Product Powerhouse

Does moving your business to a 3 day work week scare you? Does it seem impossible? It’s something I have been thinking about for months now, and if you’ve listened to any recent episode you’ve heard me talk about the concept around a 4 day work week or just spending more time with family, and less on the business, while still keeping my business sustainable. I brought on Cailen Asher, award-winning business coach, to offer us insight into her 3 day work week which she’s maintained for 7 years, and she’s going to walk us through where to start. This week, episode 106 of the Product Powerhouse Podcast is about the three day work week! 

In this episode of the Product Powerhouse Podcast, Cailen and I are sharing the importance of time efficiency and actionable steps you can take right now to work less while keeping your business sustainable. 

Some of the talking points Cailen and I go over in this episode include:

• The three-day work week: how to create an ideal work schedule based on how you currently function in your business today.
• How to adjust your schedule to allow for time off, less hours worked each week, and how best to track your time.
• How to sustain your business while working less through managing your time most efficiently.
• Cailen provides the reminder we all need when it comes to your worth being tied to your business worth, or the business success being tied to how you define success for yourself.

After listening to this episode, you will understand that a 4 day or 3 day work week is possible, and the best starting place for you to get started in living the life you want and running your business at the same time! Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on growing your product shop and to hear even more about the points outlined above.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about Product Powerhouse and Erin at https://productpowerhouse.co/podcast/

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Show Notes

Work with Erin!

Simplified SEO Course

DIY Shopify Course

LINKS MENTIONED: 

The Compound Effect

Tosha Silver Books

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Connect with Erin:
Product Powerhouse Community
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Ethical marketing is a topic that has been heavy on my heart lately, especially in conversations with my clients recently. It is important, both for our overall business success as well as ethically it’s just the right thing to do, to market in an honest, genuine way that doesn’t lie, cheat, or scam customers. Today I share the 1979 Code of Conduct by the US Department of Health and Welfare and the three guiding principles that they outlined in this code of conduct, but also how it pertains to our product-based business. This week, episode 105 of the Product Powerhouse Podcast is about how to create ethical marketing for your product-based business! 

In this episode of the Product Powerhouse Podcast, I’m sharing the importance of ethical marketing and actionable steps you can take right now to increase customer satisfaction while also being ethical. 

Some of the talking points I go over in this episode include:

• The 1979 Code of Conduct and why the three guiding principles - Respect for others, Altruism, and Justice - and how they relate to our marketing efforts.
• Ways product-based businesses can be ethical and honest in their product descriptions and listings.
• The importance of market research for ethical marketing, by way of not assuming customer needs and also by understanding the market around your industry.
• Why being ethical can improve your reviews, overall ratings, and customer satisfaction, while also being the right thing to do.

We as marketers and business owners should respect our customer’s right to choose to buy, to act in the well-being of our customers, and benefits both you as the business owner and the customer. Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on growing your product shop and to hear even more about the points outlined above.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about Product Powerhouse and Erin at https://productpowerhouse.co/podcast/

CONNECT WITH ERIN ALEXANDER:

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Show Notes

Work with Erin!

Simplified SEO Course

DIY Shopify Course

LINKS MENTIONED:

1979 Code of Conduct

Contract Shop

Generator from Shopify

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Connect with Erin:
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Do you ever feel like you’re permanently glued to your work computer? Erin Flynn did. In fact, Erin was checking her sales on her wedding day, and this, along with other big life events that made her feel addicted to her business, were what prompted her to drop her hours and live her life. This week, episode 104 of the Product Powerhouse Podcast is about how to spend less time glued to your computer, and more time living your life! 

In this episode of the Product Powerhouse Podcast, Erin Flynn is sharing the importance of removing the pieces of your business that you do not enjoy to work less and actionable steps you can take right now to feel better about your limited time with your business. 

