Streamlined Solopreneur: Helping Solopreneurs Take Time Off Worry-Free

How to Understand How You Work with a Task Journal

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 06:18:36 -0400

My absolute favorite task manager is Todoist. I’ve been around the block and used all the major ones — from Remember the Milk to OmniFocus and everything in between. Todoist is the best for me.

But a task manager only tells part of the story — it tells us what we got done.

It doesn’t tell us anything about how we were feeling that day. How many tasks did we move or ignore? How many have we checked off just so we’d stop seeing them?

And it shouldn’t. That’s what task journaling is for.

Here's how to get started:

Pick three and only three tasks for the day

Check in with yourself at midday
Assess at the end of the day — what worked, what didn't, and why

Do this for two weeks, and you'll have a clearer picture of how you actually work — and what it takes to protect the time that matters most.

Want some help?

Try the Daily Three Task Journal app (currently in beta on TestFlight) or grab the free Notion template at streamlined.fm/app. And if you already use some form of task journaling, I'd love to hear about it — head over to streamlinedfeedback.com and let me know.

Show Notes

(00:00) - What Is Task Journaling?
(04:26) - The Daily 3 Task Journal System
(06:59) - Understanding Your Green Zone and Red Zone
(11:04) - How I Built an iOS App for This Method
(13:17) - Where to Find the App and Notion Template

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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3 Lessons Solopreneurs Should Take From the Olympics

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 02:00:00 -0400

I loved watching the Olympics this year — more than usual. Part of it was the great stories and incredible performances. But a big part of it was that it was a celebration of human accomplishment.

I believe firmly that AI can’t replace the actual good, worthwhile work we do…and the Olympics is a shining example of that. So for this episode, I wanted to share 3 lessons I think every solopreneur should learn from the Olympics.

You need your own “taper day”: Why working harder actually makes you worse at running your business.
Lasting gratification is better than instant gratification: Using technology and AI to polish your work, not replace your unique human contribution.
Friction Management: How to "sweep" your business like a curler—removing obstacles to your goals while adding healthy barriers to distractions.

Want to reduce the friction in your business? Take the free tools audit: https://streamlined.fm/tools

Show Notes

Have thoughts? Send feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com

(00:00) - — Lessons for solopreneurs from the Olympics
(01:35) - — Lesson 1: Why elite performers prioritize recovery over 100% effort
(02:56) - — Debunking the "hustle culture" myth of being always available
(05:57) - — Lesson 2: Going beyond box-ticking and the limits of AI shortcuts
(08:19) - — Using technology to automate the boring stuff, not the high-leverage work
(09:48) - — Lesson 3: Friction Management (Lessons from Curling)
(11:54) - — How to strategically apply and remove friction in your daily workflow
(13:49) - — Small adjustments that lead to a smoothly running business
(15:59) - — Closing thoughts and where to send your feedback

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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How to Build a Better Relationship with Your Tools

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 02:00:00 -0400

I remember getting annoyed at my mom in 1998 because she didn't understand how to "right-click." I just assumed technology was intuitive. But it was intuitive to me because I grew up with it. It’s not easy for everyone – a lesson I learned that day.

Luckily, I took that lesson to heart and now I’m a much more patient teacher…much like today’s guest.

In this episode, I’m joined by tech confidence coach Avital Spivak to talk about the mental hangups that keep solopreneurs from mastering their systems.

We look at why "I have a need" doesn't always mean "I need a new tool," and how to treat your software and hardware like a team rather than a chore.

If you've ever felt like your computer was working against you, this episode will help you turn that chaos into clarity.

Tired of fighting your tools? Grab my free tools assessment to start reclaiming your time athttps://streamlined.fm/tools

Show Notes

What do you think? Send your feedback to streamlinedfeedback.com

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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3 Steps to Reclaim Your Life from Email

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 02:00:00 -0400

What will really happen if you don’t respond to that email right away? I used to work at an agency where I thought "dedication" meant being reachable 24/7. I skipped concerts, missed date nights, and even took a work call on Christmas Day. I was convinced that if I didn't respond immediately, I was failing.

The turning point? A pair of tickets to see Hamilton on my anniversary.

When my project manager told me I had to work through the weekend just to get my paycheck on time, I said no. I didn’t log back in until Monday. I didn't get fired, and I still got paid.

Now that I work for myself, I see so many solopreneurs doing the same thing with their clients, their customers, their communities. If you’re afraid to turn off your phone at the movies or leave your laptop behind on vacation, you’ve got strong Main Character Energy.

In this episode, I share the three-step framework I used to transition from a burnt-out employee to a streamlined solopreneur: Managing Expectations, setting Physical Boundaries, and shifting your Mindset. Your business should support your life—not take it over.

Is your tech helping your boundaries or hurting them? Take my free Tools Audit at https://streamlined.fm/tools to find out which systems will help you reclaim your space and keep you away from your inbox.

What We Cover:

The "Main Character" Trap: Why we overestimate how much our clients (or bosses) are actually thinking about us.
The Brick: The physical tool I use to lock myself out of work apps and stay present with my family.
Working Anywhere vs. Everywhere: Why the "freedom" of solopreneurship often leads to working 24/7.

Show Notes

Send feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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I Used AI to Code an iOS App [Audio Note]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 06 Mar 2026 16:38:56 -0500

I had Strep Throat this week, and when I got sick of being cooped up in bed, I decided to do something interesting: use AI to code an iOS app.

I have a lot of thoughts that probably require a part two to this note, but for now, I walk through the requirements, how the process was, and why this could be worth my time.

Screenshots from the app

Send feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com.

Join my mailing list to get first dibs on a beta: https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/hello-there/

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Why Repetition is Killing Your Productivity (And How to Fix It)

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 02 Mar 2026 02:00:00 -0500

Some of the results we seek benefit from repetitive work. Physical training, memorization, cooking, and practicing a big speech. But repetitive work can also limit us — especially if it keeps us from doing our most important, highest leverage work.

I recently found myself stuck in a cycle of repetitive work that was keeping me stuck and wasting my time. Here’s how I’m getting out of it, and how you can recognize and fix when you’re in a similar cycle.

Tired of overpaying for tools that do the same thing? Grab my free Tools Audit at https://streamlined.fm/tools and start cutting the clutter today.

Show Notes

Have thoughts? Send your feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Why I'm Buying Music Again in 2026 [Paper & Smoke]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 10:39:33 -0500

I bought a modern iPod — not because I needed one, but because I realized I didn’t actually own most of the music I thought I did.

It began with my daughter’s intense love of music. I’m committed to keeping smartphones out of my kids’ lives until they’re teens, and that meant finding a way for her to enjoy music without an internet-connected device

Read more over at https://paperandsmoke.com

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Why I Love Talking to my Phone Now

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 02:00:00 -0500

I remember when Nextel first launched its "push-to-talk" walkie-talkie feature back in the late 90s. It mostly resulted in people yelling into their phones at the mall, and it honestly made me hate the idea of talking to my phone in public for decades. But things have changed.

Between the rise of asynchronous communication and the power of AI transcription, I’ve found that talking to my phone is actually one of the best ways to stay productive while I’m away from my desk.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why I’ve embraced talking to my phone. I’ll share the two specific apps that have simplified my workflow—Whisper Memos and Todoist’s Ramble feature—so I can capture context, brain dump my shutdown routines, and turn spoken ideas into actionable tasks without losing a single thought.

Is your tech stack helping you or just adding to the noise? Take my free tech stack assessment to see if your tools are actually worth it at streamlined.fm/tools.

Show Notes

**Whisper Memos:** The iOS app I use for high-quality transcription and custom summaries.
**Todoist:** My go-to task manager, specifically using the new "Ramble" feature for voice-to-task entry.
Video: Todoist Killed My Favorite Automation (and I'm Happy About It)
Streamlined Feedback: Share how you use voice notes at streamlinedfeedback.com
Tech Stack Assessment: Get clarity on your tools at streamlined.fm/tools

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Why I’m Returning the remarkable 2 [Audio Note]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 07:00:00 -0500

I tested the reMarkable 2 with the Type Folio keyboard hoping for a distraction‑free, E‑ink writing experience.

It’s a great device but I found it wasn't great for my workflow. Here’s why.

Plus, a new experiment.

Let me know your thoughts at https://streamlinedfeedback.com.

Visit https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/ for more insights.

Is your tech stack helping you or just adding to the noise? Take my free tech stack assessment to see if your tools are actually worth it at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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How to take more time off

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 02:00:00 -0500

I was recently stuck in an airport for 6 hours while my flight got more and more delayed. But instead of being mad about it, I realized something: this was a blessing of forced downtime.

And while I’m usually really good about taking time off, I know many solopreneurs who aren’t. We feel like we need to work or the business will crumble. I was there a few years ago.

But the good news is it’s not true. You can take time off and still have a thriving business. And in today’s episode, I tell you how.

Want to start creating more space in your business? Check out my free tools audit so you can make sure the apps and gear you use to run your business are actually helping you, not hurting you: https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/tools/

What do you think? Leave feedback at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

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Your Members Don't Want More Content

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 02:00:00 -0500

Memberships and Communities are a great way to stop selling hours for dollars. But you need to do it right.

I recently sat down with my good friend Becky Pierson Davidson to talk about why so many communities fail and how she helps solopreneurs turn "ghost town" memberships into thriving, seven-figure assets It hinges on this: people don’t want a library of 150 hours of video; they want to solve a problem.

If you’ve ever felt like your membership is a "traffic circle with no signs," this conversation is the GPS you need to create a clear member journey and build a business that supports your life instead of consuming it.

Looking to create even more time and space? Check out my free tools audit so you can make sure the apps and gear you use to run your business are actually helping you, not hurting you: https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/tools/

Links

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Working on Interoperability with the reMarkable 2 [Audio Note]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Thu, 05 Feb 2026 09:25:09 -0500

I picked up reMarkable 2 to see how I liked typing on an eInk device. I share some initial impressions, but am facing a bigger, more interesting problem: how to I make it play nicely within my current writing ecosystem?

Get all of the episodes at https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/
Send feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com

Is your tech stack helping you or just adding to the noise? Take my free tech stack assessment to see if your tools are actually worth it at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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What do we lose by relying on AI too much?

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 02 Feb 2026 02:00:00 -0500

What do Michelangelo, Shakespeare, Marie Curie, Ben Franklin, and Virginia Woolf all have in common? They all created long-lasting, humanity-impacting work…without the use of AI.

See, there are lots of people who will tell you that you need to use AI or get left behind. Those people are wrong.

In fact, I think the way to stand out is to not use AI. At least, not in the way everyone else is using it. While most people are using it to create for them…trying to get ChatGPT to “sound just like” them, I think you what you really need to do is create time and space to do good work.

AI can help you do that. I talk about how in this episode.

What do you think? Leave feedback at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

And finally, if you need Girl Scout Cookies and haven’t had someone come to your door, check out the video Teresa made for you at https://teresacasabona.com

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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January Accountability Report for Digital Detox [Audio Note]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 30 Jan 2026 16:16:28 -0500

It's the end of January and my Year of Digital Detox is in full swing. Here's how I'm doing with it so far.

Read about The Year of Digital Detox: https://casabona.org/2026/01/2026-yearly-theme-digital-detox/
Subscribe to Paper & Smoke: https://paperandsmoke.com

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Why Gear and Tools Actually Matters

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 02:00:00 -0500

I was recently trying to do something that should have been simple: sharing my work calendar with my wife so she knows when I'm actually free for family time. I found myself digging through "secret" settings pages, checking her phone, then mine, and getting increasingly frustrated.

It made me realize how often we settle for "fighting" our tools instead of letting them support us.

You’ve probably heard me say that gear doesn’t matter. If you’re a new podcaster trying to drop $2,000 before you’ve hit "record," I stand by that. But when it comes to the daily operations of your business, the right gear—both hardware and software—matters immensely.

Every minute you spend wrestling with a slow laptop, a glitchy hosting provider, or a manual process is a minute taken away from your family or your core mission.

In this episode, I’m breaking down the "Gear" pillar of my GAPS framework. I'll share the specific tools that save me hours every week and give you a practical framework to audit your own toolbox.

It’s time to stop letting bad systems eat your time so you can finally focus on your important work.

Stop guessing which tools you need and start streamlining. Download my free Tools Audit at streamlined.fm/tools

Show Notes

Have a question or a favorite tool? Share it with me at streamlinedfeedback.com.

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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How AI Can Actually Help Your Critical Thinking, not Hurt It

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 02:00:00 -0500

I’m deeply worried about humanity losing our critical thinking skills. We’ve seen it degrade in the social media era, and now we’re seeing people wholesale outsource it in the AI era.

But what if we can actually enhance our critical thinking with AI? I’m too much of a skeptic to tackle this topic on my own, which is why I brought in Christian Ulstrup, who’s doing some truly interesting things in the AI space.

We talk about how AI is changing the education space, how we work, and why we should look to classic philosophers, like Aristotle, for the answers to how we should approach AI.

The Walk and Talk Framework

Want a great way to use AI? Use Christian’s Walk and Talk Framework:

Gather Your "Digital Exhaust": First, collect the raw data you've already produced.
The AI Prompt: Copy and paste your text into a large-context model (like Google AI Studio) and use this specific prompt:
1. "I want you to pose to me three extremely precise, very hard-hitting questions, all of which are independent and have different coverage, that if sufficiently answered, would yield some kind of transformative, genuinely novel, impactful insight. Please make reference to the primary source material where appropriate in the context of the question."
The "Thinking" Phase
1. Don't look at the questions yet.
2. Copy them into a mobile notes app and go for a way
3. Read only the first question.
4. Open a Voice Memo and monologue your answer. Don't worry about being polished—mumble, ask yourself follow-up questions, and grapple with the idea until you feel you've reached a breakthrough.
5. Repeat for the remaining questions.
Distill the Insight

Links

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How to Serve More People and Scale Your Income

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 02:00:00 -0500

“What’s your exit strategy?” Someone actually asked me this when I was starting my business. I didn’t have one. I’m not in it for the exit.

But the question went to something deeper: how are you going to make actual money? Because the problem is most solo business owners charge hourly. Or they need to hire to scale. OR they need to sell the business.

But there’s a better way: Value-Based Pricing. And Jonathan Stark is here today to tell us about it.

Want to see how you’re spending your time so you can do more value-based pricing? Download my solopreneur self-assessment: https://streamlined.fm/impact

Links

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New Podcast: Paper & Smoke [Trailer Drop]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 09 Jan 2026 13:11:32 -0500

I am no Luddite. I have three pieces of technology that monitor my health and wellness. I’ve come to rely on many devices.

That is why I am doing a digital detox.

This is Paper and Smoke. It’s a look at how real-world craft happens, through the lens of a technologist going through digital detox. In a society increasingly online (and outsourcing thinking to AI), Paper and Smoke celebrates the real, the tangible, and the analog.

Learn more at https://paperandsmoke.com

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The Year of Digital Detox (2026 Yearly Theme)

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 02:00:00 -0500

There comes a time in everyone’s life when they’ve consumed too much of something, and they find the very notion of consuming more sickening. This is the very basis for my yearly theme. 2025 was finally the year were I felt my overconsumption of technology was getting the best of me. So this year, my theme is digital detox.

Read the full article here: https://casabona.org/2026/01/2026-yearly-theme-digital-detox/

Show Notes

My 2026 Yearly Theme
My 2025 Yearly Theme
Yearly Theme Archive
My Interview with Amanda Goetz (It was 496, not 498!)
My Favorites of 2025
Paper & Smoke
My AI Manifesto

Leave feedback at https://streamlinedfeedback.com/

(00:00) - Introduction
(04:12) - Grading The Year of Being Present
(12:09) - What I Learned from The Year of Being Present
(15:39) - My 2026 Yearly Theme
(17:48) - Goal 1: Using my Devices Less
(23:37) - Goal 2: Live in the Analog World
(28:17) - Wrapping Up

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An End of the Year (Beginning of the Year?) Update

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Thu, 01 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0500

We're almost at the end of Christmas break and I decided to record a quick update on how it's going...plus test my new camera. Check out the (somewhat unflattering) video here: https://youtu.be/HvSTnzOP01g

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My Favorite Tech, Apps, and Media of 2025

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 02:00:00 -0500

It's one of my favorite episodes of the year: my Favorites of the year! I'll go through all of my favorite media and tech of the year, as well as some close runners up and honorable mentions. Links below!

My Favorites of 2025
When is it Time to Switch Tools?
Paper & Smoke
Book: Fahrenheit 182
- Runner-up: The Anxious Generation
- Honorable Mentions: Neverwhere, Tiny Experiments, Listening to the Law
TV Show: Alex vs. A-Rod
Podcast: The Rest is History
- Podcast Honorable Mentions: Central Air, How We Made Your Mother
Music: Sad
Movie: Wicked: For Good
Video Game: Hogwarts: Legacy
App: Tella.TV
- Ecamm Live
- Bear Notes

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How I Saved Laura Brazan More Than She Spent on my Coaching

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 02:00:00 -0500

Knowing when to get help is so, so, so crucial to prevent burnout. Laura Brazan knew this, which is why she decided to hire me for coaching. During our few months together, I was able to save her a ton of time, help her create process automations, and consolidate her tech stack. She even said that she’s saving more than she paid me!

In this interview, we look at where she was before she hired me, the changes we made, and what she’s able to do now with the extra time she has.

Want to see how you can improve your systems and prevent burnout? Try my self-assessment: https://streamlined.fm/impact

Links

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Replay: My Favorite Christmas Story

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Thu, 25 Dec 2025 02:00:00 -0500

I knew from a young age, I wanted to play the drums. I got my first small kit when I was five, and when my friends and I started a "band," heavy quotes, I played paint buckets. When I was 15 years old, I knew I needed a real kit.

This is the story of how I got it, and how one man's incredible kindness had a profound effect on me.

Show Notes

Read the Story at Casabona.org

Submit feedback at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

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3 things you need to do before 2026

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 22 Dec 2025 02:00:00 -0500

I started my Christmas vacation the minute my kids got out of school. I can do that because I’ve built a business that doesn't chain me to my desk. But if I’m being honest, I don’t take those two weeks off just to bake cookies and watch movies—I use that downtime to make next year even better.

When the house is quiet, I run a full self-assessment on my business to figure out how I can further improve my processes, workflows, and systems. Think of it like a required annual car inspection for your business. You might uncover some unwanted "bills," but fixing small issues now prevents massive breakdowns later.

In this solo episode, I'm walking you through the three crucial things I review before the new year: Tools, Workflows, and Systems. I’ll share how a tools assessment saved a client more than she paid me for coaching, the three use cases I have for my writing apps, and the single bottleneck I look for to make sure my team is running smoothly. This isn’t about adding more work; it’s about strategically refining what you already do to create more space and impact in the coming year.

*Want to do this self-assessment? Get my template at https://streamlined.fm/impact*

Submit feedback at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

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Pick 2 (Revisit Edition): Bear Notes and Blinkist

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 02:00:00 -0500

It’s a soon-to-be classic Pick 2 episode, where I pick 2 apps or tools I’m using and tell you about them. I say soon to be classic because I’ve wanted to do this for a while, and I’m finally going through with it!

This week, it’s 2 apps I’ve used before and stopped using, but I’m revisiting. They are:

Bear Notes
Blinkist
Thanks to AppStories for the idea

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How Much is AI Harming Our Ability to Connect?

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 08 Dec 2025 02:00:00 -0500

It’s no secret I’m a full-on AI skeptic. And while I still use it, I’m very, very worried about the long-term effects of overuse. I saw a number of stories over the summer that point to us losing our ability to connect with other people.

We’ve decided that efficiency and productivity are more important than everything, including accuracy and trust. That we’ve decided to implicitly trust something made wholly by other people, some of whom don’t fully understand what their creation does.

Here’s my approach to AI, how we can be better, and my hopes for 2026.

And if you want to save time without giving up your humanity, check out my automations at https://streamlined.fm/quiz

Show Notes

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Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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How Liz Wilcox Built a Half-Million-Dollar Business on a $9 Membership

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 02:00:00 -0500

What if your business could support your life instead of consuming it?
That’s exactly what Liz Wilcox has built — a $9/month membership that supports her family, her sister, and three other families… all while she takes summers off.

In this conversation, Liz shares how she built a half-million-dollar lifestyle business that aligns with her values — without sacrificing her time, her sanity, or her kid’s beach days.

We talk about launching imperfectly, setting clear expectations, and building a business that runs with your life, not against it. Liz’s energy and honesty are unmatched, and her story will change how you think about pricing, productivity, and purpose.

Top Takeaways

A low-ticket offer can be high value — if you set clear expectations and deliver consistently.
Don’t wait for perfect — Liz launched her $9 membership using Google Docs and built from there.
Transparency builds trust. Tell your audience what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and when they can expect it.

Liz’s signature $9 membership is here: https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/liz — hit the hot pink button to grab her free email templates (and sneak a $1 trial of the membership).

🎧 Listen on: streamlinedsolopreneur.com

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We should write less with AI and more like the Supreme Court

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:20:45 -0500

I’m reading Amy Coney Barrett’s book, Listening to the Law, and it struck me that instead of writing using AI, we should write more like the Supreme Court…at least if we care about our audience.

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The Best Gifts for Small Business Owners (2025 Edition)

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 02:00:00 -0500

Every year, I put together a massive gift guide for small business owners — but this year, I wanted to do things differently. Instead of rattling off every gadget and tool I’ve ever tried, I’m sharing the handful of products that actually made my life easier in 2025.

From sleep earbuds that help me get more rest (even with kids and a dog) to the smart home lights that let me skip climbing into bushes every December, these are the gifts that save time, reduce friction, and make running a solo business just a little more fun.

If you’re shopping for yourself or a small business owner in your life, you’ll find something here that genuinely improves work and home life — without adding clutter or complexity.

Want to check out a written version of the gift guide? Head here: https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/2025-gift-guide/

Show Notes

Read to build your perfect site? Check out StellarSites.
Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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My Approach to Black Friday, and Affiliate Links

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 10:48:12 -0500

Well, we're in the holiday gauntlet now. I've gotten several emails from small, service-based business promoting Black Friday sales, and I'm not sure that's a very good approach. I share my experience with successful, and less successful BF/CM deals I've run.

I also talk about my approach to affiliates, and what I'm thinking about for that strategy in 2026.

Check out the 3 tools I'm actually promoting for Cyber Week: https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/3-black-friday-deals-on-tools-i-cant-live-without/

Here's my 2025 Gift Guide: https://streamlinedsolopreneur.com/2025-gift-guide/

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The 3-Step Process for Your First Automation

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 02:00:00 -0500

My oldest daughter loves asking me to tell her a funny story about my wife from when we were dating... and I almost always freeze. It's not because there aren't any funny stories. It's because there are too many to pick from.

This is exactly what happens when you open Zapier without a plan. You're faced with a "blank canvas" and endless possibilities, so you freeze and do nothing.

You've heard about "triggers" and "actions," but you're not sure what your triggers or actions should be. Zapier isn’t a sandbox for people starting out. The secret is to look at the work you're already doing.

I'll walk you through my simple, three-step process to get started. It starts with documenting your tasks, listing your apps, and then using one specific (and often overlooked) page on Zapier's website that will show you exactly what's possible for you.

Stop staring at the screen, wondering where to begin. Let's get your first automation built.

Want to see some real-world examples tailored to your biggest struggles? Take my free quiz at https://streamlined.fm/quiz and I'll email you four automation ideas you can use today.

Show Notes

Take the Automation Quiz: streamlined.fm/quiz
Explore the Zapier Apps Page: zapier.com/apps
Watch the Zapier Apps Page Walkthrough Video
Leave feedback: streamlinedfeedback.com

Read to build your perfect site? Check out StellarSites.
Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Thinking About Affiliate Emails During Cyber Week

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Sat, 15 Nov 2025 15:15:55 -0500

Our inboxes are about to be inundated with sales emails and affiliate-link riddled round-ups. Should I contribute to the noise?

I'm thinking yes...but I want it to feel different.

What do you think? Let me know at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

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The 4 Core Components of Every Automation

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 10 Nov 2025 02:00:00 -0500

Remember diagramming sentences back in school? I always thought it was pointless, but the real goal wasn't the diagram itself—it was understanding the structure of a good sentence.

The same exact logic applies to building automations. It's tempting to just jump into a tool like Zapier or Make and start connecting things, but that's like throwing a bunch of random words on a page and hoping it makes sense. If you want to build automations that actually save you time (and don't break), you need to understand the structure first.

I'm breaking down the four essential components every automation has—the two that are required, and the two "optional" ones that make your workflows truly powerful and intelligent. We'll walk through the difference between a Trigger and an Action, how to use Conditions to make your automations smarter (like "only do this if X is true"), and when to use specific Timing to batch your work.

Are you unsure what you should even automate first? I built a brand new quiz to help you pinpoint your biggest bottleneck. Answer four simple questions, and I'll send you personalized automation recommendations to solve your most crucial problem.

Take the quiz now at: streamlined.fm/quiz

Show Notes

**Watch the Video for visuals**
Submit Feedback: streamlinedfeedback.com

Read to build your perfect site? Check out StellarSites.
Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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The #1 Mistake Solopreneurs Make With Newsletters

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 02:00:00 -0500

Ever wonder if your newsletter should be the product…or just promote the product?

I’ve been treating mine more like a magazine than a sales tool — and it’s cost me. So I sat down with Dylan Bridger, who helps course creators and coaches turn their newsletters into profit machines.

We talk about:

The difference between a “magazine” newsletter and a “sales team” newsletter
How to actually warm up your audience so they buy when you make an offer

But we also get into the impact becoming a new dad had on Dylan’s workflows, and a short-lived side project that taught him big lessons fast.

This conversation helped me clear up a ton of issues with my own newsletter, and I think it’ll do the same for you.

Seeking clarity in your business systems? Take the Business Overwhelm Diagnostic.

Dylan Bridger is an email marketing expert who helps coaches and course creators increase their conversions while building stronger relationships with their lists. A full-time marketing consultant since 2021, more than 7,000 entrepreneurs follow his insights across newsletter and social media. When he's not working, you can find Dylan writing songs, goofing around with his daughter, or enjoying a nice cup of coffee.

Links

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Growth by Subtraction: How to Make Time for What Matters Most

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 27 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0400

When I was a kid, I said things like, “I won’t forget,” or “When I’m a dad, I won’t get mad.” Or…”I’m bored.”

But as you get older, and life puts you in various, unforeseen situations, it’s easy to get blindsided and react in a way you hoped you wouldn’t.

I think about this a lot when I consider what’s changed between turn 20 and turn 40. And there’s a common theme that has cropped up: pruning.

Letting go of what doesn’t work. Of where you used to spend your energy. About making more space in your life for the things that matter.

And I thought that there was no better person to bring on to talk about this than my friend, fellow freelancer, and fellow father, Austin L. Church. He’s a deep thinker, committed family man, and wants to help people.

Looking to prune what’s stealing your energy? Take the Business Overwhelm Diagnostic.

Top Takeaways

Fluff vs. value in business books — many books stretch one idea into 300 pages, but the best insights are usually old, durable ideas worth revisiting.
Growth by subtraction — focus and pruning beat doing “all the things.” Fractured attention leads to mediocre results.
Attention as water — what you focus on grows. Stop “watering” indignation and instead nurture gratitude, creativity, and presence.
Values over virality — not all success is worth emulating. If someone’s optimizing for attention or wealth at all costs, that doesn’t mean you should.
Parenting parallels — kids remember how you respond more than what you say. Choosing patience, presence, and love shapes both them and you.
“These are the good old days” — a simple mindset shift that makes it easier to stay present with family and avoid regrets later.

Links

What do you think? Send your feedback to streamlinedfeedback.com

Read to build your perfect site? Check out StellarSites.
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How I Built Episode 500

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 16:44:10 -0400

Episode 500 of the show came out on Monday. Here’s I I put it together using Google NotebookLM

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After 500 Episodes, Here’s the Real Secret to Success

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Nine years. 500 episodes. And one big question I've asked since the beginning. Do you have any trade secrets for us?

When I started this show (back when it was How I Built It), I was a newly married web developer with a side hustle and a curiosity for how others built their businesses. Ten years and three kids later, I’ve realized the mission has always been the same — helping solopreneurs build a business that supports their life, not consumes it.

In this special milestone episode, I’m sharing the story behind the show’s evolution, the real “trade secret” I’ve learned from hundreds of conversations, and how the GAPS Framework — Gear, Automation, Playbooks, and Support — is guiding my next experiment.

Want my systems delivered directly to your inbox for free? Join my mailing list at https://casabona.org/streamlined

Show Notes

💬 Send me your thoughts: streamlinedfeedback.com

Read to build your perfect site? Check out StellarSites.
Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Big milestone episode coming Monday!

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Thu, 16 Oct 2025 12:20:34 -0400

Am I overthinking how to approach episode 500? Plus, I got an android phone.

Send feedback to https://streamlined feedback.com

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The Productivity Tools Draft

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 13 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0400

We turned productivity into a fantasy draft! 🏆

Four small business owners battle it out, picking the apps and tools we cannot live without — with some surprise steals, hot takes, and even a bonus round for our favorite analog gear.

Looking for new ways to save time, systemize your business, and actually enjoy the tools you use? This draft is packed with ideas you’ll want to steal.

Draft Order:

Mike Schmitz
Layla Pomper
Cat Mulvihill
Joe Casabona

Wondering how you can manage your time to find the perfect balance? Take the Business Overwhelm Diagnostic.

Show Notes

What do you think? Send your feedback to streamlinedfeedback.com

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What I Learned Posting on LinkedIn for 40 Days [Audio Note]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Sat, 11 Oct 2025 06:41:30 -0400

I just wrapped up a Social Growth for my friend Chenell’s community where I posted on LinkedIn for 40 days.

Here’s what I learned and what’s next.

Send your feedback at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

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Stop Being the Bottleneck in Your Business

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 06 Oct 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Can you really delegate out when you are your business? Don’t people hire you to work with…well, you?

That’s the question Justin Moore and I wrestle with. We talk about the challenge of running personality-driven businesses, why it’s so hard to step away, and how to build a company that serves your life instead of consuming it.

Justin shares how he’s built a coaching business with a team he trusts, why impact is his North Star, and the mindset shift that helped him let go of control.

We also get real about balancing work with family time, the guilt that comes with stepping away, and why building a lifestyle business is just as valid as chasing a big exit.

Things get real – it’s something all business owners need to think about.

Wondering how you can step away from your business? Take the Business Overwhelm Diagnostic.

Top Takeaways

Use a North Star mission (like impact) to guide decisions about hiring, delegating, and growth.
Letting go of control is a mindset shift—delegating doesn’t dilute your business, it expands your reach.
A lifestyle business is not a failure; you don’t have to build for an exit if you love the work.
Balancing work and family isn’t about hacks—it’s about daily choices to be present in the moment.

Show Notes

What do you think? Send your feedback to streamlinedfeedback.com

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When is it Time to Switch Tools?

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0400

It seems like every day there’s a new tool designed to help us be more productive. They promise to help us to more, faster, better, with fewer resources. And it’s easy to get shiny object syndrome. So how do you know when it’s time to switch, or when it’s a waste of time and energy?

Luckily, as a chronic tool switcher, I’ve thought a lot about this very problem. And I have a framework to help you decide.

We’ll go through the 4 questions you should ask yourself when evaluating whether or not to switch. Then we’ll apply these tests to case studies so you can see how they work with actual examples.

Wondering if you should switch? Go to https://shouldyouswitch.com to apply this framework!

What do you think? How do you decide when to switch tools? Let me know at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

(00:00) - The Rapid Evolution of AI Tools
(02:08) - Framework for Tool Switching
(07:21) - Case Study: Dropbox to Google Drive
(12:04) - Case Study: Cal.com to Calendly
(14:12) - Case Study: Switching from Arc
(19:12) - Final Thoughts on Tool Switching

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I’m Creating a Paid Newsletter

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Sat, 27 Sep 2025 14:45:11 -0400

I’m considering a membership again, but this one is different! I’m going to do a paid newsletter, powered by Memberful and Kit.

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Why Work-Life Balance is a Myth for Parent Entrepreneurs

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Running a business while raising kids feels impossible some days. Between checking emails at the playground and working after bedtime, it's easy to feel like you're failing at both. But what if there was a better way?

Amanda Goetz has cracked the code on building an authentic business without the hustle culture nonsense. As a single mom of three who's built multiple six-figure income streams, she's learned that success isn't about doing more—it's about doing the right things at the right time.

In this conversation, talk about her surprisingly simple systems that keep her business running while she stays present for her kids. Amanda shares the real strategies that work when you can't afford to waste time.

But we also cover how to be authentic in an AI world, and she gives me the single best piece of advice I’ve personally gotten for how to balance both better.

Are you worried about burning out? Take the Business Overwhelm Diagnostic.

Show Notes

What do you think? Send your feedback to streamlinedfeedback.com

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Happy Apple Christmas!

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 19 Sep 2025 15:20:00 -0400

It’s new iPhone Day! It was a big year for me as it was time to upgrade several of my devices. Here’s what I got, and why.

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Kill Decision Fatigue with Simple “Recipes” for Your Business

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 15 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Ever go to do something – a task for your business, yard work, cooking – and suddenly realize you’re not sure where to start?

It’s not that you don’t know what to do…you just need a little help organizing your thoughts. It would be a lot easier if everything is written down, step-by-step. That’s where SOPs come in.

Most solopreneurs think SOPs are only for big companies with teams of 50+. But the truth? Even if you’re a business of one, SOPs (standard operating procedures) can save you time, reduce errors, and keep your business running smoothly—especially on the days when your energy or focus isn’t there.

In this conversation with Layla Pomper of ProcessDriven, we dig into how SOPs can simplify your work, help you automate and delegate, and even free up more headspace for the creative stuff you actually enjoy.

Trying to figure out which SOPs you should create first? Take the Business Overwhelm Diagnostic.

Top Takeaways

SOPs are like recipes—great for capturing details you’ll forget in the moment and for keeping quality consistent.
Writing down the process first makes automation or delegation way easier—and prevents wasted time tinkering.
SOPs aren’t about bureaucracy; they’re about removing decision fatigue and protecting your creative energy.

Show Notes

What do you think? Send your feedback to streamlinedfeedback.com

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Accidental Entrepreneur: Building a Business That Fits Your Life

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Ever stumble into entrepreneurship by accident? Dylan Redekop did — and he’s built a business that lets him spend time with his family, stay fit, and still grow his newsletter.

We get into freelancing vs. solopreneurship vs. contracting, why balance matters more than hustle, and the little systems that keep ideas from slipping through the cracks (while still allowing us to be present parents).

Looking for a way to find balance to run your business and get the restorative time you need? Take the Business Overwhelm Quiz.

Top Takeaways

Freelancer vs. Solopreneur: Freelancers sell their skills to other businesses, while solopreneurs often build a one-person business with products or services. Both models can work, but knowing how you identify helps clarify your work.
Balancing Contract Work and Side Projects: Choosing projects that complement each other creates a symbiotic relationship instead of competing for time.
Making Space for Hobbies and Health: Fitness, hobbies, and restorative time aren’t luxuries—they’re essential to being a better parent, partner, and business owner.

Show Notes

What do you think? Send your feedback to streamlinedfeedback.com

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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GAPS Framework: How to Build Space in Your Business

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 01 Sep 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Ever feel like your business eats up every free moment? The truth is, you don’t need Taylor Swift-level fame or Hormozi-style hype to succeed. What you actually need is space—room to create, promote, and step away without guilt.

That’s why I use the GAPS framework: Gear, Automations, Playbooks, and Support. It’s the system that helped me reclaim 10–12 hours a week, even during one of the busiest summers of my life. In this episode, I break down how you can use GAPS to stop fighting with your tools, cut the manual busywork, and finally get your time back.

Top Takeaways

Fame hacks don’t apply—your focus should be on knowing your audience, creating for them, promoting, and experimenting.
The biggest bottleneck isn’t knowing what to do—it’s finding the time to do it.
Gear: Invest in reliable tools so tech doesn’t slow you down.
Automations: Use tools like Zapier, Riverside, and Notion to handle repetitive tasks.
Playbooks: Create simple SOPs so you or anyone else can follow the same steps every time.
Support: Delegate to a VA, editor, or even students—don’t try to do it all yourself.

Show Notes

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Don't Let AI Kill Personal Touch [Audio Note]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 29 Aug 2025 09:37:42 -0400

I've had a few conversations with parents lately about how it feels like our kids are being pushed through, "the machine." When we get that personal touch, it's notable — even unexpected.

I fear AI is killing personal touch in the name of reach. If you want to stand out, keeping the personal touch is quickly becoming the easiest way.

Have thoughts? Send feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com

This description was not written by AI. I'm going to stop doing that.

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Full-Time Job, Side Hustles, and Fatherhood: Can You Actually Do It All?

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0400

What happens when you’re a dad of 3, working a full-time job, and still running not one but two side hustles? That’s the question I put to my friend Matt Medeiros — fellow podcaster, WordPress veteran, and all-around content machine.

We talk honestly about what it takes to juggle parenting, work, and multiple projects without burning out (or completely losing your mind). From managing sponsorship revenue to choosing the right tools, to figuring out when to reinvest vs. cash out, Matt shares what’s working for him — and where he’s still figuring it out.

If you’ve ever wondered how to balance family life while chasing creative business ideas, you’ll take away some real strategies (and a few good laughs).

Wondering how you can manage your time to find the perfect balance? Take the Business Overwhelm Diagnostic.

Top Takeaways

Common threads make side hustles sustainable – keeping your work, projects, and interests connected makes context-switching easier and prevents burnout.
Don’t turn every hobby into a business – it’s tempting, but some things are better left as hobbies so you can actually enjoy them.
Content creation is career insurance – podcasting, writing, or videos not only generate side income but also build a portfolio that makes you more valuable in the job market.
The right tools save hours – Riverside, Descript, and Opus Clips help streamline production, while letting him focus on strategy instead of getting lost in the weeds.

Show Notes

What do you think? Send your feedback to streamlinedfeedback.com

Contains affiliate links. ChatGPT helped with writing this description.

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Is Gemini the Best AI Chat Thing? [Audio Note]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Sun, 24 Aug 2025 16:16:17 -0400

I’ve been testing Gemini, ChatGPT, and Claude to see which one actually helps me. Claude felt forgetful, so I dropped it. ChatGPT is still great at structured stuff, like rewriting transcripts. But for things I didn’t know how to start—like turning an outline into a flowchart or converting a school calendar into an ICS file—Gemini nailed it.

My takeaway? AI shines when I need guidance and structure. When I’m just being lazy, it gives me junk and reminds me I should probably just do the work myself.

Incidentally, ChatGPT did a better job at writing this summary…

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How to Prevent Overwhelm in Your Business with the D.A.D. Framework

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 18 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Sometimes running a business can feel a bit like the curse of Sisyphus — pushing a boulder up a hill, only to have it roll back down again. Futile labor…because we dared to find life’s loopholes. But the difference between us and Sisyphus is we’re not cured. And our problems are totally fixable.

Today, I’m going to tell you about my D.A.D. Framework: how to Document, Automate, and Delegate your way out of overwhelm. Then I’ll tell you about a resource to help you figure out where to start.

What You'll Learn:

Why running a business can make you feel like the mythical Sisyphus
The three pillars of the D.A.D. framework and how to implement each one
Real automation examples that save hours without expensive tools
How to delegate effectively (even with basic-level VAs)
A 6-question diagnostic to identify where you're struggling most

Wondering how the D.A.D. Framework can help you? Take the Business Overwhelm Diagnostic

Show Notes

Looking for help with business overwhelm? Check out The Control Room.
Watch on YouTube
Take the Overwhelm Diagnostic: streamlined.fm/overwhelm
Episode 486 with Charlotte Crowder: streamlined.fm/486
Send feedback: streamlinedfeedback.com

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Stop Personifying AI [Audio Note]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Wed, 13 Aug 2025 10:00:00 -0400

I'm calling out something that's been bothering me since ChatGPT-5 launched - people are getting upset about AI "changing its voice" and referring to these tools as teammates. This kind of personification is dangerous because it gives AI agency it doesn't actually have.

Just like you wouldn't call a hammer your teammate, we need to remember AI is simply a tool that gives statistically likely responses.

This description was written by Claude AI.

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My Complete Business Setup: All the Gear, Apps, and Tools I Use

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 11 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Ready for the ultimate tech setup tour? After getting tons of questions about my gear and tools, I'm pulling back the curtain on EVERYTHING I use to run my business - from my $3000+ recording setup to the analog tools that keep me organized.

In this comprehensive walkthrough, I cover my entire recording studio (Sure SM7B, RoadCaster Pro 2, Sony A6400), the software that powers my business (Kit, Notion, Todoist), my Spartan travel setup, and even my favorite pens and notebooks.

Plus, I'll share why I'm considering going "AI vegan" and which tools are worth the investment vs. the ones you can skip.

Whether you're building your own podcast setup, looking to streamline your solopreneur business, or just love geeking out over productivity tools, this episode has something for you.

Are you overwhelmed by the number of tools you have? Not sure what you can eliminate vs. which you need? Get the, take the Business Overwhelm Diagnostic

Top Takeaways

Separate "business critical" software from nice-to-have apps - My core apps don’t change super often. But there are a bunch I like to try and tinker with to see if they’ll work better.
Automation tools should enhance, not complicate your workflow - My change back to Zapier due to user-friendly troubleshooting and testing capabilities matter more than saving money when things break.
Analog tools still have their place in digital workflows - Physical notebooks, quality pens, and handwritten planning complement digital systems by providing different cognitive benefits and serving as reliable backups when technology fails.

Want the full list with links? Everything mentioned is at https://casabona.org/uses

What's your essential business tool? Let me know at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

(00:00) - Introduction
(01:21) - Recording Setup: Microphone, Windscreen, and Boom Arm
(04:20) - Software for Recording
(10:06) - Simplified Travel Recording Setup
(13:11) - General Hardware
(16:12) - Business Software
(19:58) - Essential Apps for Mac and iPhone
(24:56) - AI Tools: ChatGPT, Claude, and Granola
(25:42) - Analog Tools
(26:59) - Final Thoughts

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Can Your Business Survive Going ‘AI Vegan’?

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 02:00:00 -0400

I have a confession to make: I use my GPS every time I drive. It’s not that I don’t know where I’m going. It’s that I’ve told myself, “the GPS knows more than me – it has traffic data!”

Nick Bennett pointed out on LinkedIn that there was a time before GPS, when people knew how to read a map…or just get around. And that was a present in today’s guest’s mind when he made a big decision.

Joe McKay is a LinkedIn Ghostwriter who used AI for everything…until the day he decided he’d go AI Vegan.

Today we’re going to talk about what it meant for his business and his mind, and if you should try it too.

Want to go AI Vegan but worried you’ll be even less productive? Take the Business Systems Diagnostic and let’s see how we can fix your systems!

Top Takeaways:

Joe found that, after a while, he was more concerned with whether or not people could tell if his writing was AI-generated, and less about what his customers…and their audience…actually needed.
AI gives us the ability to do more, faster. But you’re making a choice – a bunch of prefab, low-quality stuff, or high-quality, hand-crafted work.
But Joe and I have deeply considered what we’re losing by outsourcing to AI. Much like exercise, you need to actually do the knowledge work for you to stay sharp. Is AI dulling the skills we’ve staked our business on?

Show Notes:

I want to hear from you! Send your feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com.

*While I usually use AI to help me write the descriptions and takeaways, this time around, I decided to go AI Vegan, out of respect for Joe!

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What do I even do? [Audio Note]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Sat, 02 Aug 2025 17:25:50 -0400

I spent the week at the beach thinking about my signature framework, but honestly, I’m struggling to define what I really want to do and how I want to help people. Despite all the different ways I currently serve clients - from podcast coaching to building automations - I’m frustrated that I don’t have a clear answer about my core purpose.

I’m asking for your input: if we had coffee together for an hour, what would you ask me for help with professionally?

Write in at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

Episode description written by Claude AI

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The 3-Minute Brain Dump That Transformed My Work-Life Balance

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 28 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0400

I used to lie awake at night thinking about tomorrow's tasks and couldn't be present with my family because my mind was stuck on work problems. Sound familiar? The game-changer wasn't better time management—it was creating clear boundaries between work mode and family mode.

After years of working until the last possible second and then feeling mentally scattered during family time, I finally did something about it. Now I have a system that lets me be fully present with my kids while knowing nothing important will slip through the cracks.

I'll walk you through my complete startup and shutdown routine system, from monthly planning all the way down to my daily brain dump.

If you're tired of checking email at the playground or thinking about work during bedtime stories, this episode will show you exactly how to create the mental boundaries that actually work.

Do you struggle to stop thinking about work when you’re with your family? Take the Business Overwhelm Diagnostic and get the plan you need to fix it.

Top Takeaways

Create intentional day planning - Use a startup routine to decide what you'll accomplish before opening email or social media, preventing reactive scrambling through your inbox
Build context-switching boundaries - Startup and shutdown routines act as mental flags that signal when work begins and ends, especially crucial for home-based solopreneurs without commutes
Implement a brain dump system - The most important habit is unloading everything from your mind at day's end so you can be fully present with family without worrying about forgotten tasks

Show Notes

Have questions, comments, concerns? Send your feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com

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I’ve updated my /now page

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 07:00:00 -0400

I just updated my /now page for the first time in a while, and it’s become much more comprehensive than before. I walk through all the new sections I’ve added - from current projects and media consumption to streaming services and personal details.

There’s also a fun revelation about my five-CD changer playlist that’s surprisingly close to what I actually had back in the day.

Check out my /now page here

This description was written by Claude AI.

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The Hidden Cost of Switching Tools (It's Not What You Think)

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 21 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0400

My dad's furious "never again" phone call to some faceless company stuck with me for decades. Fast forward to last weekend: I'm rage-quitting Dropbox after a seemingly small slight.

Sound familiar? If you're a chronic tool switcher like me, you know that moment when you've had enough. But here's what nobody talks about—switching tools isn't just about clicking "cancel subscription." That’s why today I want to talk about what the actual costs are, and how to determine when to switch tools — when it will cause more clarity than chaos.

Are tools just part of the problem? Take the Business Overwhelm Diagnostic

Top Takeaways

The hidden costs of switching tools go way beyond money—you're investing time to learn new systems, mental energy on decision-making, potential workflow disruption, and losing the knowledge you've built up with your current tool.
Write a job description for your tools to evaluate if there's true feature parity between what you have and what you're considering—switching for the sake of switching rarely pays off.
Test before you fully commit and consider how the switch affects your team members, contractors, and existing automations—I learned this the hard way when my editor's workflow got disrupted.
Sometimes switching back is the right move—there's no shame in admitting a tool change didn't work out, especially if you can easily reverse course.

Send feedback to at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

Show Notes

When do you burn it all down and start over?
Why You’re Leaving Money on the Table with Email Automation with Kronda Adair
Dropbox VAT Tax Policy
Google Workspace Business Standard (Sorry I said starter during the episode)
RSS.com

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Am I messing up not having a community? [Audio Note]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 06:44:27 -0400

I’m wrestling with a realization from Justin Moore’s 10K Brand Challenge - I don’t have a place for my audience to hang out and connect. I’m exploring options like Slack, Discord, and Circle, but feeling stuck on which platform makes sense for parent solopreneurs and my “chaos to clarity” framework development.

This is a raw, unresolved brainstorm about community building and why I think it’s essential for my content strategy.

This description was written by Claude.

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Stop Explaining What You Do and Start Showing It with Charlotte Crowther

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 14 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Picture this: you're on a discovery call, your kids are making noise upstairs, and you're trying to explain what you do while mentally juggling dinner plans. Sound familiar? You're not alone—and there's a solution that goes way beyond just "trust me, I'm good."

I sat down with Charlotte Crowther, the mastermind behind some of the most recognizable frameworks in online business, to uncover how signature frameworks can transform your entire business. From eliminating the dreaded "so what exactly do you do?" conversation to creating content that practically writes itself, Charlotte breaks down why visual frameworks aren't just pretty diagrams—they're business-changing systems.

We dive into the hidden costs of winging it every time, why acronyms aren't always the answer, and how one simple visual can become the blood running through your business veins. Plus, you'll discover the one question every solopreneur should ask before creating their framework.

Wondering how you can take your business from Chaos to Clarity? Take the Business Overwhelm Diagnostic.

Special thanks to Kit for letting us use their studios! Learn more about them here.

Top Takeaways:

Frameworks are knowledge organizers, not just pretty visuals — they give structure to your expertise using both verbal and visual elements to help people understand faster and remember longer.
Start with the outcome, not your content — instead of mining through your 100 newsletters for a framework, ask "what specific result do I want to enable?" then design backwards from there.
Your framework becomes your business operating system — it informs your content strategy, sales conversations, course structure, and even team training, creating consistency across everything you do.

