickstarter, and why use it instead of a normal book launch? Here's Oriana Leckert, Head of Publishing at Kickstarter — and the numbers she shares will be higher now, as the episode is from February 2025. Oriana: Kickstarter is a crowdfunding platform. We are unique in the crowdfunding landscape for a few reasons. We are only for creative projects, so you can't use Kickstarter for medical bills, investment funding, or charitable donations. Every project has to create something new to share with the world. Jo: Have you got any numbers on how big the Kickstarter industry is now with publishing, or anything you can share around that? Oriana: Yeah, I would love to. First I'll tell you Kickstarter overall by the numbers. Since our inception, there have been 273,000 projects funded, eight and a half billion — with a “b” — billion dollars pledged, from more than 24 million backers. In publishing specifically, we've had 69,000 projects launched, 3.2 million unique backers, and over $380 million pledged to campaigns. I have lots of other stats, but a few things I'll share. The publishing category keeps growing The publishing category has grown year over year, every year since 2017, in terms of number of projects launched, number of projects successful, and the overall success rate. There has never been a dip since 2017. Another stat I really love about the publishing category: if you look at campaigns that have at least 25 backers, the overall success rate is 84%. I think that's really telling, because 25 backers is a little bit more than your mum, your best friend, the folks who are essentially obligated to support anything you do. So if you can get a little bit beyond that inner circle, your chances of succeeding on the platform are tremendously high. Backers are paying more — and waiting longer Another thing I wanted to call out — I just got some new numbers around this. The average backing amount per backer across the whole category has nearly doubled since 2020. We used to see an average backing around $40, and it's currently at $72 per backer. I think this is clearly around the trend of special and deluxe editions, but it's a great indication that backer behaviour on Kickstarter is just very different from your general book-buying public. People don't come here looking for 99-cent ebooks — the lowest bargain-basement prices. Folks are really willing to pay more because they understand this is a different kind of thing. It's not exactly a purchase. It really is supporting, bringing a strange and wonderful new thing into the world that wouldn't exist before. People are also much more forgiving about timelines. If you buy something from most online booksellers, you're expecting to have it in your hands within a couple of days. People wait months and sometimes years to get their Kickstarter rewards, and they don't mind if the creator is clear and transparent. You're also doing the work of demystifying the publishing process. Why does it take so long? Where are books printed? How long does it take them to ship via freight over the ocean? What do all these things really look like? So it's really interesting just figuring out what your backers want and will bear versus the general book-buying public out in the world. Kickstarter is not just for “desperate” authors anymore Oriana: People used to think Kickstarter was just for desperate folks who couldn't get a book deal through the traditional systems. The change has been so dramatic — people now understand that Kickstarter can be transformative for an author's career, and that it can work for traditional publishing, indie publishing, hybrid publishing, all kinds of authors. Kickstarter is really about collapsing the boundaries between a writer and their readers, a publisher and their fan base, any creative person and their audience. And there are so many benefits to doing that. You get to really thrill your backers with new and exciting rewards. You get to turn what can be a standard book release into a moment. You get to build your brand, your profile, get press, test out ambitious projects. You get to understand so much more about your audience and what they want and how you can give it to them. It's been really marvellous seeing the great success that people can have on our platform and outside of it. Why do a Kickstarter campaign? Jo: Why Kickstarter and not a usual book launch? Benefits for backers If you back a Kickstarter, you get special editions, bonus content, interesting merchandise, bundles, digital specials, print specials, early access. All of them pretty much are really cool books from creators you either already love or those you've never heard of, because you just want to see their cool stuff. I've started buying books from people I have never heard of because I think their books are really cool. Once you start supporting campaigns on Kickstarter, the algorithm will recommend campaigns for you. It's essentially a different way of shopping for great books and other products, and it's just another part of my ecosystem for how I shop. It's a form of direct sales, so you also have a closer connection with the creator. You can message them, for example, and they get it — rather than buying through an online retailer or bookstore. Benefits for creators In terms of benefits for creators, you get to know people in a more personal way through the campaign, messaging with people and connecting more than you would when selling through a retailer, when you don't know who is buying your books. As an author, you can make more money more quickly and retain a higher percentage of the royalties, rather than wait months or years to get paid and have a large percentage taken out by everyone down the chain — publishers, platforms, distributors, and retailers. Brandon Sanderson's $41 million Kickstarter was clearly the pinnacle of what can be achieved, but many authors are happy making a few thousand for their book project upfront and use campaigns multiple times during the year. Kickstarter takes 5% for their fee, although of course you have to factor in the cost of production and marketing. But even then, I make more profit on my book sales through selling ebooks and audiobooks direct, and also printing with BookVault, than I do with KDP Print or IngramSpark print on demand. Higher average order and faster payment Another way you make more money is that the average order per customer is higher with Kickstarter than sales on the usual stores. The average order on my campaign was £37.24 — that's around $45 US — which is at least four times higher than I might have made selling Pilgrimage in the usual way on the major retailers. You get paid two weeks after the campaign finishes, so the money is in your bank account much faster than if you sell on retailers. In terms of cash flow, make sure you time your campaign so you get the money before you have to pay for printing, shipping, and other significant bills. Spike income vs monthly income There are many creators who now make Kickstarter the core of their business. It's a spike income model rather than a monthly income, which most indie authors are used to. The monthly income model is fantastic — I love getting money every month — but it also has the effect of making indie authors behave as if this is a normal job: work every month, get paid every month, put out another book so you get paid in another few months' time. With the Kickstarter model, you can get a bigger chunk of money in one go, so you could potentially move to a big launch and then take more time off before ramping up to the next launch months later. And amusingly, this sounds a bit more like traditional publishing. It's just that as an indie author, when you get that amount of money, it's much bigger. So that kind of launch tempo is an attractive prospect if you think about it: if I just get this big spike of money even once a year, that's really cool. And then of course you can sell it later. What are some of the fears that might stop you? Jo: I held back from doing a Kickstarter for years — almost a decade, in fact — where I backed campaigns and resisted doing a campaign for my own books. Here are some of my fears. Prepare to face your fears Jo: This entire experience thrust me out of my comfort zone and into a new way of creating, launching, and connecting with readers. Pilgrimage is my first memoir, my first special hardback with colour photos, and my first Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign. So I had a lot to learn. The book is very personal and I bare my soul about some dark times, so that was terrifying in itself, let alone trying a new product edition and publishing platform. On the evening I clicked the launch button — and yes, you have to actually click an actual launch button — my heart was hammering out of my chest. I have not felt that nervous since probably the first time publishing on Amazon. I was afraid of failure. I was afraid of being embarrassed if my campaign didn't fund. I wrote a book on marketing — how to market a book — so I would be mortified if I had not funded. In fact, I even changed my target from £5,000 to £1,000 the night before, as I was so terrified it wouldn't fund. I was afraid of getting something terribly wrong and ending up out of pocket through issues with printing and shipping. I was afraid of letting backers down by promising something I might not be able to deliver. I was afraid I had overcommitted myself to a whole load of work I might even resent doing. I am a one-person business, and although I work with freelancers, I still do pretty much everything myself. I am a control freak — you might have noticed. So yes, there was a lot of apprehension and fear. You don't have to go huge Another fear might be the fear of failure — that you'll put up a campaign and no one will buy from you. But one answer is just to do a modest campaign. You don't have to do special hardbacks or merchandise. As Russell says: Russell: Somehow all of the teaching that we have given over the last two years has been executed in a way that makes it seem like you have to do this enormous campaign with sprayed edges and big, beautiful hardcovers and interior illustrations and vellum and all of that stuff. And I want to say first: that is absolutely not true. You don't have to do any of those things. If you look at two of the last three campaigns I've done, all I was offering was paperback books and ebooks, and then audio commentary for one of the campaigns. You can do a Kickstarter — and I often will tell people, especially if they're not an already successful author — do a campaign that is small and easy to get data on before you do something big. The direct connection is actually the point Jo: One of my resistances to this was a sort of, “Oh, I'm actually going to have to do a more higher-touch thing.” But as you say, the reframe is: oh my goodness, this is amazing, because I actually do get to connect with people. Just yesterday I sent a signed book — Pilgrimage, which I did my last Kickstarter on — and this guy was like, “I bought it for myself. Can you sign it to me, because I'm going to do the Camino in a wheelchair?” And I was just so touched. Emailing him back, I just felt, oh my goodness, I'm having a connection with this person that if they'd just bought a book on Amazon, I would not have had. So now it's almost like — it's this totally different view of my business, which is that direct-first means a much more personal way. It really is like we're in that thousand true fans moment that we first talked about 20 years ago. Were my fears realised? Jo: Just to recap, I was afraid of failure and embarrassment if I failed to fund, of getting something wrong and being out of pocket, of letting backers down, and of overcommitting myself and resenting the workload. Really, the only thing that happened was overcommitment and a lot more work than I expected. But the time I put in was also likely the reason for the campaign's success and the reason that the other things didn't happen. I had to learn a new platform and a new approach to publishing and book marketing, so it was kind of a mini degree at the same time. So yes, I will do another Kickstarter — but only for special projects that are suited to this kind of intensive campaign. Tips for campaigns In this section, Oriana shares her thoughts on rewards, and then I'll go into some more of my tips. Thinking beyond merch Oriana: The rewards are really at the heart of the Kickstarter proposition and what makes this kind of fundraising so interesting and thrilling. Basically, your process is you're inviting people on a creative journey. You're saying, “I'm going to make this cool thing. I want your support, and in exchange, you're going to get stuff, you're going to get to be part of my process.” Obviously your main reward is going to be your book, or your series, or if you're a publishing company, your season — whatever it is. That's your main tier. Then you're going to build everything else out above and below that. A lot of people think rewards means swag and merch. Which is fine, but merch can add a lot to your production costs. It's causing you to learn how to produce all kinds of things that maybe you've never done before. So that's not the only way to do it. If you're going to do some merch, I think it's nice to come up with some custom items that feel really related to the work that you're doing. If you've got a romance novel with a pivotal scene on the beach, maybe you'd make some candles that smell like the ocean. Maybe you do some kind of handkerchief that's printed with the pattern of the dress your heroine is wearing. Digital and experiential rewards Oriana: But you can really think beyond merch into digital rewards and experiential rewards. There are a lot of parts of the writing process that can be pulled out and packaged as rewards — things like notes from the field, outtakes, deleted scenes. I've had people write bloopers, as if it were a comedy movie, added new scenes or novellas, other pieces from different works that you've done. Certainly your backlist and other books you've written can all be included. We've seen people do tours of the writer's studio, things like that. Also think about what skills you have in addition to your writing. Perhaps you're excellent at marketing or social media or poetry — you can offer webinars on those sorts of things. Other kinds of ways that people can experience your creative practice. High-end and naming rewards Oriana: Then you can get into high-end, one-off, crazy rewards. One whole section of rewards I love is naming rights. We've seen all kinds — “We'll name the dragon after your dog, or after your mother-in-law. We'll name the hero after your son.” There's a LitRPG novelist named Matt Dinniman who does this really well. He writes these big-cast novels — there are dungeons, and you're in an intergalactic reality TV show with hundreds of characters. In his last campaign, for $666 he would kill you off in his next book, and for $777 he'd let you live and write a whole scene around you personally. You can also do book release parties. You can do book clubs. If you're writing children's books, you can do colouring pages or supplemental material for teachers or other educators. The sky is really the limit, and it is based on your creativity and the things that both you can make and that your audience wants. This is another opportunity — talk to them. Ask them: if I'm going to do a piece of swag, would you rather have an enamel pin or a makeup bag? If I'm going to do alternate covers, would you like the blue cover or the red cover? See what your people are interested in, and then figure out whether it's possible for you to deliver it to them. Learn about the platform from experts Jo: I've been publishing and selling books through online retailers, as well as my own store, since 2008. I know what I'm doing, but I still had a lot to learn. With Kickstarter, it's essentially a completely different ecosystem, with different rules and a different audience, so you have to learn the ropes. Even if you're super successful in other places, you might crash and burn on Kickstarter unless you understand how it works and change your approach accordingly. Start backing campaigns Jo: See how it feels to back Kickstarter campaigns and discover what draws you in as a reader and a fan of specific things. You might find projects you love outside of books — there's plenty of other projects outside of books. You can browse the publishing category to find new books, and also use the search to find things you might like. In this way, you can support fellow creators and learn how the Kickstarter site works for discoverability and marketing. Make sure you go through the Kickstarter.com resources — they have a creator pack which will give you direction on the campaign. Also, their terms of use are really important to read, as there are some assumptions you'll have because you've published on another platform that are incorrect. So do not assume you know what you're doing if this is your first campaign. Ask for feedback before launch Jo: Once you have a draft of your campaign, ask specific people to review it before it launches. You can share a preview prior to launch and get feedback on your page. This helps you refine your story and the rewards, answer any questions before the campaign goes live, and it can also help pique the interest of your audience. I asked specific people who had done Kickstarter campaigns for help at different stages of the process, and this was really useful too. Review common mistakes from other campaigns Jo: If you examine how others made mistakes, you can learn from them. The most common seem to be: Not finishing the book before the campaign Getting the financials wrong for production, shipping, and any other rewards. I know some authors who have ended up breaking even, or sometimes even out of pocket from campaigns. Don't do that. Not making the most of the story sales page and not including everything necessary, so backers don't understand and don't want to support the campaign — essentially, not being clear enough Setting unrealistic goals, like expecting to make six figures on a first campaign Not allowing enough time for everything Not seeking feedback from people who have done it before Not marketing the campaign enough Overpromising and under-delivering Poor communication with backers about the status of rewards Set aside more time than you think you need Jo: The campaign ended up being far more significant than I expected in terms of workload and time to complete. Everyone told me that beforehand, but it was still a surprise. It took time to prepare the multiple editions for the rewards. I usually produce an ebook, paperback, and a large print edition, and I narrate my own nonfiction audiobooks. But for this Kickstarter, I also wanted to do this special hardback with colour photos, a flyleaf cover and silver foil. I wanted to create a special print product I could be proud of. I'm proud of all my books in terms of the content, but the usual paperback print-on-demand books are more about the content