Thu, 29 December 2016
Of the hundreds of online tools and resources out there— and there are hundreds—it’s tough to know where to spend money and where to save. My team and I have used many and have found the ‘tried and true’ tools that will assist you for the long run and give you the resources you need to navigate your online business through the three stages of launching. Today it’s all about growing a profitable business with the right resources, while also keeping it lean. To get you started, click here for this value-packed tools guide (it’s FREE!), which details the specific tools and resources I mention (and more) and how you can leverage them right away. Get my detailed list here! This detailed, tested, proven list of online resources will keep you organized, increase your profits and make you look like the pro that you are. Also, in this episode, I break down three crucial stages to building a strong online business and specifically share with you:
What stage are you in? Click here to find out!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_141.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Thu, 15 December 2016
Today we’re talking about doing LIVE with purpose—specifically Facebook Live, Periscope, Snapchat and Instagram Stories. In fact, my guest, Nicole Walters, a sought-after online influencer, left her corporate job (she even gave her resignation live on Periscope!) to help entrepreneurs learn how their small wins can lead to big results. She is here diving into her 5-step process for creating a multi-day video series that will help you rapidly grow your email list. Regardless of your platform, this step-by-step process for creating your own video series will work for you. Get the step-by-step details here. Despite the amazing results you can get from video, some entrepreneurs (new and experienced alike) let their fears and anxieties psyche them out of using it. If you’re ready to focus on building your list, this is where you want to be focusing. These 5 steps will break down how to create your list building video series.
After listening, you will understand how to do social video the right way while building up your email list. In addition to the 5 steps, this episode gives you best practices for using live video. I’m talking crucial dos and don’ts that are truly valuable for newbies and experts alike. In fact there’s one mistake that so many of us make. After hearing what it is and how to avoid it, you won’t make the same mistake! This episode might be the most fun I’ve had all year! Send your fears and nerves packing and create videos with confidence and conviction now! Get started here!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_140.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Thu, 8 December 2016
So here we are: The Best of 2016 List. I have to admit, compiling this special list for you was the highlight of my week! Not only because I got to look back and remember all of the cool episodes we tackled together, but also because I had the chance to think about the impact the lessons hopefully had on your business too. My team and I chose this Top 10 List based on a few factors, including the download stats, the feedback and stories from our listeners and my own personal favorites. So although this list is not solely based on analytics, each episode that made the list was chosen with the intention to offer powerful insights and strategies to your marketing plan as you move into the new year. So if you missed one of these episodes, make sure to listen to it before we ring in the new year! Also make sure to download the freebie for this episode on my top business lessons for the year—I compiled these for you to make sure you can learn from my mistakes AND my wins. Get all of those a-has at amyporterfield.com/139download. One last note: Of course NONE of this would be possible without you and your support. So I want to THANK YOU for a fantastic year! So (drumroll please…..) here they are: My 10 Most Powerful Podcasts for 2016 #10: “Media, Meditation and a Little Motivation” with Gabby Bernstein (Episode 129)The gist: Gabby Bernstein, best-selling author and next-generation thought leader, shows you how you can burst through the resistance and actually create those new opportunities for your business. Her techniques of choice have included meditation and manifestation – two things I’ve never personally explored in my own business until now. Why it made the list: I know the question some of you may be asking: Am I still meditating? The answer is YES! I have made it a 10-minute morning habit to meditate. Gabby’s urging to do so was definitely a jumping off point for me. And I feel that it has given me so much more clarity of the projects that I want to work on and where I want to spend my time. And another really cool factor: It’s allowed me to worry less. I’m a worrier by nature and that 10 minutes in the morning has lessened me from unnecessary worrying and replaced it with more clarity . . . which has lead to more confidence in my daily decisions. #9: “Preparing for Future Traffic Declines: What Content Creators Need to Know” with Mike Stelzner (Episode 134)The gist: I give you the latest trends in social media marketing with the man who knows best: my early mentor, friend, and founder of Social Media Examiner, Michael Stelzner. Why it made the list: I have to admit that I was a bit scared to share this episode because it has an undertone of doom and gloom when it comes to social media and the online landscape. However, the insights and the suggested strategies that Mike shares in this episode are so incredibly valuable that this was a discussion that needed to be had. I also felt that there’s nobody better than Mike (as founder of Social Media Examiner) to share some of the findings. And I think that you will find it very actionable for your business! |
Thu, 1 December 2016
If I ever did a list of Amy’s Favorite Things (in honor of the one and only Oprah), today’s topic would be number one. We are talking about PLANNING. Specifically, planning for the new year. The best part is that thanks to my guest today, you can be a pro at calendaring no matter who you are. Anne Samoilov is a launch expert and when I say she knows how to plan...I mean it! Get ready to hear her amazing, no-fail-formula for planning an entire new year of promotions, partnerships, and personal business goals. I’m giving you a solid plan for completing your 2017 promotional calendar from start to finish, and here’s what’s great: it won’t take much time at all. Even better, you don’t need to take any notes, because I have everything detailed in this incredible freebie! It is a quick guide to everything I share with you in this episode, including a list of questions you must ask yourself before you add anything to your calendar for the year ahead. Start planning your 2017 promotional calendar like a boss here! In order to plan you will need to reflect on the prior year and drill down on what worked and didn’t work for you. Then, adjust for the year ahead. Anne and I give you the questions you will want to ask yourself before you calendar anything. This mini-training session will give you a solid approach that you can use for years to come! And, another great thing about today’s episode is the way Anne approaches time off. While it isn’t exactly what you think it might be, you absolutely must include it on your calendar. There are five categories total that you will want to “calendar” first and foremost — time off being the first one. So stop whatever it is you are working on for your year ahead and listen to these steps first. If your calendar for next year is swirling in your head or only partially laid out in a Google doc, this episode is for you. This approach makes planning your 2017 promotional calendar easy — even when you aren’t sure of all of your specifics yet. Accept this episode and freebie as my gift to you this holiday season ;-) EPISODE FREEBIE Get Your Promotional Calendar Quick Guide
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_138.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Thu, 17 November 2016
When it comes to your next course promotion, breaking down your content is as simple as 1-2-3:
Today I’m breaking down the 3 stages of launching content. These 3 stages will be your Bible, regardless of your business or your future programs. You can apply these stages to your specific online program or course and use them for all of your future launches as well. (I passionately use this method for all of my launches!) This is the content that will not only keep your potential clients engaged, but will attract the right people before, during and after your launch. And, not only am I walking you through the stages, but I’m SHOWING you precisely how you can apply them in my freebie: 3-stage content marketing launch plan here. I’ve created a sample 3-stage content marketing launch plan using one of my students as an example. You will easily be able to use this freebie as a model for your own online program— over and over again. Get ready to see a specific example for every stage here. Download now! You’ll learn precisely what content to market before your cart opens (and you’ll definitely want to start this 30 days before!), what to do while your cart is open, and what to communicate to your audience once your cart is closed. EPISODE FREEBIEGet The 3 Stages for Planning Your Content Marketing Plan for Your Launch
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_136.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Thu, 10 November 2016
Facebook’s super stealth ad targeting can zero-in on entrepreneurs over 30, who shop online at West Elm, don’t have children, love sushi, visited your website in the last 60 days and vacationed in Napa’s wine country last year — BUT it can’t seem to help you fix your Facebook ad missteps . . . That’s where I can step in and help with an extra special episode in which I’m sharing 5 common Facebook ad mistakes, and how you can fix them. My go-to-Facebook-ads expert Rick Mulready is here with suggestions, insight and feedback to help you bounce back from — and steer clear of — Facebook ad missteps. Side step these 5 common mistakes most of us make with Facebook ads. Click here! For example, how often and when specifically should you test your Facebook ads? Or, what is the best way to edit an ad — without messing up your metrics? Rick and I are breaking that all down for you. What’s more important: selling or getting conversions? And, how important are video views? The answers might surprise you. We systematically review each of the 5 Facebook ad missteps and provide ways to self correct. You know your target audience better than anybody, you know their pain points and challenges. You are more prepared than you might think to experiment with a few of these fixes and get better results from your Facebook ads. Now is your chance to learn what to look out for and avoid these missteps in the future. Click here to get the 5 common Facebook ad mistakes!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_135.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Thu, 3 November 2016
How are you responding to the shifts happening NOW in social media marketing? I have you covered because today I’m talking about the latest trends in social media marketing with the man who knows best: my mentor, friend, and founder of Social Media Examiner, Michael Stelzner. Click here to learn what updates to make to your social media marketing plan today. You may be noticing that organic social reach is declining. It’s scary, but don’t be afraid because while it sounds all doom and gloom, it’s not. There’s actually a lot of quality opportunities out there and the best ones are explained in this episode. Are you noticing that even the Facebook social media marketing rules are shifting? Michael tells you what you should no longer be doing on Facebook — and he also touches on you where your focus should be on Facebook. Learn what you can do to pivot your approach. The strategies that Michael gives you are ones that I am using too. You will hear MUST-DO tips for email marketing (including how to ensure your emails are delivered and opened), conversion rate optimization, how you can best use podcasts to drive traffic, as well as tracking and analytics. Listen in now. AND, Michael has an early-sign-up announcement about Social Media Marketing World 2017. I’m going to be speaking and I hope to see you there! Get registered now at the link at the bottom. Details here.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_134.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Mon, 24 October 2016
Are you having a love/hate relationship with your course creation? Creating your first online course can be a challenge. How do you decide which content to keep and which to leave out. I have been there. It’s awful, you have such passion for your topic, but for a plethora of reasons it’s not coming through when you put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard). I’ve built FIVE blockbuster courses over the last six years AND I’ve been in the very same struggle you may be feeling right now. Nearly 40,000-enrolled-students later, I’m going to walk you through how to break through the obstacles that can stall your product creation process. I am dedicating this entire special episode to demystifying the product creation process. I’m giving you the you exact steps to take when you feel stuck. (And, what the most common reasons are for getting stuck, so you know what to look for next time around.) There are three questions you should ask yourself before you create any course. These questions will help you find FOCUS. Once you have that, your creative energy will flow. I will also help you decide what content makes the most sense for your business and your audience right now. For example, do you know if you want to create an Introductory Course or a Signature Course? I’m breaking down both of these for you.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_133.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:18pm PST |
Thu, 20 October 2016
Your first webinar didn't convert. You wanted to launch your course two weeks ago, but you just can’t get your content outline together. Your Facebook ads are seeing clicks, but not getting quality leads. What do you do when setbacks show up in your business? Bury your head in the sand? Or, pick yourself up and move forward, more determined than ever? Having an online business can be challenging at times, and part of being an entrepreneur is knowing how to bounce back from the tough times. It’s about having the right perspective. That’s why I wanted to chat with Patrick Bet-David. For Patrick, a setback is an opportunity waiting to happen. And his rags to riches story is inspiring for ANY business owner. Make sure you stay tuned to the end, because in addition to Patrick’s fascinating story, I wanted to give you a little bonus: A mini-training on how you can stand out from the competition and get results. First, you’ll learn what you need to instill in every potential buyer. Second, you’ll discover the most important thing to deliver on. Lastly, you will learn what you need to develop and stick to as much as you can. It’s so, so important. The last one is incredibly powerful and can make all the difference in your new business. Also, learn the one mistake that Patrick says ALL entrepreneurs make, so you can avoid it.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_132.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Mon, 10 October 2016
