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Networking is still one of the most powerful ways to grow your business, yet a lot of people go about it the wrong way, or try to skip it altogether. The problem with that is, one person, when it’s the right person, is all it takes to explode your business to the next level. This week’s guest, Jake Kelfer, has made a wildly successful career working with major brands like Adidas and the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s also helped his clients use networking to achieve the results they want, whether it’s to get booked on more podcasts, bring in experts for a summit, or create partnerships to grow their business to the next level. In today’s Internet-based world, it’s easier than ever to connect with people. Jake will show you how to use that to your advantage in a way other people appreciate instead of run from. Tune into this episode to discover exactly why your next level may be less about what’s next, and more about who’s next. Plus get Jake’s framework for successfully networking with the right people for you and your business. I Want The Slow Path (Said No One Ever) Without other people, you cannot have a business. People are who buy your products and services. People are who tell their family, friends, and peers about you. People are also who you learn from. It’s true, you can slowly and tediously make all your own mistakes; or, you can learn from people who’ve already made them, and get where you want to be faster. Networking is another way to avoid the slow path and get where you want to be sooner rather than later. Turn Your Style Into Opportunity Successful networking is about connecting with the right people for YOU. Doing that means combining your style with the right intention for reaching out to a specific person. No matter what, you’ll face rejection, but when you combine your style and personality with intention, it saves you a ton of time and energy reaching out to the wrong people. You’ll also dramatically increase the likelihood of connecting with people who are a good fit for you. Don’t Be Spammy No one appreciates a total stranger getting in touch only to say, “Hey, here’s what you can do for me!” When reaching out to people for the first time, don’t lead with offers and requests. Instead, play the long game by building the relationship. Care enough to get their name right. Study their profiles and content to find commonalities you can use to relate to them. Everyone wants to feel like they matter, and you can inspire that feeling by taking time to learn about them. Always Follow Up Just because someone doesn’t respond to your first contact attempt doesn’t mean they don’t want to connect. It could be they’re busy and they forgot. It could be they aren’t sure if you’re just another spammy drive-by, or if you’re someone who’s actually worth their time and energy. It could be a million other things. Instead of jumping ship if they don’t instantly reply, give them a little time, then follow up. Remember that the point isn’t to be a pest. It’s to open the door so they can take a step through it. Sometimes it takes more than one attempt before they’ll take that first step. Focus on Quality, Not Quantity You don’t need a million followers to make a million dollars. You just need the right number of quality followers. It’s the same with networking. You don’t need to connect with everyone on the planet. You just need the right people. One right person will get you further than one hundred people who aren’t right. Sometimes it can take one hundred attempts to find the right people, so it’s important to keep reaching out. Just don’t get hung up on the numbers. Go for quality. Outline of This Episode One new connection can change your world [3:05] The reason for our success [8:55] Meeting the right people’s not about luck, it’s about this [14:30] How to reach out (and how not to) [18:15] Once you build the relationship, maintain it [32:45] You don’t need quantity when you’ve got quality [38:30] You can reach ANYBODY [44:00] Resources & People Mentioned Visit Jake Kelfer’s website: www.JakeKelfer.com Connect with Jake Kelfer on Instagram: @jakekelfer Jake Kelfer on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakekelfer Jake Kelfer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jakekelferjourney Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
This has been a pretty ugly year for most people, and the temptation to write this year off and start fresh in January is stronger than usual. Curling up and riding it out is certainly one option, but another one is to put your foot on the gas and crush the fourth quarter. James and Dean have been on both sides of this mindset. They’ve had years where they slowed things down, and years where they dug in and made December their best month of the year. If this year hasn’t been your best year, and you’re thinking of curling up and hiding out, tune into this episode for James and Dean’s best tips on making the most of your fourth quarter, no matter what’s happened in your business this year. Be The Shepherd, Not The Dictator When Dean and his wife started their cosmetics e-commerce business, they held tight to the idea that they had to do what other cosmetics companies did. As a result, they struggled to even get a foothold, much less a profit. It was only after they stopped trying to dictate their idea to the market, so they could see what they were missing and fix it, that the business took off. Forcing your idea on the market NEVER works. You’ve got to be the shepherd of your idea, steering it where it needs to be based on market feedback. Instead Of Guessing, Ask The better you know your market, the better you get at reading between the lines and creating offers they want. But sometimes the fastest way to a profitable offer is just to ask your market. Remember to keep in mind that what people say they want, and what they’ll actually buy, are not always one and the same. But even if that’s the case sometimes, asking still provides invaluable intel on how you can serve your market. It could be that a significant percentage of your customers want help with the same thing, and aren’t sure how to articulate it to you. If you have no idea where to start amping up 4th quarter sales, start by asking your customers what they need. Develop Relentless Solution Focus Recently James took a vacation on Lake Powell with a big group of family and friends. Everyone was on a big houseboat with no cell service. During the trip, James received an invitation to extend his trip by a week. The problem was, everyone had carpooled to the lake with some friends who lived hours away, and would not be extending their trip. That meant the only way James and his family could stay an extra week was if they found a rental car, so they could drive themselves to their friends’ house after the second week. James’ first several attempts at procuring a rental car fell through, but James remained relentlessly focused on finding a solution until he found it. Thanks to that relentless focus, he and his family enjoyed an extra week on the lake. Finding the right offer takes the same relentless focus, and so will dominating the 4th quarter. Stop Predicting Your Own Failure “I’m just going to write this year off and start fresh in January.” That’s what several people have told James and Dean. That mindset is a symptom of mistaking yourself for a fortune teller, by predicting your own failure before you’ve even tried. It’s worth noting that the people who struggle most are masters at predicting their own failure, and it’s not because they try something and it doesn’t work. It’s because they assume it won’t work, so they don’t even try. Don’t fall into the fortune teller trap. Make your success inevitable by getting your ideas into the world and adopting relentless solution focus. Be Mindful Of “Reality” Everyone wants to start with tactics and strategies. They’re important, yes. But even the best tactics and strategies the world has ever known won’t help you if you don’t have the mindset to properly implement them. Mindset is the foundation of your success, and one of the best things you can do for your mindset is to be mindful of what you allow to shape your reality. Those private jet photos you see on Instagram are probably staged in a warehouse. Those supposed loner entrepreneurs with no supportive family in their life don’t have to become YOUR success reality. Be careful what you allow to shape your beliefs about what’s possible. Outline of This Episode December, The Biggest Month Of The Year [3:46] Why You Have To Experiment [8:38] Avoiding A Race To The Bottom [16:30] Ask Your Customers What They Want [24:21] Have Relentless Focus On Finding A Solution [28:40] You’re Not A Fortune Teller [38:12] Mindset Before Skillset, Always [43:15] Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Success in business comes to those who can identify and follow through on profitable opportunities. The people who struggle most are both the ones who wouldn’t know an opportunity if it punched them in the face, and the ones who see opportunities everywhere, but struggle to identify and act on the profitable ones. Either they freeze, or they go down so many rabbit holes, they never get traction. Jeremy Parker, CEO and Co-Founder of promotional product website Swag.com, has been identifying and capitalizing on profitable opportunities for over a decade, including during the Great Recession back in 2007. Even with the pandemic happening, and companies cutting back on promotional product purchases, Swag.com had its best three months EVER. And it’s all because Jeremy understands how to identify and follow through on profitable opportunities. Tune into this episode to learn from Jeremy how you can do the same, because this is a skill that can ensure you succeed no matter how bad things seem. The rise of Swag.com Originally Jeremy wanted to be a filmmaker. But after realizing how difficult it was to make a living doing that, and discovering he wasn’t all that passionate about it, Jeremy started a t-shirt business. It seemed like an easy way to begin. Turns out it wasn’t as easy as he thought, but still, Jeremy was enjoying some success. Then the Great Recession hit, and stores he’d built relationships with stopped buying what he was offering. Instead of folding, Jeremy asked, where’s the opportunity with this? One of his ideas--which he describes “as gimmicky” got noticed by Mark Cuban, which paved the way for the rise of swag.com. Success during the pandemic The promotional industry is in shambles right now. Companies are letting people go instead of bringing them on, which means there’s far less need for branded company products. Yet Swag.com just enjoyed its best three months EVER. That is the power of identifying and following through with profitable opportunities. There are always problems that need solving, including some that are still coming down the pipeline. That is and always will be the case, no matter what’s going on in the world. Beware idea attachment Marrying your ideas is one of the worst mistakes you can make. Remove your ego from the situation, because it’s not about you. It’s about what the market needs. You cannot make them need or want something they don’t need or want. Get your minimum viable product together and get it into the world quickly. See how the market responds, and adjust accordingly. If the minimum viable product doesn’t get traction, you’ve just saved yourself vast sums of time, money, and energy. You’ve just got to start Where you start is rarely where you end up, which is why the most successful entrepreneurs in the world start fast. Another of the worst things you can do is drag out getting started. Whether you succeed or fail, you’ll learn from it. Very often, failing has more to teach us than success. No matter how good you are at identifying opportunities, you will not strike gold every single time. Get your ideas into the world quickly, get feedback, and learn and adapt. It may take several attempts to find your next (or first) big winner. But the only way you’ll ever find it is to just start. The right way to network Networking is a proven way to connect with the people and resources you need to grow your business. It’s also something people tend to overthink. Jeremy’s best advice to get the most out of your networking efforts is pretty simple: Put yourself out there. Get your lines in the water and see who bites. The first few people you meet may not be who you need, but they may be connected to the right people for you. Since you can’t know for sure, get as many lines in the water as you can. The more lines you have, the better your chances of getting the right bites. Remember the mission (and remind your team) A motivated, effective team can not only help you bring opportunities to life, they can help you identify more. And a team that believes in your company’s mission and vision is proven to perform better at even their day to day role. Reminding your team of your company’s mission is key to strong motivation, especially in tough times. Remember to stoke that fire. Outline of This Episode Successful, but not excited about it [5:50] What not to do when opportunity punches you in the face [10:45] Why adaptation is key to success [14:02] Your best shot at avoiding the duds [17:05] What to do if you struggle to see opportunities [24:30] Stop waiting for “that one big idea” [27:56] How to create relationships that create success [31:10] Motivating your team AND yourself [40:40] Resources & People Mentioned Swag.com Connect with Jeremy Parker on LinkedIn Connect with Jeremy Parker on Twitter Guest on YouTube Check out his Podcast Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
In just a few short years, Brandon and Kaelin Poulin took LadyBoss Weight Loss from a startup to a company with 350,000 customers. In 2019, LadyBoss, which helps women lose weight, transform their health, and love themselves, was named number 4 on the Inc. 5000 list of the fastest-growing privately-held companies in the United States. Tune into this episode for a behind-the-scenes, comprehensive look at what it takes to grow and scale a successful company like LadyBoss - the strategies, the mindsets, the vision, the customer relationships, all of it - in a few years instead of a few decades. Network marketing’s most valuable lessons Before they ever met, Brandon and Kaelin started in network marketing, and found their way into weight loss, health, and fitness. They learned succeeding in network marketing requires developing and maintaining relationships. It requires listening to people, and finding out what they really want. And it requires facing rejection, over and over and over. Network marketing also taught them about personal development, something they know is critical to both their early success and their ongoing success. Everything you do starts with you, and if you’re tripping over the same issues within yourself, it’ll trip up everything you try to do. Dig in and make something happen After five years with another company, Brandon and Kaelin were ready to start their own company. They were two months behind on rent, on their car payment - basically everything, and in danger of sinking even further. With their backs against the wall, they locked themselves away from the outside world for two months and worked around the clock to launch their company. It didn’t take fairy dust or unicorns - just the commitment to dig in and do it. Get off the shiny penny highway With the abundance of tools, trainings and strategies out there, Brandon and Kaelin often found themselves tempted by the shiny penny highway. Oh, another cool software! Oh, another marketing strategy to try! The barrage of things to try was constant. To avoid getting trapped on the shiny penny highway, Brandon and Kaelin always brought it back to what their customers and their company needed at that time. If what they were looking at didn’t fit with their vision, it wasn’t right for their business. It meant saying no to a lot of things. It also allowed them to simplify, while simultaneously (and quickly) growing their company and better serving their customers. Don’t shut out your customers A lot of companies think being aloof with and too cool for their customers is the right way to be. Brandon and Kaelin see it differently. They know, from years of experience, how crucial the customer relationship is to their success. Rather than shut their customers out, they welcome communication with their customers. They’ll take customers by the hand, so to speak, and help them walk to that next level. It’s a powerful reminder that your customers are your best asset. Without them, you don’t have a business. Don’t shut them out. You always have the power Brandon and Kaelin point out something a lot of successful people come to realize: That once you get to a certain level, your success is all other people see. But they’ve been kicked in the teeth, made mistakes, and had to find different ways of doing things. And they know it’s likely to continue on that way, because that’s just the nature of business. The reason Brandon and Kaelin have been so successful isn’t because they haven’t faced challenges, it’s because they know they have the power, always, to overcome them. Believing and accepting that no matter what comes your way, you have the power to deal with it and find another way forward, is a must-have mindset for all business owners. Outline of This Episode Backs against the wall [05:29] Trial by fire [12:40] Get off the shiny penny highway [20:56] Remember who you’re serving [29:36] Stop pushing your customers aside [34:01] The secret to aligning as a team [38:48] What to do when the hits keep coming [46:15] Resources & People Mentioned LadyBoss Weight Loss: https://ladyboss.com/ https://www.instagram.com/ladyboss/ https://www.facebook.com/LadyBossKaelin https://www.youtube.com/c/LadyBossWeightLoss Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
How to consistently create offers your ideal customers find irresistible is a part of business that challenges even the most seasoned, successful entrepreneurs. And once you’ve got them in the door, how do you continue serving them, so they stick around, keep buying, and keep benefiting? The one, the only, Bearded Wonder of the United Kingdom (aka Dean) discovered a powerful, profitable way to create an offer his customers bought, LOVED, and profited from, even after insisting they “didn’t have the money” to buy it! It was that irresistible! Join James and The Bearded Wonder himself (aka Dean) for this week’s episode to get the inside scoop on Dean’s crazy-amazing and crazy-profitable offer creation strategy. Outline of This Episode Start with these basics [2:29] How Dean got the sign-ups [15:55] You must over-deliver [26:15] Everyone is a buyer [35:00] Talk to your customers [46:30] 3 major points discussed Read between the lines. Your list of BUYERS is a massive gold mine when it comes to creating offers. Dean shares how he surveyed his buyers, and that they told him they’ve invested all they could, and didn’t have more money to put into yet another offer. Instead of assuming that was the real problem, Dean used this information to tailor his offers in a way that could truly help them. He also followed up with them to figure out exactly where they were stuck. WHY did they feel they didn’t have enough money for more offers that could help them? The right mix of reading between the lines and engaging with your customers allows you to serve them in the best possible way. Create the offer. Once you’ve discovered your customers’ real problems, get that solution created. It may be a training course, but there may also be a faster, more involved, more valuable way for you to serve them. After identifying his market’s need, Dean devised a fast AND powerful way to get his offer up and running and helping. Money loves speed, and so do your customers. Sometimes the best and most profitable way to help them is also the fastest way. Play the long game. We see it time and time again - businesses who value the long-term relationship with their customers over everything else are the ones that last. Most of your profits will come from your most loyal, long-term customers. Customers come and go, so new customers are essential, but neglecting your loyal, long-term customers is a guaranteed way to lose them, and miss out on staggering amounts of profit, both directly and from referrals. Tune in to hear how Dean served the people who took him up on his powerful offer, and used it to build a long-term, profitable relationship with them. Resources & People Mentioned Guest’s Website Guest on Instagram Guest on Facebook Guest on YouTube Check out his Podcast Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
