Proof to Product

Hey friends! Are you ready to start getting more results from your Pinterest strategy? Then you'll love this conversation with guest, Kate Ahl. Kate is the owner and CEO of Simple Pin Media, a Pinterest management and marketing agency.

Kate and her team have worked with over 600 Pinterest accounts and consulted with thousands of people about how to best use Pinterest for their business or brand. In this episode, she talks about some of the upcoming trends she's seeing for Pinterest and how to rethink your Pinterest strategy to inspire and inform pinners.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

Mistakes ecommerce businesses make on Pinterest

How to start building traction on Pinterest when starting out

How Pinterest has changed their ecosystem

Why you want pins to be evergreen

How much time you need to invest to get results from Pinterest

Why people have hang ups with Pinterest

Which analytics you need to pay attention to

How you can use UTM codes to track pins that lead to sales

When you should consider outsourcing Pinterest management

The advantages of using Pinterest over other platforms

Trends on Pinterest in 2020 and 2021

What you should know about repurposing Reels and TikToks on Pinterest

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES, RESOURCES AND A TRANSCRIPT, HEAD TO BIT.LY/PTPEP198

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ Inside Proof to Product LABS, you'll receive the support, education and accountability to move your business towards your goals.

​Join Proof to Product Labs, our 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

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Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Hey friends! I recently sat down and had a conversation with Micala Quinn on her show, the Live Free Podcast to have a conversation about how virtual support professionals could support e-commerce and product based businesses.

I wanted to bring a piece of that conversion to my podcast. In this episode, I am exploring the 4 areas of your business where virtual, freelance support could make a positive impact for you.

If you've been wondering how you can get some remote, flexible, rockstar team members to support you while you grow your business then tune in!

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

4 areas in your business that would benefit from help

Hiring help dependent on your business model and needs

A mistake I've seen from business owners when hiring for a virtual role

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES AND RESOURCES, HEAD TO BIT.LY/PTPEP197

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

If you want support from our community, coaching with me and resources to help you continue thriving as you grow your business, be sure to check out my Proof to Product LABS program. ​It's my 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

Hey friends! How are you feeling about social media these days? Is it lighting you up? Does it leave you feeling heavy? I personally have been on both sides of the pendulum and thought my guest in this episode would be perfect to help you determine if it's time to outsource social.

I had on Andréa Jone of OnlineDrea to walk us through everything we need to know. She explains the pros and cons of hiring a social media agency versus hiring a VA or freelance social strategist. We chat about what you need to know before you hire and how she tests potential hires with paid projects!

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

The biggest mistakes ecommerce brands make on social media

Signs it might be time to outsource your social media

The pros and cons of hiring an agency vs. a freelancer

How her agency helps clients formulate KPIs

How to make your hiring knowledgeable people

What a test project looks like when hiring someone for a role

Her onboarding process and how she gets to know clients and their brands

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES, RESOURCES AND A TRANSCRIPT, HEAD TO BIT.LY/PTPEP196

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ Inside Proof to Product LABS, you'll receive the support, education and accountability to move your business towards your goals.

​Join Proof to Product Labs, our 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Hey friends! By now, you probably know that email marketing is very near and dear to my heart. It's a stronger marketing tool than any social media platform, it's less risky than paid advertising and it gives you a chance to speak human to human to your customers.

In this episode, I was joined by Jessica Totillo Coster of eCommerce Badassery. Jessica is an ecommerce and email marketing strategist that works with boutique owners and product based entrepreneurs. She helps scrappy female entrepreneurs take actionable steps and strategies to scale their business.

