What’s up everyone! We’re back this week with Joel Klettke, the founder of Business Casual Copywriting and Case Study Buddy. Joel has created very successful workshops and courses and he’s here to talk copywriting, course creation, and growing a client base.

Joel launched Business Casual Copywriting in 2013, focusing on content marketing assets and website copy. He’s worked with clients like HubSpot, WP Engine, Safelite, and Ion Interactive. Two years later, he started helping clients understand their customers better and improve their conversion rates with conversion copywriting.

Tune in to hear Joel’s copywriting journey, how he created Case Study Buddy, his copywriting advice, and how you can write effective case studies. Enjoy!

Episode Quotes

"The best way to grow your client base is to network and make connections."

"My strategy has always been to solve problems in public, be useful first, worry about selling later."

"It's not about genius, it's about discipline and repetition."

"Confidence is a byproduct of a solid process - when you know what you are doing and why you are doing it."

"I don’t want to work to make a living. I want to work to build a life."

Listen to Learn

00:21 - Rapid 5 Questions

04:45 - How Joel got into copywriting

09:41 - Going freelance growing a client base

13:14 - The shift to course creation

18:17 - Marketing as a service-based business

24:23 - How Joel started Case Study Buddy

32:51 - Copywriting best practices & pitfalls

40:36 - Leveraging audience feedback

45:39 - Tips on copywriting for course creators

47:52 - Exciting things coming up from Joel

Connect with Joel

BusinessCasualCopywriting.com

CaseStudyBuddy.com

Follow Joel on Twitter!

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Episode 130

Hey family! I hope you are doing well. This week, we’re talking about another growth strategy: YOUTUBE.

It actually took me six months to launch my YouTube channel. It wasn’t that it’s especially difficult, but I procrastinated. I found that I was stuck because of my own negative thoughts surrounding doing things that I’m not comfortable with. I mean, I’m really comfortable doing podcasts, but definitely not YouTube.

There are things we procrastinate on because of this resistance within ourselves. I realized that the key to getting unstuck is taking time to reflect, acknowledging the negative loops, and acting anyway.

Tune in to hear my YouTube experience, my advice for starting on YouTube from scratch, beginner tips, and DOs and DON’Ts.

Learn how to create a solid YouTube strategy by visiting JanelleAllen.com/YouTubeGuide.

I shared something on Twitter recently:

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but there is no magic genie that's going to help you start your thing. There is no moment when everything will feel easier. You just have to start. You are the magic.

I believe this is so important for people who, for the longest time, have been wanting to start an online business or focus on something they love. I want to encourage you this week to start your thing. You and the actions you take are the magic. Stop waiting.

In this week’s episode, I’m also sharing another growth strategy: GUEST POSTING. If you’re already running an online business, or you want to start building your audience online, this is an incredibly effective way to gain forward momentum. Tune in to hear me break down the key points of guest posting, the pros and cons, and DOs and DON’Ts you need to keep in mind.

By the way, make sure you’re staying up to date with future episodes and getting growth strategies directly in your inbox. Sign up to be part of the family here.

Episode Quotes

"Everyone's roadmap is different... What works for someone else may not work for you."

"The magic is not only you, but it's the action that you take."

"You create your path, but you can only create it through action."

"Guest posting is a flexible and effective strategy if you don’t have time to do podcast appearances."

Listen to Learn

02:21 - Do the thing. You are the MAGIC!

08:41 - What is guest posting?

11:41 - Pros and cons of guest posting

16:23 - Guest posting DOs and DONTs

27:59 - Updates and announcements

Connect with Me

JanelleAllen.com

Follow Me on Twitter!

Looking for the Transcript?

Episode 128

Hey family! How is everything going with you? Today’s episode is a solo show. I’m trying to do more of these so I can check in, especially as we all navigate how the pandemic is changing the landscape of our lives and businesses. It’s nice to be able to touch base with all of you.

In this episode, I’ll chat about the COVID-19 situation, recap the big takeaways from recent interviews, discuss podcasting for your business, and dig into some lead generation tips. Make sure you stay tuned, because I also have a very exciting announcement that you don’t want to miss.

Enjoy!

Episode Quotes

"If you're an online business owner, you were positioned to adapt better than if you have a brick and mortar business."

"Podcasts are good for traffic, nurturing, and discoverability, but it's not great for lead generation."

"Students do better when they have a community where they can connect and ask questions."

Listen to Learn

01:07 - COVID-19’s impact on online course creators

04:15 - Recap of previous episodes

08:46 - Podcasting for your business

12:36 - Effective lead generation channels

16:01 - New and exciting things happening!

Connect with Me

JanelleAllen.com

Follow Me on Twitter!

Looking for the Transcript?

Episode 127

Ready to start a podcast for your business?

