Firing The Man

Shreya Banerjee and Paul Counts team up to empower entrepreneurs to generate more traffic, sales, and leads with their cutting-edge digital marketing and social media marketing tips and tricks. Pulling from their combined 30+ years of marketing online, they will help you unleash the power of the web for your business!  

This powerful duo dives share the best marketing best practices, the strategies they use that keeps their client satisfaction on the roof, where you should focus your efforts as a marketer and a lot more nuggets!

If you are keen to take your email marketing to the next level, tune in till the end.

[00:01 - 07:08] Opening Segment

• Get to know Paul and Shreya
• Shreya: From a mechanical engineering background to co-creating Marketing Counts
• Paul: Started marketing at 13, now with over 23 years of marketing experience 
• On why they both value education

[7:09 - 13:40] Elements of a Successful Marketing Strategy

• The impact of Apple privacy policy to digital marketing
• Building a list versus growing social media following: Which is more important?
• Don’t just follow what others are doing! Use Facebook ads strategically
• The difference between social media platforms and problem solving platforms

[13:41 - 24:55] The Secret Weapon for Marketing

• Understanding the customer journey
• Know your Google Analytics number
• The secret to higher conversion rate: Gamification
• The KPIs of Google Analytics to focus on
• The biggest traffic sources:
  • Email campaign plus timing
  • SEO 
  • Paid ads
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400

[24:56 - 33:54] Get started with Email Marketing

• New Google Analytics update
• When is it best to jump in on a new trend?
• The FTE formula
• The top three email marketing tips to engage the audience and increase revenue

[33:55 -  44:58] Let’s Talk About Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

• How to optimize your product and detail pages
• How to find the best keywords
• The SEO mistakes to avoid
• The duo’s top three copywriting and conversion boosting hacks
• How important are headlines?

[44:58 - 53:05] Closing Segment

• Who is Marketing Counts?
• The Fire Round
  
  
  

Quotes
 

“The only thing you can control online is your audience, your customer base, your list.” - Paul Counts

“Build your following first build your email list, don't just build a social media following because that will go as soon as Facebook changes or some other platform comes along and changes your algorithm will, you know will change your reach in a snap of a finger you know, and you have no control. So you always want to be building your list.” - Paul Counts

“It's okay to jump in on the new, hot trends. But if you're just focusing on trend marketing, you're gonna have a trendy business, you know, and that's a tough spot to be on.” - Paul Counts

Connect with  Paul Counts and Shreya Banerjee 

Website: https://marketingcounts.com / https://www.buzzsprout.com/350633 / 

Email: [email protected] 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/marketingcounts/about

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marketingcounts 

Send us a

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Greg is the Director of Marketing for Empire Flippers. Empire Flippers is an Inc. 500 company and the #1 curated marketplace for buying and selling established, profitable online businesses. Empire Flippers have helped customers buy and sell nearly $300 million worth of Ecommerce, Adsense, Affiliate, SaaS, FBA, and many other revenue-generating assets. 

In this episode, Greg shares helpful tips on how you could fine-tune the process to guarantee a secure buying and selling experience, how to protect yourself when entering these transactions, and the market outlook for the next 12 months.

Let’s get started!

[00:01 - 05:40] Opening Segment

• From a self-taught internet marketer to being the head of the marketing department

[05:41 - 18:05] Keep Up with The Market Trend

• What’s changed in digital business this 2022?
  • Moving to buyer's market
• Things to watch out for in the preparation for the market in 12 months
• Greg’s tips for operators and investors who are new to buying an FBA business: Split your capital
• How Google will affect the online marketing in the next 6 to 12 months

[18:06 - 22:48]  Do Better Marketing with The Right Audience

• The best business model with the best return on time
• One of the biggest SEO mistakes: Not understanding the true value of traffic
• Leveraging your audience to grow your business
• Build content sites that are not all about affiliates and display ads
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400

[22:49 - 46:46] What To Know About Selling  Your Business

• Check out Empire Flippers
• Selling a business? Here’s why you should get a broker
• What’s an Earn-Out and the things you should watch out for 
• Greg shares some questions to ask yourself when looking to sell
  • Must be based on your personal and business goals

[40:41 - 21:51] Closing Segment

• Greg’s recommended strategy: Diversify on different business models
• The Fire Round
  
  
  

Quotes:

“The best thing you can do is make your business as least risky as possible.” - Greg Elfrink 

“I tell people all the time, if you can't afford it, as you say, you know, your lifestyle was taken care of in terms of expenses and stuff, if you can afford it, always choose to build an audience over building revenue, because then the audience becomes an endless supply of potential stuff for you”  - Greg Elfrink

Connect with  Greg Elfrink!