Some of the talking points Erin and I go over in this episode include:

• The first few things you can do to detach from your computer and step away from your business.
• How to manage the day-to-day tasks, like customer service, while being an out-of-the-office entrepreneur.
• How to evaluate the tasks you’ve put pressure on yourself to do, and how to easily remove or reestablish them as needed. 
• Ways product based businesses can continue to make money even if they are hospitalized, on maternity leave, or on vacation. 

There is power in being an entrepreneur who is not glued to their work all the time; the power to take a vacation, have that time flexibility or even handle emergencies as they arise in our lives, is far more important than burning out doing everything we think we have to do to be successful. Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on growing your product shop and to hear even more about the points outlined above.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about Product Powerhouse and Erin at https://productpowerhouse.co/podcast/

CONNECT WITH Erin Flynn:

Website

Instagram

Facebook

Pinterest

CONNECT WITH ERIN ALEXANDER:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Show Notes

Work with Erin!

Simplified SEO Course

DIY Shopify Course

Links Mentioned: 

Ep 94: Product based businesses you can do with little/no inventory

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Collaborating with other business owners takes a little energy for a lot of reward - it’s easily the fastest way to grow your audience! Collaborating may seem a little tricky; where do I start with collaborations and what ways can I collaborate with others that will share value between us both? This week, episode 103 of the Product Powerhouse Podcast is about ways you as a product based business can collaborate with others to grow your audience! 

In this episode of the Product Powerhouse Podcast, I’m sharing the importance of collaborations and actionable steps you can take right now to grow your online community. 

Some of the talking points I go over in this episode include:

• Ways collaborating is highly beneficial to your business, and why you should do it often!
• How to select other businesses and platforms to collaborate with, and how to plan your collaborations so they make sense and convert higher. 
• How collaborations are so much more than giveaways, and many types of collaborations you could do with other business owners.
• How to pitch yourself, and how not to pitch yourself, for collaborations, based on Erin’s experience with getting pitched for the podcast.

After this episode, you’ll be ready to grow your business easily and quickly through collaborations!  Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on growing your product shop and to hear even more about the points outlined above.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about Product Powerhouse and Erin at https://productpowerhouse.co/podcast/

CONNECT WITH ERIN ALEXANDER:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Show Notes

Work with Erin!

Simplified SEO Course

Support the show

Connect with Erin:
Product Powerhouse Community
Instagram
DIY Shopify Course
Product Powerhouse Website

I get asked all the time by clients whether or not they should have a Shopify store or an Etsy shop, and I have always said both. Here to corroborate my reasoning is Lauren Keplinger, star Etsy shop owner and Etsy shop coach, who went from making monogrammed baby blankets to get through her husband’s deployments to making six figures from her shop! This week, episode 102 of the Product Powerhouse Podcast is about niching down to grow larger on Etsy! 

In this episode of the Product Powerhouse Podcast, Lauren Keplinger is sharing the importance of niching down your ideal client and actionable steps you can take right now to be successful on Etsy. 

Some of the talking points Lauren and I go over in this episode include:

• How the many changes to Etsy over the last few years has truly shaped and defined Lauren’s business and growth patterns.
• Should you have an Etsy shop or a Shopify shop, or should you have both? We discuss this at length!
• Why you cannot sell to just anyone on Etsy, and how to start to niche down no matter what market or industry you populate.
• The power in meeting customers where they are at, and how best to do that for your own business.

If you sell candles, your ideal client is not anyone with a nose. In this episode, you’ll learn exactly why that is! Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on growing your product shop and to hear even more about the points outlined above.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about Product Powerhouse and Erin at https://productpowerhouse.co/podcast/

CONNECT WITH Lauren Keplinger:

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Etsy shop

Podcast

CONNECT WITH ERIN ALEXANDER:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Show Notes

Work with Erin!

Simplified SEO Course

Support the show

Connect with Erin:
Product Powerhouse Community
Instagram
DIY Shopify Course
Product Powerhouse Website

I’ve been thinking about the importance of having a plan when there’s an emergency in your business, and how many of us small business owners don’t plan for these things and should. The importance of having a plan and being able to execute the plan should anything scary or emergent come up is huge, and can make or break a business in a crisis. This week, episode 101 of the Product Powerhouse Podcast is about preparing for an emergency with your team! 

