Streamlined Solopreneur: Solo Ops to Stop Doing Everything Yourself

More and more, we're hearing about why businesses should be on TikTok. As a creator, this can be a new place for you to gain an audience…if you do it right. And today's guest, Alex Rossman, knows a thing or two about TikTok. His agency, Rossman Media, is currently moving many of his B2B clients to the platform with great success. Today, Alex will tell you why you should be there, and how to make the most of being on the platform…from building community to generating more leads. In Build Something More, we talk about what it's like being a musician (we both play the drums), writing songs, and there's a heavy dose of The Beatles in there too.

Top Takeaways:

• TikTok has accelerated a lot faster than other social media platforms in growth and maturity. They even have a managed services to help business grow through trends.
• 1/10 of your videos will have some viral component to it. That doesn't mean millions of views, but it could mean 10,000. So it's important to be there, and be consistent.
• Alex recommends having a record day where you create 30 days worth of content in a sitting. Then you can plan and schedule it out. Using some free analytics, you can see what's trending and ride those waves to growth.

Show Notes:

• Alex Rossman
• Rossman Media on Facebook
• Rossman Media on Instagram
• Rossman Media on Twitter
• The Beatles: Get Back Documentary
• Ringo's Masterclass
• Why Bussinesses are Missing out on Tiktok with Rebecca Simon
• Maneskin
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs | TextExpander

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Streamlined Solopreneur helps overwhelmed solo business owners go from overwhelmed to having their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without selling your soul to AI...and run your business without sacrificing the rest of your life, or your health.

Looking for a place to start? Take the Solo Systems Starter Quiz. 60 seconds, 8 questions, and I will tell you what system you should build first, and exactly how to build it. https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

Word of Mouth has long ruled the lead-generating roost for freelancers and small business owners. But that’s an untenable, unscalable business model. What does work, you wonder? Ask web designer Jess Freeman. 60% of Jess’ leads come from content creation alone; 40% from her blog and YouTube. While many view YouTube as a place for entertainment and influencers where only the most popular channels make money, Jess shows us that’s not true. And she shares some fantastic tips on how you can leverage YouTube to build trust and generate leads. Plus, in Build Something More, we talk WordPress vs. Squarespace.

Top Takeaways:

• Don’t expect to get rich overnight with content. It’s a long game that helps you build better trust with prospective clients.
• Jess tells us about 2 types of YouTube content: connection (get to know me better) and educational (teaching something). Be sure to teach your target audience!
• Consistency is key, so come up with a cadence that works for you. Batch your content and release it on a predictable schedule.

Show Notes:

• Jessica Freeman
• Jessica on Instagram
• Jessica on Facebook
• Divi
• TubeBuddy
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs

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Streamlined Solopreneur helps overwhelmed solo business owners go from overwhelmed to having their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without selling your soul to AI...and run your business without sacrificing the rest of your life, or your health.

Looking for a place to start? Take the Solo Systems Starter Quiz. 60 seconds, 8 questions, and I will tell you what system you should build first, and exactly how to build it. https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

They say one of the best ways to grow your audience is by getting in front of other people’s audiences, and today’s guest is an expert in helping you do that. Brittney Lynn understands how to pitch the media - both established media like publications and TV, and newer media, like podcasts. Today, she gives us some fantastic advice for finding and pitching podcasts, as well as what to think about if we’re going to pitch TV and publications. In Build Something More, we chat about the time I hired Brittney to help with my PR, what worked well, and what I should have done better!

Top Takeaways:

• Since podcasts are weekly, and more selective about their content, you really need to hone your pitch. Spend some time doing your research, finding good fits, and then pitching a topic that works for the show.
• Look at recent guests and their topics. If yours is too similar, wait 6 months. Most hosts don’t want to cover the same topic in multiple episodes close together.
• There are lots of places to find shows. Apple Podcasts and Listen Notes, looking at shows competitors have been on, related podcasts, and even competitor press pages.

Show Notes:

• Brittney Lynn
• Brittney on Instagram (brittneylynn)
• Brittney on Instagram (humanconnectionagency)
• Brittney on Twitter
• Brittney Lynn Workshop
• Smart Passive Income Podcast
• Listen Notes
• Podchaser
• Publer
• National Day Calendar
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs | TextExpander

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Streamlined Solopreneur helps overwhelmed solo business owners go from overwhelmed to having their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without selling your soul to AI...and run your business without sacrificing the rest of your life, or your health.