The ability to make decisions, and make them fast, is critical for any entrepreneur, because very often it’s the decisions you don’t make that will stall, or even destroy, your business. Uncomfortable, intimidating decisions are the ones most likely to trip you up. It seems easier to kick the can down the road than to make a decision that might be wrong, or may hurt someone’s feelings. But James and Dean will tell you, from difficult personal experience, that the cost of indecision is a LOT higher than you think. Tune in to hear their personal examples of when NOT making a decision cost them money and time, and even handicapped their businesses. Plus they’ll reveal how even a decision that turns out to be wrong is better for your business than indecision. If you find yourself avoiding or procrastinating decisions because the cost of making them seems too high, too nerve-wracking, or too uncomfortable, this episode is exactly what you need to stop spinning your wheels and make those business-building decisions, no matter how intimidating or difficult they seem. Outline of This Episode What NOT making a decision costs you [6:00] When the gift of problem-solving backfires [12:30] The “perfect decision” myth [26:00] How other people factor into your indecision [30:10] The gift of wrong decisions [38:00] 3 major points discussed How to tell when it’s decision time. This one seems VERY counterintuitive. But if you’re 90% or more sure of your decision, it usually means you waited too long to make it. Surprising, right? But when it comes to your confidence in your own decisions, there’s a sweet spot to shoot for. While no guarantee your decision is “right,” this sweet spot will ensure you’ve given a decision enough thought, but not more than it needs for you to make it. Tune in to discover exactly how to tell when it’s time to pull the trigger. Not all decisions are created equal. Some decisions aren’t worth the bandwidth we give them. For example, what to eat for lunch should be a much faster decision than whether to sell your company. Quickly identifying which decisions are worth the extra time and thought, and which ones are not, will skyrocket your decision-making speed. Tune in to get James and Dean’s tips for quickly discerning whether a decision is worth the extra consideration. You’ll NEVER please everyone. Avoiding hurt feelings is one of the top reasons we avoid making decisions. But the reality is, it’s not possible to make everyone happy every time. Case in point: James shares a horror story about a meeting he attended where dozens of people weighed in on a design project. It really got out of hand, and made arriving at a decision impossible. Tune in to hear exactly what happened, and discover the critical decision-making lesson James took away from the project. If a desire to please others impedes your ability to make decisions, just wait until you hear this! Resources & People Mentioned Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Most entrepreneurs salivate at the thought of high-ticket offers. Make more money working with fewer clients. A dream come true, right? But what does it REALLY take to create a high-ticket offer people want enough to pay a high-ticket price? That’s what Tyler Kemp, this week’s guest, is going to reveal. Tyler’s helped build multiple 7-figure companies, and he brings years of experience with both low-ticket and high-ticket offers. He figured out pretty quickly that low-ticket and high-ticket are two different animals that bring in two different types of customers, and require two different sets of systems to build and scale. So, if you’d love to create a high-ticket offer for your business, but you: 1) Don’t know what to offer 2) Are uncomfortable at the thought of charging more money 3) Believe your customers won’t want it ...Then tune in to get the tactics and mindset you need to create and sell your high-ticket offer. If you already have a high-ticket offer, you’ll want to hear Tyler’s secrets to making that offer even more desirable, so you can charge more AND sell more, while getting your clients the epic results they need from you. Lead gen and high ticket sales. Acquiring more customers, one of the easiest ways is to raise the value of what you’re offering. Outline of This Episode The #1 barrier to making high ticket sales [8:25] Solve more problems to charge more money [16:00] Once isn’t enough [27:00] The perfect product-market fit takes time [33:00] What to do after creating your offer [39:15] 3 major points discussed It starts with your mindset. If your mind’s already made up that your customers would never go for a high-ticket offer, or you’re uncomfortable charging more money, you’ve shot yourself in the foot before even starting. With rare exception, most businesses have the makings of a high-ticket offer. But in order to see the possibilities, you’ve got to be open to them. Beware the low-ticket value trap. We all want to give our customers as much value as possible, including in our low-ticket offers. The problem is, there’s a limit to how much value you can realistically bring to that many people at once before it becomes unsustainable money-wise, and time-wise. High ticket offers set you free from those constraints. Your clients pay more, making it cost-effective and time-effective for you to provide them with more AND remain profitable. Solve more problems. A lot of offers solve only one or two problems around the same topic, but most people have way more than one or two. That means, the more solutions you can provide to these additional problems, the more money the right clients will pay you to get those problems taken care of. Becoming someone’s all-in-one solution is your highway to profitable high-ticket offers. Resources & People Mentioned https://www.leadroll.co/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/tjkemp Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
A lot of businesses had to close their doors in the year 2020, and for some, those doors will never re-open. Even outside of this year’s events, plenty of companies close up shop because things go south, and they have no idea how to fix it. Sometimes throwing in the towel is the answer, but most of the time, a solution is out there, if only the business owner was aware of it. Most of the time, your problem isn’t a lack of resources, it’s a lack of resourcefulness (even in times like these). To help you see for yourself that closing up shop isn’t your only option, James and Dean welcome Greg Spillane, aka The Turnaround Guy. As his nickname suggests, Greg specializes in helping companies on the brink turn things around. Greg will show you exactly where to start if your business is on the rocks, how to identify and use the resources you DO have, and ways you can think outside the box and keep the doors open. Even if your company’s thriving right now, make sure you tune in for what Greg has to say. You may need these strategies at some point in your business journey. Plus, several of them apply even if your company’s not on the rocks. Apply them and watch your profits get even higher. Outline of This Episode Where to start turning things around [5:15] Why you need to be a survivor (and what that means) [11:00] Lack of company culture = death of your company [19:00] The characteristics to look for in people you hire [27:00] How and where to get capital [31:00] 3 major points discussed Identify your assets. If you were stranded on a desert island, the first thing to do is focus on what you DO have. What’s available to you? What do you have to work with? Turning your business around works the same way. Look at the assets you do have, like a raving fanbase, your product, your employees--anything you can use. A lot of people want to focus on what they can create, and that’s important, but what you already have is equally important. Create and clarify your company culture. Company culture may sound like foo-foo, but if so, it’s because you’ve got the wrong idea about it. True company culture gets everybody aligned with the company vision, mission, and values. When your team isn’t aligned in those areas, when they don’t believe in the same things, and aren’t working toward the same goals, it leads to drama, dysfunction, backstabbing, and poor productivity. Having a team who’s only there for the paycheck, and doesn’t care about your mission, makes it VERY difficult to be successful. Investment opportunities are everywhere. The right investor(s) can help plug the leaks in your sinking ship. And investing in other businesses can create additional revenue and take some pressure off. If either of those options leave you feeling squeamish, don’t rule it out without listening to Greg’s take on this. There’s a lot of opportunities to acquire capital now that there didn’t used to be. Greg will share several of his favorites, including what he’s used to help his clients turn their companies around. Resources & People Mentioned Fancy.com Twitter: @greg_spillane LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/spillane/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
When it comes to new ideas, entrepreneurs are like machine guns. We can spit them out as rapidly as a machine gun sprays bullets. But when we get so excited about an idea that we don’t properly put it through its paces, we end up wasting exorbitant amounts of time and money trying to fulfill an idea that’s never going to happen. Then we blame our customers for not seeing the value, leap to the next “sure thing,” and repeat the process again. This exact cycle is one of the top reasons 90% of startups fail, and why even established businesses can waste hundreds of thousands of dollars on “sure thing” business ideas. Instead of letting idea excitement run the show, tune into this episode of Just The Tips with guest Dr. Adam J. Bock to learn what to do (and what NOT to do) once you’ve got a new business or product idea. Adam is a serial entrepreneur and academic researcher who’s mastered the ability to structure sustainable business models that give you a competitive advantage. Adam’s not only started multiple companies, he’s also sold multiple companies, in the venture capital space, for eight figures. When it comes to profitable, sustainable business models, he knows what he’s doing! Adam will reveal the most costly mistakes entrepreneurs the world over make with their business ideas; plus show you how to identify when you actually DO have a winner. Outline of This Episode What is a business model, REALLY? [10:20] Cool ideas are the start, not the finish [16:50] Avoid this expensive problem-solution blunder [23:00] Choosing who to ask (and who not to ask) about your idea [39:30] Don’t confuse valuable with profitable [48:02] 3 major points discussed When lighting strikes, give it space. Yes, entrepreneurs have to take risks in order to get anywhere. But there’s a big difference between taking a risk and allowing idea excitement to blind you. When your latest big idea strikes, document it, but give yourself space to get beyond that initial burst of excitement. That way you can evaluate your idea with a level head (and potentially save yourself years of wasted time and money). It’s not your customers’ fault. When you test the waters with your product and don’t get the response you’re hoping for, it’s all too easy to decide you don’t have the right customers. Or that they’re clueless for not seeing the value in what you offer. Educating people who don’t yet understand the value in your idea is possible, but it works a LOT less frequently than most people think. If your solution isn’t a solution in their minds, no amount of educating them will change that. Keep it lean when you test the waters. Instead of cannonballing into the water with your new idea, dip your toe in, especially when you’re gauging customer interest. Just because someone says they want it, doesn’t always make it so. It depends on who you’re asking, and whether you’re actually solving their problem, or just solving a problem you think they have. Keeping this phase lean is critical to stopping new idea excitement from running away with your time and money. Resources & People Mentioned https://www.bizmodelbook.com/ The Business Model Book: Design, Build and Adapt Business Ideas That Drive Business Growth, by Adam J. Bock and Gerard George (available on Amazon) Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Three action-packed years ago, James P. Friel and Dean Holland set out on a mission with one objective: Launch a fun, value-packed podcast full of cutting edge advice to help entrepreneurs take their business to the next level. The first few episodes of Just The Tips were rocky, as James and Dean, both podcast newbies, worked through the ins and outs and ups and downs of launching and growing a successful podcast. With three years of successful podcasting under their belts, you’d expect the guys’ podcasting experience to be smooth as silk. It’s definitely more efficient than it used to be, but technical fails and other issues still pop up, and do so for one unavoidable reason: Challenges are a part of life. If you want to get anywhere with anything, such as launch a product or grow your business, the ability to roll with the punches and find a way forward is a must. Yet an unfortunate number of people give up on their dreams when adversity swoops in. In this third anniversary episode, James and Dean reveal their top tips to keep going when your commitment to your dreams and goals is tested. Make no mistake: It will be tested. Not once, not twice, but over and over again. And each time, you’ll find yourself at a crossroads: Give up, or dig in your heels and keep going. If you want to be the person who digs in their heels and keeps going, check out this episode. Outline of This Episode What stops people from achieving their dreams [5:05] It doesn’t matter if you don’t know what you’re doing [12:01] Accidental selfishness is holding you back [13:30] How to move beyond imposter syndrome [17:50] When to zip your and lip and listen [24:03] 3 major points discussed Don’t know what you’re doing? You’ll learn! When James and Dean launched Just The Tips three years ago, they had no idea how to launch and grow a successful podcast. But they went for it anyway. Due diligence ahead of time is always a great idea, but some things you can only learn as you go. Waiting to move forward until everything is “perfect,” or until you finally feel qualified, means you’ll never move forward. You’re never going to feel fully qualified, and nothing will ever be “perfect.” It’s not about you. There are people you can help NOW. By procrastinating, or even giving up on, your dreams, you’re depriving them of your help. Imagine if you called an ambulance because you were in excruciating pain, and when the EMTs arrived, they just stood outside and stared at you through your living room window. When you allow your own limiting beliefs to derail you, you’re doing to the people you could be helping what the EMTs did in this example scenario. Your message is too important for you to keep sitting on it! What matters more than great products? Concern that your product’s no good is a giant roadblock for a lot of entrepreneurs. Yes, product quality is important, but there are ways you can ensure it’s a great product, and still get it into the world before hell freezes over. James and Dean share one must-do and one must-have for creating profitable products that get people results. Tune in to hear all the details. Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Due to social distancing measures, businesses the world over have unexpectedly found themselves forced to conduct virtual team meetings. What many quickly discovered is that virtual team meetings, like in-person meetings, can drag on and end up extremely unproductive - except even more so! Instead of getting to business and lining out next steps, virtual team meetings often turn into time-sucking social hours, feel pointless, or take three times longer than necessary, all because there’s no meeting framework in place. A recent study revealed that unproductive team meetings waste nearly $40 billion a year; and that regardless of company size, employees spent 15% of their time in meetings. That’s a lot of time and money down the drain! In this week’s new episode, James and Dean share simple, streamlined strategies to eliminate team meeting tedium, so you can get to business, get a plan in place, and get on with your day. Outline of This Episode Why virtual team meetings take way longer than they need to [5:35] What to have in place even before the meeting structure [10:40] Know your definition of success [25:30] What to do once everyone’s on the same page [37:27] James’ three-step approach to team meetings [41:41] 3 major points discussed Why do team meetings often feel pointless? Because most team meetings consist of these two elements: Catching up, and checking in, neither of which move your company forward. Without a clear, focused structure based around a clear, focused goal, team meetings can easily get and stay off track. It doesn’t mean you have to be a drill sergeant, but no consistent structure and clear goal, your meeting will end up unproductive and feel pointless. Setting your team meeting agenda. Before you even head into your team meeting, everyone’s got to be on the same page. For example, what are the big projects your company is focused on right now? What needs to happen in order for your team to complete those projects on time, and in a way that leads to the results you want? Once everyone understands what the focus of the meeting’s going to be, and the role each team member plays in creating that project outcome, it’s easy to get crystal clarity on your team meeting’s goal and agenda. On-point, productive meetings don’t happen without a framework. James uses a three-step approach to team meetings. Step one is about solidifying company culture. This isn’t a free-for-all social hour, but rather, an opportunity for you and your team to check in with why you’re all doing what you’re doing. After that’s done, steps two and three are about getting down to business: Where are we, and where do we go from here? All the details for exactly how to follow James’ three-step team meeting approach are in this week’s episode! Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
This year’s events have inspired more people than ever to seek out creative ways to earn more income. Whether it’s growing a side hustle, pivoting or expanding their existing business, or creating a business from scratch, online info products are a fantastic way to create a revenue stream, and do so without a lot of overhead costs. Doesn’t matter if you’re online-only or brick and mortar, established or brand new - you have something to offer. For example, there’s something you do well that other people don’t do well, and would love to get better at. There’s something you know that can help people solve a problem, challenge, or pain in their lives. And if you sell physical products, you can offer digital products to improve your customers’ experience with your physical product(s). You don’t have to know everything there is to know in order to have an info product. You just have to know more than someone else, and show them how to get a result they want. “Anybody can build a business around any knowledge they have.” - James P. Friel Outline of This Episode Who can make money with info products [4:01] What stops most people from having an info product [11:25] There’s never been a better time to create an info product [17:20] How to choose your product topic [21:15] Validating and launching your info product [29:30] 3 major points discussed Don’t get ahead of yourself. Trying to micromanage every step of your info product from idea conception to launch will send you straight into paralysis by overanalysis. Whether or not your product is created is irrelevant if you don’t even have your idea nailed down. The software you use to create your info product is irrelevant until you’ve actually created it. Focus your time and energy on the step you’re currently on. THEN figure out the next step. Even crazy ideas help with topic selection. Before you can launch, or even create an info product, you’ve got to choose a topic. That’s where a “Knowledge Inventory” comes in. James and Dean use and recommend this simple brainstorming method to help you see what you have to offer. While taking a Knowledge Inventory, it’s CRITICAL you do not judge your ideas. Even if the idea sounds iffy, or just plain nuts, write it down. Ideas lead to more ideas. The point of a Knowledge Inventory isn’t to come up with a million winners (because it only takes one). It’s to fully unleash your creativity and brainstorming, which won’t happen if you’re in judgment mode. If an idea pops into your head, write it down. Only once you’ve got that unedited list of ideas will you sort them based on factors like how much you know about them, whether there’s people looking to learn them, and whether those people will pay you for your knowledge. Think you’ve got a winner? Then it’s time to validate it. Is there demand? Is that demand coming from freebie seekers, or from people who’ll spend money to get what you’re offering? Is your idea developed enough to help people? Your product doesn’t need to be “as good as it’ll ever possibly be” straight out of the gate, but it does need to be developed enough to help people get a result. There are a ton of ways to validate your idea, and James and Dean will share the best ones with you in this episode. Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: BulletProof Business Program: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
