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Podcast editors, have you ever worked your tail off only to realize that you're not actually bringing home the money you expected? Or maybe bringing home nothing at all? It's sooo easy to see that happening. We know, because it sometimes happens to us, too. That's why, as Carol Lynn Rivera shares, it's important to flip the script and implement a framework that is built around the way you naturally want to manage your money and makes it easy to pay yourself first. Listen to DiscoverThe secret to paying yourself first and knowing that you have money set aside for taxes. How traditional accounting makes it easy to pay yourself last. Or not at all. What makes the Profit First methodology different from traditional accounting. The psychology behind why managing your money with five accounts is actually simpler than keeping it all in one place. What to do when Waves, iZotope, Fabfilter, and Plugin Alliance are offering great sales on plugins but you don't have the money in your expense account. Whether you're brand new at running a podcast production business or you've been doing it for years, if you're not satisfied with how your business is paying you, this episode is for you. Links & Resourceshttps://www.podcasterstoolbox.com/ (Podcasters Toolbox) http://amazon.com/dp/B06X15WW79 (Profit First) (Amazon, not an affiliate link) Wondering how much podcast editors make? https://podcasteditorsmastermind.com/episodes/how-much-money-do-podcast-editors-make-pem020/ (Check out episode 20 with Steve Stewart and Mark Deal) of the https://podcasteditoracademy..com (Podcast Editor Academy). Not sure how to craft a business model for your podcast service business? Check out https://podcasteditorsmastermind.com/episodes/crafting-a-business-model-that-actually-works-with-mark-deal-pem016/ (episode 16 with Mark Deal). About Carol Lynn RiveraCarol Lynn Rivera is the CEO of Podcasters Toolbox. What you may not know is that Carol Lynn and her husband (The Ralph M. Rivera) have founded several companies, and they run them using the Profit First methodology to ensure that, while they serve their customers at a high level, they also take home MONEY so that they can live, support their family, and keep doing what they love doing. Guest EditorThis episode of the Podcast Editors Mastermind was edited by Carrie Caulfield Arick of https://yayapodcasting.com (YaYa Podcasting). Be a GuestIf you're a podcast editor, we'd love to see if you'd be a fit for a future episode. https://podcasteditorsmastermind.com/beaguest (Fill out this form to let us know you're interested), and we'll contact you to see if it's a good fit. Your Yetis AreDaniel Abendroth | https://rothmedia.audio (Roth Media) Jennifer Longworth | https://bourbonbarrelpodcasting.com (Bourbon Barrel Podcasting) Carrie Caulfield Arick | https://yayapodcasting.com (YaYa Podcasting) Bryan Entzminger | https://toptieraudio.com (Top Tier Audio) About the Podcast Editors MastermindThe Podcast Editors Mastermind is for professional podcast editors who want to grow their business and get more clients. We’re creating a community of like-minded professionals that are passionate about the art and science of editing podcasts. Our goal is to help you build your business by providing tools, resources, and support so you can focus on what matters most—your craft. This isn’t just another group where everyone talks about how great they are at podcast editing; we show our work! Follow or subscribe and take the Podcast Editors Mastermind with you today! https://followthepodcast.com/pem (Follow the Podcast Editors Mastermind) https://lovethepodcast.com/pem (Share your love for the Podcast Editors Mastermind)
We're a bit overdue in talking about supernatural experiences! I's time to dive more into demon possession, oppression, or suppression, whatever you want to call it...some say it's just the way the mind works. Others say it's spiritual warfare. Either way, it's not fun, and if demonic oppression is real, it's not from God. We welcome Connie Lawson, host of the Weeds Seeds and Beautiful Things podcast, a hard, hope-filled, humorous show that seeks to help you walk in radical faith. Connie is a Christian speaker who has the ability to mix hard truths with honesty, experience, and compassion while giving practical advice and steps for improvement, all while making you laugh. Connie has an intense story and she wanted to be part of the Miracles & Atheists podcast because she believes our listeners would benefit from hearing what the Lord has done in her life. We're also pleased to welcome Nick's friend, Carol Lynn Rivera. Carol Lynn is a CEO, writer, marketer, project manager and podcaster. She enjoys entrepreneurial life and owns multiple businesses including several startups and a marketing company, and Carol Lynn is an atheist, only for the sake of a label (because it's not her favorite). Carol Lynn wanted to be on the show because she thinks the more we can talk to people with different viewpoints the more we learn to understand, accept and respect them. It's important for us to be able to learn from each other and even disagree without harboring ill feelings and sowing division. So have fun digging in MAC (Miracles & Atheists Community) we're diving deep today!