You’ve got this! Ugh. I don’t even like saying the word, because I know how awful it can feel when it’s overtaking your life. And, I’m here to help. For me, overwhelm shows itself when I feel like I’ve gotten behind or everything feels disorganized, and I know things could go in a really bad direction. In this episode I share a very personal struggle that I’ve been facing in my business. Some of my overwhelm has been coming from my issue with doing VIDEO. Ugh! Click here to hear my story - you might be able to relate. I’m certain that you will find that one of the three solutions I share with you in my recent episode will come naturally for you. The other two you may have to work at more, but I promise you, if you put the work in, it will be SO WORTH IT. The first one tells you the exact process you can do to wrap your head around what is really causing overwhelm for you. The second solution tells you the steps you can take to lessen the stress in your life. And, the third and final fix helps you get clear on the fear that might be getting in your way. Like I said, you’ve totally got this! Use my Triple S to squash your overwhelm. Click here!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_131.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:51pm PST |
Thu, 29 September 2016
Let’s face it, selling during your webinar can be awkward at first — but it doesn’t have to be. Today I’m giving you my BEST strategies for eliminating the awkwardness and creating a smooth transition into the sales portion of your webinar. Before I dive into it though, I want to tell you about my FREE Master Class, “How to Create Your First Wildly Profitable Webinar.” If you sell info products or programs, digital courses, or coaching and consulting services online, then I bet you’ve considered adding webinars to your marketing strategy. But as you know, there’s a lot of moving pieces with webinars, including the tech, filling seats, putting together your content, making that transition to selling . . . not to mention getting the courage to actually hit “broadcast.” (It can be scary!) Webinars can be intimidating, but they don’t have to be. Join me as I walk you through what it takes to create a profitable webinar strategy. Let’s jump back into today’s topic. You’re the expert, the go-to source on YOUR webinar. And your webinars give you the opportunity to build amazing trust between you and your audience. Your transition from teaching into selling can become seamless with these strategies. You will never feel like you’re selling again. Also listen closely for the number one mistake I often see in webinars. And, learn how to avoid this misstep here. This episode is one of my favorites because I love webinars. AND, because building trust with your audience is so important. If you’re not careful you can break down the trust you’ve built quickly. Stick with me, and listen in, so that doesn’t happen to you. I’ll tell you the perfect ratio of content to selling. You’ll also get tips for deciding what to put in your webinar versus what to create and sell inside your course. I also dive into the mindset and mechanics of creating incredible webinars that will boost your sales.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_130.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:39pm PST |
Thu, 15 September 2016
Today, I’m on the edge of my seat wanting to give you a new strategy that will help you grow your business and make the most of your funnels, email marketing, Facebook ads and so much more. Everything you want for your business starts with an intention, right? Then, you add enthusiasm and dedication toward your idea. But, then what? Unfortunately, for many what happens next is resistance—whether it’s in the form of self-doubt, a financial obstacle, or perhaps just a seemingly unrealistic goal. By accepting these as obstacles, you are giving into the resistance and giving up on what what could be. So how do you get what you really want? Gabby Bernstein, best selling author and next-generation thought leader, is here to show you how you can burst through the resistance and actually create those new opportunities for your business. Her techniques of choice have included meditation and manifestation - two things I’ve never personally explored in my own business until now. Gabby used these techniques to achieve her number one goal—being interviewed by Oprah. (I mean, come on! Oprah?! That’s huge!) She’s sharing her techniques here. Listen in on the juicy details to learn how to make powerful achievements in your business now! As you will hear us chat about on my latest podcast episode, Gabby recently released her new book, “The Universe has Your Back.” She has a special bonus for those who buy her book. She’s giving you six-and-a-half hours of free training based on principles in her book. Buy Gabby’s book and get started on her bonus training now!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_129.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:29pm PST |
Fri, 9 September 2016
Are your Facebook ad questions piling up? Do you feel like the deeper you go with Facebook ads, the more questions you have? Well, I’m here to help! And, with me today is an audience favorite, Facebook ad expert, Rick Mulready. He joins me on my podcast frequently and has given my audience some amazing success with Facebook ads. So, listen in because we are answering questions that we have heard from MANY of you. This week we tackle big questions about organizing Ad Sets, specifics on targeting and also how to analyze your latest ad campaign (aka: what do all those numbers really mean?!). Here’s a look at what we are answering today:
Also, Rick hosted a free webinar where he discussed all about how to create an automated system that will bring in sales and leads everyday for your online business using Facebook ads. Sign up for his free webinar replay to get all of Rick’s awesome tips and tricks for Facebook ad funnels!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_127.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:19pm PST |
Thu, 25 August 2016
I’m here as a witness: It IS possible to tame your email inbox and seemingly never-ending list of tasks. In fact, thanks to today’s guests, April and Eric Perry, I’m at “Inbox Zero” right now. (Something I 100% thought was NOT possible!) They taught me something invaluable: The reason most of us fail at getting to Inbox Zero every day is because to get there, you can’t just focus on your emails. Huh?! Here’s what I mean . . . It’s not just about getting to zero, it’s about changing your approach—so that you have the right tools and procedures in place to be able to get to ZERO every day. Which means—establishing a COMMAND CENTRAL for your business, AND your life. April and Eric have the freedom to do more with their lives, including spend a lot more time with their family, because of their own idea command central. You can create one too. This episode is to help get you out of the weeds and give you the FREEDOM to work on what you do best! Imagine what you could do if you had the head space to not worry about getting through your emails, but instead working on the projects that really matter for your business. Most people live with piles everywhere—digital or physical. (I use to be a Post-It junkie!) A command central will help you churn through your “to do” list so you’re able to focus your mind on what you do best. Set up your command central and get to Inbox Zero with me now!!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_126.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 1:05pm PST |
Thu, 18 August 2016
You bring something incredibly unique to your online course—your special delivery, your ideas, your personal experiences. However, you still want to go that extra mile to WOW your students and make sure they feel like buying your course was more than just a worthy investment. Recently I heard some important (and crazy) statistics on customer satisfaction and wanted to share them with you. Once I saw these mind-blowing stats, I knew right away that I needed to share with you my special ways to attract and keep a customer for life. Here are those stats—
Today, we are turning the tables on these stats and making sure you are on the positive end of these experiences! I’m giving you five ways you can WOW your students starting the minute they enroll in your course. If you’ve ever worried that your course idea has already been done before, use these 5 Wow Factors to beat your competition every single time. I love the experience of being WOW-ed! It not only makes me a bit giddy, but it makes me feel great about my decision to buy. It also makes me want to be an enthusiastic, REPEAT customer when I feel like I’m treated extra special. Listen now to get ALL the details of the online course WOW factor. The next step is to plan—plan, plan, plan. I’m giving you these five tips so you can easily plan them into your next course launch. The results and love you will receive from your students if they feel WOW-ed will be SO WORTH IT!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_125.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:19pm PST |
Wed, 10 August 2016
Who makes up your support team? What are their unique qualities that help you run an all-in business? Today I’m talking with Christy Wright, expert business coach and speaker, who is telling us the four specific roles you must have filled—with the right people—to ensure that your business is exceeding all of your wildest expectations. We describe in detail how to be deliberate in selecting who to let into the inner circle of your business. Then, we tell you where and how to find them. You want people who will lift you up, push you to your potential, and give you the tough love you need in order to make the right choices for your business. Business Boutique is an amazing two-day event in Nashville for women interested in starting, running or growing a business. Whether you’re not sure what business to start or you need help tackling challenges, you will hear from incredible speakers who will help you take your business to the next level. If you are interested in learning more click here.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_124.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:39am PST |
Wed, 3 August 2016
My friend and Facebook ad EXPERT, Rick Mulready, is back and together we are answering the number one question we both get asked all of the time— How much should I spend on Facebook ads to ensure a successful webinar? I also have two freebies for you. They are incredible and I’m over the moon excited to share them with you. When you sign up for our freebies, you’re going to receive a special link to a Facebook ads online calculator that you can use to determine your exact Facebook ads budget for your next webinar. You will also get a cheat sheet detailing the the exact info you need to plug into the Facebook ad spend calculator. It’s all neatly packaged up for you when you sign up for the freebies! Rick and I know that Facebook ads can be confusing and often times it feels like the whole ad spend thing is a big guessing game. Well...not anymore. We can say that without a doubt Facebook ads give you the best return for your money in terms of the quality of webinar registrants. This is our best episode yet! I’m bursting at the seams for you to get this info, so jump in now!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_123.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 2:33pm PST |
Wed, 3 August 2016
In this episode, I’m bringing you a little tough love. Tough love when it comes to creating original content on a weekly basis. This means every week you need to put out a podcast, blog post or video—whatever you love to do and do well—every week, no matter what. I KNOW IT’S NOT EASY. But it’s 100% worth the effort. Bottom line: Consistent content helps you build trust with your audience and earn their respect. AND - if you have content going out on a regular basis, you won’t have to work as hard when you are ready to promote. Meaning, it’s easier to make money when you are creating weekly, free content. (Listen here to find out why.) So no more excuses. Let’s hit it. Trust me, this could be the biggest game-changer for your business. And to help you decide which platform may be right for you, I’ve got a fantastic new freebie called the “Content Platform Play-by-Play” that breaks down the pros/cons and what it will take to get started with each. Remember: If it was easy, ANYONE would do it. You are with me right now because you want something more for your business. And, building a consistent content foundation is a must to grow your business. It won’t happen overnight, but if you start to make it a ritual TODAY, I promise you that great things can happen.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_122.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:23am PST |
Fri, 29 July 2016
Today we are flipping the script on money habits. I’m so excited to have with me Rachel Cruze, author of, “Love Your Life, Not Theirs.” She is sharing her three money habits that, quite honestly, are right on the money! If you adopt these three amazing rules, your rituals around money management will empower you to see what is possible personally and help you grow your online business. Now, I like to think I’m a smart girl. I run my own business. I’m a planner. I understand my finances. However— I was blown away at how much one tip in particular changed my entire outlook and the way I managed money. And, then seeing how that affected positive change in my business—the results were fantastic. That’s why I want to share this with you so badly. You may have heard me say it already— but I believe that when growing your own business, it often feels that what’s personal is business and what’s business is personal. This could not be more true than for this very sensitive topic, money. Money is one of the most important common denominators in the management of your business and your personal life. These habits, once you adopt them, can truly help your online business grow. So, do these questions sound like you?