Website: empireflippers.com

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/empire-flippers

Facebook: Empire Flippers

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Resources Mentioned

Blood Meridian, or the Evening Redness in the West

No Country for Old Men

Email us --> [email protected]

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Chelsea Cohen is the Co-Founder of SoStocked, a fully customizable Amazon Inventory Management, and Forecasting Software.  She started as an Amazon Seller in 2014 and has been featured on stages and podcasts all around the world, teaching people how to solve their inventory management problems. 

In this episode, Chelsea takes a deep dive into the importance of inventory management and its crucial impact on profitability and business growth. Passionate at optimizing logistics and cash flow, she shares tips on how this process could be improved plus helpful tools that you can use right away. 

[00:01 - 06:41] Opening Segment

• Get to know Chelsea and what led her to co-found So Stocks

[06:42 - 21:51] Why You Need an Inventory Management System

• The consequences of not having an inventory management system
• How to keep up with constantly changing Amazon program policies
• How to know if you are overstocking and understocking
• Logistics flexibility and strategy
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400

[21:52 - 35:05]  Effective eCommerce Strategies: Work Smarter  

• Beat your competition this 2022
• Increase profitability through Supply Chain Management
• Check out the free FBA calculator from www.sostocked.com/tools

[35:06 - 43:20] Closing Segment

• If you are still using spreadsheets for inventory management, Chelsea has a message for you
• Check out sostocked.com
• The Fire Round

Quotes:
“If you want to spend more time on things more valuable, and if you could save extra 10 hours a week or 10 hours a month by automating something, then do so. If you’re going to expand and grow, you need to start looking at a system that actually works in an automated way.” - Chelsea Cohen

Connect with Chelsea

Website

LinkedIn

Facebook
Youtube

If you need help with inventory management,  check out So Stocked!

Resources Mentioned

piertopier/loadcalc

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John’s Crazy Socks is a father-son venture inspired by co-founder John Lee Cronin, a young man with Down syndrome. John’s affinity for crazy socks paired with his love of making people smile made their mission clear: to spread happiness.

Listen to this fun-filled episode this father and son duo talks about how they were able to put up and run the business successfully while bringing a positive impact not only to their clients but their team members. 

[00:01 - 18:22] Spreading Happiness and Inspiration

• John and Mark on how they started the father and son business
• John's eureka moment: Create crazy creative socks
• What makes John’s Crazy Socks different
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400

[18:23 - 22:20] Learning in the Process

• The marketing strategy that helped John’s Crazy Socks grow consistently
• How to keep your business during the off-season 
• Expanding the business by manufacturing
• The Ready-Fire-Aim. Don’t wait to get started

[22:23 - 32:19] The Real Secret to Business Success

• What's John's typical looks like 
• Providing opportunities to people who are differently-abled
• Nurturing customer relationships by making everything personal
  
  
  

[32:21 - 40:00] Closing Segment

• The future for John's Crazy Socks
• The Fire Round

Quotes:

“You can be like the New York Yankees and have an endless amount of money. But too much money makes you stupid. If you don't have money, you got to be creative. And you got to work.”

“Once you make a decision, go forward, take action. You have to watch your data. You have to keep learning from it. But you can't wait to make everything perfect.”

You can connect with John and Mark through LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, or you can visit www.johnscrazysocks.com.

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This is a continuation of a two-part episode where Ken and David share their previous jobs and the lessons they've gained that shaped what they are today. Tune in till the end and pick up a thing or two from this delightful duo. Let’s get it!

[00:01 - 30:11] What Ken & David Learned From Their Previous Jobs

• Character development is more important than profitability
• Ways you could lose your customers
• The impact of rules and how it affects behavior 
• Finding true friends in difficult situations
• Overcoming challenges and developing self-confidence
• Set a high standard for yourself
• The surprising things Ken learned while working for the government
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400

[30:12 - 32:39] Closing Segment

• Final thoughts
• Share your previous job experiences with Ken & David!

Quotes:

“I learned from this job to always tip people well in the service industry. And I would say that has been something that I've carried with me throughout my life is that the service industry is hard.” - David Schomer

“You can’t do everything by yourself. You need help.” - David Schomer

“I think taking care of a large set of the best assets and your businesses, your people, and there was something missing from a lot of jobs that we had gone over some of them. However, some of the jobs that we discussed, on these last few episodes, we really liked, some of them, we didn't, but all of them were a good fit at that point in time where we were. And so in hindsight, we can always reflect back and say, what we did and what we didn't like out of them, but they taught us something on our journey. “ - Ken Wilson

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Work experience, without a question, may provide us with the most valuable life skills and experiences that we can apply as we move forward in our new ventures, whether it's changing careers or putting on a business hat. You could even notice that some of the strategies you're doing today at our business are something you've done before, or have seen in your previous employers.

