The Social Strategy Podcast: Online Business | Social Media Strategy | Networking | Vernon Ross

In the last episode we talked with Sexyboss Heather Ann Havenwood.  Heather built a million dollar business marketing her dating and relationship advice.  She's a power public speaker and coach so if you missed it go check it out now. In this episode I talk with book publisher Morgan MacDonald about the writing process and how her company Paper Raven Books helps authors.  We seriously dig into the process of getting your ideas out and how to overcome the struggles emerging writers have.  We talk through my own struggles with writing and Morgan live coaches me on the podcast. This was a revealing interview and we dive so much deeper into the writing process, the launch marketing and the foundations you need to have to make your book successful.  I've never really talked about what my holdup is with writing before so you get insight into what's been private until now. If you skip down to the time stamps at  Morgan talks about a process I've never heard any publisher reveal that honestly could have a deep impact on your book.  This one strategy is one of the reasons I actually decided to hire Morgan as my book coach.   In speaking with dozens of publishers and authors over the past couple of years I found the depth of her knowledge into the process to be second to none.  The amazing thing is she was willing to talk about it in the podcast and give some of it for free. There's also a special announcement below How to pick which book to write when you're confused about where to start. What a rough organisation is and how to use it in your writing process.  Morgan's three step book launch strategy.  You've never heard before. The absolute most important thing that needs to be in the first 10 pages of your book.  This strategy is so powerful that it could make the difference in your entire book launch. If you're an author and have a book published but like so many you have under 10 reviews for your book you must use this strategy because as Morgan said this: The reviews from your first book are the foundation for all of your marketing, as an author for the rest of your paltform Traditional publisher only want return on their investment but as a self-published author you're not just looking for book sales.  You are building a strong foundational base for your coaching business, leads that you can convert to customers. I was so impressed with what Morgan and her company did and we connected so perfectly in our interview that I've now taken on Morgan as my book coach to help me finish and publish my first real book. Check out one of Morgan's videos: Books Mentioned Accidental Genius by Mark Levy – Creator of the Pomodoro method of writing or free writing.  It's designed to help you right your thought out without thinking.   I've been doing this and it's a powerful method. Resource Links We also mentioned using Evernote for notes that you can share with your audience.  It's a wonderful method for sharing things with your audience. Morgan has generously provided a free gift for you guys its called: 12 STEPS TO WRITE A BOOK THAT BOOSTS YOUR BUSINESS AND BUILDS YOUR PLATFORM Just click the link to get your free 10 page guide To Connect with Morgan: Podcast Resources The Social Strategy Academy is where you can take the podcast information you receive here to the next level with customized training and toolkits. Not only do you get extended versions of the p...

  What You May Have Missed In the last episode we met Harneet Bahalla a digital marketing consultant and who negotiated over a million dollars on one deal.  Listen to Ep66 to find out the one thing he did to land this deal. In this episode I talk with Heather Ann Havenwood, CEO of Havenwood Worldwide, LLC and Chief Sexy Boss.   She's a serial entrepreneur and is regarded as a top authority in the internet, business strategies and  marketing. Since marketing her first online business in 1999, bringing together clients and personal coaches, she has played an active role in the online marketing world since before most even had a home computer. In 2006 she started, developed and grew an online information marketing publishing company from ground zero to over $1 million in sales in less than 12 months.  You're in for an amazing story and as a bonus we recorded a blab a few days after this interview and ended up giving live social media and business advice. The absolute best quote of our chat: “When I send an email to my list which is two to three times a day depending on the list there is always something to buy…ALWAYS, always, always,always,ALWAYS. None of this I don't want to sell anything I'll just give them content. NO It's like always!” Here are the highlights of my conversation with Heather: * : How Heather learned the sales and marketing game from face to face selling. * : What happened when a previous business partner walked away with her entire business forcing her to lose everything and file bankruptcy. * : Who actually came up with the name “Cheif Sexy Boss” It has something to do with Hugo Boss and Blue Blockers. * : We reveal the number one most under utilized resource on the planet. * : Why women rock!  My homage to how awesome women are. * : The two categories of people you have in your life and why they are either in the gutter or on the balcony. Heather breaks down the entire online business process and how to build your business. : You're never going to believe what Heather said you should do and it's belly to belly. Tweets of Wisdom: Books Mentioned: Heather's Book                 The Soul of Money – Lynn Twist Think and Grow Rich – Napoleon Hill ( Specifically in Chapter 7 ) To Connect with Heather: Our Blab with Heather Havenwood, Vernon Ross and participating guest Andrew Alliance, and Cheval John. [slp-blabreplay] Podcast Resources The Social Strategy Academy is where you can take the podcast information you receive here to the next level with customized training and toolkits. Not only do you get extended versions of the podcast but there are free templates that you can literally just put your name on and use. I take you step by step through some of the most asked questions and skill needed to succeed online and in business. Deals for Podcasters I've worked out an exclusive deal with Spreaker and seriously I'm the only one right now that can offer this deal. When you click on the Spreaker banner of the image this post you will automatically get a 30 Day trial for any of the Pro packages Spreaker offers. Not just a free Broadcaster account but up to the $119 a month accou...