As you make your way to success, you get this wave of overwhelm that takes you by surprise. You might try to think back and see if you’ve missed the signs, but it’s too late by then. Burnout is just around the corner! How do you avoid this monster of a situation? In this episode, James and Dean talk about their effective strategies to overcome overwhelm. It’s inevitable, but when you have the right systems in place, overwhelm is not as scary as you think! “We're human beings, not human doings.” – James P. Friel Outline of This Episode - Juggling multiple projects at the moment - As cliché as it sounds, “Health is Wealth!” Play the long game. - Finding the balance between work, health, relationships, and everything else! - Writing, good habits, and saying “no.” - Delete, Automate, Delegate, and “Do It” Playing the Long Game You have to be prepared for the long game. Have strategies for getting things out of your head and prioritize your tasks accordingly. If you don’t take time to slow things down, you’re going to burn yourself out like an overheating car. A Literal Brain Dump The human mind is not designed for short-term storage. If it has too many things going on, there won’t be much room to process in real-time! Set some systems in place for you to offload from your mind (i.e., journals, planners, or simple notebooks”). The Magic of Automation Learn to avoid the things you hate doing the smart. Delete items that aren’t needed. Automate the simple activities that are a pain. Delegate more complex tasks. When you have all these in place, start doing your own thing! Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Interested in being a guest on the show? Visit us at https://justthetipsshow.com/apply-as-guest/ Connect with James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group (The Hustle Detox): https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Interested in being a guest on the show? - https://justthetipsshow.com/apply-as-guest/ Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
With the marketing game becoming common, the way people do it starts to become saturated and repetitive. Not to mention, the internet’s rise to power has overshadowed some of the eternal truths to marketing with paid advertising and funnels. In this episode, James and Dean talk with the legendary Brian Kurtz as he dispels marketing myths and reveals the solid marketing principles that many forget to uphold. With so many more tools at your disposal, you have all the opportunity in front of you. It’s up to you to take it! “You can't think about ‘marketing is evil’. You’ve got to think about it as a way to present your product or service to an audience that is going to be receptive to it.” – Brian Kurtz Outline of This Episode - Something more than “Wham, Bam, Thank You Ma’am!” - What does “playing your bogey” mean? Remember the eternal truths! - Email is a killer app! It’s not dead yet. - Fishing without bait – make the people come to you. - The advertising opportunities are infinite! Use online and offline methods. Play Your Bogey Whether it’s creating a book or other marketing strategies, don’t be afraid to lose money to get more in the long run! Because you don’t know which of your investments will end up winning, see where you can spend without losing too much money. Email is a Killer App! You have to remember that email doesn’t work the same way as direct mail does. But emails are still an effective medium. Treat your list like family. Create free content, sell educational material (occasionally), or do a weekly blog! That’s fishing without bait. The Relationship Between Online and Offline Marketing If you drive on all the roads, you’ll be seen everywhere! If you have an excellent presence on Facebook or Instagram, you might want to expand into other areas like direct mail. Find the VIP’s from the people who buy from you and offer them a new product! Resources & People Mentioned - Check out Brian’s book: Overdeliver: https://overdeliverbook.com/ - Get Brian’s free resources here: https://www.thelegendsbook.com/ - Brian’s Website: https://www.briankurtz.net/ - Titan’s Marketing: https://www.briankurtz.net/xl/ - Brian’s Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/brian.kurtz.121 - Brian’s Facebook Page: https://web.facebook.com/briankurtzofficial/ - Brian’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-kurtz-a1934/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Interested in being a guest on the show? Visit us at https://justthetipsshow.com/apply-as-guest/ Connect with James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group (The Hustle Detox): https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Interested in being a guest on thea show? - https://justthetipsshow.com/apply-as-guest/ Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
There are so many keys to success when you’re building a business online. So many that no one even knows where to begin and some of them even contradict each other! If people in the fitness industry differ with loving and hating carbs (with others not even caring at all), it’s the same thing with business. In this episode, James and Dean help you zoom out and look at how all the pieces fit together. You’ll be surprised to know that the path to get results are the same fundamental things you’ve learned! “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” – James P. Friel Outline of This Episode - [05:10] The value of the fundamentals - [14:07] Being clear on who you want to serve - [31:40] Helping people make decisions - [45:23] A market to message match and market into message mismatch - [47:55] Generating traffic and setting up affiliate networks Cut Away the Noise The late basketball coach John Wooden stresses fundamentals, even to the degree of putting your socks on! If you get blisters because you put your socks on wrong, you’re not going to be at your best. For your business, be a master of the simple things first! Understand Who You Want to Sell To How old are they? What do they do? Know the needs of the people you want to serve and figure out how they would feel good about buying from you. Solve People’s Problems When your offer is good enough that it meets the need your prospect has, there is very little selling involved. A person who accidentally ate a spicy pepper needs no sales talk for cold water! Resources & People Mentioned - John Wooden (Former UCLA Coach) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wooden - Competing Against Luck - https://www.amazon.com/Competing-Against-Luck-Innovation-Customer/dp/0062435612 - Clayton Christiansen - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clayton_Christensen Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Interested in being a guest on the show? Visit us at https://justthetipsshow.com/apply-as-guest/ Connect with James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group (The Hustle Detox): https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ JTT Facebook Page - https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Why do most business plans fail? And what’s missing from every other business book out there? In this episode, James and Dean welcome Sean Castrina, an expert on planning for success in business. Sean is a speaker, entrepreneur, and bestselling author who devotes his time to equipping entrepreneurs for success. Today he shares why the 25 questions featured in his latest book, World’s Greatest Business Plan, are guaranteed to work. You’ll hear some of the actual questions and learn the one reason every failed business didn’t make it. “There is logic to starting a business, and you need to follow that.” – Sean Castrina Outline of This Episode - [11:13] Why other business books don’t work - [15:34] The value of creating a plan - [19:17] The 1 critical thing your business plan must achieve - [22:24] Why competition is good for you - [40:20] When Sean found a flaw in his own business plan Test your business plan first In his latest book, Sean lists 25 questions that need to be answered in order for your business plan to succeed. He’s structured it in such a way that if you can’t answer all the questions, you know your plan definitely won’t survive the market. Competition is good Everyone has competition, even if it’s indirect competition. Sean explains exactly why competition is good for your business plan. What if? So how? Every successful business started with the same question: “What if?” Sean walks you through the key to finding your “what if” and how to go from there to the “so how?” phase in which you make it a reality. Resources & People Mentioned - Sean’s website - https://seancastrina.com/ - Download your FREE copy of Sean’s book, World’s Greatest Business Plan - https://seancastrina.com/wgbp-freebook-lp/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Interested in being a guest on the show? Visit us at https://justthetipsshow.com/apply-as-guest/ Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group (Hustle Detox): https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Do you have a hard time selling? Do you get awkward and uncomfortable when it’s time to close? In this episode, James and Dean welcome Diane Helbig, an international business and leadership consultant, trainer, author, award-winning speaker, and podcast host. She’s here to share her game-changing tips for effective selling. If you’re not excited about sales, you will be by the end of this episode. Tune in for Diane’s expert advice and scripts that will turn you into a master closer. “You have to actually listen to what people tell you and then respond based on that, and what you know about your solution.” – Diane Helbig Outline of This Episode - [7:30] Diane’s strategies for creating a connection with your prospect - [8:58] The importance of curiosity and staying in the moment - [12:57] Diane defines chasing revenue vs chasing profit - [24:28] Key questions you need to know about your prospect - [27:02] What James’s philosophy “You’re not there to sell” really means “Sales Mode Brain” What Diane refers to as “sales mode brain” is not effective. “Sales mode brain” comes into play when you are needy, desperate, obnoxiously confident, or arrogant. Diane tells you how to get out of that space for more effective selling. Getting Good Clients Should you take money from anyone willing to give it to you? Diane says you should only take money from someone you want to be “married” to. She shares key strategies for getting to know a prospect before building a relationship. Honesty is a Good Thing Even if you are not the best choice for your prospect, or they are not the best client for you, be honest. Diane has the exact script to use in order to turn that “no” into a potential future relationship. Resources & People Mentioned - Diane Helbig Enterprises: https://www.seizethisday.co/ - Diane’s book, “Succeed Without Selling”: https://www.amazon.com/Succeed-Without-Selling-Think-About/dp/1642799920 - Diane Helbig on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dhelbig - Seize This Growth on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/seizethisgrowth - Seize This Growth on Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/seizethisgrowth - Seize This Growth on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/seizethisgrowth - 3-Step Prospecting Strategy: https://onlinecourses.eliteexpertsnetwork.com/course/3-step-prospecting-strategy/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License James and Dean are going live! Check out https://justthetipsshow.com/ every Tuesday at 1pm EDT to listen to a live show where you can call into James and Dean! Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show?: https://justthetipsshow.com/apply-as-guest/ Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
What does it mean to “be yourself” with your audience? James and Dean welcome Yara Golden, an expert in both online and offline marketing. This episode is packed with her tips for approaching your audience and increasing your open rates. Hint: Relationships with subscribers are a lot like personal relationships. Don’t miss this game-changing advice from a leading expert! “When somebody clicks on your ad, it’s them saying, ‘Hey, that thing you just talked about or just showed me is relevant to me, it’s interesting to me.’" – Yara Golden Outline of This Episode - Two things people do wrong with their lists [5:39] - Yara’s 4 types of people you see in marketing inboxes [10:00] - How Yara learned to approach her audience [15:42] - Making that leap to selling [20:57] - How to establish a real relationship with your clients [30:27] - Lara’s framework for sharing your stories [33:30] - Making space for the right people on your list [37:34] - Are you just “checking boxes” in a template? [45:13] - The 6 questions everyone has [50:05] Are you wasting ad money? Too often, people think an ad is meant to sell something. Yara shares how to make sure your ads are collecting information you need for your list. Why is it so hard to “be yourself"? It’s easier said than done. But what does it really mean? Yara has concrete strategies and advice for “being yourself” in your client and audience interactions. Make space for the right people Whatever you are selling won’t be right for everybody. In this episode, Yara helps you get over the idea that you need to be liked by everyone, and instead should aim to be liked by the right people for your list. Resources & People Mentioned - Connect with Yara Golden: https://yaragolden.com - Subscriber Reviver: https://subscriberreviver.com/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License James and Dean are going live! Check out https://justthetipsshow.com/ every Tuesday at 1pm EDT to listen to a live show where you can call into James and Dean! Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Are you ready to learn the real power of your audience? You need to start making the most of your list as an investment. In today’s episode, James and Dean will help you develop a list of ideal clients, grow your list the smart way, and leverage the people already paying attention. Plus, you’ll hear how to revive a cold list and the four types of campaigns you cannot skip in your business. You’ll want to grab a pen and a piece of paper because it’s time to take some notes. “If you have a list, you’re always going to have people to talk to. And that’s one of the insurance policies for having a great business.” – James Friel Outline of This Episode - The importance of reaching out to your list today [11:15] - Ways to start or grow a list [16:45] - How James got a 50-60% conversion [25:25] - What’s most important to get people on your list [32:50] - The 4 types of campaigns every business owner needs [36:20] Starting a list How do you grow a list from nothing? Listen as James and Dean share what you need to do to make people want to hear from you. Learn how to establish credibility in your relationship with people. Once you have a list See your list as an investment. Now that you have it, what is your ultimate end goal? Hear how to develop a consistent communication strategy, and how it can build your business. Warming up an old list James explains why it’s absolutely vital to revive a cold list. He shares concrete advice for what to say and how to say it to get those leads warmed back up. Plus, you can check out his resource for stoking the fire. Resources & People Mentioned - Subscriber Reviver: https://subscriberreviver.com/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow
Most of us are going through turbulent times and working on major pivots in our businesses. If you’re in the same boat, this show is a must-listen. Dane Maxwell started with $123 in his pocket, and now he’s a multi-millionaire, author of the hit book Start from Zero, and serial entrepreneur teaching people how to start a business from scratch. How did he do it? He joins James and Dean in this episode to share his advice on building lucrative businesses over and over again -- even when times are tough. Find out his secrets to making equity every day, including what not to do when starting from zero. “Clarity crushes neediness.” – Dane Maxwell Outline of This Episode - [03:05] Learn how Dane started from zero - [11:44] What do people get wrong when starting out? - [16:14] Step 1 of Dane’s “Learning Adventures” - [21:15] How to build equity - [23:41] What is Dane’s “Holy Grail” of business? - [28:15] The 6 steps you need to start a lucrative business What did Dane do right? Dane began by “flipping”, or buying and reselling, websites. Though he got taken advantage of, he was naïve enough to think that he could succeed. There’s a certain optimism that’s needed to successfully build a business. But first? Ask people what their problems are—and really listen. Passive and Equity Income Dane made the decision not to do anything that exchanged time for money unless he was learning something. Too many people start by doing a lot, rather than ruthlessly focusing on what they want to do. That laser focus is clarity, and it will help you start from zero. Crush Internal Arrogance Entrepreneurs are not experts; they hire experts. With clarity, know what you want to do and you’ll be surprised to find how much money you make! Dane shares the first 3 of the 7 “Learning Adventures” from his book, as well as the 6 steps any entrepreneur needs to start lucrative businesses over and over again…no matter how turbulent the times. Resources and People Mentioned - “The Road Less Stupid” by Keith J. Cunningham: https://keystothevault.com/the-road-less-stupid-advice-from-the-chairman-of-the-board/ - Start From Zero: https://www.startfromzero.com/ - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/startfromzerobuildyourbusiness/ - Dane’s music on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DaneMaxwell/ - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danemaxwellmusic/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License James and Dean are going live! Check out https://justthetipsshow.com/ every Tuesday at 1pm EDT to listen to a live show where you can call into James and Dean! Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Today's topic can earn you a lot of money, but hardly anyone talks about it. James and Dean welcome Mike Schmidt and AJ Rivera of Anchor Wave, who will share the secrets of a "shadow sales funnel." You can capture all the traffic that's generated in the wake of your active sales funnel to make even more money. What happens when people do a Google search for your name? Are there things from your past that come up which will hurt your business? The solution is to build a funnel hub so that you control all those searches. A funnel hub will catch anybody that's searching for you and direct them where you want them to go. A funnel hub works by helping you push potential clients past the trust tipping point. Potential clients will overcome skepticism so that you can convert opportunities into more sales. "People want to buy from people they admire and have the success they want." – Mike Schmidt and AJ Rivera Outline of This Episode - [05:51] Learn what a shadow sales funnel is and how it can help you - [10:04] Seal in the cracks between your online sites - [12:49] How a funnel hub can push your clients past the trust tipping point - [17:37] Steps you can take right now to build a funnel hub - [20:24] What are the key elements of a funnel hub? What a funnel hub is, and how it can make you more money A passive sales funnel is what happens when people hear about you and want to know more. A funnel hub takes those searches and pushes them back into your funnel. It's a way to connect all the things you're trying to do to all the people who want to know who you are. Building a funnel hub will catch anybody who's searching for you and direct them to your sales funnels. How to get your customers past the trust tipping point The trust tipping point is where you convert skeptics into clients. You need to convince people of what you do and why so that they will overcome their skepticism and become clients. A funnel hub gives people the secondary validation they need to become clients. It's more elegant than a landing page because it's more purpose-driven. Take control of the results that pop up when people search for you and direct them to your sales funnels. The difference between a landing page and a funnel hub A landing page is like a brochure, but you need a funnel hub to link all your online properties. Share your dream, your drive, your manifesto on your funnel hub so that potential clients will trust you. By doing this, you create transparency and trust. People will know who you are, including your hero's journey and lifestyle. By giving them this evidence, you help people overcome the trust tipping point. Creating a funnel hub gives people the validation they need, and makes you the money you're missing. Resources & People Mentioned - Funnelhub.com - Anchorwave.com - Agencycoach.com Examples of funnel hubs - Marketingsecrets.com - Garretjwhite.com - Bryandulaney.com Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License James and Dean are going live! Check out https://justthetipsshow.com/ every Tuesday at 1pm EDT to listen to a live show where you can call into James and Dean! Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Where is the crest of the wave for entrepreneurs in all this waiting? Stephen Somers, co-founder of Marketplace Superheroes, chimes in for this interview with James and Dean to discuss how e-commerce and online service businesses are set for a quantum leap. Stephen co-founded an online education and services company that helps people learn to sell their own products globally via Amazon, completely from scratch. With over $12 million in products sold on Amazon, Stephen and his business partner Robert also grew an 8-figure coaching and training business aimed at helping people learn to start up a successful side hustle, even with minimal cash and experience. “When this started, I heard Russell (Brunson) say, ‘Now’s the time you have to be there for your audience.’ So I doubled down on streaming, and let people ask me ANYTHING about business, money, side hustles … anything you want.” – Stephen Somers Outline of This Episode - [05:40] The coming wave of small, online service businesses and an e-commerce boom - [16:05] Stephen’s competitive angle and mindset for creating a successful Amazon business - [23:12] The gold mine waiting on the entrepreneur who knows how to leverage online traffic - [25:45] Amazon’s incredible, credibility-boosting inventory decisions in the age of COVID-19 - [27:09] The gift that keeps giving – the quarantine’s positioning opportunity for entrepreneurs Amazing and unusual places to plant seeds on Amazon Don’t get greedy, and don’t get fooled by the latest trends where millions of people are trying to get in to compete for precious dollars. Stephen counsels clients to start their e-commerce side hustles with extensive research for products that have potential and an existing record of searchability. The path to success doesn’t lie where you think it does – learn the secrets of “farming” a living from multiple income streams. Online traffic’s potency to explode your side hustle growth How Stephen’s new side hustle of golf themed t-shirts led to a GOLDEN discovery – the price of online traffic is falling, and it remains the most powerful tool for automating orders and cashing in on the shuttered, blindsided terrestrial market. With fewer competitors than EVER, e-commerce side hustles and small, internet-based service companies for local communities are poised for a boom like no other. The biggest mistake you can make during the COVID-19 quarantine James, Dean and Stephen rap about the unique ripeness of the time for capturing your audience’s ATTENTION, which was almost impossible to do pre-COVID. Following an inspiring line from Russell Brunson, Stephen got on Zoom and began inviting anyone, client or otherwise, to ask him questions about business, success and growth. If ever there was a time for businesses to be generous, flexible and patient, we are riding that wave! Resources & People Mentioned - Marketplace Superheroes https://marketplacesuperheroes.com/ - Side Hustle Heroes https://sidehustleheroes.com/ - Side Hustle Heroes on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/sidehustleheroes/ - Stephen Somers on InstaGram https://instagram.com/stephenjsomers Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