Rachel’s first money habit will tell you some surprising realities about what you’re seeing in your newsfeed and WHY we compare what we see to our own story. Then, she tells you what you should be thinking and how to flip the script to actually make it incredibly positive—personally and professionally. Rachel shares how to turn this bad habit into a good one. The second habit: You must have a plan for your money. Yes, I’m talking a budget. Don’t cringe! Not knowing where you’re money is going can cause stress and anxiety. These pain points affect your personal life and your business evenly. What’s personal is business and what’s business is personal. Rachel’s second habit is based on the categories that everyone needs to include in their budget. It’s these SPECIFIC categories that make this habit so achievable. These categories are relevant for not only you personally, but for your business too. Does your budget give you permission to spend your money exactly how you want? Rachel’s does. I hear you—that sounds counterintuitive. I promise you it’s not. And, even better you won’t feel guilty. I LOVE IT! This MUST-DO habit will address both your work and your home budget and help your business grow! Rachel’s third habit might be the most important one here. This is the one that will give you the permission you need as a business owner to take risks. WHY? Because this is the one thing you can do so that you are never forced to fail. If you have this, you will feel confident to go the extra mile, to go for launching your first course, to take that risk. You work hard for your money. If you adopt this habit, are wildly patient, and make it a priority, it will pay off. As a business owner, there will come a day when you will be able to reap those rewards from your hard work. Or, you will have the ability to save your business or your home because you did this one thing—and you did it consistently. Listen in to get the three habits you need for growing your online business.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_121.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:59am PST |
Thu, 28 July 2016
Are you looking to create amazing bonuses that will make your offer irresistible? Today, I’m showing you how to do just that with my new Bonus Blueprint mini-workshop. I LOVE getting bonuses when I sign up for courses. Just love it! Because bonuses are so vital and important for you to offer with your course, I’ve created this mini-workshop to give you the lowdown on developing bonuses that will get you results. Why are bonuses so important?
AND bonuses are one of my favorite pieces to plan out because there’s always something MORE I want to include for my students. It’s a fantastic way to give your students that EXTRA special piece of value. Now I’m going to tell you right off the bat, that you want 2-3 bonuses per course. I’ll workshop you through creating incredible bonuses for every audience and every course. I’m taking the guesswork out of it so you have more freedom to work on your course. Speaking of taking the guesswork out, have I got a freebie for you! It is an awesome download that gives you five steps for creating extraordinary bonuses for your product EVERY TIME. You will be able to walk yourself through the questions you need to ask to create bonuses that are fully aligned with your product and will increase the overall value of your offer. As you’re creating your next course, this mini-workshop is for you! I tackle:
I also give you the sure-fire strategies that have worked to drive sales for me over and over again. With this week’s episode, you will find that your next bonus offering opportunity will be smoother, and return the results that you have been hoping for. It will breathe new life into your campaign and help you to set up expectations for your audience, so they know what’s coming. You will also gain clarity on how to best handle a bonus associated with an affiliate launch and how to best align it with your products. This is something everyone who might work with affiliates in the future must hear.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_120.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Thu, 21 July 2016
Today I’m pulling the curtain back on a piece that can mean the difference between steady sales and your shopping cart catching dust. I’m giving you the who, what, when, where and how of testimonials. These are especially helpful for those just starting out. And, I’m also excited to give you a freebie that will make these strategies come alive for your business. It’s called, “The Anatomy of a High-Converting Testimonial.” I’m going to show you how to turn a bad testimonial into a good testimonial, and a good testimonial into an outstanding one. Your testimonials will shine with the help of this awesome tool. Now, why do you need a good testimonial? Your credibility is everything when wanting your audience to trust you. Social proof is invaluable when it comes to this. Testimonials are the best way for you to address objections or hesitations that you may be seeing. Testimonials allow for your community members to speak up for you and persuade others to buy your product or sign up for your course. If you can have a quote from a community member on an opt-in or sales page, it can be the selling point for on-the-fence potential buyers. Listen in and get started now! The most important objectives when building your audience are that you want them to know you, like you and trust you. Then you have the ability to capture outstanding testimonials that let potential new audience members know how amazing you are. As I mentioned, in this episode we are getting into the who, what, when, where and how of outstanding testimonials. Here are the first few spoilers I have in store for you in this week’s episode:
There are many people—outside of customers—that you might not have thought of who can provide you with testimonials. I tell you who those people might be for you and explain how to successfully solicit a testimonial from them. When someone sends you a testimonial, you don’t need to use the exact verbiage they send you. Most people aren’t writers and don’t know what components go into an exceptional testimonial. In this episode I tell you how to work with your students to create an outstanding testimonial that will make you shine and convince potential students to buy your course. Also, the components of a good testimonial are so, so important. I give you the framework for a perfect testimonial to ensure that every reference is a home run for your business. Next, you can always be looking to capture testimonials. However, beyond that you don’t need to wait for your first course to complete before you start capturing kudos about your work. I have some strategies for you to get started collecting testimonials now. There are some very strategic locations that your testimonials must live. I go into depth on where those are and what types of testimonials should live on those pages. And, you may be thinking, this is all great, but how do I bring it all together to get an outstanding testimonial? Well, I’m pulling back the curtain and telling you exactly how I’ve done this and how you can too. I’m excited for you to start tackling these components now and start building your testimonial database! (Don’t worry, I share how to create a good database too.)
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_119.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Thu, 14 July 2016
Social media changes RAPIDLY and today we are exploring what’s working NOW. My guest today is Dr. Axe, a certified doctor of natural medicine, doctor of chiropractic, and clinical nutritionist. However, he’s not here to discuss health. He’s here because his website attracts more than six million views per month and his Facebook page has more than one million followers. This doctor knows what’s working in social media today more than some of the best social media experts out there today -and that’s saying a lot! Dr. Axe has leveraged what’s trending and his incredibly strategic take on building the backend of his business to grow his company using social media. Everything about this is a home run. Being engaged with your audience is the key to success. Knowing what’s trending in social media, knowing what your audience loves, knowing the latest information in your field are all components to growing your business online. Dr. Axe, however, is actually a minimalist when it comes to his online presence. He doesn’t overwhelm his audience or sweat being everywhere online every day. I find this so refreshing and you will too! When you’re just starting out, it’s all about quality over quantity and I’m giving you the keys to how to grow an engaged audience while focusing on quality. You will learn how Dr. Axe has attracted more than one million Facebook followers, his philosophy on using social media platforms, strategies for niche-interest list-building, how to nurture your current email list, and what to teach in a webinar versus what to sell in your webinar. During our time together, Dr. Axe answers the following questions:
I give you all of this and more in this action-packed quick conversation with the king of online business building. I promise you this will not stretch you thin. In fact, these strategies will make you more efficient online. Thereby, freeing up more time for you to focus on your content. AMEN to that!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_118.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Thu, 7 July 2016
Do you want to know what Facebook ad retargeting is all about? By the time you finish this episode you will not only have a deeper understanding of what Facebook ad retargeting is, but you will be ready to take the first steps to create your own campaign. Rick Mulready, my good friend and an expert in Facebook advertising strategies, is back and together we are talking all things retargeting. We jump right in, answering your questions about Facebook ad retargeting and how to start leveraging this strategy to get more sales. Your questions also inspired a spirited discussion about the tech side of retargeting, the steps for setting up a campaign, and the ideal cadence for your retargeted ads based on your audience. As our conversation progresses, we go deeper into the different strategies that you can use in your own Facebook ad retargeting campaign. We start with the basics—explaining what in the world this Facebook retargeting IS and when you can (and should) use it. Then, we go into how you can leverage a retargeting campaign and the benefits (more sales) that come from using it. Next, we spend some time talking about how to determine the right audiences for retargeting and the different kinds of audience groups you can create. (The biggest asset of retargeting is that you are able to reach out to a more specific, warmer, unique audience.) I’ll also share my own retargeting experience and tell you a little bit about how I first used retargeting and how I was able to create a smaller scale campaign, build my audience groups, and then leverage those leads to successfully sell something even bigger. Facebook retargeting is an incredible tool. Take advantage of this episode so you can understand and apply these strategies to start your own Facebook ad retargeting campaign now.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_117.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Thu, 30 June 2016
Are you gearing up to launch a new course? Or want to hear the secrets to a great launch to bank for the future? Well, today is the big day I have been waiting for. I not only get to debrief my recent course launch with you (the good and the bad), but I also have five new lessons that will help you launch your next course profitably. I am brutally honest when it comes to sharing these types of learnings because I want you to be incredibly prepared for what you’re about to embark on. So here it goes. (Listen in here.) I have a no-holds-barred freebie from my recent launch for you. I’m sharing the final three emails that I sent to my audience as I was preparing to close enrollment. We generated almost $500,000 on just the final day and these emails played a part in the final-push strategy. Get these emails to use as a guideline for your own launch here. I’m a show and tell kind of girl and I want you to understand how these five lessons came about. So, be prepared to hear the nitty-gritty launch details, including my true ad budget, my email strategy, how I messed up on a special bonus opportunity (and what I did to fix it!) and why I had to quickly change-up my launch plan along the way. I also go into detail on the roles of some of my oh-so-important support staff during a launch. I talk about how many full-time employees I have when I’m not launching and then break down my total full-time and part-time team members that I have ready for launch time. Use these five strategies to avoid getting overwhelmed, prepare yourself for any launch big or small, learn how to bounce back from any misstep and most important have a successful and profitable launch.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_116.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Fri, 17 June 2016
When you’re starting out in business, I am a big advocate for any and all confidence boosters. I’m talking ways you can get your feet wet so you can say with certainty: I CAN DO THIS. Because you and I both know: You CAN do this. But sometimes you first need that little pat on the butt and boost of self-confidence. Well, today I’ve got your keys to testing out your own launch before you really launch. It’s called Affiliate Marketing. And I’ve got the perfect person to share the tricks and secrets to doing it right. Rachel Luna is an elite business coach who helps her clients gain clarity and confidence. In this action-packed episode I share:
Whew! This is a TON of value. I couldn’t wait to record this for you because I know a lot of you feel hesitation around kicking off your own launch. But, I know that affiliate marketing is one of the best ways to get the hands-on experience you need to feel good about your launch. I know this because this is the path I took—affiliate launch first, then my own launches. Check it all out here. So we will start off with those steps to mastering affiliate marketing:
Then, you will want to stay tuned for the real meat of this episode. I show you how affiliate marketing connects to your own launch—and how you can best leverage this approach to get results in your launch. Rachel also shares her new program “Profit without Products.” I love when products are born out of experience and knowing your stuff inside and out. Being an affiliate marketer changed her life. Rachel gives you the roadmap and tools for knowing what steps to take and when you should take them. She even gives you step-by-step instructions for the tech you need to reach your goals, so it won’t be overwhelming and you won’t be on your own. You can get all the details here. Rachel and I wrap up with the common mistakes some people (not you with the help of this episode!) make with affiliate marketing, including not priming the pump, drive-by posts (a pet peeve of mine!) and the ultimate baddie: poor affiliate etiquette. I also give you a sure-fire tip to being the best partner that your affiliate has ever seen. This advice will make them want to work with you over and over again. It’s all here in your must-have guide to affiliate marketing.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_115.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:37pm PST |
Mon, 6 June 2016
When it comes to creating sales pages, does it ever make you feel like you are back in school muddling through your worst subject (for me, math!)? Today we are back in class, but lucky for me, I’ve got the teacher of the year (and also my dear friend) Melanie Duncan leading the way. Today, you will learn the five elements that MUST be included in all sales pages. These will guide you through creating the right copy, attracting the right audience and most important, converting these leads into sales. Before we get too far, I want to tell you about the incredible freebie I have for you on this. I’m sharing actual screengrabs from my most successful sales pages—a show and tell kind of guide you can use to create your own sales pages. Get that cheat sheet here. EPISODE FREEBIEGet Amy's Free Personal Tips: Dissecting the Science of What Makes a Brilliant Sales PageYour sales page should showcase the value in your product and take your buyers on a journey. You want every single word and every single image to resonate with your perfect ideal customer. With the five elements Melanie and I lay out for you here, you can create a template that will guide you through the process. Here are some of the questions we are going to dive into:
Remember, you’re not going to create a new sales page in one sitting, but I promise if you take the time to create your template using this formula, you will get outstanding results and never again will feel stuck creating your sales pages. Let’s do this!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_114.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:20pm PST |
Mon, 6 June 2016
The ultimate outcome of a sales page is to sell. We all know this. But, what you’re really doing is coaching your reader to become your client. How? The process for formulating a high-converting sales page is what I’m talking about today. Your job as a coach/ teacher/ mentor is to not only have your customers’ best interest at heart, but to make your reader feel like they can shape a better version of themselves. This special sales page formula starts with four questions that you MUST ask yourself before you start writing your sales page copy. After you ask yourself the four questions, there are then four core points that every sales page must include. In this episode, I crack the code and examine the art of the creating a brilliant sales page by divulging my 4x4 formula for creating results-driven copy every time. I go right into the strategy behind your sales page and what it is about your potential customers that you should always leverage. The best way to dive deeper into your readers’ minds is with the “aha” questions. Now, I refer to these particular questions as “aha” because they are the ones that get right to where your readers’ hearts are. If you know where their hearts are, you can better empower them to take this journey with you. Remember people buy with their hearts not their minds. So, I provide you a roadmap for understanding your potential customers because a sales page is a different kind of conversation—one that is written from the perspective of the heart. The good news is you don’t need to take notes today because I’ve taken the roadmap (the four questions and the four core points) and I’ve put them into a one-page cheat sheet for you. Start learning about the 4x4 formula that will turn your sales page into the foundation of your potential customers’ lifelong success here.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_113.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:19pm PST |
Wed, 25 May 2016
Do you know the most common legal mistake most entrepreneurs make when starting their first online business? Well, I didn’t either, until now! I recently got to chat with Gena Shingle Jaffe, a ultra-successful lawyer turned entrepreneur who is on a mission to educate and empower entrepreneurs to learn about the incredibly important legal side of online business. Gena spells out in this eye opening discussion the five essential legal documents that every entrepreneur with an online business needs and where these documents should be on your website. Familiarize and empower yourself with these essential insights here. Gena’s inside secrets really create a clear path toward feeling really good about the law and your business. The five essential documents will help you:
Gena also breaks down the ever-elusive copyright and trademark definitions and what you need to take action on right away to make sure your business is protected. We also share the website address for where you can check to see if you’re infringing on anyone else’s trademark—or (better yet) if the business name is up for grabs! You may never have thought you’d feel knowledgeable on the topic of your business and the law, but believe me after learning these concepts from Gena, you will know how to avoid being caught off-guard. Remember at the end of the day you can’t control everything that happens online. However, if you do nothing else for your business, protect yourself and your business by listening to what’s in this episode. EPISODE FREEBIEGet the Free Guide: Understanding Legal Contracts (and More!) for Entrepreneurs
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_112.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:54am PST |
Mon, 23 May 2016
Are you ready to absolutely kill it with Facebook Live? Or…do you find it a little scary to get started? My guest this week is social media expert, Kim Garst. She and I jump right into how you can absolutely increase your profits using Facebook Live. You just have to get over that initial fear that is holding you back from going LIVE on camera. Ahem…I do realize this is harder than it sounds for many. HOWEVER, getting in front of your audience is your golden ticket to connecting with them personally and deepening your relationship with them. And, let me tell you, this correlates to larger profit margins - much, much larger. For Kim, leveraging LIVE video streaming increased her profits by hundreds of thousands of dollars. I want this to be you telling me that this happened for you too! The thing with Facebook Live is that, well, it’s live. And, anything can happen. So remember to relax, be prepared, and bring your personality and everything will be fine. Once you see the metrics from your first Facebook Live broadcast, that will be all the encouragement you need to do another and another and another… Kim shares a huge secret about the free reach of Facebook Live and why Facebook is able to successfully increase your newsfeed presence by 10 times that of a regular post. We also discuss strategies and tips for creating incredibly successful Facebook Live broadcasts, leveraging the extensive reach. We take a deep dive into:
With these tips, your skill set and confidence will increase. The more Facebook Live broadcasts you do, the better you will become. I have the utmost faith in your ability to kill it! I love that I took the leap into Facebook Live. The organic reach of these videos blows my mind and it is positively affecting my bottom line. Right away after the broadcast you can see the metrics. Get in here and start learning! It truly will have a tremendous effect on your businesses.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_111.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:15pm PST |
Thu, 19 May 2016
Are you getting the most out of your Facebook ad efforts? As promised in episode 104, my good friend Rick Mulready is back and we are continuing the conversation about Facebook ads. This week we tackle how to make your Facebook ads work for you, how you can leverage Facebook algorithms, and a couple of online advertising fundamentals that cannot be overlooked. Your Questions This Week:
The insights provided in this episode will immediately help you focus your Facebook ads and scale your audience. To get started, click here. These questions are from entrepreneurs just like you who are in the trenches, building your audience, and are navigating the ins and outs of Facebook advertising. By the way—if you aren’t familiar with Facebook algorithms and how they work—KEEP READING (or better yet: Start listening!). Rick’s knowledge on this topic could dramatically change how you approach your campaigns. For example, can you use the same ad for different launches? Sure. However, there are some guidelines to follow if you do this. Rick gives such an awesome answer that includes being careful about how much time has passed since you last ran the ad. His response is a prime example of how Facebook algorithms can work for or against you. Listen in as Rick shares how to be sure to make these algorithms work for you. I’m not converting leads. What am I doing wrong? There’s no magic answer, which is a little stressful, I know. However, Rick provides a strategy for finding the answer that’s right for your outcome. So, you’ll find hope as he walks you through how to diagnose where your leads are going off-track. Those are just two teaser Q&As, but listen here to hear them all. As we near the end of our episode, Rick and I tackle how to write compelling copy for Facebook ads. Here’s what you will gain from listening in:
I love the takeaways in this episode and I know you will find them extremely advantageous for your business, so let’s get listening!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_110.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Thu, 12 May 2016
Three questions for you before we start today:
Then you need the ultimate tools for your trade. And today I am in my cave of resources to share exactly what I use to scale my business, get maximum output from my team, and streamline so many different areas o of my life. So, what tools do I use? I’m glad you asked! Along with these resources I also provide the pros and cons of using them and the insider hacks that I’ve come to realize along the way. Because these tools will serve your business so well, I’ve created a free cheat sheet of all my FAVORITE tools, links to where you grab them, how they work and those awesome hacks I use to make them work even better. These hacks will save you time, money, and headaches. No tool is going to be the end all be all for any project, but you need to find ones that work for you and stick with them. Commit to these and your team will follow suit. I was once that person who kept switching out tools because I would “find something better.” My team finally called me on it and I came up with these battle-tested tools that we use on a daily basis. I can’t wait for you to check them out for yourself!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_109.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Tue, 26 April 2016
How can I be an expert if I am brand new at all of this and no one is paying attention—yet? This is a valid, legitimate, understandable concern. My best advice: Get over that doubt as quickly as possible and get moving. Here’s why: We all started somewhere. All the experts you follow and admire today started at the bottom. When I started my business 6 years ago, I was so afraid of so many different things. A big lesson I learned along the way is that you are the expert of your content, your voice and your audience. Don’t think less than that at any moment. In this episode I walk you through the Five Reminders that You Can Be The Expert Inside your Online Course. These reminders are drawn from what I have learned over the last six years. I share my secrets to success because I want you to break through those fears immediately. Before I get into it, I want to tell you about this week’s freebie. Whether you’re a coach, consultant, speaker, freelancer or service provider of ANY kind, owning your own course is a game changer that can have a dramatic effect on your income and impact. Recently I’ve reverse-engineered the biggest lessons I’ve learned from five of my own successful online courses (that have served over 35,000 entrepreneurs while generating $6.4 million in revenue) and I’ve put all those key learnings in a brand new free master class. My LIVE master class is called "How to Confidently Create Your First Profitable Course in 60 Days" and before it’s too late, I want you to grab your virtual seat! Now, back to it— The five reminders will let you know that you’re capable of embarking on this journey and more so that you are ready to take action NOW. Listen in to learn the two areas where you might be holding yourself back when moving forward with building your online business. Also, I give you the tips and strategies you need to assure yourself that you are the expert. You will also learn the qualities that make a great online teacher and the surprise qualities that you think you might need, but don’t. If you are thinking about building a course in the near future—or if you’ve ever felt like a fraud while growing your business— I think you will find these reminders incredibly valuable. This episode is for you if you:
These reminders are a great trigger for me every time I start a new course. I hope you find them as valuable as I do. Don’t forget to grab your virtual in my LIVE, Free Master Class, "How to Confidently Create Your First Profitable Course in 60 Days.”