Show Notes

SignatureFramework.co
Sponsor Magnet
Unveiling my Personal Brand with Hollie Arnett
Leave Feedback at streamlinedfeedback.com

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Why I’m Making My Podcast the Linchpin of Everything [Audio Note]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 11 Jul 2025 08:24:03 -0400

I’m done letting AI dictate my content strategy and worrying about episode number parity while my downloads tank. After months of overthinking tactics, I’m simplifying everything by making my podcast the center of my content universe. Here’s how I’m cutting through the decision fatigue and getting back to what actually works: showing up generously for my audience.

Article: How I Let AI Ruin My Podcast Content Strategy

Send feedback at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

This description was written by Claude AI.

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How to Keep Up With AI Without Losing Your Mind with Charlie Guo

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Remember when ChatGPT first came out and it felt revolutionary? Well, that was just the beginning. Things are moving so fast in the AI world that by the time you figure out one tool, three new ones have launched. That's exactly why I brought Charlie Guo on the show—he's an AI engineer who actually understands this stuff and can explain it without making your head spin.

We talked about what's actually happening behind the scenes with AI right now, why most "AI agents" aren't really what they claim to be, and Charlie's brilliant system for turning your random thoughts into polished blog posts. If you're feeling overwhelmed trying to keep up with AI while juggling your business and family, this episode will help you cut through the hype and focus on what can actually save you time.

Feeling overwhelmed in your business? Take the Business Overwhelm Diagnostic.

Top Takeaways

AI got way better at thinking things through, which is likely why we’ve seen an explosion in tools and use. They are much better at “reasoning” now.
Most "AI agents" are just fancy automation tools that follow scripts you set up, not true assistants that can figure things out on their own and take action without your constant guidance.
AI is finally starting to connect to your actual apps (like your email, calendar, and project management tools), which means we're getting closer to having a real digital assistant that can do stuff for you.
You can turn car ride rambling into first drafts by recording voice memos of your ideas, then having AI organize them into actual articles—no more staring at blank screens.
Let AI handle the grunt work, but keep the good stuff for yourself—use it for research and organizing, but don't let it write your insights or replace your personal voice that connects with people.
Test AI with your own tasks every few months to see what it can actually do for your specific business instead of getting caught up in all the marketing hype about what it might do someday.

Show Notes

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Am I Outsourcing My Brain to AI? [Audio Note]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 12:29:48 -0400

I’m wrestling with whether I’m becoming too dependent on AI for critical thinking, especially after it helped me create an entire quiz for my business.

While I don’t use it for actual writing, I’ve noticed I’m defaulting to AI for brainstorming, research, and problem-solving more quickly than I used to. I’m exploring the line between helpful automation and potentially weakening my own thinking muscles.

What do you think? Send feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com

This episode description was written by Claude AI.

This was also published on my Audio Notes only feed, Joe’s Audio Notes. Let me know if you want to see more episodes like this.

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When AI Writes Your Code: Success, Horror Stories, and What's Next with Susan Boles

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Remember when coding meant years of computer science classes and debugging late into the night? Well, things have changed. I recently sat down with Susan Bowles, founder and fellow solopreneur, to dive into the world of "vibe coding" — essentially describing what you want to AI and having it write all the code for you.

While I had a nearly flawless experience with ChatGPT writing 2,000 lines of WordPress code for an underscoped client project, Susan's journey with Google Scripts was more of a write-test-fail-repeat cycle. We explored how this technology is reshaping not just how we build things, but potentially eliminating entry-level programming positions while creating new challenges around security and best practices.

The conversation took an interesting turn when I shared my recent Claude horror story — what started as a simple quiz creation turned into building an entire WordPress plugin, only to realize I should have just used Gravity Forms from the beginning. Sometimes the smartest tool isn't the shiniest one.

Special thanks to Kit for letting us use their studios! Learn more about them here

Want my AI Swipe file? Go here: https://streamlined.fm/automation

Top Takeaways

Vibe coding works best when you already understand the fundamentals — AI is great at writing code, but terrible at making decisions about what that code should actually do
Security remains a major blind spot — AI will happily tell you to put API keys in plain text unless you know enough to question it
The technology excels at helping you execute cool ideas quickly and get to beta testing faster, but shouldn't be the foundation of a fundable business

Show Notes

Disclaimer: Claude pretty much wrote this whole description based on the transcript.

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How Google Workspace Saved my Life with FamousAshley Grant

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0400

I always say to use what you’ll actually use. For Famous Ashley Grant, that’s Google Workspace. And today, she’s telling us all about how she uses it to manage literally everything in her life – from client work to meal planning.

Ashley's story hit home for me. Before implementing her system, she was constantly working too many hours, missing deadlines, and snapping at loved ones over simple questions like "what's for dinner?"

Now she has a full system inside Google Sheets – and you’re going to learn exactly how it works.

Want access to my database of 40+ automations and AI prompts for free? Get it here: https://casabona.org/streamlined

Top Takeaways

Having a central system for capturing tasks, ideas, and deadlines frees up mental space and reduces stress - Ashley calls her client work "quests" and "quest givers" to make tracking work more fun
Treating yourself as a "client" in your productivity system ensures your personal projects actually get completed
Quick capture is essential - immediately add things to your system when you think of them or receive them (like license renewal notices)

Check out my other shows at https://network.streamlined.fm

Show Notes

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Ask Me Anything: Automation Questions Roundup

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Thu, 19 Jun 2025 06:59:27 -0400

It’s an Automation AMA! From scheduling social media content to making kids' lunches (yes, really), fellow solopreneurs shared their biggest time-wasters. I ended up creating custom automation solutions for everything from podcast guest research to email management.

Special thanks to Kit for letting me record in their Studios! I highly recommend them for email and newsletters!

Get my free automations database at **https://streamlined.fm/automation** (powered by Kit, natch)

Top Takeaways

Social media scheduling can be mostly automated using a this kind of workflow: keep video details in Notion or Google Sheets, trigger Zapier when updated, and automatically schedule posts through Buffer or similar tools.
Email overwhelm has multiple solutions including using Sanebox and Todoist for organization, plus Zapier watching for specific emails by subject or sender to automatically process them with custom workflows.
Podcast guest research becomes manageable with tools like PodMatch for automated guest suggestions, intake forms for self-selection, and Google Alerts or PodScan to identify experts in your niche.
AI transcription and summarization saves hours on client calls by automatically processing Zoom transcripts through ChatGPT with custom prompts for different call types (discovery, coaching, etc.).
YouTube chapter creation gets easier when you use tools like Ecamm Live's marker button during recording, then search edited transcripts for your noted timestamps instead of relying on AI timing.
The "one platform, do it well" approach beats spreading yourself thin across all social media—pick LinkedIn or another single platform and focus your automation efforts there.

Show Notes

See the entire conversation here
How I Keep my Email at Inbox Zero
Automate Email Management with SaneBox
My Brown M&M for Podcast Guest Pitching
Growth in Reverse Podcast
PodMatch
Sanebox - Email filtering service
Todoist - Task management
Buffer - Social media scheduling
Zapier - Automation platform
Notion - All-in-one workspace
Ecamm Live - Live streaming software
podscan.fm

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My 4-App Travel System That Saves Hours of Trip Planning

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 02:02:00 -0400

I'm recording from Kit Studios in Boise while attending conferences, which got me thinking about something crucial to my business success—my travel system. As someone who travels frequently for networking and conferences, I've developed a streamlined approach that keeps me organized and stress-free on the road.

My system revolves around two essential apps: Flighty for flight tracking (which often knows about delays before airlines do) and Apple Notes for keeping all trip information in one easily accessible place. But the real magic happens with my "New Trip" shortcut that automates the entire trip planning process—from creating calendar events to generating custom packing lists based on trip length and type.

I also swear by checking bags instead of dealing with carry-ons, mainly because I travel with items that can't go through security, but also because it lets me move through airports quickly with just my backpack. Plus, I share some thoughts on Southwest's recent policy changes and how they might affect family-friendly travel.

Special thanks to Kit for letting me record in their Studios! I highly recommend them for email and newsletters!
Get my free automations database at https://streamlined.fm/automation (powered by Kit, natch)

Top Takeaways:

Flighty is a game-changer for frequent travelers — it provides real-time flight tracking with AI forecasting that often alerts you to delays before airlines do, plus it tracks connections and terminal transfer times
Create a "New Trip" shortcut to automate trip planning — mine calculates trip length, adds calendar events, generates custom packing lists, and creates project templates in one tap
Set up dedicated travel and conference focus modes — customize your home screen with essential widgets (time at home, flight info, maps) and silence non-essential notifications

Links

My iPhone Focus Modes
Flighty - Flight tracking app with AI forecasting
Apple Notes - For trip organization and quick reference
Widgetsmith - For custom widgets (QR code display)
Whisper Memos - Voice note recording
Ticci Tabs - Bookmark manager app
Todoist - Project management for work tasks
Apple Reminders - For packing lists and personal tasks
MacSparky - David Sparks' site (source of packing list shortcut inspiration)
Send Feedback

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My iPhone Focus Modes

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0400

I've been on a mission to use my phone way less this year, sparked by reading The Anxious Generation and that magical Disney World trip where I barely touched my phone. The solution? iPhone focus modes - my secret weapon for controlling the fire hose of information instead of letting it control me.

Think about it: you finally sit down to get some real work done, and your phone starts buzzing with calendar alerts, group chats going off, and random notifications. It's enough to make you want to throw it out the window.

Focus modes let you take back control by choosing exactly who and what can reach you in different contexts.

I've crafted focus modes for every part of my day - from the gym to my ultra-strict "Green Zone" mode for deep work (where I can literally only see time tracking widgets). Each mode has custom home screens, specific apps, and even changes my Apple Watch face to match what I'm doing.

*Want a peek into how I’ve created more time? Check out my free automations database and AI swipe file at https://casabona.org/streamlined*

Top Takeaways

Focus modes are custom "Do Not Disturb" profiles that let you control which people and apps can interrupt you based on what you're doing - think of them as digital boundaries for different parts of your day.
You can automate focus modes to turn on based on time, location, or when you open specific apps, so you don't have to remember to switch them manually (my fitness mode turns on when I get to the gym, personal mode kicks in at 6 PM).
The goal isn't to be unreachable, it's to be present - focus modes help you context switch with intention instead of fighting your phone for the ability to concentrate on what matters in that moment.

Show Notes

Screenshots: Lock Screens | Home Screens | Focus Modes
The Anxious Generation
ScreenTime+
Opal
Flighty
FitBod
Ecamm Live
Fantastical
The Brick
My 2025 Yearly Theme
Leave Feedback at https://streamlinedfeedback.com
Check out all of my shows at https://network.streamlined.fm

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We’re Trying No Summer Camp AGAIN

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Last year, my wife and I made the somewhat terrifying decision to skip summer camp for our kids to save $9,000-$10,000 and spend more intentional time together. It wasn't perfect—I gave myself a solid B—but we survived, and more importantly, we're doing it again this year.

The financial savings were huge, but the real motivation was recognizing we're in a limited window where our kids actually want to hang out with us. Since we have the flexibility as solopreneurs to create our own schedules, why not use it? Last year taught me some hard lessons about communication, boundaries, and realistic expectations.

This time around, I'm better prepared with clearer work boundaries, more structured activities for the kids, and honest conversations with my wife about what we both need to stay sane.

Want a peek into how I’ve created more time? Check out my free automations database and AI swipe file at https://casabona.org/streamlined

Top Takeaways

The real cost of summer programs goes beyond money—it's about recognizing the limited time window when your kids actually want to spend time with you, and leveraging the flexibility that comes with being self-employed.
Structure matters for everyone—kids need predictable routines to avoid emotional meltdowns, and parents need clear work boundaries to prevent every meeting request from hijacking their already limited schedule.
Time blocking becomes non-negotiable when you have less time to work—protecting your green zone (peak productivity hours) and limiting meetings to one day per week helps maximize focused work time.

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I Vibe Coded a Client Project

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Wed, 28 May 2025 02:00:00 -0400

I'll be honest—I don't officially do web development anymore. But when a nonprofit asked for help, I thought I could knock out a simple WordPress portal in 25 hours using no-code tools like Zapier and Advanced Custom Fields. Boy, was I wrong.

What started as a straightforward project quickly turned into a nightmare of under-scoping and tool limitations I never saw coming. Zapier didn't work with WordPress custom post types the way I expected. Advanced Custom Fields still requires custom coding for Gutenberg blocks after seven years. Google Sheets automation had quirks I'd never encountered. It was starting to look more like 60 hours, not 25.

That's when I reluctantly turned to ChatGPT for help—and it completely saved my butt. Instead of writing custom code from scratch or going back to the client with double the budget, I started "vibe coding." I'd describe the problem, ChatGPT would write the solution, and we'd iterate together. It wrote nearly 2,000 lines of code for me, handled complex features I would've needed premium plugins for, and let me stay flexible when the client requested changes.

The result? A 30-hour project instead of 60, a happy client, and a reminder that sometimes the tools we resist most can be the ones that save us.

*Want 40+ automations plus my AI swipe files? Head over to https://casabona.org/streamlined*

Top Takeaways

Vibe coding can be a massive force multiplier, even if you're not a developer—ChatGPT walked me through everything and cut my project time in half
Always scope projects more carefully by testing tool limitations upfront, especially when assuming "obvious" features exist (spoiler: they often don't)
AI coding made me more flexible and agreeable to client requests because I wasn't emotionally attached to hand-written code

Show Notes

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The Human in the Loop : AI That Actually Sounds Like Me with Corey Koehler

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 26 May 2025 02:00:00 -0400

When I first started using AI in my business, I was hesitant — it felt like a shortcut that might strip away my voice. But in this conversation with Corey Koehler, I learned that when you set it up the right way, AI can actually amplify your voice and make your work better — and faster.

Corey shares how he went from spending hours grinding through client work and side projects to building an AI-powered system that slashed his production time, boosted his income, and gave him more time with his family.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to create consistent content or build your business while keeping your family first, this episode will give you a clear, practical blueprint for making AI actually work for you — without losing your soul along the way.

I want to hear from you! Send your feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com.

Top Takeaways

AI isn’t just for shortcuts — it’s an amplifier for your creativity and problem-solving if you build the right systems around it.
Setting up "projects" inside ChatGPT (or Claude) lets you preload important context — like your business model, ideal customer, and writing style — so you're not starting from scratch every time.
Authenticity still matters: letting AI write for you without human editing risks sounding bland and disconnected — “human in the loop” is key.

Show Notes

Check out my other shows at https://network.streamlined.fm

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Brain Friendly Systems for Professionals who want to Do It All with Skye Waterson

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 19 May 2025 02:00:00 -0400

My therapist recently asked if anyone had ever talked to me about ADHD. While I've never been formally diagnosed, that question sparked a journey into understanding how our brains work—especially when running a business. That's why I was thrilled to chat with Skye Waterson, an ADHD strategist who helps entrepreneurs build "brain-friendly" systems.

Skye discovered her own ADHD during her PhD studies and has since developed an approach called "Unconventional Organisation" that works with your natural thinking patterns instead of against them.

If you've ever found yourself with 30 browser tabs open, jumping between half-finished projects, or creating elaborate systems you abandon by Tuesday, this conversation might be exactly what you need. Skye's practical approach cuts through the noise and focuses on what actually moves your business forward while leaving room for you to be present with your family.

I want to hear from you! Send your feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com.

Top Takeaways

Most of us genuinely have fewer than five truly urgent tasks each day—learning to identify what has actual external consequences versus what just feels urgent can instantly reduce overwhelm
Create systems that match your natural processing style rather than forcing yourself to use tools that don't work for your brain
Find dopamine sources outside your business—hobbies and interests prevent you from creating unnecessary complexity just to keep things exciting

Show Notes

ADHD Focus Filter
Skye on Instagram (message “streamlined”)

Check out my other shows at https://network.streamlined.fm

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How I’ve Configured my Stream Deck

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 12 May 2025 02:00:00 -0400

One of my favorite things to do at Disney World growing up was get on attractions and press all the buttons. They really made it feel like you were accomplishing things. Maybe that’s why I like the Stream Deck so much.

I've been using Stream Decks for about five years now, starting with a 15-key model before expanding to a 32-key XL and adding two more devices to my setup. These programmable button panels have become an essential part of my workflow, helping me control everything from video production to home automation.

While many see Stream Decks as tools just for streamers, I've integrated them deeply into my daily work—managing focus sessions, tracking time, controlling my lights, and executing shortcuts that save me dozens of clicks every day. They've become my personal control room that helps me work more efficiently and stay focused, whether I'm recording podcasts, creating videos, or doing deep work.

Top Takeaways

Stream Decks aren't just for streamers—they're incredibly versatile productivity tools that can automate repetitive tasks across your entire workflow, from video production to time tracking and home automation.
Custom buttons with visual icons make actions more memorable than keyboard shortcuts, especially for complex or infrequently used commands that are hard to remember.
Controlling my environment (like turning lights on/off, changing colors, or setting focus modes) with a single button press helps me transition between different work modes instantly, saving mental energy and reducing friction.

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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How I’m Prepping my Business for Vacation

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 05 May 2025 02:00:00 -0400

I solemnly swear I’ve never worked on a family vacation. Can you honestly say that? I can’t.

From checking emails in Magic Kingdom to recording podcasts at the beach, I've been guilty of putting work before family time, even on vacation. After some not-so-great experiences (including a previous Disney trip that didn't go as planned), I've decided my upcoming Disney vacation with my family will be different.

This time, I'm setting firm boundaries by not bringing my laptop, using devices like Brick to physically prevent me from checking emails in the parks, and setting clear expectations with clients. The truth is, most of us aren't handling truly mission-critical work—the world won't end if we're unreachable for a week. My kids are excited about this trip, and I refuse to be that parent staring at my phone while standing in "the happiest place on earth."

Top Takeaways

I'm leaving my laptop at home and only bringing an iPad with keyboard for genuine emergencies, making the "pain" of working greater than the "pain" of the emergency itself.
Using tools like the Brick app and Focus mode lets me physically block myself from checking work communications while at Disney, helping maintain boundaries during family time.
Setting proper expectations with clients in advance is crucial—I've already notified everyone I'm actively working with that I'll be completely unavailable and explained why.
Practicing "willful forgetfulness" about work matters helps reduce anxiety—most things that feel urgent aren't truly emergencies, and my business is designed to function if I step away briefly.

Show Notes

Brick App - App used to block distractions during vacation
Joe's Audio Notes - For follow-up thoughts after returning from Disney
Newsletter Signup - To stay updated with the latest content
Streamlined Feedback - To share how you handle work during vacations

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3 Automations I’m Using in my Business (from Easy to Hard)

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0400

You’ve probably seen Rube Goldberg machines — those ridiculous setups where a marble rolls down a track, flips a switch, lights a match, and somehow makes toast. They’re fun to watch… but terrible for actually getting anything done.

That’s how most automations feel when you’re first starting out: over-engineered, fragile, and hard to maintain. But real business-saving automations? They don’t need to be complicated. In fact, some of the ones that save me the most time are stupidly simple.

In this episode, I walk through three automations I actually use — starting with a single-app setup inside Notion, moving to a form-to-database connection, and ending with a wild (but wonderful) workflow that ties together a whole bunch of tools. And yes, that last one does feel like a Rube Goldberg machine… but it works beautifully.

If you want to see how these work or grab templates, head to casabona.org/automation.

Top Takeaways

Start with simple, single-app automations. You’ll reduce points of failure and make it easier to trust your systems.
The best automations evolve. I’ve been tweaking some of mine for years.
Don’t build for complexity. Build for clarity, reliability, and ease.

Show Notes

Send feedback here!

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How to Take a Sabbatical as a Solopreneur with Maegan Megginson

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0400

The last time I went on vacation, I told people I wasn’t bringing my laptop. You know what they said?

“Good job! That’s great.”

The proper reaction should have been, “Obviously. Why would you bring work on vacation?”

But that’s not the culture we live in here in the USA. Overworking and hustling is glorified. That’s why I’m excited to talk to Maegan Megginson.

Maegan is a licensed therapist and holistic business mentor who believes every solopreneur can and should take sabbaticals—not just to rest, but to actually create a healthier, more sustainable business.

In fact, she’s made sabbaticals a cornerstone of her business model and helps others do the same.

We talked about how solopreneurs can actually make time for a sabbatical (even if you’re the breadwinner), what it looks like to step away without disappearing, and how to come back stronger, while avoiding burnout. This wasn’t some woo-woo talk about “finding yourself.” It was a practical, grounded look at how to create space in your business when it feels like the last thing you can afford to do.

I want to hear from you! Send your feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com.

Top Takeaways

Sabbaticals aren’t vacations—they’re intentional periods of rest and reflection, more like a “season of winter” in your business.
A four-week sabbatical gives your nervous system time to truly settle, with the first two weeks decompressing and the second two weeks offering space for clarity and creativity.
Planning is key: figure out your financial needs and start saving so you can pay yourself while you're off.

Show Notes

Check out my other shows at https://network.streamlined.fm

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Tools To Make Video Production Easier

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Remember when late-night hosts went remote during the pandemic and somehow looked worse than your average Zoom call? Even with massive budgets, their setups were rough. Meanwhile, I’ve managed to build a solo video production workflow that looks better than theirs — with no crew.

In this episode, I walk through the tools and tech I use to replicate a full video studio by myself. I share how I record faster, cut editing time in half, and publish polished content — whether it’s courses, YouTube videos, or shorts — all without burning out. If video production has ever felt overwhelming to you, this is your permission to simplify.

Top Takeaways

You don’t need a crew — you need a system. With the right tools and prep, you can create professional-looking videos solo, without wasting hours on editing or setup.
Ecamm Live is the command center. It handles everything — multiple cameras, screen sharing, overlays, and real-time scene switching — all mapped to buttons on my Stream Deck.
Gling.ai cuts editing time by 80%. It automatically removes filler words, silences, and bad takes using transcript-based editing. It’s a total game-changer for long-form content.
Tella is perfect for shorts and quick demos. It’s like what Loom should have been. I use it for social media clips, explainer videos, and coaching follow-ups

Show Notes

Luria’s Episode
Ecamm Live (use code CASABONA for 15% off)
Tella
Gling.ai
How I’ve Configured my Stream Deck

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Less Friction, More Authority: How to Show Up Confidently on Camera with Luria Petrucci

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Video is becoming an essential tool for solopreneurs, and having good camera presence can help you build trust and authority faster. But showing up well on video isn’t just about buying the right camera—it’s about understanding energy, framing, lighting, and how to create an engaging presence.

I sat down with Luria Petrucci, a longtime video expert, to break down what solopreneurs need to know about looking and feeling confident on camera—without overcomplicating it.

Plus, we dig into the psychology of video—how your background, body language, and even the way you use a teleprompter can make a huge difference in how your audience perceives you.

If video has felt like a heavy lift, this episode will help you simplify the process and get started with a system that works for you.

I want to hear from you! Send your feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com.

Top Takeaways

The camera steals energy – You need to bring 2-3x more energy than you think to avoid looking flat on screen.
Good audio is more important than good video – Viewers will tolerate lower-quality visuals, but bad audio will make them tune out immediately.
Perfection is a procrastination tool – Many solopreneurs overthink the tech instead of just hitting record and improving over time.

Show Notes

Check out my other shows at https://network.streamlined.fm

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Do You Have an AI Swipe File?

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 31 Mar 2025 02:00:00 -0400

I’ve been on a mission to help solopreneurs cut through friction—especially when it comes to using AI. And one major pain point? Staring at a blinking cursor, not knowing what to ask ChatGPT. If you’ve ever wasted time retyping prompts, getting inconsistent results, or forgetting what worked last time, this one’s for you.

I finally built an AI swipe file—a collection of reusable prompts, templates, and context that lets me get better, faster results from tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini. In this episode, I break down how I’m using AI right now, what’s in my swipe file, how it saves me time, and which tools I use to manage everything. I also shared some prompts from listeners about how projects in ChatGPT are starting to replace parts of my swipe file.

If you’ve been meaning to get more consistent with your AI usage—or want to avoid typing the same prompt for the 100th time—this is your sign to start a swipe file.

Top Takeaways

A swipe file isn’t just for copywriters—it’s a game-changer for AI. Think of it as SOPs for your AI tools: reusable prompts, saved context, and examples that give you consistent results without starting from scratch.
ChatGPT Projects are starting to replace some of my swipe file needs by storing persistent context and instructions—great for repeatable tasks like show descriptions and editing guidance.
AI is here to assist, not replace. Let it handle the scaffolding so you can focus on adding your personality and expertise on top.

Want my actual swipe file? You’ll find it in my free automation database: streamlined.fm/join

Show Notes

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Why Solopreneurs Need to Embrace AI (the right way) with Damien Schreurs

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 02:00:00 -0400

AI isn’t just a passing trend—it’s a game-changer for solopreneurs looking to streamline and automate their businesses. Or is it?

I’ve always been AI hesitant, but I’ve also been using it a lot more. So today's guest, Damien Schreurs, and I discuss how AI is shifting from simple task automation to handling cognitive work, why people struggle to accept it, and how solopreneurs can embrace AI without losing their unique touch.

We also get really in the weeds with AI-powered workflows that save time, reduce manual work, and help you focus on what matters most in your business.

I want to hear from you! Send your feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com.

For all of the links mentioned in this episode, go to https://streamlined.fm/468

Top Takeaways

AI is the next big automation revolution. Just like electricity or the internet, AI is here to stay, and solopreneurs who adapt early will benefit the most.
AI isn’t a robot—it’s an automation tool for thinking tasks. AI models don’t create original ideas, but they can analyze, summarize, and assist in decision-making.
The best automation still needs human judgment. AI can process data, but it takes human experience to make strategic decisions and apply insights effectively.

Show Notes

Macpreneur Podcast & Website
Joe Casabona on Macpreneur
Should we use AI to write for us?
The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman & Michael Bhaskar
AlphaGo Documentary
AI Marketing Institute
MindStudio
Make.com
Zapier
Claude AI
ChatGPT

Check out my other shows at https://network.streamlined.fm

Disclosure: ChatGPT generated most of this description from the episode’s transcript

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Unveiling my new Personal Brand with Hollie Arnett

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 02:00:00 -0400

What started as a rebrand for Podcast Workflows turned into a full re-evaluation of my entire business. After conversations with my mastermind group and some deep reflection, I realized I wasn’t just serving podcasters—I was helping solopreneurs create space in their businesses through automation, systems, and smart workflows. Holly guided me through a brand strategy process that helped me clarify my audience, messaging, and positioning, leading to a full personal rebrand.

For all of the links mentioned in this episode, go to https://streamlined.fm/467

Top Takeaways

Niching down feels scary, but it makes it easier for the right people to find and hire you.
Clarity in branding makes decision-making easier, from product offerings to content creation.
A good brand should reflect your personality and values—mine even incorporates my love for baseball and spaciousness.

Show Notes

Niching down feels scary, but it makes it easier for the right people to find and hire you.
Clarity in branding makes decision-making easier, from product offerings to content creation.
A good brand should reflect your personality and values—mine even incorporates my love for baseball and spaciousness.

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Why Solopreneurs Need a Strong Personal Brand with Hollie Arnett

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 02:00:00 -0400

Most solopreneurs already have a brand, whether they realize it or not—it's the perception people form about them based on their content, messaging, and presence. But without intentional branding, that perception is left to chance. Holly Arnett breaks down the difference between a personal brand and a business brand, the importance of branding beyond just logos and colors, and how a strong brand makes it easier to market yourself, attract the right clients, and streamline decision-making.

Got something to say? Write in at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

For all of the links mentioned in this episode, go to https://streamlined.fm/466

Top Takeaways

A brand is not just colors and logos—it’s the perception people have of you.
Branding is the process of shaping and controlling that perception intentionally.
A strong personal brand makes you more recommendable—people should easily be able to describe what you do and who you help.

Show Notes

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Shortcuts That Make Life Easier for Me

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 10 Mar 2025 02:00:00 -0400

I HATE feeling friction with tech that’s supposed to make my life easier. And I love my iPhone, but I feel the friction sometimes. Apple Shortcuts can help solopreneurs automate repetitive tasks and reduce that friction. Today I break down some of my favorite shortcuts to show you how I make my life easier and help you come up with ideas. Whether it’s streamlining content creation, organizing tasks, or even just cleaning up screenshots, the right shortcuts can save time and reduce friction.

The key takeaway? Look for areas where you repeatedly perform the same actions and build shortcuts to handle them. If you’re constantly adding things to reminders, capturing notes, or planning travel, there’s likely a way to make it easier.

For all of the links mentioned in this episode, go to https://streamlined.fm/465

Top Takeaways

Apple Shortcuts can automate daily tasks, from capturing notes and managing to-dos to preparing for trips and cleaning up your phone’s clutter.
The best shortcuts remove friction—if a task feels tedious, it’s a good candidate for automation.
Experimenting with Shortcuts can help you find simple ways to optimize your work and personal life.

Want to download my favorite Shortcuts (and 40 other automation templates)? Get them here: https://streamlined.fm/automate

Show Notes

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How I Built My Own CRM Using Notion and Automation

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 03 Mar 2025 02:00:00 -0500

I hate CRMs. I know I need one—I’m doing more coaching, getting more inbound leads, and ranking in the top three organic search results for podcast coaches on Google.

But no matter how many times I’ve tried HubSpot, Zoho, or whatever the flavor of the week is, they’ve never fit into my workflow.

So I did a totally normal, not weird thing: I built my own CRM.

In this episode, I walk through the simple system I set up using Notion, Todoist, Make.com, and my website. I’ll share why I built it this way, how it automates lead tracking and follow-ups, and why reducing friction is the key to sticking with any system.

Plus, I’ll show you how you can apply this same approach to streamline your own processes—without forcing yourself into tools that don’t work for you.

For all of the links mentioned in this episode, go to https://streamlined.fm/464

Top Takeaways

The best CRM (or any tool) is the one you’ll actually use—start simple and build on tools you already know.
If you struggle with sticking to a system, it’s likely because it doesn’t fit your natural workflow. Adapt the system, not yourself.
Don’t limit yourself because of past experience. There is lots of flexibility in the apps we use today, and you can take advantage of that.

Show Notes

Screenshots I posted on LinkedIn
Automations Database
Notion
Todoist
Make.com
Gravity Forms
Want to see the automations I use? Get access to my 40+ Automations Database at streamlined.fm/automation.
Send feedback to https://streamlinedfeedback.com
Feeling stuck? Check out my unstuck sessions at https://casabona.org/unstuck

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Growing a YouTube Channel in a Crowded Field with Stephen Robles

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 02:00:00 -0500

Stephen Robles is not only a Shortcuts and automation expert—he’s also built a successful YouTube channel covering Apple products, smart home tech, and (of course) Shortcuts. But he didn’t just start making random videos. He figured out how to create content that people actually want to watch.

In this episode, Stephen breaks down his YouTube strategy: how he finds content ideas, how he packages videos for success, and why your title and thumbnail might be killing your views. If you’re a creator trying to grow on YouTube, this episode is packed with insights.

For all of the links mentioned in this episode, go to https://streamlined.fm/463

Top Takeaways

Your packaging (title & thumbnail) is everything. If no one clicks, no one watches—so spend time making them compelling.
Experiment with content angles. Stephen didn’t review the iPhone 15—he focused just on USB-C, which made his video stand out.
Consistency matters, but smart workflows matter more. He records multiple camera angles at once, uses AI to edit, and batches content to maximize efficiency.

Show Notes

Send Feedback: https://streamlinedfeedback.com

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An Introduction to Apple’s Shortcuts with Stephen Robles

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 02:00:00 -0500

I’ve been talking a lot about automation this year, and one tool that keeps coming up is Apple’s Shortcuts app. So I brought in Stephen Robles, a YouTuber and podcaster who’s been using Shortcuts since it was called Workflows before Apple bought it.

We get into what Shortcuts actually does, and how you can use it to automate repetitive tasks, eliminate friction, and make your iPhone way more useful. Stephen also shares some incredible automation ideas, from formatting podcast show notes to controlling smart home devices.

If you’ve ever thought, I wish my phone just did this for me, there’s a good chance Shortcuts can make that happen.

For all of the links mentioned in this episode, go to https://streamlined.fm/462

Top Takeaways

Shortcuts can automate almost anything. Whether it’s formatting text, logging data, or running workflows with a tap, it’s a game-changer.
The Action Button takes it further. You can assign multiple shortcuts to one button press, making it even more versatile.
Home automation can be super smart. Stephen shares how his smart shades close when he turns on the bathroom fan and how his patio fans activate when it gets hot.

Show Notes

Send Feedback: https://streamlinedfeedback.com

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Being a Solopreneur Mom vs. a Solopreneur Dad with Leah Remillet

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Wed, 19 Feb 2025 02:00:00 -0500

Leah and I might be in different stages of parenting, but we have very similar situations — 3 kids, running a business, spouse who also works. So in part 2 of our interview, we jump into the societal expectations of moms and dads, discussing the stark differences in how each is perceived. Leah shares how she navigated running a business while being a hands-on mom and the challenges of unspoken gender roles in parenting. We also discuss our own anxiety with bringing kids up today vs. when we were kids — and how we’re trying to fix it.

Top Takeaways

Moms Face More Pressure to “Do It All” – The expectation is still that moms handle home responsibilities, even when they work full-time.
Balance Looks Different at Different Stages – Leah’s balance shifted as her kids grew older, and Joe’s approach has to be different with younger kids.
Perfection is the Enemy of Good Parenting – It’s okay to not have Pinterest-perfect parties or homemade treats. Focus on being present instead.

Show Notes

Send feedback at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

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Does Work-Life Balance Exist? With Leah Remillet

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 17 Feb 2025 02:00:00 -0500

Work-Life Balance is a myth! Or is it? In today’s conversation with Leah Remillet, we talk all about our goal as solopreneur parents to have everything – as in “AND,” not “OR.” Leah emphasizes that balance isn’t about equal time for everything but about feeling good in YOUR core areas of life. She explains her framework for achieving work-life balance through priorities, presence, and purpose and offers practical strategies like setting boundaries, system stacking, and discipline to maintain balance.

Top Takeaways

Set Boundaries with Your Work – Create office hours, shut down your computer, or build whatever boundaries you need to to make that mental shift.
Perfection is a Myth – Instead of focusing on what’s going wrong, focus on the “bright spots” where things go well and build from there.
System Stacking is Key – Small, intentional habits (like meal prepping, scheduling breaks, and using alarms) create long-term balance.

Show Notes

Send feedback at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

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I rearranged my office! [Joe's Audio Notes]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 14:11:23 -0500

This weekend, I completely rearranged my office—and I couldn’t be happier with the results. What started as frustration with my camera framing turned into a full workspace transformation. In this episode, I break down:

- Why I moved my desk and how it improved my video setup
- The changes I made to declutter and improve cable management
- The unexpected number of extra USB cables and extension cords I found (seriously, where did they all come from?)
- Why I finally got rid of my massive softbox lights
- My ongoing whiteboard dilemma and plans for even more optimization

Timelapse of my Office Rearrangement
https://youtu.be/H8Ar19kSBjE

Got questions or office setup tips? Let me know!

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Automation 101 for Busy Solopreneurs

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 02:00:00 -0500

Automation can feel overwhelming, but it all boils down to four simple components: triggers, actions, conditions, and timing. Once you understand these, you can start automating repetitive tasks, saving yourself hours of work and mental energy.

In this episode, I break down these components with real-world examples, like home automation and business workflows, and share how you can use them to create seamless systems for your solopreneur business.

Then, I’ll tell you how you can start thinking about your tasks in terms of these components.

Top Takeaways

Triggers are the events that kick off an automation, like a form submission or a specific time of day. Identifying what starts a process is the first step in building an efficient system.
Actions are the tasks your automation performs after the trigger, whether it’s sending an email, updating a database, or turning off your smart lights.
Start identifying daily tasks that could benefit from automation. Map out the trigger, action, condition, and timing to see how you can streamline your workflow.

Show Notes

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2025 Starts Now for me — here’s why

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 03 Feb 2025 02:00:00 -0500

January was chaotic for me, with family time over the holidays, snow days, travel for Podfest, and a house full of sick people. Despite all that, my business kept running smoothly thanks to the systems and processes I’ve built over the years. Instead of stressing over a “lost” month, I decided to start 2025 in February, reframing my timeline and giving myself permission to adapt. This experience reinforced the importance of creating margin—not just in your weekly schedule but as a core part of your business—to handle unexpected disruptions while still moving forward.

Top Takeaways

My systems and processes provided me was more margin than I thought. Despite not working for half of December and a lot of January, I was still able to continue producing my podcast, posting here, generating leads, and sending out proposals.
The calendar year is arbitrary. The things I wanted to do that I didn't do in January can easily move into February. And I already know my systems can support those changes.
Building margin into your business isn’t just about avoiding burnout—it’s about ensuring you have the space to adapt and thrive, even during busy or unpredictable times.

Show Notes

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Automation and Delegation are Worth It

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 27 Jan 2025 02:00:00 -0500

“How do I know if investing in automation is worth it?” This was a question someone asked me after my talk at Podfest. And it’s a fair question. We don’t want to waste time and money on something that won’t pay off.

So in today’s episode, I tell you exactly how to know if automation and delegation are worth the investment.

Top Takeaways

Understand Opportunity Cost: Opportunity cost is the value of what you give up when choosing one activity over another. For solopreneurs, this often means the lost income or time that could be spent on billable work.
Automation Rule of Thumb: Automate repetitive tasks you’ve done at least three times and that require consistent inputs and outputs. But do the task manually first to ensure automation makes sense.
Take Small Risks for Big Gains: Test delegation by hiring a VA or outsourcing small tasks. Even $50/week can help you reclaim time to avoid burnout or spend with family.

Show Notes

Why You’re Losing Money when You Mow the Lawn

Send feedback to StreamlinedFeedback.com

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Using AI: Disclose It or Don’t Use It

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 20 Jan 2025 02:00:00 -0500

This one might ruffle some feathers, but I’m OK with that. I think we NEED to disclose the usage of AI in creative work more. It’s less about signaling that you cheated in some way — on the contrary, I don’t think using AI is de-facto cheating. It’s about honesty, integrity, and transparency.

So my policy is simple: if you use AI to write, record, or produce something, it should be disclosed in the same way affiliate links or paid promotion has to be disclosed.

And today, I explore why I feel so strongly about that.

Top Takeaways

Establish Clear Guidelines for AI Disclosure: I tell my readers how and when I use AI. If it contributes more than 5% of an article’s total word count, I write it at the bottom of the piece.
AI Produces Mediocrity: As Jason Snell said**,** AI tends to average out content, making most of it mediocre at best. If you want to stand out, you can’t just rely on AI.
Human Connection is Irreplaceable: In a world where AI threatens to erode personal connection, it’s up to us to keep our content human.

Show Notes

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How to Create Content Your Audience Actually Wants

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 02:00:00 -0500

Halfway through writing nearly 24 articles for my Podcast Advent project, I started to wonder if I was wasting my time. Is this worth it? Am I writing what people actually want to read?

You’ve probably fallen into the same trap: spending hours creating content, unsure if it’s resonating with anyone. It’s frustrating, exhausting, and can feel like shouting into the void. But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Today, we’re exploring a few things you can try to come up with content that resonates with your audience — plus I’ll tell you about my GAPS framework for content in 2025.

Top Takeaways

Let data lead the way: Your analytics are a treasure trove of insights. Tools like Google Analytics and Search Console can show you what content performs well so you can double down on those topics.
Ask your audience: Your audience is your best resource. Invite questions through email, social media, or a dedicated feedback link, and turn their questions into valuable content.
Experiment, but evaluate: Testing new ideas is important, but don’t forget to review the results. If something doesn’t work after a few tries, let it go.

Disclosure: ChatGPT has contributed more than 10% to the description and takeaways for this text, fully using the episode’s transcript.

Links

Leave Feedback at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

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2025 Yearly Theme: The Year of Being Present

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 02:00:00 -0500

It's time for 2025's yearly theme. While The Year of Control didn't go as planned, I'm excited to have a much better plan in place for this year's theme, The Year of Being Present.

Want even more podcast content, giving you a behind the scenes look at being a busy, solopreneur parent? Sign up for my free, private podcast at casabona.org/notes

Show Notes

Send your feedback at streamlinedfeedback.com

(00:00) - Intro
(01:32) - Housekeeping
(03:09) - Grading The Year of Control
(14:13) - The Year of Being Present
(24:55) - Helpful Tools
(32:07) - Wrapping Up

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Generosity and the Future: My Favorite Christmas Story

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 20 Dec 2024 08:47:47 -0500

I knew from a young age, I wanted to play the drums. I got my first small kit when I was five and when my friends and I started a "band," heavy quotes, I played paint buckets. When I was 15 years old, I knew I needed a real kit.

This is the story of how I got it, and how one man's incredible kindness had a profound effect on me.

Show Notes

Read the Story at Casabona.org
Rate: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Podchaser
Get Unstuck in 2025

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My Biggest Failure, and Success, of 2024

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 16 Dec 2024 02:02:00 -0500

2024 has been a transformative year for me. I learned a ton about myself and my business, and for the first time in a while I feel like I’m not flailing. I’ll have the clearest plan I’ve had in a long time in 2025 — one that’s reinforced by conversations I’ve had, not just hunches. So for the last episode of the year, I wanted to do a quick year in review where I talk about my biggest success, my biggest failure, and the lessons I learn.

Plus, some feedback from last week’s episode on using AI.

My Biggest Success

This was definitely ranking #1 in Google for “Podcast Coach”. It shows that my work to grow this area of my business is working out!

Biggest Failure

My Be everywhere strategy. I made a big deal about it and abandoned after 4 months, since it was very clearly not working. It was basically all downsides. It also resulted in two other outcomes:

Going to stop publishing on Medium in 2025
Shutting down my membership

Lessons

Know your niche. I thought I knew mine but it got a lot clearer the back half of the year, and I saw a positive impact because of it.
Don’t discount SEO/Google, and even ChatGPT, which is being used for search more. As social media is fracturing further,
Focus on one thing at a time. My Be Everywhere strategy left me trying to do too many things at once, and none of the succeeded.

Links

(00:00) - Intro
(02:14) - My Biggest Success
(06:43) - My Biggest Failure
(10:16) - Social Media is Fracturing
(12:12) - 3 Lessons from 2024
(17:07) - Feedback on Using AI

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It’s Been 2 Years Since ChatGPT Came Out. How do Solopreneurs Use It?

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 09 Dec 2024 02:00:00 -0500

It’s been two years since ChatGPT went mainstream, and AI has completely transformed how we work. While I maintain some hesitancy and skepticism in using AI, it has made it’s way into my daily life for certain tasks. While I’ll tell you all about that, I also talk about why the human touch will always matter, no matter how advanced these tools get.

So strap in (yes, I wrote these words without any intervention from AI) for a look into how I’ve been using AI as a solopreneur. And don’t worry — I’ve mostly edited out the rambling rants.

Top Takeaways

AI tools like ChatGPT have improved significantly, especially with features like custom GPTs and web-connected capabilities, but there’s room for growth in personalization.
AI has become an essential tool in my workflows, particularly for providing fresh perspectives during ideation and research, and “rubber ducking.”
As we move forward, it’s important to balance efficiency with authenticity, using AI for support while ensuring it doesn’t replace meaningful human interactions and creativity.

Links

(00:00) - Intro
(02:34) - I'm AI Hesitant
(06:31) - How I'm Using AI
(10:23) - ChatGPT is Replacing Google
(13:30) - My Thoughts on Apple Intelligence
(14:40) - What is a Photo?
(19:35) - Feedback — How You're Using AI!
(23:13) - The Future of AI
(26:23) - Wrapping Up

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How to Build Authority as a Solopreneur with Jessica Lackey

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 02 Dec 2024 02:00:00 -0500

“Build your authority” feels like advice that’s often given without a solution attached. And it’s SO important to solopreneurs, especially since social media is no longer the best place to build a proper audience.

That’s why I sat down with Jessica Lackey, a business and operations strategist who’s all about helping solopreneurs like us build real authority. We talked all about what you actually need to do to build authority – from understanding who you’re talking to, to the medium you use to get your message out.

Top Takeaways

Develop a Clear Premise, Process, and Body of Work: Building authority begins with a well-defined message and positioning (your premise), a unique approach to your work (your process), and a public body of work that showcases your thinking and differentiates you from others.
Focus on Patterns and Behaviors Over Demographics: When identifying your niche or audience, prioritize the patterns, behaviors, and values of those you serve best, rather than just their demographic details. This leads to more meaningful connections and effective authority building.
Create a Cohesive Body of Work Outside of Feed-Based Platforms: Relying solely on social media can be limiting due to its ephemeral nature. Building authority is more effective on platforms you own—like blogs, newsletters, or podcasts—where your content forms a cohesive and accessible body of work.

Finally, pick the medium you’re most comfortable with – or as Jessica puts it – pick the method for authority building that you’ll actually use.

Show Notes

Jessica Lackey

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Some Apps and Services I'm Grateful for

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Sat, 30 Nov 2024 17:24:08 -0500

In this bonus episode, I share a gratitude-inspired look at the tools and habits that have shaped my year, including my favorite apps, services, and hardware. From time-saving actions to game-changing tech, this episode offers a sneak peek into my “favorites of the year” and how they’ve helped me reclaim time and focus.

Links

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Work-Life Balance Reframed: Be Kind to Yourself with Lindsey Carnick

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 02:00:00 -0500

Have you ever been playing with your kids or trying to relax, but your mind keeps drifting back to work? Trust me, you’re not alone! It can feel frustrating – and it can feel like you’re failing to achieve “work/life balance.”

That’s why I brought on Lindsey Carnick, a licensed clinical social worker and owner of Onward Psychological Services.

We get into how our minds work, the importance of aligning with our personal values, and practical strategies to stop overthinking – BUT ALSO why there’s no shame in those random work thoughts.

If you’re done feeling shame for work thoughts hijacking your free time, and want to learn how to be more in control of your reaction to them, this is a perfect episode for you.

Something that puts my mind at ease with work is knowing things are still chugging along, even when I’m sleeping, thanks to my automations. Want a head start? Download my free automations database at https://streamlined.fm/freebie

Top Takeaways

Accept the Mind’s Wanderings: It’s natural for your mind to think about work during personal time. Instead of resisting or feeling guilty about these thoughts, acknowledge them without judgment.
Align Actions with Personal Values: Understanding and prioritizing your personal values helps in making decisions that lead to a fulfilling life.
Write to Manage Thoughts: Writing down thoughts can help clear your mind and prevent intrusive ideas from occupying mental space. Plus, once you write things down, the words on the page won’t change!

Show Notes

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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The 2024 Solopreneur's Gift Guide (with Cat Mulvihill)

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 02:21:00 -0500

It’s the annual gift guide episode! Except, instead of just talking at you for 40 minutes, This year, I’ve teamed up with my good friend Cat Mulvihill to bring you the ultimate 2024 Gift Guide for solopreneurs and anyone working from home. We talk home goods, tech, productivity, EDC, and more.

Our main goal fits perfectly with the mission too: we want to help you solve a problem…not just spend money unnecessarily.

Whether you’re shopping for yourself or looking for the perfect gift for the solopreneur in your life, we’ve got you covered with thoughtful, problem-solving recommendations that’ll make the work-from-home experience smoother and more enjoyable.

And let us know, what’s something you can’t live without? Leave a message at streamlinedfeedback.com

Find Cat

Want a special discount on all the Elgato stuff we mentioned? Use Cat's link and discount code:

https://elgato.sjv.io/catmulvihill
Rebate Code at checkout: ZZ-CatMulvihill

Home and Office

Dual Basket Air Fryer
OXO Coffee Grinder (I incorrectly said “Bonavita” during the show, which is my coffee maker)
Tea Kettle
Lamy Fountain Pen
Joe’s Pen Buyer’s Guide
Oofos Sandals

Tech

EDC

Software

Contains affiliate links

(00:00) - Introductions and Advice
(04:48) - Comforts of Home
(16:14) - Tech and Gear
(42:49) - Everyday Carry Essentials
(48:30) - Software Recommendations for Black Friday
(55:49) - Removing Friction in Daily Life

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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How Solopreneurs Can Work with a Virtual Assistant

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 18 Nov 2024 02:00:00 -0500

Bringing a VA into your business can free up your time and help you focus on growth, but finding and effectively working with the right VA requires clarity on what you need, a structured hiring process, and simple, ongoing communication.

Many solopreneurs are overwhelmed by the process of hiring and working with a VA. You may not know where to start, what tasks to delegate, or how to ensure the VA’s work aligns with your business goals. This leads to hesitation, missed opportunities, and often burnout from handling too many tasks alone.

So today, I’m going to tell you how I work with my VA, and give you a 4-step process for finding and successfully working your VA.

Want that VA Notion template I mentioned? Head on over to https://streamlinedfeedback.com/ and leave a message!