One of the best times to build an online business community is during a period of uncertainty. In this episode, James and Dean talk about the advantage of getting out in front of your tribe, with as much power-packed content as you can make, during the ongoing coronavirus quarantine. Groups are launched and abandoned on social media every day. They start up with hopes of something new and different, but the people leading them often get sidetracked seeking applause or engagement for posts that aren’t much help or use to the members. James launched the BulletProof Business group on Facebook, a platform where he’d previously not been active. It began to grow very quickly. In this discussion with Dean, you’ll zoom out to 30,000 feet to get a firm grip on the right attitude, intentions and some practical steps for creating YOUR highly engaged, profitable online community. The energy and intention you need to bring should always be, “How can I create a community of people who need my services?” – James Friel Outline of This Episode - [07:55] Community, leadership and direction over isolation and confusion - [18:30] Mindset, sales, marketing, team, operations, systems … your BulletProof survival kit - [21:30] The top 3 counterintuitive strategies of an online group in the age of COVID-19 - [28:28] The power of celebrating wins together – why they ratchet up engagement - [32:25] How engaging with your tribe totally sets you apart from the pack The top 3 strategies you wouldn’t think to use to get massive group engagement James started BulletProof Business with high-level knowledge to deploy, at a brisk pace. But he found that quarantines increase attendance for Facebook Live videos, even if they’re spur-of-the-moment and unannounced. He also flipped the script on chasing engagement, focusing only on what he can give that adds the most value to people. By violating every rule of direct response marketing, James’ group is both monetized and full of energy – even though he had no intention of making money or becoming a social media celebrity. The strength of the pack is in the “wins” From a mompreneur’s success getting her kids to bathe to an executive closing a $300k deal, winning is even more important during times of turmoil. When BulletProof Business does “Wins on Friday,” the comments section goes nuclear, and “your” economy becomes separate from “the” economy. Psychologically, this helps people keep their attention focused where it belongs – and OFF the daily news soap opera and rumor mill. Why we need to talk You just can’t outspend someone who is generous with their time, or make up the ground with paid advertising. James intentionally engages business owners and entrepreneurs in his group, and easily sidesteps the question of what makes him different from other thought leaders and experts. During a term of isolation and restriction, engagement is easily our most powerful asset as entrepreneurs. Resources & People Mentioned - BulletProof Business with James P. Friel on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Were you ever that person in high school that was just terrible at volleyball? Do you miss being a kid and playing four square at recess? Do you love going to the beach, but feel left out when you can't play beach volleyball? There is now a solution to that predicament: CROSSNET! It is a new game developed to solve all three problems. Today’s guest is the co-founder of CROSSNET, the world’s first four-way volleyball game. Chris Meade moved to Miami in 2017 to start the business with his brother and a childhood friend. Now, CROSSNET has swamped the market and is being distributed by retail giants like Walmart and Target. Chris joins James and Dean as they go over the progression of how an idea turned into a million-dollar company. They discuss tips for running a business, why it’s important to be patient and frugal, and so much more! We don’t surrender cash unless it’s going to bring us back money. If I spend $10, I better be getting $11 back. That’s been our whole mindset since we’ve started the company. - Chris Meade Outline of This Episode - [03:49] CROSSNET, from idea to business - [09:26] The negotiation between the company and retailers - [15:27] The biggest challenge in owning the business - [17:40] Future plans for CROSSNET and the company - [20:29] What made Chris and his partners decide that the idea was worth it The inception of CROSSNET CROSSNET is a four-way volleyball game that merges traditional volleyball with the game four square. It divides the court into four quadrants, rather than in half. The rules combine traditional four square and volleyball elements in a competitive game. They started out advertising by going to the beach and playing the game every day until people caught on and got interested. Three years later, CROSSNET is now available at Walmart, Target, DICKS, Academy Sports, Amazon, and 20 other retailers. The biggest challenge of owning a business For Chris and his partners, the biggest challenge they faced was during the early days of the business. In their first year, the company only made $80,000. They did not make any profit from the money and all of it went back to the company. Chris mentions that they had to be super patient for the first year and a half before seeing any return on their investment. It may have taken them a longer time than what people would normally refer to as an “overnight success”. It took them two years of steady work before they paid themselves. Chris and his friends knew that they had the skill sets to bring in cash while their company was still starting out. So even if they thought about getting a bank loan to scale faster, they depended on their diligence to keep them afloat. How do you decide if an idea is worth the effort or not? Chris mentions that in deciding whether an idea is viable, it all comes down to numbers. He specifically talks about the conversion metrics paired with how much money it costs to get customers to the site when ads are run. It’s all about your growth strategy. If there is positive growth, then that is something you would want to continue working on even if there isn’t a sale made every day. On the other hand, if you are on a sale plateau for too long, then that becomes an issue. You can either pivot your marketing strategy or put a little more effort into it, but if there is no more effort to be put in, then that can be your cue to stop. Resources & People Mentioned - Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cjmeade - CROSSNET'S Website: https://www.crossnetgame.com/ - CROSSNET on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crossnetgame/ - CROSSNET on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/crossnetgame - CROSSNET on Twitter: https://twitter.com/crossnetgame - CROSSNET on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3_8Rgawrlg_YTqqN2rrsQw Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Most of us are almost a month into being on lockdown because of the pandemic. Like most situations, things have to get worse before they can get good again. Even Dean wasn’t an exception to the virus; he was deemed to have been positive and was quarantined for ten days before coming back to the show. In today’s episode, James and Dean chat about how you can create opportunity out of a crisis. They share a four-step framework that you can take and apply in whatever business you are in right now. This process is applicable in any situation to help you figure out how to move forward. James also emphasizes that the way you can dramatically accelerate the growth of your business is when you see the opportunity in a crisis, you go through it, and figure out your way. Opportunity is everywhere, but you are going to have to go and catch it. How do you evolve with this situation? You adapt to the change. – James P. Friel Outline of This Episode - [08:00] Opportunity is everywhere but you have to go and catch it - [11:31] The importance of evaluating where you are during a crisis - [13:34] Why you should stabilize your business - [21:52] Optimizing is your opportunity to unleash creativity - [29:40] The difference between optimization and disruption Why you should stabilize to the best extent that you can In times of a crisis, as a business owner, you cannot expect that things will be figured out for you. You have to make sure that you are not bleeding cash. Hence, you need to stabilize things yourself. The best way to approach it is by making a fast decision after you are done running different scenarios. You have to check the resources that are required to support your current level of income. It may either mean that you have to pivot your offers or let go of some employees, vendors, or contractors. How to unleash your creativity through optimizing opportunities Optimizing opportunities is when you add more value to your existing marketplace by giving out interesting offers or presenting more ways of helping people. If you feel stuck and don't know how to pivot, the best way to get out of a rut is to have conversations with other like-minded people. One of the things that is critical in optimizing is to understand that things can fall into one of three places - good, better or best. During a crisis, your ideal version of what should be out there should not prevent you from letting out something good that can meet people’s needs. The difference between optimization and disruption Optimization is when you improve or pivot the things that you already have. On the other hand, disruption is saying how you can go after a big player in the market who is having some challenges, and how you can come in on the low end to do something there. How you can serve a new market of people that are not able to get access to the things that the bigger businesses are unable to provide. The opportunity to capture a large amount of market share is available right now. Once you’ve gone through the first three steps, it would be smart to look at the marketplace and look for opportunities for disruption. Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow
Most businesses are currently constrained and are resorting to online interactions due to the pandemic. In today’s episode, James and Dean talk about how you can grow your business and have great relationships with your customers amid the crisis and challenging circumstances. Today’s guest is the founder of BombTech Golf, an e-commerce store with over $17 million sold online since 2012, Tyler “Sully” Sullivan. He believes that the best way to run a profitable e-commerce business is to have real conversations with customers and potential customers at scale. In addition to Bombtech, Sully also runs eCom Growers, which is a Gold Certified Klaviyo Agency. In this episode, they discuss how to appropriately use one’s email list to create lasting relationships with customers, drive revenue, and scale the business. They also give out tips on how you can make your email replies more natural and personal. As long as people are engaging, you are doing something right. – Tyler Sullivan Outline of This Episode - [05:35] How to engage in conversations with your customers while building your business - [08:46] Reasons why entrepreneurs have a disconnect with their consumers - [13:50] Two ways of using your email to scale your business - [25:03] The tool for managing your email replies - [34:01] Why your email list and customer list are the biggest assets you can have Two-step process for getting your clients engaged in your business When Sully was still setting his business up, he had a process for getting his clients involved in the business so that he could serve them better. His first method was to document everything he was doing. Documenting your development allows you to look back and see what you can improve on. The second step was to ask his clientele genuine questions he wanted the answers to. You can ask them what they want to see in your product or business. Why there is a disconnect between entrepreneurs and their customers There are two main reasons why entrepreneurs have a disconnect with their patrons. The first reason is that entrepreneurs do not ask genuine questions. If you are not inquiring about what they want to see from your products or business, your company will suffer. The second reason is that people tend to forget that email is a two-way means of communication. Entrepreneurs focus on using email to drive revenue alone. When you create a conversation with your customers, you make them feel that they are part of the process, creating a long-term relationship with them. The importance of nurturing your client and email lists According to Sully, any e-commerce brand’s biggest assets are their email and customer lists. When the entrepreneur doesn’t nurture those lists, and they come out with a new product, it will not convert. People won’t have the same sense of loyalty to your brand. Plus, if social media went away or if Facebook Ads became too expensive to use, you can still exist and get traffic by using your email list. Never forget that through email, you can communicate with your consumers, and at the same time, drive revenue. Resources & People Mentioned - BombTech Golf’s Website: https://www.bombtechgolf.com/ - BombTech Golf on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BombTechGolf/ - EcomGrower’s Website: http://www.ecomgrowers.com/ - EcomGrower on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ecomgrowers/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Are you thinking of starting your own business but don’t know where to start? Are you interested in the idea of working for yourself, but you’re unsure of the whole concept? Do you think it would be more beneficial if you team up with someone else? For those who are eager to learn how to start a business, today’s episode is tailored just for you. Today’s guest is an expert on business valuation, value improvement, deal structuring, and financial understanding, to name a few. Aryeh Sheinbein is the founder of Results Advisory, which is a results-driven digital marketing agency that helps businesses build their digital marketing strategy. He joins James and Dean as they discuss how the foundation of a business should be built, the importance of knowing the difference between a joint venture and a partnership, and why it is fundamental to set up your business with a systemized process. Tune in to learn more about how you can maximize your opportunities and grow as an entrepreneur. In terms of structure, people just need to start realizing that there is no hard and fast rule that says, ‘It has to look like this’. Otherwise, it’ll never happen. - Aryeh Sheinbein Outline of This Episode - [03:51] Where entrepreneurs go wrong when they are putting deals together - [09:53] The distinction between building a business and building a cash flow stream - [13:35] The differences concerning a partnership and a joint venture - [18:32] How typical licensing works - [27:38] Revenue sharing and how to structure your business Common mistakes that entrepreneurs make when starting a business When entrepreneurs are just starting out, they are less concerned with the nitty-gritty details of the business. The trouble comes from a place where the details, like legalities, are left out of the picture. Setting up the legal side of your business is important so that, when things go wrong, you don’t end up broke and back at square one. Another mistake is when people don’t do enough evaluation on the people they work with. Not doing your due diligence on getting to know your potential partners, workmates, or employees is a setback waiting to happen. Entrepreneurs need to see if the people they are going to work with fit the right position and not hastily team up for a business deal just because they have the same ideas about a prospective business. The difference between building a business and building a cash flow stream The main point that differentiates the two is centered on whether you are planning to exit the business on any level. When you are setting the business up to where you can sell it, that end will deem that you are building a business. On the other hand, if it’s going to be a constant hustle wherein the business cannot run without your presence, then that will lead you to a cash flow stream. In the early stages of a business, it will always need more involvement for it to progress. But if your venture is not set up with a process where, in the long run, it can run on its own, you are building a cash flow stream. Are you starting a partnership or a joint venture? These terms mean different things depending on the business level. In the entrepreneurial world, a joint venture is considered as a glorified affiliate relationship where one party has a product to sell, and the other has something of value to the audience. One brings the content, while the other brings the audience. In contrast, a partnership is where two people do complementary things that will build the business. It becomes a collaboration of activities, efforts, disciplines, and the like. Resources & People Mentioned - Aryeh Sheinbein’s Website: https://resultsdrivenadvisory.com/ - Aryeh on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aryehthebusinessman - Aryeh on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aryehsheinbein.public/ - Aryeh on Twitter: https://twitter.com/aryehsheinbein - Aryeh on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aryehsheinbein - Check out his Podcast: https://insidethelionsdenpodcast.com/ - FREE Book - The Iceberg Effect: https://www.icebergeffect.com/free - For Deal Structuring or Consulting with Aryeh: http://www.applytotheden.com/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