than the true beauty of the product. For Pilgrimage: A Book of My Heart, I wanted a special edition, so I worked with Jane on the design, going through my photos from the various pilgrimages to find those that resonated with the content — for example, the cadaver tomb at Canterbury, and my Compostela from the Camino de Santiago. Once we finished, I had that proof copy rushed so we could turn around everything. And I love, love, love the hardback. It has a silken-finish cover and it feels lovely and weighty. The pictures came out well, as the paper is of a higher quality and weight to allow for colour printing. Overall, I am incredibly proud of the finished product. I even sent a copy to my mother-in-law, which I have never done before. And yes, she thinks it's good. I definitely should have allowed more time, as I spent most of the Christmas and New Year period working on the book, recording and editing the audiobook, and preparing for the campaign. I also didn't have time to prepare, record, edit, and produce the Writing Setting and Sense of Place course until after the campaign, and it was really hard to find the energy to do this afterwards. Building the campaign page Jo: It took time to build the Kickstarter campaign page, create the video, and incorporate feedback. Most authors don't write sales pages anymore. Sure, we write a sales description for the book page on the retailers, but we don't often do a whole page for multiple editions. On Kickstarter, you are basically writing a sales page for your campaign, which they call a “story.” Some of your existing audience might just click through and back the campaign without reading it, but most backers will check out the details to find answers to any questions they have. It is a very long page, and you also need a video — or you don't need one, but it's highly recommended. It's best to record the video at the last stage when everything else is done. You can still see my Kickstarter video on my campaign page, so I won't go through everything in detail. But the key aspects are: Who the campaign is aimed at Why the campaign is important to me and the book What products are available Pictures of everything — the page should be really visual — and I included the images in the video as well Sample chapters and sample audio Specifications, with weight, pages, listening time, table of contents About me, the author Stretch goals Add-ons Any questions, risks, and challenges So it's pretty long. Then the reward levels have to be set up carefully for each pledge level with shipping costs, and specific details about what's included. Eventually, I felt like my page had way too much information, but since I didn't really get many backer questions, I guess it did what it was supposed to do. I rewrote and edited that page so many times — adding and changing the order of things, responding to feedback, switching things around. But hopefully I can use that as a template for other campaigns. Marketing takes time too Jo: It took time to prepare the marketing for the campaign. I'm pretty low-key for most launches these days — I publish a book, send a few emails to my lists, announce it on the podcast, do a little social media, update my websites, and move on to the next book. So this was probably my biggest effort in terms of a launch since my first novel back in 2011. I only had a two-week campaign, so I needed to make the most of that window. I'm going to detail the marketing in a separate section, but it took a lot of time to prepare the various things and execute them, as well as keep the energy up for promotion during the campaign. Two weeks was definitely the longest I would want to do — I was really over it by the end. Delivering stretch rewards Jo: It took more time to create and deliver the extra stretch rewards I promised. Since I had pretty low expectations of funding, I set my first stretch goal at £10,000 for “Lessons Learned from Writing a Travel Memoir.” When I promised it, I thought it might be a few pages of tips, and I didn't even think we would get there. But I'm incapable of delivering something that is half done. So when we did hit £10,000, I wrote essentially a short book on the topic, which I then formatted as an ebook and recorded as an audiobook. I'm actually going to turn that into a proper book at some point, so the content will get reused. But that definitely took more time than I expected, because I hadn't prepared it in advance. The backer spreadsheet and fulfilment Jo: It took time to figure out the backer spreadsheet and check all the fulfilment details. Once you finish your campaign, you send out surveys for mailing addresses and to fulfil rewards. I also needed to turn the backer report into a printing order for BookVault, and that was nerve-wracking. The spreadsheets were different formats, and then we spot-checked the orders to make sure people got the right books based on their orders. I was petrified that some people might get the wrong book, and I checked and checked and checked — both on the spreadsheet, and then once the orders were loaded, I checked BookVault as well. I was worried I'd have to resend the right book, which would end up with me out of pocket because they'd have to do double printing and shipping. But thankfully, all the checking made everything good, and I haven't heard from anyone who got the wrong book. Following up with backers Jo: It took time to follow up on failed payments and address issues. Most backers were easy to deal with — they received the updates and Kickstarter emails, they filled in the surveys, and I didn't have any problems. But there were problems with about 5% of backers, most of which were not their fault. There were failed payments when banks thought Kickstarter might be fraud. There were missed emails because of issues with deliverability, so backers didn't receive the rewards, or they didn't fill in the survey and return their address, which meant I couldn't do the order with BookVault — I had to do it later or manually. I had to follow up with every single one of these, some of them multiple times, and I slowly reduced my list of outstanding backers. A tip: If you back a Kickstarter campaign, please log on to Kickstarter a few weeks after the campaign has finished and check for updates. It's possible that you're not receiving the emails from Kickstarter, and the creator may need details from you in order to fulfil your pledge. Tax implications Jo: It took time to figure out the tax implications. This is not legal or financial advice, and your taxes will vary by jurisdiction. Please ask your accountant how you need to treat Kickstarter or any other book-related income. Wherever you are in the world, you will need to pay tax on the income, because we all have income tax, but the complicating factor is whether you also need to consider sales tax. And this definitely differs by jurisdiction. I went to my accountant, who said we should handle it as per any other book sales. I followed my accountant's advice, which treats backers the same way as my customers who buy on Shopify. Ask a professional in your jurisdiction about taxes and finances, even if you are in the UK. I cannot answer any questions. I'm not an accountant. Closing the loop Jo: I haven't had much time to do anything else, as I felt like I couldn't start anything new until everything in the campaign was finished. As soon as the campaign window closed, I felt like I had an open loop in my brain. I desperately wanted to close it in order to say the project was done. I have now delivered all the book and course rewards, and these lessons learned are really the last part of it. I've talked before about the different kinds of energy you need as an author — starting energy, pushing-through energy, and finishing energy. Once the campaign was funded, my finishing energy kicked in and I was driven to get everything finished as soon as possible. I sent the digital rewards out within a few days of the campaign closing, and also shipped the unsigned books, ordered the print books, then went and signed them, and then recorded the course. It has been my primary focus for the last few months, and I haven't been able to do much else except the podcast, which is my weekly commitment to you. Once again, I should have blocked out the time. Bonus tip: Don't plan an international speaking and book research trip during the campaign. International shipping and fulfilment Jo: Be careful with international shipping and fulfilment of signed books or products. Shipping costs can sink your campaign if you get them wrong, so be very careful with this area. I have sold books in 175 countries, and this podcast has a listenership in 228 countries, so I really wanted to have a completely international campaign. I wanted to ship Pilgrimage in any format to any country. Originally I thought I would just charge a bit extra for the book and include shipping. But once I set the book editions up at BookVault and I had the weight and dimensions sorted, I started checking the shipping costs to different countries. For example, we lived in New Zealand for seven years — my husband is a New Zealander, so we go back — so I definitely had to sell in New Zealand. And of course the shipping to New Zealand is very, very different to the US, for example. It is crazy how much shipping costs vary. I discovered I couldn't just assume it would all wash out and I'd end up making a profit somehow. I had to be a lot more careful with the calculations. So I focused on my biggest markets, which in terms of my book sales are the US, UK, European Union, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. I added a note on the campaign to say I would add any other country for print shipping if people contacted me. As it turned out, no one asked for any other countries, so that was the best way to go in the end. If you're in a country where the shipping is outrageous — if you're willing to pay for the shipping, then that's absolutely fine. It's just that for the campaign, I had to focus. When the unexpected happens Jo: Of course, you can try to prepare for everything and then something unexpected and out of your control happens. A big spanner in the works for my campaign was the Russian hack, which took down the UK Royal Mail just before my launch. If you're not in the UK, you wouldn't have heard about this, because in some ways it's a very small issue — but it basically took down Royal Mail and a lot of shipping went into flux. It specifically hit the international side, and other shipping firms ramped up to take the slack. But it made planning for the launch difficult, as the prices were shifting and I didn't know how delivery was going to work. Even for posting in the UK it was hard, because the mail offices were getting backed up. Once again, I'm grateful for BookVault's adaptability, because I could check different addresses and shipping prices even as things changed, and they added new providers for shipping. About 95% of my shipping ended up being within an acceptable range of what I charged. So do your research, weigh and measure your items so you can get exact quotes for each. Check what kind of packaging you need. If you're doing your own shipping, you have to actually type in the shipping costs per reward and per country — it's a lot of manual setup to get it right. But this is critical, so check and double-check — and in fact, I triple- and quadruple-checked, then went to sleep, and then the next day checked again. Having spent 13 years as an IT consultant prior to this career as an author, I will always remember and have learned from the fact that something just might not be working, and then literally if you just go away, go to bed, come back the next day, it'll probably just be working. Sometimes it actually works. So yes, I did that, and every time I checked, pretty much I found something I'd typed in that didn't quite match, because you also have to retype — if you include all the books in the add-ons, you have to type it again. I didn't stop checking until the day before the launch, and then it was right. I was happy, and everything seemed to be fine. Shipping is always a moving target Jo: Revisiting this section made me laugh, because as I record this, in the week before I launch Bones of the Deep, international shipping is disrupted again — by the war in Iran, and the Strait of Hormuz being closed, which is affecting fuel prices. This underscores yet again how important it is to check your shipping. Of course, you can add shipping on later — Kickstarter allows this, as does BackerKit and other services. But as a backer, a customer of people on the platform, I hate being asked to pay shipping later. And since I hate that myself, I don't want other people to feel the same way. So just add a little buffer in, as asking people to pay an extra dollar in their pledge is not that big a deal, but you being out of pocket for every book shipped may well be. Sacha Black on pre-launch and fulfilment In an interview I did with Sacha Black, who writes as Ruby Roe, in December 2025, we talked about her issues with fulfilment. Sacha does a lot of complex printing, shipping, and custom book boxes and more. Her last campaign made over six figures, but of course it had its challenges. Here's Sacha with some of her tips, and then Oriana to close out this section with some other mistakes. Sacha: The first thing is — even before you start your Kickstarter — the pre-launch followers are critical. A lot of people think, “Well…” I guess there's a lot of loud noise about all these big numbers about how much people can make on Kickstarter, but actually a lot of it is driven by you, the author, pushing your audience to Kickstarter. You need more pre-launch followers than you think you do. Lots of people don't put enough impetus on the marketing beforehand. Almost all of our Kickstarter marketing is beforehand, because we drive so many people to that follow button. The other thing we do is early-bird pricing. We get the majority of our income on a campaign on day one. I think it was something wild, like 80% this time was on day one, so that's really important. Fulfilment takes longer than you think Sacha: The second thing is, it takes so, so very much longer than you think it does to fulfil a campaign, and you must factor in that cost. Because if it's not you fulfilling, you're paying somebody else to fulfil it. And if it is you fulfilling it, you must account for your own time in the pricing of your campaign. The other thing is that the amount of time it takes to fulfil is directly proportionate to the size of the campaign. So you do have to think about that. The other lesson we have learned is that overseas printing will drag your timelines out far longer than you think. So whatever you think it's going to take you to fulfil — add several months more onto that, and put that information in your campaign. Reinvesting profit and exclusive rewards Sacha: The last thing — if you have some profit in the Kickstarter, because not all Kickstarters are actually massively profitable. They either don't account enough for shipping, or they don't account enough in the pricing. Thankfully, ours have been profitable, but we've actually reinvested that profit back into buying more stock and more merchandise, which not everybody would want to do if they don't have a warehouse. However, we do have one. We are stockpiling merchandise and books so that we can do mystery boxes later on down the line. It's probably a year away, but we are buying extra of everything so that we have that in the warehouse. So it depends on what you want to do with your profit. For us, it was all about buying more books, basically. The other thing to think about is: what is it that you're doing that's exclusive to Kickstarter? Because you will get backers on Kickstarter who want that quirky, unique thing that they're not going to be able to get anywhere else. But what about you? You've done more Kickstarters than me — what do you think is the biggest lesson you've learned? Tiers, bundles, and AI for planning rewards Jo: Well, I think all of mine together add up to the one you just did. Although I will comment — you said something like £75 per pre-launch backer. That is obviously dependent on your tiers for the rewards, so most authors won't have that amount. My average order value, which I know is slightly different, but I don't offer things like book boxes as you have — so a lot of it will depend on the tiers. Some people will do a Kickstarter just with an ebook — just with one ebook and maybe a bundle of ebooks — so you're never going to make it up to that kind of value. So this is important too: have a look at what people offer on their different levels of Kickstarter. In fact, here's my AI tip for the day. What you can do — what I did with my Buried and the Drowned campaign recently — is, you know, I'm happy uploading my book. I uploaded it to ChatGPT and said, “Tell me, what are some ideas for the different reward tiers that I can do on Kickstarter?” And it will give you some ideas for what you can do, what kind of bundles you might want to do. So bundling your backlist is another thing you can do — as upsells, or you can just do it like I did for Blood Vintage, where I did a horror bundle of four standalone horror books in one of the upper tiers. Bundling is a good way to do it, and also upselling your backlist is a really good way to up things. And also, if you do it digitally — for ebooks and audiobooks — there's a lot less time in fulfilment. Oriana on the biggest mistakes Jo: What are some of the top mistakes you see that mean the campaign doesn't fund, or there are other issues? Oriana: Totally. I mean, the biggest mistake I think authors make — or any creator — is overestimating their ability to reach their crowd. Making sure that your ambition matches your reach is the number one most important thing to come close to guaranteeing that you will be successful. If you're an emerging writer and you're still building your audience and you don't have that many followers or subscribers out in the world, you should not try to fund a multi-volume leather-bound omnibus. Do a real honest assessment of who's in your crowd, how to find them, what percentage of them are likely to support what you're doing, and then find a project that feels realistic based on those numbers. That's really the biggest thing, conceptually. Building a strong project page Oriana: As far as tips for a project page — again, back campaigns and look at what other people are doing. A project page can be either as simple or as complicated as you want to make it. You definitely want to talk about the book: what is in it, what you're writing. Do a trope card if you want — we're seeing those all over the site. Say what kind of book it is, and the specs: page count, trim size, cover design. Obviously if you're doing a special edition, exactly what sorts of bells and whistles, with a prototype if you can. But you can be really expansive from there. What are your inspirations? Who are your collaborators? What brought you to this work? What are some of the things