Creating Better Online Courses (That You can Charge More for) with Wes Kao

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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?

Who is the Pro iPhone for, and Other Creator Tools

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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.

Brought to you by Riverside.fm, ahrefs, and Nexcess

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How Influencers Help Sell $5,000 Watches with R.T. Custer

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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.

Thanks to this week’s sponsors, Riverside, ahrefs, TextExpander, and Nexcess?

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Building a Successful Content Empire in a Crowded Field with Christine Pittman

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Finding time as a busy creator or small business owner can be tough. But what about being a single mom, running a content business, in a competitive space, and making money doing? That’s exactly what Christine Pittman does, running her hugely successfully cooking blogs and podcasts. Tune in to get tips about starting, staying consistent, making money, and the important role analytics plays in all of it. Plus, in Build Something More, we talk about what it’s like cooking for our kids as business-running parents.

Thanks to this week’s sponsors, Riverside, ahrefs, and Nexcess?

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Say it Again: Your Business NEEDS to be on TikTok with Alex Rossman

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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.

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Leveraging YouTube to Build Trust and get Leads with Jessica Freeman

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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.

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How to Pitch the Media to Grow Your Audience with Brittney Lynn

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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!

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Why You Need to Publish Content to Have an Expertise with Rochelle Moulton

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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!

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Faceoff: Should Speakers be Paid for Virtual Events with Nathan Wrigley

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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.

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How I Ended Up Having My Best Black Friday Sale Ever

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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.

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