The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast

#784 Don't underestimate the power of knowing somebody who knows somebody! In fact, building friendships in your niche is one of the best ways to fast-track your success in business. But how do you find the people who will champion your work and help you reach your goals? Tune in because today's session is all about exploring the types of connections that can help you at every stage of your journey. I share my thoughts abo...

#783 As creators, starting a physical products business might seem daunting. But is there a future where something like MrBeast's Feastables puts companies like Hershey out of business? Will influencers eventually run the biggest brands in the world? In this episode, I chat with a solo blogger turned empire builder. My friend Kevin Espiritu of Epic Gardening is back on the show to give us an inside look at the 10x growth h...

#782 Something wild happened to me at lunch the other day. Even though this embarrassed me in public, there are lessons for us here. So, let me get it off my chest! I was on a Zoom call for work when, out of nowhere, a woman snapped at me. You see, she thought I was recording a video of her and her son. Before I could explain, this woman started calling me a creeper. As I turned my screen toward her to reveal I was on a ca...

#781 Techno-optimists or not, we can't ignore the AI-powered tools already changing how people work and create. So, what can you do to make yourself and your services irreplaceable? In this episode, we have an honest conversation about the future of audio content. As we look at how voice cloning is already affecting creators and artists, we share both rosy and realistic predictions for where things are going. Joining me ar...

#780 Many creators and entrepreneurs play it safe. Here's the thing, though. That's actually a dangerous mindset to have if you want to see your brand grow. So how do you take the kinds of risks that lead to massive rewards? For the last year, we've all been talking about the incredible 10x is Easier than 2x by Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy. I've also been applying this perspective to SPI and Deep Pocket Monster, my ...

#779 Many creators struggle with finding and negotiating sponsorships. One of the problems is that they're often not aiming for win-win-win deals. For an effective partnership, the value proposition should be obvious to you, the brand you're promoting, and your audience. So, how do you ask the right questions to uncover unexpected sponsorship opportunities? My returning guest, Justin Moore, is the founder of Creator Wizard...

#778 If growing your business were easy, what would it look like? This is a powerful question because many of us tend to overcomplicate things. So how do we build a brand without getting distracted by things that don't matter? I haven't recorded a coaching call episode like this in a long time—not since the AskPat days! We wanted to bring that energy back in today's session, so listen in as I help Cassie Shawcross of Divin...

#777 How do we sell more of our products? Essentially, what are the top strategies to get new leads and convert them into customers? Also, which tactics have stopped working, and where do we invest our time and money to get the best results? This is just a small part of today's wide-ranging conversation. My guest is Ben Harris from ClickFunnels, a popular and powerful platform for getting more people to your website and on...

#776 Businesses often use bonuses to sweeten the deal on what they're selling. Done well, this can be a great strategy to attract more customers. But when do the extras you offer start working against you? How do you use this tactic the right way to create irresistible deals? In 2024, I'm taking these Friday episodes up a notch with specific ideas and frameworks you can implement to optimize and grow your brand. This sessi...

#775 Selling a piece of software you've created and grown can be a massive windfall. But where do you start if you have an idea for a tool or service but can't write any code? What do you need to know upfront, and what would working with a programmer or development team cost? In episode 772, I offered you a sneak peek at my newest software venture. Now, Dave Chesson and Bhanuka Harischandra of Surge Global are joining me t...

#774 I get asked this all the time—if I were starting over with $1000 to invest in an online business, what would I do? And here's my answer—I would go offline. This always surprises people, but the approach I cover today is the most powerful way to begin your entrepreneurial journey. But if you want to set yourself up for success, the most important part of this process should happen before you spend any money at all! In ...

#773 How effective is the marketing copy around your products? For many entrepreneurs, this is one of the aspects of online business they struggle with the most. And the truth is, there are no shortcuts to great writing. So, how do we generate compelling stories and sales pages? There's no one better to answer this question for us than the godfather of modern copywriting himself, Ray Edwards. Ray is the author of How to Wr...

#772 Regular listeners know I love bringing you along for the journey as I start new projects. Listen in to get a first glimpse at the software venture I hope will provide a game-changing solution for a problem no one is tackling. I desperately need this tool in my workflow, and know a lot of other creators will benefit from it as well. So, what am I talking about? I won't share all the details in this episode, but you'll ...

#771 What comes to mind when you think about recording video? Many people let their aversion to being on camera hurt the growth of their brands. Still, we all know we need to get comfortable with this to make the most of today's social media landscape! But where do you start as a complete beginner? How do you create consistently, and how often do you need to upload to YouTube to build an audience? For your online courses, ...

#770 Making your first hire is a massive step in your entrepreneurial journey! If you're onboarding your first employee or contractor or need a refresher on being an effective team leader, listen in because this episode is for you! Of course, I've often had Jess Lindgren, my executive assistant of over ten years, on the show. Go to episode 753 to uncover the lessons we've learned working together for so long! But what do y...

#769 Very few people work the same job their whole lives anymore. Even so, many of us still perceive having to change careers as having failed. But what if a new role is actually an opportunity? This is the topic of today's conversation with my returning guest, Barrett Brooks. In the decade since our last chat, he has had to reinvent himself several times to uncover the best use of his knowledge and talents. Listen in on t...

#768 We need to talk about pricing. Specifically, we need to discuss how discounts are hurting your business! Don't get me wrong—special offers can work wonders for your sales. So why would we want to remove this tool from our marketing arsenal? Listen in on this session for a behind-the-scenes look at what we're doing at SPI and the cohort-based model that's replaced discounts for us! This has been an incredible business ...

#767 The strategies we used to rely on for growth on YouTube aren't working anymore. So, what are up-and-coming creators doing to build an audience? Which tactics get you more views and subscribers right now? I've had a lot of big names in the YouTube space on the show, everyone from Ali Abdaal to MKBHD. But today, I wanted to get a fresh perspective from someone who is just starting to make waves. There's a lot of buzz ar...

#766 Podcasting is a powerful way to generate revenue, but what are your monetization options if you're not reaching a massive audience yet? The thing is, big sponsors expect a minimum of ten thousand downloads per episode. So, how can you leverage a small, loyal following instead? Listen in because we're back with another incredible Teaching Friday session. Lauren Popish, our guest host, is the founder of The Wave Podcast...