You're going to want a notebook handy as you listen today because Jessica shares some great tips and insightful examples that you can leverage as a part of your strategy. We covered a lot: everything from how email marketing fits into your customer journey to attracting the right people, nurturing those customers and engaging current customers so they continue to purchase from you.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

Boundaries they've had to learn from using ClubhouseStrategies ecommerce brands an use to entice people to sign up for their email listThe best practices for welcome sequencesTips for communicating with your email list consistently for an eventual purchaseStrategies to keep customers coming back for moreMistakes product based businesses make when it comes to their customer journey and email process

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES, RESOURCES AND A TRANSCRIPT, HEAD TO BIT.LY/PTPEP195

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ Inside Proof to Product LABS, you'll receive the support, education and accountability to move your business towards your goals.

​Join Proof to Product Labs, our 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

I see how hard you have been working, but are not alone! Today's episode is all about how to prepare for hiring help for your business.

In this episode, I talk about some of the strategies that I use in my own business before bringing on new team members. As you explore the idea of bringing on help later this year, this quarter or even this month you'll want to make sure you are hiring right.

Whether you are hiring your first team member or your tenth, whether you're planning to hire employees or contractors — today's episode includes pre-work — so things you're going to do before you even advertise the job you're hiring for.

Flag it, come back to it, take notes and be sure to use the four T's framework to guide you along the way.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

Different forms that help comes in

Pre-work you need to be doing before hiring

The four T's framework from Adrienne Dorison & Mike Michalowicz

Next steps after using the four T's framework

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES, RESOURCES AND A TRANSCRIPT, HEAD TO BIT.LY/PTPEP194

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

If you want support from our community, coaching with me and resources to help you continue thriving as you grow your business, be sure to check out my Proof to Product LABS program. ​It's my 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

I wanted to share this quick, informational episode on the recent announcement from Paper Source about them filing for bankruptcy on March 2, 2021.

In the last few weeks, members of our community have shipped hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of products to Paper Source. Paper Source placed large orders ($9K, $15K, etc) from small independent businesses and in many cases asked companies to move up their ship dates (send them sooner). With the recent news, this is a huge hit to independent brands who now don't know if they will get paid.

I'm not an attorney nor do I have experience with bankruptcy in a B2B setting but in this episode, I am sharing some thoughts and advice I have for those affected by this news.

Keep an eye on the show notes from today's episode and my Instagram feed @prooftoproduct. I'll share additional resources & information as they become available on the website at https://www.prooftoproduct.com/podcast-episodes/paper-source-bankruptcy

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• Advice for small business owners affected by Paper Source filing for bankruptcy

RESOURCES:

Instagram

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Hey friends! I know we can certainly all agree that if 2020 and 2021 have taught us anything it's that we need to get more creative and consider additional revenue streams.

This has led to more and more membership models and subscriptions popping up in not only the service space but the physical product space too. That conversation was prompted in our Proof to Product LABS community and is the reason behind this episode with Joe Casabona.

Joe's passion lies in teaching his knowledge about website development, podcasting and course creation with other business owners, entrepreneurs and freelancers. In this episode, we dive into creating paid memberships and communities for your customers.

We chat about how artists and creators can use paid memberships to nurture customers. He shares some simple ways to get started with tech platforms and content ideas so be sure to take notes!

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

How creators and artists can use membership communities to nurture existing customers

The biggest things that hold people back from starting their community

Pros and cons of using platforms like Patreon versus using your own website

Joe's ideas of content that creatives can make to lead people back to their business

Why you should ask your audience what they want and what type of content you need to generate sales

FOR FULL SHOW NOTES, RESOURCES AND A TRANSCRIPT, HEAD TO BIT.LY/PTPEp193

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ Inside Proof to Product LABS, you'll receive the support, education and accountability to move your business towards your goals.

​Join Proof to Product Labs, our 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners: https://www.prooftoproduct.com/labs

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates: https://www.instagram.com/prooftoproduct/

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure SUBSCRIBE, REVIEW and SHARE Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Hey friends! If you've used stock photography, you may have noticed how difficult it can be to find diverse imagery. Enter Dana Kaye of Bouquet Stock Photo.

Visual branding can be a huge factor in who we attract to our business. So how can we use visual branding to be more inclusive?

