Online Business Launchpad | Start An Online Business | Online Business Growth

Have you ever felt stuck in a job you didn’t love and wondered if there was a way to break free? Carol Kabaale, a Meta-certified ad strategist, knows exactly what that’s like. She secretly quit her corporate job—without telling her fiancé.

As Carol puts it, “I just knew if I told everyone around me, they’d talk me out of it, so I kept quiet and built my plan in secret. And it worked.”

In this episode, Carol shares how she went from her first client to a full-fledged agency, the smart ad strategies she uses to help businesses grow, and insider tips on running Facebook ads without wasting money. If you’re looking for real talk on what it takes to succeed with online advertising (and a little courage to take your own leap), this is the episode for you.

We Also Talked About:

• Why Carol walked away from a promising corporate career (without telling anyone!)
• How she got her first clients and replaced her salary in record time
• The biggest mistakes small business owners make with Facebook ads
• A breakdown of different ad types—and which ones actually work
• Why understanding data is the key to ad success (even if you hate numbers)
• How to know if your business is ready to run ads—and what to do first

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RESOURCES MENTIONED

• • Carol’s Ads Readiness Quiz: carolkabaale.com
  • Book on overcoming procrastination:  Eat That Frog! by Brian Tracy  (affiliate link)

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Have you ever wanted to write a book but got totally lost in the complexities of trying to do it through traditional publishing channels? What if you could bring your manuscript to life, maintain full creative control, and keep more of the profits by self-publishing? 

In this episode, I sit down with Michele DeFilippo, a publishing expert with over 50 years of experience, who shares her journey from traditional publishing to helping self-published authors create high-quality books that stand shoulder to shoulder with bestsellers. As Michele says, "Real self-publishing means you are in charge, you control your book, and you should get all the revenue." If you're ready to take control of your publishing journey, this episode is a must-listen!

We Also Talked About:

• The major disruptions in the publishing industry and how Michele pivoted her business
• The biggest mistakes self-published authors make and how to avoid them
• The difference between self-publishing and working with a "publishing service"
• How to ensure your book looks as professional as traditionally published bestsellers
• The step-by-step process of getting a book from manuscript to finished product
• The importance of book cover design and why it's more than just aesthetics
• Why Amazon's print-on-demand model has changed the game for indie authors
• The truth about book marketing and what authors need to know

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Michele DeFilippo’s website: 1106design.com
• Free resource: Publish Like the Pros (available on her website) or go to https://1106design.substack.com/ 

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What if the only thing standing between you and success was a mindset shift? According to entrepreneur, Nicky Billou, 

"Without sales, there's no business. And if you're scared of sales, you're scared of service." 

In this episode, we dive into what it means to truly serve in business and how shifting your mindset can transform not only your revenue but also your impact.

Nicky’s journey is inspiring. From leaving Iran as a teenager to becoming a best-selling author and highly sought-after business coach, he shares how his father’s values of generosity and service shaped his approach to business. He reveals how entrepreneurs can overcome their fear of selling, connect with clients authentically, and build a business rooted in service rather than stress.

We Also Talked About:

• The life-changing mindset shift that took a client from making $2K a month to $20K
• How to stop seeing sales as “sales” and start seeing it as an act of love and service
• Why belief in your clients is the foundation of their success
• The four must-have qualities for any entrepreneur serious about growth
• How to attract your ideal clients using Nicky’s 11-channel strategy
• The critical difference between knowing what to do and actually doing it
• How Nicky’s personal struggles with business and life led him to coaching
• The importance of having a coach and being coachable in business growth

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Nicky’s website:  https://www.ecircleacademy.com/
• Nicky’s podcast:  https://www.thethoughtleaderrevolution.com/episodes
• Book:  Get Booked & Get Paid: How To Generate 6 Figures+ A Year, Through Podcast Guesting

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“I was working way more than I should have been—and it was my husband who sat me down and said, ‘This family is going to break if you don’t make a change."

For Donna Dube, a former ICU nurse turned business operations expert, that moment was a wake-up call. In this episode, Donna shares how she transformed her life by setting boundaries, leveraging time management strategies, and focusing on what she calls “CEO-level work.” Her insights can help you escape the busywork trap and build a business that works for you, not the other way around.

We Also Talked About:

• The wake-up call that helped Donna reclaim her time and set boundaries.
• How to use a time audit to uncover inefficiencies and regain control of your schedule.
• Breaking tasks into “maintenance” vs. “growth” categories to maximize ROI.
• How fractional support roles like a Director of Operations can help entrepreneurs grow.
• The importance of identifying your hourly rate and delegating low-value tasks.
• Using tools like AI to simplify workflows and boost productivity.
• Why Donna loves "Atomic Habits" and "Traction" for transforming your business and life.