Looking for a place to start? Take the Solo Systems Starter Quiz. 60 seconds, 8 questions, and I will tell you what system you should build first, and exactly how to build it. https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

How do you become an authority in your field? What's the key to unlocking rewarding work and more sales with less selling? According to Rochelle Moulton, it's publishing. And Rochelle knows a thing or two. Not only has she been helping people become authorities in their fields since 2007, but her book, The Authority Code, will give you the blueprint — and the right prompts — to help you too. Rochelle and I have a great conversation around niching down, spending your time wisely, and publishing to become an authority in your space. Plus, in Build Something More, we compare notes on the book writing and publishing process!

Top Takeaways:

• There's a difference between being an expert, and being an authority. Experts are good at doing a thing, and get paid do to it. Authorities, whose mindset is publishing, command respect from a much wider audience, and can make money in a variety of ways
• To build authority, you need to have a niche. You want to be able to talk to your people and offer them solutions and outcomes. In fact, as an authority, that's exactly what you're selling: an outcome. How will your perfect client's life change after working with you?
• Publishing is the key to building authority. That can be through email, blogging, podcasting, or video. Pick one that works for your audience and start helping people. Then, your content does the selling.

Show Notes:

• Rochelle Moulton
• Rochelle on Linkedin
• Rochelle on Twitter
• Rochelle on Instagram
• Book: The Authority Code: How to Position, Monetize, and Sell Your Expertise
• How to Position, Monetize & Sell Your Expertise with Rochelle Moulton - The Recognized Authority
• Join Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Sensei | Nexcess | Ahrefs

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Streamlined Solopreneur helps overwhelmed solo business owners go from overwhelmed to having their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without selling your soul to AI...and run your business without sacrificing the rest of your life, or your health.

Looking for a place to start? Take the Solo Systems Starter Quiz. 60 seconds, 8 questions, and I will tell you what system you should build first, and exactly how to build it. https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

In 2021, there was a lot of good, but there was also a lot of stress. In fact, there was a lot of everything. Seems like a year or less would do me good. But not really less of everything. I need to do less of something specific — over-commitment. So I’ve come up with The Year of Retreat.

Show Notes:

• Cortex
• My 2022 Yearly Theme
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs | TextExpander

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Streamlined Solopreneur helps overwhelmed solo business owners go from overwhelmed to having their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without selling your soul to AI...and run your business without sacrificing the rest of your life, or your health.

Looking for a place to start? Take the Solo Systems Starter Quiz. 60 seconds, 8 questions, and I will tell you what system you should build first, and exactly how to build it. https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

I knew from a young age, I wanted to play the drums. I got my first small kit when I was five and when my friends and I started a band, heavy quotes, I played paint buckets. When I was 15 years old, I knew I needed a real kit. 

It's the last episode of 2021, and it's a little different: I'm going to share with you my favorite Christmas story. I'll also tell you where the show is heading in 2022. 

Show Notes

• Read the Story at Casabona.org
• Join Creator Crew
• Rate: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Podchaser
• Get Free Airtable templates

• (00:00) - Introduction

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Streamlined Solopreneur helps overwhelmed solo business owners go from overwhelmed to having their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without selling your soul to AI...and run your business without sacrificing the rest of your life, or your health.

Looking for a place to start? Take the Solo Systems Starter Quiz. 60 seconds, 8 questions, and I will tell you what system you should build first, and exactly how to build it. https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

Back in October, I wrote a blog post called, "We Need to Talk About Speakers and Virtual Events." I outlined how I believe speakers should be treated when it comes to virtual events; See I feel like too many virtual event organizers treat speakers as their marketing arm too. Shortly after, my friend Nathan Wrigley reached out. See, he is a virtual event organizer. In fact, I've spoken at his events! We wanted to have a debate of sorts, so we recorded it. It was a truly fantastic conversation. I certainly learned a lot, and I think you will too!

Top Takeaways:

• Be communicative with your speakers and manage expectations. 
• Doing the affiliate program well can net a lot of money for you without a TON of effort.
• It all depends on where you are in your speaker journey, and what your ultimate goal for speaking it. One peice of advice: choose events wisely. 

Show Notes:

• Nathan Wrigley
• Nathan on Facebook
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander

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Streamlined Solopreneur helps overwhelmed solo business owners go from overwhelmed to having their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without selling your soul to AI...and run your business without sacrificing the rest of your life, or your health.