Here it is, the big milestone in a young podcast’s life: the 100th episode. It’s been two months since I’ve published a podcast and it’s great to be back! On this episode: Ralph M. Rivera and Carol Lynn Rivera of the Web.Search.Social podcast punk me Alisa Merideth from the Super Heroes of Podcasting and Jeff Sieh […] The post One Thing To Do On LinkedIn To Get More Connections appeared first on nuclearchowdermarketing.com.
If thinking about your company's website makes your head explode (even just a little bit), you'll want to listen to this week's episode. I talk with Carol Lynn Rivera, a digital marketer at Rahvalor Interactive and the co-host of the Web.Search.Social podcast, and she shares great information about how to think about a website for your yarn-related business. You can find also Carol Lynn online on Facebook, Google Plus, and Twitter. This week's episode In my interview with Carol Lynn, we talk about different ways to approach your website. Carol Lynn brings many years of experience working with other small businesses on their websites and digital marketing and answers questions like, "Do you need to have your website, or if it's alright to rely on a digital marketplace like Etsy or Ravelry?" and "Should you do your website yourself, or hire someone to do it for you?" Spoiler alert: The answer to both questions is "It depends" (but it all sounds much more elegant when Carol Lynn explains why). So, do you need your own website? Carol Lynn recommends developing an ecommerce site for your yarn-related business only if it can be done well. If that is outside of your current capabilities or financial resources, tap into the ecommerce and marketing strength of a larger site like Etsy or Ravelry. Even if you don't want, need, or can't manage ecommerce cabailities, what about having a website for other reasons? Carol Lynn recommends thinking about what your website will do for your business. What are your goals for it and what do you want the site to do? Once you have your strategy, you can decide whether it is a DIY project or something that needs additional resources. In general, a site with more complexity will require more resources. If you aren't already familiar with the technology, think about whether you have more time to invest in training yourself, or whether hiring out is the best appraoch. If you take the DIY approach... Carol Lynn recommends taking an inventory of other sites to start. Look at websites in other industries as well as some in the yarn industry and your specific niche(s). Examine what is being done wrong (hint: avoid those things) and what's being done well. Try not to copycat, but think about what is appealing and what makes you interested in browsing the site. Are there similar elements that you could incorporate into your own site? Don't forget to start with the strategy and purpose for your website, but understand that a website will continually evolve. It can't (and won't) be "perfect" on your first try. Start where you are and then build towards your goals. Carol Lynn also reminds you that your website isn't just a visual aid. The content is more important than the design (though pretty looking designs don't hurt). If that isn't something you are prepared to develop yourself, it can also be outsourced (or, you can work with a digital marketing company to develop a strategy that you can implement on your own). There's a continuum between DIY and pay someone else do everything. Based on your budget, available time, experience, and comfort, choose the approach that makes the most sense for your business. If you decide to hire someone... Carol Lynn shares 5 important tips for finding the right company (or individual). 1) You should be able to communicate easily with the company before you contract with them. Ask a lot of questions so you can understand the company's approach to your site and their services. If you can only communicate via email, that's a red flag. You should be able to have a consultation over the phone or using Skype/Google Hangouts before making a decision. Consider whether your communication styles work well together. 2) The company should have an online presence that you can preview. If the company is in the digital marketing space, it should have an online presence including a website and active accounts on one or more social media platform. This allows the company to test out new approaches on itself, not on your business. 3) Get it in writing. Once you settle on a company, you should get a clear outline of the services they will provide and the costs involved in writing. Read through the information, ask questions about it, and don't sign anything until you have satisfactory answers. The document can be just as clear about what the company is not providing as about what it is providing. 