If you are an entrepreneur who is currently using Facebook Ads or is planning to use them, this episode is one that you don’t want to miss. In today’s episode, Dean shares his personal experience on how one mistake cost the suspension of his account. He outlines the events that led to the suspension, the steps he took to appeal his case, and how he was able to get his account reactivated. He also gives his takeaway from the experience so you can avoid going through the trouble and not have the same effect on your business. Stay tuned until the end of the episode to hear from James about how you can increase the value of your business. You may not be doing anything wrong at all, but you can still face problems. – Dean Holland Outline of This Episode - [03:45] What happened to Dean’s business - [12:45] The reason why Dean is still using Facebook Ads - [21:03] Getting the sales letter reviewed by a compliance company - [30:45] Takeaways from the whole ordeal - [35:15] Why you should begin with the end in mind Why Dean’s Facebook Ad account got deactivated A couple of days ago, Dean received an email from the Facebook Ads Team informing him that his account has made a violation of its policies, which lead to deactivation of his account. This wasn’t the first time that Dean’s account has gotten suspended because it occurred last December, where it was ruled as a mistake. Although it was never specifically stated which policy was infringed, Dean’s appeals were left on deaf ears, and his entire business management got terminated, preventing him from creating any ads for his business. What the compliance agency recommended Luckily, the employees that were handling Dean’s advertising had contacts with people who deal with compliance concerning written text, and Dean sent out a copy of the sales letter. The recommendation of the compliance agency was to avoid focusing on statements that mentioned either personal attributes or overpromising results. Either of these two instances may have been the cause of the violation. Dean suggests to anyone who uses Facebook Ads to avert from using these kinds of statements to prevent problems. Lesson from the whole experience Dean realized that he was far too dependent on only one channel for a source of new customers. Instead of investing in only one platform, he should not have stopped using other channels. Entrepreneurs should learn how to diversify their traffic sources, create redundancy in the systems that they currently have, and become aware of the climate that they operate in so they can understand the macro picture of things and be able to adjust accordingly to day to day things that may come up. Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Today’s guest has come full circle, from selling Mexican candies to connecting people to entrepreneurs with global resources. He is the founder of the Internet Marketing Party, which hosts insider events where one can discover how to double their business while having a cocktail or two. David Gonzalez identifies himself as someone who is entrepreneurial. He works best with people who are already established in their niche of business. In today’s episode, David joins James and Dean as they sit down and talk about several tips for establishing connections, strengthening those connections, and using them for the improvement of your own business. Don’t think that you have to be a networker or connector to build relationships, you only have to be nice and complimentary. - David Gonzalez Outline of This Episode - [04:26] Establishing the difference between a true entrepreneur and being entrepreneurial - [11:37] How David became a super-connector - [21:57] The things that people get wrong when it comes to creating business relationships - [25:51] The first step in forming a relationship - [27:20] David’s FORD method for making connections How David made a career out of connecting people After a lot of self-reflection, David believes that he is entrepreneurial and not a true entrepreneur. Knowing that he is good at making connections, he made a company that focuses on people getting connected with the right resources for them to double their business. He started out making connections with people he didn’t need or want anything from. He then partnered with an integrator that was able to help him out by giving in-depth information about operations. Two big mistakes that people make when trying to create a business relationship The top two errors that most entrepreneurs make when they try to establish a relationship are understanding and curation. What business people need to recognize is that one should understand their audience. It is vital to know people’s interests, what drives them, and how they are wired. Also, it is necessary to talk about their interests or to connect them with the right people to further such pursuits. Why it’s important to have a genuine curiosity about the people you’re interested in If you want to start a relationship, do not ask them what they do. Instead, ask them through the FORD method where questions revolve around Family, Occupation, Recreation, and Dreams. David shares that he uses a particular framework to determine whether there’s good chemistry between him and the person he wants to create a relationship with. And if there’s no chemistry, he considers whether they’re a good match for someone in his network. Resources & People Mentioned - David Gonzalez’s Website: https://internetmarketingparty.com/ - Internet Marketing Party on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/InternetMarketingParty/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Today’s guest started his first tech company at the early age of 18. Joining James and Dean is Bill Bice, the CEO of Boomtime and Zebraworks. Bill was able to build an eight-figure business that became the market leader in the corporate legal industry. This venture led to an acquisition by Thomson Reuters, where he joined the management team of a $2B business. A programmer at heart, Bill tackled the problem of how one can create great marketing consistently. Thus, he created Boomtime by following the data and understanding what really works. Since then, Bill has founded and invested in 27 companies, always seeing the same correlation: the better you are at marketing, the more significant the success. In this episode, Bill shares the best marketing strategies to drive referrals to your business through word of mouth, the importance of effective marketing, and the impact of creating a great marketing foundation. Plus, Bill also goes over common mistakes that entrepreneurs are unaware of that lead to the downfall of their businesses. Before you spend a dollar on any form of paid advertising, you need to build the marketing foundation. – Bill Bice Outline of This Episode - [06:58] What brought Bill back to startups and entrepreneurship - [09:15] Why effective marketing is one of the biggest driving forces in any business - [15:10] The three core goals of creating a marketing foundation - [17:26] Two huge mistakes that businesses make - [21:12] Understanding the concept of amplifying the word of mouth to drive more referrals Marketing is a crucial part of any business Any entrepreneur knows that the presentation and promotion of his business are fundamental for it to grow. A determining factor to know if you are good at marketing is to look at the result or the solution you provide to your clients’ problems. One should be able to demonstrate that there is a return of investment as well. The most powerful thing about marketing is referrals. Considered a social currency, referrals are key to a business’s growth and expansion because you cannot possibly expect your business to develop without getting new and more clients. How to create a strong marketing foundation Equipped with over 30 years of knowledge and experience, Bill shares three core goals for any businessman to address in order to create a strong marketing foundation. He emphasizes the idea that you must be familiar with these goals to avoid making random acts of marketing, which causes inconsistency. These goals concentrate on creating and capturing leads, producing referrals, building market automation, and staying on top of your audience. Three channels that you can focus on to amplify referrals Driving referrals to your business is vital to keep the trade in existence. The most well-known concept in driving referrals is through word of mouth. When people give positive reviews about a certain business, more and more people will become interested, and this leads to the widening of an establishment’s audience. Utilizing the advancements of the internet, these three channels optimize the expansion of a business’s audience. This strategy in driving more referrals to your business is a must-know. Resources & People Mentioned - Bill Bice’s Website: https://www.boomtime.com/ - Bill Bice on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billbice - Bill Bice on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bill.bice - Bill Bice on Twitter: https://twitter.com/billbice - Check out his Podcast: https://boomtime.podbean.com/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Site: https://jamespfriel.com/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Are you having a difficult time finding the right customers? Do you end up selling to the wrong crowd? Today’s guest offers a new tip for all entrepreneurs so you can start getting that return on your investment of time. From only having $600 in his bank account to generating over $100 million in sales in 9 years, Rylee Meek has turned dinner seminar marketing into a science. He is the founder and CEO of the Social Dynamic Selling System. After he was introduced to a new concept of selling, he perfected his model and is now sharing his knowledge to help you reach your revenue goals. In today’s episode, Rylee shares his remarkable breakthrough from sleeping on his sister’s couch after an investment went south to making $2.1 million in sales within six months. He explains how a dinner seminar is one way to attract potential clients where you end up with the ones best fit for your business. Money isn’t everything until you don’t have enough of it, then it becomes everything and it consumes you. – Rylee Meek Outline of This Episode - [03:09] The event that changed his life - [06:36] A different concept of selling to customers - [14:21] Why conducting dinner seminars is effective in closing clients - [19:58] What happens during a dinner seminar - [26:00] Benchmark conversion rates from the dinner seminar Why it is strategic to host a dinner seminar Rylee mentions the corndog analogy, where you fish using corn dogs. Corn dogs cannot sustain a fish in the wild, but when you put a corn dog on the hook, the fish will still eat it. Once you’ve gotten the fish, that is when you develop the fish and nurture it. With this analogy, getting as many people as possible in one dinner seminar is the key. After you have presented your product or service, you can weed out and catch the right clients that will be the best fit. What transpires during a dinner seminar What happens during the dinner seminar depends on the goal of the one conducting it. There might be presentations, PowerPoints, and videos shown. You take your guests on an emotional journey where you can solve their problems. You build rapport as people start coming in, get a presentation going after the dinner has been ordered, and end the dinner with a question and answer portion. You have to let your personality shine through during the seminar to attract the right people. Conversion rates of guests becoming clients The conversion rate between the percentage of people invited to the percentage of deals closed after the event varies upon the product or service being offered. The numbers will always fluctuate, but you just have to trust the process. If the product or service targets individual needs, then that would lead to a higher percentage of closed deals in comparison to where the market is for families considering that some guests attend the seminar as couples. Resources & People Mentioned - Rylee Meek’s Website: http://socialdynamicselling.com/ - Rylee Meek’s Personal Website: http://workwithrylee.com/ - Rylee Meek on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRyleeMeek/ - Rylee Meek on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ryleemeek - Check out his Book: https://www.amazon.com/Food-Thought-Marketing-Business-Possible/dp/1723873810 Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: https://jamespfriel.com/ - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
With over forty years of experience as an entrepreneur, Bill Cates can tick off the boxes for having started, built, and sold two successful book publishing companies. He has devoted the last twenty-five years to the art and science of relationship marketing. In today’s episode, Bill joins James and Dean to explain how he creates exponential business growth through radical relevance. He shares how entrepreneurs can create magnetic value propositions for their clientele and discusses the strategies that entrepreneurs should take note of. These tactics include figuring out your niche, focusing on a specific market, and learning how to approach customers in a way that displays empathy for their situation. Get your pen and paper ready because Bill digs deep. If you’re an entrepreneur struggling to get or keep clients, you don’t want to miss any of these gems. The only differences that matter, matter. – Bill Cates Outline of This Episode - [05:05] What is radical relevance? - [08:45] How you can create value proposition - [18:50] The upside of zeroing in on a specific type of clientele - [22:47] The different ways to reach out to your clients - [29:09] How to use the billboard test The two main challenges that entrepreneurs face Getting the word out about your business can be quite a challenging feat, especially when businesses open simultaneously with almost the same products or services. Sometimes trades get overshadowed by newer industries, and that can frustrate entrepreneurs. Bill discusses the two major challenges that businesses face today. With all the possibilities that come with the internet, some entrepreneurs don’t know how to take advantage of all the resources at their fingertips to get their businesses off the ground. Most people get overwhelmed and find themselves stuck doing what they’ve always known instead of adapting to the new changes. How to create value proposition For a business owner, the value you provide the moment you meet someone is crucial. Most entrepreneurs have no real target market and typically end up doing shotgun marketing which results in no customers. You have to taper the focus in on the target market in order for you to know your value proposition. The narrower, the better as long as certain criteria is met so that you can find the right fit client. Once you have figured out your target market, you can then continue communicating your value to attract the right people for your business. The tactical side of reaching out to clients Once you have decided on your target market, the next move is to know how to reach out to your potential clients. Bill emphasizes that it is pertinent to differentiate yourself from the competition without talking bad about others. He also highlights the importance of doing research about your clients before reaching out to them. Whether it be cold or warm research, once you know a little more about your market, you have a more in-depth context of who they are, which leads to more personalized connections. Resources & People Mentioned - Bill Cates’ Website: https://referralcoach.com/ - Bill Cates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ReferralCoach/ - Bill Cates on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Bill_Cates - Check out his book, Radical Relevance: https://referralcoach.mykajabi.com/radical-relevance - Check out his Free Guide: http://www.exponentialgrowthguide.com/ - Check out Biz Dev Done Right by Caryn Kopp and Carl Gould: https://www.amazon.com/Biz-Dev-Done-Right-Demystifying/dp/1599326795 Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: https://jamespfriel.com/ - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Search engine optimization is a methodology used to increase traffic to a website by obtaining high-ranking placement in search results pages. But all of the tools and strategies for SEO can be overwhelming to beginners. Today’s guest, John McAlpin, is the SEO Director at Cardinal Digital Marketing and writes for Search Engine Journal about strategies, concepts, and insights regarding search engine optimization and digital marketing. John joins James and Dean as they discuss the ins and outs of search engine optimization. From creating traffic, tracking the traffic and how to start using SEO, John shares his vast knowledge about how a business can use SEO as a cost-effective way of digital marketing -- even if you’re a beginner. See what your competitors are putting and then match it and do one more. Leave no room for them to close that competitive content gap. - John McAlpin Outline of This Episode - [05:50] Short-term gains – link building - [09:04] Three ways to track traffic - [14:22] Page speed affects the traffic - [18:22] Two tips to drive customers through a funnel - [30:03] Where to begin with SEO Three ways to track traffic John mentions three ways a business can track the number of visitors a page or website receives. One is through referral traffic, second is through link building and the third is through Domain Authority developed by Moz. The first way is when one goes into Google Analytics and tracks the traffic from there, while Domain Authority has its own algorithm where it compares quality over quantity and it will give you an impression on how Google might view a business link profile. How to drive customers through a funnel The idea of a funnel is to create the journey for a customer that will eventually lead to a purchase of either a product or service being sold by the business. But how can businesses design their funnel to make that a success? John reveals a couple of ways to do so. One is focused on long-form content where the website must have on-page quick links. This helps people find and get the information they need. Where to begin with SEO If you are fairly new to the e-commerce setting and you’re still wondering how to go about using SEO, John shares how you can accomplish it. You can either do it in-house or go through an agency. They will be the ones to handle all that is needed to be done to optimize your website, manage the operations, and make sure that things are running smoothly. Resources & People Mentioned - John McAlpin’s Website: https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/about/ - John McAlpin’s latest article: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/citations-local-seo-guide/347380/?ver=347380X2 - John McAlpin on Twitter: https://twitter.com/seocounseling - John McAlpin’s Company: https://www.cardinaldigitalmarketing.com/about/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: https://jamespfriel.com/ - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Have you ever seen something at a store, thought about buying it, but ended up leaving with nothing? There are a few factors that come into play when we’re making purchasing decisions. For example, we might not buy if the salesperson doesn’t explain the product clearly, or the packaging isn’t appealing enough. Today’s episode is inspired by a meeting with a client who was wondering how to improve customer experiences. Having the idea of what makes people buy your product or service will greatly improve your business. James and Dean both share their knowledge, expertise, and tips on how you can improve your customers’ experiences and get on the road to success. You won’t just have items flying off your shelves, but you’ll be able to retain customers and keep them coming back for more. Stop being afraid of talking with your customers. You’re in a relationship with them where they’re paying you money in exchange for value. Find out what they value. – James P. Friel Outline of This Episode - [03:47] How to deliberately create a customer experience - [08:50] Why the whole experience matters - [11:25] What is customer journey mapping? - [21:46] How to stand out from all the other businesses - [27:22] Dean’s tips to getting customers hooked Why you should create a great customer experience Customer experience is the result of the interaction a customer has with a business or brand. It is always present whether a customer purchases an item or not. Sometimes, it may not be deliberate. It’s important to be deliberate and intentional when it matters most. The way to plan deliberate experiences is to show that you care about your customers and establish an experience that surprises and pleases them. The more value that you add during your delivery, the more likely people are going to repurchase and recommend you to others. What is customer journey mapping? There is a 3 step-journey that a customer goes through when interacting with a business. It is a process, starting from when they decide to choose to buy from you, the actual purchase, and thereafter the consumption of the item or service. James shares his training video on how to properly map your customer journey and how you can effectively implement it in your business. The importance of talking to your customers Having conversations with your customers will not only lead you to create rapport with them, but it also gives you the advantage of knowing what they like and want. When you talk with them, you find out what they value. Once you know what they value, it will be easier for you to improve your business and stand out among the other businesses that might be similar. Resources Mentioned - Customer Journey Mapping - https://jpfriel.wistia.com/medias/x09zkot52y Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: https://jamespfriel.com/ - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