What You Missed You heard from former Olympian Fabienne Raphael the creator behind Small Business Online Summit and how she's built an amazing Periscope following. Our guest for today is Harneet Bhalla is a digital marketing consultant and a master on giving advice to people who want to establish their online business from scratch. Harneet is a skilled business coach and advises some of the biggest names in the online marketing space. Often entrepreneurs never really start from a place of abundance and Harneet is not exception to that rule. His first real introduction to the internet was receiving his first computer an then manually taking it apart to figure out how it all worked.  He was always fascinated with the “why” of things.  His interest didn't stop there it crosses over to psychology of why people do what they do and the decisions they make. I asked Harneet to give an example of how he would coach a client on making money starting from nothing. He not only breaks down the entire process Harneet went a step by step revealing and entire business plan. This information was not only a golden nugget I considered adding it to a premium course on business building.  Yeah guys it's that good and you can find it here  Here are the highlights of my conversation with Harneet: * : How Harneet ended up destroying his brand new computer by having an unquenchable desire for knowledge and how things work. * : The first website Harneet flipped for a thousand dollars in the eyecare niche and how this really started his online career. * : An amazing 3-minute strategy on how to launch a book, get people to promote your book and ultimately purchase your work. * : Why it is important to know your strongest social platform and be there and not to be everywhere. * : Harneet explain how he built his first million dollars explains his strategy on how to negotiate start up fees, upfront fees and how to get equity on every sale instead of hours per dollars. * : Why having a PR is important and how a PR manager can help your image, business or brand.   Some quotes and advice from Harneet: * Running an ad is not about making a brand; it is about making a sale.  You don't run ads to build your brand. Here's some parting wisdom:  Start your day like Harneet with meditation and some light exercise.  Notice he's not checking email and letting everyone else dictate how his day is going to start. Check out this episode for a powerful start to your morning: Taking Life Head On One Miracle Morning at a Time Ep 45 To Connect with Harneet Online: Podcast Resources The Social Strategy Academy is where you can take the podcast information you receive here to the next level with customized training and toolkits.  Not only do you get extended versions of the podcast but there are free templates that you can literally just put your name on and use.  I take you step by step through some of the most asked questions and skill needed to succeed online and in business. Deals for Podcasters I've worked out an exclusive deal with Spreaker and seriously I'm the only one right now that can offer this deal. When you click on the Spreaker banner of the image this post you will automatically get a 30 Day trial for any of the Pro packages Spreaker offers.  Not just a free Broadcaster account but up to the $119 a month account usually reserved for radio stations.