4) The company should have insurance. Carol Lynn talked about the prevalence of "day trippers" in the industry - people who have limited expertise but offer digital marketing services. The presence of insurance indicates the company is serious about their business, and also protects you as the client from the negative impact of problems resulting from their work on your website or social marketing activities. 5) You should have access to your site and its analytics. Even if you plan to be completely hands off and delegate all of your website and social marketing activities to another company, you should have access to all the login details, analytics, and other critical information in case of emergency. This is also helpful if you decide to switch to another company in the future. If you need a horror story to drive the point home, listen to "Don't Hire a Web Developer Until You Read This," a fascinating episode of the Web.Search.Social podcast where Carol Lynn and her husband, Ralph, interview a business owner who lost access to his website, email, and more. It also includes a link to a helpful (and free) business continuity plan document. You may also enjoy these additional resources Carol Lynn has written several related articles that you may want to read. How To Hire A Web Developer7 Things Your Web Developer Will Never Tell YouThe Lady In The Garage Can't Build Your Website Dear Customer, This Is What You Should Pay To Hire A Marketing Company If you enjoyed this episode The Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in August, 2015. Be aware that content may be outdated. If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
If you’re in the United States, you’re being bombarded with “back-to-school” advertising. I decided to put my own spin on the back-to-school theme by sharing 8 free and low-cost resources you can use for professional development to help you launch, manage, and expand your yarn-related business. Here’s a preview of the 8 ways you can take advantage of these free or inexpensive resources: Use your local, regional, or federal small business development center Read Connect with colleges and universities Apprentice or barter skills with a master crafter Participate in a blog challenge Take a video course Listen to a podcast Volunteer or speak at an event 1. Use your local, regional, and federal small business development centers As a small business owner, you may be entitled to free support services from the government. These services may include workshops, free clinics with legal or tax professionals, or one-to-one business counseling. Check out the Small Business Administration Learning Center or SCORE for more information. While often these organizations have limited understanding of the yarn industry, home-based businesses, and online business, they can be very helpful in providing information about “basic” business information that doesn’t feel very basic when you are starting out. You may also want to investigage business improvement districts, economic development zones, or related local initiatives to support small business growth. 2. Read In general, reading books is an inexpensive way to learn new things, but I’m going to share some tips for saving even more on books. Use your local library system. In addition to books, your local library is likely to have a variety of DVDs and audiobooks, as well as access to research databases and other resources for small business owners. Some systems even have a dedicated business branch. You may also be able to request books on business or craftsmanship via interlibrary loan from nearby library systems for free. Additionally, many libraries hold classes on-site. If your library doesn’t have the resources you need, get to know your local librarian. S/he will be more likely to help a valued local branch customer. Use a subscription service like Amazon Prime. I’m an Amazon Prime customer and affiliate. Amazon Prime is a subscription program that costs $99/year and offers several different benefits including free 2-day shipping, access to free streaming music and video, cloud storage for photos, and the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. You can borrow up to one book free each month from the Kindle Owners’ Lending Library. Each book can be kept as long as you’d like, but you have to return it in order to take out another book. Listen to audio books through Audible’s subscription service. Many crocheters and knitters prefer listening to audiobooks to reading physical or