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_108.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:09am PST |
Thu, 7 April 2016
I want you to price your next (or first!) online course with confidence. In your heart of hearts, are you getting paid what you’re worth? Are you hitting the “sweet spot” of pricing perfection? This week I tackle these questions and give you a seven-step pricing strategy so you can determine what you should really charge for your course—and feel whole about the entire process. I am INCREDIBLY passionate about this topic. Creating my own profitable and content-driven online courses has been the key to my success and I want to make it the key to your success too. But first, I have something really exciting to share with you. I have a new master class ready to be unveiled: “How to Confidently Create Your First Profitable Course in 60 Days.” In this master class, I share the secrets I’ve learned from helping 38,000 entrepreneurs, while making more than $6 million in revenue. Grab your spot (it’s free!) Now, back to today’s topic: In your gut, are you charging what you’re worth? I would bet that this is the hardest part to starting your first online course—or even maybe your second or third. Ask yourself these three questions:
Let’s dig into the seven steps here. One of the first steps I share is surprisingly missed by many entrepreneurs. It is such a crucial part in determining your price and I don’t want you to skip it. Then, we tackle how your product fits into your business. This is key for determining the most attractive price point for what you are offering. I ask you a couple of questions to help you through this step. It can be a tricky road to navigate. Listen here. Next, we talk about the length of time it can take to launch and re-launch your product. Ultimately, I want to help you get solid on how you feel about the price you’ve set. Once you decide on the price point, you’ve got to own it. These seven steps will help you do just that. Own your price. Be confident. And go sell it.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_107.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:09pm PST |
Mon, 4 April 2016
Do you know the detailed story of your perfect ideal customer? I am not just talking demographics or a just few pain points and struggles— I mean the nitty gritty, day in the life kind of stuff. Because my special guest, marketing and branding strategist Jasmine Star, paints such a vivid picture of her avatar, Elle, that I feel like I know her as well as my best friend. I think once you hear about Elle and how Jasmine created her—and how you can create your own story—you will be riveted. That is just ONE of the many brilliant pieces of insight Jasmine drops when she stops by for my latest episode. Other amazing takeaways from my new favorite branding and marketing strategist:
I had the MOST fun creating the episode this week—because I found Jasmine so brutally honest, funny and refreshing. Listen in (and get ready to laugh) as Jasmine explains the 5 key tips for growing your brand. Stay tuned for later in the episode when Jasmine goes into my favorite tip! It’s obvious you want people to love you and your social media, however, you actually WANT to repel some people. It’s so important and in the best interest of your business. She breaks down how to do this with finesse and self-assurance in order to grow your tribe.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_106.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:34am PST |
Sun, 27 March 2016
I get asked all of the time: Amy, where do I start? And the answer is to start with building your business in Phase One, and progress to Phase Two. This is how to build a business that will endure in the long term, and really fulfill the lifestyle you are looking for. I know this because I can look back and see what worked for my own business, and what I would have changed if I had to do it all again. With Phase One, you focus on how to make money in the here and now. In this phase, you are asking these kinds of questions: What skills and knowledge do you have right now to ensure you can make money quickly? Who’s your avatar? Do you have a solid plan in place to grow your list? What’s your strategy for your blog or posting to social media? In this phase you are sharpening your skills and getting into the trenches with your ideal customer avatar so that you can understand their needs, wants and genuine pain points. This intel is incredibly valuable as you begin to hone in on your own messaging for your business. I’ll walk you through several business models that are perfect for this level. Then with Phase Two, we move into creating a business and life you love. For this, you will ask yourself: What’s my ultimate business model? There needs to be an alignment between what you want to do and what your avatar wants from you: That’s the sweet spot. In many situations, including my own, a business model that offers A LOT of flexibility, consistent revenue and an abundance of opportunity to impact your audience is one that is built on you creating online training programs. Listen in to see how to put all of this into action. I also want to remind you to download my special freebie for today’s episode, called, “Where Should My Support Dollars Go?” One aspect that ANY level should be thinking about is: How do I make the most of my time by hiring support? I want to give you a little cheat sheet to help you hire the right level of support for where you are at in your business.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_105.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:15pm PST |
Fri, 25 March 2016
Do you have questions about Facebook advertising? That’s a silly question, right? We’ve all got questions! (Why does Facebook have to make it so complicated sometimes?!) This week I have my go-to-resource for all things Facebook ads with us, Rick Mulready. You might remember Rick from previous episodes. He left the corporate world to help entrepreneurs like you optimize your online advertising. I could not be more excited that he’s back with the latest “need to know now!” details to help us optimize our Facebook ads. In addition to answering the questions below in exquisite detail, he is also hosting a FREE workshop on how to create a lead system using Facebook ads. (Scroll to the bottom to learn how to grab your seat.) Here’s a list of the questions we answered on this recent episode:
The answers from Rick are killer and I don’t want you to miss them. If you want to jump right in, click here. During our chat, Rick shares the case study of a holistic health practitioner who saw an avenue for growth by teaching her way of business to her peers. She created a video campaign and ran with it. Only, she inadvertently made a “mistake” and drove traffic to a site that I would otherwise say is unwise—but it WORKED for her. In making this “mistake” her conversion rate grew to 40%-50%. She spent $3,000 and earned a return of $30,000. You have to listen to Rick’s explanation of why this worked. Rick insists that if you aren’t converting your leads, you must keep it simple and take a look at the top one or two statistics that are most relevant to your outcome. Do you have the right target audience? What is your conversion rate? What is your click through rate? Rick tells you the general cost per conversion that you should strive to spend. He also likes to see a 20% and above conversion rate on a landing page. He explains strategies and actions that you can take to make sure you’re on the right track to achieve this. For those of you dying to know how your competitors are adding more text to their Facebook ad than is allowed, Rick tells you precisely how. We also discuss when it’s best to post a video or an image with your ad. One of my favorite insights was that Facebook’s chat helpline is up and running. You heard me right . . . LIVE FACEBOOK AD CHAT! He explains where to find the live chat session, and he raves about the good results he’s gotten from reaching out. Lastly, Rick talked about targeting and what to do when you can’t find the Facebook Pages you want to target. He shares three sure-fire tips for successful targeting. It may take some detective work at times, but it will pay off. Don’t forget to register for one of Rick’s three, FREE, live webinars (on April 12 and 13) to discover how you can create an automated system that gets leads and sales everyday for your business. I’m thrilled to tell you that Rick has agreed to come on more regularly to answer your pressing questions. We know that you need these answers to keep moving forward. Look back for another “Amy and Rick FB Ad Q&A Session” in about six weeks!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_104_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 5:37pm PST |
Mon, 21 March 2016
Google-ads, targeting, and Facebook-scaling, oh my! We are LUCKY to have e-commerce expert and trainer Steve Chou in my latest episode to keep you in the know of what’s working now in e-commerce. The great thing about this interview is that although we are talking about e-commerce, the insights are applicable across several areas—business coaching, information marketing, growing your email list, webinars, and so much more! Quick story about Steve: He owns the site, mywifequitherjob.com. And she did. They live in the gorgeous (and pricey) Silicon Valley. She wanted to quit her job to have more time with their kiddos, but they had to figure out a way to supplement her $100,000 salary. They started the site and in the first year it became a success. HOW did Steve do that? Steve goes into detail on how he and his wife grew their business by driving traffic to their e-commerce site in this week’s episode. First and foremost determining the best sites for your e-commerce marketing depends on what your value proposition is. What are you looking to market online with e-commerce? If it lends itself to searches; for example, Google shopping converts very well. But you see, if you’re selling something general like T-shirts, Google might not be your best bet. And, you might want to go with the targeted marketing on Facebook for better conversion rates. Other businesses like Steve’s e-commerce wedding site where he sells custom wedding handkerchiefs, use both Facebook and Google ads. He dives into that kind of detail in our chat. Steve and I touched on
Equally important for you, Steve sees content as the next wave of how to market products and services and I could not agree more. We got into an important discussion on why video will be the next major trend and why you need to know where you should use it. It all comes down to REALLY knowing your audience and who will buy your product. Want to know how to scale your Facebook ads? This is one of the topics Steve and I discuss and I’ve created a free training video for you to dive a little deeper. Whether you’re looking to improve your e-commerce site, build your list, or grow your consulting business, these spot-on Facebook ad scaling tips are for you! Listen to Steve give you more strategies on content, training programs and growing your business via Facebook, Google, Instagram, and Pinterest here.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_103_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:16pm PST |
Mon, 14 March 2016
My quarter one has felt chaotic. I felt scattered. Everything except time to create content was dictating my life. It was time for a new approach to my schedule. I know you feel me here. I needed a die-hard plan to make time for what drives my business forward. I needed a content creation RITUAL. That’s why this episode is so important to share with you, because you will be able to apply my learnings to formulate a content creation ritual that works for you. Last week, we talked about priorities in your business—and life. This week, we are taking it one step further and breaking down how to manage your work time and space, so that you are earth-shatteringly-productive and focused on what matters in your business. First and foremost know this—I am insanely committed to my ritual for content creation, but by no means is it easy. I still struggle with it daily because my mind still thinks I should be doing a million other things. It’s TOUGH. In fact I’m so committed that I have developed my own Tiger Time. That’s right, Tiger Time. This is the part of my day that I fiercely protect (like a tiger and her cub!) in order to give myself the time and space to create my BEST content. The rules are strict, but the rewards are HUGE. It’s been so successful for me that I’ve created a freebie that will walk you through the steps to create your own content creation ritual. So, to take action on what you’ve just learned here, to grab it. I’ll also clue you in on a few musts for planning out my week—including what helps me prepare for the week ahead, and an old, yet trusty planning tool that I’ve dusted off from the past. It’s all in the latest episode—I hope you enjoy and see this ritual make a real impact on your business!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_102.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 3:58pm PST |
Tue, 8 March 2016
When my dear friend Michael Hyatt said he was going to come by to join us for our latest episode, I knew it was going to be good, and profound. And in my latest episode, he doesn’t disappoint, ladies and gentlemen... Because he’s talking about the ONE thing we should be focused on in our lives: Our life plan. It’s all tied to his latest book, Living Forward: A Proven Plan to Stop Drifting and Get the Life You Want, which Michael co-authored with Daniel Harkavy. Why, you might ask, is a life plan more important than many areas of your business? Because, as Michael says:
So when you’re overall life plan is off track, then your business is naturally off. According to Michael, when you’re what he calls “drifting,” you’re distracted, overwhelmed and unaware of where you should put your focus. This can create an environment for failure. Michael helps you understand that by getting your priorities in line, so you can be prepared to make the little decisions you need to get the big results you want out of your business, and in life. Because, it’s not the big moves that determine the quality of our output, it’s actually the little actions. In last week’s episode, I explained how I grew my business via incremental steps and not one large move. Michael takes this one step further to help us decide what we should be focusing on in our lives, so that we are prepared and patient enough to conquer those little steps. To get started, he prompts you to ask yourself:
Michael then shares the surprising reality about putting yourself first. (It’s a tough lesson.) The book is packed with great insights, and Michael has a special deal if you buy the book tomorrow (March 11). If you purchase Living Forward by tomorrow, Michael will give you for FREE:
To claim your bonus: Visit the following link and follow the prompts http://livingforwardbook.com/#claimbonuses After talking with Michael, I am more empowered than ever to determine a clear destination and make the tough choices I need to make to get me there. So my friends, get ready to be present, be engaged and be fully focused. Get ready for a life of less drifting, and more fulfillment. Go here now to check out this special interview with Michael.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_101.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:37am PST |
Thu, 3 March 2016
Today's episode is #100 (let's celebrate!)-- and I've got another hot topic I wanted to talk to you all about. This hot topic is focused on a big mistake I see a lot (especially in the first two years of business!) but I rarely talk about. Until now. It begins with deciding on which path you should take for your business: Horizontal OR Vertical? Which is best for your business right now? How do you know if you are on the right path? And which path did I choose from own my business (to see crazy good results)? 100th Podcast Episode GiveawayNot only are we talking about such an important topic on today's episode, but I've also got something incredibly exciting to share with you! I often get asked if I do one-on-one coaching and while I don't have the bandwidth to add coaching to my business currently, in honor of my 100th episode I wanted to create something extra special. That's why I'm giving one person the opportunity to get laser coaching from me in person, right here in San Diego, California. If you are the winner, you get to come out to San Diego for the day where I will put you up at the Omni La Costa Resort and Spa right near my home. (You're going to love it--it's gorgeous.) Bright and early in the morning, we will meet in person and spend the day taking a deep dive into your entire business. We'll look at everything: your avatar, your messaging, your positioning, your products, programs, offers, list-building funnel, all of it. I will give you my insights, my feedback, and advice to help you take your business to the next level whether it be horizontal or vertical. After we're done and our brains are good and fried, we'll go out to a fun dinner together and celebrate our accomplishments. Sound good? How to Enter The 100th Episode ContestMake a short video (under 3 minutes) in which you tell me...
Post your video on YouTube and enter the following in the description: www.amyporterfield.com Amy Porterfield’s Online Marketing Made Easy Podcast Contest Post the link to your video in the comments on the blog below. If you want to take it one step further, share your video on social media with the link to our contest page (www.amyporterfield.com/100th_episode) and the hashtag #AmysCoachingGiveaway (Sharing your video on social media isn't 100% necessary. I know some of you might feel like you don't want to put yourself out there that much just yet. But I would really appreciate it if you did!) Okay, those are the ground rules. If you want some real insight into how to make your entry as compelling and convincing as possible, keep reading... Who Should Enter This ContestMy offer of coaching is good for someone with an established business that wants to up-level, but it’s also good for someone that’s just starting out. As long as you’ve been in business for at least a year, you know what you want to offer, you’ve started to build out your foundation such as creating consistent content or you’ve got a blog or podcast, then you too are a good candidate for this contest. You don’t need to be well established in your business for me to choose you for this special opportunity. Now here are some pointers for creating your entry:
Don't Be Shy!I know it’s a big step to put yourself out there with this whole video entry thing. But I really want to encourage you to do so! This opportunity to meet with me and put a laser focus on you and your business could be business-changing and life-changing! I promise I will make it worth your time. I'd also like to take a minute to thank you immensely for following me on my journey of creating this podcast. It truly is one of the most favorite things I do inside my business. It has probably made the biggest impact in my ability to reach bigger audience and connect with you and grow my business overall. Thank you so very much for letting me do what I love. I cannot wait to continue this podcast with more and more episodes about building your business and list building and webinars and all the cool stuff I get to talk about. Here's to the next 100 episodes! And I cannot wait to see what you create in your own business...starting with your videos! CONTEST WINNER ANNOUNCEMENT:Whoa! We were blown away by all the AMAZING entries. After spending all week reviewing each submission, we are so excited to announce that the winner of the all expense paid trip to San Diego for a one day Deep Dive with me is: Christina Tondevold Christina, I cannot wait to connect with you in person to map out a plan to knock your business out of the park and get you home more with your sweet children. Please email Trivinia@amyporterfield.com to work out final details for your trip, which will happen later on this year. But, there’s more…With hundreds of submissions, I knew it would be hard to narrow this down. I’d love to spend a day with each of you! While we were able to come away with a clear winner, I did have a list of entrants that I wanted to offer something special to. So… if these folks would reach out to trivinia@amyporterfield.com, we have a super fun idea that we’d like to run by you. Michelle Evans Craig Sylvester Annette Stephanian Sara King Heather Ryan Daniel Fava I want you ALL to hear this . . . I KNOW it was not easy to make a video and put yourself out there like that. I was so touched by the effort and vulnerability that went into each and every video. Many made me cry, many made my laugh and ALL of them touched my heart. Thank you for taking the time to share a little piece of yourself with me. Although I could only choose one winner, your video truly mattered to me! - Amy
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode-_100.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:13pm PST |
Wed, 24 February 2016
Over the last few years, I've noticed that one of the big reasons my students struggle with list building is that they lack consistent original content in their marketing strategy. It's an easy trap to fall into. After all, creating content takes time, effort and creativity. You might even be thinking "Amy, all my focus is going into creating my product for sale. How am I supposed to come up with fresh original content every week?" Well, good news--this episode is all about helping you create just one piece of amazing content each month. You heard right. Each. Month. When you have that one piece of amazing epic content, you can spin it out into every marketing channel in your toolbox with the overall goal of building your list. Content Comes in Three StagesI think there’s a lot of confusion out there around content. It seems simple, but when I sat down and started mapping what successful content looks like in different contexts, I'll admit that even I got confused! So I checked in with a good friend from my corporate job days. She’s the best at dissecting content and explaining where it shines the brightest. And what she showed me is that there are three main stages of content:
Notice I said "stages." All three of these types of content are related to each other--which means every time you create one kind of content, the other two are super easy to create out of it. Click here to find out how you can use the main themes within your paid product to create epic content that builds your list! Easy Strategies for Getting More Mileage Out of Your Epic ContentNow, like I said earlier, the "meat" of the strategy we’re diving into in this episode is getting deliberate about your content creation so you can extend it across all your marketing channels. When you really get intentional with your content (and create it with your email list in mind), you're all to get huge mileage out of one piece. After all, we take our content creation seriously. So why not put a bigger focus on getting it in front of more people while we’re creating it? In this episode, I'm going to walk you through three roadmaps for extending one piece of epic content into every major marketing platform you use. To make it extremely easy for you, I've put together some free worksheets that show how to break up your content into different platforms within each roadmap. Click here to get them now! To get the most out of today's topic, you'll really want to listen to the whole episode. But I'll outline the roadmaps for you here: Strategy 1: Start by writing an epic blog post that includes an epic upgrade (something your readers can take more action on to get more value). From there, you'll move to emailing your list, creating videos, doing a Periscope, and more. Click here to get all the steps now! Strategy 2: Start by creating an epic podcast episode with an upgrade. From the podcast, you'll create a blog post. Not just show notes, but something that brings immense value even to people that may not have heard your podcast. Next you'll email your list, create a video, and more. Click here to get all the steps. Strategy 3: Start by creating an epic video. The first thing you'll need to know is how to provide the content upgrade in your video...click here to find out! Next, you'll take the audio from your video to create a podcast, use the audio to create a blog post...the list goes on. Find out the details on each of these strategies, including what constitutes an "epic" piece of content and what to put in the initial content versus what to put in the freebie, by listening to the whole episode. Click here to listen now! The End Goal = Your Email ListNow, this whole strategy takes a little thought and effort to execute properly. That's why you won’t be using this strategy with every single piece of new content you create. Like I said, I’m suggesting you be selective with this concept and put it to work about once a month. That gives you lots of room to pace each appearance of the content within your various marketing channels (and to repost it at least once) without making it seem like overload. Bottom line, the mindset around your campaign should always be about building your email list by getting people to your freebie. When you're creating core quality content with your email list in mind, it uplevels everywhere that content appears.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_99.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:24pm PST |
Tue, 16 February 2016