In this two-part episode, Ken and David recall their previous jobs and the lessons they've gained that helped shape them into the business people they are today.

This is another episode full of nuggets from our host. Let’s get started!

[06:54 - 15:30] Opening Segment

• Ken talks about his former jobs as a fruit vendor, a laborer, and a lawnmower
• David’s experience working in the family business, cleaning pig barns, and spending consecutive summers working at a medical store
  
  
  

[06:54 - 15:30] What Ken & David Learned From Their Previous Jobs

• Easy upselling technique
• Delivering great customer service is your best marketing strategy
• Consumers pay for a better experience
• The toxic environment of a family business
• Investing in technology for your business is advantageous
• Equipment is a business asset and proper maintenance could avoid liability
• You could consume information with limited time. You just have to know what works for you and stick to it.
• How to close deals
• Selling high-quality products is beneficial in the long term
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400

[15:31 - 26:16] Closing Segment

• Tune in next week for part 2!

Quotes:

“Thinking creatively can earn you more profit.” - David Schomer

“I don't think it's a really good idea (family in business), I think you should rethink it, or put some rather strong policies in place to prevent those unwanted things.” - Ken Wilson

“I learned very early in life that there are more ways to earn an income than a nine to five.”- David Schomer

“It doesn't matter what you do for a living as long as you do it to the best of your ability. It may not be glamorous, but like, if you're doing your best, you can hang your hat on.” - David Schomer

“Self-employment isn't for the faint of heart, it is very challenging.” - David Schomer

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When you rely on a supplier to deliver your items, you lose control. Your request may not be fulfilled, resulting in delays, dissatisfied consumers, and lower profitability. As a result, entrepreneurs are looking into self-manufacturing to acquire control over their production and company.

The road to self-manufacturing is not a walk in the park but with mastery, you may reap rewards that are not possible when you are sourcing. Our hosts, David and Ken, discuss the important lessons they've learned along the way, from finding the right suppliers, and processing to human resource management.

If you want to see if this is the appropriate road for you, tune in until the end. Let’s get started.

[00:00 - 06:53] Opening Segment

• Self-manufacturing versus sourcing from China
• A retrospect on the self-manufacturing journey

[06:54 - 15:30] Things We Wish We Had Known About Self-Manufacturing

• How to prepare for unexpected machinery breakdowns
  • Ready your supplies
  • Hire a handyman
• Negotiate with your suppliers but ensure their profitability
• Self-Manufacturing: Pros & Cons
• How to find and work with suppliers
• The importance of finding the right, quality team members
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400

[15:31 - 26:16] Closing Segment

• The intrinsic reward of self-manufacturing
• Final words

Quotes:

“Most people are more than willing to share information with you, so long as you're not one of their competitors.”

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The culture at Amazon is one of empowerment and ownership. Employees are encouraged to take charge of their careers and work to make a difference in the company. This focus on empowerment has helped the company grow and remain successful for over twenty years. And today, Ex-Amazon Executive John Rossman is going to share with us the culture of success at Amazon. 

Business Advisor, Author, and Keynote Speaker John Rossman is the author of The Amazon Way book series which is based on his experiences serving as the Director of Enterprise Services while employed at Amazon.com. After leaving Amazon, John founded Rossman Partners which helps businesses grow and scale in most industry verticals on digital strategy, operations and culture. Let’s jump right in and learn why customer obsession is the top leadership principle that allowed Amazon to focus on systemic problems and create a supportive and collaborative environment.

[00:00 - 06:55] Opening Segment

• We introduce John to the show
• John’s book, “The Amazon Way”
  • John stresses the importance of understanding what people really see

[06:56 - 21:44] Amazon Through the Years

• John shares some background about the formative years of Amazon
• Focusing on building a marketplace that could support tens of thousands of sellers
• Putting the customer first and has a friendly culture to its employees
• Focusing on results rather than individual input
• John talks about the 14th leadership principle at Amazon
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
  • Promo code: FTM400

[21:45 - 32:37] The Amazon Way

• Seeing both sides of the coin
• Recognizing that you can’t fix everything
• Differentiation as a key to succeed
• John talks about how the platforms at Amazon are optimal in the digital era

[32:38 - 34:55] Closing Segment

Successful ecommerce entrepreneurs are typically very passionate about their businesses, have a great product and are able to create a unique customer experience. They also have a strong understanding of how to grow and scale their businesses.