that make you excited about your writing practice, your timeline, your budget? What made you choose these rewards and how you're going to produce them? All those sorts of things will make backers feel both more trusting that you will do the things you're promising, and just more excited to be part of your journey. Marketing your Kickstarter campaign Let's talk about marketing. First, a snippet from Oriana, and then I'll share specifics around marketing tips — many of which are useful if you're launching in any other way. Kickstarter's algorithm rewards attention Oriana: Being on Kickstarter will help you grow your audience, but it's definitely not everything. You really do need to bring your people first. Our algorithm works on attention, so any project that's getting clicks, getting backings, getting comments — our algorithm says, “Oh, people want to look at this. We will expose it to more and more people.” That means raising it up in search results, slotting it into various of the macros and carousels around the site. Our recommendation engine powers recommended projects on the top of campaigns and at the bottom of emails. We are doing a lot to make sure that projects are being surfaced to folks who want to see them. Talk about the book while you're writing it Jo: Talk and share about the book while you're writing it, even though you might not know what it will turn into. I always share my book research and projects in progress, so this was nothing new. But Pilgrimage was years in the making, so I had years of sharing aspects of it. I've shared pictures from every pilgrimage walk on Instagram at @jfpennauthor and Facebook at J.F. Penn Author, and sometimes Facebook The Creative Penn. I've talked on this podcast about each walk, and I've done solo episodes and blog posts about each on my Books and Travel podcast and blog. I also did a poll and shared my book cover design process, and then I did an article on why I ignored target-reader feedback in the end. All this meant that many in my community — including you listening — became aware of my solo walking and also my ecclesiastical interest, my architecture interest, and you enjoyed my photos along the way if you follow me on social media. So when I announced the launch, it was the culmination of years of build-up. Use the pre-launch page early Jo: Set up the Kickstarter pre-launch page as early as possible, and keep promoting it. You can launch a pre-launch page once Kickstarter has approved your project, and you don't have to have finished everything to make it available — just complete the personal and business setup, and fill in enough detail so they can verify your identity and judge the campaign to be real and within the guidelines, and not a scam or spam campaign. I started to promote my pre-launch page, and by the time we went live, I had people signed up on launch. Those people get an email from Kickstarter. Those people were responsible for my campaign funding within the first few minutes, and then taking it to 5x the target within the first 24 hours. Then I started to email my lists, and all of this type of thing. But it was those pre-launch signups that really kick-started — see what I did there? — the whole thing. The benefit of using Kickstarter for multiple projects is that previous backers are notified of your new project. This compounds the effect over time, and is why those who use Kickstarter successfully do multiple campaigns. Kickstarter SEO and on-platform marketing Jo: Kickstarter has its own ecosystem. There's a discovery algorithm that can help you find projects you might like as a backer, and there are different ways to search, but only certain aspects appear in the search. So your title, subtitle, and your header image need to be optimised so people can find you. Your story sales page needs to be clear, with a compelling pitch. People also have to want your rewards, so marketing has to be baked into the products you're offering and who you're trying to attract. Your video doesn't need to be a professional-level product, but it does need to connect with potential backers, so take the time to make a good one. If you've never made a video before, you will need time to upskill. Kickstarter also has social media. Use #KickstarterReads and tag @KickstarterReads. If your project funds quickly and has a good trajectory, you might get picked for the “Projects We Love” badge, which also gives you better discoverability. I got that pretty fast. You can also tag Kickstarter on social media and inform them of your campaign. Content marketing Jo: Content marketing is offering something useful or interesting or inspiring or funny or entertaining for free, in order to attract your target market so they buy your book. This might be an article or blog post, video, audio, podcast, social media, whatever. For fiction, it's usually a free book or a short story or other free examples of your writing that draw people in. Content marketing is my favourite form of marketing, as it is about attraction, not interruption. It also involves creating something in the world that lasts over time, as opposed to an ephemeral spike ad or a social media post that quickly disappears. Each has its place, of course, and I use them all. This podcast is content marketing, although it now also provides direct revenue in the form of corporate advertising and Patreon support. Thank you, patrons and advertisers — and I consider this to be part of my creative body of work. My Books and Travel podcast is also content marketing. Guest appearances for the launch Jo: For this launch, I did content marketing on my own sites and shows, as well as other people's, which I arranged and recorded in advance. I've also mentioned the campaign in the introduction to every one of these shows leading up to the launch and during the launch. I was on some podcasts: Sacred Steps with Kevin Donahue, Wish I'd Known Then… For Writers with Sara Rosett and Jami Albright, Travel Writing World with Jeremy Bassetti, and Into the Woods with Holly Worton. I also did several of my own. I did one on this feed. I did another on the Books and Travel feed. I also included two chapters from the audiobook on the Books and Travel podcast. All of these took time to prepare and produce, but each is a chance for another person to hear about the book. Plus, they're evergreen, and Pilgrimage is available for everyone to buy now, so I can point people at Pilgrimage on other stores. Use a redirection URL Jo: For all my marketing, I used JFPenn.com/pilgrimage, which I can redirect using the Pretty Links plugin on WordPress and point to wherever I want it to go. Before the launch, it went to the pre-launch page; then the campaign itself; and now it goes to the book page. Once I build a special landing page, it will go there. Depending on where you're listening will depend on where it goes, but that's JFPenn.com/pilgrimage. The URL needs to be easy to say out loud for use in podcast interviews and audio-first media. Email your list multiple times Jo: Some things change in book marketing — like the emergence of new platforms like TikTok — but one thing has stayed the same for decades: if you have an email list, you can always sell books. Your email list consists of people who have opted in to hear from you, so you can email them about normal launches as well as your Kickstarter campaign. I have two email lists: one for The Creative Penn around writing, and the other around J.F. Penn for my fiction. I emailed both lists multiple times at different times in the campaign. I use ConvertKit for my email, but there are other options for authors. Use referral links for tracking Jo: Use specific referral links for different aspects of the campaign for tracking returns. Kickstarter allows you to create different tracking links so you can link revenue to specific marketing events. For example, I used one link for my Creative Penn email list, another for my J.F. Penn email list, and yet another for my Facebook advertising. You can also add the Meta pixel and Google Analytics code to the campaign, which can also help with figuring out advertising. And if you don't know what those are, don't worry — you don't have to use them. Book images and social media Jo: I initially mocked up the book using cover images on MockupShots.com, and then resized them in Canva in order to create social media images. I later did a book photo shoot with the hardback in different places to give me more marketing assets to play with — all of which I will use over time as part of ongoing marketing. I prepared and scheduled social media posts to go out every day, and I did that in advance, primarily for Twitter at @thecreativepenn, my Instagram and Facebook at J.F. Penn Author, and also Facebook at The Creative Penn. It was a lot of work, but I really enjoyed it — weirdly — and I need to do more of this for my other books, especially as with Shopify, Facebook, and Instagram link directly into my store, so I can tag books. These days social commerce is a lot smoother through mobile, so someone can see an image on social, click through, and buy immediately. I also did some quotes from the book — so I did pictures, I also did quotes — and I blatantly used our cute British Shorthair cats, Cashew and Ramen, for marketing reasons. I use Buffer to schedule my social media, but there are other tools. I also asked some friends who are travel influencers to share the book, and I sent them the hardback in advance so they could review if they liked. Thanks to Sarah Baxter and Alastair Humphreys for sharing the book, and especially a big thank you to Anna McNuff, who gave birth to twins that week and still managed to share about Pilgrimage. Backer engagement and stretch goals Jo: Let's be clear — it was not natural for me to push a book every day for two weeks. I also felt awkward about engaging with backers multiple times, let alone the wider community who I was sure was sick of my book, but I did it anyway, as it was only a short campaign of two weeks. I sent four updates during the campaign to backers, some of which are visible to the public on my Kickstarter, and then I sent updates afterwards with delivery of the rewards. Although I did resist the stretch goals, as I mentioned earlier, I went with “Notes on Writing a Travel Memoir” and the backer live Q&A. I did scramble to decide on and deliver those, as I really didn't think I would need them — which is crazy. I had such low expectations of what I might achieve. But next time I would definitely plan stretch goals in advance and in more detail. Facebook advertising Jo: I did some Facebook ads for the campaign — although I should call them Meta ads, because they're also on Instagram. I primarily aimed them at my email lists and people who follow my pages, but also some wider reach using lookalike lists and walking interests. I used a tracking link, so I know that the revenue that came in through people backing it more than paid for the ads. So I would do more of this next time. Marketing things I didn't do Jo: I didn't try to get any press or traditional media attention, mainly because I would have had to approach outlets much earlier in the process. I didn't have the hardback finished until a few weeks before the campaign, rather than a few months before, which is when pitching for press is a better idea. I also didn't collaborate with other creators on Kickstarter, even though I knew other authors doing campaigns at the same time. A couple of people asked me about cross-promotion, but their campaigns were not at all related to Pilgrimage. As with all book marketing, there is only a point to cross-promotion if you target the same readers. I had intended to do some Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube Live videos, but I struggle with live videos in general — and especially when I'm tired — so I didn't go ahead with those. I might consider more of those next time. Do a survey for everyone Jo: My tip is — do a survey for everyone. As part of a campaign I previously backed, I noticed that I didn't actually need to do a survey for the digital backers, because they could just get the rewards if I emailed through Kickstarter. And sure enough, you can just email the BookFunnel links, the course discount code, etc., through the campaign. But this was a mistake. I should have done a survey for everyone. If you do a survey, you can get the real email, as some people use a cloaked email. You can also include a checkbox asking people if they want to sign up for your email list. Respecting backer data Jo: So while you do get the email addresses of everyone who backs your campaign in your backer report, you cannot just upload them to your email provider and start emailing them about your other books. Kickstarter's terms of use include the following: When you use Kickstarter, and especially if you create a successful project, you may receive information about other users, including things like their names, email addresses, and postal addresses. This information is provided for the purpose of participating in a Kickstarter project. Don't use it for other purposes and don't abuse it. This is about data protection and privacy laws. Basically, Kickstarter is the platform in this instance, and people have signed up to receive emails from Kickstarter, but not from you. All emails about the campaign go through Kickstarter, and you don't have permission to just upload that list to your own email system and start sending more emails. They have not specifically said they want that, unless they have in a survey with opt-in — which I didn't do. Of course, there are indirect ways to attract people to sign up for your list. My book Pilgrimage includes ways to hear from me further, so some backers will go on and sign up for my free thriller ebook at JFPenn.com/free, or my Author Blueprint at TheCreativePenn.com/blueprint. You can also do updates later, for example when you have a new campaign, and in this way Kickstarter acts as a different ecosystem for email. Should you consider a Kickstarter campaign for your book? Jo: To be honest — only if you consider this to be a career you want to invest in, and a platform you want to do more than one campaign with. If you just have one book or a couple of books, or you're just starting out, or you don't want to do marketing and connect with readers, then definitely don't do a Kickstarter. It is not some magic button that will make you money — like uploading to Amazon is not a magic button that will make you money. It takes time and effort to have a successful campaign. But if you do want to build a long-term author business, then selling direct should have some part to play, and Kickstarter is a great way to make more money per book and connect with readers. It's really only the beginning of the trend of authors selling direct, so don't worry — you can learn how to do this over time. Update for Bones of the Deep, my 7th campaign in April 2026 Jo: It was interesting to revisit my lessons learned and other people's tips, and really, there are only a few things that have changed. I love doing Kickstarter campaigns now Firstly, I absolutely love doing Kickstarter campaigns. I am not nervous at all anymore, and I am just so thrilled to produce gorgeous hardback editions of my books this way. I love delivering beautiful books and new stories or nonfiction to my readers. I love doing the discovery writing webinars and the coaching, and just in general, I appreciate the opportunity to publish this way. I feel like a “real author” — with beautiful hardbacks, doing a signing, getting photos and emails from readers who receive the books. Custom printing keeps expanding In terms of other changes, over the last few years since Pilgrimage, BookVault has expanded their custom printing, so now I have custom endpapers, sprayed edges, different kinds of foil, as well as the silken paper and the ribbon and photos inside. These gorgeous editions are my personal creative reason to keep doing campaigns. I love saying “I made this!” And over time, I would love to get all my backlist into special editions. A repeatable process I'm still doing similar kinds of rewards — the book in all editions — and it's all finished so it's lower stress. Even the audiobook narration is done, so I can fulfil immediately. There's just the live discovery writing webinar to do, and stretch goal Q&A and consulting sessions. I'm also doing bundles, and all my backlist gets bundled in the add-ons, so I have a repeatable process, which makes things easier. Using AI in production I'm using more AI, specifically in the images and video. I love making book images with ChatGPT and Gemini's Nano Banana, and story images with Midjourney, and I use ElevenLabs with my voice clone for audiobooks. I fill in all the details in the AI section of the Kickstarter page, so you can go have a look at that and model it as you like. Spike income, realistic expectations I still like the spike income — but to be clear, my campaigns have varied in terms of financial success, as would be expected given they are all so different. My highest was Writing the Shadow at over £36,000 ($48,000), and my lowest was The Buried and the Drowned, a short story collection, at just under £8,000 ($10,700) — not a surprise at how different they are, given the audiences. Together my campaigns have now made £105,868 (just over $140,000), which I am very happy with. And of course, that's just the beginning, as then I put the books on my stores — JFPennBooks.com and CreativePennBooks.com — and on the usual platforms. A sustainable launch rhythm I still like the project approach — the short-term campaign focus — as I am good at sustaining marketing energy for a short period, and then I can drop off again. As I discussed with Sara Rosett last week as well, it feels sustainable for my career, unlike constant social media or ads. Lower-key marketing this time around I'm putting a lot less energy into marketing in general, relying on pre-launch signups over months of build-up as I talk about my writing process on the podcast, then emailing my lists, announcing it here, and scheduling some social media. It's pretty low-key these days, and that is a happy thing. However, for this campaign, I am planning to run some Meta ads direct to the campaign page, since I have Claude Code/Cowork to help me set them up and run them and crunch the data — and that takes the strain off considerably. More campaigns to come I will definitely be doing more Kickstarter campaigns, most likely a nonfiction one next. I am so glad I was able to get over my fears and do that first one, and I hope that encourages you to consider what might be possible for you and your book. So, if you'd like to check out my campaign for Bones of the Deep — even if you don't want the book, you can always model the sales page, or check out the book trailer — it's at JFPenn.com/bones. That link will go to the Kickstarter campaign from 20 April until early May 2026, and will then redirect. The post Kickstarter Tips for Authors: Rewards, Shipping, Marketing, and Lessons Learned first appeared on The Creative Penn.