e-books, but audiobooks can be expensive. Audible is a subscription service operated by Amazon, and you can listen to one or two free books each month with your subscription. There are tons of great business books on Audible. Write book reviews. If you have a consistent following on your blog and/or social media accounts, approach a book publisher’s marketing or publicity department directly to request a review copy, or sign up for Netgalley, which coordinates advanced review copies of ebooks. Ask to review books that focus on the areas you’d like to develop to get the most out of your review experience, and don’t forget to properly disclose your receipt of a review copy as per FTC guidelines. 3. Connect with local colleges and universities Colleges and universities frequently have guest speakers, workshops, and conferences that are open to the public. These events may be free or low cost. As a side benefit, you may make connections with potential student interns or professors who might be willing to use a challenge facing your business as a class project. Your local business school may also have additional opportunities available, including free classes for small business owners. If your local college or university offers majors (e.g., textiles, fashion design, marketing, new media, etc.) that are relevant to your business, consider how you may connect with faculty and students. 4. Apprentice or barter skills with a master crafter Apprenticing or working closely with a local artisan or business owner can help you improve your skills rapidly under the tutelage of an expert. Approach a master and ask to be an apprentice or intern. This approach is much more time-intensive, so you should consider it more cautiously. You may also barter your skills with this person in exchange for private lessons. 5. Participate in blog challenges Information on almost anything a small business owner might need is freely available online, but the hours required for research can be daunting. Many bloggers curate this process for you by holding challenges focused on improving your skills. These challenges sometimes convert from free experiences to paid courses once they are archived, so join in when you have the chance! Some of these challenges are delivered via email, while others are posted directly to blogs. These can be difficult to find, so use Pinterest or your search engine to look for “TOPIC challenge.” 6. Take a video course Video courses are often cheaper than other forms of professional development and you are usually able to learn at your own pace and review the materials, which are added benefits. There are many great options for taking video courses online. Two of my favorite resources are Udemy and Craftsy. Udemy. Instructors create their own courses and then add them to the Udemy platform. Although courses have to be approved, this allows a wide variety of styles and options to exist. There are courses on business, computer applications and technology, photography, and more. You can read customer reviews to find the best course for you. Udemy offers both free and for sale courses, and they also frequently have sales on courses, so sign up for their email list to save even more. Craftsy. Craftsy’s courses are curated and filmed at Craftsy’s studios, so there is a more uniform appearance. The courses are affordably priced and they offer frequent sales, too. Some of the more helpful courses for yarn-related business owners are the advanced courses in crochet, knitting, or spinning, as well as photography courses. They also offer several free mini courses. You may also want to consider MOOCs (massive open online courses) from colleges and universities. You can find business MOOCs on edX here and Coursera here. These courses are often free but rarely carry college credit. 7. Listen to a podcast I’m assuming that if you listen to the Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show, you may find listening to podcasts a great way to learn. Here are some shows that I listen to regularly which I think may be helpful for growing your yarn-related business. The #AskGaryVee Show: This live Q&A format video show also has an audio version. It’s hosted by entrepreneur, Gary Vaynerchuk, and covers a wide range of business topics with a focus on entrepreneurship, marketing, and new media. There are several short episodes released each week. Spoiler alert: Gary is known for his colorful language, so if you are sensitive to cussing, this may not be the show for you. Web.Search.Social: This is a show co-hosted by husband and wife team Ralph and Carol Lynn Rivera. They focus on marketing and other business issues from the