In this episode of the Product Powerhouse Podcast, I’m sharing the importance of having a plan even if everything seems totally fine right now and actionable steps you can take right now to set up your team for survival and thrivability. 

Some of the talking points I go over in this episode include:

• My own journey with an emergency in January and how my plan helped my team and my podcast run as smoothly as they could while I was in the hospital and on bedrest.
• The importance of creating and writing down processes and systems for everything you do so if it needed to be recreated by someone else it could be done.
• Why you need a master document with all your SOPs, passwords and processes, and why not having this can make your business run more smoothly in your absence.
• The communication protocols between you and your team; the importance and value in having this system in place and understanding when, why, and how to contact you in an emergency.

I hope you never have to use these plans and master documents because of an emergency, but I hope you get to use these things to help take an extra long vacation someday soon! Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on growing your product shop and to hear even more about the points outlined above.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about Product Powerhouse and Erin at https://productpowerhouse.co/podcast/

CONNECT WITH ERIN ALEXANDER:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Show Notes

Work with Erin!

Simplified SEO Course

Links mentioned: 

LastPass

Book: Traction, by Gino Wickman

Support the show

Connect with Erin:
Product Powerhouse Community
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DIY Shopify Course
Product Powerhouse Website

If you dread product descriptions as much as I do, you’re going to love this episode! Today, for our 100th episode, we have a really good friend Sandra on the show to share with us how to make copy easy. Her biggest takeaway tip? Make sure the energy behind your brand is there when you go to write! This week, episode 100 of the Product Powerhouse Podcast is about making bold choices with your copy with Sandra van der Lee! 

In this episode of the Product Powerhouse Podcast, Sandra van der Lee and I are sharing the importance of being bold behind your brand and actionable steps you can take right now to create amazing copy that converts. 

Some of the talking points Sandra and I go over in this episode include:

• How Sandra’s story may look like an overnight success story, but the actual work and years of experience behind her journey.
• Ways to grow your own shop’s email list, from topics to bundles and ways to utilize the sign up process to get more emails.
• How to write copy for your product descriptions and what to include, as well as the power of creating a product description template to use over and over again.
• Where success in start up small businesses comes from; and it’s about talking about your product/service and having the confidence to bring it up constantly.

Sandra is a bold, fiercely independent and adventurous, really good friend, and you’ll learn from her that being bold pays off, whether it’s through the copy you use in your product descriptions or the choices for your business that you make. Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on growing your product shop and to hear even more about the points outlined above.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about Product Powerhouse and Erin at https://productpowerhouse.co/podcast/

CONNECT WITH SANDRA VAN DER LEE:

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CONNECT WITH ERIN ALEXANDER:

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Connect with Erin:
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Product Powerhouse Website

When was the last time you celebrated small wins in your business or life? Do you know the huge importance it plays on you mentally? I recently learned the powerful lesson of celebrating small wins after realizing that goal achieving was less fun when I didn’t celebrate them! I am an enneagram 3, which means I love achieving goals and setting goals to hit them. But it recently became clear to me that I don’t take the time to celebrate them - I just look for what’s next. This week, episode 99 of the Product Powerhouse Podcast is about celebrating the small wins! 

In this episode of the Product Powerhouse Podcast, I’m sharing the importance of learning to celebrate the small wins and actionable steps you can take right now to recognize those wins and give them the time and appreciation they deserve. 

Some of the talking points I go over in this episode include:

• Why it’s easier to celebrate the big wins because they are easier to identify, but also why the small wins only bring discontent to figure out the next thing.
• How I came to this sudden realization while hospitalized through identifying that I wasn’t looking back on all the big milestones, but rather the day to day actions I did, that I felt truly appreciative of my work and small wins for the first time.
• How this can play out not just in business, but all aspects of your life, and how that shift opened up doors and relationships in new ways.
• The progress principle; what it is, and why you should measure and celebrate both lead and lag goals. 