[34:55 - 37:00]

• Know more about John in the Fire Round!
• Connect with John through the links below
• Final words

Quotes:

"You can't just have customer obsession and run a great business." - John Rossman

"like the product details, the cost details, the availability details, the advertising details that you have to be super clever at really understanding, like the nuances and the little winning details that are going to matter." - John Rossman

"In small companies, especially in this marketplace ecosystem space, I think the two things that I look for are a kind of a theory of differentiation. Like what is it going to be? How do you compete? What's your theory or what's your strategy for how you're going to be different and compete." - John Rossman

“The successful ecommerce entrepreneurs are those who are able to balance their work with their personal lives in a way that allows them to be successful. They also have a clear vision for their business and are able to execute on that vision.” - John Rossman

Resources Mentioned:

• The Amazon Way - John Rossman
• 
  

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Do you want to learn how to double your income? If yes, then try focusing on less.

In this episode, David Wood, the founder at Focus.CEO, will be discussing how to focus on what's important and avoid getting distracted by shiny objects. David built the world’s largest coaching business, becoming #1 on Google for “life coaching”. David coaches rock-star business owners to double their revenue and achieve more in less time. We'll also talk about how to develop a system for healthy relationships and how to stay persistent in the face of obstacles. 

Listen to David and start earning more!

[00:00 - 10:59] Opening Segment

• We introduce David Wood to the show
• Relying on ourselves to succeed
• Shiny object syndrome
• Being disciplined to achieve our goals.

[11:00 - 21:15] Having a Personal System as an Entrepreneur

• David talks about how successful people utilize systems
• Entrepreneurs should say no more often than yes
• Having a clear understanding of your target
• How having a system also benefits our health
• Want some Amazon refunds? Check out Getida
• Promo code: FTM400

[21:15 - 30:48] Keeping Focus 

• How having a healthy eating habit affects performance
• Focusing on less important tasks can help you move faster
• David shares his approach to coaching
• Focusing on a specific goal for a given period of time

[30:48 - 40:38] Closing Segment

• Know more about David in the Fire Round!
• Connect with David with the links below
• Final words

You can connect with David through Linkedin and Instagram, or you can email him at [email protected]. 

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Quotes:

"You can't be top of the food chain if you're trying to serve different target markets and be good at different traffic sources and have four different funnels." - David Wood

"You still may fall off the horse, and not get what you said will be done in 25 minutes. But give yourself a fighting chance to actually focus and do what you said matters most." - David Wood

Ready to scale your Amazon business? Click here to book a strategy call.  https://calendly.com/firingtheman/amazon

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Jarrod Reichelt is a purpose coach who uses empathy, cognitive restructuring, and journaling to help individuals balance their priorities and achieve their goals. Jarrod has a Masters of Psychology and he has worked with individuals struggling with anxiety, stress, and depression for many years. Jarrod believes that it is important to identify what is most important to you and to develop systems that help you track your progress. He also believes in having the passion and drive to see your goals through.

Key Highlights:

[00:01 - 05:06] Opening Segment

• Wanting to be a police officer to eventually becoming a therapist

[05:06 - 15:04] Fear and Other Thoughts

• Humans are pleasure seeking and pain avoiding beings
• Changing how we relate and respond to our thoughts.
• Creating a list of the values that are most meaningful and important to you

[15:04 - 27:10] The Brain is a Muscle

• Separating thoughts from your feelings
• make better decisions based on those thoughts
• Neuroplasticity
• Practicing with mindfulness
• The dopamine addiction caused by smartphones

[27:10 - 38:22] Getting Back On Track

• Tips for getting out of the rut
• Balancing work and family life
• Identifying their values and committing to working towards those values

[38:22 - 43:23] Closing Segment

• Know more abour Jerrod in the Fire Round!
• Connect with Jerrod with the links below
• Final words

Quotes:

"And so the biggest thing that I try and do is really kind of take a step back and understand, okay, what's going on with my fear right now? And so oftentimes it's just something petty that I'm afraid of, like I'm not going to make enough money or I'm not good enough. And then I start to Label that emotion. Like this is fear, this is anger, this is sadness, and then I can start to work on releasing that emotion. So it's not just like pushing it away, it's actually releasing it." - Jarrod Reichelt

"When you're making the decision to neglect the values, then you're also then adversely affecting your wellness, your health, your mood, your happiness. And so there's all those things to consider and to contemplate when trying to find that balance is if I go too strong in one way, then I'm going to be missing out on the other." - Jarrod Reichelt

Connect with Jarrod through Instagram, or by emailing him at [email protected]. Watch out for his upcoming Youtube channel and Podcast!

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