Streamlined Solopreneur: Easy Productivity & Tech Systems for Solopreneurs

What if I told you the answer to better organic traffic isn’t more content…it’s less content? That’s what today’s guest, Farzad Rashidi, argues. That when it comes to SEO, link building, and organic traffic, quality outperforms quantity every time. And he doesn’t stop there. He provides a process for figuring out what content to write, and how to get people to it.

Top Takeaways:

• Quality is better than quantity. Instead of spending 5 hours on 5 blog posts, spend 5 hours on one blog post and make sure it answers a question people are asking.
• The 80/20 Rule for content marketing, according to Farzad, is 20% on writing the content, 80% on marketing it.
• The name of the game for backlinks is relationships. Form relationships with people who have similar-sized sites and work with them to present valuable resources to their...and your...audience.

Show Notes:

• Farzad Rashidi
• Farzad on Linkedin
• Marketing Strategy Ebook
• The Google Story (Google's PageRank)
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Tailor Brands | NitroPack | Nexcess

————
Streamlined Solopreneur helps solopreneurs stop doing it all themselves, with simple systems that give them their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without having to make another decision, hire employees, or sell your soul to AI.

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 (so YOU don't need to make another decision). https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

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

5 years ago, email was dead. Now it’s not only growing, it’s the life’s blood of the creator economy. As a creator or small business owner, without a good, helpful, and nurtured email list, you’re leaving money on the table. And to tell you why Louis Nicholls from SparkLoop is here this week. We talk all about what makes a good newsletter, what mistakes to avoid, how to come up with good content, and how to make money. It’s a packed episode, and totally worth your time — especially if you’re an independent creator.

Top Takeaways:

• Your email growth goals are way smaller than they should be. You can double or triple your subscriber list if you approach it professionally — with a plan in place for growth. The people who fail to grow their list treat it like a hobby.
• When it comes to content, start with who you’re writing for. Talk to people in your target audience and answer their questions. By the time you’re ready to launch the newsletter, you should know of at least 50 people who would sign up for it.
• When it comes to making money, high ticket items are your best bet. Your worst bet? Low-priced subscriptions. Louis says that memberships for creators are like a golden hampster wheel. Sure it’s recurring revenue, but there’s also the pressure of delivering each month.

Show Notes:

• Louis Nicholls
• Louis on Twitter
• SparkLoop App
• Morning Brew
• Create&Sell
• Free Tool: Magic
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Tailor Brands | NitroPack | Nexcess | TextExpander

————
Streamlined Solopreneur helps solopreneurs stop doing it all themselves, with simple systems that give them their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without having to make another decision, hire employees, or sell your soul to AI.

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 (so YOU don't need to make another decision). https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

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

Jack Kitterhing has been in the WordPress space for a while; you can say he deeply subscribes to the ethos that owning your own platform is one of the most important things a creator can do. That a SaaS, like Teachable, won’t be there for you like an owned platform, like WordPress + LearnDash, will. We have a good discussion about the merits of both. Is it really easier to set up a course on Teachable? What are the benefits of your own platform? We’ll get into all of that and more.

Top Takeaways:

• Finding the right tool comes down to skill and comfort level. WordPress (and other open platforms) are cheaper. A SaaS will save you time.
• You also need to think about your users. What best serves their needs? Make a list of must have features and seek the best tool for that...but be a little forward thinking. Teachable, for example, doesn’t do memberships well. If you never want memberships, that’s great. If you do, Teachable might not be best.
• Spinning up your own WordPress site is a lot easier than it once was. The promise of Nexcess’ StoreBuilder and WP QuickStart products are the easy of signing up for a SaaS with the flexibility of WordPress.

Show Notes:

• Jack Kitterhing
• Jack on Twitter
• Toolkit for Self-hosted vs. Owning
• Building Pages for Micro-Segments by Chris Lema
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Tailor Brands | NitroPack | Nexcess

————
Streamlined Solopreneur helps solopreneurs stop doing it all themselves, with simple systems that give them their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without having to make another decision, hire employees, or sell your soul to AI.

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 (so YOU don't need to make another decision). https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

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

There are a few chains freelancers in the WordPress space carry if we’re being honest. Not charging what you’re worth is one. Not wanting to niche down is another. And thinking you need to grow to an agency to make “real” money is another. Tara Claeys bucks all of these trends, and we have a great discussion about it. How she decided to find a niche (and how her podcast helps her establish authority!), and why she doesn’t want to become an agent. In Build Something More, we talk about the new Macs.

Top Takeaways:

• Niching downs forces you to learn an industry — which allows you to better serve them completely. That allows you to charge more
• Niching also means having a higher close rate. By the time potential clients come to you, they are likely already sold on you.
• It’s OK to not want to grow from freelancer to full agency. And you don’t have to be an agency to make good money. People are willing to pay for your expertise.