Top Takeaways

Define and Delegate Key Tasks: Start by identifying tasks that take up the most time but don’t require your direct involvement. Using the “perform, evaluate, and remove” framework helps clarify which tasks are best suited for delegation to a VA.
Select and Test Multiple Candidates: To find a suitable VA, post a job on platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or onlinejobs.ph, then test a shortlist of candidates on the same task. Evaluating each VA’s work on a small project helps gauge their skills and attention to detail.
Create Videos for Each Task: Use video tutorials to record yourself completing each task, explaining each step clearly. Have the VA transcribe these instructions and write out steps, creating a documented process that they can refer back to as they work.

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Free Preview: Joe's Audio Notes

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 15 Nov 2024 12:30:21 -0500

A few months ago I launched a free private podcast called Joe’s Audio Notes. The episodes are very short (7 minutes or less), where I share my thoughts on being a solopreneur, a podcaster, a parent, and other thoughts related to being a productive member of society.

I'm sharing 3 of the episodes here (which you can find in the chapter markers):

Thinking About my Content Strategy
How do you pick the right idea?
Battling the work hangover

If you like it, I'd love for you to join!

You can sign up for free here.

(00:00) - Intro
(02:04) - Thinking About my Content Strategy
(07:42) - How do you pick the right idea?
(13:24) - Battling the work hangover

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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How to Build a Flexible Lifestyle Business with Den López

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 11 Nov 2024 02:00:00 -0500

Ever thought about creating an online course that truly makes a difference? One that actually helps people accomplish their goals? That’s exactly what guitar coach Den López has done. He transformed his life from being a car mechanic in Barcelona to becoming a successful online guitar instructor.

We’ll talk all about how he created the “Guitar in One Hour” Method that helps beginners play songs quickly without the usual frustration, his unique approach to designing courses that focus on actionable outcomes and real skill acquisition, and why he believes in giving away his best content for free to build trust.

If you’ve ever wanted to build a flexible lifestyle business, deliver an online course that actually gets results, or need that push to follow your passion, this episode is a must-listen.

Top Takeaways

Prioritize Actionable Outcomes in Your Courses: Focus on helping students achieve specific skills or results, and embed practical exercises within your lessons to encourage active participation and skill acquisition.
Provide Immediate Value to Build Trust: Offer valuable content for free to address your audience’s immediate needs, and use lead magnets that solve specific problems quickly.
Utilize Simple and Accessible Technology: High-quality content doesn’t require expensive equipment. Using basic tools like a smartphone can be effective and efficient.

Show Notes

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Why You Need to Automate Your Business as a Busy Parent with Kim Caloca-Madden

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 02:00:00 -0500

Being a business owner is hard. So is being a parent. So why don’t we hear more about how to do both well? Fret not – that’s why I brought Kim Caloca-Madden onto the show.

We dive deep into why business owners with kids should build systems and how automation can be a game-changer for busy parents. Kim shares her personal journey from being a stay-at-home mom needing to generate income to becoming a powerhouse in business automation.

We also cover how automation enhances consistency and efficiency in your business, practical steps to start automating today, even if you’re a newbie, Kim’s favorite tools for streamlining tasks and managing time, and balancing parenthood and entrepreneurship without losing your sanity.

Want to get a head start on your automation journey with my free Automations Database? Go to https://streamlined.fm/freebie to download it.

Top Takeaways

Automation Enhances Consistency and Efficiency: Implementing automation in business processes helps deliver a consistent customer experience and reduces human error.
Start Small with Automation: Begin by automating simple, repetitive tasks that consume time. Examples include task management, calendar synchronization, and email responses.
Automation Requires Maintenance and Human Oversight. And remember, not all tasks should be automated; human interaction is necessary for certain aspects to maintain a personal touch.

Show Notes

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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How are you Protecting Your Time?

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0400

The summer had one lasting effect I didn’t notice until recently: I made my schedule pretty open for anyone who wanted to meet. I didn’t want them to be limited to my limited availability, so I tried to be as open as possible. But over the last 2 weeks —really since my episode with Conny, I realized that I’ve let everyone else control my calendar.

I’ll take a meeting with almost anyone bc I feel they are the best way to form relationships, but I’m not vetting those people. I’m not creating boundaries for my meetings either. I even have a calendar that’s totally open for friends — but I’ve sent it to more than friends.

If you’re a busy solopreneur — especially a parent or someone with other obligations — this can kill productivity.

So how do we fix it? That’s what we’re talking about today.

One Big Problem: I’m not guarding my time
One Small Fix: Cal.com
Feedback: Working with a VA

Get your free automations database at https://streamlined.fm/freebie

Top Takeaways

You need to control your own calendar instead of letting other people control it.
That means asking yourself when you can block time off for no meetings, how many meetings you want to take in a day, and what’s the criteria for if you take a meeting or not.
Cal.com is an excellent tool for creating a system that will manage your calendar for you.

Show Notes

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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How to Actually Sell Stuff Using Social Media with Katie Brinkley

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0400

My love-hate[but mostly hate] relationship with social media is well documented. It feels like a time-suck where you get into arguments with people who don’t care about anything you say. People tell me it’s great to grow your business…I just don’t see it.

But Katie Brinkley has changed that for me. She elevates CEOs to become thought leaders and disruptors in their industries. And she does it mostly through social media.

By the end of this episode, she’ll give you strategies for choosing the right social networks, posting (3-4 times per week max), as well as how to waste less time and make more sales.

Want to hear a longer, ad-free version of this episode where Katie and I talk about brand social media vs. personal social media? Become a member of Streamlined Solopreneur Accelerated.

Top Takeaways

Select the Right Platforms: Focus on one or two platforms where your target audience is most active. Remember each platform has its own culture.
Prioritize Genuine Engagement: Spend time connecting and commenting on others' posts to build relationships. Engagement is more impactful than frequent posting without interaction.
Use Hashtags Strategically: Identify and engage with hashtags your ideal clients are using. This approach helps you connect more effectively with your target audience.

Show Notes

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How to go from chaos to peace as a busy solopreneur with Conny Graf

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0400

It’s easy for people who live unconstrained lives to give advice. “Just meditate for 2 hours each morning.” “Hustle.” “Get rid of anything that doesn’t bring you joy.”

The truth is that most people have some constraints to live by. Whether it’s kids, work, or other obligations, we can’t just drop everything to follow the latest guru.

That’s why I like Conny Graf’s approach. Conny has many credentials, but the one I like best is “certified clutter-clearing practitioner.” And today, she’s going to tell you how you can reasonably declutter your life to turn chaos into peace.

Want to hear a longer, ad-free version of this episode where I talk about the chaotic day leading up to this interview? Become a member of Streamlined Solopreneur Accelerated.

Top Takeaways

Chaos is when you have too many things going on, a cluttered environment, and a packed calendar that leads to stress and lack of focus. Recognize the early warning signs that you're slipping into chaos, like feeling agitated or nervous.
Be intentional about your priorities and learn to say no more often. Not everything is equally important - focus on the "glass balls" in life like family and relationships. Give yourself grace when you can't be at your best.
Declutter your physical spaces a little bit each day. Create designated spots for things like shoes and papers. Optimize your environment to support your daily activities and prevent stuff from piling up.
Finding peace is an ongoing journey, not a destination. Make small adjustments over time, reflect on what's working and what's not, and continuously optimize your life and business. Focus on progress, not perfection.

Show Notes

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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4 Ways to Market Without Social Media with Emily Aborn

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 02:00:00 -0400

Do you hate social media as much as I do? Some experts will tell you that you need social media to market, but that’s increasingly not true. Gone are the heady days of Twitter, where you can tweet a link and people would actually see it.

That’s why I brought on Emily Aborn, a Content Copywriter, Speaker, and Podcast Host. She’s also a wealth of information on how to market by making sure you have a great product, and much like her, a ton of personality.

Want to hear a longer, ad-free version of this episode where Emily and I discuss the importance of a strong personal brand? Become a member of Streamlined Solopreneur Accelerated.

Top Takeaways

Having a high-quality product or service that solves your target audience's problems is the foundation of effective marketing
Collaborating with others in your industry can help expand your reach and build trust with new audiences.
Focusing on marketing strategies that align with your strengths, interests, and values can lead to more authentic and effective marketing efforts.

Show Notes

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Just Launch the Dang Program Already

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 30 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0400

I made an unexpected $300 over a weekend in September. And I know that doesn’t sound like a lot — but it’s money I didn’t have, that I have now. That is the power of launching messy — something my friend Stacey encouraged me to do, and what I want to talk about today in a solo episode with some freshly minted segments:

One Big Problem: How to get over the fear of making something perfect before launching it
One Small Fix: Using Tella.tv to easily create videos as a way to update my product
Feedback: Send yours in at https://streamlinedfeedback.com

Top Takeaways

Overcoming Perfectionism: Don't let the pursuit of perfection prevent you from launching your product. Follow the advice of creating a minimum viable product (MVP) and iterate from there. This helps you get real feedback and make improvements based on actual user experience.
Soft Launching: Consider soft launching your product to a small group of users. This approach allows you to gather essential feedback and make necessary adjustments before a full-scale launch. Offer early access discounts as an incentive for early adopters.
Find the right tool for the job: I got so caught up in making it perfect, that I overlooked the real value of Podcast Navigator: advice and access. With Tella, I’m able to easily provide both to my customers.

Show Notes

(00:00) - Welcome!
(01:32) - The Big Problem: Launching
(08:50) - The Small Fix: Tella.TV
(12:04) - Feedback: Submit Yours Today!

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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How Important is a Good Home Studio, Really? with Junaid Ahmed

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0400

I’ve been thinking a lot about the notion of starting simple (or messy) vs. starting perfect. And while I definitely fall more on the side of “start messy and iterate,” there are a few places where you shouldn’t skimp.

A good home studio is one of them, which is why I brought on my friend Junaid. He’s a “Home Studio Architect,” and he’s a wealth of knowledge. We talk about why you need at least good audio, how to improve your setup without breaking the bank, and the absolute non-negotiables.

By the end of the episode, you’ll know exactly what you need to sound more authoritative with your content.

Want to hear a longer, ad-free version of this episode where Junaid and I talk about our specific setups? Become a member of Streamlined Solopreneur Accelerated.

Top Takeaways

Start Small with Video Quality: Don't let the barrier of high-end equipment stop you from creating content. Your smartphone is good enough to start.
Lighting is Key: Optimizing your studio lighting can make a big difference. Understand the roles of key lights, fill lights and backlights. Experiment with different setups until you find what works best for you.
Invest in a Good Microphone: For podcasting and video recording, audio quality is most important. You can find a great mic for $100-250, depending on your budget.

Show Notes

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Finding Your Non-Negotiable for Health Work-Life Balance with Terry Toh

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 16 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0400

Recently my friend Justin asked on X, “How do you define success?” I said, “Can I knock off for a day at will to spend time with my family?”

The world constantly tells us we need to hustle to be successful – but that can’t be true. If you’re a parent, for example, hustle is just not an option.

That’s why I’ve brought on Terry Toh. Terry helps business owners successfully run their side business while maintaining a full-time job. But as you’ll see, much of what he has to say can apply to busy solopreneur who may have other obligations – like family, volunteer work, or other interests outside of work.

It’s all about finding your non-negotiable.

Want to hear a longer, ad-free version of this episode where Terry and I talk about Silicon Valley Hustle Culture? Become a member of Streamlined Solopreneur Accelerated.

Top Takeaways

Define what success means to you personally. It's not just about money, but spending time on what matters most to you. Regularly check in with yourself as priorities change.
Identify your single top priority and 2-3 key non-negotiables at any given time. Intentionally make progress on these each day before moving on to less critical tasks.
Watch for personal signs that you're doing too much and nearing burnout, such as revenge bedtime procrastination or being irritable with your kids. Build in breaks and support.

Show Notes

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The Importance of Episode Segments (Bonus!)

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 16:41:32 -0400

Ever wonder how to make your podcast stand out in a sea of content? After a serendipitous conversation at Podcast Movement 2024, I uncovered a game-changing strategy that could revolutionize your approach. Spoiler alert: It involves segments.

I'll break down why rethinking your podcast structure can make a big difference. We'll explore how segments can help you give more value to your audience, make your show more accessible, and even repurpose content more effectively. Plus, I'll share different segment ideas that work for both interview and solo episodes, ensuring you never run out of compelling content.

Want to hear a longer, ad-free version of this episode where I talk about a cool new opportunity, and building community? Become a member of Streamlined Solopreneur Accelerated.

And check out my other podcast, https://podcastworkflows.com

Top Takeaways

Implement Segments in Your Podcast: To create a more engaging show, think about incorporating segments. Just like how late-night shows have defined parts, segmenting your podcast can make it more consumable and structured. You can dedicate parts of your episode to different topics or formats, such as opening monologues, interviews, and specific segments tailored to your audience's interests.
Structure for Solo Episodes: If you're worried that solo episodes might become stale, develop a clear structure. For instance, discuss a main topic, then showcase an interesting tool related to that topic, and finish with an automation tip. This keeps the solo content engaging and valuable.
Balancing Personal and Professional Content: For busy solopreneur parents, combining personal experiences with actionable business advice can create a relatable and impactful podcast. Consider dedicating a segment to how you manage parenting alongside your entrepreneurial duties.

Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Scaling Your Business While Staying a Solopreneur with Joel Oliver

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 09 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0400

If you’re anything like me, you probably think about ways you can appreciably scale your business. Part of streamlining, after all, is taking things off your place.

That’s why I brought on Joel Oliver. Joel is the editor for all of my podcasts, including this one. I’ve been with him since he was a freelance editor, and now he’s grown to have a team of editors to help him work on more shows.

Listen in as we discuss structuring the business to stay a solopreneurship, while also creating processes that seamlessly hand off tasks to team members. We’ll talk about everything from picking tasks to delegate, to training!

Want to hear a longer, ad-free version of this episode where Joel and I talk about what it's like editing my process and adding video? Become a member of Streamlined Solopreneur Accelerated.

Top Takeaways

Delegate to Scale: As a solopreneur, it's crucial to delegate tasks that are not central to your core business functions. This frees up time to focus on strategic activities and growth.
Creating systems and processes is vital for effective delegation. Use checklists and workflow systems to ensure tasks are completed consistently and to a high standard. This approach helps maintain quality control and accountability among team members.
Mindset of Letting Go: Letting go of tasks and trusting others to handle them is a significant mindset shift for solopreneurs.

Show Notes

Talkroute: Visit streamlined.fm/talkroute for 20% off your first year
Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Was Skipping Summer Camp Worth It?

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 02 Sep 2024 02:00:00 -0400

It’s the end of the summer and the end of our experiment to keep our kids home instead of sending them to summer camp. So today I’m going to answer 3 questions:

1. How did it go (including giving it a grade)
2. Was it worth it? (and if yes, would it have made it **not** worth it)
3. Will we do it again?

In Accelerated, I talk about why I want to create a more scalable business while remaining a solopreneur, and we do a time-tracking check-in. Sign up to get ad-free, extended episodes early over at https://streamlined.fm/join

Takeaways

Know your schedule & build in time for unknowns. I felt overwhelmed because I didn’t have any margin in my schedule
- Save some extra money. I know we saved money by not spending it, but that’s different from having extra money in the bank. Having kids home means having to entertain them —so have a budget for that!
- Cherish the time you have time. I’m reminded that as another kid enters full-time school, they are now out of the house for most of their waking hours each week.

Talkroute: Visit streamlined.fm/talkroute for 20% off your first year
Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Mastering Visual Storytelling in Presentations with Emily Schneider

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0400

I think failing to give a good presentation is an incredibly missed opportunity. You have everything: a captive audience, borrowed credibility, and a place to deliver your message your way.

But there are a lot of places where your presentation can fall down. Most people will focus on not capturing the audience quickly enough, or pacing. Maybe not rehearsing.

But what about your slides? The actual visual part of your presentation. The visual storytelling is as important as the words you deliver. Not enough context? Your audience is lost. Too much text? Your audience is too busy reading to hear your message.

That’s why I decided to have Emily Schneider on the show. She’s a visual storyteller, and her canvas is PowerPoint presentations.

Intrigued? I was too.

Want to hear a longer, ad-free version of this episode where I take Emily’s advice and roast my own recent talk slides? Become a member of Streamlined Solopreneur Accelerated.

Top Takeaways

Start with the Audience: Understand who your audience is and what you want them to think, feel, and do by the end of your presentation. This is crucial for making a meaningful impact.
Craft a Compelling Story: Begin with the end in mind and structure your presentation around a clear storytelling arc. Focus on the challenge, benefits, and reinforcing the main message.
Balance Images and Words: Use simple words or short sentences, and stylize your slides to naturally guide your audience through your story. This approach is effective not just for live presentations but also for pitch decks and emailed presentations.

Show Notes

Talkroute: Visit streamlined.fm/talkroute for 20% off your first year
Get started with Clariti for just $1 your first month with code SOLO2024
Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Working Through my Product Ladder

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0400

Do you have offerings for people at any level of their journey? That’s the importance of having a well-defined product ladder. A product ladder provides multiple offerings at different price points and levels of engagement to meet potential customers where they are at.

Today I’ll talk about how I have struggled with this in my own business, with offerings that didn’t clearly communicate how I help my specific target audience of busy solopreneurs with podcasts.

Then, I give you a walk through (walk-up?) of my Product Ladder!

Want to hear my poke holes in my product ladder and give a general update on Podcast Navigator and my business? You can become a member over at https://streamlined.fm/join

Top Takeaways

As a solopreneur, it's important to have multiple offerings at different price points to avoid putting all your eggs in one basket. Some offerings should be scalable and not require a lot of your time.
Your product ladder should clearly communicate how you help your specific target audience and micro-segments achieve their goals. Be focused rather than trying to be everything to everyone.
Map out your product ladder from low-priced "assistance" offerings like courses, to mid-priced "accountability" offerings like group coaching, to high-priced "acceleration" offerings like done-for-you services. Have something for customers at every stage.
Your core offering that you want to sell the most should be in the middle of your product ladder. For me, that's my Podcast Navigator tool.
Constantly evaluate and refine your product ladder based on customer feedback and your business goals as a solopreneur. Don't be afraid to make adjustments as you gain more clarity.

Show Notes

Talkroute: Visit streamlined.fm/talkroute for 20% off your first year
Get started with Clariti for just $1 your first month with code SOLO2024
Simplify your tech stack at https://streamlined.fm/tools

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Reclaiming Control: Navigating the Hosted vs. Self-Hosted Dilemma

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 02:00:00 -0400

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the endless options for hosting your online business? The decision between a hosted platform like Squarespace or a self-hosted solution like WordPress can be daunting, especially for solopreneurs juggling multiple responsibilities.

And while the conversation feels like it's been done to death, I was recently reminded that even seemingly simple platforms can shut you down for no reason.

There are a lot of merits to going with a hosted platform. But there's also a lot of danger. Let's explore.

Want to hear a longer, ad-free version of this episode where I talk about my experience choosing the wrong platforms, and how I’m trying to fix it? Become a member of Streamlined Solopreneur Accelerated.

Top Takeaways

Hosted vs. Self-Hosted is a lot like renting vs. owning a house. There are safeties in place, but you can't do as much, and you run a higher risk of being kicked off a platform you don't own.
No matter what you choose, portability and how it impacts your ability to truly own and control your online presence is important. Worse than needing to change platforms is being completely unable to.
Research is key. Look at features, sure, but make sure you can export, use your own payment accounts, and look at the terms of service. You might even reach out to support to ask them questions about what types of projects are allowed.

Show Notes

Get started with Clariti for just $1 your first month with code SOLO2024

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How Solopreneurs can Optimize Their Taxes with Rachel Stas

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 22 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0400

When I first started my business, I was 14 years old. My income was pretty light, and my expenses were even lighter. Heck – I didn’t even pay for hosting. I hosted my few client websites on a web server in my bedroom (don’t tell my old ISP).

But even then, I knew the importance of keeping track of my income and expenses, which I did in an Excel sheet. I’ve always had an interest in accounting, which I thought served me well.

Then I hired Rachel Stas. She made some fantastic changes to my business that ended up saving me money AND lowered my tax bill. And while everyone is different, I know the advice she gives today will be great for any solopreneur*.

Want to hear a longer, ad-free version of this episode where Rachel and I talk about my business, and I ask her specific questions about my books? Become a member of Streamlined Solopreneur Accelerated.

Top Takeaways

Forming an LLC alone does not provide tax benefits. While incorporation is an important aspect of running a business, you also need to file as the right type of entity (like an S Corp), to help lighten your tax load.
Track all business income and expenses from day one in a spreadsheet or separate bank account. Don't rely on memory or mix business and personal finances.
Don’t deduct for the sake of deducting, and be cautious with what you deduct. Some things, like a home office, might offer short-term gains for long-term pain.

Finally, I believe that investing time upfront to properly track finances and get professional accounting help pays off in the long run in taxes saved and peace of mind. Don’t wait until your business gets big to implement good accounting practices.

Show Notes

Check out Podcast Workflows here or wherever you get your podcasts
Get started with Clariti for just $1 your first month with code SOLO2024

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Why and How I’m Fixing my Newsletter

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 15 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0400

My newsletter has gone through a lot of changes over the years, but something that's been steadfast is promoting the latest episode of this podcast at the beginning of the week. And that made perfect sense when both the newsletter and this podcast talked about largely the same thing.

But now this show talks about running a solo business generally, while the newsletter is supposed to focus on podcast processes and systems.

They both make the same promise, but the audiences are different.

I've tried splitting the baby, so to speak, by promoting the episode, and then something behind-the-scenes look at that episode.

But it doesn't work. You know...don't talk to more than one audience, yada yada.

As a result, the newsletter isn't growing the way I'd like. And that’s what we’re talking about today.

Top Takeaways

I need to make my newsletter’s value proposition clear. Right now, it’s trying to attract and talk to two different audiences.
As a result, it’s not a “recommendable” newsletter. People with great newsletters (like Chenell Basilio and Justin Moore) have great newsletters with a clear focus, so people know who to recommend them to.
The new format of the newsletter will drive home my promise: to improve your podcast processes. And while I may recommend Streamlined Solopreneur sometimes, it will not be the focus of any newsletter.

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Generating Predictable Income Joining Affiliate Programs with Justine Galea

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 08 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0400

I remember the first time I got an affiliate payout. I didn’t even know it was coming. The money just showed up in my account.

“What is this from?” Then an email followed. A hosting company I had written a blog post about paid my affiliate commission for the last 2 months.

Since then, I’ve been stumbling through, clumsily trying to make affiliate income an appreciable part of my income – but it’s never worked as well as I hoped.

So I brought in an expert: my friend Justine. She’s been doing affiliate programs forever and currently leads ConvertKit, as well as consults through her own business, Brilliant Affiliate. She’s the perfect person to talk to.

Justine not only sets me straight, but she offers a TON of fantastic actionable advice for how to make the most of affiliate programs, how to find the right ones, and how they can live harmoniously (and even help) with sponsorships.

Top Takeaways

Affiliate programs provide a way to earn passive income by referring customers to products/services you recommend. Look for ones that pay well.
Target your affiliate content to the right people – people who are low in the funnel, and are weighing their options between your recommended product and competitors.
Balance affiliate income with sponsorships - affiliates are more passive/long-term while sponsorships are good for timely campaigns. But being a good affiliate can also help you land sponsored campaigns from the same company!

Show Notes

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The Philosophies Behind Choosing the Right Tools (Without Breaking the Bank) with Sarah St John

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 01 Jul 2024 02:00:00 -0400

A common thread on the show this year has been the push and pull of finding the right tools while also balancing our time and money as solopreneurs.

A while back I invited my friend and fellow podcaster Sarah St John onto the show. She’s the host of the Frugalpreneur podcast, and at first, I thought we’d share podcasting war stories.

But then everything went wrong. We were having both hardware and software issues. So once we got everything squared away, I thought we could refocus the conversation. See, I have a tech background, and sometimes forget that troubleshooting and working with tech isn’t everyone’s cup of tea.

So we decided to dive deep into managing your tech stack without spending a fortune. We share our top tips and personal experiences on how to choose the right tools, avoid unnecessary expenses, and leverage platforms like AppSumo for amazing lifetime deals.

Whether you're a tech newbie or a seasoned pro, this episode is packed with actionable advice to help you streamline your business operations and save money.

Top Takeaways

Evaluate Your Current Tools: Regularly check if your tools are still meeting your needs.
Consider the Cost of Switching: Weigh the benefits of switching tools against the effort required.
Balance Convenience and Cost: Ensure the cost of a tool is justified by its value.

Show Notes

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Why Solopreneurs NEED to Time Track

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0400

I remember the first time after my wife and I started dating that a mutual friend of ours became pregnant. I was the first one to find out and got to relay the message to her.

"Amy's pregnant," I said. My wife then asked a series of questions: "When is she due? What is she having? How is she feeling?" I had the same answer to every question: "I don't know."

All I knew was that Amy was pregnant. My wife later went out and found this information for both of us. All these details were crucial to being a more present and supportive friend.

So why am I telling you this? if you are running a business, especially a solo business where your time is so important, and you are not time tracking, it's kind of like knowing just the bare minimum.

You might know you completed a project, but you should really know how long you spent on it, where you are spending most of your time, and how you can use this data to improve your business.

So in today’s episode, you’ll learn about the importance of time tracking for solopreneurs. Time tracking is not just about noting down hours; it's about understanding where your time goes, improving efficiency, and making informed business decisions.

Top Takeaways

Start Simple: Begin with basic time-tracking methods like pen and paper or simple apps. The key is to start noting down where your time goes, even if it's just approximate.
Use the Right Tools: I recommend using tools like Timery (which sits on top of Toggl), Timing, and RescueTime. These tools can help automate the process and provide detailed insights into how you spend your time.
Categorize and Tag Tasks: Break down your tasks into projects and use tags for more granular tracking. This helps in understanding which specific activities are taking up most of your time and allows for better analysis.
Regular Reviews: Review your time tracking data regularly—weekly, monthly, and quarterly. This helps in identifying trends and making necessary adjustments to improve efficiency.
Automate Where Possible: Use shortcuts and automation tools like Stream Deck and focus modes on iOS to start and stop timers automatically. This reduces the manual effort involved in time tracking.

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Your Next 1000 Leads: How To Consistently Attract Prospects Into Your Business with Jennie Wright

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0400

Just this morning I watched an incredibly interesting video that sent me down a rabbit hole. A 19-year-old kid was arm wrestling against a massive bodybuilder – and won, pretty easily. Thinking this could be rigged or fake, I looked at other matches this fellow – Maxim appears to be his name – competed in. And he won…a lot.

See, while he is very strong (just not as big as the other guys), Maxim has great technique.

What does this have to do with lead generation? Well, as you’ll hear from Jennie Wright, you don’t need a massive list to build your business. You don’t need to be smarmy. You don’t need to be showy.

You just need to have good technique – and forge good relationships.

Top Takeaways

Consistency is key in lead generation. Create a plan that aligns with your end goal and focuses on activities that will give you the best results within your available time and resources.
Leverage other people's audiences by appearing as a guest on podcasts, speaking at summits, and participating in bundles. This is an effective way to grow your credibility and reach new potential leads.
Nurture your leads authentically by setting expectations, providing value, and building trust. Avoid being too salesy, and focus on creating genuine relationships with your audience.

Show Notes

Jennie Wright

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Organizing Your Digital Life (using Obsidian?) with Mike Schmitz

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 10 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0400

Perhaps the most important lesson I learned over and over again running a business is that it’s never about the tool – it’s about the solution to a particular problem.

So while I recruited Mike Schmitz to talk about Obsidian, what we actually talked about was much, much deeper. Personal Knowledge Management (PKM) is much more about defining your approach, and intentionality and making time for the important things in your life. All of this creates balance, and space, for you to do your best work.

Mike also shares his 5 C's of his "creativity flywheel" for capturing ideas and creating valuable output, which is fantastic.

If you're feeling overwhelmed by information and struggling to turn your ideas into reality, this episode will give you a framework to tame the chaos. Tune in for practical tips and inspiration to upgrade your PKM and productivity!

Top Takeaways

Obsidian is powerful but requires intentional use to get value from it. Simply dumping notes in is not enough - you need a system.
Having a philosophy, vision, and values guides what projects and information to focus on. Start with the end in mind.
Use apps intentionally by "hiring" them for specific jobs. Don't try to do everything in one app. Pick the best tool for each job.

Show Notes

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How to Create a Winning Content Calendar with Kaitlyn Merola

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 03 Jun 2024 02:00:00 -0400

Tell me if this sounds familiar: you know you need to publish a blog post, video, or newsletter, but you have no idea what you’re going to talk about. And this isn’t the first time it’s happened.

You definitely have ideas, but you can’t think of anything at the moment. That’s why you need a content calendar – and why I’ve brought on Kaitlyn Merola to tell us all about them.

We're going DEEP on how to plan, organize, and execute on your content and social plan using a centralized content calendar. Here’s what we’ll cover:

👉 What exactly is a content calendar (and how it’s different from a social calendar)

👉 Determining the right content cadence (why more != better)

👉 Repurposing content across channels (maximize that ROI!)

👉 Mapping content to the buyer's journey (awareness, consideration, sales)

👉 Plus, in Accelerated, we talk about the role of AI in content creation (spoiler: not what you think!)

Whether you're a solopreneur in a content feast or a content famine, this is for you!

Top Takeaways

A content calendar is a central place to plan, organize, and track all your content efforts across different channels. It helps provide direction and alignment for your content strategy.
For SEO purposes, prioritize quality over quantity - publishing one high-quality blog post per week is often sufficient rather than lower-quality posts daily.
Map your content to the buyer's journey stages (awareness, consideration, decision) to ensure it serves the right purpose at each stage.

Show Notes

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Why We’re Not Doing Summer Camp (and How it’s Affecting my Business)

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 27 May 2024 02:00:00 -0400

If you have kids and you’re a solopreneur, you know how tough summer care could be — especially if you have small children. Today, I'm diving into why my wife and I decided to skip summer camp for our kids and how this big decision is changing how I’m structuring my business for the summer.

Discussion Topics:

Financial and Family Considerations: The high cost of summer camp motivated my wife and me to find a solution that allows us to save nearly $10,000 while providing more quality family time.
Flexible Scheduling: My wife and I adjusted our schedules so one of us is always available to care for our kids, which highlights the importance of managing work flexibility as a solopreneur.
Temporary Chaos: I anticipate that managing my kids full-time will lead to some chaotic and stressful days, but it's a worthwhile trade-off for the family time we cherish.
Support Network: Leveraging support from family, friends, and babysitters is crucial to our adjusted childcare strategy, emphasizing the value of a strong support network.
Deep Work Planning: I plan to maximize productivity by scheduling meetings on specific days and blocking off consecutive hours for focused work, illustrating the importance of proactive scheduling.
Temporary Shift in Priorities: Recognizing that the summer period is temporary, I remind solopreneurs to take advantage of this time to make memories with their kids and cherish the flexibility our work allows.

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Solopreneur’s Guide to SEO in 2024 with Lauren Gaggioli

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 20 May 2024 02:00:00 -0400

One day in March I started getting regular inbound requests from my coaching form – I had no idea why. When I looked into it, it turns out that I was ranking at #2 on Google for “Podcast Coach.”

Not to sound like a broken record…but I had no idea why. I didn’t feel like I was doing anything special. I didn’t do keyword research. I didn’t write content in a certain way.

So I wanted to learn more. That’s why I sat down with SEO pro Lauren Gaggioli to get the real truth about search engine optimization in 2024. We cover a bunch of stuff from why quality human-written content will ALWAYS beat AI-generated stuff to the long-game SEO strategy that keeps paying off for years.

Plus, I get Lauren's real talk on whether social media is even worth it for driving traffic in 2024. Her perspective will not surprise you.

If you're a solopreneur, blogger, or content creator feeling lost with SEO, you need to hear what Lauren has to say. Stop wasting time on strategies that don't work and start optimizing intelligently!

Top Takeaways

SEO is about appealing to Google's bots and making your website discoverable for relevant search queries. BUT…Google prioritizes quality, human-written content over AI-generated or keyword-stuffed content.
SEO is a long-term investment, and it's essential to commit to it for at least 12 months to see meaningful results. While social media can be useful for engagement, SEO is more effective for driving targeted traffic and revenue.
Researching low-difficulty, high-relevance keywords and focusing on answering the questions your target audience asks is crucial for SEO success.

Show Notes

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Make Your Website a Team Member with Monica Pitts

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 13 May 2024 02:00:00 -0400

Context is everything. It’s easy to think that if you have a salesperson who’s actively frustrating potential clients to the point where they never consider hiring you, you’d fire that salesperson. But what if your website is doing it? Would you fire your website?

You should. That’s why I’m SO excited to have Monica Pitts on the show today. She’s going to tell us how we can save HOURS per month by making our website a member of our team (sound familiar?). We spoke for over two hours – and you’re getting the best parts of it. We cover everything from mindset to automation, and of course, we cover tools.

Top Takeaways

Your website doesn’t need to just be a brochure site – it can actually take work off your plate. This is why you need to treat it like an employee, not just a static asset.
Be cautious about relying too heavily on third-party automation tools like Zapier. Consider native integrations first for faster processing and a better user experience.
A website is crucial for your business. It offers a reliable source of information compared to social media platforms and serves as a long-lasting marketing approach. Social Media is great to show people you’re alive, but you need a website to attract customers.

Show Notes

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Forget the Tools: Focus on Mindset with Rashelle Isip

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 06 May 2024 02:00:00 -0400

I know this is going to sound like an Italian stereotype, but my mother makes the best chicken cutlets. They are thin cuts of chicken, perfectly breaded and seasoned, and taste amazing hot and cold.

I’d watch her in hopes of learning how to make them as well (or at least close to it). She’d tell me things like, “You just know how much breading to use,” and “cook them until they look right.”

What she didn’t do was walk into the kitchen and get paralyzed over which pan to use, or the perfect wooden spoon for the job. She’d get right to work.

As solopreneurs, it’s easy to fall into the trap of “this tool will get me back on track,” but it’s often your mindset that needs adjusting first. That’s why today I’m talking to Rashelle Isip, The Order Expert. Much like me, she helps business owners be more productive and less stressed. But while I’m an implementer, she focuses more on mindset and taking a look at everything going on in her clients’ lives.

Top Takeaways

Take a step back to evaluate the systems in place and reassess how they impact daily routines and overall life. This is crucial to putting the right system in place, and not just copying someone else’s, which won’t work for you.
When adopting new tools, approach them with curiosity and intentional limitation to assess their effectiveness in streamlining systems, getting organized, and maintaining focus.
Maintain a positive mindset, adapt to unexpected setbacks with flexibility, and remember to be forgiving and gentle with yourself when things don't go according to plan.

Show Notes

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Rebranding my YouTube Channel

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0400

There's an old adage in construction that you should measure twice and cut once. The idea being that cutting is a permanent action. If you cut a piece of wood, you can't put it back together. So you should measure where you're cutting, make sure you're measuring it right, and double-check your work before you take that permanent action.

Now on the Internet, things aren't necessarily as permanent. Sure. Things that are online could be online forever. But as far as setting up a YouTube page or a podcast or a website, well, you can change them pretty easily. I just kinda made a decision and I ran with it. And now I'm kind of regretting that decision.

But because nothing is permanent on the Internet, I am rectifying that.

Top Takeaways:

When rebranding your YouTube channel, focus on creating a clear and specific mission for your content. This will help the YouTube algorithm understand and recommend your content to the appropriate audience.
Regularly review your analytics to see which videos are performing well and update those thumbnails and descriptions to optimize visibility. The title and thumbnail have the biggest impact on click-through rates.
Consider the performance of your top videos and use that information to guide your content strategy. If specific topics or types of content are consistently performing well, consider creating more content around those topics to leverage your existing success.

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Can AI Change What and How We Repurpose With Greg Wasserman

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 22 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0400

I’m currently reading Stories that Stick by Kindra Hall. In it, she mentions that “story” has become such a common term that people use it for everything, even if it’s not a story.

I feel the same thing has been done to the term “repurposing.” See, when you repurpose something in the real world, you take it, you make changes to it, and you give it new life. You don’t just lop a piece off of it and say you’ve repurposed it.

But that’s what many people consider repurposing today. “I’m going to clip 1 minute of this 60-minute conversation and call it repurposed.”

That’s why I’m excited to have Greg Wasserman on the show today. He helps us reframe repurposing, and talks about how AI can help us repurpose properly – and while I don’t agree with everything he says, I like exploring different ideas.

Top Takeaways

Repurposing content isn’t just turning current content into other content. It’s taking conversations and turning them into content, products, and more.
Get creative! Greg uses his coaching calls and repurposes them into courses. How can you take conversations you’re having and leverage them to get something tangible for your business?
When it comes to leveraging AI, consider your creative comfort. Some people are more comfortable writing. Some feel better talking it out. Integrate AI into your current and best process!

Show Notes

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How I Built It is now Streamlined Solopreneur!

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 07:23:10 -0400

After 8 years, I'm changing the name of this podcast from How I Built It to Streamlined Solopreneur. Here's why.

You can learn more at https://streamlined.fm

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Building Native Apps using Nocode as a Team of One with Karla Fernandes

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0400

The first documented parachute jump happened in the late 1700s, when André-Jacques Garnerin just from balloons at “only” 2000 feet. He no doubt prepared for this moment, testing his parachute and doing everything he could to mitigate risk. Today, skydiving is a sport and a recreational activity, with a lot of safety measures and technology to further mitigate risk.

Why am I telling you this? Because human beings are, by and large, risk-averse…so doing everything we can to reduce it is incredibly important. When it comes to launching a business, it, much like skydiving, is much less risky than it was 200 years ago.

Part of that is the ability to create applications – and therefore launch software-based businesses – without code. That’s exactly what Karla Fernandes is going to talk to us about today. And she should know. She’s launched over a dozen native apps, without writing a single line of code.

Top Takeaways

When evaluating business ideas, prioritize those that solve user problems and gauge interest through pre-sales and feedback from friends, ensuring a user-centric approach and viability.
Use no-code tools for faster product development, which allow you to validate, test, and iterate quickly.
With no code solutions, you can test multiple product ideas simultaneously without significant investment, helping to hedge your bets and validate ideas quickly and affordably.

Show Notes

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From Doubt to Determination: Pushing Through the Podcasting Dip [Podcraft]

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Thu, 11 Apr 2024 08:00:00 -0400

Today we have a good old fashioned feed drop from my friends at The Podcast Host, and their show, Podcraft.

What really makes someone a successful podcaster? Is it a certain number of episodes, downloads, or reviews? Is it whether content creation has become their full-time job? Or could it be because they’ve been recognised with a prestigious award?

That's what they'll discuss on this episode, and every episode this season.

I hope you enjoy!

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My Be Everywhere Strategy was an Incredible Failure (Which is Good)

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 08 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0400

I love shuffling poker chips. In fact, I love playing poker…but there’s a fallacy in gambling that can get you into a lot of trouble. It’s the fallacy of sunk cost. Basically, you think you should continue what is ultimately a losing battle because you’ve already invested some amount of money in the pot.

The same thing can be applied to lots of stuff. Have you ever finished a book or a movie you didn’t like just because you started it? That’s the fallacy of sunk cost.

And I’m happy to say that 4 months into 2024, I successfully avoided that fallacy with something that, in January, I was all-in on: my “Be Everywhere” Strategy.

Show Notes

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Discovering What Customers Really Want with Georgiana Laudi

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 01 Apr 2024 02:00:00 -0400

I remember touring a Murano Glass factory on my honeymoon to Italy. Basically as soon as we stepped foot into the place, a man giving us the tour had us pegged. So when it came time to sell us something, he didn’t just ask us if we wanted to buy some glass art.

He painted us a picture of a unique conversation piece that we can put in our home, to help us remember this time at the beginning of our marriage. To turn into a family heirloom for when we have kids and grandkids. He wasn’t selling us glass. He was selling us a vision of our future. And it worked like gangbusters.

So how can we do that for our customers? That’s what Georgiana Laudi is here to talk to us about. She is the co-author of Forget the Funnel, a book that had a profound effect on my business – and today, we’re talking all about jobs to be done, research, and capturing the voice of our customers.

Top Takeaways

Understand the "Jobs to Be Done": Customers aren't buying products themselves, but rather the solutions the products offer. Identify the specific jobs your product or service helps customers accomplish.
Capture the Voice of the Customer: Conduct customer interviews to capture actual language and patterns from customer conversations.
Continuous Customer Research: Regularly conduct foundational research every 6-12 months and ensure it's continually validated based on industry shifts.

Show Notes

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Tools Check-in: What am I using so far in 2024?

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 25 Mar 2024 02:00:00 -0400

My grandfather came to the United States from Italy in 1949 and worked in New York City for much of his life — primarily in construction. For as long as I can remember, he had this big, metal toolbox. And when he passed away, he gave it to me, and I still have and use it to this day.

Pop had that toolbox for decades. When he found something that worked for him, he held on to it and took care of it. There’s a hammer in there that has to be as old as I am.

And when you think about it, the hammer is a pretty good analogy for our digital tools. It’s a basic device, but there are countless variations, purpose-built for specific tasks. Much like a task manager or notes app, you mostly know what you’re getting — but you may want something a little more specialized for your needs.

While you don’t want to change tools all the time, it is good to evaluate your toolset from time to time. So I thought I’d check in and share the tools I’m using.

Show Notes

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Rethinking Our Relationship with Time and Money with Khe Hy

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 02:00:00 -0400

I abhor hustle culture. Telling someone to work a full-time job, then go home and work more all for some goal that keeps changing is, in my opinion, how to lead an empty life. I’m worried that, even in 2024, we continue to fetishize making money and hustling. So I decided to take it to Khe Hy.

Khe, if you don’t know, worked hard – as he puts it, he hustled for 10 years of his life. He worked on Wall Street, becoming the equivalent of a junior partner in a law firm, and earning a 7-figure salary. But he left that job, and he’s built a life he enjoys.

But he makes it very clear: sometimes you do need to hustle. Life is full of seasons – and recognizing that seasonality is important. We cover a ton of topics in our short time.

Top Takeaways

There are seasons to life. It’s important to recognize that and adjust for the season you’re in.
If you’re working to eventually gain more time, ask yourself if you can cut some costs and gain that time now. Sure, someone could pay you $10,000 for 5 hours of data entry – but do you want to do data entry, or would you rather have those 5 hours free?
There’s a difference between revenue and profit. Most people share top line revenue, but what are they really taking home?

Show Notes

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Aligning Your Values to Set the Right Goals with Tanya Alvarez

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 11 Mar 2024 02:00:00 -0400

What do you want your life to look like? Last week I talked about how not being intentional is kind of like driving a car without the GPS. But goal setting without knowing what you want – that’s a bit like driving a car without having a destination in mind.

Well, today, Tanya Alvarez is going to help us figure out the destination – you can think of her as your own GPS. And much like that Google Maps car, she’s well-traveled and has a ton of experience to back up her advice – from funding her first startup with credit cards to completing a Half Ironman and traveling to 42 countries, she’s done it all. And now she wants to help you do it too, by sharing her system for prioritizing your goals.

Top Takeaways

Take the time to define and rank your personal values. Understand how these values shape your goals and prioritize them to ensure alignment with your desired outcomes.
View your goals as hypotheses and break them down into manageable time frames. This approach provides flexibility for adjustments while promoting focused and effective work periods.
When faced with multiple business ideas or tasks, evaluate them based on effort, impact, and activity categories. This can help you understand your capacity and prioritize tasks effectively.

Show Notes

Tanya Alvarez

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Why I’m Killing my Membership

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 02:02:00 -0500

Not being intentional in your business is a bit like getting in your car and driving without the GPS. Sure…you generally know where you’re going. But what if a road is closed? What if there’s avoidable traffic? A GPS can help you navigate around those things.

When you’re intentional about your business, you go from wandering aimlessly, taking any work that makes ends meet, to setting and achieving your goals. And today, I’m going to talk about how I’m being more intentional in my business, and why that decision has led me to end my membership.

Top Takeaways

Take the time to identify tasks that provide the best returns on your time investment. Focus on work that aligns with your income goals and brings you closer to achieving your business objectives.
Take control of your schedule by tracking your time and evaluating the effectiveness of your tasks. Use tools like time tracking apps to make data-driven decisions and maximize your productivity.
Reflect on your business goals and values, and make decisions that align with them. Ensure that your business endeavors are in sync with what matters most to you and contribute to your overall happiness and success.

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Why Every Business Owner Needs a Podcast with Krystal Proffitt

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 02:00:00 -0500

Do you really need social media to build a following? To build expertise? To be successful? It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot. I think lots of creators are too. The rote advice that you see from the ultra successful people just doesn’t work for most of us. And it doesn’t have to. What if I told you there was a better way.

As it turns out, today’s guest, my friend and Amazon best selling author of the book start a binge-worthy podcast, Krystal Proffitt, agree: starting a podcast is a great way to build your business.

In today’s conversation, we talk about why podcasting is the best way to build expertise and trust, why there aren’t too many podcasts, and how you can start a successful one.

Plus, in the pro show, we talk all about how to do interviews the right way.

Top Takeaways

Podcasts are a great, intimate way to get your content in the hands of your ideal audience. And, as Seth Godin put it, they are the generous act of showing up.
You differentiate your podcast by making sure your audience feels seen and heard. This could (and should) be through relatable stories, and by engaging with them through feedback.
The first thing you should think about, before you every consider which mic to buy, is what’s your message? Without a message, you don’t have a podcast.

Show Notes

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Solopreneurs Need to Sell Strategy as a Service with Maggie Patterson

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 19 Feb 2024 02:00:00 -0500

During the pandemic, we were told one thing seemingly over and over again: You need to start a membership. You need a community. That’s the only way you can scale your business. And to be honest, I fed into it. I believed that a membership was the key to stop trading for hours for dollars.

But the truth is I was trading more hours for fewer dollars. See, what most solopreneurs don’t realize (what I didn’t realize for a long time) is that you’re always trading hours for dollars. That’s what work is. The key difference is how many hours you're trading for how many dollars. And that’s what Maggie Patterson is here to talk to us about today.

See, when the pandemic ended, we both noticed something: many of those people who were preaching the importance of basing your business off a community or membership were going back to one thing: services. Because when you do services right, you can make a lot of money.

Today, Maggie, who has over 15 years of experience successfully selling client services, tells us the key to unlocking more income: selling strategy.

Top Takeaways

It’s important to understand what kind of business you want to run. 1-to-1 business is a lot different from a 1-to-many business. And they require different strategies.
The key is in pricing. Don’t just price on gut feeling. Tether it to some reality (like how much money you need to make to pay yourself, and run the business), and then listen for feedback. The market will tell you if you’re priced correctly.
Too many solopreneurs give the strategy away for free in their proposal. They say exactly what they’re going to do. Instead, hold paid strategy sessions (sometimes called Discovery projects) where you get paid to truly understand the scope, and give the client something tangible.

Show Notes

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Taking a bet on Substack’s Network Effect with Nathalie Lussier

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 12 Feb 2024 02:00:00 -0500

Choosing the right platform can feel like an impossible task sometimes. There are so many options, from services to creating your own website and owning everything – how do you choose? Well, Nathalie Lussier and I have both been around the block. She owns a popular WordPress-based LMS called AccessAlly, and I’ve tried dozens of platforms for memberships, including ones I’ve built myself.

So it was interesting timing when we both decided to start publishing on Substack in late November/early December. Today, we’re going to trade notes, going over why we decided to move there, what migration was like, and what we like and dislike about the platform. For members, we’ll discuss our timing to move within the context of a bigger controversy surrounding Substack.

Top Takeaways

Social Media for promoting and growing your work has been going downhill for a while now. But Substack has built in a number of features, like Notes and Recommendations, to incentivize sharing while also staying on the platform.
One of Substack's best features is its interoperability. You can easily import email lists, content, and even paying subscribers through Stripe. And moving is easy too. Everything you can import, you can also export.
The best way to leverage Substack’s network effect is to find your tribe – people who you can work with to restack, recommend, and follow on Notes. Just like any social network, don’t discount the “social” part.

Show Notes

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What’s Missing From Your Process?

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 02:00:00 -0500

One of my favorite Disney+ shows is Loki. It’s a truly fascinating look at time travel, predetermined events, and controlling your own destiny.

And now I’m going to give you a major (if not very simplified) spoiler, if you haven’t seen it.

In the finale, Loki masters the ability to “time slip,” or transport to any time, any place, in any timeline (for all intents and purposes, a timeline is a parallel universe). This also allows him to relive events over and over again.

So as all of existence faces eradication, he can take as much “time” as he wants to learn how to save everything and everyone, on every timeline.

He continuously, over thousands of years, learns everything he needs to learn, and practices, through trial and error, to improve his process, and his odds of saving everything and everyone.

And while we don’t have thousands of years, or the ability to time travel, we do have the ability to take a step back and consider the question, “What’s missing?”