Learn how to start a podcast in three simple steps. No excuses!

https://janelleallen.com/startyourshow

Hey, family! This week I’m joined by Tara McMullin, the founder and CEO of What Works, a top business podcast and community centered on the number one question business owners want answered. Tara is here to talk about her pivot from 1:1 consulting to facilitating honest conversations about what’s working in small businesses and discovering the real key: what works for you.

Instead of thinking of podcasts as purely a marketing asset, think of it as part of your business model.

One thing that works for Tara is podcasting. She has interviewed over 180 small business owners about systems for marketing, management, operations, product and personal development, sales, and productivity. I’m so excited to welcome Tara for her second appearance on the show. Tune in and hear how she’s making What Works work and her tips for course creators looking to add podcasting to their business model.

Episode Quotes

"Peer-to-peer learning was really, really important to me."

"During the pivot we did our very best to communicate the change, walk clients through it, and allow them to feel really supported."

"The very first step is demystifying the process because podcasting is not difficult at all, it is just opaque."

"It is a mistake to create content for your podcast and just insert your pitch as an ad."

"I believe in the power of small business owners to reshape our economy and our culture in positive ways."

Listen to Learn

02:00 - Rapid 5 Questions

05:09 - Pivoting to a community-oriented business

13:23 - How Tara started podcasting

15:29 - Podcasting tips for beginners

20:50 - The 3 different types of podcasts

23:51 - Benefits of podcasting for businesses

28:26 - Developing a content strategy

33:40 - DOs and DON’Ts of pitching in podcasts

37:48 - Importance of value propositions for podcasts

41:25 - Exciting things coming up from Tara

Connect with Tara

Join the What Works Network

Listen to the What Works podcast

TaraGentile.com

Follow Tara on Twitter!

Looking for the Transcript?

Episode 126

What’s up everyone! This week’s guest is Reuven Lerner, full-time Python trainer, computer scientist, and author of Python Workout.

If you are doing courses because you have expertise and enjoy sharing it with other people, let that show.

Reuven teaches developers and corporate engineers around the world to become fluent in Python. In his corporate training, he serves top tier tech companies like Apple, Cisco, IBM, and Intel, but he also offers Weekly Python Exercises, a set of 15-week courses to help learners become better Python developers. His online video courses consist of hands-on labs that empower his students to understand Python at a deeper level.

Tune in to hear Reuven’s Python journey, plus how he creates engaging online trainings, creates his evergreen newsletters, and drives traffic to his website. Let’s dig in!

Episode Quotes

"There's a bunch of different ways to drive website traffic, so it's important not to put all of your eggs in one basket."

"Narrowing down the service offerings on my website has been more effective."

"If you are doing courses because you have expertise and enjoy sharing it with other people, let that show."

"Informality is no longer seen as a bad thing, so be yourself and keep experimenting."

Listen to Learn

01:28 - Rapid 5 Questions, Reuven's business journey

10:45 - Converting in-person to online training

14:40 - Tips for creating engaging online training

18:24 - How to build an evergreen newsletter

22:26 - Ways to increase website traffic

26:37 - Sales funnel and lead nurturing

29:25 - Importance of a customer-centric website

34:47 - The power of online courses during COVID-19 crisis

41:10 - Advice for online course creators

42:22 - Exciting things coming up from Reuven

Connect with Reuven

Check out Reuven’s Weekly Python Exercise

Read Reuven’s book, Python Workout

Lerner.co.il

Follow Reuven on Twitter!

Looking for the Transcript?

Episode 123

Hey family! This week brings you a special episode. Alex Hillman and I teamed up for a live podcast interview and Q&A as COVID-19 was starting to take a toll on business owners.

This is a tough time for most of us. Some online entrepreneurs are seeing a decline in revenue while several industries have been shut down completely. What do we do when we're facing uncertainty, struggling to figure out our next move, and are trying to avoid thoughts of giving up completely?

We pivot. We lean into our communities. We get resourceful.

Alex is the founder of Indy Hall, a coworking community in Philadelphia, and the co-founder of Stacking the Bricks along with Amy Hoy. He joined me to dig into practical pivot strategies, tips for building online communities, and effective sales strategies for a down economy.

Our live audience brought some great questions, so stick around after the interview for some more great advice about marketing during a pandemic, free vs. paid communities, and creating free content when your business is struggling.

Episode Quotes

"If we wait, there may be nothing... so let's be resourceful."

"The difference between a group of people and a community is the direction that the support flows."

"The value of the community gets bigger if the more people are in it and contributing."

"The value of a community is the resiliency of your customers in their businesses."

"Short term thinking is the thing that will kill a lot of businesses."