Show Notes:

• Tara Claeys
• Tara on Linkedin
• Design TLC
• The Incredible Journey from Agency to Solo Business Owner with Paul Lacey
• Choosing the Right Niche with Sara Dunn
• The Importance of Niching Down, Part 2 with Sara Dunn
• Building a Better Business Part 1: Understanding Your Customers
• Jennifer Bourn Content Camp
• What Baby Clothes Can Teach You About Understanding Your Customers
• 12 Week Year
• Mindful School Marketing
• The Daily Stoic Podcast
• Why You Need to Publish Content to Have an Expertise with Rochelle Moulton
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: NitroPack | Nexcess | TextExpander

————
Streamlined Solopreneur helps solopreneurs stop doing it all themselves, with simple systems that give them their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without having to make another decision, hire employees, or sell your soul to AI.

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 (so YOU don't need to make another decision). https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

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

"We need to de-stigmatize lending money to friends and family." It's one of the first things Brian Bristol said to me in today’s episode. See, Brian is the co-founder of Pigeon Loans — a place where anyone can set up a private loan, backed with tracking, interest, and a legally binding agreement. And this ethos is as interesting as the approach they are taking to content: show people that everyone has a story about lending or borrowing money. So today, we talk about the Pigeon Loans content strategy and the important role their podcast, The Chrip, plays in de-stigmatizing money lending. In Build Something More, we talk about the incredible importance of talking to customers.

Top Takeaways:

• There's a weird stigma that it's bad to lend money to friends and family. The Chirp aims to tell stories that show people there shouldn't be.
• The number of loans between friends, family, and loved ones in the US alone is $200 Billion. There needs to be an easier, more accountable way to track the loan. This makes more people likely to help those in need.
• Brian is a y oung guy who’s thrown himself into his start-up…but he’s mindful of burnout too. Find a way to unwind. You’ll come back with a new energy and clearer head.

Show Notes:

• Brian Bristol
• Brian on Facebook
• Brian on Instagram
• Brian on Twitter
• Brian on Linkedin
• Chirp Podcast
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs

————
Streamlined Solopreneur helps solopreneurs stop doing it all themselves, with simple systems that give them their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without having to make another decision, hire employees, or sell your soul to AI.

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 (so YOU don't need to make another decision). https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

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

YouTube has been a regular topic on the show this year, and for good reason. More people need to build trust to make their business work, and as the second largest search engine, YouTube is a great place to do it. This week, marketing coach Nicole Osborne tells us why she started a YouTube channel, her process for publishing, and how it’s helped her business. In Build Something More, we talk about how marketing and web design changed over the past 20 years.

Top Takeaways:

• Don’t compare yourself to the big names today. Pick a content creator, look at their first video, and then understand it’s a process that takes time.
• Content creation is experimentation. Try different topics, recording processes, and approaches. See what works and what resonates with your potential audience.
• You need to make time to make content. Treat it as a client project and put time on your calendar to work on it.

Show Notes:

• Nicole Osborne
• Why You Need to Publish Content to Have an Expertise with Rochelle Moulton
• Working Through Different YouTube Strategies with Alastair McDermott
• Leveraging YouTube to Build Trust and get Leads with Jessica Freeman
• GoWP Facebook Group
• Nicole’s Agency Growth Secrets eBook
• How to Get Guest Spots on Podcasts
• Live Stream Kit
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs | TextExpander

————
Streamlined Solopreneur helps solopreneurs stop doing it all themselves, with simple systems that give them their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without having to make another decision, hire employees, or sell your soul to AI.

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 (so YOU don't need to make another decision). https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

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

How often should you publish? Should you use affiliate links? DO those 30-day challenges really help? Alastair McDermott and I are both at the relative beginning of our YouTube journeys, and we’re each taking different approaches — hopefully, ones that suit our needs and goals appropriately. Listen in as we talk about what we're doing, how we’re doing it, and of course, why. We’ll also tell you why your phone is the best camera for you and your channel. In Build Something More, we talk about when we’ve each bartered for work.

Top Takeaways:

• YouTube is a content channel that can help you build trust quickly because people can see you. You have the ability, and the opportunity, to show people what you know and how you can help them.
• When it comes to making money, most people can make more bringing in new clients with their videos, as opposed to running ads to monetize. Alastair said he’ll likely never run those ads because it could affect his credibility!
• The thing that keeps people engaged after clicking through is good storytelling. You need an arch, with tension that keeps people watching. This is possible with just about any video, if you do it right!

Show Notes:

• Alastair McDermott
• Alastair on Linkedin
• Alastair on Twitter
• Alastair on YouTube
• Alastair on Instagram
• Live Coaching: Launching a Course & Growing a Podcast with Alastair McDermott
• Why You Need to Publish Content to Have an Expertise with Rochelle Moulton
• How to Make Your a6400 camera a Webcam
• YouTube/LiveStream Setup
• Creator Toolkits
• Current Desk
• Alzay Calhoun: Coveted Consultant
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs

————
Streamlined Solopreneur helps solopreneurs stop doing it all themselves, with simple systems that give them their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without having to make another decision, hire employees, or sell your soul to AI.