What You Missed You heard from Josh Elledge (Exclusive Interview) and learned how to get booked on Television.  We're talking millions in free media exposure! Josh talks about the one thing you must have to get booked. In this episode I have a return guest a former Olympian Fabienne Raphael.  She's a writer with several published works, a business coach and the host of the podcast ‘Marketing to Crush Your Competitors’. She's the creator behind Small Business Online Summit featuring yours truly and 28 other amazing business influencers. Here are the highlights with my conversation with Fabienne: * : Fabienne explains why she uses Periscope for her business * : Fabienne talks about how she feels about people sharing her content writing on a third-party websites. * : How you can get popular on Periscope quickly. * : A discussion on the merits of Meerkat vs Periscope. * : Fabienne’s virtual summit “Small Business Online Summit” * : Fabienne explains what “a call to action” is and how it works and how it can help with building an email list * : Why it is important to reach out to influencers and have them as speakers in one’s summit * : Fabienne explains the 3 steps to putting together a successful online summit * : Fabienne talks about how she feels about publishing low – content books such as journals on Kindle. Favorite Podcast Resource • Periscope Some quotes and advice from Fabienne: *  I am a communicator and I love to get the best out of people *  If you do it all and you are so-so at a couple of things, then you will end up with a so-so result. To Connect with Fabienne Online:  Black Friday Deal Promo Code = blackfriday => All Courses Included One Price Buy one course at the currently listed price and I'll enroll you in all the courses offered and any new courses released this year!  That's a $1497.00 Value Podcast Resources The Social Strategy Academy is where you can take the podcast information you receive here to the next level with customized training and toolkits.  Not only do you get extended versions of the podcast but there are free templates that you can literally just put your name on and use.  I take you step by step through some of the most asked questions and skill needed to succeed online and in business. Deals for Podcasters I've worked out an exclusive deal with Spreaker and seriously I'm the only one right now that can offer this deal. When you click on the Spreaker banner of the image this post you will automatically get a 30 Day trial for any of the Pro packages Spreaker offers.  Not just a free Broadcaster account but up to the $119 a month account usually reserved for radio stations. Just use Promo Code: VRPODBEANFREE when you sign up.   At the end of the trial you still have the free option so it's a no brainer.  For more details and to check out our other “Friends of the Podcast” <= Click the Link Become a Patron – Just Like NPR's Spring Fund Drive => 

What You Missed: In the last episode, EP62, You heard from Tom Schwab a well know industry leader in the Inbound marketing space and how running a nuclear power plant may have actually been easier than running a business. In This Episode: We have Nancy Erickson AKA The Book Professor, we talk about publishing, book marketing and even why bookstores may not be the best method in getting your content out in the market. Nancy is the owner of Stonebrook Publishing, the architect of Bookarma.net and International Book Coach, a Public Speaker, an Author, an Editor and is determined to “change the world, one reader at a time.” As an aspiring author seeking to be published I was pretty much hanging on every word Nancy shared in this episode with two full pages of notes and five action items for me to follow up on.  One major takeaway from this interview that i want you to have even if you don't get through the audio is that if you are an author you must have a plan for how you write, publish and market your book. Nancy demonstrated to me just how important having that plan is and the difference it can make to the success of your work. Tweetable:  Here are the highlights of my conversation with Nancy: *  Why it seems to be difficult for people to get a book published and how she removes the hindrance of getting started by going through some foundational questions. *   Nancy's process of how she draws out people’s messages to get them started writing. From identifying what their motivations with her unique book maps. * How Nancy started a publishing company, the hard facts that you need to know about the publishing industry and her interesting book marketing plan. *  About Bookarma, an international book marketing platform where authors help authors market their books internally through social media. *  Reasons why Nancy doesn’t advocate in having books in bookstores and what channels as an author you could be pursuing. Some quotes and advice from Nancy: The answers are trapped inside of people. You may not know everything out there but when you tell your story, you give people two things that this world cannot live without: hope and help.   To Connect with Nancy: Podcast Resources The Social Strategy Academy is where you can take the podcast information you receive here to the next level with customized training and toolkits.  Not only do you get extended versions of the podcast but there are free templates that you can literally just put your name on and use.  I take you step by step through some of the most asked questions and skill needed to succeed online and in business. Click the image above to visit our sponsor and download the free sponsorship toolkit while it's still available. Just follow this link and enroll in the free course Sponsorship Toolkit.  <= Click Here Deals for Podcasters I've worked out an exclusive deal with Spreaker and seriously I'm the only one right now that can offer this deal. When you click on the Spreaker banner of the image this post you will automatically get a 30 Day trial for any of the Pro packages Spreaker offers.  Not just a free Broadcaster account but up to the $119 a month account usually reserved for radio stations. Just use Promo Code:

Our guest for today is Thomas M. Schwab, a Master in inbound marketing. Tom is an experienced entrepreneur, writer, and speaker who empowers entrepreneurs, solopreneuers and small business owners to easily understand and use digital tools to build a scalable automated sales and marketing machine that delights the customer and business. We never had a guest who can talk about inbound marketing like Tom so don’t miss out on this content! Here are the highlights of my conversation with Tom: *   Tom’s background from being a mechanical engineer running a nuclear power plant to running small businesses and how he transitioned to e-commerce. *   An overview of push vs pull marketing and how we can use the latter to bring us closer towards success in our businesses. *   Sharing his experience from the recent Inbound 2015 conference, *   His tips and strategies in using podcasts as an effective tool for permission-based marketing. *  Blog conversion versus podcast conversion stats and where Tom gets his data points. * – We mention big data and I give much deserved props to Perry Drake – Digital Marketing Program Director from UMSL Digital *  What he thinks about Blab and Periscope as a source for inbound leads. Tweetable Awesome Insights * With push marketing, if I spend a dollar on an ad words campaign, I see the results tomorrow. But with pull marketing, if you do content, it’s got a longer term to it. It’s the difference between spend and invest. * Seems like over the last 10 years, we’ve really been focused on the transaction and not the lifetime value. While the tools and tactics are changing, the strategy remains the same. * It’s not about how big of an audience you can get into, it’s about how many ideal customers are there. * How do you sell newspapers in a small town? You put everybody’s name in it. Everybody will buy a copy, and your mom will buy 3 copies.   To Connect with Tom: Courses & Deals The Social Strategy Academy is where you can take the podcast information you receive here to the next level with customized training and toolkits.  Not only do you get extended versions of the podcast but there are free templates that you can literally just put your name on and use.  I take you step by step through some of the most asked questions and skill needed to succeed online and in business. Click the image above to visit our sponsor and download the free sponsorship toolkit while it's still available. Just follow this link and enroll in the free course Sponsorship Toolkit.  <= Click Here Deals for Podcasters I've worked out an exclusive deal with Spreaker and seriously I'm the only one right now that can offer this deal. When you click on the Spreaker banner of the image this post you will automatically get a 30 Day trial for any of the Pro packages Spreaker offers.  Not just a free Broadcaster account but up to the $119 a month account usually reserved for radio stations. Just use Promo Code: VRPODBEANFREE when you sign up.   At the end of the trial you still have the free option so it's a no brainer.  For more details and to check out our other “...

Did You Miss This: In the last episode, Ep60 we spoke with wellness entrepreneur Greg Zuffelato about how he broke into the fitness industry from being a minister and leadership trainer.  Greg dropped a ton of knowledge about everything from selling corporate fitness to creating his own health bar. About My Amazing Guest Start with the problem you want to solve and great things can come from it.  That's what happened when software architect my next guest Hani Mourra did when he stepped up to work with online marketer Sean Malarkey know for the Money Pillow Podcast and Linked influence to edit some video for him at no charge. Hani was already making online video but there was something missing in the process.  When he discovered what that missing component was he developed software to provide the solution.  Then he gave that solution to Sean and Simple Video press was born.  Hani has now created Simple Podcast Press to solve a similar issue for podcasters. Here are the highlights of my conversation with Hani: *  Hani shares how his blogs about video got him to create a video software which triggered the birth of Simple Video Press. His aim was to make life easier for anyone who uploads to YouTube. *  Hani talks about the importance of feedback from your customers or even potential customers.  He describes his system and how he used an existing email list, beta testers and a list of questions when developing Simple Podcast Press. *  Hani explains the incredible timing of being the first person out of a group 30 or so to say yes to Sean Malarkey’s Facebook message to edit a video. Find out how this “Yes” changed Hani's life. * The biggest mistakes podcasters make during their launch. *  We cover monetizing strategy so if you are thinking about building a product you're going to want to jump to this section for ideas on how you can maximize profit by providing more value Apps We Mentioned Clammr  Periscope To Connect with Hani : Courses & Deals The Social Strategy Academy is where you can take the podcast information you receive here to the next level with customized training and toolkits.  Not only do you get extended versions of the podcast but there are free templates that you can literally just put your name on and use.  I take you step by step through some of the most asked questions and skill needed to succeed online and in business. Click the image above to visit our sponsor and download the free sponsorship toolkit while it's still available. Just follow this link and enroll in the free course Sponsorship Toolkit.  <= Click Here Deals for Podcasters I've worked out an exclusive deal with Spreaker and seriously I'm the only one right now that can offer this deal. When you click on the Spreaker banner of the image this post you will automatically get a 30 Day trial for any of the Pro packages Spreaker offers.  Not just a free Broadcaster account but up to the $119 a month account usually reserved for radio stations. Just use Promo Code: VRPODBEANFREE when you sign up.   At the end of the trial you still have the free option so it's a no brainer.  For more details and to check out our other “

