In this week’s podcast, I get to share one of my most beloved subjects, which is video! Video marketing for business is revolutionizing how we consume and share content. As small business entrepreneur began to dive into video marketing for your business, it’s important to know exactly how to get started with video and we have an in-depth session discussing what you need to know and DO to get started!

Startup Quick Tip of the Week

The Purple Panda Lapel Microphone

This week’s quick tip of the week is my most beloved microphone, the Purple Panda Lapel Microphone. It’s an absolute STEAL at $20 with all the accessories it includes, along with a very high-quality microphone. Just the one accessory that is a TRS to TRRS connector cable can cost $20 by itself! When I discovered this microphone I was in Heaven and still am! If you need a, literally, do everything microphone – nothing ranks higher in my book!

 You can pick one up at Amazon HERE for less than $20!

Why is Video Marketing so HOT right now?

There are some trends that quickly go in and out of style, but that’s not what Video Marketing is right now. It’s not a style, it’s not a fad – it’s a literal industry shift and you’re sitting right in the middle of it!

In an article by Forbes, they state:

* 73% of brands that post video on Instagram see 1.2 times the interaction rate of the average brand!

They also predict that “by 2020, nearly 80% of total global internet traffic will be driven by video.” That’s insane! Plus, it’s only bound to grow more as the years progress forward and technology continues to advance at an alarming rate.

They go on to further share how Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Facebook, shares how Facebook has moved from being mobile first to video first. Consider this, Facebook is a global billion dollar corporation and they’re shifting their focus to video. That’s huge! As small business entrepreneurs, it’s important to recognize important shifts in the market and this is one MAJOR shift!

Is It Too Late to Get Involved in Video?

If you looked at the article by Forbes, we’re just “nearly” getting there with video spreading globally. Needless to say, it’s NOT there yet for your market and your business. YOU aren’t present yet! There’s no way to know how long your audience will be there, but one thing’s for sure, you won’t be able to meet them if you don’t start.

In this episode, I share loads of details about what gear you’ll need to start making videos with one of the best cameras you already own – your smartphone. The smartphone is such a great advancement in video creation and with a few budget-friendly accessories you’re ready to create high-quality 1080p HD Video that used to cost thousands of dollars to regular filmakers just a few short years ago.

What are some great budget-friendly gear you’ll need to get started?.

* A microphone – You can get away with a little fuzzy video, but never fuzzy audio.

* A tripod – tabletop or a full-size tripod for more diversity

* Lights – If you’re really crunching dollars you can get away with sitting across from a window and using natural daylight. Otherwise,

Whether or not you should bring up topics like race, religion or politics if often a challenge every new entrepreneur must face. Do you separate your personal views from that of your business or do you stand on what you believe and take the cuts in business or negative media attention that may follow. Many entrepreneurs have found themselves in the midst of this hard topic and today we discuss it!

Startup Quick Tip of the Week

Book Sale Finder

This week’s quick tip of the week is the website link I use when I’m on the hunt for a little-known book fair or book sale near me! This little gem of a site can help you find a book sale no matter where you are! Well, almost no matter where you are lol. From local book shops having a Spring Cleaning or a Local Church hosting a book fair, you can find it here.

What are the risks of being honest?

When we decide to open up about how we feel on political, racial, or economic situations that are part of the experience we call life, we are bound to feel one way or the other. There is no way around it!

How we choose to handle these situations make the biggest difference and what we choose to say or not say can determine who we draw to our business and who we can potentially offend.

Morals, Values & Your Business

How important are your values to you? Will how you feel and what you believe impact your business in a positive or negative way? We have to figure out how much of ourselves do we expose in our personal lives, as well as every other area.

There is no way to hide who you are, what you believe and what you think. Your words and heart will always reveal your truth. This is a great this because most entrepreneurs shy away from difficult questions. We see politicians walk aways from the microphone all the time after the interviewer asks a difficult question.

When we put our career as an entrepreneur on the line if we decide to stay at the mic and answer the hard questions we have to be prepared for both sides of the tomato hitting you when the opinions start to fly.

One of the common says you’ll always hear me state is that You Are Your Business, Your Business is You! You do not disappear just because you’re asked to speak or decide on a difficult question or topic. I believe we sometimes shy away from the difficult conversations that have to proceed the transition that should take place from those with varying opinions on different issues.

My friend lives by the saying, Transparency Proceeds Healing. A person in need cannot be healed when you hold back half the story or half of the answer – give them all of what they need at the time they need it. I agree with her.

In coaching new entrepreneurs, I submit to you that you can’t be afraid to be confronted with what we believe and we all have to decide how much of ourselves will come into the business because one day soon your business name may come up on the Fortune 500 listings and you’ll find yourself at the mic being asked questions.