For a while now, listeners have been asking James and Dean for updates on what they’ve been up to. Most of the time, they have guests who discuss their businesses. In this episode, your hosts share more about their own companies and what they’re doing when they aren’t recording the show. E-commerce has become a prevalent option for consumers, and the industry is still growing. People don’t need to leave the comfort of their homes when they want to purchase things, whether they’re shopping for themselves, their households, or even for gifts. Today, James and Dean tell you more about their e-commerce businesses and what they’ve learned through the years. They drop some business tips and strategies that you don’t want to miss. Use a funnel to acquire customers, use a store for repeat purchasers. - Dean Holland Outline of This Episode - [05:37] One of the fundamental things for your business to be successful - [09:47] A customer’s buying psychology - [14:33] The difference between using funnels and an online store for e-commerce - [20:32] The connection between a comfortable environment and how much customers are willing to pay for a certain product - [26:01] Having an order bump as an added option for customers Difference between using a funnel and a store As explained by Neil Patel, a funnel is the set of steps a visitor needs to go through before they can purchase a product. On the other hand, an online store is where customers go to so that they can acquire things they want or need. When businesses drive their customer traffic directly to their store, their conversion rate is lower as compared to when they drive them to a funnel. This is because when potential customers go through a funnel, they have time to learn about the product and decide whether they want to purchase. Why it is important to create a comfortable environment for your online customers People have different reactions to all sorts of situations. When it comes to buying things online, especially with all the uncertainties of online purchasing, people might hesitate in clicking that “purchase” button. Some customers would rather pay more when buying from a trusted or well-known website compared to an unknown one. That’s why businesses must ensure that their website is a secure place for customers to feel comfortable enough to let go of their money. What is an order bump and why should you have one? Most people who are accustomed to online purchasing will sometimes notice upon check out that there are additional product options that they can add to their order. These additional options are called order bumps. A great way for businesses to earn more is to offer order bumps to customers. As long as you can think of items that can be used as an add-on to the customer’s purchase, and those items add real value without costing you a fortune, you can create a successful order bump. Resources Mentioned - https://www.roseclubformen.com/ - https://worldsbestroses.com/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: https://jamespfriel.com/ - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Meditation is a practice where one uses a method to train attention and awareness in one’s self to achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm and stable condition. Successful people like Oprah Winfrey and Ray Dalio, among others, have been known to practice meditation and can create amazing results in their business and own lives. In today’s episode, James and Dean talk about their own experiences in trying their hand at meditation. Dean has a less fascinating encounter with mediation compared to James, who has been putting meditation into practice for over eight years now. Tune in to learn more about how meditation can be useful in your daily life, relieve you from stress and make you a happier individual altogether. Plus, join in on a quick guided meditation led by James towards the end of the episode. It’s not the idea of shutting out your thoughts, it’s the idea of observing your thoughts and then coming back to your center. – James Friel Outline of This Episode - [02:59] Dean’s experience trying out meditation - [10:49] How meditation has helped James and his outlook on life - [13:21] Why focusing your mind on the breathing is key to proper meditation - [18:45] The benefits of meditation - [27:56] James gives a beginner’s guide to meditation Learning to meditate was one of the most impactful things that happened to James in the past decade By the end of 2019, James was asked what things or events that happened to him in the past decade that made a big impact on his life. He answered that learning to meditate was on his top 3 list. Having discovered meditation to be a very useful way of training one’s mind, it became one of the most impactful things that occurred for him. He has been doing it for over 8 years now and it all started when he went to a meditation retreat. The way meditation works Whenever people hear about meditation, there is that misconception of the idea to shut off your mind. But how do you think about nothing? James mentioned that in the retreat, meditation was explained as going to gym for your mind at a higher level. When you go to the gym, you exert effort, recover, and redo the cycle. On the other hand, with meditation, you need to do some effort and bring your focus back. You need to have a centering mechanism and it can be as simple as focusing on your breathing. Why meditation is beneficial for your mind One of the major benefits of meditation is that you start training your mind to be able to observe what's going on around you and still remain centered. You are no longer bothered by all the fuss and distractions that may divert your focus from your goals. Another benefit is that you can feel happy for really no good reason. When you don’t feel all that stress from life and work, you just start to feel happier. Because of meditation, you can create a gap between stimulus and response and from this, you are less stressed. Resources & People Mentioned - Steven Covey: https://www.famousauthors.org/stephen-r-covey - The Art of Ascension: https://www.theishayafoundation.org/who-are-the-ishayas.html Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Do you have ideas that you think would make a great start-up business, or are you already in the early stages but still unsure of how to go about it? Today’s guest, Brian Gill, will give you a few pointers on how you can set yourself up for success. Brian is the founder and CEO of Gillware Inc., and for the past 15 years, his company has helped over 100,000 consumers and companies in resolving data-related disasters. For the last 3 years, Gillware has been primarily focused on assisting companies with their out of network breach and ransomware incidents. In this episode, Brian shares his expertise on positioning yourself for growth, ransomware, and how businesses can avoid getting hacked. He also gives out his company’s Ransomware Stress Test, which benefits mid-sized businesses. The test walks them through a free questionnaire about the state of their IT and gives out a score and remediation tips. You don’t want to start something that anybody else can do. – Brian Gill Outline of This Episode - [03:10] What start-up entrepreneurs should do to position themselves for growth - [04:56] The process of narrowing ideas in choosing for an angel investment - [08:31] The common theme for the start-ups that became successful - [22:07] Why entrepreneurs should be aware of ransomware - [28:53] How not to get hacked as explained by Brian How to position yourself for growth As a seasoned tech CEO and board member that has co-founded 5 successful companies since 2004, Brian is experienced with early-stage fundraising, digital marketing, leading software teams, and project leadership. His advice for start-up entrepreneurs is to bootstrap as far as they can. This is to make sure that they have a large valuation and should take more money than they think they will need. You should not get stuck on a fundraising cycle. There should be a minimum of six months for a fundraiser to have any effect. The angel investing community Angel investors are typically individuals who have spare cash available and are looking for a higher rate of return than would be given by more traditional investments. In choosing which business to invest in, the community gathers during a pitch and decides if that idea is worth investing in. When at least 2/3 of the group think that the idea is good, then it is worth investing. What is Ransomware and how can it be avoided? Ransomware is an emerging form of malware that locks the user out of their files or their device, then demands an anonymous online payment to restore access. It is growing exponentially and is becoming at least a $6 billion problem for businesses and regular people alike. To avoid getting hacked, one’s user authentication should be complex, and you should never use the same password for everything online. Password vaults like Last Pass are helpful and become the first defense against ransomware. Brian also suggests using U2F, which uses two-factor authentication. Resources & People Mentioned - Brian Gill’s Website - https://www.gillware.com/ - Brian on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-gill-68997a38/ - Take the Ransomware Stress Test - https://rst.gillware.com/ Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Most of us want to be our own bosses so we don’t have to take orders from anyone. Many people try their luck in owning their own business, but only some come out as successful business owners. In today’s episode, Dean and James talk about a certain topic that every business owner should know, especially if they want to grow their business productively. James combines two sets of principles that will set you up for success. By the end of this episode, you will know how you can establish a good and solid foundation for your business and be ready to take on 2020. Outline of This Episode - [03:34] The three ways to grow the topline revenue of business - [06:05] What is an OKR (Objective and Key Results)? - [12:48] Why setting the context of what is to be accomplished is important - [19:35] Different kinds of objectives and ways to grow a business - [26:59] How to get yourself ready for 2020 3 ways to grow your business There may be tons of things that you can do as a business owner to possibly expand and grow your business. J. Abraham has suggested the three core aspects on which a business owner should focus. James points out that these three levers of growth are helpful and essential tools for not only the business owner to know but for his team as well. As a business owner, you have to recognize that you and your team are dedicated to the right areas. Objective and Key Results OKRs create the laser focus that you need to drive your business to get more and growing more. Distinguishing your objective and knowing what the key results are and using them to measure whether the objective was met or not is vital in any business. When you set a goal for you and your business, you normally will come up with a plan on how to achieve that goal. Having an OKR, it will direct all of your time and energy to work towards that target. Combining the core levels of growth and OKRs Once you have established your objectives and key results, you incorporate that in executing the core levels to grow your business. When the two are combined, it creates a more solid foundation of focus, goals, and growth. As you move forward on your journey and as your team grows, setting the context for people to contribute towards the goals becomes more important. It is not necessarily by what they are doing to reach the goal but by how they’re showing up and what they’re thinking about. QUOTE: "EVERYBODY WANTS TO FEEL PURPOSE IN WHAT THEY DO." Resources Mentioned - Measure What Matters: https://www.amazon.com/Measure-What-Matters-Google-Foundation/dp/0525536221 Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Facebook Group (BulletProof Business): https://www.facebook.com/groups/1107362546297055/ - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Have you ever tried selling a product to someone face to face? Almost half the time, that person will most likely buy or at least be interested in whatever you’re trying to sell to him. But with the technology that we have today, most businesses have gone through the automated route and are sending out texts or emails to potential customers. Steve Pacinelli talks about the impact of making and sending videos to your potential clients. He discusses the importance of the making, timing, and overall concept of videos and why it is more advantageous to your business. Steve is a passionate storyteller by nature, who measures his success by helping people reach their potential. He is the chief marketing officer of BombBomb and co-authored a definitive guide to better business communication, Rehumanize Your Business. Quotes: - Stories are the Trojan horse into someone’s highly fortified mind. – Steve Pacinelli - Storytelling is woven into the fabric of the human being. – Steve Pacinelli Outline of This Episode - [04:48] Why Facebook ads did not work in closing sales - [10:33] The shinier something is, the less authentic it feels - [14:51] Why video beats text - [18:47] Different situations where you can send a video - [19:54] The reason why you should get over your fear of making a video - [28:10] Grab the Book at BombBomb When video beats text Steve mentioned that it is harder for people to say no to a smiling face as compared to saying no on a screen. During personal encounters, when people are left to decide, they are more likely inclined to not say no. As opposed to reading an email on their computers or phones which can make the connection a little less particular and will get them to say no easily. When you send a video and your client knows that it was made specifically for them, they recognize the effort. When you take the time to make a personalized video, it shows people that you are putting in the time and energy to reach out and that creates a different impact. Video communication Making videos may be done either for leads that may have gone cold or for other reasons where you would like to establish a connection with a potential client. Videos can be used to relay your message, create trust, and build rapport. If you’re trying to build that trust or create a connection, doing a video will be more effective as compared to sending a text or email. The latter may seem too generic and indifferent while sending a video will give a tailored touch. Getting over your fear of video The primary reason why most people do not make videos is that they hold themselves back. They stress too much on their physical appearance which ultimately holds them back from creating videos. Steve emphasizes that every time you choose not to send a video, you are saying no to a face to face meeting. But you should get over your own fear and look at the situation where you are going to benefit on the other end because the only person that cares what you look like is you. Resources & People Mentioned - Steve Pacinelli’s Website - Steve on Instagram - Steve on Facebook - Steve on Twitter - Check out his Book - Check out his Podcast Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: - CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ - Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ - Site: www.jamespfriel.com - Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: - Blog: www.DeanHolland.com - FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ - Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Just The Tips Podcast: - Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/justthetipsshow/
Reflecting on the past is one of the best ways to plan for the future. Dean and I always take the time after Christmas to reflect on the previous year and set goals for the next. There are four questions we use to reflect, that drive the upcoming week, month, quarter, and year. To learn our strategy (and how we feel 2019 fared) listen to this episode of Just the Tips! Outline of This Episode [2:20] Starting the new year off right [4:00] Planning for an entire year is unrealistic [7:15] Focus on what went right and celebrate [9:30] Double-down on your strengths [12:30] How to structure your team meetings [17:50] Strategic planning activities [19:15] What James did right in 2019 [22:15] What Dean is proud of from 2019 [25:50] 4 Questions to guide the process [26:20] What could’ve been better for James? [28:50] What could’ve been better for Dean? [31:00] Planning, reflection, and course-correction Why an annual plan is unrealistic I’ll be honest, there needs to be a little give and take when you try and make a plan for the upcoming year. Time is complex and there is no way to truly foresee what could happen. Things will be thrown your way that you can’t prepare for. So make sure as you’re planning your expectations aren’t too rigid. Incorporate a measure of dynamic flexibility in your planning. Control what you can, but plan for the unexpected. Dean spent a chunk of his year working on his book—that he’s FINALLY completed—but didn’t expect the level of disasters that were thrown his way. What came up shifted his timeline, but he still accomplished what he set out to do. A strengths-based approach is always the right move I firmly believe that you need to stop focusing on improving your weaknesses. You will make the biggest strides in your life and business when you focus on your strengths and double down on what is working. You can go from being great at something to being the best. Wouldn’t you rather accomplish greatness instead of only becoming slightly less-than-mediocre at your weakness? We all have a superpower. Something that we excel at and do like no one else. So mitigate your weakness and stay in your zone of genius. Identify the strengths in others and build a team that leverages their strengths to make up for your weaknesses. How to structure reflective team meetings First of all, there is power in recognizing the fact that you cannot always be the smartest person in the room. It is beneficial to get input from 100% of your staff so you can hear everyone’s perspective about your year. I typically structure it by making a list of the questions I want my team to think over before the meeting. It gives them time to reflect and not put them on the spot. This allows for a more conversational—and less stressful—meeting. Above all, it’s important that everyone feels like they have a voice and that they’re contributing to the ongoing vision of the business. The meeting is extremely valuable for team-building and goal-setting. Keep listening to hear what our big wins were this year, and where we missed the mark and want to improve in 2020. The 4 questions that help you reflect on the past year There are 4 questions that we use to help guide the process both personally and in our businesses: What went really well? What am I proud of? What could’ve been better? What do we need to do more of? What do we need to do less of? If you continue to ask yourself these questions consistently, you’ll start to catch issues before they go too far. You’ll limit your risk. If you’re not constantly course-correcting as you are carrying out your plan for the year, you won’t reach your destination. The planning and reflection cycle can make a world of difference. Listen to the whole episode as Dean and I walk through the process. Resources & People Mentioned Hiring Like a Boss Managing Like a Boss The Iceberg Effect: coming soon! Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com