Looking for a place to start? Take the Solo Systems Starter Quiz. 60 seconds, 8 questions, and I will tell you what system you should build first, and exactly how to build it. https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

This year, I made a concerted effort to have a good Black Friday sale. I started thinking about it early, put in a good sequence of emails, and promoted it more than I've promoted anything. The result? My best sale ever. So how did I do it, what were the numbers, and what did I learn? Listen to find out. Plus, in Build Something More, I share the actual revenue, and my thoughts on affiliate programs.

Top Takeaways

• Preparation and messaging were instrumental. I started thinking about the sale in October - what the offer would be and the direction my business would go in for 2022. Right before the sale, I redesigned the home page to really push the benefits of the membership.
• Don't be afraid to send too many emails. I sent 9 emails over 5 days, with 4 coming on the last day. Each lead to at least one sale.
• I also paid attention to how things were going. When I found the membership to be a lot more popular than initially though, I changed the last few emails in the sequence to highlight the benefits of that instead of the fact that a la carte courses were going away.

Show Notes

• Creator Courses
• Why Subscriptions are Crucial to Your Business with John Warrillow
• Site Wide Sales
• ConvertKit
• WooCommerce
• LearnDash
• How to Manage Your Email for a Sane Holiday Season
• Join the Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Accessibility Checker by Equalize Digital | Nexcess | TextExpander

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Streamlined Solopreneur helps overwhelmed solo business owners go from overwhelmed to having their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without selling your soul to AI...and run your business without sacrificing the rest of your life, or your health.

Looking for a place to start? Take the Solo Systems Starter Quiz. 60 seconds, 8 questions, and I will tell you what system you should build first, and exactly how to build it. https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

Sometimes it feels like Facebook gets a bad wrap. Of course, sometimes it feels like Facebook gets exactly what it deserves…so where should we, as small business owners, fall on how to use Facebook? Today's guests should help. Jono Petrohilos is a personal trainer and online educator who has a $1 Million online course business. He also runs huge Facebook groups, including one specifically for online course creators. Jono is SUPER passionate about FB groups -so much so that he made me excited about them. He offers a ton of tips for how to start and grow a FB group, and how one can build your business. In Build Something More, we talk about the Facebook outage and how it affected him (and how he has a backup plan!)

Top Takeaways:

• Spend time in similar Facebook groups and communities, participating and adding value. This will help build a network of 100 people you can invite to your group.
• The goal of the FB group is the community. It's not about "me" it's about "them." In that vein, encourage participation at every opportunity. Introductions, questions emailed to you, and anything else you think the group would benefit from
• The name is SUPER important. It should be clear and searchable.

Show Notes:

• Jono Petrohilos
• Jono on Facebook
• Jono on Instagram
• Jono on Linkedin
• Do we REALLY Need to Own Our Platform?
• Fitness Education Online | US Site
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Accessibility Checker by Equalize Digital | Nexcess | TextExpander

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Streamlined Solopreneur helps overwhelmed solo business owners go from overwhelmed to having their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without selling your soul to AI...and run your business without sacrificing the rest of your life, or your health.

Looking for a place to start? Take the Solo Systems Starter Quiz. 60 seconds, 8 questions, and I will tell you what system you should build first, and exactly how to build it. https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/

A few weeks ago, we heard from John Warrillow about why we need to make subscriptions a core part of our businesses. Someone who's done that really well is a marketer and fellow creator Corey Haines. As we recorded this, he was going through the biggest change his membership has seem: consolidation of offerings, niching down, and increasing the price. And it was the best month of the membership to date. Listen on to find why and how he did it. Plus, in what I think is the best Build Something More yet, we talk about pricing: how to price as a creator, offerings, and price to value ratios.

Top Takeaways:

• On subscription fatigue: Don't conflate consumer subscriptions with business subscriptions. Consumers get fatigued more than businesses.
• Early on, as a creator you could basically just ask for money and people would support you. Now it's about the right value proposition. If you don't get it right, you won't survive.
• Niching down allows you to focus, get the right value prop, AND charge more.

Show Notes:

• Corey Haines
• Corey on Twitter
• Li Jin article creator economy
• Morning Brew
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Accessibility Checker by Equalize Digital | Nexcess | TextExpander

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Streamlined Solopreneur helps overwhelmed solo business owners go from overwhelmed to having their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without selling your soul to AI...and run your business without sacrificing the rest of your life, or your health.

Looking for a place to start? Take the Solo Systems Starter Quiz. 60 seconds, 8 questions, and I will tell you what system you should build first, and exactly how to build it. https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

Connect with Joe on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jcasabona/