Before a trading app reaches a user, there is an entire system underneath it doing the real heavy lifting.In this episode of Couchonomics with Arjun, Arjun is joined by Yoshi Yokokawa, Co-Founder and CEO of Alpaca, for a sharp and wide-ranging conversation on brokerage infrastructure, on-chain finance, market access, and what it really takes to build financial products at global scale.It is a grounded look at how trading has shifted from web to mobile to on-chain, why financial access still needs to be designed around culture and local behaviour, and what happens when traditional markets and digital assets begin moving closer together.From tokenised stocks and stablecoins to prediction markets and infrastructure complexity, this conversation explores the less visible layer of finance, the one powering the apps, products, and experiences users see on the surface.They also discuss why infrastructure should behave like a utility, what responsibilities licensed platforms carry around investor protection and market integrity, and why the long-term shift toward on-chain finance may be less about ideology and more about real product-market fit.

Welcome to Show Me The Money Club live show with Sergio and Chris Tuesdays 6pm est/3pm pst.

Er gehört zu den Urgesteinen der europäischen Open Source Bewegung und legt es mit seinem Unternehmen darauf an, Microsoft möglichst viel Geschäft in Europa wegzunehmen: Frank Karlitschek ist heute mit Nextcloud mit einem Team 165 Mitarbeitern profitabel unterwegs und treibt gleichzeitig mit anderen europäischen Firmen Open Source Software als Alternative zu proprietärer US-Software voran. Im Podcast spricht Karlitschek über:☁️ Was ist Nextcloud und warum setzen europäische Ministerien auf die Open-Source-Alternative zu Microsoft 365

Get your AIO Audit Here - Comment AIO in comments boxRyan Martin interviews Steve Pover and Nicole Loftus from Clearer.Io and we cover off how and why eCommerce businesses are utilising their products to help conversion rate, trust and loyalty! If you're still pouring money into ads hoping for more growth… you're playing the wrong game.In this episode, we unpack the massive shift happening in eCommerce right now, where smart brands are no longer chasing traffic, but maximising every single visitor.Because here's the truth:

Bundling – By Bundling products and services together you will be able to differentiate from your competitors every time.Click Here to Subscribe to Positively Pipeman for PERKS, BONUS Content & FREE GIVEWAYS!Take some zany and serious journeys with The Pipeman aka Dean K. Piper, CST on The Adventures of Pipeman also known as Pipeman Radio syndicated globally “Where Who Knows And Anything Goes.”Positively Pipeman hosted by Dean K. Piper, CST features other international authors, speakers, trainers, advisors, coaches and other experts here to help you in business & personal life including Self-Help, Motivation, Business, Marketing, Empowerment, Spiritual, Inspiration, Health & Wellness, Relationships, Goal Setting, Belief Systems, Mindset, Sales, and so much more on your journey to Success, Freedom, and Happiness!Would you like to be a sponsor of the show?Would you like to have your business, products, services, merch, programs, books, music or any other professional or artistic endeavors promoted on the show?Would you like interviewed as a professional or music guest on The Adventures of Pipeman, Positively Pipeman and/or Pipeman in the Pit?Would you like to host your own Radio Show, Streaming TV Show, or Podcast?PipemanRadio Podcasts are heard on Pipeman Radio, Talk 4 Media, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and over 100 other podcast outlets where you listen to Podcasts.The following are the different podcasts to Follow, Listen, Download, Subscribe:•The Adventures of Pipeman•Pipeman Radio•Pipeman in the Pit – Music Interviews & Festivals•Positively Pipeman – Empowerment, Inspiration, Motivation, Self-Help, Business, Spiritual & Health & Wellness Click Here to Subscribe for PERKS, BONUS Content & FREE GIVEWAYS!Follow @pipemanradio on all socials &  Pipeman Radio Requests & Info at www.linktr.ee/pipemanradioStream The Adventures of Pipeman daily & live Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays at 1PM ET on W4CY Radio & Talk 4 TV. Download, Rate & Review the Podcast at The Adventures of Pipeman, Pipeman Radio, Talk 4 Media, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & All Podcast Apps.

Can one change add $400+ to every mattress sale? Discover the surprising secrets from Nationwide's Primetime event—plus a shocking pillow study!If you've ever wondered how top mattress and furniture retailers consistently boost their average ticket by $400—or why some stores keep thriving while others plateau—this episode is your playbook. Join Mark and Tara Kinsley as they report from Nationwide Marketing Group's Primetime event in Fort Lauderdale, sharing actionable strategies from industry leaders and AI experts.First, get the inside scoop on how to merchandise your store to sell the entire sleep system—adjustable bases, pillows, sheets, and protectors. (Hint: It starts before the customer ever walks in.) Learn why dressing your beds like mannequins and using bundle offers (good, better, best) can turbocharge conversion and make upsells effortless.You'll also hear about an industry pro who used AI to build a custom executive coach for 28 managers—and how you can deploy similar tools, no tech background required. Plus, the episode reveals a new approach to price drops that makes customers talk themselves into higher-end mattresses.Don't miss the shocking results of a pillow fitting study: properly fitted pillows gave customers 8 extra hours of sleep per month—a stat you can use to close more sales and improve customer health.Whether you're a retailer, sleep pro, or consumer wanting better sleep, these tips from industry insiders, brand leaders, and AI innovators will change the way you do business.Timestamps:03:10 – The $400 ticket increase: Merchandising secrets revealed 07:25 – Adjustable bases: The #1 way to boost dollars (and comfort) 12:40 – The pillow fitting study: 8 extra hours of sleep/month 18:15 – Bundling like a pro: Good, better, best offers made easy 22:02 – The AI Accelerator Lab fail (and how it's fixed) 25:45 – Real-world AI: Building an executive coach for 28 managers 31:55 – Price drop psychology: Why the 50% rule shocks customers 36:10 – Social media secrets: Consistency, trust, and the “search everywhere” mindset 41:00 – How leading brands (Ashley, Tempur-Sealy, Sweet Dreams) use AI and marketing 45:15 – The next big thing: Retailers demanding more from manufacturersConnect with The FAM Podcast:

Bundling – By Bundling products and services together you will be able to differentiate from your competitors every time.Click Here to Subscribe to The Adventures of Pipeman for PERKS, BONUS Content & FREE GIVEWAYS! Take some zany and serious journeys with The Pipeman aka Dean K. Piper, CST on The Adventures of Pipeman also known as Pipeman Radio syndicated globally “Where Who Knows And Anything Goes.”Positively Pipeman hosted by Dean K. Piper, CST features other international authors, speakers, trainers, advisors, coaches and other experts here to help you in business & personal life including Self-Help, Motivation, Business, Marketing, Empowerment, Spiritual, Inspiration, Health & Wellness, Relationships, Goal Setting, Belief Systems, Mindset, Sales, and so much more on your journey to Success, Freedom, and Happiness!Would you like to be a sponsor of the show?Would you like to have your business, products, services, merch, programs, books, music or any other professional or artistic endeavors promoted on the show?Would you like interviewed as a professional or music guest on The Adventures of Pipeman, Positively Pipeman and/or Pipeman in the Pit?Would you like to host your own Radio Show, Streaming TV Show, or Podcast?PipemanRadio Podcasts are heard on Pipeman Radio, Talk 4 Media, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and over 100 other podcast outlets where you listen to Podcasts.The following are the different podcasts to Follow, Listen, Download, Subscribe:•The Adventures of Pipeman•Pipeman Radio•Pipeman in the Pit – Music Interviews & Festivals•Positively Pipeman – Empowerment, Inspiration, Motivation, Self-Help, Business, Spiritual & Health & Wellness Click Here to Subscribe for PERKS, BONUS Content & FREE GIVEWAYS!Follow @pipemanradio on all socials & Pipeman Radio Requests & Info at www.linktr.ee/pipemanradioStream The Adventures of Pipeman daily & live Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays at 1PM ET on W4CY Radio & Talk 4 TV. Download, Rate & Review the Podcast at The Adventures of Pipeman, Pipeman Radio, Talk 4 Media, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & All Podcast Apps.