Greg Zuffelato’s passion for helping people to be healthy and to get more out of life has led to the founding of two companies: Too Busy To Eat and BizFit, a Corporate Wellness company. In both companies, Greg uses nutrition to change the lives of people all over the world. Here are the highlights of my conversation with Greg: * Greg shares how he got into nutrition and fitness. From being quite the lanky college basketball player, he gained 70 lbs. in two years after college. He just knew he had to shape up, literally, so his struggle with weight became his starting point in this career. Listen as well as he talks about how a friend challenged him to make it into a viable business. * Greg’s background from being an athlete, his college background on chemistry and physics, then moving on to become a pastor and counselor. He shares how it was the right blend to succeed in the nutrition and fitness arena where providing effective help, coaching and support are essential to keeping that weight off. * Greg talks how his nutrition bars came into being. Interestingly, 75% of people who join his fitness program are moms who are trying to reclaim themselves but are just too busy. This superfood is vegan and best of all, moms can give it to their children and its taste is good enough that kids could like it. * Greg shares the nitty- gritty details of coming up with a nutrition bar. He talks about where to find the people who specialize in this field, from his idea to their execution of the idea, to manufacturing then to marketing. Watch out for how Greg did it with an amazingly low capitalization. * How does one break ground in the nutrition and fitness business? Greg shares how he chooses his campaign locations, how he reaches out to specific niches such as moms, educators and corporate business people. His packaging of the fitness business on the corporate level is an eye opener on the spectrum of opportunities that this niche can offer. Getting the product to the right people is always a dilemma too. Greg shares how he does it through persistence. Listen to him talk about how his type of persistence works. * Greg explains when to use motivation and when to use information. He shares the importance of knowing the difference when giving speeches on self-improvement or getting people to join wellness programs or simply presenting a fitness program to a corporation. * Greg shares how social media has helped his business. Referral program is good but Greg finds it clunky. Listen how he analyzes the pros and cons of marketing using webinar, email and simple ads in social media. He has a refreshing view of the webinar that is not mainstream thought right now but he makes his point there. * Greg shares his experiences when he was launching his first business and the fallacy of the perception of overnight success. With overnight success goes a lot of day to day hard work. Listen to him talk about financial freedom, how he views 6-figure income and how one should weigh this against how much time and effort are actually poured into this 6-figure income. Books We Mentioned * Compound Effect by Darren Hardy * 10X Rule by Grant Cardone To Connect with Greg Online: Just follow this link and enroll in the free course Sponsorship Toolkit.  <= Click Here

Zero to $100k in 12 months sounds pretty crazy.  I have to admit there was some scepticism when I first learned about Kavit and his company through a referral from a fellow podcaster Fabienne Raphael ( EP44 ) that I should have him on the show.  Well Kavit quickly dispatched that doubt by breaking down the process he used to help people achieve that level of success.  I asked Kavit to talk about one of his case studies and whilst he was describing how he helped Keturah I looked her up and found her brand online.  It's called Trapped to Transformed and you can jump ahead and listen about the case study here => Kavit helped this struggling Mom go from zero to $100k in 12 months and it was obvious she was doing well with her brand.  If you visit the site you'll witness the well thought out process and strategies spelled out in this interview.  In addition Kavit breaks down how to build a successful a coaching business and stand out from other coaches by showing us all how to find clarity around our messaging. A few things you will discover in this interview * The importance of discovering clarity in your vision for where you want your business to be. * How much simple actions that others won't take can pay off big. * What booking music gigs can teach you about selling and marketing yourself by celebrating others. In the last episode, #58, http://vernonross.com/shola-abidoye/ you heard from Shola Abidoye digital nomad and Start-up entreprenure talk about controllable, repeatable, scalable, predictable results.” To Connect with Shola Online:   Just follow this link and enroll in the free course Sponsorship Toolkit.  <= Click Here The Social Strategy Academy is where you can take the podcast information you receive here to the next level with customized training and toolkits.  Not only do you get extended versions of the podcast but there are free templates that you can literally just put your name on and use.  I take you step by step through some of the most asked questions and skill needed to succeed online and in business. Click the image below to visit our sponsor and download the free sponsorship toolkit while it's still available.         Become a Patron Become a Patron – Just Like NPR's Spring Fund Drive => Can I get a $Buck a month? <= Podbean – http://podbean.com Use Promo Code: VRPODBEANFREE for 30 days unlimited podcasting. Friends of the Podcast Podbean is the latest service to join as a friend of the show.  Check out Podbean for a free account which gives you a full 30 days of Unlimited podcast hosting for free. Just use Promo Code: VRPODBEANFREE when you sign up.   At the end of the trial you still have the free option so it's a no brainer.  For more details and to check out our other “Friends of the Podcast” <= Click the Link                