perspective of the small local business owner. Their show is muti-format and includes read blog posts, interviews, and conversations. Except for the read blog posts, they tend to be chatty. This isn’t a “quick tips” type of show. Etsy Conversations Podcast: This weekly show features interviews with Etsy sellers and is hosted by Ijeoma Eleazu, who I interviewed in Episode 9. Ijeoma also occassionally interviews service providers who may of use to Etsy sellers. You can learn a lot about Etsy selling, but I find the show most inspiring for its focus on creativity and inspiration. Smart Passive Income Podcast: This show is hosted by entrepreneur, Pat Flynn. It is usually an interview format and focuses on developing passive income opportunities. Tim Ferriss Show: This interview show is hosted by Tim Ferriss, the author of The 4-Hour Workweek. Tim does a great job of getting his guests to open up, and many of the shows deal with creativity, overcoming adversity, and other inspiring topics that have motivated me in my business. I usually only listen to specific episodes rather than on a weekly basis. I listen to three weekly author/self-publishing podcasts. These share valuable information about self-publishing and author marketing. The first two also talk a lot about creativity and the business side of being an artist or creative indie. The Creative Penn is hosted by author and professional speaker, Joanna Penn. Her guests often share insights on creativity and the mindset of being a business owner as a creative person. Rocking Self Publishing is a weekly interview show hosted by Simon Whistler. The Sell More Books Show is a weekly roundup of writing, self-publishing, and publishing news and is hosted by Bryan Cohen and Jim Kukral. There are two inactive shows with helpful archives you may want to listen to. How They Blog is hosted by Kat Lee. The format is mostly interviews with an occassional Q&A. The show covers all aspects of blogging. Kat is a devout Christian and many of her guests talk about Christianity and spirituality and how that impact their blogging. The show is currently on hiatus. Oh So Pinteresting was hosted by Pinterest expert, Cynthia Sanchez, who I interviewed in Episode 30. The podcast, not surprisingly, focuses on Pinterest. While some of the oldest episodes are less relevant with recent Pinterest changes, most share valuable information that you can use in your business. 8. Volunteer or speak at an event Most conferences and events are not free or low cost, which is why few of us attend regularly. Most craft industry events (as well as blogger, business, and social media conferences) rely on volunteer staff to help things run smoothly. In exchange for your services, you are typically granted access to the vendor area, demonstrations or lectures, and sometimes even to classes and workshops. You can learn more about this option in Episode 43, where I share tips for getting the most out of conferences and how to save money on attendance as a volunteer. You can also save on events by speaking. I share tips for pitching your proposals to conferences and events in Episode 33. If you already have an existing relationship with a company or brand, you may even be able to get a sponsorship to a conference. Events and conferences allow you to learn while also networking. I think this is a really valuable option for home-based business owners, so try to attend if you can! If you enjoyed this episode The Creative Yarn Entrepreneur Show is no longer broadcasting. Episodes are available as a service to the yarn community. This episode originally aired in August, 2015. Be aware that content may be outdated. If you'd like to chat with other yarn-related business owners, join the Creative Yarn Entrepreneurs Facebook group. Support Marie's work by buying one of her books, Make Money Teaching Crochet: Launch Your Business, Increase Your Side Income, Reach More Students (Amazon | Gumroad) or Design It, Promote It, Sell It: Online Marketing for Your Crochet and Knit Patterns (Amazon | Gumroad).
The Superheroes of Marketing Podcast | Content Marketing | Lead Generation | Social Media Marketing
Right click to download the mp3 to your desktop. This week, Carol Lynn Rivera of Web Search Social snagged Kelly Kranz as her co-host, so I snagged her co-host and husband, Ralph for our show. Kelly and I usually do an interview format, but Ralph and I opted for a Web Search Social-style conversation. Since Ralph helped us so much with our podcast launch, and he and Carol Lynn just hit 100 episodes, it seemed a natural choice to talk about podcasting. Specifically - should everyone add podcasting to their marketing plan?