Season 20, Episode 33 of The Adventures of Pipeman.It's the Positively Pipeman weekly segment of The Adventures of Pipeman.Chapter 1:The Pet Health Guru is back and we will discuss Home Remedies for pets and humans that are all around us.Chapter 2:Michael Barbarita of Next Step CFO and Powerful Business Strategies will discuss Bundling – By Bundling products and services together you will be able to differentiate from your competitors every time.Click Here to Subscribe to The Adventures of Pipeman for PERKS, BONUS Content & FREE GIVEWAYS! Take some zany and serious journeys with The Pipeman aka Dean K. Piper, CST on The Adventures of Pipeman also known as Pipeman Radio syndicated globally “Where Who Knows And Anything Goes.”   Positively Pipeman hosted by Dean K. Piper, CST features other international authors, speakers, trainers, advisors, coaches and other experts here to help you in business & personal life including Self-Help, Motivation, Business, Marketing, Empowerment, Spiritual, Inspiration, Health & Wellness, Relationships, Goal Setting, Belief Systems, Mindset, Sales, and so much more on your journey to Success, Freedom, and Happiness!Would you like to be a sponsor of the show?Would you like to have your business, products, services, merch, programs, books, music or any other professional or artistic endeavors promoted on the show?Would you like interviewed as a professional or music guest on The Adventures of Pipeman, Positively Pipeman and/or Pipeman in the Pit?Would you like to host your own Radio Show, Streaming TV Show, or Podcast?   PipemanRadio Podcasts are heard on Pipeman Radio, Talk 4 Media, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Amazon Music, Audible, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and over 100 other podcast outlets where you listen to Podcasts.The following are the different podcasts to Follow, Listen, Download, Subscribe:•The Adventures of Pipeman•Pipeman Radio•Pipeman in the Pit – Music Interviews & Festivals•Positively Pipeman – Empowerment, Inspiration, Motivation, Self-Help, Business, Spiritual & Health & WellnessClick Here to Subscribe for PERKS, BONUS Content & FREE GIVEWAYS!Follow @pipemanradio on all socials & Pipeman Radio Requests & Info at www.linktr.ee/pipemanradioStream The Adventures of Pipeman daily & live Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays at 1PM ET on W4CY Radio & Talk 4 TV. Download, Rate & Review the Podcast at The Adventures of Pipeman, Pipeman Radio, Talk 4 Media, iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, YouTube & All Podcast Apps.

Millions of mobile, broadband, and TV customers will once again see their bills rise from 1 April due to annual price rises from some of Ireland's biggest telecom providers. The move toward 'annual' price increases began in 2022, with telecom providers using an inflation-linked formula to set yearly price rises. This has meant that households have seen the cost of their broadband and mobile plans soar by hundreds of euros over the last four years. Although inflation-linked pricing is being replaced with an annual flat-rate rise for newer customers (after mounting concerns from Comreg), these mid-term hikes can still cause a price shock. The changes to monthly bills may seem small, but the cumulative cost over multiple years can really add up – especially for households with more than one contract on the go. So what do the price rises mean for customers? Based on a typical family with 1 SIM-only contract, 1 Bill Pay contract, and a 1GB broadband & TV bundle, the increase since 2023 could have amounted to over €600 if they had stuck with the same supplier and hadn't switched when their contract ended. To combat this year's hikes, Switcher.ie has put together some money-saving tips on how to futureproof against annual price rises and cut your costs. 1. Switch to another discounted plan when your contract ends Plan ahead and start your broadband bargain hunt before your contract ends. Use comparison websites with an eircode checker to quickly find the cheapest options in your location. Ensure you factor in the price after the promotional period, as well as crucial features such as speed, contract duration, and any rewards or perks. 1. Bundle your broadband, TV & mobile Combine your broadband, TV and mobile services into a single package to reduce your monthly expenses. Many Irish households rely on streaming services like NOW and Netflix for sports and entertainment. Bundling broadband & TV, and adding your mobile SIM-only plan can lead to significant savings compared to individual plans. 1. Haggle for a better deal If you really don't want to leave your current provider, tell them you're thinking of leaving before jumping, and they may just pull out all the stops to keep you. Use comparison sites to find cheaper options and ask for a price match. You might get a lower price, but it's not guaranteed. 1. Switch to SIM only Save money with a SIM-only deal. If your phone contract is up and you're still happy with your phone, shop around for the cheapest SIM-only plan and try the smaller, no frills providers (they use the same networks as the bigger brands). Unlike bill-pay contracts, which include the cost of a new device, SIM-only deals just charge for calls, texts, and data, offering huge savings and flexible, shorter contracts. Eoin Clarke, Telecoms Expert at Switcher.ie comments: "Households will face a bundle of price hikes on April Fools' Day. Once again, some telecom giants are pushing up prices, with a few SIM-only contracts surging by over 15%. This year, more providers have moved towards a flat rate annual increase, which means that customers know what to expect – but it doesn't necessarily make it less costly. SIM-only customers could be stumping up an extra €2.50 per month, even on budget plans, due to flat-rate annual price rises. Even if your monthly price rise seems small, if you have several contracts running and you haven't switched over the last 3 or 4 years, you may now be paying up to 30% more than you did in 2023 just to keep in touch with friends and family, surf the internet or stream TV. The good news is that providers are, as ever, jostling for new customers, leading to some healthy discounts, welcome credits and great perks. Our advice is – don't delay and switch providers when your contract ends. The best deals are always offered to newcomers, so take advantage of any introductory discounts and bill credits. If peace of mind is more important or you're not keen on switching too often, remember: the cheap...

Cherene Aubert is the founder and CEO of Growth Capital, a premium growth agency primarily serving beauty and wellness brands. Learn more about Growth Capital at www.growthcapital.co.FOLLOW UP WITH ANDREW X: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://x.com/andrewjfaris⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Work with Andrew: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ajfgrowth.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠RICHPANELCut your support costs by 30% and reduce tickets by 30%—guaranteed—with Richpanel's AI-first Customer Service Platform that will reduce costs, improve agent productivity & delight customers at ⁠http://www.richpanel.com/partners/ajf?utm_source=spotify⁠.WASTENOTWasteNot filters out past buyers so your ads only reach new customers—lowering CAC and fueling growth. Get ad exclusions that finally work at https://wastenot.io.

This episode is a re-run. It was originally published in July 2024.Submitting all your changes at once is the fastest way to lose them all.Bundling variations might seem efficient, but it often backfires when the client picks them apart and delays payment.In this episode, we walk through the real cost of slow approvals, why your dispute resolution clause might be setting you up to fail, and how to strike fast settlements that protect your cash flow.Hit play to learn more.Struggling with unfair contracts or slow payments in construction? With 6,000+ contracts reviewed and $20 billion in contracts managed, Quantum Contracts' proven framework is designed to help you negotiate fair contracts, secure faster payments, avoid disputes, and improve cash flow.Don't let contract issues hold you back—gain the confidence to focus on growing your business. Ready to take control and make more profit per project?Click here to GRAB the FREE Industry Standards Guide: quantumcs.co/ISYtClick here to IMPROVE your contracts using the Quantum Contract System: quantumcs.co/Yt2025Click here to GAIN expert advice weekly for FREE: quantumcs.co/YTNewsOptInTimestamps:(1:45) - The real problem when it comes to contract management is there's so much misinformation out there(2:55) - Too often, the default next step is straight to court or arbitration, which can be prohibitively expensive(3:54) - Before signing any contract, review the dispute resolution clause, make sure there's an escalation process in place(5:51) - Inform your client that delays in approval are hurting your cash flow and your ability to commit to future changes(6:57) - Get in front of the decision-makers, present your case clearly, and be willing to compromiseDISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast does not constitute legal advice, is not intended to be a substitute for legal advice, and can not be relied upon as such. You should seek legal advice or other professional advice in relation to any matters you or your business may have.Follow our Socials and let's get connected! ⤵️⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter

The Transformation Ground Control podcast covers a number of topics important to digital and business transformation. This episode covers the following topics and interviews:   Microsoft's Bundling Regulatory Issues, Q&A (Darian Chwialkowski, Third Stage Consulting) Who Are the Best System Integrators In the Market (Guest, Third Stage Consulting) SAP RISE We also cover a number of other relevant topics related to digital and business transformation throughout the show.  

Drop us a message!Hey guys and welcome to Social In 10, your Monday morning ritual full of digital marketing insights to go with your coffee, brought to you by the team here at Giraffe Social with a range of other industry experts.In this episode, we're joined by Giles Tongue, Vice President of Marketing at Bango, to break down why subscription bundles outperform single-product offers for both acquisition and retention, and where brands most often get bundling wrong.Giles explores how partnership-led growth reshapes the role of marketing, especially when distribution, ecosystems, and platforms matter as much as demand creation. We dig into what it really takes to define a new category like Super Bundling, from product clarity to narrative and commercial proof.Plus, we're also speaking to Brianna Norman from Giraffe Social to get her thoughts on personal branding for in-house marketers. Learn how to build a visible, credible point of view online—without crossing professional boundaries or clashing with your employer.Want to be featured on the pod? Drop us a voice note on Instagram at @GiraffeSM. About Giraffe Social's Social in 10 Podcast Giraffe Social is a multi-disciplined digital marketing agency specialising in social media marketing based on the South Coast of the United Kingdom. We work with a wide range of industries, spanning from Fintech and L&D, to Beauty and Retail. Social in 10 is a weekly podcast about all things digital marketing. We discuss all the things social media managers want to know, including the latest platform updates, emerging trends, campaign ideas, and best practices to help you stay ahead of the curve. Whether you're managing multiple clients or growing your brand in-house, each episode is packed with actionable insights… all delivered in under ten minutes. Hosted by the Giraffe Social team, this is your fast, fun, no-fluff guide to making sense of social. New episodes every week, so tune in and level up your marketing game!

In the 1990s, Microsoft and Netscape fought for control of the browser, the gateway between humans and the internet. Netscape went from 90% market share to zero in five years. Now, with over 30 agentic browsers launching in under 18 months, the same war is playing out again, only this time the stakes are higher. This episode breaks down the 90s browser wars, compares the tactics to what's happening today, and explains what website owners should do about it.Key takeawaysThe playbook hasn't changed - Bundling, free products, proprietary lock-in, and distribution deals decided the 90s browser wars. The same tactics are playing out with agentic browsers today.Google is running Microsoft's 1995 playbook - Microsoft embedded IE into Windows to protect its OS monopoly. Google is embedding Gemini into Chrome to protect its search monopoly. The browser is the defensive weapon, not the product.The Chromium trap is deeper than IE bundling ever was - Most agentic browsers (Comet, Atlas, Neon) run on Google's Chromium engine. Even competitors are built on Google's foundation.The prize shifted from attention to transactions - The 90s fight was about what people see. The agentic browser fight is about what AI agents buy, book, and do on your behalf.Your website is the new Netscape - If AI agents mediate every user interaction, your site risks becoming invisible infrastructure rather than a destination.Regulation will be too late - The DOJ took 6 years to settle with Microsoft. Netscape was already dead. The same timeline is playing out with Google's antitrust case.What to do todayDon't optimize for one agentic browser. Build for web standards: semantic HTML, ARIA labels, structured data, server-side rendering.Build direct audience relationships (email, communities, subscriptions) so you're not dependent on browser intermediaries.Make your site worth visiting, not just worth scraping. Offer value an AI agent can't replicate.Treat accessibility as an agent strategy. Screen reader compatibility = AI agent compatibility.Test your site with an agentic browser to see what works and what breaks.Read the full agentic browser landscape breakdown: nohackspod.com/blog/agentic-browser-landscape-2026Chapters00:00 - Introduction01:34 - The First Browser War09:15 - The Agentic Browser Explosion12:48 - Why Is This Happening Now?16:15 - Where the 2026 Version Gets Worse21:27 - What This Means for Your Website23:14 - What to Do About It26:49 - ClosingConnectWebsite: https://nohackspod.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/slobodanmanic/Newsletter: https://nohackspod.com/subscribeNo Hacks is a podcast about web performance, technical SEO, and the agentic web. Hosted by Slobodan "Sani" Manic.

