The Jim Galiano Show: Help for Freelancers & Solopreneurs

I’ve always been a big fan of building your personal brand and building it on a platform that you own and control (like WordPress). That said, building your brand and an audience takes time. In the meantime, you still have bills that need to be paid.

The solution? Consider borrowing another person’s audience. No, I’m not talking about partnerships or affiliate deals. Those things are fine, but that’s not what I’m talking about.

I’m talking about the various eCommerce platforms where tens of thousands of buying transactions occur every day. Platforms like Esty, Udemy, Big Cartel, ArtFire, and many others.

In today’s episode, we’ll talk about expanding your brand (along with your income) by creating products specifically for platforms where, unlike social platforms, the buying mindset is the norm.

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Is there such a thing as a stress-free, pressure-free business model or career path in 2023? Probably not. For many people, stressful situations, clients, and business pursuits are commonplace. In some cases, the stress and pressure can become overwhelming.

That said, if you’re going to start, run, and build a business, it is inevitable that you will have to find a way to deal with certain levels of stress and pressure.

Not all stress is bad. The pressure to perform can lead to some of your greater accomplishments. Working under pressure can bring out the best in you. It can allow you to grow and come to the place where (more often than not) you’re managing stress instead of it managing you.

In today’s episode, I’d like to share some thoughts about stress and pressure in the digital world. Learning how to manage and overcome a stressful situation may be one of the most important skills you’ll ever develop. 

If you’re stressed out and need a break, I think you’ll get a from today’s episode!

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Last week I shared the principles I’m using this year to build out new online projects (or side hustles) quickly and efficiently. Can the same principles be applied to an existing business? Absolutely.

Maybe you’re thinking about adding a new product or service to an existing business. One of the easiest, most effective ways to get started is by creating a simple – single-page website along with a short video that can connect you to new clients or customers like few other things can.

The entire project can be launched in a few weeks. If there’s interest, you can add all the bells and whistles you’d like as you move forward. 

In today’s episode, we’ll be talking about the steps and the tools you can use to make happen.

Show Notes

Tools from today's episode.

Beaver Builder
Paul Lacey - http://paullacey.digital/ 

GeneratePress / GenerateBlocks Pro
Mike Oliver – https://mikeoliver.me | https://wbcollective.dev/ 

Kadence Theme/Blocks
Jake Phoel - https://startbloggingblocks.com/ 

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Hey Everyone, welcome to 2023! Whether you treat the month of January like you’re on a mission and you hit the ground running, or you’re still in vacation mode and you sort of glide into the New Year over the next few weeks – I guess it’s up to you.

This year, I’m changing some things up a little bit. 

I’ll be taking on a few different projects. I guess you could call them, side hustles. 

At the same time, I continue to stay close to the simple, less-moving parts approach to online business. With this approach, I believe it’s possible to take a new idea from concept to completion within 30 days. Sound interesting? If so, I think you’ll enjoy today’s episode!

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Today is the last episode of 2022. It’s the perfect time to talk about creating a simple plan and strategy for business growth and success in the upcoming year.

The only strategies that work consistently for most people are the simple ones. I’m including myself in the “most people” group. Today, I would like to share with you a simple way to create your own strategy for the New Year.

Instead of waking up on January 15th and wondering what you can do “today” to grow your business, you’ll already have a plan in place. You’ll know exactly what should and shouldn’t be doing.

You’ll be doing the work that builds on the work you’ve done the first few weeks of the year. During February, you’ll be adding to the work you completed during January (and so on and so on).

If you’re ready to turn the corner, I’m going to help get started in today’s episode.

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In today’s episode, I’d like to share some of my own experiences with choosing a niche or “niching down.” I have a bit of a different take on this topic from those you’ve probably heard in the past.

In the early days of the online world (the late 1990s), I started a website development and hosting business. From there, I added online marketing with an emphasis on SEO and Email marketing. Business growth was gradual.

I used what I now call “general messaging” at the time. In other words, I didn’t place a strong emphasis on drilling down my marketing message to hook potential prospects. In hindsight, I can see that I had a natural advantage being among the first generation in the market.

Eventually, my growth plateaued. From there, I carefully weighed my options. The solution I ultimately went with was to – niche down.

What happened next? You’ll get the full story and more in today’s episode!

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We’re at that time of year again when people begin to think about their “goals,” or the things they’d like to accomplish in the New Year. Of course, there’s no shortage of pessimism when it comes to goal setting. Most of the time, change doesn’t come easy, does it? Where creatures of habit, even when those habits are responsible for poor results.

On the other hand, nothing beats the feeling of getting a “win” – even if it’s just a small one. Small wins go a long way towards improving our attitudes, creating belief, and building the kind of momentum that finally starts to change things. 

By focusing on “micro-goals,” it may be possible for you to string together a series of wins and experience the kind of growth that continues to elude so many people in the entrepreneurial space.

That and more in today’s episode.

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It’s difficult for smaller businesses to compete with their larger counterparts without having an intelligent, time-tested strategy in place. The “niching down” concept came about as a response to this dilemma. You specialize and serve a group within a group.

In today’s episode, I want to look at this through the lens of search engine marketing and SEO-based strategy.

In plain English, I’m talking about putting yourself in a position where you’re not competing for the same words and phrases most of the biggest companies in the world are competing for.

In today’s episode, I want to share with you a very “doable” alternative involving fewer competitors.

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First, let me apologize in advance for my voice quality today. I’ve had a bit of hoarseness or laryngitis over the past few days. I didn’t want to delay recording today’s episode, though! Today, I want to share with you – 3 things an online business needs to succeed (especially as we move into the New Year).

In the past, it was much easier to get away with having one or two of these things in place. Today, without all three, you’re looking at an inconsistent, uphill battle.

If you’re looking to put the big picture into an easier-to-navigate perspective, I think you’ll really enjoy today’s episode!

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Each plateau that you reach in business (as well as life) requires time, energy, and effort. With time, things like economic downturns become easier to withstand. At least, that’s hopefully the case. As we prepare to leave 2022 in the past, I have some thoughts that I’d like to share with you about business strategy in 2023.

There’s a certain amount of fluidity that’s required to adjust to an ever-changing business landscape. Individuals who thrive tend to think outside the box and adapt much faster than those who prolong the process. And let me add that this is usually much easier for the freelancer or solopreneur than it is for their larger, corporate-like counterparts. 

As with anything else in business, our products and services must be aligned with the needs and wants of this time. Things of the past (good, bad, or otherwise) must be left in the past.

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