In this episode, Dana and I dig into the importance of visual branding and why creating meaningful connections with our customers is such an important piece of doing business. She also shares her definition of what makes a value based business.

We all want to see ourselves in the products and services we shop for. This is such an important conversation and there are so many actionable take-aways in this episode!

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• What led Dana to starting her stock photo company
• Why diverse imagery is so important
• The definitions of a value based business
• Meaningful connections and why they are so powerful
• How serving others is a form of networking

For full show notes and resources, head to bit.ly/PTPEp192

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ Inside Proof to Product LABS, you'll receive the support, education and accountability to move your business towards your goals.

​Join Proof to Product Labs, our 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners.

To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.

Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies.

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates.

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT:

Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Hey friends! Are you utilizing your email list to its full potential? If you aren't there yet then you're definitely going to want to tune into this episode with Meera Kothand, email marketing specialist and three-time Amazon best selling author.

This topic is so near and dear to my heart because email marketing is such a powerful tool yet it's so underutilized by independent brands that sell physical products.

In this episode, Meera and I dig into why your email list is the most valuable platform you have (yes, even more powerful than your favorite social platforms). She talks about how to build your email list with creative lead magnets and strategies for nurturing your audience through a welcome sequence and ongoing, consistent emails.

We also break down some key pointers on how you can get comfortable with selling to your email list so you'll want to stick around to the end to make sure you hear her advice on this!

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• How Meera got started in the digital marketing space
• Why product-based business owners should prioritize growing and nurturing their email list
• How to intrigue people to opt-in to your email list
• What to include in a welcome email sequence
• Lead magnet ideas for product-based business owners
• Why you should incorporate storytelling and get creative
• How to get more comfortable with the selling process via email marketing

For full show notes and resources, head to bit.ly/PTPEp191

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ Inside Proof to Product LABS, you'll receive the support, education and accountability to move your business towards your goals.

​Join Proof to Product Labs, our 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners.

To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.

Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies.

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates.

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT:

Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz

Hey friends! This week marks the 10 year business birthday of Proof to Product! It was 10 years ago that I opened up enrollment for my first program that is now Paper Camp. I didn't have a website, email list and Instagram wasn't even a thing yet.

Things have sure come a long way since then and I am so glad that I trusted my gut and stuck with it. Since 2011 we've helped thousands of product based business owners get their products on the shelves of their favorite retailers, big or small!

In this episode, I am walking you through the 10 lessons I've learned over the last 10 years in business.

ON TODAY'S EPISODE:

• How I started my business and realized there was a proof of concept
• 10 lessons I've learned through 10 years in business

SLOW STEADY GROWTH ARE HOW STRONG BUSINESSES ARE BUILT

Building a business is a long game, won with patience, fortitude, intentional decisions and passion.​ Inside Proof to Product LABS, you'll receive the support, education and accountability to move your business towards your goals.

​Join Proof to Product Labs, our 12-month group coaching program built specifically for product based business owners.

To subscribe on iOS, go to the iTunes page and subscribe to Proof to Product. On Android, you can listen using your favorite podcast app.

Writing a review on iTunes will help other product based business owners find Proof to Product as they are working to up level, scale, and build profitable and sustainable companies.

Follow Proof to Product on Instagram for the latest updates.

If you'd like to receive more information about our upcoming episodes of Proof to Product including show notes and information about our guests, head over to www.prooftoproduct.com and sign up for our email list.

Be sure to share Proof to Product with all of the product based business owners that you know!

ABOUT PROOF TO PRODUCT:

Proof to Product is hosted by Katie Hunt. Since 2011, Proof to Product has worked with thousands of product based businesses to help them up level, scale, and build profitable sustainable companies. You can find our show notes and additional resources at ProofToProduct.com. If you like what you heard today, please head over to Apple Podcast to leave a five star review and subscribe. Thanks so much for listening. We'll be back next week with a new episode!

Mentioned in this episode:

Take the free quiz!

Map out your next 90 days here: http://prooftoproduct.com/quiz