How will you respond?

No matter what area of business you’re in, building an email list is critical to managing, building, and communicating with your current and potential customers. In this week episode, I share how you can make your business future proof to economic downturns, identify your next best product and discover the wants and needs of your customers.

Startup Quick Tip of the Week

ConvertKit

This week’s quick tip of the week is the email management system I use and recommend which is the one and only ConvertKit. Free email management systems seem as if they will do the job, until you start getting knee deep in your business only to realize you’ve climbed a latter on the wrong wall. When it comes to having a great email management system you want it to be able to give you the data you need to best serve your email community and not just names on “a list”. ConvertKit is offering a 14-Day Free Trial only good until September 5th, 2017. Click here to get your free trial!

When you check out ConvertKit by clicking on the affiliate link above, you’ll receive a free 14 Day Free Trial.  (Available Until Sept 5th, 2017)

Why You Need to Build an Email List – Now!

No matter how the wind blows, you want to be in a position to know what your customers want and how they want it. Unless you know, you’ll feel lost, whether you have an email list or not! When you don’t have an email list and figure, “Facebook isn’t going anywhere, I can just use it as my website and contact my audience directly.” – Tell that to those that built their business on Vine or MySpace. Big giants can fall. Building an email community gives you the ability to build a community on land that you control.

#1 Connect with Your Community Directly (the way you want to)

You want to find a service that will allow you to fully operate and the systems you need to connect with your community. Some email providers attempt to nickel and dime you for each new service that becomes available. You want something that will allow you to:

* add links & pictures in your emails

* categorize your community by interests

* segment your lists by characteristics – not by the number of emails

* send emails only to certain individuals based on what their interested in

Being able to craft your emails as individuals with specific interests versus an email address that signed up for multiple lists and being counted as 3 different people.

#2 Begin Increase Your Reach & Engagement

When you think of the statistics and the amount of reach and engagement that Facebook provides through having a business page, it’s insane! The day may very well come when that ability comes with a hefty price tag. You don’t want to rely on any social media service alone to know what your specific girl or guy likes or wants.

When you select an email provider, they need to have that same ability. To increase the reach and engagement in your email community you need to be able to read and understand each member in the community. What are they clicking on? What are they not clicking on?

#3 Create Passive Residual Income within Your Community

The reason why I have a Tools & Resources page is because I know exactly what sort of tools my Girl (my ideal client) needs when she has found her way to my website looking for help to start a business. What makes being able to identify and address those specific needs possible is because I know and communicate with my community directly and frequently.

A “like” online or for a post doesn’t tell you what they specifically liked about the post. What made them engage,

One of the common issues new startups face is not knowing how to get those first set checks (or debit transactions) completed and to get paid in business. There is more to why someone chooses to buy or not to buy from you when you first announce your business is open.

Startup Quick Tip of the Week

PrettyLink 

This week’s quick tip of the week is the WordPress plugin (for WordPress users) which can help you shrink, cloak, track, organize, share and test all of your links on your own domain and server. No need for you to go to Bitly and get a generic short link but one that has your own website in it. 

Be sure to check Pretty Link and put it to the test!

Why does it seem difficult to simply get paid?

There’s something between you and the check that’s being handed to you that makes this supposedly ‘getting paid’ act a challenge. There are many factors in the process of buying or paying for service.

You need to consider “WHY” they need the product

You need to delve deeper into their reasons of needing your product, your service or your business opportunity. Unless you are able to establish this, you will not be able to define exactly how you can present your product to them.

You Have to identify the Answer for their “WHY”

Once you are able to know the reasons why these people interested in your business, you will be able to identify the answer their your why. Most of the time, the ‘why’s’ is a combination of reasons so you need to come up identifying a combination of answers as well. 

This discovery process of questions and answers must get you in touch all the time for surveys and feedback by adding them to your email list. I’ll be doing an episode on building an email list – stay tuned for that. 

Things get sold for their purpose and so should you for the uniqueness of your services

Refrigerators get sold all the time because they make life convenient. That is their purpose. Remember that you need to be fairly paid for answering the why’s of those who sought for your products or services.

When you’re diving into the world of entrepreneurship, most believe if you just make enough money it’ll solve all you problems. In this episode, I share why thinking like that will keep you broke and what your mindset should really be to truly create change in your life.

Startup Quick Tip of the Week

Google Keep

This week’s quick tip of the week is the app Google Keep that (for Android users) is an amazing app that helps you literally keep up with your thoughts. Whether you want to record them audibly, in a checklist form, free-form, or even physically write them with a stylus pen – Keep can hold it all!

Be sure to check Keep and put it to the test!

What is the Proper Mindset of an Entrepreneur?