Shola Abidoye is the world's #1 expert in CRSP™  Which stands for – controllable, repeatable, scalable, predictable.  This applies to the area digital sales growth.  Like most successful serial entrepreneurs been involved in several successful ventures with incredible growth rates in profit. It's not surprising that being a trained economist educated at Oxford University and KTI in Sweden that she's been able to achieve the level of success she has and truly live the digital nomad lifestyle in Baja Mexico.  Shola's current company ConverPort her team helps entrepreneurs convert clicks into lead and ultimately into customers. I think Shola offers an interesting perspective on how to approach online business that's not from a blogger perspective.  She's providing a valuable software as a service (SAS)system to make sustainable and stable income.  A major challenge for anyone wanting to cut the cord from the corporate grind. Not only is Shola a great business woman but a master networker.  She reminds us that it's not just important to focus on people you meet at conferences and in business but the people you knew in High School and College. Insights By Shola * A big part of business is leveraging parts of social relationships that may not be obvious to you at first. * Paying for visibility shows how smart of a business you are it doesn't show defeat. * Understanding that you can learn from everyone that you're around.  You don't have to go to fancy schools to be a great entrepreneur. * How to get crystal clear on what your goals are and what you need to focus on. To Connect with Shola Online: Webinar's This Week Did you miss the Webinar with Steve Stewart? We went for over 75 minutes talking about everything podcast sponsorship. Check out Steve's program here: http://stevestewart.me/vernon           The Webinar Replay has ended but you can still check it out.  Just follow this link and enroll in the free course Sponsorship Toolkit.  <= Click Here The Social Strategy Academy is where you can take the podcast information you receive here to the next level with customized training and toolkits.  Not only do you get extended versions of the podcast but there are free templates that you can literally just put your name on and use.  I take you step by step through some of the most asked questions and skill needed to succeed online and in business. Click the image below to visit our sponsor and download the free sponsorship toolkit while it's still available.         Become a Patron Become a Patron – Just Like NPR's Spring Fund Drive => Can I get a $Buck a month? <= Podbean – http://podbean.com Use Promo Code: VRPODBEANFREE for 30 days unlimited podcasting. Friends of the Podcast Podbean is the latest service to join as a friend of the show.  Check out Podbean for a free account which gives you a full 30 days of Unlimited podcast hosting for free. Just use Promo Code: VRPODBEANFREE when you sign up.

Productivity hackers rejoice! My friend and guest for this episode will surely feed your cravings as he shares to us his arsenal of tools that would surely delight you all. We actually get into what I think is an interesting and well needed conversation about valuing our 9-5 job (for a change) and the way we use them to fund our side hustles.  Actually I like to think of my main job as a side hustle that pays for what I really love to do.  How do you see your main day job? When hanging out with Harry in Vegas I learned more about Slack and why I should be using it.  in addition Harry drops the knowledge about even more services he uses to stay on top of his game and manage his time.  A few of the ones mentioned were: Fancy Hands, TaskRabbit, Fiber, Pocket, IFTTT, Luxe, and as I mentioned Slack. Here are the highlights of my conversation with Harry: * Harry’s origins (Kind of like a superhero) and his background as a DJ.  We touch on how this became his first entrepreneurial exploit in New York and when he finally decided that being a DJ is simply a hobby and is not going to be his main income stream.  However it's still his passion. * Being in the corporate for more than 20 years from banking, finance and customer service and moving to consulting selling high end data management tools. * The lessons he learned from corporate including misconceptions about our 9-5 jobs and his advice about putting things into perspective.  Trust me this was golden! * His thoughts about balancing a corporate job and projects on the side. * We talk his latest company FullCast and share the things he learned from highly successful entrepreneurs including managing outsourcing. * Being a productivity hacker, a Twitter social strategy you should hear about, and a range of productivity tools that Harry uses which you can absolutely revolutionize how you spend your time. Amazing Advice * There are a lot of misconceptions that corporate jobs are the evil empire. What a lot of people don’t realize is that, it allows you to have disposable income allowing you to try out different things. * Your job should be able to fund your hobbies. Stop holding out for some exit strategy and being resentful. (This hit home for me) * There is no reason in the world to kill your golden goose just to prove to someone that you can do it on your own. At the end of the day, the only people who we should be measuring up to are your spouse and the family. Quotables * I am a firm believer that I should be around people smarter than I am. * Pay experts at what they do and let them do their genius. You should focus on building your business. * Email is a collection of other people’s agendas. To Connect with Harry Online:   Become a Patron Become a Patron – Just Like NPR's Spring Fund Drive => Can I get a $Buck a month? <= Podbean – http://podbean.com Use Promo Code: VRPODBEANFREE for 30 days unlimited podcasting. Featured Sponsor The Social Strategy Academy is where you can take the podcast information you receive here to the next level with customized training and toolkits.  Not only do you get extended versions of the podcast but there are free templates that you can literally just put your name on and use.  I take you step by step through some of the most asked questions and skill needed to succeed online and in business.