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 (so YOU don't need to make another decision). https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

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

Since leaving the classroom in 2016, I've missed one aspect of teaching more than any other: connecting with students in real-time, as I teach the material. And while I love creating evergreen courses, today's guest has a better way to teach online. Wes Kao, a co-founder of both altMBA and Maven, tells us about Cohort-based Courses (CBCs), and I am all in! She'll tell us how CBCs have better completion rates, allow for much less upfront work, and allow you to charge more. If you want to create an online course in 2022, I strongly recommend you consider them. Plus, in Build Something More, where does YouTube sit with all of this?

Top Takeaways:

• Most online learning is one direction. The teacher pre-records a video and teaches. But Cohort-based Courses offer bi-directional learning, which is huge in the online space. It allow instructors to get real time feedback and pivot when needed.
• When deciding what to teach, you need to consider what you're an expert in. Ask yourself, "If Harvard were asking me to guest lecture, what topic would they invite me to teach?" You should also survey your audience to understand where they are at and what they want to learn.
• CBCs are best when they are interactive. You should shoot for 75% interactive, 25% knowledge transfer. Think about how your students can learn something, and practice it right now; this allows them to reinforce what they learn, and get real time feedback from you and fellow students.

Show Notes:

• Wes Kao
• Wes Kao on Twitter
• Wes Kao Podcast
• 10 YouTube Statistics That You Need to Know in 2021
• The Future of Education is Community: The Rise of Cohort-Based Courses - Forte Labs
• Maven: Create and teach cohort-based courses
• MasterClass
• Morning Brew
• Seth Godin
• Building and Evovling Profitable Project Plan with Jennifer Bourn
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Riverside.fm | Nexcess | Ahrefs | TextExpander

————
Streamlined Solopreneur helps solopreneurs stop doing it all themselves, with simple systems that give them their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without having to make another decision, hire employees, or sell your soul to AI.

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 (so YOU don't need to make another decision). https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

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

One of the core beliefs at Apple is telling a good story; it’s weaved into everything they do — every product, service, and publication. Something you’ll notice with their commercials is that they open by telling you it was shot on iPhone 13 Pro. And in-fact that story they told at the iPhone event in September, about iPhone 13 Pro, was that it’s for movie makers and cinematographers. But who is the iPhone really for? And what other great tools are out there for creators? That’s what we’ll explore in this episode.

Top Takeaways

• If you are a content creator, the iPhone 13 Pro is for you. It allows you to look like the pros, without dropping thousands of dollars of gear like the pros.
• The simplest solution is a tripod for your iPhone with a remote or timer. You’ll also want good lighting; since this is such a mobile setup, you can likely find some good natural lighting.
• Finding the right tools is tough, which is why I’ve put together Creator Toolkits: simple lists to help you know which tools you should use when creating projects.

Links

• Who is iPhone 13 Pro Really For?
• Creator Toolkits

Sponsored by: Riverside.fm | Nexcess | Ahrefs

————
Streamlined Solopreneur helps solopreneurs stop doing it all themselves, with simple systems that give them their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without having to make another decision, hire employees, or sell your soul to AI.

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 (so YOU don't need to make another decision). https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

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

Exactly how important is your marketing funnel? Ask R.T. Custer, who's built a funnel that allows his company, the Vortic Watch Company, to routinely sell out of watches that are priced between $2,500 and $10,000. In this conversation, R.T. tells us all about how he and his business partner came up with the idea to repurpose old pocket watches into all-American-made wristwatches, and how his 200-day email funnel is the key to their success. Part of the secret sauce: getting influencers to drive traffic…not to buy the watches, which are usually only available one per day…but to sign up for their mailing list to get notified when a new one drops.

Top Takeaways:

• People say email marketing is dying, but that could not be further from the truth. R.T. knows their nurture sequence needs to be 200 days because it takes 4-8 months to build enough trust to sell a $4,000 watch.
• As a creator, the affiliate marketing route can be a great way to get paid as an influencer, as long as your find the right brand.
• Knowing your worth is super important. It allows Vortic Watches to be sold at the price their sold...it will also allow you to get paid what you deserve.

Show Notes:

• R.T. Custer
• Campaign Monitor
• Products Worth Talking About on YouTube
• Lewis Howes: The School of Greatness
• Start With Why
• Building a StoryBrand
• Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Riverside.fm | Nexcess | Ahrefs | TextExpander

————
Streamlined Solopreneur helps solopreneurs stop doing it all themselves, with simple systems that give them their time back.

Each week, Joe Casabona shares one practical idea — a system, tool, or strategy to help you get your time back without having to make another decision, hire employees, or sell your soul to AI.

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 (so YOU don't need to make another decision). https://streamlined.fm/quiz 

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