Read the full article here

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Great Things Require Time

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 02:00:00 -0500

It was Christmas Eve, and I was waiting in line for bagels.
As someone who grew up in New York now living close to Philly, I’m admittedly a snob about the quality of the bagels I eat. But there’s a bagel shop not 5 minutes from my house that makes the best bagels I’ve ever had outside of NY/NJ.
And they offer preorders for Christmas Eve. It’s become a bit of a tradition in our house to get those bagels and do a Christmas Eve brunch.
They also have a select stock for people on a first come first serve basis. People who preorder can buy from this stock. The many preorders combined with the select stock creates a long line. After-all, these bagels are superb.
So we waited.
And during that wait, there were some people who complained about the wait1.
But no one left the line or cancelled their order. After all, if all they wanted was bagels, they could have gone to the grocery store a few doors down and buy bagels immediately.
But those are not even good bagels. And we wanted great bagels.
See, there’s a dirty little secret that no one wants to hear these days:
Great things require time. And they’re worth the wait.

Read the full article here

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My Experiment with Substack and Being “Everywhere”

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 02:00:00 -0500

I sweat bullets over finding the right tools. Some might say I am an Overthinker.

And that is an asset to me. But occasionally, it causes crippling analysis paralysis. I’ve spent every day of this very young year, thinking about the implementation for my membership, even though I know the simplest solution is to use Substack. And last week, I would have told you that’s the end of the story. But it’s not.

So today, I’m going to tell you about a journey that led me to Substack and grossly overcomplicating my publishing process. And why that could be a good thing.

For members, we discuss how I’m managing multiple publishing places, why “Be Everywhere” is so important to me, and my goals for this experiment.

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Why LinkedIn's "Best Practices" Might Be Your Downfall in 2024 with Matt Clark

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 02:02:00 -0500

It was a wild year for social media in 2023. Twitter turned into X. Meta launched Threads. And LinkedIn started off the year as a promising platform for engagement and growth before tweaking the algorithm and tanking all of that.

Matt Clark, founder of The Virtual Edge, host of the Rainmaker Show, and expert in sales argues that we shouldn’t treat LinkedIn like a social media platform because it’s not one. It’s a professional networking platform.

That means we need to treat it more like a networking event if we want to make the most of it. And today, he’s going to tell us how.

In the subscribers-only show, Matt and I talk more about building a lifestyle before you build your business. We touch on how people like Alex Hormozi oversimplify how they do things in order to push how "easy" it is to build a business. We also talk about the difference life choices we've made, and how our businesses support that — and what you should consider as well!

Top Takeaways

LinkedIn wants you to be intentional. That means you need to know WHO you’re talking to, and HOW you help them.
Make sure your profile is optimized for your client. Do some research to figure out their biggest problem, and how you can fix it for them.
If you don’t know where to start, run a poll. This will re-engage your connections. Ask 3-4 questions that are targeted to your ideal client. Then for the people who DO engage, follow up and ask to get on a quick call.

Show Notes

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My 2024 Yearly Theme

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 08 Jan 2024 02:00:00 -0500

The word 'Control' evokes various thoughts and emotions, many of which are negative. Control is often associated with an excessive desire to dominate or dictate every aspect of a situation.The bad guys in movies and in real life desire control at almost any cost. Emperor Palpatine in Star Wars said the only way to improve life in the galaxy was for him to seize control. Thanos said the only way to save the universe was to control the population by controlling the infinity stones.

Countless dictators and wannabe dictators have justified taking control because they’re the only ones who can save us.

It sounds micro-managy, almost authoritarian when you say, “I want to be more controlling.”

But Control at the right scale is super important. If you don’t control your car, bike, or other vehicle, for example, you will end up hurting yourself or someone else.

In thinking about my next yearly theme, a recent conversation I had with my therapist was top of mind. I told her that I didn’t feel like I was in control of anything. Not my health. Not my money. Not my time or schedule.That's why my 2024 Yearly Theme is *The Year of Control.*

For members, we discuss the themes I didn’t choose, how the membership will work in 2024, and the direction of the podcast in general. You can join here.

Links

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How to be a Scrappy Researcher (to Actually Sell Products) with Becky Pierson Davidson

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 02:02:00 -0500

Over the last few weeks, you’ve heard from multiple guests about the importance of research – Dappz talking about calculated risks and doing research for the actual calculation. Nikki Rausch talking about speaking your potential customer’s language. Adriana tells us to do research when we’re guesting on a podcast.

But that begs the question: how? How do we make sure we’re doing the right kind of research to yield helpful information – especially if we’re not a huge company?

We need to do scrappy research – which is why I brought in my friend, Becky Pierson Davidson. She’s an educator, speaker, and community-driven product strategist who’s focused on helping people like us simplify our customer journey, improve retention, and increase customer LTV. And she’s got the receipts, working with diverse clients, including personal brands, fortune 500 companies, creative service agencies, and startups.

So I thought there was no better way to close out the year than to talk to her about scrappy research.

Top Takeaways

Research prevents you from building the wrong thing. Launches that flop are usually launches that have no research backing them up.
Don’t just build something for you. It’s not about you. Sure, some people will tell you to dog food your own product – but your business won’t survive if you’re the only customer.
You want quantitative and qualitative research. Look at all of your analytics, see what content performs well, but also survey your audience, and have real conversations with potential customers. You only need 5 to find a problem to solve.

Show Notes

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You're Using AI All Wrong with Bryan McAnulty

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 11 Dec 2023 02:02:00 -0500

A few weeks ago, I ruffled some feathers on social media. I said, “Telling people you wrote your book with AI is like telling people you ran a marathon with your car.”

Wow. People took umbrage with that statement. And while I stand by what I said, I thought it would be a good idea to talk to an AI expert. So I reached out to Bryan McAnulty of Heights Platform to see me (or everyone else) straight. And you know what he told me?

We’re all doing it wrong. We shouldn’t use AI as a proxy for Google. We should use it as an actual assistant. And for that, we need to give it a ton of context.

Top Takeaways

Instead of thinking of AI as a tool, think of it as an instrument. You need to learn how to play it and personalize it to play your kind of music.
In the long run, you won’t be able to use AI to cheat, because what makes your content unique is your personal experiences.
Since AI works on how you train it, You can have as many AI assistants as you want. It doesn’t just have to be one.

Show Notes

How to be Prepared (and Reach More People) as a Podcast Guest with Adriana Baer

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 04 Dec 2023 02:02:00 -0500

Imagine that you’re going to give a talk on a topic you know really well. You spend time on the presentation, rehearse it 100 times, dial in the slides, and you’re feeling great. You get the conference, deliver the talk, and you think you nailed it. But when you ask for questions, one person raises her hand and says, “Nous ne parlons pas anglais.”

That’s right. You just delivered your talk in English, and the entire audience speaks French. You made an assumption that you knew that audience. And the conference host made that same assumption.

Now the effects, or embarrassment, may not be as strong if you guest on a podcast, but they can cut against your credibility, and potentially waste your time…and the audience’s time. That’s why you need to be prepared.

And that’s exactly what public speaking coach (and fantastic guest) Adriana Baer is going to talk to us about today. We chat about everything from research to storytelling, and she even has a few bonus tips. Be sure to stick around until the end for a special bundled deal we’re offering.

Top Takeaways

Podcast guesting is a gift. While the rest of the world lives in 5 second sound bites, podcasts give us the time and space to flex our expertise.
To be an effective podcast guest, you need to do your research. Understand who you’re talking to, and how you can help them.
You need to tell good stories – you do that but having some prepared, but also by actively listening to the host.

Show Notes

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Stop doing "Sales" and Start Having Conversations with Nikki Rausch

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 02:02:00 -0500

Recently, I sat down to dinner with my family when the doorbell rang. It was a door-to-door HelloFresh salesman, who wanted to make dinner easier for us (while ironically preventing me from eating dinner). I immediately got frustrated for two reasons:

It was dinner time and the interruption was unwelcomed
I had already told this guy’s partner “no” several hours earlier.

It was a conversation that not only was unwelcome but was already flat-out rejected once before.

This sort of tactic is what gives sales a bad name, and why folks like us hate sales. But today’s guest, Nikki Rausch, is here to tell us that’s not at all how sales should work – and what we should do instead.

Top Takeaways

Sales isn’t a one-way street. It’s a collaborative conversation that you have permission to enter into. And you get permission by asking.
The person you’re speaking to has their own language – you need to tailor your offer to meet their needs and use their language.
Never make assumptions! You can’t further a relationship without asking questions. Assumptions are driven by limiting beliefs. Questions lead to concrete answers.

Show Notes

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Turning the Table: How do I Find the Right Lead Magnet for my Podcast with Zach Swinehart

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 20 Nov 2023 02:02:00 -0500

Social media advice these days reminds me a bit of the parable of the Emperor with no Clothes. See, it's easy for anyone to display how smart and successful they are. They say things like, "Here's your content strategy for 2024: Post three times on X daily, post one thread on X daily. Create three LinkedIn posts per day and one LinkedIn carousel per week."

People read that and think, "That's easy to understand," without realizing that just posting content is not a strategy at all.

I often think about how people perceive me and my show because I consider myself a successful podcaster. But I also feel conflicted – I don't feel I've done a good job of leveraging this show to grow my audience. So, I've decided to have my friend, Zach Swinehart, come on to talk about how I can improve my conversions for this show.

However, it almost feels a bit like the emperor has no clothes. Am I putting myself out there? Am I letting myself be too vulnerable? I guess you’re about to find out.

Top Takeaways

When it comes to determining your lead magnet, you should test a few to see which resonates.
When you're testing calls to action or lead magnets in a podcast, you should try a few different spots with a few different links.
Know who you're talking to and try to understand your audience by looking at their pain points and objections.

Show Notes

Should We Use AI to Write for Us? (Debate with Alastair McDermott)

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 12:26:18 -0500

How much help is too much help? When do you go from the actual worker to the visionary? And where does AI fit into all of this? Over on LinkedIn, I said using AI to write your book is like using a car to run a marathon.

People took issue with that. So my friend Alastair MeDermott and I decided to have a good old fashioned debate.

You’ll hear a nuanced discussion around:

How to think about AI assistance in writing and content creation
Where AI can help versus replace in the creative process
How iterative prompting can shape the AI output
Whether AI will ever replicate truly original human ideas
The importance of the human editorial eye in approving AI-generated content
What we potentially stand to lose in fully outsourcing creative work to machines

If you’re feeling uncertain about how to responsibly and effectively leverage AI tools like ChatGPT in your business and content creation, don’t miss this lively exchange of perspectives. Tune in now to help shape your own ethical framework.

Check out Alastair's podcast over at https://therecognizedauthority.com/

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Why You NEED to Take Calculated Risks to Grow Your Business with Matt "Dappz" McGuckin

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 13 Nov 2023 02:02:00 -0500

Imagine making $70,000…from your bedroom…in one night.

That’s exactly what Matt “Dappz” McGuckin did with his online trading cards shop. He got his start “breaking” – that is, buying and opening boxes of cards live online, and selling the contents…all on TikTok.

Sounds risky? It is! But today, Dappz Sports is the Live Shopping Company on TikTok in the U.S., making over $20 Million in gross sales. So the risks have paid off.

Now maybe it seems like too far-fetched to say you’ll make $70K in one night, but it’s not too far-fetched to say that making calculated risks will elevate your business.

It’s a proven strategy and Dappz, and today, he’s going to tell you how you can do it too.

Top Takeaways

Don’t try to think about how you’ll go viral. Instead, be consistent and try different things. Experimenting can be low-stakes risk-taking.
One of the biggest risks that pay off is hiring someone. They will take SO much off your plate. It sounds scary, but it’s a must for any business owner.
Research is SO important with it comes to mitigating risk – remember, this is about calculated risks, not being a cowboy, and doing crazy stuff to see if it pays off.

Show Notes

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The 2023 Solopreneur's Gift Guide

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 15:44:07 -0500

Over the years, I’ve published a great many gift guides on my blog. From freelancers, to podcasters, to working from home, and even my hobbies — like pens and cigars. And this year is no different.

But given my relatively new focus on helping solopreneurs (and the fact that the “Work from Home” guide is starting to feel a little stale), I’ve decided to change things up in 2023.

That's why this year, I'm introducing the Solopreneur's Gift Guide. Enjoy!

Links

Recording / Video Conference Gear

Home Office

At Home Tech

Productivity

Comforts of Home

Travel / Outside the House

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Why Awkwardness Is Your Competitive Advantage in Content Creation with Henna Pryor

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 02:02:00 -0400

Do you remember the most awkward moments of your life? One for me was definitely the day I was defending my master’s thesis. I was explaining a complex algorithm, when my advisor interrupted me and said, “Well…that’s not really how it works.” In front of my classmates, other faculty, and a number of friends who showed up out of support.

As you can imagine, I was mortified – until recovered, finished the presentation, and said, If you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them. Unless it’s about that one algorithm. They you can ask Dr. Bishop.”

That got laughs, and I finished strong. I learned an important lesson that day: awkwardness will happen. It’s how you handle it that has a lasting effect. And that’s exactly what Dr. Henna Pryor is going to talk about with us today. She’s a keynote speaker, and her best-selling book, Good Awkward, came out in September with endorsements from people like NFL Quarterback Russell Wilson.

Top Takeaways

We are living in a society that increasingly doesn’t need to use its “social skills” muscle. We don’t have to interact with as many people, and it’s making us feel worse.
Awkward goes hand-in-hand with uncertainty. That means if you never want to feel awkward, you’ll never grow.
In order to embrace uncertainty, and therefore awkwardness, we need to create more situations to “practice” than the current world gives us.

Show Notes

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The Importance of Digital Storytelling

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 23 Oct 2023 02:00:00 -0400

A family walks into a talent agency, and says, “Have we got the act for you…”

If you’re familiar with this opening to a joke, you may have had a visceral reaction to it — either you think it’s hysterically funny, shamefully disgusting, or both. It’s the opening to the joke, The Aristocrats, and if you have a weak stomach, I don’t suggest you look it up.

See, the point of this joke isn’t actually the punchline, which is right in the title. The point is to see how long you can improv a shocking, disgusting, offensive story.

You can think about it as a secret handshake among comedians, that became not so secret after a 2005 documentary came out about it.

It going me thinking about the importance of telling a story.

This week, I got to speak to my friend Nick Benson’s college classes about Digital Storytelling.

Don’t worry, I didn’t tell The Aristocrats.

Instead, I spoke to them about why storytelling is so important in any content you create, especially podcasting.

Read the article here: https://podcastliftoff.com/podcast-storytelling/

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Sometimes You Need to Fire Everyone and Start from Scratch with Jordan Eaton

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 16 Oct 2023 02:02:00 -0400

In a way, the chaotic start to our interview, followed by a calm, cool conversation, is a metaphor for Jordan’s business journey this year.

See, this isn’t just a story about how to hire good people for your business. It’s a cautionary tale, and proof that running a business is about always learning and adjusting.

Jordan runs an agency of high-level remote assistants.

Today, she’s telling us her own trials and tribulations with making what seemed to be the right hiring call but ended up plunging her business into a few chaotic months.

Don’t worry though, through patience and vigilance, she came out on the other side in a much better position. Plus, in the PRO show, we talk about what she’s doing for me…and why she’s contributed to me potentially leaving Airtable for Notion.

Top Takeaways

You need to share your mission with your team early on. This ensures that you’re both aligned on the same values – which will form a stronger bond than a paycheck.
Know when to communicate. Jordan saw that through hiring contractors, they were taking on too much, and as a result, the quality of their work slipped. Clear communication could have prevented the worst outcome for her: loss of clients.
Know when to cut ties. Jordan saw that for her agency, a contractor relationship would not work. So she pivoted and decided to hire full-time employees instead. It took several months to find the right fit, but she’s happy she didn’t rush into the decision.
When you do bring on new employees, make sure to have a rock-solid, hands-on training program. This will allow them to start learning and doing, from day 1.

Show Notes

Jordan Eaton

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Podcast Workflows: How Trailer Park Got 10,000 Downloads in 6 weeks.

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 15:33:01 -0400

It's podcast swap time! Except I'm telling you about another podcast of mine: Podcast Workflows. It's a daily podcast that focuses on how to help podcasters improve their processes. Every Wednesday, I do a deep dive into someone's process, and that's what I'm bringing you today.

Learn more at https://show.podcastworkflows.com/

Arielle Nissenblatt eats, sleeps, and breathes podcasts.

Her main job is with a podcast company.
Her newsletter is all about podcast curation.
She runs a podcast community on Discord.

She loves podcasts so much that she, along with her co-host Tim Villegas, produce a podcast about podcasts. Well really, about podcast trailers specifically. It’s called Trailer Park.

You might think that this is too niche, but they got 10,000 downloads in just a few weeks. Their outreach process was crucial to achieving that goal. Read on to learn how they did it.

IN THIS EPISODE

Why a super-niche podcast is the path to success
Spending some time in the edit can greatly enhance your show
Pitching and direct outreach is still the best way to grow your podcast

Read the full article here: https://podcastworkflows.com/trailer-park-podcast/

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Why Podcast Interviews are a Content Goldmine with Tom Schwab

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 02:02:00 -0400

If I wanted to cater to the current algorithm gods, I’d probably talk about how this interview is all about what AI can and cannot do for us. But it’s so much more than that.

Much like the problem with leveraging AI to do all of the heavy lifting, me positioning this episode as “about AI,” would be inauthentic. And authenticity…well that’s really what this episode is about.

Tom Schwab is someone who believes at his core that you’re just One Conversation Away from a profitable…and perhaps quite successful…business. So that’s what he helps people do. He helps them have conversations.

And today, you’re going to learn how to get better at having the right conversations, as well as how to leverage those conversations to build your authority…authentically.

Plus in the PRO show, Tom and I exchange podcast interview horror stories!

Top Takeaways

Marketing is starting a conversation with someone who could be a great customer. But before you can do that, you need to get clear on what you do, and who you do it for. Obscurity is bad for business.
When you go on podcasts, you’re having a conversation with potentially lots of people. This means you need to show up, be present, and make the host look like a genius for having you on!
Go for quality over quantity. When I asked Tom about how to get on more podcasts he said, “More is not better. Better is better.” So use your time wisely, and show up fully for the listeners.

Show Notes

Tom Schwab

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How to Stand Out When Everything is Competing for Attention with Steve Woodruff

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 02 Oct 2023 02:02:00 -0400

Take the 2024 Listener Survey!

Did you know that Netflix is also a gaming platform now? That Apple make TV shows? That Disney own a number of YouTube channels without the Disney branding? It’s because they know what Steve Woodruff knows.

If you’re a podcaster, you might think the competition is other podcasters. If you make movies, you might think the competition is another movie. You’d be wrong.

See, what Netflix, Apple, Disney, and Steve know, is that the competition is everything. People are assaulted every day by stimuli, and if you want to cut through all of the noise, you need to stand out by being an effective communication designer. And there’s no better person to tell us how to do that than the King of Clarity himself.

Plus, in the PRO show, we talk about using AI to write books, and Steve’s process for writing his latest book, The Point.

Top Takeaways

The average American spends 7-10 hours per day in front of a screen. On top of that, we see 4,000-10,000 ads every day. In other words, there is a lot of stuff competing for our attention.
You want to be pigeonholed! Instead of an “Elevator Pitch,” which sounds stuff and outdated, Steve prefers the term “Memory Dart.” What’s one sentence you can say to people so they know exactly what you do?
If you’re not communicating clearly to an outsider, you’re not communicating clearly. You want to make sure your copy (website, LinkedIn profile, Twitter) makes sense to people who don’t know your work well.

Show Notes

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Using Twitter to Grow Your Podcast with Yong-Soo Chung

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 02:02:00 -0400

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Imagine running a high 7-figure business with over 300,000 followers on social media, then launching a podcast. How many downloads would you expect? 100,000? 150,000? What about…10?

We’ve all been there: we spend a TON of time pouring blood, sweat, and tears into a project just to have it launch to crickets. That’s exactly what happened to Yong-Soo Chung with his podcast. Despite the social following, no one cared about his show.

But instead of wallowing in self-pity or shutting the show down, Yong-Soo took action. He reactivated his 12-year dormant Twitter account, and started basically from scratch, growing to 20,000 followers in less than a year.

Now he has a great process for getting people from Twitter to his newsletter, to his podcast.

We’ll cover his entire journey and more. Plus, in the PRO show, we exchange notes on our production processes!

Life Lessons

Have a clearly defined niche, and know how to reach people in that niche. Yong-Soo’s initial problem was a mismatch between his businesses and his show. Once he started to find people in the right niche, he started to find listeners.
Share personal stories – these are the things that resonate with people, no matter what platform or niche. By being a little vulnerable, people will want to learn more about you and your story.
Continuously hone your target avatar and make sure to grow your show to serve your audience and yourself. You need to be interested in the show – after all, that’s how you tell a good story.

Show Notes

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Create More Engaging Cohort-based Courses with the Flipped Classroom Model

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 02:02:00 -0400

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Cohort-based courses are on the decline if the tastemakers are to be believed. And it makes sense. Now that people aren’t stuck at home, they probably don’t want to spend time interacting online when they can interact IRL. But that doesn’t mean that CBCs have no utility.

In fact, I think that there’s a great way we can make CBCs even better, by employing a tactic that has been explored in the K12 and higher education settings: the flipped classroom.

In the episode we’ll:

Check out the flipped classroom model, a way to get students more involved and boost their learning.
See how engaging teaching methods move past old school methods and foster better student participation.
Learn some of the pitfalls of the flipped classroom in a practice.
Measure the effect of customizing course material to suit students, a way to make education more personalized.
See how the topic matters when considering the use of the flipped classroom model.
Address how we can incorporate the flipped classroom model in cohort-based courses.

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Why You're Thinking About Building in Public the Wrong Way with Kevon Cheung

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 02:02:00 -0400

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I love Hibachi. I love the food. I love the experience. That seems a lot like building in public, right? After all, the chef is literally cooking in front of us, building our meal. But according to Kevon Cheung – a guy who’s built his entire community by building in public – Hibachi is entertainment.

In order to build in public, you need to take your audience on a journey with you. That’s why he believes building in public is more like Omakase. This is where the chef will choose the foods for you, involve you in the process, and tell you a story about the food you’re eating.

That’s what Building in Public truly is, and today, we’re going to learn how to leverage it to build great communities and better products.

Top Takeaways

You need to talk about something people care about, not just vanity metrics. No one cares what time you wake up to write. They want to know what you’re writing about, and why you chose to write about that topic.
Only your competitors care about how you do something – your secret sauce. Your audience is invested in you, and they want to know about the journey…both the ups and the downs.
You shouldn’t just announce something when you’re not sure it will do well. Instead, tell your audience you’re exploring an idea. Ask them about it, and involve them in the process. THEN, make a decision and share that with them, along with why you made the decision.

Show Notes

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An Emmy Award-Winning Producer Teaches You Storytelling with Cody Sheehy

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 02:02:00 -0400

You need to tell a good story, no matter what kind of content you create. This is obvious in fiction, but it’s just as important in non-fiction. Don’t believe me? Take it from Emmy Award-winning producer, Cody Sheehy. He creates documentaries, and today he tells us why storytelling has been crucial to his work, and is crucial to yours too. In the PRO show, I couldn’t resist: I asked what it was like to win an Emmy.

Top Takeaways

Everything comes down to having a good character. Your audience needs to associate with the character for them to feel connected to your content (this is why long-form> short-form).
While Joseph Campbell’s formula is great in theory, it doesn’t fit perfectly in the real world. But you still need to take elements from it to craft something compelling.
Finishing strong should feel like you’re running through a house, closing all the doors. Your character needs to grow and you need to close most, if not all, of the open threads.

Show Notes

Cody Sheehy

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Why You Need to be on LinkedIn if You're a Creator with Kathleen Celmins

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 02:02:00 -0400

If you think about social networks as people, LinkedIn is TikTok’s dorky older, more professional sister…that the younger, more hip sister needs to borrow money from. That’s how Kathleen Celmins sees it, and she’s very effective at selling on LinkedIn. In fact, she says that if you’re just trying to grow your follower count on LinkedIn, you’re doing it wrong. Instead, it’s all about the connections. How do you convert those connections into clients? That’s what we get into during this call. Plus, in the PRO show we talk about the danger of creating tools that rely on social media.

Top Takeaways

While every other social network is super content-heavy, LinkedIn is different. If you post more than once a day, you’re competing with yourself.
Followers on LinkedIn are a vanity metric. Your goal is to fill your calendar with calls…so create connections and see if those connections are a good fit.
Your LinkedIn Profile is your sales page. Optimize it for your offer, and start connecting with people in your niche.

Show Notes

Want People to Find Your Podcast? Do More Than Just Tweet with Deirdre Tshien

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 02:02:00 -0400

I used to think that promoting my podcast was a matter of tweeting it (Xeeting it?) and hoping for the best. And while I’ve learned a TON over the years about what to do, and what not to do, Deirdre Tshien still blew my mind as we talked about her traffic pyramid. As the co-founder and CEO of Capsho (an AI tool to help create promotional assets), she knows a thing or two about how to market and grow your podcast. We’ll get into that, plus podcast discoverability tips that change my approach to this very show, and my audits. Plus, in the PRO show, we talk about what it’s like building niche commercial AI tools.

Top Takeaways

Look for the 4 tiers of getting traffic to your content: passive, and active organic marketing, leveraging other audiences, and paid ads
There are lots of ways to improve podcast discoverability, including optimizing titles, descriptions, and even artist names for the words your niche is searching for.
The name of the repurposing game is dripping out clips from your show and giving the episode a long life. That’s why Deirdre started Capsho in the first place!

Show Notes

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Summer Slow Down: 5 Tools I'm Trying

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 02:02:00 -0400

It's the summer and I just came off a ton of travel, so this episode is a mishmash of things and a little rambly. Strap in! We’ll talk about a contract position I have, plus some new partnerships I’m excited about. Then we’ll move to my summer of travel and how I’m managing the workload before moving onto the main event: 5 tools I’m trying out this summer.

In the pro show, I talk about what I’m using Notion for, more about my new position, Luma, and seeing a therapist.

Show Notes

Why You Need to Keep a Digital Journal as a Creator with Andy Ayim

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 02:02:00 -0400

“I don’t need to write it down because I’ll remember” is hopelessly naive. Sorry if that stung, but it’s true. You need to write things down, as Andy Ayim MBE learned when he started his digital journal. He’s a father, husband, creator, thinker, investor, and founder of The Angel Investing School. He has invested in over 17 gap-closing startups. And he would be completely lost without what he calls his “Tracker” - a digital journal he keeps in Notion. In fact, he believes his Tracker is so crucial, that he considers it DIY coaching and counseling too. So let’s dive into why YOU need to keep a digital journal, and how to make it happen. Plus, in the PRO show, we talk about investing, single-vs-multi-focus, and how Andy invented Spotify, and I invented Facebook…

Top Takeaways

“You’re never really failing if you learn from it.” Your digital journal is like the “Google Analytics of your life.” You can keep track of what you do, how do feel, and lots of other data points to help you learn.
This can also be an eternal source of content. If you’re logging books, thoughts, and ideas, you can reference your digital journal when you’re feeling stuck to look for inspiration.
Get started the way that works best for you. Andy started with a Google Doc before moving to Notion when he understood what he needed.

Show Notes

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Building Your Business by Being Bold with Brooke Janousek

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 02:02:00 -0400

They say fortune favors the bold, and that’s definitely the case for Brooke Janousek. After decades in the marketing industry, she decided to strike out on her own and needed to take any opportunity she could get to help her business grow. So she took her shot by asking Sara Blakely’s (founder of SPANX) husband, during his talk, in front of 800 people, for a chance to meet her.

According to Brooke, you need to be bold in your own business- “if you don’t have a seat at the table, you need to make one.” Those bold moves turned her into a successful fractional CMO. And if you’re wondering if this path is right for you, you need to listen!

Top Takeaways

Fractional leaders are becoming increasingly popular. They allow companies to bring on a high level of expertise without having to hire a 6-figure salary employee.
You build credibility as a fractional leader by showing results. If you can clearly articulate results to a potential client, you’ll get hired.
This all goes back to being bold. If there’s something you think you should do, and it makes you uncomfortable, it’s probably the right move. Brooke says, “ asking is overthinking” and I love that.

Show Notes

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What Baby Clothes Can Teach You About Understanding Your Customers

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 28 Jul 2023 02:02:00 -0400

If you’re a parent, you’re probably familiar with something that’s been recently reintroduced into my life. It’s 2 am, and my 7-month-old son wakes up and is in need of a new diaper and bottle. So I get up and head into his room. I’m half asleep, I need to undo his PJs, change the diaper, and redo the PJs. And there is one type of PJ's that are head and shoulders above the rest: the reverse zip PJs. So good in fact, that I’m certain they were designed by parents that had the same exact experience I’ve shared.

Link: What Baby Clothes Can Teach You About Understanding Your Customers

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Why Your Business NEEDS User Generated Content with Tory Gray

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 02:02:00 -0400

Are you missing the boat on user-generated content? User-Generated Content (UGC) isn’t just for getting testimonials on social media. In fact, today’s guest, Tory Gray, says we can use it for almost anything: SEO, user research, social proof, FAQs, and so much more. And she should know! Tory is a highly experienced digital marketing consultant and the Founder of The Gray Dot Company. With more than 15 years of experience in SEO and growth strategy, Tory has helped numerous businesses achieve their goals through digital strategy with a focus on technical and strategic SEO. On top of the great advice, we walk through a scenario: building a landing page from scratch with UGC. Don’t miss it! Plus, in the PRO show, we talk about the mother of all UGC websites: Reddit.

Top Takeaways

You can create full pages of content from UGC, from photos to social proof to FAQs.
Your process for collecting UGC doesn’t have to be complicated. You can have a Google Form or Doc with some pointed questions, or a swipe file.
If you’re not sure where to start with a new product, look at UGC for similar brands and products. People are already asking questions online. Do a social media or Google Keyword search!

Show Notes

Little Experiments I'm Running

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 21 Jul 2023 02:02:00 -0400

A few weeks ago Jay Clouse wrote about Experimentality on his blog. This is a concept I love because experimenting is the only way to know if what you're doing works as best as it can.

I've been experimenting a lot with my podcast, content, and automation. I like writing about what I'm trying for my members...I think it's a big benefit of the membership.

I thought I'd give you a little peek into two experiments I'm running now.

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The Best Thing You Can Do is Document YOUR Journey with Tim Stoddart

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 02:02:00 -0400

“I despise social media.” This was my first impression of Tim Stoddart, and I was hooked. If you're feeling frustrated and discouraged by the lack of engagement relying solely on social media posts, you are not alone! But you, like me, might be taking the wrong approach. Tim says long-form content is king, and he should know. He’s the CEO of Copyblogger and writes prolifically. If you’ve been struggling to make an impact through short-form content, this interview is a must-listen.

Get the top takeaways, show notes, and transcript at https://howibuilt.it/323

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My Monthly Digest Engine

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 14 Jul 2023 02:02:00 -0400

Earlier this month I made two decisions about the newsletter that you may have noticed:

I got rid of the “Quick Hits” section (which was mostly my own content) in favor of a 300-500 word section on some top-of-mind topic.
I added a monthly digest of all the content I put out during the month, sent on the last weekday of the month.

The two are related. I still want a way to let my newsletter subscribers know about the content I’ve put out, in case they missed it. But it also serves 2 other purposes:

It allows me to promote the month’s podcast episodes one more time.
The sponsors get one more mention in the newsletter each month.

After putting it together manually, I knew there had to be a better way, so I built version one of a Monthly Digest Engine, designed to aggregate and format all of my links, which I can then add to ConvertKit.

Here’s how I built it.

https://casabona.org/2023/06/building-a-monthly-digest-engine/

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Why I'm Going All-In on Long-Form Content

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 02:02:00 -0400

What do you get when you follow the pack instead of doing what’s best for you? A bad content strategy. A year ago, I decided to focus on short-form content because I saw all the “thread Bois” doing it and thought it would help my business.

It didn’t. But luckily, you can course-correct your strategies. And thanks to some key talks and inspiration from CEX and Craft+Commerce, I’ve decided that long form is the best strategy for my business (and probably yours, too).

Get the top takeaways, show notes, and transcript at https://howibuilt.it/322

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How I Found my VA

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 07 Jul 2023 02:02:00 -0400

Picture this: it's 2020. Your spouse is a nurse. You have one small kid with another on the way. You know child care will fall full to you for at least half the week.

Oh, and you're trying to run a business. What would you do if your work week was effectively cut in half?

I knew I needed to get help in my business, so I found a VA. Over a few episodes, I'll talk about working with my VA, starting with how I decided I needed one and where I found her.

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You're Writing Your Business Book Wrong with Josh Bernoff

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 03 Jul 2023 02:02:00 -0400

We live in an age where everything needs to be fast, easy, and in high volume. I’ve seen people say, “I’m going to write 8 books this year.” Josh Bernoff thinks that’s a load of crap. See, if you want to write a good book, just like anything of quality, you need to spend time on it. Josh’s new book, Build a Better Business Book, is a master class on how to do that. And today, he’s giving us the best parts of that book. In the PRO show, things get real as we talk more about the charlatans of writing, as well as ghostwriting.

Top Takeaways

To write a good book, your idea has to be big, right, and new. This will make it distinguishable from everything else, and increase your impact and influence.
A good business book consists of two things: answers to reader questions, and case studies. Your book is nothing if you don’t have case studies to back up your claim.
Are you a planner, or a panter? Panters write by the seat of their pants, which creates a long, rambling, incoherent book. Planners start with what Josh calls a “fat outline,” so they know the story they’re telling before they ever put pen to page.

Show Notes

Thoughts on the Vision Pro

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 02:02:00 -0400

Apple is rarely the first to market with a product, and for good reason. Here are 4 lessons you can learn from Apple introducing the Vision Pro at the beginning of the month.

Link: Thoughts and Lesson from the Apple Vision Pro Presentation at the WWDC

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Using Psychology to Build a Better Business with Julian Garsdean

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 02:02:00 -0400

Are you a “Field of Dreams” marketer? Someone who thinks, “If I build it, they will come.” I was for a long time. Sometimes it feels like I still am. That’s why I was excited to talk to Julian Garsdean. He blends psychology and business in a way I haven’t seen before to help business owners stand out and sell more. As creators, we can learn a ton from addressing the 6 basic needs in our own content and products. Listen for these top takeaways:

Top Takeaways

Businesses aren’t just transactions. They are run by people, for people. The sooner you realize that the sooner you’ll connect with your potential customers.
Establish your identity. Being too general means you’re not connecting with anyone. Doing a deep dive into your identity, and the persona of your customers, makes them relate to your more.
The key to negotiations is…you guessed it…understanding the needs of the person on the other side of the table. Do that, and you’ll be able to quantify your value in something other than numbers.

Show Notes

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Thinking about Webinar Software

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 23 Jun 2023 02:02:00 -0400

About a month ago I went on a quest to find the perfect webinar software. I create a spreadsheet and everything.

But at CEX, I had a great conversation with Luria Petrucci of Live Stream Pros and I asked her, “What do you think is the best way to run a webinar?”

Here's what she said, and why.

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To Grow Your Newsletter, You Need to Have Unique Content with Chenell Basilio

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 02:02:00 -0400

It would be a dream of mine to grow a newsletter from 0 to 8,000+ in less than 6 months. But that’s exactly what Chenell Basilio did. The way she did it? Deeply researched, super-helpful content. See, she teaches people how successful creators grew their newsletters to 50,000+ subscribers. And today, she’s going to tell us all about her process. And in How I Built It PRO, we talk about money and goals for the next 6 months.

Top Takeaways

Creating unique, long-form content can be a boon to your website or newsletter; people want something good and helpful!
Quick capture is important. Chenell uses Apple Notes because that allows her to quickly open and dictate notes while she’s listening to podcasts.
Chenell will only do deep dives on creators who’ve built an audience since 2018. That way she can cover techniques that still work today, making the content relatable.

Show Notes

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Capture Text from Any Image

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 16 Jun 2023 02:02:00 -0400

There are LOTS of great tips on LinkedIn these days, especially in the carousels. But the problem: you can’t easily get data out of the carousels. That means you can’t put them in your notes app, or even click on the links for more details.

Here are 2 ways you can do it: one using macOS’s native image-to-text feature, and one using a great shortcut by David Sparks.

Links

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Earning Traditional Media Coverage Without Paying For Ads with Christina Nicholson

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 02:02:00 -0400

Pitching the media is tough. After all, you’re competing with basically anyone who has something to say. So how do you make yourself stand out? That’s what Christina Nicholson is teaching us today. She’ll cover everything from coming up with an idea to landing the media spot to converting those viewers to your audience. This one is a MUST listen.

Top Takeaways

Pitch your story by following the “new, now, next” framework. You should be able to answer what’s new about your story, why it needs to be covered now, and what’s coming next to pitch effectively
This is a long game. Earned media is not about immediate ROI, because earned media is forever. So think of this as a long-term investment, not a get-rich-quick scheme.
Every time you go into an interview, you need to think of the end goal. What you want will determine not only your CTA but also what kind of media you’ll pitch.

Show Notes

How I've Configured my Stream Deck, Part 2: XL Page 2

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 02:02:00 -0400

In Part 3 of my Stream Deck Series, I'm covering Page 3 of my Stream Deck XL. Let's Dive in!

- Screenshot of Stream Deck XL Page 2
- eCamm Live
- How I've Configured my Stream Deck
- Get Your Own Stream Deck

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12 Simple Automation to Help You Get Started

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 05 Jun 2023 02:02:00 -0400

A Rube Goldberg machine is an overly complex device that performs a simple task through a series of chain reactions. If you’re not familiar with automation, it can often feel like building a Rube Golberg machine. But it doesn’t have to! Today, I’m going to tell you how automation can be simple, and give you 12 examples from my own life that prove the point. In the PRO show, I tell you all about why I moved to Thrivecart, and how my “writing on Medium” experiment is going.

Top Takeaways

The point of automation is to do things so you don’t have to do them. That makes simple tasks the perfect candidates for automation.
Voice and text expansion can be great ways to get started automating for capturing and writing
Trigger emails based on status changes in Airtable or Google Sheets are slightly more complicated, but the concept is simple and the time savings are great!

Show Notes

Using Hypefury for Better Twitter Engagement

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 02 Jun 2023 02:02:00 -0400

When I went back to Twitter, one of the first things I wanted to look into was how I can easily post…most ideally across multiple platforms.

And as I’m using these channels to grow my own audience, I always want features like auto-DM and auto-plug.

Hypefury fits the bill perfectly.

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Grow Your Podcast and Generate Leads with Facebook with Philip Better

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 29 May 2023 03:02:00 -0400

To grow your podcast you need…Facebook?! That’s what Philip Better, self-described podcast mogul, says. But that’s just one piece of advice he offers, as we exchange notes and thoughts on things like YouTube, lead generation, and growing your podcast audience. In the PRO show, we talk about automation on social media!

Top Takeaways

Don’t limit yourself to just one platform. Be on all the big ones like Apple, Spotify, Amazon, and Google/YouTube to maximize your podcast’s reach.
Get people in your newsletter, and grow your podcast by sharing the top takeaways and what’s in the pro show instead of just announcing new episodes.
Have a Facebook group and join groups in your niche to promote your podcast organically and get ideas for content.

Show Notes

Spotify vs. Apple Music

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 26 May 2023 02:02:00 -0400

Today I'm tackling Apple Music vs. Spotify, and why I seemingly inexplicably use both!

https://casabona.org/2023/04/using-spotify-more/

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The Difference Between Email and Marketing Automation with Chris Davis

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 22 May 2023 02:02:00 -0400

In my opinion, there’s nothing better than brainstorming ideas with a fellow Automator, and that’s exactly what today’s episode is all about. Chris L. Davis is a marking automation expert, and he’s done a few things that have wowed and inspired me. Today, we’re breaking down what exactly email automation is, and how everyone can leverage it to understand and grow their business. In the PRO show, we espouse our love for Airtable.

Top Takeaways

There’s a difference between email marketing and marketing automation. One is about list management. The other is about contact management.
Use UTM tags! Never posting a naked URL on social media. You want to know how effective your various channels are so you can double down on the right one.
Chris has a FANTASTIC workflow for his webinars. Listen in to learn about it.

Show Notes

How I've Configured my Stream Deck, Part 2: XL Page 1

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 19 May 2023 02:02:00 -0400

In Part 2 of my Stream Deck Series, I'm covering Page 1 of my Stream Deck XL. Let's Dive in!

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My 5 Favorite Automation Tools

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 15 May 2023 02:02:00 -0400

Nowadays, there are tons of automation tools out there, thanks to the Chat GPT and Generative AI Revolution. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed with all the options available that could potentially help you do your job better. But let me tell you, there’s a difference between using Generative AI tools to create content or creative assets and using automation tools that can actually perform tasks and make your life easier.

So, in this Automated Solopreneur segment, I’m going to spill the beans on my top 5 favorite automation tools. And if you tune into the x`PRO show, I’ll also share why I decided to give Twitter another shot and how automation tools made my experience on the platform a whole lot better.

Show Notes

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Going Back to Bear Notes

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 12 May 2023 09:50:07 -0400

If you've been following me for any amount of time, you will know that I take my note taking and idea capture very seriously. And last year, I made a decision that Craft would be my one and only notes app.

I don’t think that’s working out for me. Mostly because I have 3 kinds of notes:

Big planning notes
Random thoughts
Research notes

Craft has been great for the random thoughts and research but I think is best suited for Big Planning.

So I’m going to switch back to Bear Notes for random thoughts to see how that works out.

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You're a Creator, but are You a Business Owner? With Craig Chavis, Jr.

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 08 May 2023 02:02:00 -0400

Lots of people are becoming creators now. In fact, Craig Chavis Jr. describes being a creator as sharing your expertise. But does that make you a business owner? Not so fast! That’s a completely different thing. And in today’s episode, we dig into what those differences are, finding the right message for your business, and how creators can become business owners. In How I Built It PRO, we talk about putting yourself into a corner, and how owning a business is kind of like surfing.

Top Takeaways

Put the message above the messenger. You need to figure out what people want, so you can offer to help them get what they want.
A creator is anyone who shares their expertise. And while many people try to sell their knowledge, you need to find people who want it. So you frame your expertise as results or what they will have once they work with you.
People think having a business is setting up a website. But you can’t build a business virally.

Show Notes

Reading, Writing, Repurposing: Why Writing is Crucial to Every Creator with Mark Ellis

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 01 May 2023 02:02:00 -0400

Just how important is writing? According to YouTuber Mark Ellis, your career depends on it. And as someone who’s grown his audience to 1 million monthly views in just a couple of years, he knows a thing or two. That’s why he’s going to take us through his process for creating content, repurposing, and how you can start! In How I Built It Pro, we talk specifically about growing his YouTube channel and podcasting on YouTube.

Top Takeaways

Most videos Mark publishes start out as blog posts, highlighting the incredible importance of repurposing.
His team has been crucial because they can do the things he doesn’t have to do. That way he can focus on writing, recording, and growing his audience.
Mark also makes $2,000/mo from Medium, which is free to get started on. He’s leveraging the reach on other platforms to grow his own business.

Show Notes

How I've Configured My Stream Deck Part 1: The Stream Deck+

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 02:02:00 -0400

I'm starting a short series here on how I've configured my Stream Decks! Today, the Stream Deck+.

Links

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Are You Making These Mistakes with Your Membership? With Melodie Moore

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 02:02:00 -0400

While there have been big leaps in membership software in the last 5 years, membership sites are still some of the hardest to create and run properly. That’s why I brought in Melodie Moore. She’s been building, maintaining, and scaling 7 & 8-figure membership sites for the past 10 years. Her team kills shiny object syndrome and creates massive success in less time by utilizing psychology, state-of-the-art tech, and effective systems. Today, you’re going to learn her process, and how to launch a successful membership.

In How I Built It Pro, members got to hear us talk about parenting, general thoughts on Twitter, and…improv?! Get this and every episode ad-free, and extended, over at https://howibuilt.it/pro

Top Takeaways

There are 3 major mistakes content creators make that Melodie breaks down: acting too big, having to finish before you sell, and thinking a tech person is your savior. Listen to hear how to avoid them!
Most platforms don’t think about the entire customer journey. When you’re evaluating, think about where you are in your journey.
If you want to reduce churn, sell a course first. Once that gains traction, consider a membership.

Show Notes

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Ivory Makes Mastodon Useable

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 21 Apr 2023 02:02:00 -0400

When I left Twitter, it wasn’t on a whim. I had been considering it for a long time…like middle of the pandemic long. As people jumped ship from Twitter, Mastodon seemed to be the clear front-runner for replacing Twitter.

I’m hesitant at best, but Tapbots (from the makers of the incomparable Tweetbot), have put out a Mastodon client called Ivory, and I’ve decided to give it t try for a bit.

Links

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Understanding A.I.'s Role in Online Course Creation (Presented by Sensei)

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Thu, 20 Apr 2023 11:55:35 -0400

If you create online courses, you won’t want to miss this very special discussion! I’ll be joined by Ronnie Burt, Business Lead at Automattic, who’s overseen development of the Sensei LMS plugin. We’re going to cover:

- Managing emails for your online courses
- A.I.’s role in assisting with online course creation.
- Sensei’s upcoming A.I. Quiz Generator
- A.I.'s impact on society

This is a audio version from a live stream we did on April 17th, 2023.

This live stream is presented by Sensei. Learn more here: https://howibuilt.it/sensei

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How to Figure Out What to Automate

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 02:02:00 -0400

It’s another Automated Solopreneur episode! Today I’m telling you 4 types of tasks you can automate – as well as questions you can ask yourself to determine what you can automate based on what you do on a daily basis.

Those 4 types of tasks?

Common, easily repeatable tasks
Infrequent tasks that have a high level of effort to do.
Tasks that require specific timing
Tasks that you cannot forget to do.

In How I Built It Pro, I talk about when you might be automating too much, plus my plans for making the membership more automation-centric.

Show Notes

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How to Add a Google Doc in a Specific Folder with Your Stream Deck

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 14 Apr 2023 02:02:00 -0400

One of my favorite things to do is easily automate input and idea capture from my Stream Deck. I've got two, plus a Stream Deck Pedal, so I try to make the most of them!

I've greatly improved my process for creating social media content in a centralized place with a Stream Deck automation I'm going to tell you about today.

Show Notes

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Not Blowing Up on YouTube? BE PATIENT! with Hayley Akins

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 02:02:00 -0400

Lots of people look at the overnight success of creators, and wonder why it’s not happening for them. But the truth is…it wasn’t overnight. There’s a lot of trial and error, learning, and adjusting until you get it right. And that’s what Haley Akins is here to talk about today. She’s had quite a journey as a motion designer, surviving the death of Flash to emerge as a course creator and educator showing a new generation of motion designers how to be successful. And she does it with a little help from YouTube.

Top Takeaways

Play with gateway videos. Look for popular topics on YouTube, and make a video about them to get people subscribed. They give them lots of value.
Looks like VidIQ and TubeBuddy can be super helpful. Be sure to look at the analytics and see what’s working for you and what isn’t YouTube loves consistency and predictability.
It takes time to become successful on YouTube. Be patient, and keep going.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Groundhogg | Learndash

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The hyperpaper eInk Planner

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 07 Apr 2023 09:25:19 -0400

I’m a pen and paper guy for sure, but the Kindle Scribe is a perfect companion for me. And as a result, I’ve been using the freeform notebooks more like a planner. I still use (and love) my William Hannah notebook, but my friend Brian sent me an interesting link the other day: hyperpaper.me. It's a customizable PDF planner for eInk devices, and I love it.

Read the review here

Brought to you by TextExpander

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How to NOT Burn Out While Using Social Media with Alex Marshall

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 02:02:00 -0400

Alex Marshall started coaching in February 2020…I think I just heard the collective groan. Alex did too, which is why she turned to social media — specifically Instagram — as a way to gain followers and leads. And while most of her leads still come through social media, in the intervening 3 years since she started coaching, she want on a journey that nearly lead to burnout and leaving social altogether. Today she’s back in a way that works best for her, and we discuss how you, dear creator, can have a healthy relationship with social media too. Plus in the Pro show, we discuss ChatGPT. It was newly hot when we recorded. It was fun listening back given where it is today.

Top Takeaways

It’s easy to put too much pressure on yourself when you feel you need to post every single day, or that your whole life is content. But you need to do what’s best for you.
It can also feel like you need to be everywhere. Alex recommends picking one platform that does well for you and stick with it for a while. For her it’s Instagram. For me it’s LinkedIn.
Don’t be in an all or nothing mindset. It’s OK to miss a day, or a couple. It’s OK to only post in one place. And it’s OK to not share everything you do.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Groundhogg | TextExpander | LearnDash

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Trying Out Due for Important Reminders

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 31 Mar 2023 02:02:00 -0400

I’m experimenting with the Due app for iOS. What makes it interesting is the persistent reminders — which will repeat until you mark the task complete.

Check out the blog post here.

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Legally Protecting your online business with Sam Vanderwielen

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 02:02:00 -0400

Look I’ll cut to the quick: YES. As a creator, you still need a lawyer. Actually, the rise of the creator economy reminds me a lot of the rise of online freelancers. The internet has made making money so easy, most people don’t do their due diligence. That’s why I called my friend Sam. See, she became a young, successful lawyer, before throwing it all away to start…a food blog. That flopped.