In this episode of Wash Talk: The Carwash Podcast, Rich DiPaolo speaks with Ro Krishna, VP of Car Wash at Way, about how customer data and retention are reshaping the carwash business. The conversation focuses on the growing pressure on margins, especially in high-volume express tunnels, and why speed and discounts alone are no longer enough to drive sustainable growth.   Krishna shares insights on underutilized capacity, declining memberships, and the lack of customer visibility that prevents operators from bringing customers back consistently. He also discusses how software and automation can simplify operations, empower frontline staff, and improve loyalty without disrupting existing systems.   The episode highlights a shift toward bundled value, smarter loyalty programs, and data-driven engagement beyond the wash lane. Krishna closes with guidance for operators planning ahead: long-term success will depend on knowing your customers and making each visit feel more personal.   Learn more at way.com/carwash.

Charlie Maggi explores investment migration's new baseline: CBI programs packaged with European access as clients demand layered mobility.View the full article here.Subscribe to the IMI Daily newsletter here. 

Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAlbert Chow built Silk & Snow in the shadow of the DTC mattress wars—but instead of racing to burn VC cash, he played the long game. Today, Silk & Snow has grown into a full home brand with 10 retail stores, a thriving Canadian customer base, and a strong U.S. expansion roadmap.For DTC founders scaling from $5M to $50M...Why they skipped the mattress arms race and leaned into vertical integrationHow bundling less (and planting trees instead) saved $1.3MWhat they learned scaling from 1 to 10 retail stores in a yearThe metrics they track now that ROAS is irrelevantWhy launching a sofa was more about customer affinity than furnitureWho this is for: Operators scaling past one SKU or one channel—and looking for a sustainable path to growth.What to steal:Bundling with purpose (optional tree planting vs. free stuff)Bottom-up brand building: low-funnel mastery firstHow to use DTC data to drive brick-and-mortar strategyTimestamps00:00 Organic growth and surviving the DTC mattress crash02:00 Entering the crowded mattress market in 201704:00 Why Silk and Snow became a full home brand06:00 Factory-first supply chain and Canadian manufacturing08:00 Launching with Kickstarter and early traction10:00 The 2019 DTC apocalypse and sustainable growth12:00 Expanding beyond mattresses into sleep accessories14:00 Functional vs aspirational buying in home goods16:00 Becoming a multi-channel retailer18:00 Using customer data to choose store locations20:00 Canada vs US growth strategy22:00 Building brand from the bottom of the funnel24:00 Replacing bundles with tree planting26:00 Performance marketing roots and early Google28:00 Shifting into awareness and brand media30:00 Why ROAS isn't the real growth signal32:00 Retail partnerships and staying DTC34:00 Black Friday for big-ticket home products36:00 Fulfillment, returns, and sustainability38:00 Repeat customers and long-term LTV40:00 Sleep Country acquisition and retail scale42:00 Vancouver store and physical retail strategyHashtags#DTC #EcommercePodcast #SilkAndSnow #AlbertChow #DTCBrands #HomeGoods #MattressIndustry #BrandBuilding #RetailStrategy #DirectToConsumer #EcommerceGrowth #StartupPodcast #FounderStory #CanadianBrands #PerformanceMarketing #Omnichannel #RetailExpansion #DTCpodcast Subscribe to DTC Newsletter - https://dtcnews.link/signupAdvertise on DTC - https://dtcnews.link/advertiseWork with Pilothouse - https://dtcnews.link/pilothouseFollow us on Instagram & Twitter - @dtcnewsletterWatch this interview on YouTube - https://dtcnews.link/video

Microsoft is bundling more separately priced features with Microsoft 365 SKUs, making the imminent inevitability of an E7 less likely. Directions analyst Wes Miller talks through the details and customer impact with Mary Jo Foley.

In this episode, we break down why you're sitting on a gold mine and leaving 60-70% of your revenue on the table. Every quote you run is a life insurance opportunity, but most P&C agents bolt it on at the end after the customer's mentally checked out. Then they wonder why they get "I have it through work" or "not right now."Here's what changes everything: Layer life insurance into the quote as complementary coverage, not an afterthought. When you position it naturally during the process instead of after, you eliminate resistance before it starts, make your book stickier, and finally stop letting carriers own your customers.I walk through the exact timing and language that turns every new household into a bundled account. If you're only closing auto and home, you're building half a business.Questions about enrolling your team in our Friday Live Training & Wednesday Live Role Play Calls? Click Here: https://insurancesalespro.org/bookcall-page Subscribe to Colter's FREE insurance sales trainings: Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-35rEOirer-rBo62SAokawApple Podcasts: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-producers-perspective/id1675925320 Spotify: ⁠https://open.spotify.com/show/0EYYJYvouM22DfuAcYjhiKFREE SCRIPT: https://insurancesalespro.org/opt-in-occc

This week's a big one: the squad kicks it off with Starlink on planes, Zoox vs. Waymo, and YouTube's skinny bundle before taking the big swing — data centers in space as the emerging SpaceX-IPO narrative. Sam and Dave break down the real entrepreneurship skill: tell the huge story, earn the trust multiple, and consistently deliver “20 cents on the dollar” to keep the flywheel of cash spinning (re: Elon Musk and Sam Altman but thread lightly, you don't want to end up like Elizabeth Holmes or Sam Bankman-Fried). Jess celebrates a win with The Information after getting CNBC to correct their reporting. Then they touch on how the backlash against AI is growing as the 101 billboards fill up with more AI company ads. From Sorkin's 1929 zeitgeist to smuggling Nvidia chips into China to “IPO everything and pray the American economy survives,” it's never a dull episode with Brit, Dave, Jess, and Sam. Stay tuned for next week's 2026 predictions… and drop yours in the comments.Chapters:05:50 Netflix vs Paramount - Who's going to win the deal and is this an Inverse AOL-Time Warner?16:56 Golden Globes nominees and Disney+'s Taylor Swift docuseries17:49 Bundling unbundling YouTube's skinny bundle and sports21:29 Starlink on planes = fewer redeyes24:55 Zoox vs Waymo28:15 Space GPUs and the data centers in space33:57 The modern entrepreneurship skill: narrative flywheel41:38 Jess's and The Information's win correcting CNBC's refuted chip story46:04 AI narrative in China vs US47:16 AI backlash: energy prices, water restraints, and kid's mental health52:06 The 101 Billboard Bubble Index57:17 Will the SpaceX, OpenAI, Anduril, or Anthropic IPOs save the economy?58:30 Sorkin's book predicted the AI bubble?We're also on ↓X: https://twitter.com/moreorlesspodInstagram: https://instagram.com/moreorlessYouTube: https://youtu.be/RiKVJD_3ziMConnect with us here:1) Sam Lessin: https://x.com/lessin2) Dave Morin: https://x.com/davemorin3) Jessica Lessin: https://x.com/Jessicalessin4) Brit Morin: https://x.com/brit

On the podcast, I talk with Greg about knowing when to pivot, why most consumer apps shouldn't raise VC, and why making free trials optional outperformed making them the default.Top Takeaways:

It's the final episode of 2025, and the moms are here for a cozy, chaotic, and heartfelt catch-up just in time to close out the year. In this chat, Katie and Hallie swap stories from the trenches, laugh through the madness, and share the lessons and intentions they're carrying into the new year.✨ This Episode: • Hallie vs. Chicago Snow: Hallie gives us the real talk on parenting in freezing temps. Bundling kids, battling ice , and trying to maintain sanity in Midwest winter? It's HARD raising kids in the cold!• Katie's Disneyland First-Timer Adventure: Katie took her girls to Disneyland for the very first time—and yes, she cried (in a very mom-at-Disney way). She also opens up about finally discovering the root of her youngest daughter's months of fussiness… ALLERGIES. A reminder to trust your gut, ask questions, and always advocate for your babies. She explains what is going on!• 2025 Year in Review: The moms reflect on what this whirlwind year taught them—about themselves, career and work, and in their motherhood journeys. Growth, grace, grit… and a whole lot of fun.Thank you for being part of our little community this year. New episodes return January 2026! Until then, happy holidays and hang in there, mamas. You're doing amazing. ✨See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

How Scott Built a Multimillion-Dollar Mattress Business in a Town of 4,400What does it take to turn a tiny-town mattress store into a multimillion-dollar powerhouse? In this episode, Scott breaks down the mindset, systems, and sales strategies that transformed his business — and the insights are pure gold for any retailer.From the phrase that changed his store culture (“Best day in history”) to creating a contagious team energy, Scott reveals how elite retailers think, act, and WIN.Whether you're selling luxury mattresses, leading a retail team, or navigating tough economic seasons, this episode is stacked with actionable takeaways you can use today.03:05 — The sales phrase that changed everything (“Best day in history”)06:30 — Why average stores lose (and how to make your team contagious)10:45 — The ‘funk' mindset: Energizing teams and crushing comfort zones15:55 — Elite vs. average: What Sleep Summit taught top retailers21:55 — The untold secret to selling luxury mattresses to ANY customer24:30 — Adjustable base “flat” button: The four-letter word you should never say28:57 — Why advertising in a recession is your secret weapon (with hard numbers)41:05 — The ‘bed bundle' strategy: Effortless upsells that delight customers51:30 — Unreasonable hospitality: Turning friction into fun and fansWhat's YOUR #1 tip for bringing the funk and standing out in retail? Drop it in the comments!Join thousands of sleep-optimizers and business leaders sharing their best ideas every week — subscribe and be part of The FAM.Ready to transform your business? Reach out to Scott or visit thefam.com for more insider strategies.LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-fam-mattress/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@forallthingsmattressInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/forallthingsmattress/?hl=enFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/thefamnewsSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4wvSqPZaxehCSmwRpByLi4?si=65a6aa9c5be54b58Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-fam-podcast-with-mark-kinsley/id1452601818#MattressIndustry #SleepScience #RetailSuccess #CustomerExperience #BringTheFunk

Watch us on YouTube!Ed and Paul dive deep into OpenAI's massive long-term compute commitments and what it means for the company's economics, competitive positioning, and the broader AI arms race. They break down the tension between explosive revenue growth and unprecedented spending, the venture-logic behind “land-grab” behavior, and the risks these commitments pose to both vendors and competitors. In the second half, the conversation turns to Microsoft Teams, the EU's antitrust ruling, and the messy realities of bundling, competition, and predatory pricing — all served with classic Results Junkies candor, startup-operator logic, and more than a few cheeseburger metaphors. Topics & Timestamps 00:05 – Opening banter & travel logistics Ed and Paul compare time zones, Vegas scenery, and the eternal quest for a cheeseburger. 01:04 – Housekeeping Where to find Ed and Paul online; quick reminders for Results Junkies listeners. 01:20 – OpenAI's staggering compute spend Discussing the article outlining OpenAI's commitment to tens of billions in annual compute spending — and why the math seems wild compared to current revenue. 03:20 – Revenue vs. spend: does the model scale? How OpenAI reportedly moved from $1.7B to $12B annualized revenue in ~18 months — and whether that trajectory justifies a $60B/year commitment. 04:40 – Venture-style land-grab logic Why this looks like a classic “spend now, dominate later” strategy — just at an unprecedented scale. 06:00 – What happens if OpenAI misses the commitment? Exploring the vendor-risk problem: what does a partner do when they're left $10–20B short? 07:27 – Founders vs. investors: who's really risking what? Why downside risk isn't shared equally — especially when founders have little capital invested. 08:04 – Barriers to competition increase dramatically The larger these commitments get, the harder it becomes for smaller AI startups to realistically compete. 08:35 – Capacity lock-up strategies Why monopolizing vendor resources may be a conscious competitive tactic. 09:17 – Transition to Microsoft Teams & Slack's EU complaint Ed outlines the EU's ruling requiring Microsoft to unbundle Teams and adjust pricing. 10:58 – Is this really a European-only issue? A look at how bundling plays out in the US market as well. 11:36 – The role of precedent Can EU regulatory pressure spill into US practice? 12:22 – Government-mandated pricing: tricky territory Paul reacts to the idea of regulators dictating price gaps — and why it feels risky through a startup-operator lens. 14:01 – Is Teams effectively a “free burger”? Ed argues that bundling Teams at near-zero cost resembles predatory pricing designed to box out Slack. 15:49 – Revisiting antitrust basics Where's the line between aggressive competition and anti-competitive behavior? 17:33 – Airline analogy: when incumbents crush challengers Ed recounts how United Airlines once priced a regional competitor out of existence — and why the dynamic resembles the Microsoft–Slack situation. 18:59 – Could giants always “out-capacity” challengers? Why big players can add supply and out-discount smaller competitors indefinitely. 20:01 – Independence Air and the Dulles example A real-world case study in predatory pricing and market power. 22:12 – The free-market debate A nuanced discussion on where regulators should intervene. 23:01 – US vs. Microsoft (2000s) Why the landmark browser-bundling case still matters today. 25:17 – How defaults create de-facto monopolies Browsers then; team-collaboration suites now. 27:01 – Why Teams frustrates so many users Ed's legendary rant: stability issues, UX complaints, and cross-platform challenges. 28:29 – The cheeseburger episode idea A running joke about turning Results Junkies into a Bourdain-style food-and-business hybrid. 28:48 – More Vegas talk & logistics Travel schedule, long hotel stays, and construction-trip life. 30:07 – How Vegas won over Dana Why today's Vegas is more dining and convenience than chaos. 30:30 – Cheeseburger Day, store openings & invites Future events, potential travel, and family logistics. We'd love it if you'd leave us a rating.  It takes less than a minute and really helps us out.  Just click here!If you've got a comment or question for the show, you can e-mail us at show@resultsjunkies.com.  You can find Paul and Ed  online @paulsingh and @pizzainmotion.

