#773 How effective is the marketing copy around your products? For many entrepreneurs, this is one of the aspects of online business they struggle with the most. And the truth is, there are no shortcuts to great writing. So, how do we generate compelling stories and sales pages? There's no one better to answer this question for us than the godfather of modern copywriting himself, Ray Edwards. Ray is the author of How to Write Copy That Sells and Read This or Die. His expertise is priceless, and today, Ray delivers an absolute masterclass on marketing communication in the age of AI. You'll hear us explore his PASTOR framework to guide you through every step, from positioning your products to making sales and getting incredible testimonials. Listen in because Ray and I also share the most powerful ways to leverage tools like ChatGPT to take your marketing game to the next level fast! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session773.

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#772 Regular listeners know I love bringing you along for the journey as I start new projects. Listen in to get a first glimpse at the software venture I hope will provide a game-changing solution for a problem no one is tackling. I desperately need this tool in my workflow, and know a lot of other creators will benefit from it as well. So, what am I talking about? I won't share all the details in this episode, but you'll get a clear look at what I'm building. This is a fascinating process because, like many of you, I don't know how to write code. That said, this is not my first time dabbling in software. I'm taking everything I've learned creating Fusebox.fm, sharing it with you, and applying it to this project. I'm also building this to sell, so I get into the economics behind this venture as well today. Tune in, and enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session772.

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#771 What comes to mind when you think about recording video? Many people let their aversion to being on camera hurt the growth of their brands. Still, we all know we need to get comfortable with this to make the most of today's social media landscape! But where do you start as a complete beginner? How do you create consistently, and how often do you need to upload to YouTube to build an audience? For your online courses, what is the best way to plan and leverage videos? We cover all this and more in today's episode with my friend, collaborator, and frequent guest, Caleb Wojcik. As we're expanding the Expert in Residence program inside SPI Pro, we're enlisting Caleb as our go-to resource for all things video. Don't miss out because we discuss everything from a quantity-over-quality mindset for beginners to batch recording and easy editing! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session771.

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#770 Making your first hire is a massive step in your entrepreneurial journey! If you're onboarding your first employee or contractor or need a refresher on being an effective team leader, listen in because this episode is for you! Of course, I've often had Jess Lindgren, my executive assistant of over ten years, on the show. Go to episode 753 to uncover the lessons we've learned working together for so long! But what do you need to do on day one with your first hire? And what are the specific things you definitely need to check off in the first week of working with someone new? Today, I cover everything from onboarding and company culture to protecting yourself against scammers and employees going AWOL. And shout out to our SPI Pro member, Derek Miller of Genius Lab Gear, for inspiring me to cover this topic! Tune in, and enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session770.

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#769 Very few people work the same job their whole lives anymore. Even so, many of us still perceive having to change careers as having failed. But what if a new role is actually an opportunity? This is the topic of today's conversation with my returning guest, Barrett Brooks. In the decade since our last chat, he has had to reinvent himself several times to uncover the best use of his knowledge and talents. Listen in on this inspiring session because we highlight the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and provide a fresh perspective on career experimentation! I can't wait to share this with you because Barrett's wisdom on becoming a better person, leader, and employee is incredibly valuable—so much so that we've hired him as a consultant at SPI to help us learn about each other and work better as a team! Enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session769.

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#768 We need to talk about pricing. Specifically, we need to discuss how discounts are hurting your business! Don't get me wrong—special offers can work wonders for your sales. So why would we want to remove this tool from our marketing arsenal? Listen in on this session for a behind-the-scenes look at what we're doing at SPI and the cohort-based model that's replaced discounts for us! This has been an incredible business move and a massive boost to our student and community member success rates. Of course, offering products at a lower price point still makes sense in some very specific scenarios. Tune in to also get my thoughts on when to use discounts in your product lifecycle. Don't miss out on this one. Enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session768.

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#767 The strategies we used to rely on for growth on YouTube aren't working anymore. So, what are up-and-coming creators doing to build an audience? Which tactics get you more views and subscribers right now? I've had a lot of big names in the YouTube space on the show, everyone from Ali Abdaal to MKBHD. But today, I wanted to get a fresh perspective from someone who is just starting to make waves. There's a lot of buzz around my guest, Aprilynne Alter, due to her ability to uncover the secrets behind modern viral videos. In this episode, we really get in the weeds of the video creation process. We discuss everything from the idea and research phase to which metrics you should keep an eye on for maximum growth. Aprilynne puts hundreds of hours into her videos, and her insights on titles, thumbnails, quality versus quantity, and time management will surprise some of you! Show notes and more at https://SmartPassiveIncome.com/session767.

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#766 Podcasting is a powerful way to generate revenue, but what are your monetization options if you're not reaching a massive audience yet? The thing is, big sponsors expect a minimum of ten thousand downloads per episode. So, how can you leverage a small, loyal following instead? Listen in because we're back with another incredible Teaching Friday session. Lauren Popish, our guest host, is the founder of The Wave Podcasting, an educational platform and production agency helping women-led shows grow. Through her work, Lauren has uncovered the best strategies for podcasters at every level. If you're in a small niche or just starting out, tune in and take advantage of her expertise! This episode is a deep dive into affiliate marketing, listener donations, subscriptions, premium content, and selling your products and services through podcasting. For more from Lauren, visit TheWavePodcasting.com/pat to download her free Monetization Blueprint! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session766.

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#765 How close are you to burnout right now? If you buy into modern hustle culture, overworking yourself at the expense of your health is inevitable. But is this the best way to produce great work? In this episode, Cal Newport joins me to share an insightful look at the productivity habits of knowledge workers throughout history. This is a fascinating chat about how thinkers and creators managed their time before we adapted an assembly line model to innovation. Listen in and check out Cal's new book, Slow Productivity, for more on this topic! So, what are the three principles of accomplishing more without burnout? Mastering this lost art is a matter of doing fewer things, working at a natural pace, and focusing on quality. Easier said than done. This is why Cal and I dive into each of these steps and uncover the lessons from the past we can apply to our modern work patterns! Show notes and more at https://SmartPassiveIncome.com/session765.

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#764 Relying on motivation and willpower alone is not a sustainable way to grow your business. Instead, try building small routines that move you toward your goals every day. But what is the anatomy of a positive habit? How do you apply behavioral science findings to everyday tasks for greater success? Listen in because this Teaching Friday episode is the first of its kind! Our returning guest host is Julie DeLucca-Collins of Go Confidently Coaching. Today, she is interviewing Linda Fogg-Phillips, CEO and co-founder of the Tiny Habits Academy, for a chat that unlocks the steps of leveraging positive emotions to get more done. Julie and Linda share a look at the ABC method for behavior change and the Maui habit that can shift your mindset every day! This discussion is based on concepts introduced by Dr. BJ Fogg in the New York Times bestseller Tiny Habits. Tune in and enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session764.

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