But she learned from that experience. And today, she helps online educators, coaches, and creators through her legal knowledge and experience. And in today’s episode, we’re putting that to the test.

Top Takeaways:

In starting her legal business, Sam did 3 important things: talk to her customers, write 10 hyper-SEO’d blog posts, and got people on her mailing list (where she always has soft promos)
When it comes to digital products, you still need a contract in the form of Terms and Conditions. Make sure you have the user opt-in at checkout before they make the purchase!
Submit your big important content to the US Copyright Office. It’s easier than you think and provides you extra legal protection in the case of piracy.

Show Notes:

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Controversial Opinion: Airtable is Better Than Notion

Joe Casabona, Business Systems Coach — Fri, 24 Mar 2023 02:00:00 -0400

Every so often I consider switching to Notion...that is until earlier this year when I decided I was going to double down on Airtable. See, Notion scares and confuses me. It doesn't work the way my brain works, and I'm already a huge fan of Airtable. It's the very basis for my podcast planners.

But up until now, I haven't really been using Airtable to its fullest potential, probably because I've had my eye on Notion. So here is a controversial opinion: Airtable is better than Notion.

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Switching From Zapier to Make, and A Potpourri of Automation

Joe Casabona — Mon, 20 Mar 2023 02:02:00 -0400

I wax poetic on a number of automation-based topics, like switching from Zapier to Make, how ChatGPT can help creators (and exposes a gaping hole in the education system), and rebranding the YouTube channel to focus on automation tools. In PRO, I'm thinking of switching off of Castos, and sales numbers from my latest launch.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: The Solo Creator Club | Groundhogg | LearnDash

(00:00) - Intro
(02:37) - Make vs. Zapier
(14:06) - Sponsors: LearnDash, Groundhogg, Solo Creator Club
(18:04) - Thoughts on ChatGPT/Generative AI
(29:22) - The Automated Solopreneur
(32:44) - That's it!

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Am I A Calendar Power User (Why Fantastical is Great)

Joe Casabona — Fri, 17 Mar 2023 02:02:00 -0400

A few weeks ago, I wrote that I was Considering a Different Calendar App. After testing BusyCal, Cron, and Calendar 366, while also looking at several others, nothing comes close to Fantastical. Here's why.

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Making the Most of Your Stream Deck with Cat Mulvihill

Joe Casabona — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 02:02:00 -0400

There’s nothing better than good gear and automation talk, and that’s exactly what we’re getting today. Cat Mulvahill is one of my favorite YouTube creators because she has shown me so many cool things about eCamm Live. But it turns out we’re both also huge Stream Deck nerds. So if you’ve been looking to get the most out of your Stream Deck (or need a compelling argument to buy one), today’s episode is for you.

Top Takeaways:

Cat uses her Stream Deck with eCamm Live to do transitions, lower thirds, and more during recording. Because of that, she barely has to edit her videos. It’s like storyboarding your whole video in advance!
She and I both use our Stream Decks for more than just streaming though. One of Cat’s cool actions in a multi-action that sets up her entire bookkeeping workspace. This cuts down considerably on the amount of time she spends on the actual accounting stuff.
When it comes to creating content, she picks topics that are interesting and solve a problem. That usually generates comments and questions, that in turn, leads to more content ideas!

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: The Solo Creator Club | Groundhogg | LearnDash

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My new Favorite RSS/Read Later App (Reader by Readwise)

Joe Casabona — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 02:02:00 -0500

RSS has been such an integral part of my life basically since Google Reader. And since Google Reader shut down, I have been on a bit of a quest to find a good replacement. I think Reader by Readwise is that Replacement.

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Why Titles on YouTube (or any Content) is so Important with Jake Thomas

Joe Casabona — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 02:02:00 -0500

How do you grow a newsletter to 20,000 subscribers in less than a year? Try this ONE trick! Want to 5x your YouTube downloads? DO THIS! These are both titles I could have given this episode — and taking the advice of Jake Thomas, I should have! See, Jake studies YouTube titles to see what makes people click. And while he gives some away for free in his newsletter, he also has a whole searchable database that you can pay to get access to. So today, Jake tells us how he built his subscriber base up to 20,000 in a year, as well as the importance of good titles, not just on YouTube, but everywhere.

Top Takeaways:

Titles and thumbnails are super important because if they don’t get people to click, no one watches. So spend time on them — and use Jake’s tips!
You DO still need good content. Both Jake and I have been considering more quality over quantity lately. Instead of super timely stuff, make it evergreen, really good, and dial in the titles.
If you’re getting started, find your niche, and look at similar channels (and adjacent niches’ channels). See what’s working for them, and put your own spin on it.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: The Solo Creator Club | Groundhogg | LearnDash

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Be the Experimenter

Joe Casabona — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 10:08:20 -0500

I had a t-shirt in college that was my prized possession. It read: "There are 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't." The joke being that 10 or “one zero” in binary is actually “2” in decimal.

I’m sure if I looked hard enough, I could find my college ID from freshman year, where that shirt is featured. The shirt is top-of-mind because I saw a post on LinkedIn that made me think of it. It made me realize: There are two types of people in the world. Those who ask for answers, and those find them.

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Why You’re Leaving Money on the Table with Email Automation with Kronda Adair

Joe Casabona — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 02:02:00 -0500

If you’ve ever heard me say, “I’m a recovering WordPress developer,” you’ve also heard me credit today’s guest, Kronda Adair. And while she started in WordPress, she quickly moved into one of my favorite areas of expertise: automation. Specifically, Kronda’s an email automation expert. And today, she’s going to tell us the RIGHT process for automation, how to test, and why your business depends on email automation.

Top Takeaways:

Automation is employing technology to improve your processes. You can vastly improve how you work, and your customer’s journey if you automate the right things.
To start, step away from the tools and focus on the process. Map what you need to do with pen and paper. Once you do that, you have a job description. And you need something to fulfill that job. That’s when you look for the tools.
Two things you need to do with automating email: do it manually first; this helps you make that job description. Next, go through the automation yourself. See what the subscriber will see. This may be their primary interaction with you — so make sure it’s good.
Intro: Getting into automation

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: GoodGames | Groundhogg | LearnDash

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Use Sensei to sell your online course

Joe Casabona — Fri, 24 Feb 2023 02:02:00 -0500

Last week I told you about the best way to create an only course...but what's the best way to sell it? I firmly believe tools like Teachable and Kajabi are overpriced. When looking at LMSs, I turn to WordPress. And these days, Sensei is doing the coolest stuff, as it attempts to retake the title of best WordPress LMS.

This clip is brought to you by Sensei - Automatic

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Want to be a Better Speaker? Do THESE Things with Mike Pacchione

Joe Casabona — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 02:02:00 -0500

There’s an old adage that more people are afraid of public speaking than of death, meaning that at a funeral, more people would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy. I suspect that when push came to shove, most people would actually choose the eulogy, but that’s beside the point. Public speaking is hard. And truth be told, most people are bad at it…if you feel that way, don’t fret. Mike Pacchione is here to help. He’s coached people like James Clear, Amy Porterfield, and Donald Miller on public speaking, and today, he’s teaching us his best stuff.

Top Takeaways:

The greatest gift you can give your audience is to be completely present with them. That means don’t memorize! Know your stuff, practice your talk, and be with them in the room!
Most people say too much. Embrace silence and be concise. Silence lets a point land, and communicates to your audience, “hey. That was important. Remember it.”
The best speeches are not the ones you’ve given the most. Back to the first point, they are the ones where you’ve practiced and are present for the audience.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: GoodGames | Groundhogg | LearnDash

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Selling an online course? DO THIS (presented by Sensei)

Joe Casabona — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 02:02:00 -0500

Too many people create online courses the wrong way. They go into a cave for 6 months, develop the course based only on what they want to teach, then announce it's for sale...to crickets. Sound familiar?

There's a better way! A way that will save you time, validate your idea, and make you money faster.

This clip is brought to you by Sensei - Automatic

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You NEED to Time Track to Make Money as a Creator with Marley Majcher

Joe Casabona — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 02:02:00 -0500

Marley Majcher, The Party Goddess turned Profit Goddess, was running a business but not making money — despite her degree from Georgetown. But she managed to turn it around with this “one weird trick.” OK — so that sounds clickbaity, but it’s true. See, Marley didn’t have a system in place for her business. She, like many creators I think, wasn’t spending her time wisely. So, she decided to do something about it: she decided to learn how she was spending her time, organize those tasks, and figure out the crucial ones that actually made money. And it all started with the one “Weird” trick: Time Tracking.

Top Takeaways:

Revenue goals are not profit goals - You can make $1M but if you’re spending $1.1M, you’re going in the wrong direction.
Most creators don’t think they need to time-track because they don’t do client work. But they are WRONG. You need to know if you’re spending 2 hours on a video or 8 hours on a video to know if that’s a profitable activity for you.
Aside from just understanding tasks, time tracking can hold you accountable. You’ll see where you’re wasting your time, and be more mindful of it. And your devices have some tools to help you do that automatically.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Groundhogg | Ahrefs | LearnDash

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How I’m Using Paid Memberships Pro

Joe Casabona — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 02:02:00 -0500

Paid Memberships Pro is the lifeblood of my main product offering, The Podcast Liftoff Playbook. So in this first bit of 2023, I want to tell you everything I love about the plugin, and why I thought it best for my membership/learning site.

This clip is brought to you by Paid Memberships Pro

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Top 10 Lessons from 300 Episodes (Plus the Future of this Show)

Joe Casabona — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 02:02:00 -0500

It's episode 300! I thought I'd wax poetic on the top 10 things I've learned from both running this show, and the guests I've had on. After that, I talk a little bit about what's in store for How I Built It, and where I'd like it to go in the future. Plus, in the PRO show, I talk about what life without Twitter has been like.

Become a Pro

Top 10 Lessons

Build Your Email List
Talk to your customers
Experiment
Niche/Specialize/Focus
Don't be afraid to say no
People care about the problem you're solving. Not you, not the tech you used. The problem
Tell Good Stories
Do things that don't scale at first
Ship what you have and iterate
Don't be afraid to ask

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Groundhogg | Ahrefs | LearnDash

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The Best Way to Build Community is Easier Than You Think with Drew Dillon

Joe Casabona — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 02:02:00 -0500

Most attempts to start a community these days feel a lot like the approach the Underpants Gnomes from South Park took in making money. Step 1: Launch a Discord, Step 2: ???, Step 3: Community! But it’s not like that at all. And Drew Dillon, founder of Burb and community expert, is here to set the record straight.

Top Takeaways:

You need to think of the community as a business. Create a reason for people to care and engage. And close the look by making sure the community isn’t just about you - it’s about people connecting.
Start with a hypothesis. Ask what you think your audience has in common and why they might want to come together. Then test and iterate. Start with a Zoom call first and see if people want to connect after.
Do things that don’t scale at first. With 10-20 members, you can really get to know them and understand their needs (and those of the community). Around 50, you’ll likely need to start automating.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Paid Memberships Pro | Ahrefs | LearnDash

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How to Create a KILLER Digital Product with Molly Keyser

Joe Casabona — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 02:02:00 -0500

Molly Keyser made half-a-million dollars selling a 15-page, $59 eBook without spending money on ads. How do you ask? She created something SUPER valuable, that immediately made the buyer money. And throughout this episode, Molly is going to tell us how she went from professional photographer to online educator making digital products, all by knowing and serving her niche. There’s A LOT to unpack, and I know you’ll find a lot of actionable tips here.

Top Takeaways:

Clearly define your niche so you can serve them, and stay true to that niche. Remember: Just because you know how to do something doesn’t mean you should teach it.
For your digital products, you need to solve a problem for your audience. Painkillers sell better than vitamins most of the time. And bonus points if you can point to immediate ROI.
If you (or you from 2 years ago) aren’t your ideal client, immerse yourself in communities of your ideal clients so that you can learn their biggest pain points.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Paid Memberships Pro | Ahrefs | LearnDash

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How to Drive More Sales by Writing Content for REAL Customers with Will Shultz

Joe Casabona — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 02:02:00 -0500

We’ve been told for years that creating an “ideal customer avatar” is the best way to understand your audience. But the truth is that’s just guessing on your part. Do you know how you actually get to understand your customers? Have customers! Talk to them, and then write content for them. That’s what Will Shultz recommends. And as a Sales and Marketing coach, he knows a thing or two.

Top Takeaways:

You need someone in-house to make your content. That’s how you’ll create great content that shows a deep understanding of your customer and their journey.
If you’re having trouble coming up with content, take what you’re creating for a specific client and generalize it. That way, you’ve written for someone. Chances are there are similar folks out there.
Don’t worry about giving too much away for free. You differentiate yourself by becoming trusted and valued. You do that by showing people you deeply understand their problems.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Paid Memberships Pro | Ahrefs | LearnDash

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The Year of Budgets

Joe Casabona — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 02:02:00 -0500

I know what you’re thinking. Budgets? That’s what you’re going to base your entire year on.

I know this because that’s what my wife said. But fear not, my friends. Like Transformers™, it’s more than meets the eye.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Paid Memberships Pro | Ahrefs | LearnDash

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Kindle Scribe: Initial Thoughts

Joe Casabona — Thu, 08 Dec 2022 14:25:32 -0500

Earlier this year, Amazon announced the Kindle Scribe -- their competitor to the reMarkable 2. It's more affordable, they had an initial deal for Prime members, and a good trade-in price for my Kindle Oasis. SO the $500 device got down to $238. I bought it. Here are my initial impressions.

Show Notes

Kindle Scribe
reMarkable 2
Read my initial thoughts
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Automating my Home for the Holidays

Joe Casabona — Mon, 05 Dec 2022 02:07:00 -0500

The show is on break, but that's not preventing me from adding a bonus episode or two! It's no secret I love automation, and invariably those automations spill out into my personal life. I view the holidays as a great opportunity to flex some home automation muscles. Here's what I did, what I use, and some improvements.

In the PRO show, I get into the gory details, share my shortcuts, and talk about Matter and the future of home automation.

Show Notes

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How to get the Best Copy for Your Sales Pages with Ame Proietti

Joe Casabona — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 02:02:00 -0500

It’s the time of the year were small business owners and creators have some extra time to tinker with (or fully redesign) their websites. I’m here with Copywriter Ame Proietti to tell you to skip the new design and focus on the copy instead. We get into what makes good copy, blog posts vs. sales copy, and we finish out with how to write good scripts. As you prepare for 2023, good copy will be at the heart of what you do thanks to Ame’s advice. Plus, in the Pro show, we broke down the sales page Ame wrote for me.

Top Takeaways:

Where blog posts are meant to share and educate, copywriting is meant to convince people to take an action. Ame calls it “assembling” words and sections in the best way for your target audience
To get the best copy, you need to talk to customers. Ame recommends interviewing 3 customers and gathering testimonials to learn how you people and the language they use, which you can then mirror in your copy.
Bringing in someone else can help you get the best results. They are objective and don’t know what you know. They’ll also the right questions and allow you to gain a better understanding of your offer too.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Ahrefs | TextExpander | LearnDash

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Good People, Cool Things: Ways to Grow Your Small Business with Jessi Burg

Joe Casabona — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 02:02:00 -0500

It’s a good old fashioned podcast swap with Good People, Cool Things! I really enjoy this show, and the interview we have queued up for you is great.

This is a conversation with Jessi Burg, who started Outgrow Your Garage so she could answer the questions and develop the resources for small business owners that she wished she had when starting out as a business owner. Some of the top highlights include how to overcome common struggles for business owners, the benefits of online courses, and why she encourages an airing of grievances among employees. Be sure to stick around until the end for a good question and a corny joke!

In Build Something More, I give you a behind-the-scenes look on how this happened, and the future of the members-only part of this podcast (don’t worry. It’s not going away).

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Ahrefs

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Groundhogg: Your All-in-One Marketing Tool

Joe Casabona — Wed, 16 Nov 2022 02:29:00 -0500

How I Built Bits is back, and better than ever! The focus on the show moving forward will be highlighting helpful tools and processes for creators to run a better business. And I'm excited that the first episode is presented by Groundhogg.

Groundhogg is an open-source CRM & Marketing Automation suite for serious agencies, small businesses, content creators, eCommerce experts, and WordPress professionals. Let's take a deep dive into what it is, how it works, and why it could be perfect for your creator business!

Show Notes

Get Groundhogg (20% off with code HOWIBUILTIT)
Interview with Adrian Tobey

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REAIR: Building a Cohort-Based Course with Jennifer Bourn

Joe Casabona — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 02:02:00 -0500

With the Podcast Liftoff Playbook out, and Jennifer Bourn’s Profitable Project Plan is open for enrollment right now, I thought it would be a great time to re-air her interview where she talks about running a cohort-based course, and how she built the PPP. I listened to it again as I was looking for inspiration and best practices to realize the Playbook fully. And let me tell you, this episode really holds up! For members, I talk about how my webinar → paid members sales to funnel went.

Top Takeaways:

Online courses are NOT passive income. If you want your course to be successful, you need to evolve it.
Offering a PRO version was a big mistake for Jen because people bought the non-Pro version and tried to get the Pro benefits. The lesson has one offer OR makes the Pro benefits totally different.
Running live workshop events are a great way to add accountability and more value to your self-paced courses. You're ensuring your students take action now, instead of procrastinating.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs | LearnDash

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How I Built the Podcast Liftoff Playbook

Joe Casabona — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 02:02:00 -0500

In May, I was at a bit of a crossroads. I wasn't sure what I should do with the many things I was working on, and I felt like I was being pulled in too many directions. I couldn't focus on one thing to help take my business to the next level. So I decided to focus on Podcasting. The path from them to now lead me to cutting away a lot of projects (including projects I like doing), all in the service of growing my business. And the centerpiece: my brand new Podcast Liftoff Playbook.

So today, we're getting back to the roots of the show, and I'm going to tell you how I built this hybrid membership/course site.

Top Takeaways

Think about what your MVP is. Don't spend too much time thinking of every possibility for a new project. You'll never launch. Instead, launch quickly, and get feedback.
Don't answer questions people aren't asking. I could have added in a bunch of features I thought were cool, but they would have delayed launch, and frankly, as far as I knew, no one would use them.
Spend more time marketing than building something new. Get in front of new audiences and explain the problem your new project solves for them.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs | LearnDash

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Creating YouTube Content for the Viewer (and not the Algorithm) with Hannah Smolinski

Joe Casabona — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 02:02:00 -0400

We must make content to serve the almighty algorithm to make money on YouTube, right? Wrong! Over the last couple of weeks, you’ve heard from creators who are doing a video that works for them — and today’s guest is no different. Hannah Smolinski is a Fractional CFO who grew her YouTube channel to 38,000 subscribers and doesn’t pay attention to analytics. Instead, she answers questions her target audience has, is generous with her time and her knowledge, and knows it’s all about the long game, not getting rich quickly.

Top Takeaways:

Don’t make money for Adsense. It’s too unpredictable. Instead, create good content and get people to know, like, and trust you.
Doing videos on free resources helps get people onto your list. From there, you can continue to provide value, promote new videos, and form relationships with potential customers.
The beautiful thing about consulting and YouTube: it allows people to really warm up to you. Hannah says most of her calls are with people who are already ready to hire her thanks to YouTube.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs | LearnDash

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Why Gear Doesn’t Matter as Much as You Think it Does with Dan Bennett

Joe Casabona — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 02:02:00 -0400

It’s easy to think your content will get better if you just have the right gear. Alas, a $1000 camera can’t save you if you’re not spending time on the content. But that doesn’t mean you can’t look and sound good. So today brought in Dan Bennett, who’s built his business on making people look and sound great on camera. Spoiler alert: This almost never results in buying new gear. Instead, we talk about small tweaks you can make. Then we talk about the growing importance of videos for podcasting.

Top Takeaways:

Audio is king. If you can only upgrade one thing, make it audio. And remember that you don’t need the top-of-the-line mic. In fact, you can sound great on a $40 mic if you have the right technique and environment.
Looking good doesn’t require an expensive camera. Lighting is a big part of it - get a few white lights and position them properly to give yourself the best possible picture for your camera to capture. Oh, and a little makeup to reduce your face shine goes a long way too.
But really, it’s about story-telling and getting your reps in. You can’t make a good video if you don’t make video. So use the best of what you have and start recording!

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash

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The Most Important Thing You Can Do as a Creator with Marie Poulin

Joe Casabona — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 02:02:00 -0400

If you’ve been listening for a while, you’ve heard this lesson 100 times: ship with what you have. Ship what you have. In other words, don’t waste time looking for the perfect tool or process. Instead, ship quickly and iterate. And no one embodies this credo better than Marie Poulin. As one of the best Notion instructors out there, Marie has illustrated time and time again that shipping early and iterating leads to success. We chat about how she uses Notion from delivering her course, gets feedback earlier, and leverages YouTube to grow her audience and make sales…around 90% of her sales come from there! Plus, in Build Something More, We chat about my potential switch from Airtable to Notion.

Top Takeaways:

Delivering her Notion course in Notion allows her to launch her course quickly without fussing with so many tools and allows her students a quick win by forcing them to log into Notion.
Feedback is SO important. Too many people are afraid of it, but it will ultimately save you time and make your product better in the long run.
Ship and iterate. Launching something imperfect is better than not shipping.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs | LearnDash

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How to Get Published in the New York Times with Stephanie Lee

Joe Casabona — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 02:02:00 -0400

How do you get the NY Times (or the WSJ) to publish your article? Do you just email them and hope for the best? Well…you can, but according to Stephanie Lee, you shouldn’t. See, Stephanie is a media strategist who’s been published in the NY Times, and has gotten her clients into publications like Entrepreneur…through cold pitching! She says the important thing for you is to build clout markers to show you are trustworthy. And today, she walks us through how to do that using her Slingshot method. Plus, we answer the question, “Will PR outreach make me rich?” In an extra long build something more, we chat conferences, World of Warcraft, and…Scranton? Like from The Office?

Top Takeaways:

Most people ignore this fundamental thing about the media: they work with people they can trust. Just like we buy from companies and brands we trust, the media needs to know you really know what you’re talking about. They are staking their reputation on it.
You can build up trust by following the slingshot method. Don’t go for the NY Times at first. That’s like trying to pitch in the World Series. Instead, start with a trustworthy industry blog and build from there.
When you are ready to pitch, do come out with the ask right away. Read an article and send a compliment. Open a dialog, then pitch what your article is about and why it’s important to write about today.
Bonus: this, like everything good in life, takes time.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | LearnDash

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The RIGHT Way to Pitch Sponsors for Your Content with Justin Moore

Joe Casabona — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Most brands don’t care about your numbers! It’s true, and I’m not the only one who thinks so. Justin Moore knows a thing about brand deals. He’s done 500 himself, and over 1,000 through his agency. Today he teaches creators how to get paid brand deals through his cohort-based course, Brand Deal Wizard. And in today’s episode, we cover a lot, but it’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Top Takeaways

You need to be able to articulate why brands should pay you — and it’s not just about your numbers. Most brands want to pay me for access to your audience.
There’s tremendous power for brands to be aligned with key voices in their industry.
Don’t just put brands in a box that is your pre-defined offers. Get on a call (YES — get on a call), ask them what their goals are, and come up with offers that align with what they need.

Show Notes

Justin on Twitter
Creator Wizard on YouTube
Brand Deal Wizard (Justin's Cohort-based Course)
Creator Wizard Newsletter
Don't be a Jealous Creator
Join Creator Crew

Sponsored by: Nexcess | LearnDash

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Want to Grow Your Business? Stop Using Someone Else’s Playbook with Cara Chace

Joe Casabona — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Starting a business has never been easier. We can now sign up for a free ConvertKit account, get a nice-looking landing page, and even start selling products in mere minutes. Because of that, it can be tempting to jump into “making” the business without thinking about why your business exists. According to Cara Chace, that is a recipe for disaster. Listen on to learn why. Plus, in Build Something More, Cara tells us about her previous career as a special agent.

Top Takeaways

You need to define why you’re doing what you’re doing. This will be the guide for your decision-making. And here’s an important tip: define success in a metric other than money.
When you feel like you’re in the “messy middle” and don’t know what to do, create a brain dump of everything you’re doing in your business. Keep what you need and eliminate the rest. It helps to ask, “Would the CEO of my company be doing that 10 years from now?”
Don’t rely on someone else’s playbook for your own business because they usually have a WOW factor that you don’t have yet.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash

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Define Your Business’s Values to Prevent Burnout with Shante Cofield

Joe Casabona — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 02:02:00 -0400

“Get a real job.” “If you’re going to start a business, you need to grow.” “Hustle.” If you’re starting a business, you’ve probably heard this “advice.” You’ve also probably heard that you need to do exactly what someone else did. But all of that is poison to our creator businesses. And Dr. Shante Cofield has the antidote: Moar You. If you want to know the importance of values-based marketing, how to be vulnerable enough to grow, and the seasonality of life, this episode is for you. My conversation with Shante is real — and it’s important for anyone who works for themselves to hear.

Top Takeaways:

On imposter syndrome: We need to get objective and trust the data. It’s easy to get down on yourself, not want to brag and feel like you’re not the real deal. But you need to listen to what people are telling you. If you help them, you are helpful.
It’s easy to want to talk implementation of your new business or content because that’s concrete. But you need to define your values first. Without values, you are directionless.
On values: value-based marketing is not shouting your opinion on Twitter. Values are verbs. They are things you do, vs. the things they say. They are how you build your best life, and they need to be at the core of your business.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | LearnDash

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Creating Sponsorable Content with Melanie Deziel

Joe Casabona — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Perhaps it’s fitting that today’s interview is a play in 3 acts. After all, I’m talking to Melanie Deziel, speaker, author, and founder of Story Fuel. It makes sense that we talk about creating good content in 3 acts: idea generation, brand deals, and coming up with headlines. This discussion is completely packed with fantastic advice to help up your content creation game.

Top Takeaways:

When it comes to content, we often focus too much on the format, and not the actual message. instead, determine what you’re saying first. Then figure out how to best say it. The “how” drives the format and where you’ll publish.
Brand-sponsored content is being created in collaboration with or on behalf of a brand that wouldn’t be created otherwise. They are leveraging your trust, so find overlap between what the brand wants to say and what your audience wants to hear.
When writing headlines, remember they are a formula. Ask “What’s the purpose of this headline,” or put differently: what is this content doing? That should help you determine the type of headline to write.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | LearnDash

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Building a Niche Podcast and Newsletter Through Free Content with Jeff Utecht

Joe Casabona — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Imagine being perfectly positioned to deal with the pandemic from a k-12 school's standpoint. That’s Jeff Utecht. Instead of just being in the K12 space, he specializes in technology implementation for K12 schools. But he didn’t just fall into that. He spends years building a brand, understanding his audience, and giving away content. How has that helped him? Listen to find out! Plus, we get deep into education during the pandemic in Build Something More.

Top Takeaways:

You create great content by understanding your niche and your audience. Jeff and his team know what their audience is asking, and created content to answer those questions.
Their podcast is a big piece of their sales funnel. Every time they put out a free guide, they do a podcast episode and encourage people to download the guide, which requires an email list. As a result, they have a great list to sell directly to (as well as continue to provide free value).
If you’re going to leverage social media, make sure to be where your audience is, and further, find the right hashtags people are following. Doing that allows you to target the right people and grow your audience!

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | LearnDash

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My Failed Attempt at Building a Community

Joe Casabona — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 02:02:00 -0400

When I was in college, building a community felt pretty easy. Have some event, get free food, people come, people talk. Maybe they will bring some of their friends. This happened all the time – campus events, weekends at the bar, over the summer. So I thought building a community online would be similar. Easier even! There are no geographic boundaries. I would just invite people to come to my community, and they'd go and hang out.

But that didn't happen. In fact, my community was a baron wasteland. And in July, I decided to shut down that aspect of my membership. So what went wrong? Well, I think there were a few reasons...and that's what we'll talk about in today's episode.

Top Takeaways:

Think about community as you start a new endeavor. I thought about mine too late and most of my students were already done with my content and had no reason to come back.
You need to help your members with the habit of going to your community every day. You can do that by doing more events, or even having content exclusive to your community platform.
It’s up to you to drive the community. People won’t just go to an online community and start conversations at the beginning.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Moft | Nexcess | LearnDash

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Want to be a Better Podcast Guest? Be Open and Honest with Sara Loretta

Joe Casabona — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Today’s episode is a little different. Sara Loretta and I met through Jay Clouse’s Creative Companion Club. I mentioned I was offering free podcast coaching for episodes of this show, and she pitched coming on to talk about podcast guesting. While I thought we were going to talk about her advice for being a good guest, what we ended up doing was having a great conversation about our experiences. But don’t worry: it gets tied together at the end. Because we’re constantly told that online business owners need to be on brand. But the truth is being open, and showing the personal side, establishes the like and trust factors. And ultimately, that is how you be a good podcast guest.

Top Takeaways

It’s up to the podcast host to reach out to you with a topic in mind. They need to come up with the topic and questions based on what best serves their audience.
As a potential guest that’s pitching yourself, you should have a few topics ready to send out to people. Podcasts are, after all, a great way to establish authority and expertise.
Have a few stories to tell that reinforce your points and add background to your topic. Personal stories help people connect with you. And while you won’t win over everyone, you shouldn’t try to.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash

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Live Coaching: Growing Your Podcast Through Your Website with Scott Cowan

Joe Casabona — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 02:02:00 -0400

It’s another live coaching call. Scott Cowan runs a podcast called Explore Washington State. It’s part of a greater site all about Washington. The podcast publishes 3-4 times per week, and he’s looking to grow his audience and potentially increase his output to 5 times a week. Listen in as I give Scott advice about SEO, website improvements, and pointing his enormous Instagram following to the show.

Top Takeaways:

Having a good website with easy-to-speak URLs is the best way to send people to your podcast. Easy to share on social media, and easy for listeners to share too.
Optimize titles and descriptions. Use them to tell people what the episode is about, and use keywords that will help the episodes show up in searches.
Instead of trying to grow your podcast directly, grow your newsletter and social media followings. Then share your show with those audiences — your newsletter especially can be ripe for growth and promotion.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Moft | Nexcess | LearnDash

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Introducing Make Money Podcasting

Joe Casabona — Wed, 10 Aug 2022 10:52:27 -0400

Interested in starting or growing a podcast that actually generates revenue? Check out my new show, Make Money Podcasting!

Listen to all of the episodes and subscribe at https://makemoneypod.com/

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Finding Hope in Grief as a Creator with Sherry Walling

Joe Casabona — Mon, 08 Aug 2022 02:02:00 -0400

We all deal with grief. It could be the loss of a loved one. Maybe the loss of a job. Or the feeling that you’ve lost control of your life or your business. Throughout the pandemic, many of us experience grief in one way, shape, or form — and Dr. Sherry Walling is no different. But she decided to write about her grief. First, it was just for her. Then she shared it. Then she decided that her writings could help countless people and turned them into a book. I’m grateful she took the time to talk to us today. We get into how grief affects us, what creators can do, and the book writing process.

Top Takeaways:

When you experience grief, writing is a helpful exercise. It helps you process your feelings, but it also allows you to write a new reality for yourself.
Life doesn’t necessarily stop, but you have more space and time than you think. It’s OK to slow down for a while.
Reconnecting to hope happens in tiny moments, like getting up, hugging a loved one, and even making a meal. Listen to your body and do what is best for you.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Moft | Nexcess | LearnDash

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Finding and Converting Leads with Good Content with Anna Tutckaia

Joe Casabona — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Grow your audience. Get leads. Sell your thing. Make money. This seems to be the formula for creators…but these are just nebulous ideas. How do we actually implement them? That’s what today’s guest, Anna Tutckaia, is here to talk about. She’s the Head of Marketing at ManyChat, and she’ll tell us all about how we can find leads by learning about our audience, how their virtual event garnered thousands of potential customers and helpful tools for personalization. In Build Something More, we answer the question, “Should you really move from Facebook to Circle?”

Top Takeaways

To find leads, you need to understand the product you’re selling and the audience you’re trying to sell to. You learn that by going where they hang out online and learning about their pain points, as well as their interests outside of your product.
Talking regularly to current and potential customers is a must. Conversations make them feel heard, and you can understand your messaging and improve your content.
Using automated tools to connect and serve customers can allow you to free up your time, answer common questions quickly, and even ask them pointed questions for better personalization, which in turn helps you get better leads and create impactful content.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Moft | Nexcess | LearnDash

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How Creators can Find Hidden Profit in Their Business with Nev Harris

Joe Casabona — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 02:02:00 -0400

What’s the difference between making money on the side, and running a business? There are probably dozens of ways to answer that, but if I had to answer, I’d say that it has to do with how you manage your money. Early in the WordPress space, people were learning they could make money with their work, but we’re managing it properly. I think we’re seeing something similar in the creator space, so I’ve brought in Profit Expert Nev Harris to tell us the 4 ways to find hidden profit in your business and get your finances in order.

Top Takeaways:

People say, “you have to spend money to make money,” but Nev says, “spend smart money to make money.” Buying the latest and greatest CRM, microphone, or computer will actually make you money. But hiring a VA might.
You need to find profit in your business by getting out of the dark. Nev says you need to focus on 4 areas: Revenue, Profit, Expenses, and Efficient. Start slow and pick one per quarter.
When it comes to efficiency, If you’re spending too much time doing the work, you’re chasing pennies and leaving dollars on the floor. Get to a place where you only do what you need to do.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash

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Using Your Podcast for Lead Generation with Sam Munoz

Joe Casabona — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 02:02:00 -0400

A drum I’ve been beating for a while is you don’t need sponsors to make money podcasting. In fact, it might not even be the best way to make money. What if you had a product so perfectly aligned with the audience of your podcast, that you could get your listeners to buy it? That’s exactly what Sam Munoz does, and her approach to free content is admirable. If you have ANY business where you’re creating content, you need to hear this conversation. Plus, in Build Something More, Sam and I exchange stories about the time we wrote code for robots.

Top Takeaways:

It’s OK to get paid for your thoughts. Whenever Sam thinks about free content, she tries to connect it back to her paid offerings. After all, if you’re doing something for your business, what you’re doing should be in the service of making your business succeed.
You need to spend your time wisely. When you don’t have the margin to think about how your content, which is a lot of work, serves your business or your paid offerings. This hurts you, and your audience, who should benefit from your services.
Sam’s podcast serves as the top of the funnel for her mentorship. The audiences align perfectly, and her consistent call to action provides enough repetition for people to turn into students. This works perfectly for her because everything aligns so well!

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Flexispot | Nexcess | LearnDash

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Troy Dean on Getting Your Students from Zero to Win

Joe Casabona — Sat, 16 Jul 2022 12:42:59 -0400

Creating a course isn't just about making a series of videos. It's about doing it in a way that gives the students skills or knowledge they can use at the end of the course. Troy Dean calls that taking a student from "zero to win."

Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/027

Be sure to subscribe at https://howibuilt.it/subscribe

This clip is brought to you by Sensei

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You Need to Form Good Writing Habits with Dickie Bush

Joe Casabona — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 02:02:00 -0400

I’m going, to be honest with you: I’m squarely anti-hustle culture. I think it’s unnecessary and puts too much pressure on people to make “Gary Vee money.” So when I saw Dickie Bush’s Ship 30 project, I thought we had more of that narrative. Well let me tell you, I could not have been more wrong. Dickie’s approach to writing and his frameworks can help anyone become a better writer, and Ship 30 helps brand new creators go through the roller coaster that is content creation faster, and with a better support system. There are TONS of gems in this episode, so you won’t want to miss it. Plus, in Build Something More, Dickie and I talk about competitive gaming.

Top Takeaways:

Twitter is a “home run-based” platform that allows you to go viral with the right stuff. Generally, that’s content Dickie called “Reach” content; these are tweets or threads that everyone can relate to.
Dickie says creating content isn’t coming up with 1000 different ideas. It’s coming up with 1000 different ways to use the same idea across different platforms, so it resonates with different people.
If you’re struggling to come up with content, do the 2-year review: look at everything you learned over the last 2 years, and then write content for you, two years ago.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | LearnDash

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Nathan Ellering on coming up with a content marketing plan

Joe Casabona — Sat, 09 Jul 2022 14:49:56 -0400

Coming up with content can be a tough task, especially across multiple channels. But Nathan Ellering of CoSchedule gave us the perfect advice in episode 20: answer customer questions.

Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/020

Be sure to subscribe at https://howibuilt.it/subscribe

This clip is brought to you by TextExpander

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Why You’re Losing Money with a Bad Customer Experience with Marcus Merrell

Joe Casabona — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 02:02:00 -0400

“All of the worlds is experienced through code.” This is a statement Marcus Merrell makes on today’s podcast...and it’s absolutely true. See, even if you sell the most niche handmade thing, you probably sell it online, which means someone’s code is powering your business. And your buyers are experiencing your business through code. So the worst thing for your business is bad code because that makes for a bad experience. And I know what you’re thinking: “What if I don’t write code?” Well, if you’re listening to this show, you probably create user experiences. And today, Marcus tells us how we can do it better; we should all listen. Our businesses depend on it.

Top Takeaways:

Even if you sell physical products it needs to interface with some code. The exciting thing about the no-code movement is that you as a creator or business owner can focus less on testing that code, and more on business-related activities...as well as honing the experience.
Products are good and improving, but not as fast as people’s expectations. People say they won’t wait at all if something is broken. They will leave and find an alternative.
You don’t need to deeply test everything, but you do need to make sure the experience for the vast majority of your users is rock solid. Are people mostly signing up for your membership? Make sure that it is a perfect experience.

Show Notes:

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What It’s Like Building and Selling a Content Company with Chris Coyier

Joe Casabona — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 02:02:00 -0400

“Creator” is a word that has really come into focus in an industry in the last few years. But content creation is nearly as old as the internet itself. And building businesses from your content…that’s not new either. Just ask Chris Coyier, the founder who recently sold his hugely popular blog, CSS Tricks, to Digital Ocean. We talk about his journey, how he made money, and answer the question: are we seeing an uptick in content acquisitions as more companies realize it’s a great way to establish trust.

Top Takeaways:

Kickstarting the CSS Tricks redesign generated a lot of revenue, but ended up resulting in a loss. Still, it did its job: it gave Chris capital to build the business.
CSS Tricks has always been about ads as a way to make money. It started off as handshake deals at conferences, but the process became more formalized.
The best thing you can do for advertisers and offer packages. Get them in front of all of the eyeballs you have access to. You can charge more and deliver better results.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash

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The Book You Need to Write Better Content with Maddy Osman

Joe Casabona — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 02:02:00 -0400

When you write content, who are you writing for? It’s an important question to consider— you need to have someone in mind when you write. But there’s another audience you should have the robots. Specifically, search engines. If you’re not writing for both, you could be missing out on traffic, signups, and sales. Luckily, Maddy Osman and her new book, Writing for Humans and Robots, is here to help.

Top Takeaways:

When writing for humans, you need to appeal to the people you’re writing for. This is where stories, empathy, and consistency come on.
When you write for robots, you need to consider what your content is optimized for: keywords, good headlines, and spoiler alert: What humans what to know.
The right headline can satisfy both humans and robots. Write something that gets people to click and search engines will recommend your content to more people.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash

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Jeff Sheldon on how to choose the right ideas and prevent burnout

Joe Casabona — Sat, 18 Jun 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Jeff Sheldon does what he does extremely well. But he's also expanded his business from clothes to coffee and paper products. How does he do it without burning out? Listen to today's bit to find out.

Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/013

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How I’m Growing My Audience

Joe Casabona — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Over the last few weeks, I have been interviewing experts on communities, newsletters, referral programs, and more. As a result, I've taken some of my favorite advice and I've started implementing it. So today is going to be a solo episode where I'm going to tell you everything I've been doing to grow my audience. We'll take a look at some tools I've been using, some techniques I've been implementing, and perhaps the most important thing that I can do to grow my audience. In Build Something More, I tell you my next short-form podcast and what I liked from WWDC.

Top Takeaways:

Niching down to podcasting only has allowed me to focus my messaging and all of my energy and resources.
I’ve been promoting my newsletter, which I’ve also focused on podcasting. All of my opt-ins now point to Podcast Tips, an evergreen newsletter that helps people grow and monetize.
I’ve been using Tweet Hunter to plan and schedule useful tweets for folks. Using Dickie Bush’s advice, I put out helpful podcasting tweets designed to gain followers and send people to my newsletter.

Show Notes:

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Chris Lema on No-Code Solutions

Joe Casabona — Sat, 11 Jun 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Chris Lema knows a lot about a lot. But did you know he was doing no-code well before it became the movement it is today? In this bit, he tells us a little about how to successfully build a web app without code.

Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/012

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How To Build a $1000/year Membership with Jay Clouse

Joe Casabona — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Can you build a business off of a Twitter challenge? Perhaps it’s not as simple as that, the core concept is there: create something for people to rally around, and you have a community. Participate with them and you have engagement. Jay Clouse knows a thing or two about building communities and successfully launched his own membership called Creative Companion…by basically starting with a Twitter challenge called #Tweet100. After comparing notes on how we manage our podcasts, we get into the crux of the matter: using Twitter in a helpful way, then building your business. We talk about mission, pricing, engagement, and tools in this absolutely packed episode. In Build Something More, we talk about workshops vs. course creation.

Top Takeaways:

Twitter is the ultimate experiment ground. You can get an idea out fast, it garners quick feedback from people, and it can be statically significant, given your audience.
When it comes to positioning your membership, you need to have alignment with what you’re offering and who you’re offering it to. This will allow you to offer a high-price membership with meaningful engagement.
When you build a community around something, you need to eat, sleep, and breathe it. Consider that as you go off and launch your own membership/community.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash

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Chris Coyier on being persistent

Joe Casabona — Sat, 04 Jun 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Chris Coyier is a man of many hats and has successfully started and sold websites, wrote books, and has a great tech startup. In today's bit, he offers some advice that is the key to his success.

Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/006

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The First Step You Need to Take to Launch Your Podcast with Alban Brooke

Joe Casabona — Mon, 30 May 2022 02:02:00 -0400

What is stopping you from creating content? That’s the question that Alban Brooke and I set out to answer. But it didn’t start that way. I thought we’d talk about podcast stats and what creators can do to make money. But there is no making money if there is no content. So we get back to basics. And if you’re stuck, this is a conversation you need to hear.

Top Takeaways:

it’s really easy to see the end result you want: a book, a hugely popular YouTube channel, or a podcast with millions of downloads. But it’s not easy to get there.
Instead, you need to find your niche. Fly a flag you’re deeply interested in and people will come. 80% of your addressable audience is better than 1% of the unengaged general population.
The best path to making money is niching down, showing your expertise, and selling your product or service. Your podcast is a marketing tool.

Show Notes:

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Carrie Dils on building a community and doing your own dev work

Joe Casabona — Sat, 28 May 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Carrie Dils was building communities before it was cool. And was actually doing the building! In today's bit, Carrie tells us about how she built her podcast community and the pros and cons of doing your own dev work.

Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/005

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Pitching, Writing, and Recording LinkedIn Learning Courses with Carrie Dils

Joe Casabona — Mon, 23 May 2022 02:02:00 -0400

LinkedIn Learning is a force in the online course space, with hundreds of courses, millions of learners, and a well-oiled machine for putting out great content. I, along with today’s guest, Carrie Dils, are fortunate to be long-time instructors for the platform. I invited Carrie on to catch up, and I thought it would be fun for us to exchange notes on how we come up with ideas for, and then record, our LinkedIn Learning courses. In Build Something More, it gets even more fun as we talk about the courses we thought would do SUPER well but turned out to…well…not.

Top Takeaways:

Carrie and I both followed in the footsteps of people we learned from; if you have an appreciation for learning, teaching is a great next step!
Carrie likes to pitch ideas for courses on topics she wants to know more about. In order to teach something well, you need to know it well!
We both shared our love of recording in LinkedIn Learning’s campus booths. Having a stellar process, and the right environment for instructors is a big win. If you’re creating courses, the advice we share in this episode can help you figure out what works best for you.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: TextExpander | LearnDash

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Cory Miller on building a solution to solve your own pain point

Joe Casabona — Sat, 21 May 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Cory Miller dolled out so much great advice in Episode 4 that we're getting a twofer. He tells us about how one of iThemes' most popular products came out of solving a big problem they had. Then he tells us the importance of maintaining an email list.

Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/004

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Building a Personalized Email Newsletter That Works for You with Brennan Dunn

Joe Casabona — Mon, 16 May 2022 02:02:00 -0400

A few weeks ago we talked to Louis Nicolls about the importance of having a good newsletter that helps people — some targeted, educational resource. Brennan Dunn knows a thing or two about that and has built an empire around segmentation and personalization. The last time he was on the show, we talked about Right Message. Today, we talk to him about email templates and newsletter strategies that we can implement with his new tool, Palladio.

Top Takeaways

Brennan equates emails to sales pages multiple times. Yes, they are a great way to establish trust and be a resource for subscribers...but we also want them to stand out and make them memorable for when we need to sell.
Instead of doing educational emails, pausing them and doing a sales sequence, Brennan recommends mixing in targeted sales messages through your emails. This allows you to show helpful resources at a time the subscriber is ready to buy...making it a win/win for both of you.
Evergreen, or “Shadow” newsletters as Brennan calls them, are a great way to build a resource, be consistent with your newsletter, and focus on other tasks around marketing or building your list.

Show Notes

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Brian Krogsgard on determining membership benefits and preventing churn

Joe Casabona — Sat, 14 May 2022 02:02:00 -0400

When you have a membership or subscription, your goal is to prevent churn, or people leaving. The best way to do that is to deliver value. But it's also a matter of how often you ask your subscribers to evaluate the value they get. Here's what Brian Krogsgard recommended.

Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/003

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How Making Helpful Content is the Right Way to Sell Products with James Laws

Joe Casabona — Mon, 09 May 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Most people who start a business hate it when they get away from the actual work and move towards managing — the business and the people. But not James Laws. James has started several successful businesses and his favorite part is building the culture, ensuring employees are happy, and ultimately making sure everyone feels fulfilled…so much so that he wants to help more founders do just that. And he plans to, with tools, software, coaching, and more. But that’s a long game. It all starts with his podcast. Tune in to learn how James is using his podcast and blog to establish authority, build an audience, and learn about this new field.

Top Takeaways:

Building an audience in a brand new space is hard! You need to essentially learn the “rules” of the field and play by them to gain a following and trust.
If you’re trying to establish expertise, but do interviews, think of them as exchanging notes to help establish authority while also getting perspective.
The first step to making money with your content is to build an audience so that you share future endeavors with them. The key is to solve their problems with your free content...then you’ll understand them (and vice versa) making your paid products worth it for them.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander | LearnDash

(00:00) - Hey Everybody!
(03:22) - Creator Toolkits
(04:18) - Welcome, James!
(09:13) - Side Quest: Joey and Jamie
(12:18) - Managing Multiple Brands
(14:31) - Side Quest: The Boston Accent
(16:10) - In Office vs. WFH
(24:59) - Building Ciircles.com
(28:28) - Side Quest: Movies
(31:35) - Defining a Niche Outside of WordPress
(39:05) - Side Quest: Jerry Springer
(42:20) - Building a New Audience with TikTok
(47:11) - Making Money with Content
(56:08) - Quick Recap
(01:01:42) - Trade Secret
(01:07:59) - Find James and Sign Off

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Rebecca Gill on Researching, validating, and launching an online course

Joe Casabona — Sat, 07 May 2022 14:02:00 -0400

Too many people decided they want to make an online course, spend 6 months making it, and launch to crickets. Rebecca Gill knew better, and her advice from Episode 2 can save you a ton of time (and heartache).

Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/002

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Listener Feedback and Questions

Joe Casabona — Mon, 02 May 2022 02:02:00 -0400

It’s the first-ever feedback episode! I read a couple of reviews — one good, one bad, and how I’m adjusting — and then answer listener questions. It’s a fun episode! We cover getting started in content creation, growing your audience, configuring a Stream Deck, and podcast interviews.

Show Notes:

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Jason Coleman on determining value and dealing with negative reviews

Joe Casabona — Sat, 30 Apr 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Jason Coleman was the very first guest on How I Built It, and he started the show strong with a ton of fantastic advice. Here's my favorite: a bit about why charging monthly might not align with the value you deliver, as well as how to handle negative reviews.

Listen to the entire episode at https://howibuilt.it/001

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How Niche Content can get You More Sponsors with Alexis Grant

Joe Casabona — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 02:02:00 -0400

How good is creating niche content? How about understanding the purpose of your content and focusing on providing value? Alexis Grant, founder, and CEO of They Got Acquired, understand the importance of both of these things. She has launched not one, not two, but 3 content businesses — successfully selling her previous ones. Today she’s here to share her insight on why she started They Got Acquired, doing research to produce good content, and how sponsorship is playing a bigger role than she expected.