What’s your superpower? What makes you tick as an entrepreneur and a human being? Entrepreneur’s in the early stages of building a business reach a “no man’s land” where they struggle to move forward and gain traction. Joe Trodden joins us in this episode of Just the Tips to talk about changing your mindset—and finding your superpower. After following a traditional path and getting a degree in Law, Joe Trodden changed his life and studied Psychology. Joe is now the CEO of Mindset Experts and specializes in helping entrepreneurs change their mindset and find their superpower. If you’re ready to level-up and scale-up your business, listen to this episode! Outline of This Episode [2:30] Joe Trodden guest stars! [3:50] You must focus inward [7:15] You’re shaped by your beliefs [10:45] What is mindset? [14:15] Why is Dean Ebenezer Scrooge? [17:55] Core strategies that help guide you [22:40] Set an alarm to practice mindfulness [25:55] It’s about knowing yourself [27:10] Cognitive diversity: multiple valid perspectives [30:35] Connect with Joe What’s your superpower? What is your unique ability? What sets you apart? What gets you in a state of flow? Joe spent years working with entrepreneurs working to launch their businesses. He found that it’s so much easier to identify strengths in other people, but hard to figure out your own. To create a strategy that will propel your business forward, you must leverage your superpowers. To do that, you need to know what they are. You need to focus on a couple of things that you do best—and build a team around you to handle the rest. Keep listening to hear some of Joe’s strategies for determining your superpower. Change your entrepreneurial mindset According to Joe, “Mindset is every cognitive function that goes on inside your head that is shaping your entire perception and lens on the world”. It is everything that makes you who you are. Joe points out that there are 100 trillion potential (neural) connections in your brain. You are actively shaping your perception of the world and how it works. I love the mantra “The world you live in is shaped by the beliefs you have. Change your beliefs and you’ll change your world”. What belief is holding you back? Is it motivated by fear? Are you afraid that if you step back from doing everything in your business that it will collapse? Or that you’ll never find qualified people to join your team? It’s not just a thought experiment. You need to shift the way you see the world and change your mindset to see progress in your leadership abilities and your business. Core strategies that help change your mindset I believe that multiple perspectives can be had in any given situation. Knowing your superpower gives you a deeper appreciation of what others see. So how do you begin to learn your superpower? And how to change your mindset? Here are a few tips from Joe: What puts you in a state of flow? Joe points out when you’re in a state of flow you feel energized, focused, and lose track of time. You’re at the height of your ‘superpower’. Take the Myers-Briggs test. Learn how you tick and what drives you. Be hypervigilant. When emotions kick in, learn to take a step back and evaluate what is causing those emotions. Getting to know yourself on a deeper level is key to change your mindset and worldview. It allows you to focus on what you do best. Then you can focus on building a team and scaling your business. Learn how to counteract your triggers Joe points out that to become an effective leader you need to be mindful of your emotions. Do you feel yourself getting defensive? Take a moment to step back and identify what’s triggering you, and change the course of the conversation. Take progressive action to become more consciously aware of what’s going on. Joe knows himself well. He knows his triggers and has learned to take moments throughout the day to check his emotions, figure out what’s triggering those emotions, and move forward. In the end, a business is a group of people working together to reach the same goal. If you know yourself and know your superpowers, you are better equipped to help others find theirs. You’ll be primed and ready to become a better leader. Joe talks in detail about mindset, flow, cognitive diversity, and so much more. Be sure to listen to the whole episode of Just the Tips! Resources & People Mentioned Joe Trodden’s Website Joe’s LinkedIn Rebel Ideas by Matthew Syed MBTI Personality Assessment Steven Kotler on the basics of Flow Music for “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com
Are you trying to launch a business or sell a product, and need some tips to help you launch successfully? Are you wondering if you should engage in email marketing? What about offering subscriptions? Kurt Elster joins us to cover how to launch a business successfully and how to engage with and grow your customer base. Don’t miss this great episode of Just the Tips! Kurt is known in the industry as “The Shopify Guy”. Before he became the preeminent Shopify expert he spent years building websites. In 2011 he started working with Shopify and found success—and a passion. So he doubled down, made Shopify his primary focus, and branded himself. Alongside being a successful Shopify consultant, he is the host of the ‘Unofficial Shopify Podcast’ (with over a million downloads). Outline of This Episode [0:45] Ecommerce Pro Kurt Elster joins us [3:00] How to sell a product online [5:20] Stop operating in stealth mode [9:25] How Kurt became a Shopify consultant [13:35] Successful Facebook advertising [18:30] Should you offer subscriptions for your product? [23:50] Strategies for gaining return customers [27:30] Outsource when you’re doing well [31:35] The process of building a brand [33:10] Connect with Kurt How to launch a business successfully Kurt points out that the biggest mistake people make when launching an online business is doing it in “stealth mode”. They keep the product and website “hush-hush” and when they launch, nothing happens. The cornerstone of a successful launch is building an audience for your product. Share on social media the product you’re developing. Get them to sign up for emails on your website. See if they’re interested in pre-ordering! Kurt shares that the goal is to get a feel for who your customer is. Connect with them as a business owner and a person by sharing everything you’re doing. Only then should you build out a brand and your Shopify store. Are subscriptions effective or do they miss the mark? Dean and I have noticed that many subscriptions for products tend to completely miss the mark. Or they were a fad (i.e. box of the month) that are dying out. So we asked Kurt point-blank how to package subscriptions effectively. He has ONE rule: anyone who has a consumable good needs to do a subscription. Kurt also believes you shouldn’t try to sell a subscription to a new customer. However, once they’ve purchased a product enroll them in an email follow-up sequence. You could send them educational content or recipe ideas. Then, in the email sequence, you can offer a subscription for the item(s). Once they’ve gotten a chance to try your product, and your emails are timed correctly, they may very well become a return customer. Keep listening to find out why Kurt believes it’s hard to push subscriptions in other niches. A better way to run ads When big brands started taking Facebook ads seriously, they began dumping money into the ad medium. When Facebook tightened up ad placement, this drove ad costs up so big brands could easily still afford the cost, but it pushed small businesses out. You don’t want to waste ad budget and spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to make hundreds of thousands in revenue, only to have little to no profit margin. Kurt recommends tracking your ad spend and making sure you’re getting a 1.5x return on your investment. Instead of throwing money away in generic advertising, he notes that you must get to know your customers and increase the quality of your traffic to increase conversion rate. The immutable truth of digital marketing Instead of spending your marketing budget on cold traffic, Kurt recommends retargeting warm/hot audiences. If people have interacted with your posts or ads on Facebook or Instagram, target your ongoing ads to them. It’s far less expensive and a better return on your investment Kurt calls this concept the immutable truth of digital marketing: repetition builds trust. 10 touchpoints or interactions with a brand—or more—builds trust and makes the person more likely to become a customer. Another way to get them in your email funnel is by implementing a pop-up when they leave your site to subscribe to your emails. If your ads on Instagram and Facebook are targeting them AND they’re receiving emails from you, you can gain a new customer in as little as 6 days. Keep listening as Kurt, Dean, and myself chat about what to do when the business is thriving, the lifetime value of customers, and much more! Resources & People Mentioned Kurt Elster’s Website Kurt on LinkedIn Kurt on Twitter Kurt’s business: Ethercycle Set up a Shopify store The Unofficial Shopify Podcast Gorgias app for Shopify Klaviyo Growth Marketing Platform Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com
Creating an online community sounds easy in theory—but what does it take to build a thriving community? How do you interact with your group? What are some of the best ways to add value? If you’re struggling to answer these questions, Lori Kennedy is here to answer them. Lori is the founder of the Wellness Business Hub, a business consultant, and host of ‘The Business of Becoming’ podcast. She’s been in the health and wellness industry since 1999 and is passionate about helping entrepreneurs in alternative medicine learn how to run successful online businesses. Outline of This Episode [0:40] How to build a community [1:55] I introduce our guest, Lori Kennedy [2:40] Lori’s background as an entrepreneur [5:55] Why Lori created her first online community [9:40] How do you cultivate a thriving community? [18:40] Mistakes people make in FB groups [20:25] You get to be the leader and the expert [25:50] Where should you be most active? [30:30] What holds people back? What is the ‘why’ behind your online community? Lori was completely honest in this episode: she launched her first online community because she felt alone. Her friends were school teachers or worked in an office. No one truly understood her entrepreneurial journey when she launched her nutrition practice in 2007. It was just her, diving into the unknown. When your path is so different from everyone around you, it’s important to find somewhere you belong. Her mission was to create a community where she could collaborate with clients as a leader and a peer. She wanted to help others in her industry not feel so alone. Of course, being able to learn from each other was an added bonus. You must be intentional about your community’s structure Lori pointed out to us that you must be intentional about your community. If you have your why in place, how do you want it carried out? She didn’t create her first group to make money or be a lead gen pool—even though it does do those things. But she wanted a judgment-free zone for colleagues and peers to come together. That’s pretty powerful stuff. So she recommends writing a vision statement. At the time, hers was to “Create a community of alternative health practitioners that are 100% supportive of each other (where they can) be totally and completely honest and vulnerable”. What vision do you have for your community? What is its purpose? Do human beings lack the ability to be real? Honesty and vulnerability are the cornerstones of what makes Lori’s Facebook community so successful. If you desire to have a community where people are real—then YOU have to be real. People see through false bravado, sales techniques, and know when you’re being fake. So Lori shares silly photos and embarrassing stories to create an atmosphere of playfulness and comfort. Whatever you do, be sure you’re being real with your group, even with ‘touchy’ subjects. Speaking of, Lori’s mission is to change the stigma around making money. She wants her group members to celebrate their milestones. To share their wins and show new members what is possible. You should be proud that your business is succeeding and making money. Be sure to listen as Lori chats with us about mistakes to avoid making! The balance between connecting and selling Even if the primary goal of your Facebook group is to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs in your space, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for selling. It IS your business after all. You get to be the leader and the expert—so share your expertise. Lori publishes high-quality teaching content and tutorials. She does Facebook Live rapid-fire coaching sessions. She always prefaces the ‘selling’ with a disclaimer but follows it with powerful content that compels you to work with her. It goes to show, if you are consistently offering value in a community that shares its successes and failures, you’re doing something right. If your job hinges on helping your community find success, do it! Everyone needs a little accountability and support. Don’t be afraid to dive in and give it a shot. To hear how Lori is active in her community and her tips for success, listen to the whole episode! Resources & People Mentioned Lori Kennedy on Instagram Lori’s LinkedIn The Wellness Business Hub Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com
Are you interested in professional coaching, but worried you don’t have the necessary experience? Is it something you are passionate about, but you just don’t know how to market yourself? Lucas Rubix, a coach to the coaches, joins us to talk about coaching, how to get started, and mistakes to avoid. Lucas Rubix started his career working on oil rigs. After a dangerous bout of depression and self-medication, he hit a breaking point that almost led to suicide. But he stopped himself, and the next morning he woke happy to be alive. He hadn’t felt like that in ages. So he began to focus on his health and fitness, started reading personal development books, and began studying philosophy. He wanted to find his purpose. He developed a passion for marketing and coaching, which led him to where he is today—running a business to help coaches launch their careers. Outline of This Episode [2:40] Why did Lucas Rubix choose to become a coach? [7:50] What is Lucas’s coaching philosophy? [12:25] Mistakes to avoid when growing your coaching business [17:50] How to develop your skillset and market yourself [25:05] Get in Touch with Lucas You don’t need years of experience to be a coach Lucas’s philosophy on coaching is this: just get started. If you’re passionate about it and believe that you can make an impact, do it. Lucas wasn’t certified when he started but was committed to answering any question his clients asked—even if it meant staying up all night doing research. You don’t have to represent yourself as having years of experience, but simply be honest and passionate. Everyone knows something that can help someone else. It’s a mistake to have the ability and drive to coach others, but not do it. If you know you’re the type of person who will find the answer no matter the time it costs you, you can learn and grow as you go. Mistakes to avoid when growing your professional coaching business If you’re diving into coaching because you think it will be a short-term “get rich quick” path, it’s time to reevaluate. Lucas points out that if you don’t see yourself coaching in 10 years, question why you’re doing it in the first place. The road will be full of obstacles and challenges and it is far from easy. You need to love and be passionate about what you’re doing. Secondly, Lucas notes that many coaches let their ego get in the way. You need to make what the client needs and wants the priority—not what you think they need or want. You also need to make sure that you’re not detached and that you’re focused on your clients. What do you need to create for them so that they’re 100% on board with the program? How to use social media marketing properly Stop making your marketing all about you. It comes naturally for Instagram or Facebook posts to be about yourself, what you’re doing, where you’re going, etc. That’s fine, but Lucas recommends taking every post you put online and flipping it: turn an event in your life into a lesson or a story that provides value. Your content can’t be so blatantly focused on you. It’s not about getting people to look at you and touting your success. An easy fix Lucas points out is to start removing “I” from your copy. Your social media will develop into a relationship-building tool. It can be a great way to connect with potential clients. How do you begin to market yourself? Lucas established that social media can be a great tool to boost your presence and connect with people. But how do you drive traffic to your website? The first thing Lucas has his coaching clients do is create videos. One video a day for 30 days. It allows you to develop how you deliver your message and pushes you out of your comfort zone. He also has his clients create 9 blog posts immediately. Not only do these practices allow you to develop your voice, but it begins to build content to gain organic traffic. Lucas also advocates for paid advertising as a great driver of traffic. Above all else, he wants you to create content, speak your truth, and in doing so it will speak to your ideal client. If you have the passion and drive necessary, the skills can be developed. Put yourself in uncomfortable circumstances that will help you grow—because comfort kills progress. Resources & People Mentioned Lucas Rubix’s Website Lucas on Instagram Lucas on Facebook Lucas on YouTube Check out his Podcast! Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com
Mental toughness is something that can benefit every entrepreneur, but how do you develop it? Why is it important? Having the right mindset can be the difference between success and failure. To develop mental toughness, you must be prepared to focus on personal development. You have to remember that the foundation that your business is built on is you. Outline of This Episode [2:05] The importance of mental toughness [4:00] It’s not easy being an entrepreneur [5:30] Business is an exchange of value [7:00] Without stress it’s impossible to grow [14:35] Where do you start? [20:00] Nothing will beat practice [23:20] Your mental diet is critical to mental toughness [25:15] Top 3 strategies to develop mental toughness The life of an entrepreneur is not easy When you run your own business, everything begins and ends with you. You are the fixer of all things. What we want to point out is that you’ll be in no position to help others if you don’t help yourself first. We all hit points where we just want to run away from our problems instead of facing them head-on. The first principle we want to touch on is this: no one has it easy. We all have different challenges that we face, no matter who you’re looking at. The keys comes down to a quote by an unknown author that I love, “Don’t wish that it were easier, wish that you were stronger”. So how do you become stronger? Make like a lobster and break out of your shell Stress. Nobody loves stress, yet we are faced with it day in and day out. But Dean and I believe that without it, it’s impossible to grow. Without being faced with pressure and challenges, you stagnate. You coast. Running away from stress robs you of the opportunity to become stronger. Did you know in order to grow, lobsters must first break out of their shell? They can’t physically grow without going through pain. It’s the same for individuals. Going through tragedies, challenges, and difficult situations allow you to achieve a new level of growth. Stop backing down from challenges and become comfortable with being uncomfortable! Bring the struggle into conscious awareness If you’re struggling with dealing with stress and challenges being thrown at you, the best thing you can do is acknowledge it. Bring it to conscious awareness. If what you’re doing isn’t pushing you towards your intended result, it’s time for a change, right? Identify and confront what you’re facing. Secondly, you need to mitigate your stress levels. Stop taking on more than you can handle. A weight-lifter can’t start with heavy weights—they must condition themselves to withstand heavier and heavier weight. In the same way, you need to condition yourself to handle challenges. Start small and build your resistance. To hear more about our strategies for handling difficult situations and becoming mentally tough, be sure to listen! Top 3 Strategies to develop mental toughness It’s time for some tips! These are the top 3 strategies we recommend to build mental toughness: Practice meditation: It strengthens your mind and it builds mental resilience. We hope to cover this more in an upcoming episode! Focus on mental “nutrition”: Limit the “mind rot” that you consume. Focus on listening, watching, and reading things that lead to personal development and aren’t wasting your time. Who do you spend your time with? You become the average of the 5 people you surround yourself with. Are you spending time with people you want to be like? Implement these three things into your life immediately, and you will begin to see results. To hear all of the details about building mental toughness, listen to the whole episode! Resources & People Mentioned Les Brown Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com