The Superheroes of Marketing Podcast | Content Marketing | Lead Generation | Social Media Marketing
Ralph and Carol Lynn, owners of Web Search Social, have taken the podcast world by storm. They have somehow managed to generate a base of raving fans who amplify their message – for free. Who wouldn't want to have people promote their business for free? Ralph and Carol Lynn call these promoters “Fred” – and you can hear how that came about on the show. What's a Fred - and Why Would You Want Some? Freds are people who are interested in the material shared on the podcast and blog – they could be fellow marketers, customers, potential customers. You have those people! A SuperFred is a superfan. They actually bring things to Ralph and Carol Lynn to talk about on the show. No need to worry about running out of ideas!! If you are trying to utilize content marketing for your business, you know how important this is. And you can have this Army of Freds, too! Freds give them the ammunition to continue the conversation. Even if they aren't your ideal customer, you can get the “I know a guy….” Impact. People get to know you as an expert, and when someone they know needs your help, Fred will tell them about you by name and with a great endorsement. Oh, and then there are the gifts. Right click here to download the mp3 file to your desktop What About Niche? Creating a niche is so important for generating qualified leads. If you focus your content towards potential customers, you might find (as did Ralph and Carol Lynn) that your traffic drops. BUT, your leads will increase, and your qualified leads will grow tremendously. How to Get Your Own Freds Who Promote You Be relatable Freds love themselves. If they can see themselves in you, that you have similar challenges and are still learning as you go, they will relate to you and that common ground is incredibly powerful. Share your successes and your failures. Relating to each other is a bond that people respond to really well. In fact, sharing a rather spectacular failure on air and in detail generated tremendous support and comradery. They all got to learn from the failure and how to recover from it! Far from diminishing their reputation, this willingness to share lead to a potential new customer. Bring people in to the conversation When you facilitate a back and forth conversation, you're helping people feel involved, even invested in your content and your success. When they spark and idea of give you a great quote, make a big deal about it – mention it on air, or make a fun image of it and share it on social. Let them know they matter. Ralph and Carol Lynn just finished “Fredruary” a month of featuring some Super Freds on their podcast. Check out some of their Monday February shows. Can You Create Brand Advocates Without a Podcast? Sure! It depends on your audience, your business, your goals. There are other conversations you need to have before you can choose the platform that will work for you. It could be podcasting, but it could be something else! This is where a good marketing agency is worth its weight in gold. Get a strategy in place and then bring your Freds in. How One Small Local Business Owner Created Brand Advocates Green Sun Energy's Glen Koedding created SuperFreds by allowing his customers to be part of the conversation. He is very personable, a great communicator, and is dedicated to exceptional customer service. At the end of the job, he gets a picture and shares it on Facebook, generating Freds who then say, “I know a guy!” The rules of good business have not changed. The means of communication has changed, that's all! Be good to your clients, your prospects, and everyone else and that will speak for itself. Triberr and Scoutle Announcement Triberr, a content amplification program, acquired content virality prediction company Scoutle. It's all very hush-hush and we will probably get in big trouble for sharing this, but we like to live on the edge. About Ralph and Carol Lynn Carol Lynn is a writer, community manager and your go-to person for planning, strategy and ultimately getting your marketing done. As co-owner of both Web.Search.Social and Rahvalor Interactive, she builds WordPress sites, manages social communities, writes for email campaigns, blogs or websites, puts together marketing plans and manages the rest of her creative team of writers, designers and developers. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of Web.Search.Social. She has been in the digital marketing business since 1999 and has professionally studied project management as well as search and social marketing. Carol Lynn loves reading, writing, sunflowers, cupcakes and being able to work with her husband and business partner, Ralph. Connect on LinkedIn Connect on Facebook Connect on Twitter Connect on Google+ Ralph is a programmer and web developer who is the co-owner and technical genius behind both Web.Search.Social and Rahvalor Interactive, where he's in charge of keeping his team of programmers, coders and developers on track building custom websites and applications. If you need to make things happen on the web in a way that ties into your big-picture marketing goals, Ralph is the one to do it. He's been in the business of creative digital services since the late 1980s. He is also an educator, offering his experience and expertise to businesses as they strive to make sense of the world of online marketing, and he teaches web development to inquisitive young minds at Manhattan College in New York City. Ralph loves whiskey, playing guitar, Halo and relaxing weekend afternoons reading great science fiction by the fireplace. Connect on LinkedIn Connect on Facebook Connect on Twitter Connect on Google+
This week on Social Media Unscrambled we didn’t talk about social media at all. In fact it turned into a giant therapy / brainstorming session with our friend Ralph M. Rivera and Carol Lynn Rivera. …And a quick Thank You to our sponsor, TribeBoost! A great way to grow your Twitter audience with relevant and quality people. […]
This week we welcomed three charismatic individuals into the studio: Ralph M. Rivera, Carol Lynn Rivera and Teddie Mucha from Web Search Social and Rahvalor!. …And a quick Thank You to our sponsor, TribeBoost! A great way to grow your Twitter audience with relevant and quality people. Learn More Here, and be sure to use Coupon […]