Top Takeaways:

They Got Acquired has a very specific niche in mind: businesses that have sold for between $100,000 and $50M. All of their content is focused on telling those stories and helping similarly positioned businesses.
They are using their podcast of the same name to build trust and grow their audience. Allowing people to hear them forges a better connection and gives the business more identity
Sponsorship has played a bigger than expected role! They are increasing the output of their newsletter and will monetize their podcast for season 2. Lexi’s advice: ask for too much at first. You can always come down if they say no.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Tailor Brands | Nexcess | TextExpander

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Introducing How I Built Bits

Joe Casabona — Fri, 22 Apr 2022 02:17:00 -0400

Have you ever seen a great talk, video, or even podcast episode that dolled out some fantastic advice, only for you to forget it before you implement it? Maybe that feeling is amplified when you go to a conference. There are so many great takeaways...how can you remember it all?

It's almost like you need a TL;DR for when that happens.

And How I Built It has been going pretty much weekly for nearly 7 years! As we approach 300 episodes, I wanted to surface some of the best advice from asking "how did you build that" over all that time.

So I'd like to introduce How I Built Bits, a weekly clip show that aims to be around 15 mins, replaying some of the best clips from How I Built It. New episodes come out on Saturday mornings.

If you'd like to learn more, head over to https://howibuilt.it/clips. And of course, be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts.

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Why You Should Spend 80% of Your Time Promoting Content Instead of Making It with Farzad Rashidi

Joe Casabona — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 02:02:00 -0400

What if I told you the answer to better organic traffic isn’t more content…it’s less content? That’s what today’s guest, Farzad Rashidi, argues. That when it comes to SEO, link building, and organic traffic, quality outperforms quantity every time. And he doesn’t stop there. He provides a process for figuring out what content to write, and how to get people to it.

Top Takeaways:

Quality is better than quantity. Instead of spending 5 hours on 5 blog posts, spend 5 hours on one blog post and make sure it answers a question people are asking.
The 80/20 Rule for content marketing, according to Farzad, is 20% on writing the content, 80% on marketing it.
The name of the game for backlinks is relationships. Form relationships with people who have similar-sized sites and work with them to present valuable resources to their...and your...audience.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Tailor Brands | NitroPack | Nexcess

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Building a Newsletter People Will Actually Read (and Recommend) with Louis Nicholls

Joe Casabona — Mon, 11 Apr 2022 02:02:00 -0400

5 years ago, email was dead. Now it’s not only growing, it’s the life’s blood of the creator economy. As a creator or small business owner, without a good, helpful, and nurtured email list, you’re leaving money on the table. And to tell you why Louis Nicholls from SparkLoop is here this week. We talk all about what makes a good newsletter, what mistakes to avoid, how to come up with good content, and how to make money. It’s a packed episode, and totally worth your time — especially if you’re an independent creator.

Top Takeaways:

Your email growth goals are way smaller than they should be. You can double or triple your subscriber list if you approach it professionally — with a plan in place for growth. The people who fail to grow their list treat it like a hobby.
When it comes to content, start with who you’re writing for. Talk to people in your target audience and answer their questions. By the time you’re ready to launch the newsletter, you should know of at least 50 people who would sign up for it.
When it comes to making money, high ticket items are your best bet. Your worst bet? Low-priced subscriptions. Louis says that memberships for creators are like a golden hampster wheel. Sure it’s recurring revenue, but there’s also the pressure of delivering each month.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Tailor Brands | NitroPack | Nexcess | TextExpander

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How to Find the Right Tools for Creators (and Why an Open Platform is Better) with Jack Kitterhing

Joe Casabona — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 02:02:00 -0400

Jack Kitterhing has been in the WordPress space for a while; you can say he deeply subscribes to the ethos that owning your own platform is one of the most important things a creator can do. That a SaaS, like Teachable, won’t be there for you like an owned platform, like WordPress + LearnDash, will. We have a good discussion about the merits of both. Is it really easier to set up a course on Teachable? What are the benefits of your own platform? We’ll get into all of that and more.

Top Takeaways:

Finding the right tool comes down to skill and comfort level. WordPress (and other open platforms) are cheaper. A SaaS will save you time.
You also need to think about your users. What best serves their needs? Make a list of must have features and seek the best tool for that...but be a little forward thinking. Teachable, for example, doesn’t do memberships well. If you never want memberships, that’s great. If you do, Teachable might not be best.
Spinning up your own WordPress site is a lot easier than it once was. The promise of Nexcess’ StoreBuilder and WP QuickStart products are the easy of signing up for a SaaS with the flexibility of WordPress.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Tailor Brands | NitroPack | Nexcess

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How Niching Down Allows You to Charge More Without More Clients with Tara Claeys

Joe Casabona — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 02:02:00 -0400

There are a few chains freelancers in the WordPress space carry if we’re being honest. Not charging what you’re worth is one. Not wanting to niche down is another. And thinking you need to grow to an agency to make “real” money is another. Tara Claeys bucks all of these trends, and we have a great discussion about it. How she decided to find a niche (and how her podcast helps her establish authority!), and why she doesn’t want to become an agent. In Build Something More, we talk about the new Macs.

Top Takeaways:

Niching downs forces you to learn an industry — which allows you to better serve them completely. That allows you to charge more
Niching also means having a higher close rate. By the time potential clients come to you, they are likely already sold on you.
It’s OK to not want to grow from freelancer to full agency. And you don’t have to be an agency to make good money. People are willing to pay for your expertise.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: NitroPack | Nexcess | TextExpander

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Changing the National Conversation About Money through Podcasting with Brian Bristol

Joe Casabona — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 02:02:00 -0400

"We need to de-stigmatize lending money to friends and family." It's one of the first things Brian Bristol said to me in today’s episode. See, Brian is the co-founder of Pigeon Loans — a place where anyone can set up a private loan, backed with tracking, interest, and a legally binding agreement. And this ethos is as interesting as the approach they are taking to content: show people that everyone has a story about lending or borrowing money. So today, we talk about the Pigeon Loans content strategy and the important role their podcast, The Chrip, plays in de-stigmatizing money lending. In Build Something More, we talk about the incredible importance of talking to customers.

Top Takeaways:

There's a weird stigma that it's bad to lend money to friends and family. The Chirp aims to tell stories that show people there shouldn't be.
The number of loans between friends, family, and loved ones in the US alone is $200 Billion. There needs to be an easier, more accountable way to track the loan. This makes more people likely to help those in need.
Brian is a y oung guy who’s thrown himself into his start-up…but he’s mindful of burnout too. Find a way to unwind. You’ll come back with a new energy and clearer head.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs

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A Winning YouTube Process for Building Trust & Getting Clients with Nicole Osborne

Joe Casabona — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 02:02:00 -0400

YouTube has been a regular topic on the show this year, and for good reason. More people need to build trust to make their business work, and as the second largest search engine, YouTube is a great place to do it. This week, marketing coach Nicole Osborne tells us why she started a YouTube channel, her process for publishing, and how it’s helped her business. In Build Something More, we talk about how marketing and web design changed over the past 20 years.

Top Takeaways:

Don’t compare yourself to the big names today. Pick a content creator, look at their first video, and then understand it’s a process that takes time.
Content creation is experimentation. Try different topics, recording processes, and approaches. See what works and what resonates with your potential audience.
You need to make time to make content. Treat it as a client project and put time on your calendar to work on it.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs | TextExpander

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Working Through Different YouTube Strategies with Alastair McDermott

Joe Casabona — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 02:02:00 -0500

How often should you publish? Should you use affiliate links? DO those 30-day challenges really help? Alastair McDermott and I are both at the relative beginning of our YouTube journeys, and we’re each taking different approaches — hopefully, ones that suit our needs and goals appropriately. Listen in as we talk about what we're doing, how we’re doing it, and of course, why. We’ll also tell you why your phone is the best camera for you and your channel. In Build Something More, we talk about when we’ve each bartered for work.

Top Takeaways:

YouTube is a content channel that can help you build trust quickly because people can see you. You have the ability, and the opportunity, to show people what you know and how you can help them.
When it comes to making money, most people can make more bringing in new clients with their videos, as opposed to running ads to monetize. Alastair said he’ll likely never run those ads because it could affect his credibility!
The thing that keeps people engaged after clicking through is good storytelling. You need an arch, with tension that keeps people watching. This is possible with just about any video, if you do it right!

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | Ahrefs

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

Joe Casabona — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 02:02:00 -0500

Since leaving the classroom in 2016, I've missed one aspect of teaching more than any other: connecting with students in real-time, as I teach the material. And while I love creating evergreen courses, today's guest has a better way to teach online. Wes Kao, a co-founder of both altMBA and Maven, tells us about Cohort-based Courses (CBCs), and I am all in! She'll tell us how CBCs have better completion rates, allow for much less upfront work, and allow you to charge more. If you want to create an online course in 2022, I strongly recommend you consider them. Plus, in Build Something More, where does YouTube sit with all of this?

Top Takeaways:

Most online learning is one direction. The teacher pre-records a video and teaches. But Cohort-based Courses offer bi-directional learning, which is huge in the online space. It allow instructors to get real time feedback and pivot when needed.
When deciding what to teach, you need to consider what you're an expert in. Ask yourself, "If Harvard were asking me to guest lecture, what topic would they invite me to teach?" You should also survey your audience to understand where they are at and what they want to learn.
CBCs are best when they are interactive. You should shoot for 75% interactive, 25% knowledge transfer. Think about how your students can learn something, and practice it right now; this allows them to reinforce what they learn, and get real time feedback from you and fellow students.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Riverside.fm | Nexcess | Ahrefs | TextExpander

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Who is the Pro iPhone for, and Other Creator Tools

Joe Casabona — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 02:02:00 -0500

One of the core beliefs at Apple is telling a good story; it’s weaved into everything they do — every product, service, and publication. Something you’ll notice with their commercials is that they open by telling you it was shot on iPhone 13 Pro. And in-fact that story they told at the iPhone event in September, about iPhone 13 Pro, was that it’s for movie makers and cinematographers. But who is the iPhone really for? And what other great tools are out there for creators? That’s what we’ll explore in this episode.

Top Takeaways

If you are a content creator, the iPhone 13 Pro is for you. It allows you to look like the pros, without dropping thousands of dollars of gear like the pros.
The simplest solution is a tripod for your iPhone with a remote or timer. You’ll also want good lighting; since this is such a mobile setup, you can likely find some good natural lighting.
Finding the right tools is tough, which is why I’ve put together Creator Toolkits: simple lists to help you know which tools you should use when creating projects.

Links

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

Joe Casabona — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 02:02:00 -0500

Exactly how important is your marketing funnel? Ask R.T. Custer, who's built a funnel that allows his company, the Vortic Watch Company, to routinely sell out of watches that are priced between $2,500 and $10,000. In this conversation, R.T. tells us all about how he and his business partner came up with the idea to repurpose old pocket watches into all-American-made wristwatches, and how his 200-day email funnel is the key to their success. Part of the secret sauce: getting influencers to drive traffic…not to buy the watches, which are usually only available one per day…but to sign up for their mailing list to get notified when a new one drops.

Top Takeaways:

People say email marketing is dying, but that could not be further from the truth. R.T. knows their nurture sequence needs to be 200 days because it takes 4-8 months to build enough trust to sell a $4,000 watch.
As a creator, the affiliate marketing route can be a great way to get paid as an influencer, as long as your find the right brand.
Knowing your worth is super important. It allows Vortic Watches to be sold at the price their sold...it will also allow you to get paid what you deserve.

Show Notes:

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

Joe Casabona — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 02:02:00 -0500

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

Top Takeaways:

Batch your content! You want to plan ahead, build a stock pile, and release it slowly. That way you can create consistently and build your content empire.
Analytics is the key to everything. You will best serve your audience by understanding what resonates most with them, and putting out more content like it. Christine found her niche in a crowded field by focusing in on a couple of specific food types.
Repurposing content allows you to reach more people based on their preferred way to consume. Christine has thousands of recipes she can resurface thanks to her podcast, which she uses to drive traffic to her blogs.

Show Notes:

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

Joe Casabona — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 02:02:00 -0500

More and more, we're hearing about why businesses should be on TikTok. As a creator, this can be a new place for you to gain an audience…if you do it right. And today's guest, Alex Rossman, knows a thing or two about TikTok. His agency, Rossman Media, is currently moving many of his B2B clients to the platform with great success. Today, Alex will tell you why you should be there, and how to make the most of being on the platform…from building community to generating more leads. In Build Something More, we talk about what it's like being a musician (we both play the drums), writing songs, and there's a heavy dose of The Beatles in there too.

Top Takeaways:

TikTok has accelerated a lot faster than other social media platforms in growth and maturity. They even have a managed services to help business grow through trends.
1/10 of your videos will have some viral component to it. That doesn't mean millions of views, but it could mean 10,000. So it's important to be there, and be consistent.
Alex recommends having a record day where you create 30 days worth of content in a sitting. Then you can plan and schedule it out. Using some free analytics, you can see what's trending and ride those waves to growth.

Show Notes:

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Leveraging YouTube to Build Trust and get Leads with Jessica Freeman

Joe Casabona — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 02:02:00 -0500

Word of Mouth has long ruled the lead-generating roost for freelancers and small business owners. But that’s an untenable, unscalable business model. What does work, you wonder? Ask web designer Jess Freeman. 60% of Jess’ leads come from content creation alone; 40% from her blog and YouTube. While many view YouTube as a place for entertainment and influencers where only the most popular channels make money, Jess shows us that’s not true. And she shares some fantastic tips on how you can leverage YouTube to build trust and generate leads. Plus, in Build Something More, we talk WordPress vs. Squarespace.

Top Takeaways:

Don’t expect to get rich overnight with content. It’s a long game that helps you build better trust with prospective clients.
Jess tells us about 2 types of YouTube content: connection (get to know me better) and educational (teaching something). Be sure to teach your target audience!
Consistency is key, so come up with a cadence that works for you. Batch your content and release it on a predictable schedule.

Show Notes:

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

Joe Casabona — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 02:02:00 -0500

They say one of the best ways to grow your audience is by getting in front of other people’s audiences, and today’s guest is an expert in helping you do that. Brittney Lynn understands how to pitch the media - both established media like publications and TV, and newer media, like podcasts. Today, she gives us some fantastic advice for finding and pitching podcasts, as well as what to think about if we’re going to pitch TV and publications. In Build Something More, we chat about the time I hired Brittney to help with my PR, what worked well, and what I should have done better!

Top Takeaways:

Since podcasts are weekly, and more selective about their content, you really need to hone your pitch. Spend some time doing your research, finding good fits, and then pitching a topic that works for the show.
Look at recent guests and their topics. If yours is too similar, wait 6 months. Most hosts don’t want to cover the same topic in multiple episodes close together.
There are lots of places to find shows. Apple Podcasts and Listen Notes, looking at shows competitors have been on, related podcasts, and even competitor press pages.

Show Notes:

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

Joe Casabona — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 02:02:00 -0500

How do you become an authority in your field? What's the key to unlocking rewarding work and more sales with less selling? According to Rochelle Moulton, it's publishing. And Rochelle knows a thing or two. Not only has she been helping people become authorities in their fields since 2007, but her book, The Authority Code, will give you the blueprint — and the right prompts — to help you too. Rochelle and I have a great conversation around niching down, spending your time wisely, and publishing to become an authority in your space. Plus, in Build Something More, we compare notes on the book writing and publishing process!

Top Takeaways:

There's a difference between being an expert, and being an authority. Experts are good at doing a thing, and get paid do to it. Authorities, whose mindset is publishing, command respect from a much wider audience, and can make money in a variety of ways
To build authority, you need to have a niche. You want to be able to talk to your people and offer them solutions and outcomes. In fact, as an authority, that's exactly what you're selling: an outcome. How will your perfect client's life change after working with you?
Publishing is the key to building authority. That can be through email, blogging, podcasting, or video. Pick one that works for your audience and start helping people. Then, your content does the selling.

Show Notes:

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My 2022 Yearly Theme: The Year of Retreat

Joe Casabona — Mon, 03 Jan 2022 02:02:00 -0500

In 2021, there was a lot of good, but there was also a lot of stress. In fact, there was a lot of everything. Seems like a year or less would do me good. But not really less of everything. I need to do less of something specific — over-commitment. So I’ve come up with The Year of Retreat.

Show Notes:

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Generosity and the Future: My Favorite Christmas Story

Joe Casabona — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 11:21:41 -0500

I knew from a young age, I wanted to play the drums. I got my first small kit when I was five and when my friends and I started a band, heavy quotes, I played paint buckets. When I was 15 years old, I knew I needed a real kit.

It's the last episode of 2021, and it's a little different: I'm going to share with you my favorite Christmas story. I'll also tell you where the show is heading in 2022.

Show Notes

(00:00) - Introduction
(01:49) - My First Drum Set
(08:09) - Thank You Alan
(08:52) - How I Built It in 2022
(12:39) - Thanks for a Great 2021

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

Joe Casabona — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 02:02:00 -0500

Back in October, I wrote a blog post called, "We Need to Talk About Speakers and Virtual Events." I outlined how I believe speakers should be treated when it comes to virtual events; See I feel like too many virtual event organizers treat speakers as their marketing arm too. Shortly after, my friend Nathan Wrigley reached out. See, he is a virtual event organizer. In fact, I've spoken at his events! We wanted to have a debate of sorts, so we recorded it. It was a truly fantastic conversation. I certainly learned a lot, and I think you will too!

Top Takeaways:

Be communicative with your speakers and manage expectations.
Doing the affiliate program well can net a lot of money for you without a TON of effort.
It all depends on where you are in your speaker journey, and what your ultimate goal for speaking it. One peice of advice: choose events wisely.

Show Notes:

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How I Ended Up Having My Best Black Friday Sale Ever

Joe Casabona — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 02:03:00 -0500

This year, I made a concerted effort to have a good Black Friday sale. I started thinking about it early, put in a good sequence of emails, and promoted it more than I've promoted anything. The result? My best sale ever. So how did I do it, what were the numbers, and what did I learn? Listen to find out. Plus, in Build Something More, I share the actual revenue, and my thoughts on affiliate programs.

Top Takeaways

Preparation and messaging were instrumental. I started thinking about the sale in October - what the offer would be and the direction my business would go in for 2022. Right before the sale, I redesigned the home page to really push the benefits of the membership.
Don't be afraid to send too many emails. I sent 9 emails over 5 days, with 4 coming on the last day. Each lead to at least one sale.
I also paid attention to how things were going. When I found the membership to be a lot more popular than initially though, I changed the last few emails in the sequence to highlight the benefits of that instead of the fact that a la carte courses were going away.

Show Notes

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How to Leverage the Facebook Algorithm to Grow Your Business with Jono Petrohilos

Joe Casabona — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 02:02:00 -0500

Sometimes it feels like Facebook gets a bad wrap. Of course, sometimes it feels like Facebook gets exactly what it deserves…so where should we, as small business owners, fall on how to use Facebook? Today's guests should help. Jono Petrohilos is a personal trainer and online educator who has a $1 Million online course business. He also runs huge Facebook groups, including one specifically for online course creators. Jono is SUPER passionate about FB groups -so much so that he made me excited about them. He offers a ton of tips for how to start and grow a FB group, and how one can build your business. In Build Something More, we talk about the Facebook outage and how it affected him (and how he has a backup plan!)

Top Takeaways:

Spend time in similar Facebook groups and communities, participating and adding value. This will help build a network of 100 people you can invite to your group.
The goal of the FB group is the community. It's not about "me" it's about "them." In that vein, encourage participation at every opportunity. Introductions, questions emailed to you, and anything else you think the group would benefit from
The name is SUPER important. It should be clear and searchable.

Show Notes:

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How to Properly Niche and Grow Your Membership with Corey Haines

Joe Casabona — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 02:02:00 -0500

A few weeks ago, we heard from John Warrillow about why we need to make subscriptions a core part of our businesses. Someone who's done that really well is a marketer and fellow creator Corey Haines. As we recorded this, he was going through the biggest change his membership has seem: consolidation of offerings, niching down, and increasing the price. And it was the best month of the membership to date. Listen on to find why and how he did it. Plus, in what I think is the best Build Something More yet, we talk about pricing: how to price as a creator, offerings, and price to value ratios.

Top Takeaways:

On subscription fatigue: Don't conflate consumer subscriptions with business subscriptions. Consumers get fatigued more than businesses.
Early on, as a creator you could basically just ask for money and people would support you. Now it's about the right value proposition. If you don't get it right, you won't survive.
Niching down allows you to focus, get the right value prop, AND charge more.

Show Notes:

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The 2021 Gift Guides Episode!

Joe Casabona — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 02:02:00 -0500

It's the 2021 Gift Guides episode! This year I revamped the guides to be clearer, including more tools for people who work from home and podcasters, and offering more options for people looking for the perfect pen. In Build Something More, I talk about the transition from Beaver Builder to Gutenberg - why I did it, and how it went.

Show Notes:

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How to Actually Sell to Your Email List with Samar Owais

Joe Casabona — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 02:02:00 -0500

Something I (and perhaps you) feel I do terribly is email marketing. I'm worried I'm not segmenting my list the right way, that I email them too much, and that what I send is not aligned with what they signed up for. But let me tell you, after this conversation with Samar Owais, I feel a lot better. Samar is an email expert, and we cover a lot of ground, from setting up a welcome sequence, to when you should sell to your list, to how to segment. This is a mini masterclass in email marketing and one of my favorite episodes to date. Plus, in Build Something More, how Apple is changing the way we measure email marketing success.

Top Takeaways:

When someone signs up for your mailing list, your welcome sequence needs to align with your offer and your promise...also, you should have a welcome sequence!
When it is too soon to sell to your list? The very first welcome email. Everything else is fair game so soft sell, sew seeds, or even just mention.
Segmentation is SO important. You're forming a relationship with your email subscribers, and you can't properly do that if you don't know anything about them.

Show Notes:

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Why Subscriptions are Crucial to Your Business with John Warrillow

Joe Casabona — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 02:02:00 -0400

Subscription services are increasingly popular and for good reason. On top of creating more predictable income for your business, they allow you to really focus and serve your subscribers instead of constantly trying to grind out new sales. Plus, it makes your business more sellable. We'll talk about all of that and more in this week's episode with John Warrillow, best-selling author of Built to Sell, The Automatic Customer, and The Art of Selling your business. And in Build Something More, we'll even talk about what it's like to write a best-selling book!

Top Takeaways:

Subscriptions make your business more predictable, more sellable, and place less pressure on your sales process. One Sale → One Payment vs. One Sale → regular monthly payments.
You need to go all-in for a subscription business to work. Giving people a choice between one time and subscription will usually result in fewer (if any) subscriptions.
When it comes to subscription fatigue, you need to demonstrate value in a tangible way. A 10% discount won't do that. But showing 10x more value will.

Show Notes:

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Growing a Multilingual Newsletter (on the side!) with Maciek Palmowski

Joe Casabona — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 02:02:00 -0400

You've heard me say time and time again - build your list! If you want to grow your business, whether you sell products, services, or are a creator, you need to get people on your email list. And today's guest, Maciek Palmowski, has definitely done that. He and his wife started the only Polish-language WordPress-focused newsletter (quick a niche) and grew it into quite a popular English-language newsletter. The format and process for putting it together are interesting too - making this a fantastic episode for those struggling with (or struggling to start) their newsletter. In Build Something More, we talk about what it's like being an ESL programmer in an English-dominated market.

Top Takeaways

The Twitter community can be a great place for finding news and growing your list!
The secret to growth: stay consistent and put in the work. People will come, and share it!
Trial and error is super important. Try things out and see what works. See what doesn’t. Iterate quickly.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander

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Why Businesses are Missing out on TikTok with Rebecca Simon

Joe Casabona — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 02:02:00 -0400

As an elder millennial, TikTok as a platform scares and upsets me. I’m not really sure how to use it to grow my audience (if it even can) and I’m worried it’s just going to be a huge time suck. But according to Rebecca Simon, if your business isn’t on Tiktok, it’s a huge missed opportunity. SO naturally, I asked her how a small business owner can make the most of the platform; Rebecca offered some of the best advice I’ve heard for any social network! So if you’re wondering how you can grow your audience through TikTok, this episode is for you. Plus, in Build Something More, I ask Rebecca how some of my favorite Tiktoks were made.

Top Takeaways

It's important to have the right SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) in place with VAs, employees, or even just yourself.
The direction all social media is moving in is video. Instagram rebranded as a "video" platform, and TikTok is leading the charge. That's why it's so important to be there.
The biggest benefit is TikTok is pushing you to new people. Discovery is much better on that platform that on follower-centric platforms like Instagram.

Show Notes:

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Live Coaching: How and When to Monetize Your Podcast with Nathan Wrigley

Joe Casabona — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 02:02:00 -0400

It's another live coaching call! This time I have podcaster and WordPress site builder Nathan Wrigley. We chat about how I format this show, record the bumpers and the intros, and the benefits (and potential pitfalls) of batching. Then we roll into making money: how to find and land sponsors, and when to think about monetizing your podcast. Nathan has been a podcaster for a long time, so it was great to field his questions as well as get his perspective. Plus in Build Something More, we talk about what it's like to run a virtual summit.

Top Takeaways

Have a good process for outreach to guests and sponsors. You can better track, schedule and batch!
Should you think about monetization before you launch your podcast or after? It's a great question! You should think about why you're starting your podcast and how you can monitize. But you should wait to launch until you have a money making plan.
One this is absolutely necessary though: Build your email list!

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander

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Building a People First Business with Lauren Kennedy

Joe Casabona — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 02:02:00 -0400

Sometimes you know you're destined to run your own business. You work for companies and realize that you can't really work within the confines of a corporate structure. It's something I realized pretty much in high school. And it's something today's guest, Lauren Kennedy, has known all her life. Realizing then, she took her drive and built a marketing automation company…with a twist. While both marketing and automation can be terms associated with the impersonal, she's set out to build a people-first company. And that's the main focus of our discussion today. Of-course, it didn't stop me from asking about marketing automation. And in Build Something More, we talk about being active and helping people on social media, including Reddit.

Top Takeaways

Sales is the authentic exchange of knowledge - you're showing people what you know, and what you can do. Put another way, your knowledge is not proprietary. Your ability to do it is.
The goal of marketing automation is to get as much done with as few resources as possible. You can make sure you communicate personally and properly with the right automations.
Be a sponge. Take every opportunity to learn and absorb - about your craft, about your clients, about your employees. Then squeeze it back out.
Pre show release - how hard it is to come up with an elevator pitch for yourself, imposter syndrome

Show Notes:

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How to Create 1 Year of Content in 1 Day with Elizabeth Pampalone

Joe Casabona — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 02:02:00 -0400

Often, when it comes to launching, writing, recording, building funnels, or whatever else it is we need to do, it's easy to start because we're motivated. But the longer a project goes on, the harder it can be. The more frustrating it can get. And the more likely quality starts to go out the window. Well, today's guest, Elizabeth Pampalone, has a solution: get it all done in 1 day. From launching websites to writing a full year of blog posts, Elizabeth's process of blocking off a whole day and walking with her clients through a tried and true framework has proven successful. Here is how she does it. Plus, in Build something more, we chat about early businesses and how to handle premium products for clients.

Top Takeaways

Implementing is the hardest part of the work for most people - building that into a day, and into your schedule helps you ship.
You need a "Deep Work" style day to get the work done. Eliminate distractions and context switching.
Checklists are a huge help. They reduce the mental energy of figuring out what to do next so you can just do.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander

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The RIGHT Way to Run Ads and Build Funnels with Jason How

Joe Casabona — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 02:02:00 -0400

Hey everybody and welcome to episode 234 of How I Built It, the podcast that offers actionable tech tips for small business owners. Today's sponsors are TextExpander, and Nexcess. Jason How knows a thing or two about ads, start with this: don't start with Ads. Jason gives us a couple of important aspects of running ads you think to think about before actually running the ads - like how to get your offer to a place that will compel people to actually click on ads.

Top Takeaways

BEFORE you run any ads, you need to get your offer right. Figure our whom you serve and do the research to make sure your offer is a good one.
The messaging will be completely based on the offer.
Get people into your funnel with a clear CTA, and have a good confirmation page.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander

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How to Get More Traffic Through Back Links and Cold Outreach with Andy Cabasso

Joe Casabona — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 02:02:00 -0400

Look. I get tons of backlinks and cold outreach every day. It’s frustrating and annoying. It’s frustrating and annoying because it’s blanket cold outreach. The people reaching out don’t know me and are just swinging wildly. There’s gotta be a better way, right? That’s what Andy Cabasso is here to talk about. How can YOU get effective with your cold outreach to grow your traffic and your business? It’s a great conversation. Plus in BSM we talk about domain authority.

Top Takeaways

People doing outreach need to recognize that content creators are getting pitched to constantly. It's SUPER important to personalize to prove you actually did the research.
When it comes to cold outreach, one of the most important aspect is the follow up!
When you create content, you should spend as much time promoting it as you did creating it. Organic SEO is great, but competitive.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Nexcess | TextExpander

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Answering YOUR Questions about Podcasting

Joe Casabona — Mon, 06 Sep 2021 03:03:00 -0400

It's a listener questions episode! I thought it would be fun to round out the summer by answering some questions you've asked about how to run and grow a podcast. I hope you enjoy! in Build Something More, I tell you all about what I learned at Skip the Grind and how it's shaping my business, and this podcast, moving forward.

Top Takeaways

The biggest way to grow your show is by having a clear Call to Action and a strong show notes page.
BUILD YOUR LIST! No matter what you're trying to do - build a community, sell products, sell a course or service - your email list is the life's blood of your business and your podcast can help you grow it.
There are 2 million podcasts but only about 65% are actually active. For comparison, There are over 37 million YouTube channels.

Show Notes

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Live Coaching: Launching a Course & Growing a Podcast with Alastair McDermott

Joe Casabona — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 03:03:00 -0400

Today's Episode is a little bit different. See, my friend Alastair McDermott has a couple of problems he'd like to solve: launching and promoting an online course, and growing his podcast. I believe these 2 things go hand-in-hand. A podcast is a great way to establish trust and expertise, which in-turn helps you sell more courses. So instead of Alastair dropping knowledge on us (which he does anyway...) we flip the script in this live coaching call, and he asks me a bunch of questions! This is one of my favorite episodes of the year - and highly educational for both of us!

Top Takeaways

Beta testing your course is a great, lower-risk way to get your information out there and get real feedback.
A podcast is a fantastic way to grow your audience, estabilish trust and expertise, and sell your courses.
One way to grow your own podcasting audience is to guest on other people's podcasts!

Show Notes

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The Incredible Journey from Agency to Solo Business Owner with Paul Lacey

Joe Casabona — Mon, 23 Aug 2021 02:02:00 -0400

All too often, we hear only the success story. The Olympian who won the goal. The successful millionaire who launched a business from her dorm room. It's easy to assume these stories are without struggles. But what we don't see is the sacrifices the olympian made. We don't see the dozen other ideas and years of work the successful millionaire put in. Today we get to hear it all. Paul Lacey is as generous with his time as he is with his story. See, Paul has gone a long way in his travels as a web developer, from the pre-dot-com burst to crashing an agency and bouncing back. And he's learned a ton along the way that he generously shares with us in today's episode. So I just tried to get out of the way and tell his story. I think you'll love it.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Podcast Liftoff | TextExpander

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How to Improve Site Speed (and your Google Page Rank!) with Andy Schaff

Joe Casabona — Mon, 16 Aug 2021 02:02:00 -0400

Google has recently rolled out a new set of metrics to help website owners create better websites. They're called Core Web Vitals and understanding how they work will be important for building your website, and getting it ranked better. Luckily we have Andy Schaff. He's the Development Architect and Portent and we have a fantastic chat about how to make your website more performant, from the ground up. We get pretty technical - but don't worry because I rain down analogies like it's my job. Andy drops a ton of knowledge about backend performance and gives both developers and small business owners starting points for making websites faster - and why your Google PageRank depends on it. Plus, in Build Something More, we talk about what it's like going through an acquisition from the employee's POV.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Podcast Liftoff | TextExpander

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The Framework You Need to Take Back Your Time with Reinart Bacalso

Joe Casabona — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 02:02:00 -0400

If you're anything like me, you feel like there's not enough time in the day. Maybe you're take on too much, or maybe you're doing things you don't need to do. Either way, you (and I!) both need a change - and that's where Reinart Bacalso comes in. He specializes in helping business owners reclaim their time by automating what they can, and putting the right processes in place. And today he's going to give us his framework. Plus, in Build Something More, we talk all about his toolkit.

Show Notes

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What You Need to Know About Contributing to Open Source with AmyJune Hineline

Joe Casabona — Mon, 02 Aug 2021 02:02:00 -0400

AmyJune Hineline has lots of perspectives. Not only does she have a background in nursing that she's brought to the open-source world, but she also actively works with both WordPress and Drupal. That sort of experience is exactly what helps communities grow. AmyJune has dedicated her time to helping people get involved in open source, and she offers great advice here for people who want to contribute, as well as mentors in the space. Plus in Build Something More, we talk about what Drupal and WordPress can learn from each other.

Show Notes:

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How Your Content Strategy can Grow Your Business with Jean Perpillant

Joe Casabona — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 02:02:00 -0400

Let me tell you something: I'm not great at social media. I KNOW...totally shocking. But you know who is? My friend Jean. In fact, we had a SUPER long chat all about content strategy and social media. It was super helpful and we covered a lot of ground, from growing your audience to TikTok. Plus there's a Build Something More pre- AND post-show. We talk about parenting in the pre-show and accents, culture, and repurposing in the post-show.

Show Notes:

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Creating and Growing Your Community with Authenticity with Michelle Frechette

Joe Casabona — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 02:02:00 -0400

Michelle Frechette knows a thing or two about building a community. Not only does she do it for multiple WordPress businesses, but she's cultivated quite the community on Twitter! As someone who's trying to grow my own community, I had lots of questions for Michelle and she generously answered them all. Learn all about what it takes to grow a community today. Plus in Build Something More, how to help those underrepresented in your community.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Linode | TextExpander | The Events Calendar

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Welcome to How I Built It [2021]

Joe Casabona — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 12:31:04 -0400

New to the show? Start here.

Subscribe: https://howibuilt.it/subscribe

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6 months in, how are memberships going?

Joe Casabona — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 02:02:00 -0400

In January, I rolled out the Creator Crew, a membership that allows people to support the show directly in exchange for more, ad-free content. 6 months in, how do I think it’s going? Find out about this behind-the-scenes episode. And in Build Something More, we’ll talk about exact numbers, metrics, and what I’m measuring.

Show Notes:

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How to Write Email Copy that SELLS with Matthew DeFeo

Joe Casabona — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 02:02:00 -0400

You've heard multiple guests on this show talk about the importance of building your email list...but what do you do with that list once you have it? Well, copywriter Matt DeFeo tells us: we need to tell stories. Matt gives lots of actionable advice for how we can improve our email copy and start selling more without annoying our subscribers. Plus, in Build Something More, he tells us how he went from law enforcement to copywriting and the story is incredible.

Show Notes:

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How to Achieve Financial Freedom with Travis Hornsby

Joe Casabona — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 02:02:00 -0400

Continuing a series on finances this year, today we tackle how to handle debt and invest in yourself and your business. Travis Hornsby took himself from being deep in debt to be able to support him and his family through his own business - and he gives us the framework so that we can do the same thing. Plus in Build Something More, we talk all about investing.

Show Notes:

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Why Speakers Should Start a Podcast

Joe Casabona — Mon, 31 May 2021 02:02:00 -0400

Podcasting can be like your own personal stage. If you're a speaker, you have the opportunity to create your own portfolio of work, allowing potential event organizers and audience members to see what you know and you speak. This can lead to more paid speaking gigs and a following. But that's not the only reason speakers should start a podcast.

Show Notes:

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How to go From $200 to $16K in 3 months with Kelsey Kerslake

Joe Casabona — Mon, 24 May 2021 02:02:00 -0400

The feast and the famine are two staples in running your business, right? It's doesn't have to be! That's the message from Kelsey Kerslake, who went from $200 to $16,000 in her bank account in 3 months! Kelsey shares her story, tips, and what you need to do to grow your business and avoid that feast and famine stress.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Restrict Content Pro | TextExpander | The Events Calendar

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How to Audit Your Website for Accessibility with Bet Hannon

Joe Casabona — Mon, 17 May 2021 02:02:00 -0400

A few months ago we heard from Amber Hinds about the importance of accessibility and how her WordPress plugin can help you create more accessible content. She also said that you need a human being to catch most accessibility issues - that's where Bet Hannon comes in. Bet tells us all about what to look for when auditing your website, and how to execute a sampling audit. We also talk about a TON of tools. In Build Something More, listeners get a pre-and post-show. The pre-show is all about beer. The post-show is about database queries.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Restrict Content Pro | TextExpander | The Events Calendar

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GiveWP Acquired by Liquid Web! Interview with Matt and Devin

Joe Casabona — Tue, 11 May 2021 10:03:04 -0400

Big news in the WordPress space today: GiveWP, makers of the extremely popular WordPress donation plugin has been acquired by Liquid Web. I got to interview the founders and co-authors, Matt Cromwell and Devin Walker. We cover questions like how the acquisition came about, what this means for current customers and nonprofits, plans for the future, and even some sage advice regarding the acquisition process.

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Why Now is a Good Time to Build a SaaS with Jason Meller

Joe Casabona — Mon, 10 May 2021 02:02:00 -0400

If you've ever worked for a bigger company, you know that it's easy to get bogged down by software and other restrictions in the name of security. Heck, I was once told I couldn't work off-site because of it, and we had a VPN! Well, Jason Meller was sick of that and he suspected others were too, so he started Kolide. We talk all about what inspired him to take the leap and start a company, how he and his team built the software and the honest security manifesto! In Build Something More, we talk about cybersecurity and fear-mongering.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Restrict Content Pro | TextExpander | The Events Calendar

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Why Authors Should Start a Podcast

Joe Casabona — Mon, 03 May 2021 02:02:00 -0400

Promoting your book can be a tough road - I know because I'm currently on it. On top of establishing trust, you need to demonstrate that you're worth investing in. Plus, unlike online courses, it can be tough to build and keep an audience if people are just buying your book off Amazon. Luckily, a podcast can help. We'll get into all of that in this episode. Plus, in Build Something More I'll tell you all about my experience with both self-publishing and going through an actual publisher.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Mindsize | Restrict Content Pro | TextExpander

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Solving the Pricing Problem with Stephen King

Joe Casabona — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 02:02:00 -0400

Pricing is one of the biggest issues that freelancers and small business owners face. The worry that pricing too high will lose sales tends to outweigh the fact that pricing too low is actually worse for your business. Well, Stephen King is here to tell us why the latter will sink you - not the former. And in Build Something More, we'll talk about how to be prepared for an economic recession - whether it's this one or the next.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Mindsize | Restrict Content Pro | TextExpander

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What Apple Podcast Subscriptions Means for Podcasters

Joe Casabona — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 10:15:00 -0400

Apple has officially announced Apple Podcast Subscriptions, a way for podcasters to offer paid podcasts directly through the Podcasts app. We’ll cover all the fine details (how it works, pricing, and some of the finer details) and they I’ll give my thoughts, and we’ll do some price comparisons.

Show Notes

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Why Your Business NEEDS Financial Planning to Succeed with Kathy Svetina

Joe Casabona — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 02:02:00 -0400

When just starting your business, it feels like the only financial question you're asking is, "How can I make enough money to stay afloat?" And while that is a SUPER important question, it's not the only question. In fact, today's guest, Kathy Svetina, gives us several questions we should ask ourselves to better answer the question, "How can I make enough money?" Her financial security framework is one every business owner, from freelancer to agency should think about. Plus, in Build Something More, we dive into tax planning, charts, and financial planning!

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Mindsize | Restrict Content Pro | TextExpander

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Why Course Creators Should Start a Podcast

Joe Casabona — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 02:02:00 -0400

One of the most important things a course creator needs to do to sell courses is establish trust. Indeed you've probably heard that a customer needs to know, like, and trust you. Well, there's no better way to get someone to do all three of those than by starting a podcast. We'll discuss that and other benefits to starting a podcast, whether you've already launched, or are planning to launch, a course. Plus in Build Something More, I tell you about how this podcast started, and why I pivoted.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Mindsize | Restrict Content Pro | TextExpander

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Pivoting an Events Plugin During a Global Pandemic with Hazel Quimpo and Zach Tirell

Joe Casabona — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 02:02:00 -0400

When you run a company focused on software for live events, you have no choice but to pivot when live events cease basically overnight. Hazel and Zach tell their fantastic story of how they were able to pivot a team of 50 people to focus their live events software on virtual events (spoiler alert: it's not easy). In Build Something More, we talk all about Liquid Web's acquisition of The Events Calendar in late 2020.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Mindsize | Restrict Content Pro | TextExpander

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Automating Paperwork with Anvil and Mang-git Ng

Joe Casabona — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 02:02:00 -0400

I LOVE automation, so when Mang-Git Ng reached out and wanted to talk about what he learned by launching a start-up fully focused on digitizing paper processes, I was hooked. If you've bought a house, done taxes, or any other document-heavy task, you know what a pain it can be. Mang-Git's company aims to solve that problem, and he tells us everything he's learned. In Build Something More, we answer the question, "Are big cities like San Francisco and NYC dead?"

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Mindsize | Restrict Content Pro | TextExpander

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How to Make Your eCommerce Store Even Better with Patrick Garman

Joe Casabona — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 02:02:00 -0400

One thing the global pandemic taught us is we need to have a great online presence. This is especially true if you need to sell online - and let's face it, we all do now. Well Patrick Garman of Mindsize has the knowledge and experience to help anyone launch and improve their eCommerce store. And he gives us some of his best stuff in today's episode. Plus, Mindsize went through a bit of a rebrand, and we talk all about it in Build Something More.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Mindsize | Restrict Content Pro | TextExpander

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Why Having a Personal Brand is SO Important to Your Success with Michelle Knight

Joe Casabona — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 02:02:00 -0400

Have you ever wondered why your product or service didn't get much traction on social media even though you post all the time? According to Michelle Knight, it's all about your personal brand (or lack thereof). Maybe you've heard the term before, but what does "personal brand" really mean? Luckily, Michelle has us covered! She'll tell us all about why you need a personal brand and how to craft one. In Build Something More, we talk Star Wars in the pre-show and social media dos/don'ts, traveling, and schooling in the post-show. This has been one of my favorite conversations so far this year!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Mindsize | Restrict Content Pro | TextExpander

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Using Amazon Fulfillment to Grow Your eCommerce Business with Michael Begg

Joe Casabona — Mon, 08 Mar 2021 02:02:00 -0500

Starting an eCommerce just a few years ago was a hard task. You needed to set up a website, figure out how to accept payments, manage inventory, figure out shipping and fulfillment, and so much more. Thanks to Amazon and other tools, things have gotten a lot easier. Michael Begg tells us all about how using Fulfillment By Amazon and grow your business. Be sure to check out Build Something More this week - we talk negative review, review scams, and more!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Mindsize | Restrict Content Pro | TextExpander

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How to Hire a VA That Actually Helps You with Matthew Yahes

Joe Casabona — Mon, 01 Mar 2021 02:02:00 -0500

In my experience, starting out, hiring a Virtual Assistant(VA) can take up more time than you're saving. While this is true for any employee, part of the reason to hire a VA is to make more time in your schedule to focus on your business. So how do you do it right? Matthew Yahes answers this question, plus where to find good people, and how to properly onboard VAs. In Build Something More, we talk about how to let go of those tasks you're holding on to!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Mindsize | Restrict Content Pro | TextExpander

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How to be an Effective Podcast Guest with Kristin Molenaar

Joe Casabona — Mon, 22 Feb 2021 02:02:00 -0500

Going on podcasts can be a great opportunity for small business owners. You're getting in front of a new audience to tell your story and show your expertise. But did you know there's a whole other avenue you can explore? Kristin Molenaar does, and she tell us all about it! Plus, in Build Something More, she walks us through forming your podcast pitch.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Mindsize | Restrict Content Pro | TextExpander

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How to Build a Podcast Membership: Looking at the Creator Crew

Joe Casabona — Mon, 15 Feb 2021 02:02:00 -0500

There are a lot of aspects to consider when creating a membership site. Aside from the tech stack, you need to determine what you're going to offer and why it's compelling. In some cases, like a monthly subscription box or access to education resources, the offer is clear. But what about for content creators? Well, I just rolled out my membership and here's everything I put into it. Plus, in Build Something More, I tell you how I evaluated membership plugins, and what further benefits can look like.

Show Notes

Sign Up for Creator Crew
My Failed Patreon Experiment
Restrict Content Pro
Castos
ConvertKit
Why You Shouldn't Use Tags to Segment Your List
Uncanny Automator
bbPress
Memberful

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My Failed Patreon Experiment

Joe Casabona — Mon, 08 Feb 2021 02:08:00 -0500

Back in 2017, I tried launching a Patreon for this very show, after hitting 50,000 downloads in 9 months. It was an epic failure! As a relaunch memberships for this site 4 years later, I reflect on the Patreon: how I overpromised, how I underdelivered, and what lessons I carried into my new membership, Creator Crew.

Show Notes

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Making Your Website Accessible with Amber Hinds

Joe Casabona — Mon, 01 Feb 2021 03:00:00 -0500

Accessibility is an important of often overlooked aspect of web development. While some view it as an added expense, many don't even know they're doing anything wrong. Well today's guest, Amber Hinds, aims to change that by making accessibility less daunting through her agency and their new plugin, Accessibility Checker.

Show Notes

NOTE: Around 4:30, Amber said Section 508 of the Telecommunications Act. She has relayed to me it should have been Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Equalize Digital | amber@equalizedigital.com
Accessibility Checker
WCAG
WAVE
Hotjar
a11yrules podcast
Accessibility Resources from HTML and CSS: Visual QuickStart Guide
Join the Creator Crew

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How to Win Virtual Pitches with Alex Price

Joe Casabona — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 03:33:00 -0500

The global pandemic has forced a lot of businesses to change their processes and practices. One major drawback of not being able to meet in person is when we pitch new clients or customers, it has to be done digitally. That is a big change from being in the same room as you and your potential clients. Luckily Alex Price, owner of the 93digital WordPress agency, has some great tips for us.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Outgrow | Restrict Content Pro | TextExpander

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Buying and Selling Blogs with Chelsea Clarke

Joe Casabona — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 02:22:00 -0500

We've heard about flipping houses, but what about flipping blogs? Chelsea Clarke has built an entire business on just that. She teaches us what to look for when buying a blog, and the steps we need to take in order to sell. Listen in for an interesting and unique way to generate income for your business!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Outgrow | Restrict Content Pro | Hostinger | TextExpander

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Building and Evolving Profitable Project Plan with Jennifer Bourn

Joe Casabona — Mon, 11 Jan 2021 02:25:00 -0500

Jennifer Bourn has been successfully running Profitable Project Plan, her training program for freelancers and small business owners, for several years. But it wasn't something that instantly made her a ton or money, and it's evolved over time. We're getting back to basics here in 2021, so Jennifer and I talk about what you'll learn in Profitable Project Plan, but we'll also talk about how she built it, and how she evolved it to make it the perfect program for anyone who wants to build a better business.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Outgrow | Restrict Content Pro | Hostinger | TextExpander

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2021: The Year of Opportunity

Joe Casabona — Mon, 04 Jan 2021 06:30:00 -0500

One of my favorite things to do at the end of each year is plan my Yearly Theme. It’s becoming a bit of a tradition and I’ve even got my wife in on the action this year. I find it’s better to have a guiding set of principles than a number of promises I may or may not1complete. 2020 caused many people to change how they do things, and I was no different. that’s why for 2021, my yearly theme is going to be The Year of Opportunity.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Restrict Content Pro | Hostinger | TextExpander

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Favorites of 2020

Joe Casabona — Tue, 15 Dec 2020 02:02:00 -0500

It’s that time of year again! I round up my favorite media and tech picks of 2020 - but this year I’m doing it a little differently. Over on Casabona.org, I’ve written blog posts for the past several years, but I’ve never recorded my thoughts. So this year, along with a blog post, I decided to do a podcast episode too - this lets me ramble a little more and add some thoughts on 2021. I hope you enjoy!

Show Notes and Picks

Tech Pick: Elgato Stream Deck
- How I Configured my Stream Deck
- Honorable Mentions: iPad Magic Keyboard, Kindle Oasis, Drums
App: Milanote
- What I’m Using
- Testing Out Milanote for Research
- Honorable Mentions: eCamm Live, iOS 14
Thing I Learned: How to hire more
- I’ve Been Hiring A Lot
- Brittney Lynn
- Honorable Mention: marketing messaging, PR outreach
Book: The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger
- My 2020 Goodreads Reading Challenge
- Honorable Mention: Marketing Made Simple, Dooku: Jedi Lost
TV Show: Ted Lasso
- Honorable Mention: The Mandalorian (again)
- All the Disney Investor Day Announcements
Music: First to Eleven, Lewis Capaldi
Movie: Hamilton
- Warner Bros. Says All 2021 Films Will Be Streamed Right Away
Podcast: Advisory Opinions

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Season 9 Recap

Joe Casabona — Tue, 08 Dec 2020 02:02:00 -0500

Well 2020 was unlike any year I’ve lived through, and I’m sure it’s the same for you. When I decided to come up with a theme for Season 9, which started in July, we were a couple of months into the global pandemic. I wanted focus on topics that could help you (and me) grow at a time where we were traveling less, seeing less foot traffic, and had to change in some way to make ends meet. I settled on coming up with good content, and using that content to evolve memberships, and build communities. If you didn’t catch every episode, here are the highlights.