You know how much I love battle-tested, ultra-successful online marketing strategies. The only thing I love better is sharing strategies like these with you! It makes me so happy when we get in the trenches together and master the techniques that bring us the results we crave. But this week, we're doing something a little different. I'm in the midst of setting up my List-Builders Lab program right now, and I have to say that I'm really feeling the effect of all the strategies I've learned (and shared with you) over the past year. Let me tell you that the confidence I feel makes a world of difference in the midst of pre-launch craziness. And that got me thinking about how insanely important it is in your business to have your mind right! We don't think about this too much--we're too busy looking for the right tools, the right strategies, the right technology, etc. But if your confidence is struggling even just a bit, no strategy is going to work inside your business the way it should. That's why today's podcast episode is all about lies, lies, lies... And, of course, the truth that we need to replace them. As you likely already know, to win the game of becoming a successful entrepreneur, you’ve got to focus occasionally on what’s going on between your two ears. Today's post is all about the lies that I've personally dealt with! And sometimes, in low moments, I still hear them creeping up on me. But with the help and advice of other friends in the online business world, I know what to tell myself when those lies show up...and that's what I want to pass on to you today. Lie #1: You have to be the best in your market.Sometimes, when we're just starting out, we feel like we need to be number one, the best, and out on top in our market. That's not always the case. Click here for my take on the all too common lie we tell ourselves, and what the truth really looked like for me, even when it came to getting real with my signature course offering. Lie #2: You have to find the balance between your work and your family and all that comes in between that.You might be surprised to hear that I don't believe in balance. While working with Tony Robbins, I learned a very important lesson that I continue to reflect on during different seasons of my business growth. I encourage you to listen to the full episode to hear exactly what balance looks like in my business. I share some powerful takeaways that I've learned recently that you don't want to miss! Lie #3: Your failures that are adding up are proof that you’re never going to make this work.Sometimes, when things aren’t working as we’re trying to build our businesses online, we go to a really dark place, where our whole business idea looks like a disaster and we start wondering if we are going to have to go back to the 9-to-5 job. Oh, boy have I been in place where I hated where my business was headed. Listen here, and I'll tell you what I did to make things shift. Lie #4: Every opportunity that comes your way is big, and you can’t miss out on it or you’ll be left behind.If you know my story, you know that for the first couple of years, I really struggled, and thought I constantly had to seize every opportunity that came my way, or I might miss my big break. Whether you're a full blown entrepreneur, or still working a corporate job while you transition, there are huge lessons I learned from this mindset. I'll share a few of them here, as well as some sage advice on what might work for you if you struggle in this area. Stopping the Lies = Knowing the TruthI know it’s not enough to just tell you what these lies are. You need to know how to flip them around with truth! Once you have the truth, those lies can't hold you back anymore, and you can really start building momentum in your business. Since we're all about truth-telling today, I'll be honest and say that today's episode felt a little bit uncomfortable for me at times. It's not always easy for me to talk about topics that might not feel super good. And I don’t get to say, “Click this, go here, do that,” because we’re not talking about those specific strategies. But I think it’s important to get really honest with ourselves, in order to be sure that those strategies will work. I hope that’s what this episode did for you, and that it redirects and recharges you, so that you start finding out how to create the business you absolutely love.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_98_mixdown.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:06pm PST |
Wed, 10 February 2016
Today we're diving into a new aspect of Facebook marketing that may very well surprise you! If you've hosted a webinar or an online course, you have probably also created a private Facebook group as a bonus for your clients. In addition to offering extra support and relationship, private Facebook groups are an amazing way to galvanize your clients into a true community. (Always a great thing when it comes to brand loyalty!) But did you know that the community-creating power of private Facebook groups can be a hugely effective sales tool? My guests on the podcast today are Josh and Jill Stanton from Screw the 9 to 5, and they're going to share their secret strategy for using private Facebook groups to warm up your audience for sales. Using Facebook groups in this way is really unique to Josh and Jill--as far as I know, nobody else out there is using this strategy to grow revenue. That's because we usually think of Facebook groups as being an "after the fact" thing. You create the product, people buy it and then they're part of the group. But what Josh and Jill have realized that there's a ton of sales power in making your audience "part of the group" before they ever spend a dime with you! Re-think Your PageRight off the bat, Jill makes a statement that could ruffle the feathers of a lot of online marketers: "Facebook Pages are dead to me." Once you recover from that bombshell, don't rush to the "Delete" button on your page! There's definitely a place for Facebook Pages...even Jill and Josh still use theirs. But what Jill is saying is that the Page setup is really more of a one-way street when it comes to interacting with your audience. For example, when fans comment on your page, their words show up in a sidebar...not exactly a real conversation, is it? Turning Your Brand into a Facebook FamilyBy contrast, a Facebook group lets the "family atmosphere" of your brand really flourish. When you gather the people who have genuine interest in your business into a private setting--one in which they can interact with you as another member (an extra-knowledgeable and authoritative member, of course)--you're able to build a community of affinity and trust around your brand. A community in which you are the go-to source for what your audience wants to know/solve/accomplish. A community that is brought together by the experience of your program, product or service. If you're ready to find out the nuts and bolts of this ingenious Facebook marketing strategy, click here to listen to the whole episode now! ...Oh, and be sure to pay attention for a special bonus topic in my conversation with Josh and Jill: what to do when you realize that you don't really like your business model. (Yes, it's possible to change!)
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_97.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:29am PST |
Thu, 4 February 2016
Marie Forleo has been in the online entrepreneurship game for seventeen years. She's appeared on Oprah, been interviewed by Tony Robbins, hung out with Richard Branson. ...and she still doesn’t feel like she’s ever had a “big break.” Yes, really. The whole "big break" thing is a myth, Marie says. And that's not because she doesn't know how it feels to wish for one! She remembers sitting in her studio apartment, staring at the computer screen, fantasizing about the "fairy business godmother" who would sweep in and discover her potential. But the career she's built today--the best-selling books, the hugely popular MarieTV series, the constant stream of success stories from her B School training program who approach her on the street to thank her for changing their lives--didn't come from a single amazing opportunity being dropped into her lap.
Great quote, right? There's more to come. Every question I asked Marie in our interview brought some amazing sound bites--I was scrambling to write them all down! To get a taste of her wisdom in these quotes...listen to the whole episode for Marie's insights on how to overcome perfectionism and self-doubt, the main way to unite your audience into a tribe, and what daily actions you must take to achieve the success you desire! If you want to sign up for Marie's FREE Video Series (You need to watch Video 2 - trust us!), click here to sign up!
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_96.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:40am PST |
Thu, 28 January 2016
Picture this: you wake up one morning with an amazing idea. You do a little research on it and, by the end of the day, feel a growing sense that this idea of yours has real selling potential. Maybe you even ask your audience directly if they'd be interested in this idea, and they give it a resounding "Yes, please!" And then, after all this, you put your great idea into action...and it doesn't sell. Nothing comes of it. When you spend time, effort, and money putting together something for your audience, only to hear crickets when you put it out into the world, it can really crush your confidence, not to mention put a dent in your bottom line. But what if you could take your idea through a proven process that makes sure it's a good fit for you, your business, and for your audience? Now that's a pretty good idea, right? My good friend Pat Flynn has tested many, many great ideas over the course of his online career. And believe it or not, even Pat has had a few ideas that he thought were great end up dead in the water. That's what led to his new book Will It Fly?, which shows entrepreneurs how to test their great ideas for real value. On today's podcast episode, Pat and I are going to walk you through some ideas, insights, and tips to help you learn how to test whether your idea will work for you and your audience. It's a great episode and you're going to want to hear the whole thing--trust me! Pat is one of the hardest working guys out there. But even more impressive than his work ethic is his transparency. If you've visited his site, you've seen that he publishes his monthly revenue reports so that viewers can see real-life proof of how well his ideas work. Success Isn't OvernightAs entrepreneurs, we're always talking about launching. Launching is a big part of what we do, but how often do we talk about what happens after you launch? Is your idea actually going to take off? Is it going to fly? Is it going to keep going or is it going to crash? Whether you need permission to really get moving on your latest idea, or if you require some "tough love" in order to let this one go and keep searching for inspiration, Pat's book is going to give you some fundamental tools for entrepreneurial success. The Three Validation TestsOne of the best things Pat's book offers is the three validation tests that show how an idea fits into your life, your strengths, and the overall goal of your business. The Airport Test Imagine that it's five years from now. You're at the airpot and you run into someone you haven't seen in the past five years. They ask you "How's life?" Now imagine you answer "Life is great. It couldn't be better!" What would be happening, five years from now, to make you say that? Now ask yourself: is the idea you're working on right now contributing to that five-years-from-now goal? The History Test This test makes you analyze three or four of the different jobs you've had in the past. You call to mind the position, the environment, the people you worked with, specific memories that are either pleasant or painful. When you do a review like this, it helps you see what those jobs might have had in common...and why that pattern might be attracting you over and over. Does it point out a skill or a preference that you have? Whether they were good jobs or bad jobs, they have something valuable to tell you about who you are...and that will give you a better understanding of how your idea fits into your skill set. The Shark Bait Test Imagine you are a contestant on the show Shark Tank, standing in front of the celebrity investors and pitching your idea. Doing this honestly, from your gut, takes away the salesmanship from the exercise, and makes you really speak to why you and your idea are special and why people would be crazy not to get on board with it. If you know Pat and his content at all, you know that his superpower is taking complex ideas and making them simple and easy to digest. And he brings that gift in full force to today's episode. His tips on how to tackle market research are worth their weight in gold! Want to check out Pat's book, where he dives deep into the content he shared with us? Click here to find out more about his new book, Will It Fly.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_95.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Thu, 21 January 2016
By now you've probably heard about Periscope, the live streaming social media platform that lets you talk to your fans in real time. It's the fastest growing social media platform of all time! Since Periscope launched in March 2015, it already has 15 million users. And get this: those users upload three years' worth of video content every day. I dabbled with Periscope for a while in 2015, and to be honest, I couldn't figure out if I loved it or hated it. Mostly, I just didn't really understand how to use it to its fullest potential. That's why I was so glad to talk with today's podcast guest. Zack Spuckler is a genuine Periscope ninja, and he has used the platform to do amazing things with his email list. Whether you're an early adopter who is already using Periscope on a daily basis, or a skeptic who wonders if this medium is really going to last long enough to be worth the time it takes to learn it, this episode is one you just can't miss. I'll be the first to admit that my biggest obstacle in using Periscope is the whole "live stream" nature of it. Frankly, it makes me nervous--I like to have a plan, a script, and a lot of chances to correct my mistakes. At the same time, I recognize the real power of livestreaming to break the barriers between you and your audience. They get to come inside your world, and you get to be more personal and engaging with them. It lets your audience see a side of you that really no other social media platform offers. Having said that, there are some do's and don'ts that go a long way toward making Periscope truly effective as a marketing tool. That's where Zach's expertise comes in! In addition to offering tons of pro tips and insider tricks on how to use Periscope to best advantage (and a good estimate on how long it takes to really hit your stride) Zach has created a freebie just for you. It's a worksheet with five simple steps to guide you through your first Periscope broadcast. Click here to get it now! The NumbersIn Zach's first 30 days on Periscope, he did $10k in sales. (Listen to the podcast if you want to hear my reaction to this unbelievable number.) It's even more amazing when you find out that previous to this, Zach's all-time revenue high had been $1700 in a month. So he started plugging all his channels into Periscope, to see what kind of results he got.