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RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Download Donna’s free CEO Power Hour Playbook at https://ceoamplify.ca/ceo-power-hour
• Explore Donna’s other services at ceoamplify.ca.
• Books: 
• Atomic Habits by James Clear (affiliate link)
• Traction by Gino Wickman (affiliate link)

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Den López was sick of missing time with his family and craved the freedom to pursue his passion.  So he left his 16-year career as a mechanic and built his dream business teaching guitar.

“I needed something I could get control of,” he said 

Tune in to discover how Den turned his passion for teaching into a thriving online business and how you can apply his insights to your own journey.

Den Lopez is an innovative guitar teacher and the creator of the "Guitar in One Hour" method. With over 25 years of experience playing guitar and a high success rate for his students, Den has built a thriving business that transforms beginners and frustrated guitarists into confident players. His passion for making music accessible has inspired countless students worldwide.

We Also Talked About:

• The emotional trigger that pushed Den to leave his 16-year career as a mechanic to pursue his passion for teaching guitar.

• How a family musical tradition shaped Den’s approach to teaching and his belief that anyone can make music.

• Why 95% of people quit learning the guitar and how Den’s innovative system simplifies the process.

• The role of breaking false beliefs and the importance of finding a mentor to succeed in both music and business.

• Insights into how Den built his business from scratch while balancing work and family life.

• A fascinating story of resilience and passion: Batman, rope, and the leap of faith needed to break free from job security.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Den’s "Beginner Guitarist Playbook" – Get your free copy at learningguitarsecrets.com/free 

• Russell Brunson’s One Funnel Away Challenge - https://www.onefunnelaway.com/ 

• Django Reinhardt – Iconic gypsy jazz guitarist - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZ308aOOX04 

• Shane Sams – Entrepreneur and founder of Flipped Lifestyle - https://www.flippedlifestyle.com/ 

• Pat Flynn – Entrepreneur and founder of the SPI community - https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/SPI-Community (affiliate link)

Get regular access to tips, techniques, and advice from myself and other experts about growing your business.

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Do you ever feel like you’re on a hamster wheel, always serving clients but never finding the time to grow your own business? As veteran Chief Marketing Officer Victoria Hajjar puts it, “It’s the biggest mistake you can make for your future—neglecting to build your own marketing engine.” 

So are you ready to build a marketing engine that works for you instead of the other way around? 

Tune in to this week’s episode  and listen as Victoria shares how you can move from burnout to brilliance with a 24/7 marketing flywheel that scales your business and frees up your time. 

Victoria Hajjar is a seasoned Fractional Chief Marketing Officer with nearly 15 years of experience helping women founders transition their businesses from six to seven figures. Having built ROI-focused marketing systems for entrepreneurs worldwide, Victoria has mastered the art of creating sustainable growth strategies tailored to resource-limited businesses.

Be sure to sign up for my newsletter to stay updated on future episodes. 

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT:

• Why mindset matters: The hidden psychological barriers holding entrepreneurs back from investing in their marketing systems.

• The 24/7 Marketing Flywheel: A six-step framework that transforms your marketing into a self-sustaining engine.

• Building the right team: How to hire help strategically, even on a tight budget.

• Leadership habits: Why quarterly reviews and weekly meetings (even with yourself) are non-negotiable for success.

• Niching down: How specificity in your marketing can lead to exponential results online.

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Victoria Hajjar’s End Marketing Overwhelm Guide

• Victoria’s LinkedIn Profile: Connect with Victoria

Want regular access to tips, techniques, and advice from experts about growing your business? Sign up to my newsletter here.

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“AI is moving at light speed, but it’s not here to replace people. It’s here to augment our expertise and make us more efficient.” – Sami Hero

In this episode of the Online Business Launchpad podcast, Sami Hero, a seasoned expert in AI and technology, unpacks how small businesses can leverage AI without getting lost in the complexity. From streamlining customer service to creating targeted marketing campaigns, Sami shares practical advice for business owners on using AI to solve real problems and improve efficiency.

Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or a growing team, Sami’s insights will help you harness AI to work smarter, not harder.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT

• How Sami’s early career in semantic search and AI laid the groundwork for his expertise.
• Tips on using accessible tools like Pictory.ai and Synthesia to create video content and enhance your marketing without breaking the bank.
• AI’s impact on accessibility, enabling visually impaired users to engage with online content more seamlessly.
• Why starting with a specific use case is the best way to approach AI for small business needs.
• The challenges of AI “hallucinations” (generating incorrect information) and how to manage biases in data.
• Building a cohesive, cost-effective tech stack without overwhelming your team.
• How AI can improve customer service and streamline internal operations, allowing small teams to achieve more.