If you’re not sure how to celebrate those smaller wins, then for sure hang out until the end of the episode where I give you lots of ways you can celebrate your lead goals. Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on growing your product shop and to hear even more about the points outlined above.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about Product Powerhouse and Erin at https://productpowerhouse.co/podcast/

CONNECT WITH ERIN ALEXANDER:

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DIY Shopify Course

Product Powerhouse Website

Show Notes

Links Mentioned:

The Harvard Review Article: Celebrating Small Wins

Lead and lag goals podcast episode: Ep 77

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Connect with Erin:
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Have you ever been curious if your website is maximized for SEO traffic? Have you ever been curious what SEO is but haven’t had someone to ask, or heard the terms “keyword” or “backlinks” and been confused? This episode is for you, my friend. This week, episode 98 of the Product Powerhouse Podcast is about SEO strategies for those new to SEO! 

In this episode of the Product Powerhouse Podcast, Meg Casebolt is sharing the importance of collaborations to increase SEO organically and actionable steps you can take right now to improve your website SEO to increase your traffic. 

Some of the talking points Meg and I go over in this episode include:

• What SEO is and how important it is for new or prospective customers to find you when they decide to shop online.
• How to figure out what keywords you need to use on your website, and the risk of not having those keywords on your site.
• Why understanding your ideal client will help you not only find keywords but understand the language required to be found online.
• How collaborations, besides just giveaways, can help your SEO, community growth, and revenue.

After this episode, you’ll feel so much better about SEO; not just what it is, but how best to increase your SEO and natural traffic to your website for product based business sites. Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on growing your product shop and to hear even more about the points outlined above.

Thank you for listening!

If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to follow, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about Product Powerhouse and Erin at https://productpowerhouse.co/podcast/

CONNECT WITH MEG CASEBOLT:

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Podcast

CONNECT WITH ERIN ALEXANDER:

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DIY Shopify Course

Product Powerhouse Website

Show Notes

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Connect with Erin:
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Product Powerhouse Website

Product-based businesses have been hit pretty hard the last few years and the pivoting many companies have had to do to stay in the space isn’t always easy. Jenn Collins, CEO and Founder of Mama Needs Box and Mama Needs Podcast, understands the ups and downs of product based business owners. As owner of a subscription box company,  she not only experiences these ups and downs, but her vendors do too! This week, episode 97 of the Product Powerhouse Podcast is about getting through the rollercoaster of entrepreneurship and staying the course! 

In this episode of the Product Powerhouse Podcast, Jenn Collins is sharing the importance of staying the course and the power of asking and receiving help from those around you. 

Some of the talking points Jenn and I go over in this episode include:

• How Jenn created her Mama Needs Box four years ago, and what her process looks like to source and market her box. 
• How Jenn manages to run a successful business while also being a mom to three kids and an entrepreneurial spouse.
• The ups and downs of product based businesses over the last few years, and how Jenn has managed to get through it all with the strong support of her family.
• How plans, and even goals, change as we go through and experience more of entrepreneurship, and how Jenn handles these ebbs and flows.

As someone who works with product based businesses and creates her own product based business platform, Jenn understands the ups and downs. Be sure to tune in to all the episodes to receive tons of practical tips on growing your product shop and to hear even more about the points outlined above.

Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed this episode, take a screenshot of the episode to post in your stories and tag me!  And don’t forget to subscribe, rate and review the podcast and tell me your key takeaways!

Learn more about Product Powerhouse and Erin at https://productpowerhouse.co/podcast/

CONNECT WITH JENN COLLINS:

Podcast

Website

CONNECT WITH ERIN ALEXANDER:

Facebook Community

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DIY Shopify Course

Product Powerhouse Website

Show Notes

Support the show

Connect with Erin:
Product Powerhouse Community
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DIY Shopify Course
Product Powerhouse Website