After a few weeks of this, people were noticing! They were asking Zach how he got these amazing results...so, naturally, he created a Periscope training course and sold it via Periscope. I'll let Zach tell you what happened: "I sold about $1,200 of the course at a $97 intro price. Then I did it again the next day. We ended up doing about $2,200 in sales with about an hour and a half of Periscopes. We hadn’t sent emails. We didn’t even have a sales page. "Then I launched my Periscope course and really drove people there from Periscope. This will really tell you the power of it: I didn’t have a freebie ready for Periscope. I threw together a lead page that said, “I’m going to make a really cool Periscope freebie. I have no idea what it’s going to be, I just know that you should sign up for it.” We had over 200 people opt in for that and when all was said and done, in the course of the first 30 days and a little beyond that because we had launch, we had sold 60 copies of the course." The Real Power Behind PeriscopeZach has tons of tips and tools that will help you create results like these on Periscope. But the real key to Zach's success isn't just the platform--it's the ability it gave him to really hear what his audience wanted. Prior to using Periscope, Zach was facing that constant frustration of creating products that he thought his audience wanted from him, only to have nobody click the "Buy" button when he finally released it. But by engaging with his audience on live video, he could literally count the number of times people asked about something, and know exactly what it was they wanted. "It’s just crazy, the engagement and conversion that you can get with live video. You don’t have to think anymore, you just have to listen. That's what I like about it." If you're ready to really dive into Periscope and find out how to use it, click here to listen to the podcast now. And make sure to download the worksheet created especially for you by Zach himself.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_94.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 9:00am PST |
Tue, 12 January 2016
You know how important your list is to your business' growth. If you're measuring your list's health in terms of numbers, it can really get you down sometimes. It's easy to feel like the fate of your business is at a standstill until your list numbers in the thousands (or at least the high hundreds). My guest on the podcast today is going to blow that myth out of the water! Rachel Luna is living proof that you don’t need a gigantic list to gain success. What really matters about your list isn’t the number of names and addresses on it, but the quality of those people in terms of their engagement with you. Rachel’s success story is really a one-two punch. Not only does she show the power of what you can do with a highly engaged list, but she’s also a stellar example of how to do affiliate marketing right. If you’ve thought about doing affiliate marketing but haven’t tried it…or if you’ve gone through it before with mediocre results…Rachel’s story is going to truly inspire you. And you’re also going to love the freebie Rachel created for us this week: it’s called the Confident Affiliate Marketing Starter Guide. You can get it by clicking here! Secrets of an Affiliate Marketing SuperstarLast spring, Rachel worked with my business coach Todd Herman and chose to be an affiliate promoter of his 90-Day Year program. As a business/life coach to other entrepreneurs, Rachel is ultra-focused on taking action and setting goals, which made her a perfect fit for this promotion. Her message is all about breaking through negative thoughts and limiting beliefs to achieve the success you want. This promotion really gave her a chance to practice what she preached. Rachel came into Todd's affiliate program with a list just over 5000. That may sound like a lot, but bear in mind she was working among affiliates who had lists upward of 100k! She was a small fish in a very big pond. Actually, I also happened to be working with Todd as an affiliate for this program, as well. And as the promotion got going, I started seeing this name I'd never heard before popping up on the leader board. Her numbers were going up at an astonishing rate. Other affiliates were starting to talk about her. "Who is this Rachel Luna, and what is her secret?" Finally, I decided to get in touch with her to find out just that. And today she is sharing the secrets of her affiliate marketing success with all of us! Click here to start listening now. The Steps to Affiliate Marketing SuccessRachel had done a few affiliate promotions in the past--by the time she got involved with Todd's 90-Day Year program, she had some solid standards for success in place:
Find out more about how Rachel achieved such amazing affiliate success! Click here to listen now. Overcoming Your SetbacksYou can see why Rachel was blowing us all away with her climbing numbers! This made it all the more devastating when, just one week before the official program kickoff, Rachel’s website got hacked. Everything she had planned for her promotion—blogs, sales pages, bonus materials that she’d created for her audience—was gone. Rachel considered not even doing the promotion. She’d spent hours putting all this together, only to have it wiped out overnight. But after talking with Todd, she decided to keep moving forward and see what happened. "I sent off that first email which I had taken the time to write really well. I was very thoughtful about it. I was very intentional because I wanted to make sure it was something that would resonate with my audience." And oh, did it ever resonate. By Day 1 of the promotion, Rachel had made $10k…almost 75% of her revenue goal. By Day 2, she’d surpassed her goal by $2000. By the time the launch ended, Rachel had made a $53,000 profit, almost four times her goal amount. By the way, this little fish, ended up finishing fourth overall out of all the affiliates promoting the program. Amazing! You Don't Need a Big List to Get Big ResultsRachel shares a lot more details of what made her affiliate launch such a staggering success--how much she spent on Facebook ads, how she structured bonuses for her audience, etc.--in the full podcast episode. And of course you'll want to download her amazing freebie, the Confident Affiliate Marketing Starter Guide. But the biggest takeaway, in my view, was that Rachel didn't let the size of her email list stop her. She could have put off Todd's program until next time it came around, telling herself she was going to wait until her list was bigger. But instead, she took action with what she had, focused on maximizing her strengths, and didn't let setbacks slow her down. "Sometimes, in my experience as a life coach, people aren’t so focused on taking action, they are focused on feeling better. They were happy with mediocre results. I want to have the best, most exciting. I want big."
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_93.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 4:00pm PST |
Tue, 5 January 2016
Let's kick off the New Year with an absolute game changer for your business: Facebook ad targeting. Some of you by now have become really good at this. But if you're still struggling to nail your Facebook ad strategy, or if you're just getting started in this world, this episode is most definitely for you. I work with a lot of business students who are just getting started with Facebook ads or have been dabbling in ads for a while without seeing much success. The number one mistake I see them making is targeting the wrong people. This usually happens for two reasons. Some of my students truly don’t understand who their avatar is. Others...the majority, in fact...know who their avatar is, but they just haven’t dug deep enough to understand them in a way that Facebook ad targeting could make a huge difference for them in their business.Specifically, they haven’t done the research or documented their successes and losses, so they aren’t really sure what’s working. Here's what I always remind them: when you get really good at Facebook ad targeting, there is no doubt you are going to see some major shifts in the impact you have with your audience and a major increase in your revenue streams. That's why I've created a roadmap that will let you know exactly where to focus, along with what needs to be on your radar from the get-go. It's really simple--just the way I like it--and it's set up so that you can keep adding to it as you learn exactly who your audience is and how to get in front of them. Basically, it's the key to unlocking the most valuable resource in your business. I've put a lot into this episode for you, so make sure to listen to the whole podcast to get everything you need to start the new year off successfully! I've also created a great freebie to help you with this plan--the Facebook Ad Targeting Starter Guide. It's a list of ten questions that you MUST be able to answer about your audience in order to fully optimize your Facebook ad targeting. Grab the special guide by clicking below! Like I said, you've really got to listen to the whole episode to get all this great information I've put together for you. But to outline it for you, Facebook ad targeting breaks down into four specific opportunities: Targeting Opportunity #1: Target Your Own AudiencesSay you already have an email list of at least 1,000 people. You can upload that email list to Facebook, Facebook will match your email list with their database and voila! You’ve got a targeting opportunity with your best, fastest-converting leads. Targeting Opportunity #2: Targeting Your Own Facebook FansThis list is not as warm as your own email list, but it is still a group of engaged people who are going to pay attention to you. Here’s the huge plus: you will almost always pay less with your Facebook ads when you target your own fan base versus a cold audience. If you ever needed a good reason to focus on building your Facebook fan base, I think this is the #1 best reason to do so. Targeting Opportunity #3: Target Other Facebook PagesThis is where I want you to put the most time and energy when it comes to research and experimentation. Targeting other Facebook pages is the strategy that allows you the most opportunities. I've also got a "super tip" to help you find out which pages you should be targeting. Click here to listen to the podcast now! Targeting Opportunity #4: Creating Lookalike AudiencesA lookalike audience is basically you taking a custom audience that you have and then asking Facebook to find an audience that is really similar to your own audience you have already created If you want to get a little bit more strategic with that (and I know you do!) you can try a technique called layering. I learned this from my friend James Wedmore, and I've been trying it out in my business lately, too. Click here to learn all about how you can do it! Be Patient with YourselfFinally, I have to remind you to be patient with yourself. This isn’t all going to fall into place tomorrow. My goal is to give you a roadmap and a bunch of examples, so you see where you want to go with your Facebook ad targeting and have the skills to get there day by day. In addition to laying out the steps in each targeting opportunity, this podcast episode walks you through using two super-easy research tools that should become second nature to you when you start to dive into Facebook advertising. Click here to listen to the whole thing now. And make sure to download this week's freebie so you can get super-prepared for making the most of your Facebook targeting.
Direct download: Online_Marketing_Made_Easy_Podcast_Episode_92.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 12:56pm PST |