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RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Pictory:  https://pictory.ai  – Quickly turn articles or blog posts into engaging videos.
• Synthesia:  https://synthesia.io  – An AI tool for generating videos with digital avatars.
• Lex Page:  https://lex.page  – A writing tool for generating drafts and AI-assisted editing.
• Napkin:  https://napkin.ai  – Quickly transform ideas into presentations.
• Cassidy:  https://cassidy.ai  – For building complex, AI-driven workflows.
• AWS Rekognition – https://aws.amazon.com/rekognition/  - Amazon’s image recognition service for identifying objects and enhancing accessibility.

Want regular access to tips, techniques, and advice from experts about growing your business? Sign up here: Online Business Liftoff Newsletter

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Imagine navigating the online world without being able to see it. For most of us, it's a quick look, click, and scroll. But for Maxwell Ivey, who is blind, accessing the digital world takes screen readers, patience, and grit.

In this episode, Max reveals his journey from learning to code out of necessity (while blind) to founding the Accessibility Advantage Consultancy, which advocates for a truly inclusive digital experience. Max's story is a testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and why accessibility isn’t just important—it’s essential.

Max (aka "the Blind Blogger,") has been breaking barriers online since 2007. With over a decade of experience navigating digital spaces as a visually impaired entrepreneur, Max now educates business owners on the power of accessibility through his consultancy.

He's also an Eagle Scout, an author, a speaker, and a podcast host, leveraging his personal journey to make digital spaces more inclusive.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT

• The unique challenges and tools Max uses to navigate the web as a blind business owner.

• How AI is making strides in accessibility but still has a long way to go.

• The critical role of screen readers, adaptive tech, and accessible web design for inclusivity.

• Practical steps small business owners can take to improve their site’s accessibility.

• Max’s advice on overcoming barriers, finding support, and building a business with disabilities.

• Why designing for keyboard navigation first can make your site more accessible to all users.

• How product accessibility reviews and his work with AudioEye impact the lives of visually impaired users.

Have a listen to this interesting episode with Maxwell Ivey to discover how you can make your business more accessible and inclusive.

Want to be notified when new episodes come up?  Sign up to get notifications, tips, stories and advice for growing your online business. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED

• Max's Accessibility Advantage Consultancy - https://theaccessibilityadvantage.com/ 

• The Blind Blogger - https://theblindblogger.net   

• AudioEye - https://www.audioeye.com 

• Wave Accessibility Checker - https://wave.webaim.org

• LEGO Braille Bricks - https://www.lego.com/en-au/theme/braille-bricks/about

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Ever wonder how you could build a seven-figure business purely through SEO? Edd Dawson has done it—and he’s here to share how. He’s cracked the code on driving millions of visitors to websites, generating serious revenue, and selling his businesses for over a million dollars. If you’ve ever questioned whether SEO is still relevant in a world of AI dominance, this episode is for you. Edd dives into how SEO has evolved and its future alongside AI advancements.

Edd Dawson is a 20-year veteran of the SEO industry, having launched one of the UK's first broadband comparison sites. He has built and sold multiple high-traffic websites and continues to operate a seven-figure portfolio today. His experience spans SEO, affiliate marketing, and software as a service (SaaS) tools, making him the perfect guide to navigate today’s digital landscape.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT:

• The evolution of SEO from early internet days to its current role alongside AI.
• The key to building SEO strategies around user questions instead of chasing high-volume keywords.
• How AI is affecting SEO and what it means for search engines like Google.
• The importance of creating human-centered content for both users and large language models like ChatGPT.
• Why writing expert-level content is crucial for future SEO success.
• The shift in the affiliate and display advertising landscape due to Google's updates.
• How to balance content creation between selling and educating audiences.

You won’t want to miss this fascinating conversation with SEO expert Edd Dawson. Tune in now, and if you want to stay in the loop on upcoming episodes, sign up here. 

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Edd Dawson's SEO tool: Keywords People Use
• Edd’s website:  edddawson.com 

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Confidence doesn't magically appear overnight. It’s built step by step, just like a muscle. In this episode, you'll discover nine actionable habits that will help you silence your inner critic and move forward with unwavering confidence. Ready to strengthen your confidence muscle?

This episode dives into nine essential habits that help build lasting confidence, from breaking down intimidating tasks to celebrating small wins and learning from rejection.

Want to learn how to build lasting confidence? Listen to this episode now! 

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Resources Mentioned:

• The Power of Small Wins (Harvard Business Review article by Teresa M. Amabile and Stephen J. Kramer)
• No time to listen?  Read the blog post that this episode is based on

Invitation: Want regular access to tips, techniques, and advice from experts about growing your business? Sign up here.

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