What if you could make your hardest habits feel easier—without relying on willpower? There's a simple, science-backed strategy that pairs what you “should” do with something you “want” to do, so you actually look forward to it. The good news is, you don't need more motivation. Instead, can create instant gratification that makes you want to keep engaging in a habit like going to the gym or doing chores. Some of the things I share are: What “temptation bundling” is—and why it works in your brain The dopamine-based reason this makes good habits stick One strict rule that transforms chores into treats (and why cheating ruins it) How temptation bundling differs from habit stacking and commitment devices Real-life examples you can copy for the gym, cleaning, travel, and taxes The mistake that makes bundles fail (competing attention) and how to avoid it Mentally Strong App ⁠Get Free Mental Strength Coaching for This Episode — ⁠⁠Episode 260 Exercise⁠⁠ Try this exercise hands-free — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Episode 260 Exercise Voice (Subscribers only) ⁠Subscribe to the app to unlock all the features — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MentallyStrong.Downpat.Ai⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with the Show Buy a copy of ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Amy on Instagram — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@AmyMorinAuthor⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Visit my website — ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AmyMorinLCSW.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Sponsors OneSkin — Get 15% off OneSkin with the code STRONGER at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.oneskin.co/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  Quince — Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Quince.com/stronger⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for free shipping on your order and 365 day returns! Shopify — Sign up for your one-dollar-per-month trial period at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Shopify.com/mentallystronger⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ L-Nutra — Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ProlonLife.com/MS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to claim your 15% discount and your bonus gift. Jones Road Beauty — Use code STRONGER at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠jonesroadbeauty.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to get a Free Cool Gloss with your first purchase! #JonesRoadBeauty #ad Lola Blankets — Get 35% off your entire order at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Lolablankets.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ by using code STRONGER at checkout. Experience the world's #1 blanket with Lola Blankets. AirDoctor — Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠AirDoctorPro.com ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and use promo code STRONGER to get UP TO $300 off today! BetterHelp — This episode is sponsored by/brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠betterhelp.com/mentallystrong⁠⁠⁠⁠ AquaTru — Go to ⁠⁠⁠AquaTru.com⁠⁠⁠ now for 20% off using promo code STRONGER Uncommon Goods — Go to ⁠⁠⁠UncommonGoods.com/Stronger⁠⁠⁠ for 15% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Summary Discover how Passive Income Angel hit a $10K month on Etsy by mastering trends, timing, and creative strategy. In this episode, Cody Berman dives into Angel's journey from early struggles to thriving in the print-on-demand world. She reveals how to spot seasonal product trends, time listings 8–12 weeks before holidays, and use micro niches to boost visibility and sales. Learn how AI tools, personalization, and bundling can set your shop apart — and why understanding keyword research and aesthetics across holidays can unlock year-round sales.

In this episode, Carly and Sherry celebrate 99 episodes by unpacking retail psychology and how small pricing details make a big difference. They break down the power of the 99 effect, charm pricing, and bundling, plus how ambiance — lighting, scent, and music — can instantly influence how customers feel and buy.Takeaways:Prices ending in 9 can boost sales by up to 20%.Bundling increases perceived value.Lighting, scent, and music shape buying behavior.“Free” offers outperform discounts.Scarcity and color psychology drive urgency.Retail is both an art and a science — and mastering these small details can create big results.Connect with the Pet Shop Girls!Find us everywhere: https://linktr.ee/petshopgirlsConnect with Carly (House of Paws):https://www.instagram.com/houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.tiktok.com/@houseofpawsboutiquehttps://www.facebook.com/houseofpawsboutiqueConnect with Sherry (Odyssey Pets):https://www.facebook.com/odysseypetshttps://www.instagram.com/odysseypetshttps://linktr.ee/odysseypetsdallasThe Pet Shop Girls Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by our hosts and guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of any sponsors or partners. Any business, marketing, or pet care advice shared on this podcast is general in nature and may not apply to your specific situation. The Pet Shop Girls Podcast and its hosts are not liable for any outcomes related to the use of the information discussed.

‘Bundling' is a well-known business strategy, especially in tech, where it's not only used to increase sales and move slow-selling products, but also to tie customers into an ecosystem (such as Apple or Microsoft).So what about all the unbundling that's been happening in agtech recently? While historically we've seen seed companies offer bundled options, such as seeds, crop management, and data products, there is now a trend towards ‘unbundling' in agriculture. This is exemplified by Corteva's recent decision to unbundle its seed and crop protection divisions into two publicly traded companies. Similarly, Farmers Business Network(FBN) has also spun off its global crop solutions business from its digital marketplace. In this episode, Sarah Nolet unpacks the bundling/unbundling dilemma in agtech with Shane Thomas, founder of Upstream Ag Insights and Matthew Pryor, Founding Partner at Tenacious Ventures. They discuss:The strategic impacts of unbundling for companies such as FBN and Corteva, as well as the broader impacts on farmers and markets.The market dynamics that encourage companies to bundle or unbundle.How Large Language Models (LLMs) are being used in agtech, including Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and other AI frameworks.Shane Thomas' new AskUpstream AI tool.Recent acquisitions in agtech, such as the Growers Edge acquisition of FarmTestUseful Links:What Corteva's Seed and Chemical Split Could Mean For Your Farm, Successful Farming Growers Edge Acquires FarmTest, Growers EdgeFarmers Business Network the latest to spin off company, following Corteva, Kraft Heinz, AgFunderNewsDTN acquires Grain Discovery, DTNAlphaEarth, Google DeepMindKraft Heinz to split a decade after merger in a bid to revive growth, The GuardianFor more information and resources, visit our website. The information in this post is not investment advice or a recommendation to invest. It is general information only and does not take into account your investment objectives, financial situation or needs. Before making an investment decision you should seek financial advice from a professional financial adviser. Whilst we believe the information is correct, we provide no warranty of accuracy, reliability or completeness.

Richard H. Thaler is the 2017 recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to behavioral economics and the Charles R. Walgreen Distinguished Service Professor of Behavioral Science and Economics at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He is the New York Times bestselling co-author of Nudge: Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness and the author of Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics. His new book is The Winner's Curse: Behavioral Economics Anomalies, Then and Now. My co-host for this conversation is Nick Kokonas. Nick is an entrepreneur, investor, and author best known as the co-founder of The Alinea Group (sold in 2024) and the reservation platform Tock, which is now owned by American Express.This episode is brought to you by:Seed's DS-01® Daily Synbiotic broad spectrum 24-strain probiotic + prebiotic: https://Seed.com/Tim (Use code 25TIM for 25% off your first month's supply)ExpressVPN high-speed, secure, and anonymous VPN service: https://www.expressvpn.com/tim (get 4 months free on their annual plans)AG1 all-in-one nutritional supplement: https://DrinkAG1.com/Tim (1-year supply of Vitamin D plus 5 free AG1 travel packs with your first subscription purchase.)*For show notes and past guests on The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast.For deals from sponsors of The Tim Ferriss Show, please visit tim.blog/podcast-sponsorsSign up for Tim's email newsletter (5-Bullet Friday) at tim.blog/friday.For transcripts of episodes, go to tim.blog/transcripts.Discover Tim's books: tim.blog/books.Follow Tim:Twitter: twitter.com/tferriss Instagram: instagram.com/timferrissYouTube: youtube.com/timferrissFacebook: facebook.com/timferriss LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/timferrissSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our cognitive biases and ego can muddy the waters of our minds and block the path to clear communication. Today's episode provides strategies on how to be both a more effective thinker and communicator. Topics: Communication problems in relationships, business and writing Cognitive blockers to clarity How to identify and maintain a grip on the most important thing What bundling and unbundling can apply to problem-solving and communication Freebies Episode prompts - ⁠Clarity Problem Solving Worksheet⁠ Influence the Show Meet me - ⁠Free call⁠ Feedback - ⁠Request and Ideas Form⁠ Growth Mindset pod Sam Webster explores the psychology of happiness, satisfaction, purpose, and growth through the lens of self-improvement. Watch - ⁠YouTube (Growth Mindset)⁠ Mail - GrowthMindsetPodcast(at)gmail.com Insta - ⁠SamJam.zen⁠ Newsletter - ⁠Explosive Thinking⁠ Chapters 00:00 The Curse of Overlooking the Obvious 03:13 Romantic Communication 05:38 The Goal of Simple, Clear Communication 11:42 Concept of Bundling and Unbundling Things 15:21 Applying Bundling and Unbundling to Problem-Solving 16:45 Using Bundling and Unbundling for Clear Communication 19:40 Making the Obvious Obvious 20:34 An Invitation to Chat 21:46 Send Off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this episode, Jodi explains why direct sales have become the future of independent publishing and a must-have strategy for business-owner authors. She shares the pros and cons of selling books directly, why it offers more control, and how it helps you increase ROI by using customer data, sales multipliers, and bundling strategies.   Time Stamps: 00:00 – Welcome and episode introduction 01:00 – The shift away from Amazon and third-party sellers 03:00 – Industry insight from Joanna Penn on direct sales as “the future” 05:30 – Why control matters for business-owner authors 09:00 – Print-on-demand eliminates storage headaches 12:00 – The real costs of selling direct (and why they're manageable) 15:00 – The pros: customer data, retargeting, and sales multipliers 20:00 – Bundling strategies and increasing the value of each sale 24:00 – Comparing royalties: direct vs. Amazon 29:00 – Why third-party sellers don't care about your business growth 34:00 – The ROI of direct sales and next steps for authors 38:00 – Final thoughts and wrap-up   Keywords: direct sales, book marketing, author profit, sales multipliers, bundling, print on demand, self-publishing, independent publishing, ROI for authors, author platform, business ecosystem, book as marketing tool, customer data, Amazon alternatives   Resources Mentioned: Coffee + Commas signup: https://bit.ly/coffeeandcommassignup Ready Set Write Challenge: www.jodibrandoneditorial.com/readysetwrite   LINK TO FULL EPISODE (RAW) TRANSCRIPT: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CKCFcVHZun2eNGJeHefygLh0Vzm0qu0aDpVk52ttaP0/edit?usp=sharing  

The European Commission has closed its antitrust investigation into Microsoft’s bundling of Teams with Office 365, Gmail rolls out a new “Purchases” tab, and OpenAI and Microsoft have reached a revised partnership agreement. MP3 Please SUBSCRIBE HERE for free or get DTNS Live ad-free. A special thanks to all our supporters–without you, none of thisContinue reading "The European Commission Closed Its Antitrust Investigation Into Microsoft Teams Bundling – DTH"

This week on The Data Stack Show, Eric Dodds and John Wessel explore how AI is reshaping the data industry, focusing on the ongoing cycles of bundling and unbundling within data infrastructure. They discuss the potential for closed ecosystems like Notion to deliver personalized, integrated experiences and examine recent industry moves such as Fivetran's acquisitions. The conversation also highlights the challenges faced by both startups and incumbents, the influence of enterprise customers on product development, and the enduring importance of trade-offs when choosing between bundled and unbundled solutions. Key takeaways include the complexity of implementing AI across platforms, the likelihood that market cycles will persist despite technological advances, and the need for organizations to carefully weigh integration, flexibility, and long-term risk when adopting new data tools.Highlights from this week's conversation include:AI's Value and Early Ecosystem Integration (1:11)Closed Ecosystems and AI Opportunities (3:21)Personalized Software and the Blank Page Problem (6:17)Transition to Data Industry: Bundling Trends (9:56)Market Cycles and AI's Role in Bundling (12:56)Incumbents, Innovation, and AI Layering (15:53Longevity of Legacy Systems and Ecosystem Risks (17:56)Switching Costs and Incumbent Advantages (20:33)People Dynamics and the Startup-to-Incumbent Arc (22:50)Enterprise Data Infrastructure: Engineering Challenges (26:33)Fragmentation, Bundling Value, and AI's Insulation Effect (29:54)Too Many Tools: The Real Meaning Behind Bundling Demand (31:36)Trade-offs in Bundling, Unbundling, and AI (33:40)Final Thoughts and Takeaways (34:34)The Data Stack Show is a weekly podcast powered by RudderStack, customer data infrastructure that enables you to deliver real-time customer event data everywhere it's needed to power smarter decisions and better customer experiences. Each week, we'll talk to data engineers, analysts, and data scientists about their experience around building and maintaining data infrastructure, delivering data and data products, and driving better outcomes across their businesses with data.RudderStack helps businesses make the most out of their customer data while ensuring data privacy and security. To learn more about RudderStack visit rudderstack.com.