A collaborative culture in the workplace is becoming a foreign concept. We all strive for innovation and creation, right? But we forget that building relationships with coworkers is an essential piece of a business's success. Jason Treu joins us to discuss the importance of building relationships within your team—and how to do it efficiently. Jason Treu has worked with some of the biggest names in business, from Mark Cuban to Steve Jobs. He has been a coach for over a decade, helping 30,0000+ people reach significant change and breakthroughs in their business. If you’re ready to build a more cohesive and thriving team, listen to this episode of Just the Tips! Outline of This Episode [2:00] Jason Treu and the importance of relationships [6:00] Every successful venture involves a team [8:25] Building a relationship begins with trust [10:35] Reliability, sincerity, competency, and caring [16:35] Develop personal “manuals” to share [19:15] Cards against Mundanity [22:10] Why don’t people connect? [23:40] How do you weave this into an organization? [28:10] How do you introduce this to your team? [32:00] Meaningful work and meaningful relationships [32:30] Connect with Jason Any successful venture begins with a team “Team-building” is a phrase and practice that is thrown around but seldom understood. Many just roll their eyes, or shudder at the thought of team-building. Or it evokes a desire to call in sick to work that day. What people don’t understand is how important building relationships with your team truly is. You want to get the most out of your team to give your business a competitive advantage, right? To do that, you must cultivate a team of people that aren’t just indifferent coworkers—they need to care about each other. The reality is that you need your team working efficiently and effectively, which means working through disagreements and differences of opinion quickly. Jason talks about the importance of building teams who care about each other and shares some personal stories. Keep listening! What is the number one thing you must prioritize? Dean and I agree with Jason here—you need to build trust with your team. You have to build rapport and feel safe with each other. If you don’t completely trust someone, you can’t take a leap of faith together! Trust doesn’t happen accidentally. To build trust you must be sincere, reliable, competent, and caring. Jason believes that of all those qualities, caring is the most important. If you’re reliable and do your job well, but show no outward signs of caring about your coworkers, they won’t trust you. Building trust requires something that very few of us equate with the workplace: being vulnerable. We don’t know how to cultivate that in the workplace, don’t do it consistently, or don’t do it in groups. So how do you change that? Keep listening for some of Jason’s tips! Applying Arthur Aron’s research to build a collaborative culture Arthur Aron conducted some pioneering research in the field of intimacy and interpersonal relationships. He found that 36 questions discussed between two people in a 45 minute time period could accelerate intimacy—the type of intimacy usually developed over time in deep friendships. Jason took this research and began implementing it in his coaching process. What ensued was like watching a reality tv show. People began to open up in ways that he never expected. The experiment served to break down barriers and open up lines of communication. People discussed deeply personal issues and over a short period of time, built relationships that usually take years to develop. Jason pointed out that 66% of start-ups fail because of people-problems. So what if you could erase those problems by building teams that care about each other? How to introduce the concept into your company culture Many successful people have an innate ability to easily build relationships with other people. But they struggle with teaching others how to emulate their process. So what’s the secret sauce? What are some practical ways we can implement this in our own businesses? “How to work with me” manuals: instead of trying to predict and analyze new additions to a team, who don’t we just ask questions? How do they communicate? What is the best way to approach them with hard conversations? What helps them get out of a bad mood? Develop 10-question “manuals” that help people get to know the basics about each other. Cards against Mundanity: A fun play off of Cards Against Humanity that Jason developed utilizing Arthur Aron’s research. Get your team together, and ask some questions to foster a deeper understanding and connection with each other. Stop looking at your coworkers in a transactional way. If your teams are struggling to work together, perhaps they need to find some common ground. Implementing relationship-building activities is one of the best ways to build a collaborative culture. Resources & People Mentioned Jason’s Website Jason’s Book: Social Wealth Cards Against Mundanity Arthur Aron’s Research Study Principles by Ray Dalio Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com
What is a content experience? How does it apply to entrepreneurs? Customer engagement is a driving force that leads to sales and our marketing needs to be on-point to remain competitive. So how do we focus on customer engagement through the content we create? Randy Frisch joins us in this episode of Just the Tips to educate us on creating customer experiences through content. Randy is the CMO and Co-Founder of Uberflip and a best-selling author. He is an expert in content experience and using content to connect with customers, drive demand, and increase your revenue. His focus is on how to deliver content targeted to a specific audience to generate results. Don’t miss this evocative episode! Outline of This Episode [2:30] I introduce our guest, Randy Frisch. [3:30] Creating a Content Experience [7:10] How did Randy get into this field? [10:40] How to deliver personalized content [14:30] Marketing is a balance between art and science [16:35] Randy’s Content Experience framework [24:30] Where do you focus your content? [27:00] The best approach to curated content Great content doesn’t necessarily equate to great sales Great content is important, but it isn’t always a driving factor for sales. Everyone knows that valuable content is essential. Because of that, everyone and their mother are producing great content. The ‘If you build it they will come’ mentality is outdated and no longer a viable option to lean on. Customers expect that you will deliver content curated for them. Randy uses the example of Netflix—when you login, they propose suggestions just for you (based on your history). Spotify delivers the same user experience with playlist suggestions. Randy’s premise is that we need to stop creating content without a strategy. It needs to be hand-picked for a specific audience. We need to create an experience that feels like it’s just for them. Organize content based on how your audience is searching The needs and interests of your audience need to be taken into consideration. How do you answer their questions? What is their intent behind a Google search? We need to stop producing content and start producing stellar content based on what our audience desires. Randy points out that devices—such as Alexa—answer questions by pulling answers from the #1 search result. If all of these devices are excluding all results other than the #1 slot, it’s a huge problem. #2 is no longer good enough. So you need to begin to analyze buyer intent, what questions they’re asking, and how you can best answer those questions to rank #1 and sell your product. Randy’s Content Experience Framework Randy has a 5-step framework that he believes will help you narrow down your focus and deliver a quality content experience: Centralization: Blog posts, videos, infographics, etc. need to be able to be found in one location—your website. Not just scattered across social media platforms. Organization: Tag your content so that it can easily be found in a search, internally by your team and externally by users. Personalization: Build a user experience by creating collections of your content, with personalized messaging, images, and more. Build a customer journey. Distribution: How do you get in front of your audience? Email, ads, social media must link back to your binge-worthy content. Generate Results: If you’re distributing content that is valuable to your customer base, and you’ve engaged them, you should generate sales results. We talk about Randy’s framework in detail in this episode, be sure to listen to the whole thing! Further resources are linked below. Stop driving traffic away from your channels Obviously, you want to be on the channels where your audience is (Facebook, Instagram—you get the drift). Randy insists that you stop entertaining your customers on channels that you don’t own. For example, YouTube is designed to keep the user on their platform. Not only do they suggest videos to keep you watching, but they may even market the content of a competitor! What if you directed that traffic directly to your site and retained the audience? Do not direct traffic away from your website to a different platform. The customer will get lost in the social media funnel and in most cases, forget that they navigated to your site. If you utilize social media—you need to—have a strong call-to-action to drive customers to a content experience designed just for them. Randy, Dean and I continue to discuss where to focus your content, the best approach for content creation, and the difficulty of podcasts. Resources & People Mentioned Randy’s Content Experience Framework Randy’s Website Randy on Twitter Randy on LinkedIn F#ck Content Marketing by Randy Frisch Sirius Decisions Salesforce CRM Snowflake Data Warehouse Content Marketing Institute Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com
Data-driven decision-making is something many entrepreneurs struggle with. Many of us aren’t adequately tracking and analyzing data. But If Shark Tank has taught us anything, it’s that you need to know your numbers. In this episode of Just the Tips, Dean and I discuss tracking the steps in your process, analyzing data, and taking action steps to solve problems. Don’t miss this solution-packed episode! Outline of This Episode [2:15] Pugging holes in your sales process [5:45] Dean’s experience tracking data [11:30] Advertising to strangers is a different game [14:00] Where is the customer finding you in their life cycle? [16:20] James framework for data-driven decision making [24:40] Tracking data over time becomes more significant [28:05] Steps to take from here [34:35] Don’t make it overcomplicated Why do you need to start tracking? Dean has operated for the last ten years simply on word-of-mouth and referrals for his business. Recently, he started spending time learning the ins and outs of Facebook advertising. He began spending 5 figures a month in ad budget and it has been a profitable move. So for the last 3 months, he’s been tracking whatever he can in the sales process: impressions, clicks, items added to the card, book purchases, and more. Tracking the data for this length of time allowed him to begin noticing trends. The metric that stuck out to Dean the most in this process was that of the people that purchased his book, only 11% filled out the application to work with Dean. That 11% did so within 12 days or less of ordering his book. No one started the application process after day 12. Tracking the data allowed him to pinpoint where their system was lacking and where changes needed to be made. You have to build a relationship to make sales Dean learned that it takes time to build relationships with strangers. His team would reach out in the first 7-10 days after a purchase was made—but they were lacking in systems and processes for 10 days and beyond. Fostering relationships and building trust needs to be done over time. You can’t expect to convert sales well when a customer knows nothing about your brand. He decided to focus on the 89% of people who didn’t show interest in his program by continuing to market, advertise, and follow-up with them. You have to build a bridge. Dean and I talk about the different factors that affect the process, so keep listening. My framework for data-driven decision-making I love creating and building out frameworks. It helps me make sense of the world in a meaningful and analytical way. I developed a pyramid for making decisions that helps you take actionable steps to optimize your business. The base of the pyramid is data. Put a tracking mechanism in place to track data that can put it into graphs, show trends, etc. Take that information in the form of graphs or reports and arrange it in a way that you can interpret the data. Take the data and your interpretation and turn it into actionable steps. The longer you track and the more things you track, the more will be revealed to you. You’ll begin to see where your process is thriving. Perhaps you’ll narrow down even more holes that you can go in and fix. But you’d never have known any of it if you hadn’t simply started tracking where your money is being spent. Where do you go from here? This episode is packed with information and we don’t want to overwhelm you with details. If you take away anything, we want it to be what is summarized below. Figure out the most important things you want to start tracking. Start with the one thing that drives the most sales or is a higher-ticket purchase and follow the sales process. Become familiar with the numbers. Analyze the data you’ve tracked. Are the trends that you’re seeing normal? Get a clear and complete picture of what needs to be done. Take actionable steps to rectify gaps or mistakes. Don’t make this more complicated than it needs to be. The goal is to work smarter, not harder. Tracking your data can be one of the easiest things you can do. It will give you a clear indicator of steps you can take to propel your business forward. Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Site: www.jamespfriel.com/hiring Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com
When you think of creative design, what comes to mind? Something visual? A design show on HGTV? What people don’t often realize is the depth of psychology and science that’s behind every aspect of design. Our guest today, Ross Johnson, turns everything you think you know about design upside down. Ross is the owner and CEO of 3.7 Designs, a full-service digital marketing company. His goal is to provide innovative solutions that incorporate his 6 layers of design. He’s an expert on web design, web development, SEO, and much more. Listen to this episode of Just the Tips for his utilization of psychology in design. Outline of This Episode [2:00] We introduce Ross Johnson [3:30] His background in design [6:00] Why did he get into web-design? [7:15] Does design matter and why? [10:30] The 6 layers of design [20:00] Applications in everyday life [25:00] Everything you do needs to be by design Everything is by design, even if it’s not by design I’m not trying to be cryptic here, I promise. Ross pointed out that every decision you make—or don’t make—is the process of design. Waking up, brushing your teeth, scheduling appointments and doing your job is part of the process of designing your life. Ross defines design as intentionally taking steps towards a desired outcome. The process of design, then, is defining the steps you need to take to reach the desired outcome. If you’re building a website—what is the purpose of it? What do you want to get out of it? As you ask yourself defining questions it helps you reach your goal. The 6 Layers of creative design Most often, people think of creative design as just that—a creative process. Design is certainly the process of creation, but there is a science to it. Design isn’t just what something looks like. In fact, according to Ross, design mirrors the scientific process. You define a hypothesis, test it, and make changes to achieve your desired result. Ross defines 6 layers of design, which he refers to as the “design hierarchy of needs”. It’s based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Functionality: Does it function as it’s supposed to? Reliability: Does it produce the outcome I want? Usability: Is it easy to use? Proficiency: Does it provide something useful? Communication: Is it communicating what I need it to? Emotion: Does it evoke the emotion desired? Ross, Dean and I talk about his concept in-depth, so keep listening. What emotions do you want to evoke? The emotional layer of the hierarchy can be further broken down into three layers: Visceral, Behavioral, and Reflective. When designing a website, Ross breaks every piece of the process down by the 6 layers and dives deep into the emotional layer. Visceral: This is a “gut” response that you immediately have when you experience something. It’s a central nervous system response, such as fear, disgust, joy, etc. Behavioral: The emotional response when actively doing something—the sense of satisfaction you get when being productive. Reflective: This is a conscious reaction. How does your website create a sense of identity, prestige, nostalgia, etc.? Knowing what emotions you want to evoke as you’re creating your website affects every layer of the design process and what it looks like visually. This includes layout, color, wording and more. What do Fireball and Swedish Meatballs have in common? We chat about IKEA, and how they are a great example of using design to differentiate themselves in the industry. Their showroom is unique and one of a kind. But they could certainly benefit from applying the design hierarchy of needs to their business model. The instructions to build a piece of furniture leaves you wishing they sold Fireball with their furniture. But they’ve sure nailed their design process with their Swedish Meatballs! But if IKEA took their process and adjusted it ever so slightly to create detailed and understandable instructions it would positively impact their business. Everything you do has to be designed with the user experience in mind. There is always something you can do to tweak your designs to better meet people's needs. Resources & People Mentioned 3.7 Designs 3.7 Designs Blog Project Panorama Abraham Maslow Ross on LinkedIn 6 Layers of Design Kayak ADT Floyd IKEA The Power of Design by Richard Farson Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com
Dean and I are strong advocates of attending events for entrepreneurs. It could be a mastermind group, a yearly conference, or any sort of entrepreneurial live event. You need to get out and mingle with some of the greatest minds in the business world—and learn from those who are next level businessmen and women. This episode of Just the Tips is dedicated to what we learned from the event we recently attended. Outline of This Episode [2:00] Attend Events for Entrepreneurs [5:30] Deans #1 takeaway from the week [7:25] The benefits of social media [14:30] Deliver an experience to remember [18:45] Customer journey mapping [21:10] Celebrate your accomplishments [23:45] Sales funnel order bump tip [27:30] Service as a service [30:10] Choose key events to be a part of Why attending events for entrepreneurs can be so powerful Attending events with other like-minded individuals allows you to be around people who truly understand you. They’re on the same entrepreneurial journey as you are. You’re able to learn from the best of the best. You get a break from the day-to-day of your business, be creative, and focus time on thinking strategically. It could lead to some of your biggest breakthroughs. Dean struggled when he was building his business. It was an event he attended that helped him break through that struggle. Being surrounded by people on the same level as you and learning from each other—it’s powerful. We are putting on an event coming up in 2020, check out the link in our show notes! The importance of social media cannot be emphasized enough I’ll admit that I haven’t been on board with the social media craze. I’ve been hesitant to let it take over my life. I realized this week that I can create systems to leverage my time and find ways to serve my tribe—social media doesn’t have to consume all of it. The more visible you are the more you can help people come together to solve a common problem. Dean—amazingly—pointed out that you are doing a disservice to your market by not allowing them to find you and consume the content that you provide. Dean delivers a stunning example that demonstrates this concept well. Keep listening to find out what that is, and some examples of what you can do. Deliver the best experience possible Russell Brunson talked about how they go about planning their events, and how they delve into every minute detail in the process. Down to the mindset attendees are in when they arrive at their conference. Was their flight delayed? Did they leave a sick child at home? Did they take time off from work? What can you do—from the moment they arrive—to deliver the best experience they could possibly have? You want them to believe attending your event was the right move. This doesn’t just have to apply to an event—how can you deliver the best experience on your website? On social media? Keep listening as Dean and I chat about customer journey mapping and real-life examples of the strategy in play. Is it time for a Hustle Detox? We got to hear Stacy Martino speak on the topic of celebration. As entrepreneurs, we forget that we need to celebrate our accomplishments. We can’t just set them aside and continue hustling. Take time to detox from the hustle and truly celebrate reaching your goals. Also, you need to remember why you started your business in the first place. You probably didn’t become an entrepreneur to spend all of your time working. Maybe you wanted more time with your family. Or you wanted more time to focus on things you are passionate about. Think about what your goals were (and are) and make sure you’re still in alignment. This episode is packed with some of the best tips we gather. Listen to the whole episode for the full spectrum of stellar advice. Resources & People Mentioned Russell Brunson Stacey Martino Dr. Anissa Holmes Poop 911 Hustle Detox Live Musicfor “Just The Tips” is titled, “Happy Happy Game Show” by Kevin MacLeod (http://incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License Connect With James and Dean James P. Friel: CEO Quickstart: https://jamespfriel.com/ceo-quickstart/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/hustledetox/ Site: www.jamespfriel.com Interested in being a guest on the show? Dean Holland: Blog: www.DeanHolland.com FB Page: https://www.facebook.com/DeanHollandHQ Billion Dollar Project: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BillionDollarProject/ Audio Production and Show notes by PODCAST FAST TRACK https://www.podcastfasttrack.com
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