Listen to Learn

04:45 - Getting to know Alex Hillman, Rapid 5 Questions

11:52 - Challenges small business owners are facing due to COVID-19

18:06 - Marketing and pivot strategies

26:40 - Product sales strategy in a down economy

31:30 - Community building and management essentials

40:07 - Community building during COVID-19 crisis

43:59 - Q&A on finding the right marketing tone

47:28 - Q&A on free content

53:02 - Q&A on free vs. paid communities

1:00:05 - Tools for online community building

1:06:02 - Practical advice for business owners

Connect with Alex

DangerouslyAwesome.com

IndyHall.org

StackingtheBricks.com

Follow Alex on Twitter!

Looking for the Transcript?

Episode 124

Hey everyone! This week I’m joined by Paul Minors, productivity expert, virtual consultant, and founder of PaulMinors.com. He is here to talk about his course, How to Become a Virtual Consultant, and how he helps businesses set up and use tools like Asana, MailChimp, Pipedrive and Zapier.

Productivity is the vehicle by which you can have a great life.

As someone who is passionate about productivity and automation, Paul understands that setting up efficient systems is the key to success in any business. His course, How to Become A Virtual Consultant, enables clients to learn the processes and tools he uses to be more organized and achieve more in both business and life. Paul has helped more than 400 clients create more effective businesses using the best tools to get them results.

Tune in to hear Paul’s transition process from one-on-one work to an online course, plus his productivity and marketing hacks and how to build an online community.

Episode Quotes

"Surveying your audience is always a good idea."

"Community is the X factor when building your business online." - Janelle

"You're going to have a load of failure, so patience is really important."

"You will always be rewarded for being consistent."

"The success of a business comes down to how clearly you can communicate an idea."

Listen to Learn

01:43 - Rapid 5 Questions

07:28 - Paul's career and business journey

11:24 - Initial steps and transition to course creation

16:28 - Ways to build an online audience

18:41 - Course launching and audience survey

25:42 - Creating the course structure

27:51 - Marketing channels, why YouTube is worth it

32:21 - How to build and personalize marketing funnels

39:10 - LinkedIn, Google AdWords, and other marketing tips

41:31 - How to price online courses

45:50 - Paul's advice for online creators

48:29 - Exciting things coming up from Paul

Connect with Paul

Check out How to Become a Virtual Consultant

PaulMinors.com

Follow Paul on Twitter!

Looking for the Transcript?

Episode 123

and HMO Heaven and creator of Rent 2 Rent Success Kickstarter.

For your business to grow, you have to grow – dream bigger, be bolder, and be a game changer.

Being a property investor, Stephanie believes in creating value for everyone she works with: tenants, landlords, investors, and partners. Her online course, Rent 2 Rent Success Kickstarter, helps people create and grow a profitable rent-to-rent business -- fast and stress free. With her system, you can kickstart your property business in no time, and with minimal experience.

Tune in to hear Stephanie’s story, her marketing tips, and how to have the right mindset for success.

Episode Quotes

"You can presell your course. All you just need to do is be transparent about it."

"In creating a course, just do it."

"For your business to grow, you have to grow."

"All you have to do to start is connect with people."

"Our vision going forward is dream bigger, be bolder, and be a game changer."

Listen to Learn

00:40 - Rapid 5 Questions, Stephanie's entrepreneurial journey

09:43 - What is rent-to-rent?

12:51 - How Stephanie created Rent 2 Rent Kickstarter

18:20 - Preselling and course goal

24:32 - Lessons learned and stuck zones

30:46 - Marketing funnels and channels, plus YouTube and Facebook tips

35:58 - DIY vs. hiring a coach

38:38 - Why mindset is vital for success

43:33 - Online course essentials to get you started

48:14 - Exciting things coming up from Stephanie

Hey family! I'm so excited to be back with you. It's been three months since the last episode because I took a bit of a hiatus. Thank you for hanging out and giving me the leeway to take that break and come back.

In this solo episode, I’m going to report on what I did over these past three months, including finally launching my YouTube channel. I’m happy to say that it’s been up for almost a month now. In line with that, I’ll share my thoughts on YouTube for course creators. Is it really worth the effort?

Then, on a serious note, let’s talk about COVID-19. I’ll get into how it’s affecting online course creators and business owners, and what to do in terms of launching and marketing your course in these unprecedented times.

Finally, we’ll wrap up with what you can expect going forward on the podcast. I was so encouraged during the hiatus by your kind notes, emails, and tweets, and I’m excited to share what’s coming up.

Episode Quotes

"Part of being a business owner is being able to adapt and be agile because there's always going to be uptimes and downtimes."

"In this COVID-19 crisis, it's the time to double down on building awareness and serving your audience."

"Be sensitive with your audience and be empathic. This is not the time to be using scarcity tactics on your marketing."

Listen to Learn

02:20 - What I did during my 3-month hiatus

06:58 - Is YouTube worth it for course creators?

13:22 - COVID-19: Business impact and what to do as course creator

24:51 - What's coming up on the podcast

Looking for the Transcript?

Episode 121