Send me a text (I will personally respond)Are you wondering how to leverage unconventional go-to-market strategies to accelerate growth in cybersecurity? Curious about integrating cyber insurance into your offer to stand out in a crowded landscape? This episode provides answers by spotlighting a company bucking the traditional playbook—and winning.In this conversation we discuss:

This week's podcast is about why bundling (and cross-selling and upselling) are so powerful in digital. Plus, some thoughts on why data moats are mostly not real.You can listen to this podcast here, which has the slides and graphics mentioned. Also available at iTunes and Google Podcasts.Here is the link to the TechMoat Consulting.Here is the link to our Tech Tours.Here is the article on bundling by Chris Dixon.How bundling benefits sellers and buyersA lot of thinking on data as a moat comes from these articles by Martin Casado, Julian Wright and Andre Hagiu.The Empty Promise of Data MoatsWhen Data Creates Competitive AdvantageHere are 7 complications I mentioned about bundling.Bundling requires a a robust product suite.You want a low attach rate. So you don't cannibalize products by bundling.Bundling can complicate the customer experience and buying journey.Bundling works best when all customers have similar total willingness to pay. But different tastes.Unlimited bundles (subscriptions) can have problems if there are non-zero product costs.Unlimited bundles (subscriptions) do limit revenue per user. This is a problem when willingness to pay is positively correlated with demand for variety.Subscription models do not reward superstar creators very well. ----------I am a consultant and keynote speaker on how to accelerate growth with improving customer experiences (CX) and digital moats.I am a partner at TechMoat Consulting, a consulting firm specialized in how to increase growth with improved customer experiences (CX), personalization and other types of customer value. Get in touch here.I am also author of the Moats and Marathons book series, a framework for building and measuring competitive advantages in digital businesses.This content (articles, podcasts, website info) is not investment, legal or tax advice. The information and opinions from me and any guests may be incorrect. The numbers and information may be wrong. The views expressed may no longer be relevant or accurate. This is not investment advice. Investing is risky. Do your own research.Support the show

Let's Think About "Bundling Investments" With Special Guest Joel Miller Joel shares his thoughts on bundling investments, reminding people that, depending on their financial goals, there is a way to make them possible. While learning about Joel, we discussed different types of investments and how investing doesn't have to be as difficult as it may appear. This episode aims to make you think.   To stay in touch, please visit his website, https://www.flamesfp.com/, to learn more about Joel. 

#552 Think you're not creative enough to sell on Etsy? Think again. In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we sit down with Debbie Gartner, a math and science-minded entrepreneur who turned a simple side hustle into a thriving digital product business. With over 30,000 sales and an average of $6K/month in revenue, Debbie shares how she's built a systematized, low-stress income stream selling printable games and activities — without any inventory, shipping, or artistic background. Whether you're a total beginner or looking to expand your digital product empire, her insights on SEO, niching down, scaling with templates, and finding endless product inspiration will leave you inspired to take action! What we discuss with Debbie: + Starting a digital product side hustle + Why Etsy digital beats print-on-demand + Creating and scaling with templates + Turning life experiences into products + Using SEO to boost Etsy visibility + Bundling products to increase sales + Finding endless product inspiration + Managing 500+ listings efficiently + Building repeat buyers with email + Generating $6K/month in passive income Thank you, Debbie! Get Debbie's free course, Start Your Etsy Shop. Join a 30-Day Challenge. Learn SEO for Etsy. To get access to our FREE Business Training course go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠MillionaireUniversity.com/training⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. And follow us on: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Youtube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ To get exclusive offers mentioned in this episode and to support the show, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠millionaireuniversity.com/sponsors⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. Want to hear from more incredible entrepreneurs? Check out all of our interviews ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Follow me @samirkaji for my thoughts on the venture market, with a focus on the continued evolution of the VC landscape.Welcome back to another episode of Venture Unlocked, the podcast that takes you behind the scenes of the business of venture capital.In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Alex Robinson, CEO and Co-Founder of Juniper Square. We talked about the evolution of private markets and the transformative role of technology and AI in fund administration. We also discussed the inefficiencies that inspired Juniper Square's founding, the challenges of scaling operations for both institutional and individual investors, and the ongoing push for greater transparency between GPs and LPs. Alex shared insights on how AI is set to revolutionize knowledge work in the industry, streamline workflows, and enhance the investor experience. Key takeaways include the critical importance of embracing technology to drive efficiency, the growing impact of AI on fund management, and the need for adaptability as the private markets continue to evolve.Thanks for listening to another episode of Venture Unlocked. We hope you enjoyed our conversation with Alex. If you'd like to get Venture Unlocked content straight to your inbox, go to ventureunlocked.substack.com and sign up, or go to Apple Podcasts or Spotify and subscribe. Thanks again for listeningBio of Guest:Alex Robinson is the CEO and Co-Founder of Juniper Square, a leading investment management software platform transforming private markets. With a background in engineering and business, Alex previously held product and leadership roles at top technology firms, including Microsoft and Boston Consulting Group. His own experience as a limited partner inspired the creation of Juniper Square in 2014, aiming to modernize and simplify the private investment process. Under his leadership, the company has grown to serve over 2,500 GPs and over 600,000 LPs, managing tens of thousands of investment funds. Alex is recognized as a driving force behind digitizing private markets and expanding investor access through innovation and transparency.Juniper Square is a leading investment management platform designed to streamline operations for private equity, real estate, and venture capital firms. The platform helps General Partners (GPs) manage fundraising, investor reporting, and fund administration through intuitive, data-rich software. Since its founding in 2014, Juniper Square has become a trusted partner to over 2,500 GPs and supports more than 600,000 Limited Partners (LPs) across more than 40,000 investment funds. By replacing outdated systems with modern, transparent tools, Juniper Square is transforming how private markets operate and expanding access for investors worldwide.Timestamps:In this episode, we discuss:* Founding Motivation for Juniper Square (2:00)* Early Focus on Real Estate and LP Trends (6:13)* Complexity and Lack of Standardization in Private Markets (11:40)* Impact of Technology on LP Experience (15:34)* Transparency Evolution in Private Markets (19:15)* Differences Across Asset Classes and Regulation (23:15)* Strategic Decisions and Market Surprises (26:09)* Bundling and the Future of Wealth Channel Access (30:43)* AI's Impact on Private Markets and Fund Operations (33:44)* The GP of 2030: AI and Capital Formation (37:49)* AI and Labor Market Disintermediation (42:07)* Future Vision and Company Outlook (44:07)* Final Thoughts and Takeaways (47:07)I'd love to know what you took away from this conversation with Alex. Follow me @SamirKaji and give me your insights and questions with the hashtag #venture unlocked. If you'd like to be considered as a guest or have someone you'd like to hear from (GP or LP), drop me a direct message on X. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit ventureunlocked.substack.com

What Is Pricing Power?The ability to charge what you're worth—without losing customers.Without it, you're running a charity, not a business.The 1% Rule:A 1% price increase = 11% profit boost (if volume stays constant).Strategy 1: Value-Based PricingStop pricing based on time or competitors.Price based on the financial impact of the problem you solve.Strategy 2: The Confidence TestIf you're not losing 10–20% of clients on price, you're undercharging.Apple is a masterclass in this.Strategy 3: Anchoring and BundlingLead with your premium offer.Use high-medium-low pricing tiers to make your middle option shine.Action Steps This Week:Calculate the value you deliver.Raise your prices 10% (for new customers).Use price anchors in your offer structure.Quote of the Episode:“If you're not occasionally losing customers to price, you're undercharging. Period.”

Bundling is one of the most powerful—and most ignored—ways to grow your Amazon business profitably. In this episode of Built by Business, Andy breaks down how to use Amazon product bundling to increase your average order value, boost profitability, and defend your listings from hijackers.   Whether you're using Amazon Virtual Bundles or creating physical kits with custom packaging, the strategy is the same: give customers more value while boosting your margin.   Andy covers what types of bundles actually work, how to name and position them, and how to avoid the biggest bundling mistakes sellers make.   All my resources here: www.andyisom.com   2 FREE Months of Sellerboard: https://sellerboard.com/?p=01393

In this week's Fast Five Podcast, sponsored by the A&M Consumer and Retail Group, Simbe, Mirakl, Ocampo Capital, Infios, and ClearDemand, Amazon is testing aggressive grocery bundling by showing 100+ food items during regular checkout flows. We analyze whether this interstitial approach can change deeply ingrained shopping habits and why Walmart has a massive advantage in the grocery recommendation game. Timestamps: 29:28 - Bundling strategy details 30:08 - Intent vs behavior mismatch 31:03 - Walmart's positioning advantage 31:43 - Recommendation engine comparison Catch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/3lsaTBvBuMs #AmazonGrocery #GroceryDelivery #OnlineGrocery #AmazonFresh #RetailStrategy

On this week's show we ask, how satisfied are you with your streaming service providers? We also read your emails and take a look at the week's news. News: Prime Video has 88% of customers on ad-supported plans Amazon gearing up to roll out new Fire TV OS on streaming player Roku announces 2 new streaming sticks starting at just $30 Max begins password-sharing crackdown Other: Aiwa: Then and Now State of Streaming: Satisfaction with streaming providers (The Streamable) How are Americans really feeling about their streaming services? Recently, we surveyed nearly 1,500 cord-cutters to get a clearer picture of how people are watching, what they're paying, and which services they are most satisfied with. The results reveal shifting habits in a saturated streaming market and point to what matters most as we speed right through 2025. Full article here… Streaming services people use: YouTube TV: 30% Hulu + Live TV: 10% Sling TV: 7% DIRECTV STREAM – 6% Fubo: 3% Philo: 3% DIRECTV via internet: 2% Dish: 2% None of the above: 38% Are subscribers satisfied? Despite rising subscription costs and service fragmentation, 58% of users are satisfied with their streaming experience, 33% are neutral, and only 9% are dissatisfied. This high satisfaction rate, despite 2024's price hikes and content reshuffles, is likely due to improved app performance, better device compatibility, and more tailored subscription options. How many services do people use? In 2025, streaming is typically a multi-platform experience: 49% of households subscribe to 2-4 services, 38% use 5 or more, and only 12% stick to a single service. Content fragmentation drives users to stack subscriptions for their favorite shows and sports, a shift from the cable era, making multiple subscriptions the norm for convenience. Monthly spending on streaming The typical streaming bill has surged, with 35% of users spending $50-$100 monthly, often on live TV and multiple on-demand subscriptions. Additionally, 26% spend over $100, likely on premium plans or add-ons, while only 19% keep costs at $25 or less by limiting subscriptions or using free trials. Streaming costs and complexity now rival traditional cable bills. Bundled benefits Bundling is a popular cost-saving strategy, with 31% of respondents accessing streaming through Amazon Prime and 14% via phone bills, often getting discounted or free access to platforms like Netflix or Disney+. However, 36% prefer direct subscriptions or find their preferred platforms aren't bundled, showing bundling is common but not universal. Churn vs. loyalty In 2025, 70% of users showed strong loyalty to their existing services, indicating platform stickiness despite subscription fatigue. However, 50% canceled at least one streaming service in 2024, driven by cyclical pauses, price hikes, or lack of content. Unlike cable, streaming subscriptions are easily canceled, leading to dynamic, seasonal churn, with some users returning for new content. What matters most? Here are the features that matter most to users: Affordable pricing Access to local channels Live sports availability Device compatibility (smart TVs, streaming sticks, etc.) Channel variety Reliable streaming quality DVR functionality Support for 4K resolution and surround sound (less critical) Preferred streaming devices Smart TVs are the top choice for streaming, used by 56% of viewers, followed by Roku devices at 44%, then Fire TV, Apple TV, and web/mobile viewing. This highlights a trend toward living room, lean-back streaming experiences over desktop viewing, driven by widespread smart TV adoption and improved built-in apps.    

04-03-25 - Stupid Local News Story On Lil League Moms Bundling Up in 60 Degree Temps - Ill Teacher Latest Busted For Sex w/Student Means It's Time To Toss Your Kid's PhonesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.