In discovering who you are as an entrepreneur, you have to know that it’s more than “more money” and having a large influence that will build your business to the levels you desire.

The first thing you must ask yourself is What Are You?

Until you can define who you are, you will constantly battle your belief systems and it will consistently hold you back from the actions you want to take in your business – and in your life! It will make things very difficult when it comes to striving to achieve the next best version of yourself in business, in your relationships and how you define yourself when no one is around.

This also will impact your beliefs about money and how you invest, spend or lose it. All 3 are different. (Check out Episode #58 for Changing How You Think About Money)

You Have to Push Yourself

You have to continually push yourself physically, emotionally, and mentally to grow. Will you continue to “try” or will you “execute” despite your current fears and emotions. (By the way, I recently picked up a new book from a local book fair called, Living Beyond Your Feelings by Joyce Meyers – Consider picking up this gem if you have issues controlling your emotions.)

Institute Change in Small Doses & Larger Doses as You Begin to Grow

My mantra is Daily Progressive Steps. What is 1 small change you can make today that will greatly increase you faith, strength, or work habits? Really challenge yourself! Don’t take the easy road. Change doesn’t come from easy.

Books Mentioned in Today’s Show

The Miracle Morning

You Can if You Think You Can

What to Say When You Talk to Yourself

This week’s episode is all about changing how you feel and think about money. Have you ever considered that you’re in your financial situation because of your feeling and thoughts about money? Today we cover that and then some!

Why Change?

-It’ll Keep you broke, sick and unhappy

-You can’t grow if you continue to keep your mental and financial thermostat set to “low income”

What Can You Do to Change

-Change requires new information (books-events-trainings’-networking)

-Raise Your Prices (Know your services value) – Cheap can often imply cheap quality

-Think of why YOU think this way about money

Book Recommendation: Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T Harv Eker http://amzn.to/2wlw8DB

How important is it really to grow your audience online? Is it really necessary in your small business? This week we discuss the importance of growing your audience online and 3 major keys to grow your audience online.

What’s Mentioned in Today’s Show:

Tip #1 Speak Directly to YOUR Target Audience

Tip #2 Meet Them Where They Are

Tip #3 Develop An Online Marketing Strategy

* Don’t Boost Posts on Facebook

* Engage with your Facebook Audience Directly

* Develop a Content Strategy Schedule

* Share Content that Will Answer/Solve a Problem Your Audience Has

 

 

This week we get a chance to chat about how to attract the right customers for your business and some common mistakes when attracting the wrong customers and clients.

 

In this episode, I discuss part 2 some of the most important investments a new startup can’t afford to make but most unfortunately do. When it comes to creating a new business is more than just buying a new phone or a new laptop. This week learn what these small investments are that can save you thousands!

Points Covered In This Episode:

#1 Invest In You

Investing in content in your field (Check YouTube, Amazon Best Sellers List for Resources & Information)

Investing in your personal growth (Book Recommendation: Master Key to Riches by Napoleon Hill)

Investing in your financial growth (Book Recommendation: Start Late, Finish Rich by David Bach)

#2 Invest in Your Business

Avoiding investing in the “fun stuff” that actually won’t make a difference in your business, but makes you feel like you’re actually doing something. This is what we call “busy work”. Work that keeps you busy, but not productive.

It’s actually the “Boring tasks” that allow us to create income and receive payments for services rendered in our business.

Organizational setups like a small physical filing system are important to have when first starting out.

What programs or software are needed, like TaxBot, that you need to invest in and track your finances?

Books Mentioned

Start Late, Finish Rich by David Bach

Money: Master the Game by Tony Robbins

Master Key to Riches by Napoleon Hill

In this episode, I discuss some of the most important investments a new startup can’t afford to make but most unfortunately do. When it comes to creating a new business is more than just buying a new phone or a new laptop. This week learn what these small investments are that can save you thousands!

Points Covered In This Episode: 

#1 Invest In You

* Investing in content in your field (Check YouTube, Amazon Best Sellers List for Resources & Information)

* Investing in your personal growth (Book Recommendation: Master Key to Riches by Napoleon Hill)

* Investing in your financial growth (Book Recommendation: Start Late, Finish Rich by David Bach)

#2 Invest in Your Business

* Avoiding investing in the “fun stuff” that actually won’t make a difference in your business, but makes you feel like you’re actually doing something. This is what we call “busy work”. Work that keeps you busy, but not productive.

* It’s actually the “Boring tasks” that allow us to create income and receive payments for services rendered in our business.

* Organizational setups like a small physical filing system are important to have when first starting out.

* What programs or software are needed, like TaxBot, that you need to invest in and track your finances?

 

Books Mentioned

Start Late, Finish Rich by David Bach

Money: Master the Game by Tony Robbins

Master Key to Riches by Napoleon Hill