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How I Wrote My Book

Joe Casabona — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 02:02:00 -0500

In September 2020, my 4th book published by a publisher (6th overall) came out. It's called HTML and CSS: Visual QuickStart Guide and it's a (very) beginner's guide to learning HTML and CSS. The process was long and at times frustrating. I wanted to go through how I wrote it, from inception to hitting the shelved.

Show Notes

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Writing What You Know with Winstina Hughes

Joe Casabona — Tue, 24 Nov 2020 02:02:00 -0500

Winstina Hughes is an Assistant Regional Planner for the Maryland Department of Transportation but she's coming to us today as a member of the wordpress community! Throughout the interview we talk about all sorts of things - life, WordPress, the New Jersey Transit…and it call comes back to the main takeaway for this episode: writing what you know and creating opportunities to share your insight. This was such a fun conversation where we covered a lot of ground. I enjoyed it, and I know you will too.

Sponsored by: Hostinger | Yes Plz | iThemes

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Building Good Web Forms with Naomi C. Bush

Joe Casabona — Tue, 17 Nov 2020 02:02:00 -0500

Throughout this season, we’ve talked about create content to build an audience. And the best way to build that audience and interact with them is forms. Well, Naomi C Bush tells us all about some great ways to build helpful forms for users. This is a much more traditional episode of How I Built It and I’m excited. Naomi talks about how she’s built her business, then provides some actionable advice for us.

Sponsored by: Hostinger | Yes Plz | iThemes

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Making Resource Sites for Fun and Money with Jase Rodley

Joe Casabona — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 02:02:00 -0500

Jase Rodley has A LOT going on. In fact, since we recorded this episode, he stepped down from Rank Defender to run Dialed Labs. His energy and drive are apparent in the interview, where we talk about Making Resource sites. Essentially, he tells us how to make content to fill a demand, and make a little money along the way. I even put him on the spot and have him help me through an idea during the episode. So listen for that and more - and let me know what ideas you come up with!

Sponsored by: Hostinger | Yes Plz | iThemes

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2020 Gift Guides

Joe Casabona — Tue, 03 Nov 2020 02:02:00 -0500

It has become a bit of a time-honored tradition for me to do gift guides around the holidays. I often get asked for recommendations on office, podcast, and pen gear. I write the gift guides up on my personal site, but this episode goes into a bit more depth for people who work from home, podcast, and more!

Sponsored by: Hostinger | Yes Plz | iThemes

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Building a WordPress Meetup from Scratch with Joe A. Simpson Jr.

Joe Casabona — Tue, 27 Oct 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Joe Simpson did something that, in my opinion, is very difficult to do. He created a local community out of virtually nothing. Living in Castilla, CA, he built the WordPress Santa Clarita Valley meetup from scratch. And the way he did it, as well as his personal story, is fantastic. I’m so happy I got to speak to Joe on this topic; he offer a unique insight with takeaways for everyone!

Sponsored by: Hostinger | Yes Plz | iThemes

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Running Virtual Events with Dave Shrein

Joe Casabona — Tue, 20 Oct 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Virtual summits are all the rage these days, but my friend Dave Shrein was doing them before they were cool. I participated in his event last year for his agency Campaign Donut, and I thought it was so well-run, I had to have him on the show to talk about it. Dave's story is great and he offers lots of actionable advice. It's always great when I can take something from an interview and implement it, and I did just that with Dave.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: ExpressVPN | Yes Plz | iThemes

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One Great Way to Build Your Email List with Bud Kraus

Joe Casabona — Tue, 13 Oct 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Lately on this show we've been focusing on big picture stuff, but it's really the small changes that make a big difference. Proof of that is Bud Kraus. He was trying to grow his newsletter and got nowhere….until he made a small change that grew it over 1,000 people in one year. Bud spills is secrets in this episode and tells you how you can do it too.

Show Notes

Bud Kraus
What I'm Doing To Get People to Sign Up For My Newsletter
Build Your List Using ConvertKit with Angel Marie
HTML and CSS: Visual QuickStart Guide
ConvertKit
Mailchimp
LearnDash
Restrict Content
Uncanny Owl
Gravity Forms
Gravity View

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Evolving Membership Offerings with Brian Krogsgard

Joe Casabona — Tue, 06 Oct 2020 02:02:00 -0400

I love talking to Brian Krogsgard. And if you need proof, we had a SUPER long pre-show that I'm going to release as bonus content when I roll out the Build Something Membership.

And speaking of, that's the main topic for today's conversaiton with Brian: building membership through community. We talk all about how Post Status has changed since we last spoke, alll the way back in Episode 3. We get into building the membership, innovating, and what keeps your members from churning.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Yes Plz | iThemes | TextExpander

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4 Ways to Monetize Your Podcast

Joe Casabona — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Monetizing your podcast doesn't just mean sponsors. There are methods you can employ to generate income from your show - whether it's direct dollars or warm leads. Here are 4 ways to monetize your podcast, from landing sponsors to generating commission. And if you'd like to learn more, check out the course Podcast Liftoff.

Show Notes

Get Podcast Liftoff (use BUILD at checkout for a 15% discount)
Sign up for Build Something Weekly
ConvertKit
My Pitch Deck
Podtrac
Memberful
Wishlist Member
Substack
ThirstyAffiliates
YOURLS
Amazon Affiliate Program
Target Affiliate Program

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Using Webinars to Grow Your Audience with Emily Hunkler

Joe Casabona — Tue, 22 Sep 2020 02:18:00 -0400

Webinars can be a great way to grow your audience, but are a tough business. Today's guest, Emily Hunkler, is a pro! She is able to host consistent webinars and virtual meetups for GoWP at a time where it helps most. In this episode, Emily lets us in on how she does it.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: ExpressVPN | Yes Plz | iThemes | TextExpander

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Creating Field Guides with David Sparks

Joe Casabona — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 03:00:00 -0400

I have a confession that won't be much of a confession once you start listening to this episode. I'm a big fan of David Sparks. I think he does great work in several different areas an I'm excited to talk to him about how he does it. We also both happen to be big fans of Disney and Star Wars. When we spoke, he was just coming off his first ever Sabbatical - so we'll get into that and how he manages to put out what must be dozens of hours of field guides while also running a law practice.

Show Notes

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Creating Content for LinkedIn Learning with Tracey Larvenz

Joe Casabona — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 02:02:00 -0400

I'm really excited to take to Tracey Larvenz today - he's my content manager over at linkedIn Learning and he's so great to work with! Being a Content Manager at LinkedIn Learning, it's his job to make sure there's a steady stream of new course material coming out for members. We'll talk about how he decides what to put into the production queue, and with me being a LinkedIn Learning instructor, we'll get into the course creation process a bit!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Yes Plz | iThemes | TextExpander

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Creating an Army of Advocates with Tessa Kriesel

Joe Casabona — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Let me tell you about my friend Tessa. She is very passionate about her work. And what's her work? Well she finds people who are passionate about products! In this episode Tessa will give us tips and tricks for building an advocacy program - where you can connect with people who LOVE you product. And further…you know what? I'll just let Tessa tell you about it!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Yes Plz | iThemes | TextExpander

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Why You Need to be on Voice Search with Chip Edwards

Joe Casabona — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Voice Search! Amazon Echo! Google! Chip Edwards knows a thing or two about all of these topics and let me tell you what I learned: We are all sleeping on voice search. Chip will tell us the importance of being on Voice Search, and why the earlier the better. Stay tuned until the end for a special offer just for listeners too!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Yes Plz | iThemes | TextExpander

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The Past and Future of Podcasting with Lisa Laporte

Joe Casabona — Tue, 18 Aug 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Lisa Laporte is the CEO of TWiT.tv and after a few weeks of talking about how to podcast and what it can do for your content, I thought she'd be the perfect person, to come on and talk about starting a network, as well as where podcasting is going. We talk about a lot of stuff - where podcasting was and the future, but we also have a great chat about tech and more. Lots of great advice here, so sit back and enjoy!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: ExpressVPN | iThemes | TextExpander

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Hosting a Daily Podcast with Harry Morton

Joe Casabona — Tue, 11 Aug 2020 02:02:00 -0400

One of the hardest things to do is put out daily content…and on top of that, making it helpful, timely, and in podcast form! This sounds like a ton of work, but Harry Morton of Lower Street does just that. In this episode, we'll explore how Harry can consistently put out a daily podcast about working from home - from planning to publishing.

Show Notes

Want to start your own podcast? Check out my course, Podcast Liftoff. Use the code BUILDIT for a listener-exclusive discount!

Sponsored by: Yes Plz | iThemes | TextExpander

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Find the Right Podcast Membership Benefits with Stephen Hackett

Joe Casabona — Tue, 04 Aug 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Stephen Hackett is one of my favorite podcasters, and cofounded my favorite podcast network, Relay.fm. Back in 2018, I spoke to his co-founder Myke Hurley about starting podcasts. Since then, Relay has really ramped up their membership program and I though Stephen would be the perfect guy to talk to about putting out tons of content and deciding what to make free, and what to make paid.

I think they're doing a fantastic job over there, and Stephen's inspired me to reconsider my own membership program for this show. Have a listen - I know you'll get some great ideas too!

Show Notes

Want to start your own podcast? Check out my course, Podcast Liftoff. Use the code BUILDIT for a listener-exclusive discount!

Sponsored by: Yes Plz | iThemes | TextExpander

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Better Audience Engagement for Your Content with Taylor Waldon

Joe Casabona — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Before we get too deep into this season, I wanted to make sure you and I have a good baseline for creating content and engaging with the audience. Taylor Waldon, the Content Strategist for GiveWP, does a fantastic job of this. We talk about how they are expanding their niche and why creating the right content is crucial. This is a must list for anyone who's creating content for their small business, no matter what you do.

Sponsored by: iThemes | CircleCI | TextExpander

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Managing Social Media for a Government Agency with Joseph Galbo

Joe Casabona — Tue, 14 Jul 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Just because you're a government organization doesn't mean you can't have a little personality. That's what my friend Joe Galbo proves day-in and day-out over at the Consumer Products Safety Commission. I've wondered for some time how they manage their social media strategy there and Joe's the brains behind most of the operation. We'll talk content, memes, data and more, as well as how he can get it all done at the federal level.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Boosted | iThemes | CircleCI

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Automating Your Life with James Rose

Joe Casabona — Tue, 07 Jul 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Have you every wondered how some people seem to do so much? Well this week I sit down with James Rose to unlock some of the secrets of one of my favorite topics: automation. We talk about what it is, how it works, and how you can use it to take some tasks off of your plate, and off of your mind.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Boosted | iThemes | CircleCI

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Growing Your Audience on Instagram with Andrea Zoellner

Joe Casabona — Tue, 30 Jun 2020 02:02:08 -0400

Wondering how to build a following on Instagram? I was! It's my favorite social platform and I'm trying to be more intentional about the content. So I brought on Andrea Zoellner, who offered fantastic advice around IG strategy, taking great photos, and if those walls of hashtags actually work. Let's get into all of that and more.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Boosted | iThemes | CircleCI

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Season 8 Wrap Up: Vet Clients and Build Your List

Joe Casabona — Tue, 23 Jun 2020 02:54:00 -0400

We're at the half for 2020, which means the end of Season 8. I'm proud to say I learned a ton, and I hope you have too! There were three big topics of focus this season: Find the Right Clients, Productize Your Services (or at least make them more predictable), and Build Your Email List / Network.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Podcast Liftoff | CircleCI | TextExpander

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Tools Roundup for June 2020

Joe Casabona — Tue, 16 Jun 2020 02:02:00 -0400

We're at the halfway mark for the year and I've been trying out a lot of new tools and processes. In this bonus episode, I wanted to talk about WordPress plugins, digital products, and analog tools that have helped me be more productive!

Show Notes

Enroll in Podcast Liftoff! Use code BUILD at checkout
WP Content Pilot Pro / AppSumo Deal
ThirstyAffiliates Pro
Six Colors
Fusebox
Hubspot CRM
Apple Notes
Milanote
Canva
Stream Deck
Key Light
Magic Keyboard
Field Notes
William Hannah Notebook
Pen Addict Podcast

Sponsored by: CircleCI | TextExpander

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What to Focus on in a Recession with Brad Morrison

Joe Casabona — Tue, 09 Jun 2020 02:02:00 -0400

With everything happening during the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic recession, it's easy to panic, cut costs, and coast until this all blows over. But that can kill your business. Instead we need to adapt, and in today's episode, Brad Morrison tells us what his agency is doing to work through what will be a seemingly tough economy. We talk about our experiences with the last recession, what's different, and what you can do to adapt.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: CircleCI | TextExpander

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Behind the Scenes: Building Podcast Liftoff: Launch

Joe Casabona — Tue, 02 Jun 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Recently, I launched my brand new course. Podcast Liftoff: Launch. A lot of work goes into creating an online course, and this episode peels back the curtain a little bit. You'll learn about the journey and decision making that took place, the research and audience building, and of-course, the process and tools.

Show Notes

Get a special offer on Podcast Liftoff: Launch for listeners only

Creator Courses
ConvertKit
MindNode
Podcast Liftoff Mindmap
My recording process | Video Resources
Video Recording Gear
Screenflow
LearnDash
WooCommerce
WooCommerce Memberships
WooCommerce Subscriptions
Vimeo Pro

Sponsored by: CircleCI | Ahrefs | TextExpander

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Improving Customer Relationships with John Vuong

Joe Casabona — Tue, 26 May 2020 02:02:00 -0400

John Vuong know SEO. But he knows relationships even more. AT a time where connecting with people face-to-face has become harder, John offers some fantastic advice for forging better relationship through communication - both with your current clients, and the ones that will soon be clients.

Show Notes

?Podcast Liftoff is Out! As a Listener, you'll get an additional 10% off the already discounted launch price.

This link will automatically apply the coupon.

Sponsored by: CircleCI | Ahrefs | TextExpander

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3 Tips for Pivoting Because of COVID-19

Joe Casabona — Tue, 19 May 2020 02:02:47 -0400

I know what you're thinking - another podcast doing another episode about COVID-19. But now that we're in the thick of it, and we know it's not just "a few weeks at home," I wanted to reach out to some businesses and see what they were doing differently. There were some really great ideas. And you'll get 3 tips to help you think outside the box.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: CircleCI | Ahrefs | TextExpander

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Grow Your Business with a Mastermind

Joe Casabona — Tue, 12 May 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Let me just tell you right off the bat: my business has grown from my mastermind group. And Ken Wallace…well he really knows what he's talking about. If you need some extra business support (especially now), you're not alone. In fact, Ken has bet his own business on it.

In this episode, you'll learn what a Mastermind Group is, how it works, and some ideas for conducting one. There's a little something for everyone, so let's dive in.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Ahrefs | TextExpander

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Automating to Save Time and Money: My Automation Toolkit

Joe Casabona — Tue, 05 May 2020 02:03:00 -0400

In August 2018 I was challenged to automate more. Now, nearly 2 years later, I've removed myself from core processes because of it. I'm saving lots of time, which allows me to focus on the important parts of my business. While I'm always looking to improve, I'm happy with what I've implemented so far.

In this solo episode, I'm going to tell you about how you can start automating, how I automate, and some of my favorite tools.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Ahrefs | TextExpander

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Understanding Customer Journey with Ronald Gijsel

Joe Casabona — Tue, 28 Apr 2020 02:02:00 -0400

As more businesses are starting to do commerce nearly exclusively online, it's important to know how your customers are finding you and how they make decisions. Enter Ronald Gijsel, the Community and Partnerships Manager at Yith.

He's going to tech us all about the customer's journey and FREE tools to help us figure it out. His tips will help us understand our customers to, sure, sell more, but more importantly, create a better experience for them. I learned a lot here and started to implement his advice shortly after we recorded. I'm excited to start seeing results.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Ahrefs | TextExpander

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Productizing Your Service with Brian Cassel

Joe Casabona — Tue, 21 Apr 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Last week we heard from Maddy Osman about how to make money on marketplaces - and at the core of that is being able to productize your services. Now sure how to do that? Well, Brian Casel has you covered. His advice has inspired me to start offering a new service myself, and I know he'll do the same for you. Now is a great time to start looking at how you can make your business more predictable, and Brian can help.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Ahrefs

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Making Money on Marketplaces with Maddy Osman

Joe Casabona — Tue, 14 Apr 2020 06:57:00 -0400

Maddy Osman has a unique approach to her business and agency - and it’s mostly around getting gigs on FIverr and other marketplaces. When she first told me about that, I was blown away! I didn’t think someone state-side could make a good income off of Fiverr. Maddy has proved me wrong - and offers fantastic advice how you can get started too.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Ahrefs | TextExpander

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The Importance of Niching Down, Part 2 with Sara Dunn

Joe Casabona — Tue, 07 Apr 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Sara Dunn is one of my favorite people to talk to, and for good reason. She’s fun, honest, and has a lot of great insight! Today we’re following up on episode 69, where we talked about her starting to niche down. Now, 2 years and nearly 100 episodes later, she’s fully into her niche business. We talk about making some tough decisions, and how to stay motivated. I truly think this is something every freelancer and small business owner should hear!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Ahrefs | TextExpander

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Growing Your Network through Community Involvement with Vito Peleg

Joe Casabona — Tue, 31 Mar 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Vito Peleg runs a very popular WordPress plugin called WP Feedback, but did you know he also runs a community under the same name? In this episode we talk all about the importance of community in growing your business. Now, during this episode we talk a lot about in-person events, and as I record this intro, there aren’t a whole lot of events going on right now. But digital communities are on the rise and they can be just as powerful. Take Vito’s advice to heart because it’s good, and important!

Sponsored by: Ahrefs | TextExpander

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Growing from Freelancer to Agency Owner with Matt Adams

Joe Casabona — Tue, 24 Mar 2020 02:02:00 -0400

I’ve known Matt Adams for the better part of a decade - we’ve worked on some interesting projects together, which we’ll reminisce about as we dive into how he’s built an agency out of what started as a freelance career. We talk a lot about something that’s hard for a lot of freelancers to talk about: cashflow. Feast, Famine, and Client Relationships have been themes of this season and they all relate to the same thing: managing your money properly so you can survive as a business. Let’s hear how Matt does it.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Ahrefs | Yith | TextExpander

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Managing Client Relationships with Nathan Ingram

Joe Casabona — Tue, 17 Mar 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Nathan Ingram is a fantastic freelancer, educator, and coach. I met him doing iThemes Webinars and he always manages to ask the right questions and tee up the right talking points. I’m excited to talk to him today about how to manage client relationships. Last week we heard from Erin Flynn about her process for working less and mentioned the importance for finding the right clients. Nathan is going to dive deeper into that. We’ll talk about his book on this very topic, and then we’ll talk about a new project he recently launched to help freelancers.

Show Notes

Nathan Ingram
Monster Contracts (get 20% off with code HIBI)
Dealing with Problem Clients | WordCamp Talk
WordCamp Miami
Trademark and Copyright with Rian Kinney

Sponsored by: Yith | TextExpander | FreshBooks

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Optimizing Your Time While Running a Business with Erin Flynn

Joe Casabona — Tue, 10 Mar 2020 02:02:00 -0400

Erin Flynn is one of my favorite people to talk to. We are in a Master Mind group together and her insight and approach is always appreciated. Today, we’re talking about how she’s managed to build a business around literally working 2-4 hours a day. Recently she tweeted that she worked 1/4 the “normal job” hours and still hit her income goal. We’re going to talk about how she does it, and how you can do it too. Then we’ll chat a little bit about a big change we’re both getting ready for this summer.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Yith | TextExpander | FreshBooks

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Using ConvertKit to Drive Business

Joe Casabona — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 02:02:00 -0500

Last week, you heard from Angel Marie about the importance of building your list, and how you can use ConvertKit to do it. Today, I decided to pull back the curtain and tell you exactly how I use ConvertKit.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Yith | TextExpander | FreshBooks

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Build Your List Using ConvertKit with Angel Marie

Joe Casabona — Tue, 25 Feb 2020 02:23:00 -0500

I’m so excited to be talking to Angel Marie, the Creator Educator over at ConvertKit this week. And we’re talking about one of my favorite topics: building your list. I’ve become a huge proponent of this over the last couple of years, and the contributing factors have been this podcast, my move into products, and the educator I got from people at ConvertKit like Angel. This is such a rich episode I’m excited for you to hear it.

Show Notes

Some Housekeeping: Angel mentions a link specifically for me later when talking about how you can get a free ConvertKit account. That’s an affiliate link and I may get a kickback for you using that. Don’t worry though - it won’t cost you anything else. And as a matter of fact, the second housekeeping item is this: Since we recorded this episode, ConvertKit has updated the offer that comes with this link - on top of the benefits Angel mentions, you’ll also get 100 free subscribers and broadcasts.

Sponsored by: TextExpander | FreshBooks

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Becoming Location Independent with Ben Collins

Joe Casabona — Tue, 18 Feb 2020 02:23:00 -0500

Ben Collins’ story is an interesting one! He went from forensic accountant to creating and selling online courses about Google Sheets - talk about niching down! But we talk about more than that. We also talk about location independence, and what it’s like moving from an office to working from home, with a family. Lots of great stuff in this episode, so let’s dig in.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: TextExpander | FreshBooks

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Using Systems to Run a More Efficient Business with Shannon Shaffer

Joe Casabona — Tue, 11 Feb 2020 02:27:00 -0500

Shannon Shaffer is the founder of Purple Finch Studios, a small agency she runs in Pennsylvania, and today we’re talking about the systems and automation she put in place to make her and her team more efficient. But more than just her team benefits - her clients get a much more delightful and clear on-boarding process, communication doesn’t falter, and her projects get off to a great start. The systems she’s put in place can help us all get projects off to a great start, then keep them on track.

Shannon Shaffer
Twitter | LinkedIn
Get More Clients Using Content with Jessica Lawlor
Liquid Web
Dubsado
Zapier
Clickup
Milanote
Loom
Gusto

Sponsored by: TextExpander | FreshBooks

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Should You Start a Podcast?

Joe Casabona — Tue, 04 Feb 2020 02:23:00 -0500

As tools for podcasting have evolved, the question of, “Can I start a podcast” has changed to, “should I start a podcast?” And importantly, will it help you grow your business? We’re going to talk about all of that and more in today’s episode. We’ll go over why podcasting is getting easier, some of the basics, and why YOU should start one. At the end of the episode, I’m going to tell you about a new online course I have coming out that will give you everything you need to launch your own show. Let’s get to it!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: TextExpander | FreshBooks

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Growing Your Business Through Podcasting with Matt Medeiros

Joe Casabona — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 02:02:21 -0500

Today I’m talking to my good friend Matt Medeiros. We both share a passion for podcasting and content creation in general. On top of talking about getting involved in local businesses, and legacy, we dig deep on putting content out into the world. First you learned about content strategy from Jessica Lawlor. Now you'll learn more about one of the big important mediums for creating content in 2020: podcasting.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: FreshBooks | Creator Courses

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Advice Roundup: Things You Wish You Knew Before You Start Your Business

Joe Casabona — Tue, 21 Jan 2020 02:24:14 -0500

If you've been freelancing or running a small business for any amount of time, you've learned a few things you probably wish you knew from the start. In this episode, I've asked a few of my freelancing friends (as well as Twitter), "What's one thing you wish you knew when you started freelancing?" There's lots of great advice, so let's get to it!

Show Notes

Check out the memberships over at Creator Courses

Sponsored by: SaneBox | FreshBooks | Creator Courses

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Get More Clients Using Content, with Jessica Lawlor

Joe Casabona — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 03:03:32 -0500

Jessica Lawlor is a content manager and strategist. Your content plan is integral to your small business, as I’ve learned over the past couple of year. I’m being a lot more intentional this year, and in this episode, Jessica talks about how you can too. We chat about content calendars, answering important questions regarding your goals, and how to create content even if you’re strapped for time.

Show Notes

Jessica Lawlor | Twitter
The Write Life
Airtable
Click Up
Nathan Ellering and CoSchedule
Repurposing Content with Jaclyn Schiff
Repurpose.io
ConvertKit
OptinMonster
How to get More Comfortable Recording a Podcast

Become a Creator Courses Member

Sponsored by: SaneBox | FreshBooks

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Preventing the Famine with Jason Resnick

Joe Casabona — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 03:03:25 -0500

This year, 2020, the show is going to focus heavily on Freelancers and small business owners. And to kick things off, I’m talking to long time freelancer and educator Jason Resnick. He’s the founder of the Feast community and Live in the Feast podcast, and today he’s going to tell you how to set yourself up to prevent the dreaded famine that often comes with freelance work. We’ll talk about niching down, vetting clients, and so much more.

Show Notes

Become a Creator Courses Member

Sponsored by: SaneBox | FreshBooks

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Forget Resolutions. Here’s My 2020 Yearly Theme

Joe Casabona — Thu, 26 Dec 2019 07:52:38 -0500

Lots of people like to make resolutions around the new year. Fresh calendar, fresh start. I've gotten away from doing that and instead talking about a yearly theme - an idea I got from the Cortex podcast. In this episode, we'll talk about my yearly theme, how it affects the show, and how you can pick one.

Show Notes

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Getting the Right Audio Gear with Ryan White

Joe Casabona — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 02:02:48 -0500

I’m ending this season of How I Built It by geeking out about audio stuff with my guest, Ryan White. He’s the US Product Specialist for Rode Microphones - a company that makes great gear, and who has an increasingly bigger presence in the podcasting space. We talk gear, room acoustics, and more. AND you can hear their newest product, the Rodecaster Pro, in action (if there’s anything to hear, that is). All of that and more, after a word from our sponsors.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Cloudways | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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Getting Back to Basics and Blogging with Colin Devroe

Joe Casabona — Tue, 26 Nov 2019 02:02:10 -0500

I was excited to reconnect with my friend Colin Devroe on this episode. We met through the WordPress community in Scranton and I just the co-working space he and his business part Kyle created. In this conversation, we get back to basics, and talk blogging. With the ever changing landscape of the web and social media, how important is it to have your own blog? Let’s find out!

Show Notes

Send your feedback for 2020!

Sponsored by: Cloudways | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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The 2019 Gift Guide!

Joe Casabona — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 19:10:17 -0500

The 2019 holiday season is here! Many of you are business owners, remote workers, and freelancers - so I thought I'd put together a bonus episode based on my 2 popular gift guides. Here are some great gifts for podcasters, and people who work from home!

Show Notes

Enter the 1 Million Downloads Celebration Giveaway!

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Improving Accessibility for your Events with Svetlana Kouznetsova

Joe Casabona — Tue, 19 Nov 2019 02:02:40 -0500

This interview is a little different than most. See, Svetlana Kouznetsova is an accessibility consultant who’s also deaf. Our interview was conducted completely using Google Docs. The voice you’ll hear on this episode is Erin, my wife, who graciously agreed to do Svetlana’s side of the conversation. Svetlana’s story is an interesting one. We talk about how she immigrated to the US from Russia, and what it was like growing up deaf there vs. in the US. We also discuss the importance of accessibility at events; why it’s a must and not just a “nice to have.”

Show Notes

I want to hear from you! Leave your feedback here.
Sponsored by: Cloudways | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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Exploring VC Funding with Nathan Beckord

Joe Casabona — Tue, 12 Nov 2019 03:03:33 -0500

Nathan Beckord is the CEO of Founder Suite, a group of tools to help those seeking venture capital, as well as tools for venture capitalists. We talked all about how he built this after spending a decade helping startups raise their own VC. We also cover how to seek VC funding, and if business plans are even useful anymore. It’s a fun conversation in an area I’m only loosely familiar with - so I learned a lot. I think you will too!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Cloudways | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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Repurposing Your Content with Jaclyn Schiff

Joe Casabona — Tue, 05 Nov 2019 04:04:45 -0500

Jaclyn Schiff made her way onto the show because she’s authentic. She reached out recommending another guest, in a real way. Then, throughout the course of the conversation, we decided she’d also be a good guest for the show! She's a master of making the most of your content. We talk all about repurposing - something I could do a little better - as well as that cold outreach she’s good at. We also talk about productizing services, which is something I’m doing at the moment. So lots of great stuff here!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Gusto | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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Using Social Proof to Improve Your Sales with Tevya Washburn

Joe Casabona — Tue, 29 Oct 2019 03:03:08 -0400

Tevya Washburn reached out to me over the summer and asked if I might be interested in having him on the show - it turns out his timing was great. See Tevya created a WordPress plugin to help gather and display social proof, and I had just finished read a book that talks about the importance of social proof. So we chat about how he came up with the idea, why he built it, and of-course, how. This is a pretty traditional episode of the show, and I hope you enjoy it!

Show Notes

Get your free podcast workbook

Sponsored by: Gusto | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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Using Escape Rooms for Team Building with Greg Koberger

Joe Casabona — Tue, 22 Oct 2019 09:15:57 -0400

Greg Koberger is easily one of the most interesting guys I talked to this year. Not only do we talk about team building with escape rooms - a super cool concept, by the way - but we touch on mental health, the startup culture, venture capital, and lots more. Greg is a pretty open book here and it makes for an amazing interview. It's chocked full of great advice, so enjoy!

Show Notes

Greg Koberger
ReadMe
Swagger (Open API Spec)
Escape Room Finder
Ron Swanson loves puzzles
Allie Nimmons and Freelancing / Mental Health
Startup Escape (Greg's Escape Room)

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Onboarding Employees with Micah Rowland

Joe Casabona — Tue, 15 Oct 2019 04:04:48 -0400

Micah Rowland isn’t your everyday builder. He doesn’t build homes, cabinets, or even software. As COO of Fountain, Micah builds people, teams, and processes. He offers a wealth of advice on building and scaling teams, and the importance of documentation. But what we talk about isn't just applicable to building teams - it's applicable to anyone building a business that will eventually scale.

Show Notes

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Stop Losing Your Data with Brian Gill

Joe Casabona — Tue, 08 Oct 2019 06:03:37 -0400

Brian is a computer scientist, entrepreneur, and angel investor. Due to his firm belief that data recovery shouldn't be a prohibitively expensive service, Brian founded Gillware, where he and his team specialize in cyber risk assessments, data recovery, and incident response. Today we spoke about his journey in business growth, as well as how to protect yourself from hackers, providing actionable tips that you can put into practice today!

Show Notes

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A Better Way to Spend Your Calendar Time with Woven and Tim Campos

Joe Casabona — Tue, 01 Oct 2019 06:02:46 -0400

I had the pleasure of speaking to Tim Campos, former CIO of Facebook and founder of Woven - a calendar that actually accounts for your life and your free time. We talk about his experience at Facebook and how it lead him to the idea of creating Woven, stats on how people spending their time and schedule meetings, and more. If you want some incredible insight into how people manage their time, this episode is for you. But first, a word from our sponsors.

Show Notes

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Developing a Mailing List Tool on top of GMail with Ajay Goel

Joe Casabona — Tue, 24 Sep 2019 06:03:05 -0400

Recently Pat Flynn talked about the “new, hot marketing tool” that isn’t new but is often forgotten: email. Well today’s guest, Ajay Goel, has built a business around the fact that there are lots of people who haven’t forgotten it, and for the scores of people who are remembering its importance. Ajay buil GMass, a gmail extension that allows you to send marketing campaigns right in the interface we all know and love. We get to talk marketing, development, and much more, so stay tuned!

Show Notes

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Write Better Copy and get More Leads with Josh Garofalo

Joe Casabona — Tue, 17 Sep 2019 06:03:16 -0400

That was Josh Garofalo and let me tell you: I loved this conversation. He’s a marketer and research and we dig deep into the latter. He tells us how important it is to do your research when you’re writing copy for you website. You want to solve your customers problems, and there are a few ways Josh talks about to help us communicate that.

Show Notes

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Building Better Marketing Automation through WordPress with Adrian Tobey

Joe Casabona — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 06:03:40 -0400

Adrian Tobey is a young, energetic entrepreneur who’s build a pretty cool WordPress plugin in Groundhogg - something to help with yout marketing automation. On top of creating the plugin we talk quite a bit about college and higher education. He talks fast and offers some great advice so be sure to pay close attention (or slow the episode down!)

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Building the State Department’s Website with Tracy Rotton

Joe Casabona — Tue, 03 Sep 2019 06:03:21 -0400

Tracy Rotton is a longtime friend of mine from the WordPress space - we met because we happened to be writing similar books around the same time! Well, Tracy has gone on to do some very cool things - one of which is leaning a WordPress development team for the Federal Government - specifically to completely redesign state.gov - the State Department's website. We talk about lots of stuff, from the actual development, to working for such a huge organization, and how to handle working with different corporate cultures.

Show Notes

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5 Biggest Takeaways from Podcast Movement 2019

Joe Casabona — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 06:03:14 -0400

Podcast Movement is a giant podcast conference and expo where 3,000 attendees come from all over the world to talk podcasting. It’s 4 days of events, talks, and networking opportunities. If you’re never, been, I recommend it. I had a few goals going into the conference, and as a result I had some pretty fantastic, and related takeaways. Let's get into my 5 biggest takeaways from Podcast Movement.

Show Notes

One more thing! Did you like this style of episode? Yes | No

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Creating Safer Parking Garages with Gordon Stannis and Twisthink

Joe Casabona — Tue, 20 Aug 2019 06:50:57 -0400

Gordon Stannis, like last week’s guest, Colin, helped create a smart lighting system. But where Colin wanted to improve our homes, Gordon wanted to improve our experience in parking garaging. This is a super interesting conversation where we cover both hardware and software, mesh networks, and much more.

Show Notes

I want to tell you about a new resource I have for podcasters called Podcast Liftoff. I’m coming fresh off of Podcast Movement 2019 and lots of folks were interested in how I started my show - and I know many of you are too. So I want to tell you about a free workbook I created to help you take those first steps into launching your show. You’ll answer questions about your topic and format, get show script and notes templates, checklists, and more. Just head over to howibuilt.it/liftoff to get your free download.
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Automating Your Home with Colin Billings

Joe Casabona — Tue, 13 Aug 2019 03:03:26 -0400

Colin Billings has built something that I’m incredibly interested in generally: hardware that contributes to home automation. He built Orro, the first truly responsive lighting system, out of his own frustration with lighting’s adverse impact on his wellness and sleep. Now the Orro Switch adds the computational power of an iPhone XR inside the walls of a home. It detects your presence in a room and adjusts the lighting automatically to bring out the most natural light, reducing artificial light exposure that disrupts your body and sleep. Within a week, Orro learns your preferences and handles 95% of all the lighting adjustments, so you don't have to think about your lights anymore.

Show Notes

Rate the Show

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Avoiding Overrun (and Lawsuits) through Better Project Management with Jessica Hall

Joe Casabona — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 03:03:35 -0400

Jessica Hall is the VP of product strategy and design at 3Pillar Global, and today we are going to talk about something that made a bunch of news a couple of months ago - the Accenture/Hertz case, where Hertz paid a bunch of money (like $32M) and got nothing. With some time since the story broke, we sit back and look at how this happened, and Jessica tells you how it can be avoided.

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Coaching Entrepreneurs with Alex McClafferty

Joe Casabona — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 03:03:50 -0400

Alex McClafferty has a wealth of business experience to share with us this week. Not only did he build a successful business within the WordPress space - WP Curve - he ended up selling it to GoDaddy. That experience showed him that the number of resources for selling your business were scarce, and now he’s doing that - completely embracing the “teach what you know” mentality.

Show Notes

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How to Change Careers with Kirsten Bunch

Joe Casabona — Tue, 23 Jul 2019 03:03:45 -0400

Over the last 2 weeks, we discussed mental and physical health as it relates to freelancing and self-employment. To round out this trilogy of overall happiness in your career, I’m talking to Kirsten Bunch, who is a reinvention coach. She helps those folks who are mid-career but need a change. She offers some fantastic advice on how to determine if you’re ready for a chance, and the steps you should talk in order to figure out what to do for your next career move.

Show Notes

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Staying Physically Healthy While Freelancing with Michelle Schulp

Joe Casabona — Tue, 16 Jul 2019 03:03:52 -0400

Michelle Schulp is a fantastic web designer in the WordPress space - you make have seen her work on the WP Hierarch chart. Recently she’s launched a new initiative talking about fitness and freelancing. Last week we touched a bit on mental health. This week we’re going to dive into physical health, especially when running your own business.

Show Notes

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Mental Health and Freelancing with Allie Nimmons

Joe Casabona — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 03:03:48 -0400

Allie Nimmons is a freelance web designer with an unique perspective to my own. She made the transition to freelancing after losing her job, but still needing to make money. We talk about what that’s like, as well as how she’s be able to hone her offerings based on what her target customers need. We also talk about mental health, and what it’s like to be black, and female, in a white male-dominated space. Since recording this, Allie has been hired to work at GiveWP, providing tech support to users of this awesome plugin. She has minimized Pixel Glow to focus purely on providing WordPress maintenance. She can be found most often at her blog - allienimmons.com

Show Notes

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Season 6 Wrap Up (Bonus Episode!)

Joe Casabona — Mon, 24 Jun 2019 02:48:58 -0400

We got lots of great advice over the course of Season 6. Over the course of about 10 minutes, we're going to distill all of that advice into 3 overarching themes. Take a listen to find out what they are. Here are the best trade secrets of 2019.

Show Notes

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How Vaccines and Other Drugs get to Market with Susan Goebel

Joe Casabona — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 03:03:23 -0400

It takes the right combination of bioscience knowledge, marketing intelligence, lead generation strategies, operational insight, product R&D expertise, and personal drive to fuel the business development of any life science firm. For almost 2 decades, Susan Goebel has been leveraging these core trails to deliver multi-million-dollar revenue generating initiatives with global reach. Now Susan has turned her focus to supporting others in their ventures into bioscience businesses. From helping doctors bring new medical solutions to market, to connecting investors and inventors, Susan helps shape the future of health, wellness and bioscience.

Show Notes

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Understanding how Pricing Affects Conversion with Patrick Campbell

Joe Casabona — Tue, 04 Jun 2019 03:03:51 -0400

Patrick Campbell was curious about how people price products, and how pricing affects conversion - so he built ProfitWell. We discussed pricing, estimating time, tech stack, and so much more. His insights into how to price are fantastic.

Show Notes

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Building an International Hosting Solution with Jan Loffler and Plesk

Joe Casabona — Tue, 28 May 2019 03:03:35 -0400

Jan Löffler is the CTO of Plesk, which is fantastic server management software. They're rapidly growing set of sophisticated tools is inspiring., In this episode we'll talk all about the history of Plesk, as well as what it's like to manage software that powers hundreds of thousands of websites.

Show Notes

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A Interesting Solution to Contact Management with Jay Gibb

Joe Casabona — Tue, 21 May 2019 03:03:33 -0400

Jay Gibb is the founder and CEO of CloudSponge - a B2B SaaS company that sells an address book widget. We talked about growing an audience, research good opportunities for building a product, and Jay gives some fantastic advice for cold outreach.

Show Notes

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Building Better Partnership Programs with Lindsey Miller

Joe Casabona — Tue, 14 May 2019 03:03:51 -0400

If you've ever wondered what goes into creating a fantastic affiliate program, Lindsey Miller from Liquid Web has the answers for you, starting with one simple rule: your affiliates are partners. We talk about lots of stuff like content creation and working with your partners to help them help you. We also discuss how to come up with rates. Don't miss this episode!

Show Notes

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The Fastest Way to Spin Up WordPress Sites with Brad Touesnard

Joe Casabona — Tue, 07 May 2019 03:03:20 -0400

Brad Touesnard is a well known developer in the WordPress community, and CEO and Founder of Delicious Brains, a company that makes fantastic WordPress products. You might know them best from WP Migrate DB Pro, but they do lots more! Brad tells us all about their new product, SpinupWP, why they decided to solve this problem, and lots of other great advice for both business and development.

Show Notes

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Building a Better Toothbrush with Mihran Papazian

Joe Casabona — Tue, 30 Apr 2019 03:03:19 -0400

Mihran Papazian is the CEO of Brushette, a company that plans to revolutionize...toothbrushes! In a rare episode, we cover what it's like creating a physical product, from the deep research they did, to visiting over 1,000 factories in China to find the right manufacturing partner. Mihran's experience and deep knowledge means there's lots of great takeaways here - no matter what you plan to make.

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Extending WooCommerce with James Kemp

Joe Casabona — Tue, 23 Apr 2019 03:03:43 -0400

James Kemp is the founder and lead developer of Iconic, a popular WooCommerce extension shop. James has managed to do well in an increasingly saturated space. His approach to solving problems and determining if there's a market for his new ideas is an interesting one. He offers lots of great advice on everything from research to development, and launching.

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Going up Against Spotify and Apple Music with Stephanie Scapa

Joe Casabona — Tue, 16 Apr 2019 03:03:30 -0400

Stephanie Scapa is the Co-Founder and CEO of WEYV, a platform that aims to compete with Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon. They have a unique business model to help them do it! We discuss running a large-scale project, what deep product research looks like, and how they came up with the pricing plan.

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Why You Absolutely Need a VPN with Yuriy Popov

Joe Casabona — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 03:03:41 -0400

Yuriy Popov is the Customer Success Manager at KeepSolid, where they make a suite of apps. The most popular is VPN Unlimited. We dive deep into how KeepSolid pivoted to focus on where they saw the industry going, from the Snowden revelations to the continued support for better online privacy. We also talk about the importance of listening to your customers, a recurring theme on this show!

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Selling a Niche Buisness with Sam Brodie

Joe Casabona — Tue, 02 Apr 2019 03:03:43 -0400

Before Sam Brodie founded OffSprout, he successfully sold a niched business that focused on websites for lawyers. Sam generously shares his advice and experience with us, from niching down to how to properly keep your books. There's tons of great advice in this episode, so make sure to listen to the whole thing!

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Building an InVision Competitor on WordPress with Andre Gagnon

Joe Casabona — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 03:03:33 -0400

Andre Gagnon has SaaS/Subscription fatigue and decided to do something about it. He helped create and launch ProjectHuddle, a WordPress/plugin-based competitor to the likes of InVision. At least, when it comes to getting design feedback. The tech in this episode is super interesting, and we get philosophical about owning your products and data!

Show Notes

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Building a Nomadic WordPress Plugin Business with Jan Thielemann

Joe Casabona — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 03:03:46 -0400

Jan Thielemann is a plugin developer who got his start as a digital nomad who wanted to make enough money to fund his adventures. So he started a small side business selling plugins for Divi, where he found a good niche. He offers great advice about starting on your own, and the difference between truly passive and "half-passive" income.

Show Notes

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How Live Captioning Works with Amanda Lundberg

Joe Casabona — Tue, 12 Mar 2019 03:03:12 -0400

Every so often on this show, I will have somebody who knows lots of something I know very little about, and Amanda is one of those people. She is a live captioner. We talk all about what it's like being a live captioner, her the stenographic keyboard, and more. I like her journey and all of the information that she gives us in this episode.

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Personalization is the Path Forward with Brennan Dunn

Joe Casabona — Tue, 05 Mar 2019 03:03:33 -0500

Brennan Dunn is a freelancer, educator, and founder of RightMessage, a personalization platform. It's used by people like Pat Flynn to make sure their website is targeting the proper audience. We talk about how he built RightMessage and the importance of personalization and segmentation.

Show Notes

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A Better Way to Manage Facebook Ads with Dan Stocke

Joe Casabona — Tue, 26 Feb 2019 03:03:26 -0500

Dan Stocke knows marketing, and knows the pain of using the Facebook Ads Manager. So he created an easier way to do it. We'll talk about how he took his idea from need to launch, talk to developers, and refined the process based on feedback.

Show Notes

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Building and Designing Your Online Courses and Laura Elizabeth

Joe Casabona — Tue, 19 Feb 2019 03:03:20 -0500

Laura Elizabeth is a fantastic designer who wants to "teach design to developers." Her story from consulting to products is fantastic, and her method for building buzz and tension around her course worked perfectly. This is a fantastic case study for people who consult, but want to move into selling online courses or selling products.

Show Notes

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Building Invoicing Software for Freelancers with Mike McDerment and FreshBooks

Joe Casabona — Tue, 12 Feb 2019 03:03:23 -0500

Mike McDerment is the founder of the incredibly popular accounting software FreshBooks. His story is an interesting one - where he started with an MVP and then built it up from there. His journey relatable, and I'm really excited to talk to him today.

Show Notes

FreshBooks

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How Knowing Your Customers Lets You Charge More with Nathalie Lussier

Joe Casabona — Tue, 05 Feb 2019 03:03:07 -0500

Nathalie Lussier is has created a unique, powerful LMS plugin for WordPress that people seem to love. That's because Nathalie, on top of using the product herself, listens to her customers. In this episode, she'll give us lots of great advice for how to grow our business and improve customer relationships.

Show Notes

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Using Automation to Run Your Consulting Business with Chris Bintliff

Joe Casabona — Tue, 29 Jan 2019 03:03:37 -0500

I focused a lot on automation in 2018, so I was really excited to talk to today's guest, Chris Bintliff, on how he used automation for his client-onboarding process. Chis is a fantastic, energetic guy and offers a lot of great advice here. If you're looking to save time through automation, this is for you.

Show Notes

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Is Drop Shipping Right for You? with Anton Kraly

Joe Casabona — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 03:03:45 -0500

Anton Kraly is the founder of Drop Ship Lifestyle and has an incredibly story of how he got to where he is today. I'm grateful for Anton's time and for sharing both his story, and his tips on how we can get into drop shipping.

Show Notes

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Building an Indie Podcast Network with Myke Hurley

Joe Casabona — Tue, 15 Jan 2019 03:03:29 -0500

Myke Hurley is a well-known podcaster and founder of Relay FM. To kick off Season 6, he gives us some fantastic advice on starting shows, sponsors, and lots more. His story is incredibly interesting and I think it's a great way to start this season and the new year.

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Bonus: 4 Interviews on Implementing Gutenberg

Joe Casabona — Tue, 18 Dec 2018 11:59:26 -0500

In the run up to the release of WordPress 5.0, I created a mini-series on Implementing Guteneberg on my YouTube channel. This episode combines the 4 interviews for your listening enjoyment!

Justin Sainton In Episode 1, I talk to Justin Sainton about how his agency, Zao, used Gutenberg to create a custom light fixture builder. You can find Justin:

On Twitter
At His agency, Zao

Rene Morozowich In Episode 2, I talk to Rene Morozowich, a self-employed WordPress Developer, about how she dipped her toe in the waters of Gutenberg by doing a low-risk, brand new site for a client new to WordPress.

Bill Erickson With Episode 3, I talk to Bill Erickson, a WordPress Developer who's implemented Gutenberg on several projects. We wax poetic about what Gutenberg is really great at, and some things to look out for - Bill's an excellent developer and I really appreciate him taking some time to share his experience over the last several months. Links

Alonso Indacochea Finally, with Episode 4, we hear from Alonso Indacochea. He is the founder of the agency behind Block Party, a set of data visualization blocks for Gutenberg. We talk pretty high level about getting into the Gutenberg product space, and what that could mean for the WordPress ecosystem.

Check out my courses on Gutenberg here.
Watch the interviews on YouTube.

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Empowering Developers to Sell with Vova Feldman and Freemius

Joe Casabona — Tue, 04 Dec 2018 03:03:33 -0500

Vova Feldman started one of the most popular plugin marketplaces in the WordPress space. His story is one that came out of filling a need, but also a realization: while there are a lot of people selling plugins in the WordPress space, we can be doing better. He offers advice on building your business, and a community around it, and much more.

Show Notes

@VovaFeldman | Email: vova@freemius.com
Freemius
We Used to Hate WordPress Page Builders – Now We Decided to Use One

Join the Facebook Community

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Using WordPress to Send Newsletters with Kim Gjerstad and MailPoet

Joe Casabona — Tue, 27 Nov 2018 03:03:15 -0500

Kim Gjerstad is one of the founders of the popular newsletter plugin, MailPoet. In this episode we talk about how he’s been able to build a successful product and company with a fully remote team. Kim gives great advice about on boarding, tools, and building a company culture.

Show Notes

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The Many Hats of a Small Business Owner with Daniel Espinoza

Joe Casabona — Tue, 20 Nov 2018 03:03:51 -0500

Daniel Espinoza is a man who wears many hats: agency owner, product seller, family man, and more. In the episode we get into how he manages keeping everything running smoothly. This is a fantastic conversation for anyone who wants to diversify what they do, without getting too overwhelmed.

Show Notes

Question of the week: Why haven't you launched your plugin? Let me know on Twitter @jcasabona or joe@howibuilt.it Discuss with others over on the Facebook Group!
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Setting Yourself Apart (and Time Tracking!) with Liam Martin

Joe Casabona — Tue, 13 Nov 2018 03:03:55 -0500

Liam Martin is the founder of Time Doctor. In this episode, we talk all about how he founded the company, from idea to how it's grown to the massive user base it boasts. We also talk about how long it takes for companies to become overnight successes, and how to set yourself apart from other services.

Show Notes

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The First Managed WooCommerce Hosting with Chris Lema

Joe Casabona — Tue, 06 Nov 2018 03:03:49 -0500

Chris Lema is a man who knows how to build a good product. And in this episode, he's going to tell us all about how he helped build Liquid Web's Managed WooCommerce Hosting. We'll talk about what eCommerce shops need, the importance of performance, and he'll give us lots of great tips.

Show Notes

Chris Lema | Twitter
Liquid Web
CaboPress
Bryce Adams and Metorik
Brian Richards and WooSesh
PerfMatters
WP Rocket
Jilt
Beka Rice and Jilt
Glew
Astra Pro
Beaver Builder
Email Chris: chris@liquidweb.com
How to Speed Up Your WooCommerce Store | Part 2

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How I Built My Podcast: Looking Back on 100 Episodes

Joe Casabona — Tue, 30 Oct 2018 03:03:09 -0400

I can't believe we've reached episode 100! This episode is an introspective (retrospective?) on how I built How I Built It. I'll go over the idea, what I've learned over 2 years of podcasting, some pretty sweet automation, and more. I want to everyone who's listened, shared, came on, and sponsored the show. I wouldn't have been able to get here without all of you! Question of the week: Why haven't you started your podcast? Let me know in the comments or at joe@howibuilt.it

Show Notes

Joe on Twitter
Calendly
Zapier
Blue Yeti | Rode Procaster
My Podcast Setup
Hazel
Libsyn | PowerPress
How I used SearchWP and Monochrome Pro
- Genesis / Monochrome Pro: https://casabona.org/sp-monochrome *
- SearchWP: https://casabona.org/searchwp/
- Github Repository: https://github.com/jcasabona/hibi-mods
Build Your Podcast Website in 3 Days

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White Labeling Premium WordPress Support with Joe Howard

Joe Casabona — Tue, 23 Oct 2018 03:03:08 -0400

Joe Howard is the founder of WP Buffs and has lots of experience managing a fully remote team, building a business on Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR), and of-course, offering top notch support to those who need it. In this episode we get deep into a lot of different topics surrounding those area, and much more.

Show Notes

Check out my new podcast website course and get a special offer!
Sponsored by: Creator Courses | Pantheon

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Planning and Producing a Virtual Event with Brian Richards

Joe Casabona — Tue, 16 Oct 2018 03:03:49 -0400

Brian Richards is officially the first repeat guest on the show, and this time around he's talking about his online conferences, WordSesh and WooSesh. Brian talks logistics, speaker selection, and of-course, the tech stack. It's a super interesting conversation. Plus, if you're interested, WooSesh is October 18-19, 2018, and it totally free!

Show Notes

Also check out: My new Podcast Website course | Facebook Community Question of the week: What are you doing with eCommerce? Let me know on Twitter (@jcasabona) or at joe@howibuilt.it
Sponsored by: Creator Courses | Pantheon

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Developing an App Fit to Write Ulysses with Max Seelemann

Joe Casabona — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 03:03:24 -0400

Max Seelemann is one of the founders and developers of Ulysses, one of my favorite Mac and iOS apps. I am excited to talk to him today because it is a different perspective on the software developing process. Ulysses is software I use nearly every day to write up show notes, scripts, articles, and more. I was keen to hear how they built it and the decisions they made throughout the 15 years(!) of development.

Show Notes

Question of the week: What app do you use it for writing? Let me know on Twitter @jcasabona or e-mail me at joe@howibuilt.it Join the Facebook Community / Check out the Shop
Sponsored by: Backblaze | Pantheon

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Video on Demand That gets You Paid with PJ Taei and Uscreen

Joe Casabona — Tue, 02 Oct 2018 03:03:46 -0400

PJ Taei is the founder of Uscreen, a video on demand service for people who are serious about selling videos. Whether it's your online course or a video series, they have you covered. In this episode, PJ and I talk about controlling your platform and making videos as easy as possible.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Backblaze | Pantheon

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Getting Paid Consulting using EDD with Mark Zahra

Joe Casabona — Tue, 25 Sep 2018 03:03:36 -0400

Mark Zahra, among other things, recently released the EDD Bookings plugin for Easy Digital Downloads. I was excited to talk to him about this because it's something that I thought of doing myself back when I was teaching multiple classes at the University of Scranton. When I was on campus to help manage a fluid schedule for my own office hours, I deemed that project was maybe a little over my head for the amount of time that I had. It's very cool to see that it's come to fruition a few years later. Mark also hosts Mastermind.FM and worked over at WP Mayor.

Show Notes

Checkout the How I Built It Shop for t-shirts and more. And make sure to join our Facebook Community!
Sponsored by: Techmeme’s Ride Home Podcast | Pantheon

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Paywalling Your Premium Content with Jeremy Green

Joe Casabona — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 03:03:55 -0400

Jeremy Green is a developer and founder of Zeen 101. They created an interesting product called Leaky Paywall, which is a plugin that allows you to put content behind - you guessed it - a paywall. Jeremy also has some really interesting insight on how people consume information. And, of-course, we get into some development details.

Show Notes

Be sure to check out:

Question of the week: Have you considered adding a paywall to your site? Let us know on Twitter @jcasabona or via email, joe@howibuilt.it.

Sponsored by: Techmeme’s Ride Home Podcast | Pantheon

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Creating a Guided SEO Product with Lindsay Halsey

Joe Casabona — Tue, 11 Sep 2018 03:03:49 -0400

Closing out this miniseries on SEO is Lindsay Halsey. She’s the co-founder of Pathfinder SEO and in this episode we talk about how her product basically combines a lot of what we talks about over the past month – automated tools and stats, with a coaching component that can really help you up your SEO game for you or your clients. She has a really great analogy for it that I don’t want to spoil!

Show Notes

Be sure to check out the new shop: https://howibuilt.it/shop/ and the Facebook Group
Sponsored by: Pantheon

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Implementing a Process for SEO with Pam Aungst

Joe Casabona — Tue, 04 Sep 2018 03:03:17 -0400

So far this season we've looked at starting an SEO agency and an SEO product. But what we haven't looked at was a good strategy - especially when it comes to Pay per Click and the like. Well that changes this week with our guest, Pam Aungst. She's an SEO expert with her own agency that wants to make sure SEO is a personalized strategy. She tells us how in this episode.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Traitware | Pantheon

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John Doherty and Credo

Joe Casabona — Tue, 28 Aug 2018 03:03:13 -0400

John Doherty is the founder of Credo. I met John at CaboPress, an incredible business mastermind week, and we got to talking about the marketing and SEO side of things. Know I don’t know much about that, but Credo is definitely something that can help me in a unique way. In this episode we talk all about the importance of finding the right people to help you in your business.

Show Notes

Question of the week: Have you ever had a business coach or mentor? Let me know on Twitter at @jcasabona or email me, joe@howibuilt.it.

Sponsored by: GravityView | Traitware | Pantheon

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SEO for Saas Companies with Jeremiah Smith

Joe Casabona — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 09:10:04 -0400

Jeremiah Smith is founder of SimpleTiger, an SEO company that focuses on SaaS companies. This episode is going to kick off a miniseries about SEO and I’m happy that Jeremiah is starting it off. He offers so much incredible advice about SEO and life in general. I love his story, and I think you will too.

Show Notes

Check out my new show, Creator Toolkit and join our Facebook community. Question of the week: What’s the best piece of SEO advice you’ve ever gotten? Let me know on Twitter at @jcasabona or email me, joe@howibuilt.it.
Sponsored by: GravityView | Traitware | Pantheon

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Creating a Hosted Events Platform with Zach Tirrell and Loxi

Joe Casabona — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 03:03:27 -0400

Today we’re talking to Zach Tirrell from Modern Tribe. We talk all about how they re-imagined that plug-in as Software as a Service called Loxi. We go over how they decided on which features to support, the importance of good design, and the tech stack, like using React. Speaking of React, We also talk a bit about Gutenberg.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Traitware | Pantheon

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Better WooCommerce Analytics with Bryce Adams and Metorik

Joe Casabona — Tue, 07 Aug 2018 03:03:21 -0400

Bryce Adams is creator of one of my favorite tools, Metorik. Bryce tells us about the path the led him to making Metorik, his view on e-commerce, GDPR, and how he’s using some cutting edge tools. We also talk engagement and stats. Be sure to stick around until the end of the episode - I have a new show I want to tell you about!

Show Notes

And be sure to check out my new show, Creator Toolkit, on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
Sponsored by: Creator Courses | Pantheon

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Teaching Web Development with Tessa Kreisel

Joe Casabona — Tue, 31 Jul 2018 03:03:12 -0400

Tessa Kriesel is a developer, community advocate, and educator. In this episode we get into our approaches to teaching, why it’s important, and the importance of giving opportunities to underserved areas and groups. We also discuss our “aha” moments – that time where programming suddenly clicked for us.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: The Events Calendar | Pantheon

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Designing the Profitable Project Plan with Jennifer Bourn

Joe Casabona — Tue, 24 Jul 2018 08:01:34 -0400

Jennifer Bourn is the founder of Bourn Creative and creator of the Profitable Project Plan. She's also a freelancer who’s doing it right. She has worked out the perfect system to get and manage client projects; in this episode we're going to talk all about how she built it.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Creator Courses | Pantheon

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Mental Health and Gaming with Abbey Perl

Joe Casabona — Tue, 17 Jul 2018 03:03:13 -0400

Abbey Perl started the Diverse Gaming Coalition to help combat online bullying through video games and modern pop culture. In this episode, I talk to her about why she started it, how she went about starting a non-profit organization, and much more.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Creator Courses | Pantheon

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Designing a Video Game with Seth S. Scott

Joe Casabona — Tue, 10 Jul 2018 03:03:36 -0400

Seth S. Scott's story is an interesting one. He up and moved to New York City to pursue a career in game development. He tool a game design boot camp and left with his first commercial game, Membrane. In this episode we talk about risk and how he built a video game.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Creator Courses | Pantheon

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Bringing GDPR Protection to WordPress with Scott DeLuzio

Joe Casabona — Tue, 03 Jul 2018 11:09:45 -0400

Scott DeLuzio is a WordPress plugin developer who likes to scratch his own itch on some pretty heavy topics, and his latest is no exception. We talk about one of this summer’s hottest topics: GDPR. Scott and I spoke about this just days before the regulation took hold, so we were working through what it is, how it affects us, and of-course how his plugin can help. I should remind you that we are not lawyers.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: MailPoet | Pantheon

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Using WordPress in Higher Ed with Rachel Cherry

Joe Casabona — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 03:03:32 -0400

Rachel Cherry is a front end developer and lead organizer of WPCampus, a WordPress conference focused on Higher Education. In this episode, we talk about what goes into putting on this conference, from scouting a location to day-of logistics.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: The Events Calendar | Pantheon

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Season 4 Recap

Joe Casabona — Wed, 13 Jun 2018 15:36:13 -0400

So we just wrapped up Season 4 a couple of weeks ago and it was my favorite episode for a lot of reasons. I got to talk to great people, the sponsors were fantastic, and we even had a miniseries on starting your own business. Plus, there were a lot of takeaways. I got a lot of immediately actionable advice from my guests. So hopefully you did too. Here’s some my favorites.

Sponsored by: WordSesh | Jilt | Liquid Web

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Recovering Abandoned Carts with Beka Rice and Jilt

Joe Casabona — Tue, 29 May 2018 03:03:49 -0400

Closing out Season 4 is Beka Rice, Head of Product at Jilt! After an entire season about hearing about Jilt, Beka and I dig deep into how it was built, how to be effective with your abandoned cart emails, GDPR, and much much more. It's a great way to close out the season and I'm very excited to have her on the show!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: WordSesh | Jilt | Liquid Web

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The Advice You Need when Considering Crowdfunding with Thomas Umstattd

Joe Casabona — Tue, 22 May 2018 03:03:29 -0400

Thomas Umstattd is a plugin and agency owner who's has great success in crowdfunding his products. His take is a fantastically interesting one and he offers lots of great advice - so much that we even have a bonus over on Patreon. This is definitely one of my favorite conversations - I learned a ton here that I was able to immediately apply to my own crowdfunding efforts.

Show Notes

Get Part 2 of our interview with Thomas on Patreon
Sponsored by: WordSesh | Jilt | Liquid Web

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Buidling a Good Development Process for Teams with Stacy Kvernmo

Joe Casabona — Tue, 15 May 2018 03:03:03 -0400

Stacy Kvernmo is a UX/UI Developer at OddBird. I met Stacy on another podcast and was really excited to talk to her about a number of tools and views she has about creating good code while working on a team. We talk about process, UX, and more in this episode. She and here team are doing some really cool things in Frontend Development, and it was very interesting hearing about all of it.

Show Notes

photo credit

Sponsored by: WordSesh | Jilt | Liquid Web

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Designing the Perfect Business Card with Evan Calkins and Hoban Press

Joe Casabona — Tue, 08 May 2018 03:04:46 -0400

Evan Calkins created Hoban Press & Hoban Cards after he bought his first letterpress machine. He's a master of his craft and I was really excited to talk to Evan because I'm very interested in that creaft. He creates fantastic looking business cards and sationary, and even did my cards! We'll talk about what it's like doing a highly specialized thing in the real world - a physical product, and hear some good stories along the way.

Show Notes

Support the show on Patreon
Sponsored by: WordSesh | Jilt | Liquid Web

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How to Create Great User Documentation with Nancy Hidebrandt

Joe Casabona — Tue, 01 May 2018 03:03:48 -0400

Nancy Hildebrandt has a lot of experience in documentation and software systems, starting back in the Sun/Java days. In this episode, we talk all about building out a good support system and what that process looks like. We also talk about the importance of creating good documentation, listening to your customers, and so much more. It's a great conversation, and one that everyone can benefit from, no matter what the role.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Jilt | Liquid Web

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Automating Social Sharing with The Social Web Suite Team

Joe Casabona — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 03:03:48 -0400

Dejan Markovic and Tina Todorovic are two halves of the Social Web Suite dream team. They are some of the hardest working, passionate folks I know in the WordPress community and an absolutely joy to talk to. I love the tool and and hearing the evolution of the project and how they work was fantastic.

Show Notes

Social Web Suite (use code JoeLoveSWS for a discount)
Laravel Spark
WordCamp Toronto

Sponsored by: Jilt | Liquid Web

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Building a Modern Podcasting Platform with Craig Hewitt

Joe Casabona — Tue, 17 Apr 2018 03:03:17 -0400

Craig Hewitt is a guy who knows podcasting, so I was super excited to talk to him about his acquisition of Seriously Simple Podcasting. He took a relatively focused WordPress plugin and turned it into a SaaS, and that's what we talk about in this episode. Lots of great advice here!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Jilt | Liquid Web

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Learning Web Development with Beth Soderberg

Joe Casabona — Tue, 10 Apr 2018 03:03:47 -0400

Beth Soderberg is a self-taught Front End Developer and speaker, and in this episode I get to talk to her about how she learned her craft. It was fun exchanging stories of our different learning experiences. Beth offers truthful and encouraging words for if you want to start on your journey to web development.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Jilt | Liquid Web

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Forging Client Relationships with Brad Williams

Joe Casabona — Tue, 03 Apr 2018 03:03:52 -0400

Brad Williams of WebDevStudios knows a thing or two about client relationships. In this episode, We start at the beginning with finding a client, the proposal process, and touch on things like having a Discovery phase. It puts a nice cap of what we've been talking about for the last 3 weeks - the importance of building relationships.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Checkout for WooCommerce | Jilt | Liquid Web

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Building a Marketing Plan with Jen Jamar

Joe Casabona — Tue, 27 Mar 2018 03:03:39 -0400

Jen Jamar is a marketing strategist who currently works for Modern Tribe. Jen really knows her stuff, which I loved because I learned a ton. And the best part? We talk about a strategy for marketing that won’t cost you thousands of dollars in Facebook Ads! In this episode we cover all sorts of stuff like Field of Dreams marketing, how to properly connect with people, and establishing your authority online.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Checkout for WooCommerce | Jilt | Liquid Web

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Nicole Kohler and Content Strategy

Joe Casabona — Tue, 20 Mar 2018 03:03:24 -0400

Nicole Kohler is a Growth Marketer at Automattic; most of her job revolves around building and publishing content for her team and her main product, Jetpack. So in this episode, I talk to Nicole about Content Strategy. This is something I struggle with, and usually just publish when I think of stuff. Nicole provides us with some great advice from her time at Automattic, working with both the Jetpack and the WooCommerce teams!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Vast Conference | Jilt | Liquid Web

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How to Get a Trademark with Rian Kinney

Joe Casabona — Tue, 13 Mar 2018 03:03:59 -0400

Rian Kinney is an intellectual property lawyer and today we talk about the legal side of starting a business She's been on Office Hours to discuss contracts so I wanted to talk about IP - copyright and trademark. How it works, what the process for getting a trademark is, what the right text for your footer is, and more! It was a very educational episode for me and I hope it is for you too!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Vast Conference | Jilt | Liquid Web

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Choosing the Right Niche with Sara Dunn

Joe Casabona — Tue, 06 Mar 2018 03:03:50 -0500

Continuing our series on How You Build a Business, today I get to talk to Sara Dunn about niching down. She’s been pretty public with her process, starting a YouTube channel to discuss her decision making. I loved chatting with her about this because it can be tough and scary to decide to limit your potential client pool, but I think Sara is doing it the right way.

Show Notes

Check out our Patreon!

Sponsored by: Beaver Builder | Jilt | Liquid Web

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Choosing Self Employment and Sherry Walling

Joe Casabona — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 03:03:17 -0500

This is Part 1 of our mini series, "How You Build a Business" In today’s episode, I get to talk to Dr. Sherry Walling. She’s kicking off our miniseries on how to build a business and she helps us answer a very important question: “Am I ready to start my own business?” Sherry is a fantastic person to talk to and a wealth of knowledge. We talk self-publishing, self-knowledge, podcasting, and much more.

Show Notes

Check out our Patreon!

Sponsored by: Beaver Builder | Jilt | Liquid Web

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Creating a Hosting Platform for Developers with Josh Koenig and Pantheon

Joe Casabona — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 03:03:19 -0500

Josh Koenig is the founder of Pantheon. He is energetic, passionate, and knowledgable in his field. That’s a killer combination you love to see in company leaders. We talk all about the technologically cool stuff Pantheon is doing, so if you’re a developer, you don’t want to miss this one.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Beaver Builder | Jilt | Liquid Web

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Building a Membership Plugin for WordPress with Blair Williams

Joe Casabona — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 03:02:31 -0500

In today’s episode, I chat with Blair Williams, a WordPress veteran with lots of great plugins. We’ll talk specifically about MemberPress and what it’s like creating that, the decision making that went into their pricing, wp-cron, and lots more.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Beaver Builder | Jilt | Liquid Web

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Buidling a 2 Million+ Subscriber Channel on YouTube with Peter Hollens

Joe Casabona — Tue, 06 Feb 2018 03:06:12 -0500

Peter Hollens is an incredible artist and creator. You may have seen some of his videos on YouTube. Today we’re going to talk about what goes into making them, as well as his online courses at Hollens Creator Academy. Peter’s incredibly passionate about this project and it shows. I feel like we’re both cut from the same cloth (minus the singing - I wish!) so this is a great (albeit it slightly longer) episode.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Event Espresso | Jilt | Liquid Web

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How to Build Your Own WooCommerce Store with Patick Rauland

Joe Casabona — Tue, 30 Jan 2018 03:04:03 -0500

Patrick Rauland is a WooCommerce expert who joins us today to talk through everything you need to think about when setting up an e-commerce site. So this is less asking, “how did you build that,” and more, “how would you build that?” It’s a great conversation and Patrick offers some great advice and insights when making an online store, especially with WooCommerce. We discuss building trust, content marketing, conversion rates, and more.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Event Espresso | Jilt | Liquid Web

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Creating Physical Products with Brad Dowdy and Nock Co.

Joe Casabona — Tue, 23 Jan 2018 03:03:42 -0500

Brady Dowdy is a podcast, manufacturer, and most important, pen addict. I’m a big fan and Brad and everything he does, and in this episode, we’re wading into very non-techie waters. Brad and I talk about what it’s like building a physical product – from prototyping to manufacturing. It’s a fantastic conversation and I definitely learned a lot. I like it so much, that we did a bonus episode, for Patrons only. Hear more about that in the show! I think you'll love it.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Event Espresso | Jilt | Liquid Web

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Building Good WooCommerce Sites with Cody Landefeld

Joe Casabona — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 03:03:32 -0500

Cody Landefeld is the co-founder and director of Mode Effect, a company that specializes in WooCommerce. In this episode we talk about how he and his company built those Disney quizzes that are so addicting. On top of that, we discuss working with Enterprise level clients like Disney and of course, e-commerce. This episode kicks off a 5 episode set of e-commerce-based episodes!

Show Notes

This is Episode # 64, the first episode of Season 4.

Sponsored by: Event Espresso | Jilt | Liquid Web

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Special Episode: Live from WordCamp US 2017

Joe Casabona — Fri, 22 Dec 2017 14:58:40 -0500

In this very special live episode, I had the opportunity to interview WordCamp US attendees and ask them 3 questions:

What advice for Frontend Development optimizations do you have for us?
How do you level up your skills?
If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

Special thanks to everyone I interviews, and to Pantheon for sending me to WordCamp US and making this episode possible!
Sponsored by: Pantheon

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Being an Empathetic Teacher with Morten Rand-Hendriksen

Joe Casabona — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 03:03:01 -0500

Morten Rand-Hendriksen is an incredible developer and teacher who brings it all to his online courses. In this extra long Season 3 Finale, Morten and I run the gamut on topics, including courses, empathy, technology, WordPress, and more. I strongly recommend you give this one a good listen because it's a great episode. Thanks so much for a great Season - see you in January!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: LifterLMS | Liquid Web

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Keeping Your Website Secure with Neill Feather and SiteLock

Joe Casabona — Tue, 21 Nov 2017 03:03:06 -0500

Neill is the President of SiteLock, and has spent a lot of time building a successful company. They are not only good at what they do, but deeply dedicated to the community. In this episode, we talk all about security for your website, who's most at risk, and what can happen if you ignore simple site security. Of-course, we also talk about prevention.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: LifterLMS | Liquid Web

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Better Website Staging and Testing with Nathan Tyler

Joe Casabona — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 03:05:07 -0500

I met Nathan at WordCamp DC over the summer. We got to talking about a really cool project of his, Staging Pilot, so I asked him to be on the show. It's a very interesting conversation because we get pretty developery, which I totally love to do. We talk about this smart algorithm to figure out differences between the production and the staging site, and a whole bunch of other things. Make sure to put your developer hat on for this one because it is a doozy!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: WP-CRM System | Liquid Web

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Podcasting for Your Brand with Jeff Large

Joe Casabona — Tue, 07 Nov 2017 03:05:26 -0500

Jeff and I talk about one of my favorite topics: podcasting. Jeff is a professional podcaster; he does it for other brands, so he doesn't just have his own. He is hired to help people set up their own podcasts. Whether it be to promote their brand or other things that you could do with your podcast that don't necessarily make direct sponsor money. We also geek out about hardware and stuff like that too, so it's really really fun episode.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: ProsPress | Liquid Web

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Cleaning Up WordPress Notifications with Jack McConnell

Joe Casabona — Tue, 31 Oct 2017 03:05:52 -0400

Jack McConnell of Made with Fuel talks about his plugin, Better Notifications for WordPress. We talked about scratching your own itch, and getting in there and coding. We also talked about the long game a little bit, so he talked about how he front-loaded a lot of research to make sure that the plugin was worth pursuing. He also talks about hiring out. It's a nice take that developers are sometimes resistant to, but he wanted to make sure he didn't waste as much time spinning his wheels.

Show Notes

Want to engage with other listeners? Check out the Facebook Group!
Sponsored by: ProsPress | Liquid Web

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Building Healthy Communication Habits and Doist and Amir Salihefendic

Joe Casabona — Tue, 24 Oct 2017 03:09:03 -0400

Amir Salihefendic is the founder and CEO of Doist, maker of the popular Task Management app, Todoist. Today we are talking about their new chat app Twist, which was create as a way to combine email and Slack-like functionality. We talk about all sorts of great topics, but most notably, Work/Life Balance and how always being connected with apps like Slack are unhealthy. Thus, the idea for Twist came to be. It's a great episode, and if you like it, you can catch Part 2 over on Patreon, where we talk more about the making of Todoist and adapting in an ever-changing technological landscape.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: SIteLock | Liquid Web

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Building the First Premium WordPress Forms Builder with Alex Cancado

Joe Casabona — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 03:05:37 -0400

Gravity Forms is one of, if not the, oldest premium form builders for WordPress. Alex Cancado, one of the founders, and I talk about the research that went into creating such an integral part of any website. We also talk about refactoring, automated testing, what it was like creating add-ons for Gravity forms and a whole lot more. If you like this episode, you can catch a bonus episode with Alex where we talk about business, copyrights, and more over on Patreon. Show Notes

Gravity Forms
Gravity Form Add-ons
Jeff Matson's How I Built It Episode
Bonus Interview on Patreon: Alex and I go deeper about pricing model, the price of support, copyrights, the importance of Paypal, and more.

Sponsored by: SIteLock | Liquid Web

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Creating the Best Donations Platform on WordPress with the GiveWP Team

Joe Casabona — Tue, 10 Oct 2017 03:05:27 -0400

GiveWP is a plugin that helps you accept donations on your WordPress site. I got to talk to Matt and Devin about all sorts of other stuff though, like collaboration on a large team and the importance of great support.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: SIteLock | Liquid Web

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Building Your Side Hustle on Open Source with Ben Meredith and Better Click to Tweet

Joe Casabona — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 03:05:14 -0400

Ben Meredith is a WordPress man about town, working with lots of great folks in the community like GiveWP, and putting out his own plugins. In this episode, Ben and I talk about Better Click to Tweet, a fantastic and free WordPress plugin he created.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Access Aerial | Liquid Web

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Becoming a WordPress Plugin Developer with Brian Hogg, Part 2

Joe Casabona — Tue, 26 Sep 2017 03:03:16 -0400

Brian Hogg is a Canadian, WordPress Plugin Developer, Educator, and more. He has a few great courses on how to create WordPress plugins and a very informative newsletter to go with them. In part 2, we talk all about what to put in free vs. paid, build tools, and more.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: The Events Calendar | Liquid Web

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Becoming a WordPress Plugin Developer with Brian Hogg, Part 1

Joe Casabona — Tue, 19 Sep 2017 03:03:26 -0400

Brian Hogg is a Canadian, WordPress Plugin Developer, Educator, and more. He has a few great courses on how to create WordPress plugins and a very informative newsletter to go with them. In this 2 part episode, we discuss his plugins as well as general plugin development; this includes build tools, SVN, submitting to the WordPress repository, and more.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: StagingPilot | Liquid Web

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Building a Sketchnotes Army with Mike Rohde

Joe Casabona — Tue, 12 Sep 2017 03:04:50 -0400

Mike Rohde is a designer and founder of the Sketchnotes Army! He's also a twice-published author and Green Bay Packers fan. In this episode, we talk about how he came up with sketchnotes, why it helps with retention, getting published, and tons more!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Seriously Simple Podcasting | Liquid Web

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Becoming a WordPress Theme Developer with Andy Wilkerson Part 2

Joe Casabona — Tue, 05 Sep 2017 03:03:44 -0400

Andy and I continue our conversation from last week, about general theme development. We discuss our favorite tools and learning resources, plus much more! If you're interested in making WordPress themes, these episodes are must-listens!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Liquid Web | Project Panorama

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Becoming a WordPress Theme Developer with Andy Wilkerson Part 1

Joe Casabona — Tue, 29 Aug 2017 03:03:37 -0400

Andy Wilkerson is a theme developer and theme shop owner that made a name for himself on Theme Forest. Now he's working on all sorts of projects, not just for themes, but for podcasts and more! In this 2-parter, he and I talk about his story and general theme development. This episode, Part 1, focuses primarily on how he built his business.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Liquid Web | Project Panorama

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Building the Perfect Journalism Platform with Sean Blanda

Joe Casabona — Tue, 22 Aug 2017 03:03:21 -0400

Sean Blanda is a long time friend, journalist, and Editor-in-Chief of GrowthLab and I Will Teach You To Be Rich. He has an excellent newsletter that focuses in on specific topics and takes an objective approach to writing. In this episode, we discuss what an full stack Indy publishing platform would look like, and why it's important.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Liquid Web | Project Panorama

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Finally, a Good Solution for Gathering Content with James Rose and Content Snare

Joe Casabona — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 03:21:41 -0400

James Rose is an Australian agency owner who creates websites for a living. In this episode, we talk about his brand new product, Content Snare. Content Snare is a software product built to drastically cut down the time and headache wasted on chasing up clients for website content. I think anyone who's made websites can get behind this. We also talk about being a good developer, and how to create a product people will actually use.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: FacetWP | Liquid Web

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White Labeling Site Care with Ryan Sullivan

Joe Casabona — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 03:55:09 -0400

Ryan Sullivan is the founder of WP Site Care, a business that helps service and maintain WordPress sites. In this episode, we talk about building a business that meets a need and defines expectations, some great tools for running a support business, and what customer care really means.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: SIteLock | Liquid Web

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Maintaining WordPress with Russell Aaron

Joe Casabona — Tue, 01 Aug 2017 03:15:37 -0400

Russell Aaron is a backend developer working for WebDevStudios and working out of Reno, NV. He's done lots of work within the WordPress community, including work on the plugin Maintainn Tools, which he uses to help troubleshoot websites.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: WP Site Care | Liquid Web

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Learning Management and WordPress: LearnDash with Justin Ferriman

Joe Casabona — Tue, 25 Jul 2017 03:16:36 -0400

This is the second of a 2-part series called Educational WordPress! In the last episode, I spoke to

Chris Badgett. Today, it's Justin Ferriman Justin Ferriman is the owner of the LearnDash LMS for WordPress. In this episode we talk about building an audience first, scratching your own itch, and listening to your customers. He provides some great advice on making sure you have people to sell to before selling, and lots more! Show Notes

Sponsored by: WP Site Care | Liquid Web

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Learning Management and WordPress: LifterLMS with Chris Badgett

Joe Casabona — Tue, 18 Jul 2017 03:29:57 -0400

This is the first of a 2-part series called Educational WordPress! Over the next 2 episodes, I talk to two of of the biggest names in a WordPress LMSs and WordPress in the educational space. Today, it's Chris Badgett. Chris Badgett is a software company owner, a world traveller, and first and foremost, an educator. In this episode, we get to talk all about empathy, teaching, and scratching your own itch. He offers some great insight on running a company, connecting with customers, and how there are some things you can't outsource.

Show Notes

Want to get early access to ad-free episodes, extended interviews, video tutorials and more? Check out our Patreon.

Sponsored by: WP Site Care | Liquid Web

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Building Apple’s Tuniversity with Kiko Doran

Joe Casabona — Tue, 11 Jul 2017 03:21:59 -0400

Kiko Doran is a veteran, developer, musician, teacher, and so much more! In this incredibly interesting interview, Kiko and I talk about how he created the iBook, Learn Pharrell Williams' Happy for Apple's new Tuniversity project. We talk about how the innovative new idea evolved, what it was like working on this high profile project, breaking the music down, learning iBooks Author, and so much more in these 24 minutes. Make sure to check out the extended, 17 minute interview that's for Patreon backers only!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: WP Site Care | Liquid Web

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Making a Simple WordPress Plugin with Jeff Matson

Joe Casabona — Tue, 27 Jun 2017 06:47:41 -0400

Jeff Matson is a WordPress man about town, making contributions to several big plugins and projects, and even WordPress itself. In this episode, we talk all about development, knowing when to cut your losses, developer tools, and much more. It was great having Jeff on the show!

Main Project: Heartbeat Control Heartbeat Control is a free WordPress plugin that allows you to easily manage the frequency of the WordPress heartbeat API with just a few dropdowns.

Show Notes

Check out our Patreon

Sponsored by: Liquid Web | Hover.com

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Moving from Nurse to Developer with Stephanie Wells and Formidable Forms

Joe Casabona — Tue, 20 Jun 2017 03:44:10 -0400

Stephanie Wells is a nurse turned coder who launched her own WordPress-based online business. Starting off in client work, she quickly moved into the product space, where she makes Formidable Forms. I was stoked to have Stephanie on the show and we talk about all sorts of great topics from scratching your own itch to family and more.

Show Notes

Spoiler Alert! I reference a show that hasn't been released yet :-) Check out our new Patreon – be one of the first 20 to pledge $10 and get a free t-shirt!
Sponsored by: CodePen Projects | Liquid Web

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Making Mailchimp and WordPress Easier with Tracy Levesque

Joe Casabona — Tue, 13 Jun 2017 09:25:30 -0400

Or: "How I Met Your Mummers"

In this first episode of Season 3, Tracy and I talk about doing client work vs. product work, owning an agency in Philly, and moving from the free to freemium pricing model. We also talk all sorts of non-computer stuff like raising children (being parents and business owners), Philly lingo, and How I Met Your Mother.

Show Notes

Tracy Levesque
Tracy on Twitter
YIKES, Inc
Easy Forms for MailChimp
Jason Coleman
Chris Lema
CaboPress (yay I'm also going!)
Github
Grunt
WordPress Development with Git/GitHub - Jeremy Pry
TortiseSVN
Gitbox
PHPUnit

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Sponsored by: BoldGrid | Liquid Web

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When Your Side Gig Becomes Your Main Gig with Michael Sacca

Joe Casabona — Tue, 23 May 2017 03:20:58 -0400

We close out Season 2 talking to Michael Sacca of Crew and Unsplash. Crew has since been acquired by Dribbble, but the story of how they got to where they are is great! We discuss startups, finding the right balance, and how a simple side project can be the thing that changes your main business. It's a great way to end Season 2, so have a listen!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Level Eleven Art Department | BoldGrid

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Planning a Conference for Hundreds of People with David Bisset

Joe Casabona — Tue, 16 May 2017 03:39:10 -0400

David Bisset is a WordPress developer who also happens to plan one of the biggest WordCamps in the United States. Their 9th one happened recently so I sat down and talked to David about what goes into planning a WordCamp, especially one this big!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: BoldGrid | Hover.com

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Writing and Publishing an eBook with Diane Kinney

Joe Casabona — Tue, 09 May 2017 03:33:00 -0400

Diane Kinney is a WordPress Developer, Designer, and Marketer. And soon, she'll be adding author to that biographical line. She and Carrie Dils are working on a book called Real World Freelancing that talks all about what it really takes to be a freelancer. In this episode, she and I talk all about the writing process, decisions for self-publishing, and more.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: BoldGrid | Hover.com

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Building the Number 1 WordPress Learning Website with Shawn Hesketh

Joe Casabona — Tue, 02 May 2017 03:04:21 -0400

Shawn Hesketh is a good friend of the show and an excellent educator and mentor. His widely popular site, WP101, teached thousands of folks how to use WordPress. In this episode, we get pretty deep into the woods on how he built WP101, and in typical Shawn fashion, he imparts some great advice all along the way. This one is a little longer that usual, but it's packed full of fantastic content, including his recording setup.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: ProsPress | BoldGrid

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Teaching Freelancers to Build a Better Business with Erin Flynn

Joe Casabona — Tue, 25 Apr 2017 03:09:52 -0400

Erin Flynn is a freelancer and educator based on Colorado. In this episode we talk about how she found her way into the product space, all the twists and turns of freelancing, and how she creates courses and keeps her sales funnel on point.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: BoldGrid | Formidable Forms

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Building Utility Plugins for WordPress with Tom McFarlin

Joe Casabona — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 03:03:18 -0400

Tom is a man of many hats! He's a WordPress user, avid blogger, developer, editor for Envato, and much more. He also takes the approach that he'll scratch his own itch if he needs to. In this episode, we talk about how he tackles problems, why and how he built the plugin Page Template Dashboard, and his development tools.

Show Notes

Check out my new WordPress Theme Development course & get 20% : How to Build WordPress Themes

Sponsored by: ProsPress | BoldGrid

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Buidling Good Client Relationships with Ty Fujimura

Joe Casabona — Tue, 11 Apr 2017 03:05:24 -0400

In this episode, Ty and I discuss a few great topics! His company, Cantilever, focuses on strong client relationships that elicit enough trust to try cool, experimental projects, like what they did with Rustic Pathways. We talk about integrating the REST API in an interesting way, the importance of communicating with clients, and why trying a project as "just a project" might not be the best way to grow your business.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: BoldGrid | Hover.com

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Using the Right Tools for Non-Profit Websites with Andy Stitt

Joe Casabona — Tue, 04 Apr 2017 03:03:13 -0400

In this episode, Andy and I discuss some of the specific challenges and rewards of developing WordPress sites for non-profits, why empathy is so important, and why you should never say never when choosing the right tool for the job.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: ProsPress | Formidable Forms

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Building an Easier Websites Testing Platform with WP Stagecoach

Joe Casabona — Tue, 28 Mar 2017 03:26:40 -0400

In this episode, we get pretty heavy into servers and server setup! Jonathan talks about how he got the idea for WP Stagecoach. We also discuss some of the difficulties with spinning up and simulating multiple server setups, how good coding can go a long way, and much much more.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: BoldGrid | Pantheon

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Running WordPress from the Command Line with Daniel Bachhuber and WP-CLI

Joe Casabona — Tue, 21 Mar 2017 03:04:02 -0400

In this episode, Daniel and I get pretty heavy into development tools and using WP CLI, automated testing, and the future of WP-CLI and Open Source. We go a little long, but it's a great conversation no matter what your background is.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: BoldGrid | Formidable Forms

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Teaching Freelancers to Grow their Business with Troy Dean

Joe Casabona — Tue, 14 Mar 2017 03:12:06 -0400

In this episode, Troy and I have a great conversation about developing online courses, creating scarcity, and keeping students engaged. If you've been looking to start an online course or develop a great online community, this episode should not be missed!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Formidable Forms | Hover.com

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From Idea in a Bar to Product with JJJ

Joe Casabona — Tue, 07 Mar 2017 03:14:50 -0500

It's Episode 26, and JJJ and I talk all about getting an idea and running with it. His plugin Publishiza has a funny origin story that decided to develop. We also talk about publishing where you're comfortable, seeing your work get used by actual people, and of-course, deep bar thoughts. ?⛈️

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Pantheon | Hired.com

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Building a Blogging Empire with Bob Dunn

Joe Casabona — Tue, 28 Feb 2017 03:46:25 -0500

In this episode, Bob and I get back to WordPress basics and talk all about blogging! Bob talks about how he built his blog, using plugins (60+!), coming up with good content, and a lot more. This is an excellent episode for anyone who uses WordPress or wants to start a blog.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Pantheon | Hired.com

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Creating and Selling Royalty-Free Music with Logan Nickleson

Joe Casabona — Tue, 21 Feb 2017 03:35:02 -0500

Logan and I talk about what it's like to sell royalty free music with Easy Digital Downloads, as well as the music-writing process, good sound editing, and tips for recording. This is a great episode because Logan is not necessarily in the WordPress space, but he is using WordPress to sell his music.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Liquid Web | Social Web Suite

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Turning WordPress Sites into iPhone Apps with Scott Bolinger and AppPresser

Joe Casabona — Tue, 14 Feb 2017 03:02:19 -0500

In this episode, Scott and I talk all about extending WordPress beyond the web, Javascript frameworks, the REST API, and a lot more! It was great to hear about AppPresser's transformation and where it's heading!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Pantheon | Hired.com

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Telling the Untold Stories with HeroPress and Topher DeRosia

Joe Casabona — Tue, 07 Feb 2017 03:02:17 -0500

In Episode 22, Topher and I discuss building HeroPress, sticking with a project when it's important enough, and giving a voice to people in the community who don't always feel like they have one.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Social Web Suite | Hover.com

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How to Run a Good WordPress Meetup with Liam Dempsey

Joe Casabona — Tue, 31 Jan 2017 03:03:31 -0500

In this episode, Liam and I discuss what goes into making a good meetup. As the organizer of one of the most popular (and active) WordPress meetups in the Northeast, and a 2 time WordCamp US organizer, he shares lots of wisdom about what works, what doesn't work, and ultimately that secret sauce for a successful meetup.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Hired.com | Project Panorama

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Putting Your Content Schedule on Autopilot with Nathan Ellering and CoSchedule

Joe Casabona — Tue, 24 Jan 2017 03:12:00 -0500

It's episode 20! Woo! This season has been pretty developer heavy so far, but my chat with Nathan is anything but, and there's a ton of great stuff I learned. We talk about CoSchedule, coming up with content, and all about marketing. It's definitely something I could use some great advice on, and you'll find it in this episode.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Social Web Suite | Project Panorama

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Making Your WordPress Site Secure with Dre Armeda

Joe Casabona — Tue, 17 Jan 2017 03:03:48 -0500

It's early in the year and something to think about is security! Dre Armeda is here to tell us all about that - the full history of his company, Sucuri, where they've been and why they are kicking it up a notch. Super informative and important to anyone doing business on the web!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Project Panorama | Hover.com

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Development Philosophy and Building Straight Forward Plugins with Pippin Williamson

Joe Casabona — Tue, 10 Jan 2017 03:41:23 -0500

It's the first episode of Season 2 and I'm glad to be back! Leading off, I got to talk to Pippin Williamson about resurrecting Restrict Content Pro, what it's like being in the WordPress product space, pricing, developing, finding balance, and lots more in this jam-packed half hour.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Social Web Suite | Project Panorama

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What We Learned Podcasting with Jackie D’Elia (Part 2)

Joe Casabona — Tue, 13 Dec 2016 03:24:20 -0500

It's the end of Season 1! In this 2-part episode, Jackie and I cover everything we've learned while starting a new podcast. In this part (part 2), we go over finding guests and sponsors, choosing the right tools, using iTunes, and more.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Anchor Host | Creator Crew

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What We Learned Podcasting with Jackie D’Elia (Part 1)

Joe Casabona — Tue, 06 Dec 2016 03:34:32 -0500

It's the end of Season 1! In this 2-part episode, Jackie and I cover everything we've learned while starting a new podcast. In this part (part 1), we go over the ideas for each podcast, some early trial and error, pre- and post-production, tricks of the trade, and more.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Anchor Host | Hover.com

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Differentiating Yourself in a Crowded WordPress Forms Market with James Laws

Joe Casabona — Tue, 29 Nov 2016 03:33:33 -0500

In this episode, James and I talk about breaking into the WordPress forms space, early decisions and pivoting, and building 3.0 from the ground up. Learn about how they built a following, evolved the product, and how they tested and migrated their customers to a brand new, fantastic build of the plugin, and what it could mean for the future.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Project Panorama | Hover.com

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Bringing Project Management to WordPress with Corey Maas

Joe Casabona — Tue, 22 Nov 2016 03:00:17 -0500

I get to talk to Corey Maass, a WordPress develop who's delved into several different products. His most popular plugin, Kanban for WordPress, turns WordPress into a project management system based on the popular Japanese method of displaying cards and showcasing progress. We discuss the challenges of pricing, updates, and staying focused.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Sucuri | WP Stagecoach

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Running a Successful US-Based Product Business with Jeff Sheldon and Ugmonk

Joe Casabona — Tue, 15 Nov 2016 07:58:48 -0500

Jeff and I talk about picking names, following your passion, and his great attention to detail in this episode of How I Built It. In a usually saturated market, Jeff has build a great business on t-shirts and other clothing. His insight is fantastic!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Sucuri | SiteGround

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Making Better Leaders with Chris Lema

Joe Casabona — Tue, 08 Nov 2016 03:19:43 -0500

Chris and I talk about all sorts of stuff in this episode, all surrounding his site Beyond Good. We talk about tools, automation, and being a one-man show doing the work of a small company. Chris also shares some exclusive advice on creating content. Make sure to listen until the end!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: WP Stagecoach | Hover.com

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Teaching WordPress and Scratching Your Own Itch with Brian Richards

Joe Casabona — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 04:28:31 -0400

This episode goes a little longer than normal, but it's chocked with some great information! We discuss hacking systems (but not in the way you'd expect), how he created WPSessions by basically asking, and why he wanted to bring the WordCamp feel to the online community. We also discussed the need to constantly evaluate if something is working and pivot where necessary.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Sucuri | Brandbucket

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Building Better WordPress Page with Beaver Builder

Joe Casabona — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 04:27:59 -0400

In this episode, Robby and Justin from Beaver Builder discuss creating a great product, the importance of feedback from your users and the community, and where they see page builders going.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: WP Stagecoach | Hover.com

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Teaching JavaScript for WordPress with Zac Gordon

Joe Casabona — Tue, 18 Oct 2016 03:54:05 -0400

In this episode, Zac and I get deep about how he built his online learning course, Javascript for WordPress! We discuss the tools he used, coming up with content, and how often the best course of action is to pay the pros to get the high quality work. It's a great episode, with lots of show notes.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Sucuri | Brandbucket

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Building the Most Popular SEO Plugin with Joosy de Valk

Joe Casabona — Tue, 11 Oct 2016 03:05:55 -0400

In this episode, Joost and I talk all about his incredibly popular Yoast SEO plugin. Running one of the most popular plugins globally is hard work and it shows in the Yoast SEO team's development process. We talk about everything from good readability and supporting multiple languages to the rigid development and testing processes. We also wax poetic on the evolution of the development and how it is affecting the WordPress community.

Show Notes

Sponsored by: WP Stagecoach | Hover.com

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Teaching People How to Use WordPress Plugins with Matt Medeiros

Joe Casabona — Tue, 04 Oct 2016 03:42:47 -0400

In this episode, Matt and I discuss how he built PluginTut, coming up with content, choosing the right tools for the job, and more!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Hoban Cards | Brandbucket

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Making Learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript Easier with CodePen and Chris Coyier

Joe Casabona — Tue, 27 Sep 2016 03:03:42 -0400

In this episode, I get to talk to Chris Coyier, we talk all about CodePen: the idea and execution, the interest tech stack and how it was coded, the challenges of certain features, and even a bit on taking VC funding. Definitely a great one to listen to!

Show Notes

Sponsored by: Creator Crew | Hover.com

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Podcasting with Podcasters: Carrie Dils and Office Hours

Joe Casabona — Tue, 20 Sep 2016 03:06:02 -0400

In this episode, Carrie and I talk about the evolution of her podcast, the Office Hours Community, and the value of just trying stuff and see what works! Take a listen.

Show Notes

Carrie Dils
Office Hours FM
The Office Hours Community
Real World Freelancing - the new book Carrie hinted at on the show!

Sponsored by: Brandbucket | Creator Crew

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Building a Quality WordPress Theme Shop with Cory Miller

Joe Casabona — Tue, 13 Sep 2016 05:00:09 -0400

In this episode, Cory and I have a great conversation about all of the things iThemes does, how they got there, why they do things, and the most important aspect of any business.

Show Notes:

Sponsored by: Themetry | Hover.com

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Journalism in the WordPress space with Brian Krogsgard

Joe Casabona — Tue, 06 Sep 2016 04:58:35 -0400

In this episode, I talk with Brian Krogsgard about how he started Post Status, deciding to take full time, getting members, making decisions, and of-course, the tools he used to built out the website! One of my favorite parts of the interview is around 7:20, where Brian talks about his method for researching his stories. Show Notes:

Post Status
Thesis, Automattic, and WordPress (on copyright)
WooCommerce
MailChimp
Slack
WP Career Starter

Sponsored by: Creator Crew | SiteGround

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Creating an Online Course Marketplace on WordPress with Rebecca Gill

Joe Casabona — Tue, 30 Aug 2016 05:08:01 -0400

Rebecca and I talk about building an online course, the necessary dedication you need to be able to teach, and some great tools for setting up your own online course! Links from the show:

Sponsored by: LearnDash | Creator Crew

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Building the Most Flexible WordPress Membership Plugin with Jason Coleman

Joe Casabona — Tue, 23 Aug 2016 06:15:26 -0400

Jason Coleman, CEO and Developer of Paid Memberships Pro talks about what he did to get started, some of the challenges of breaking into the WordPress plugin scene, how talking to others helped him set revenue expectations, and offers great advice on how to handle the inevitable negative feedback that comes with supporting 50,000 users. Check out his excellent plugin, Paid Memberships Pro and use the discount WP1Mo to get 25% off.

Episode 0: To Become a Good Carpenter, Learn from Other Carpenters

Joe Casabona — Wed, 27 Jul 2016 17:18:32 -0400

Welcome to Episode 0 of How I Built It! In these few minutes I introduce the show, what my goals are, and what to expect. There's a wealth of knowledge out there from people who went through what you are going through. You just need to learn to ask the right folks! Most people are willing to share their experiences, as you will see in Season 1.