In this episode I had the pleasure of spending some time with Shannon Martin, PodBean’s Director of Communications as we learned about this free to start podcast option offered by Podbean. Don't worry I'm not turning the Social Strategy Podcast into show about podcasting,  but there are some really interesting platforms out there that fall under the online business category and this one is worth talking about.  Podbean offers a free option to get started in podcasting and of course a free option once you've decided to publish a show more often. One of the more interesting topics we covered and it's a feature of Podbean's service is the ability to offer premium content to your users right in in the platform.  You can actually segment particular episodes based on the amount of value they offer behind a paywall.  Really interesting stuff! Now it would be me if I didn't get background on the guest and how she ended up doing her thing in Shanghai which was my favorite part of this interview. Here are the highlights of my conversation with Shannon: * How Shannon ended up in Shanghai and how it is being location-independent.  We also talk about how she came to join PodBean while looking for an outlet to practice her communications skills while abroad. * PodBean’s pricing tiers, the difference between regular and premium podcast, and how podcasters can go about moving from hosting their own feed to migrating from WordPress, * What people can expect if they decide to switch to PodBean and host their shows through this platform including gaining promotions through their website and other social media channels, * The built in feature of having patrons for you podcast. Built in Patrons Who Can Contribute In-App This feature had me really excited about podbean.  Think about it if you get people to download the podbean app or just listen to your show on the app the listener has the ability to click “become a patron” right in the app or on the site.  It's much better than going out to a different website that you have to setup another account then build out another platform to promote on.  With crowdfunding as a native feature of the app and site everything can be done in one place and it becomes seamless to contribute. Most podcasters talk about and have issues monetizing shows and this is a real option to get your audience involved in the success of your podcast. We also covered: * Shannon’s thoughts about paid versus free content, and how podcasters should start digging in to what value they can offer before deciding to offer premium to listeners. * Different models to promote and grow your podcast including crowdfunding and sponsorships, along with some of the pros and cons that come with each. * The help Podbean extends to help podcasters in getting their shows found including providing tips in SEO, featuring them in the website and promoting them through social media. Often after talking with vendors about a product or service that I'm excited about I'll get asked if I want to promote it.  I get offers actually all the time to promote products to you that don't apply to what i feel your interest are so for most the answer is no.  However we do have a friends of the podcast section for the collection of products I find that are very helpful and could benefit your business. One of the reasons I was most excited about Podbean is one of my Mastermind Members is wanting to start a podcast but didn't want to over commit with equipment or services.  Podbean is perfect for her and getting her started for free with her short form podcast and then if she decides podcasting really fits with her business model (you can guess how I fell) then she can continue with a unlimited plan that's under $9 a month.  Yes that's right it's under $9 a month for unlim...

For this episode, I hook up with my buddy, Jared Easley host of Starve the Doubts Podcast and the co-founder of the Podcast Movement.  We have an enlightening conversation on sharing your journey and not just successful stories but sharing the challenging stories. It's those stories that helps people connect to you and gives them hope there's light on the other side of struggle. We also talk about Podcast Movement and even throw out some very valuable social media tips that you can use to improve how you engage with your audience. One of the thoughts of wisdom that Jared shared was how noticing other people can be a gift to them.  That acknowledge the people around you and take the time to let them know you see them and hear them and how much of a positive impact that small point in time that you noticed someone else can make such a huge difference  in someone's life. Below are the highlights of my conversation with Jared: * Where Jared picked up his skills as a consummate promoter, purveyor of other people’s businesses and how that's made a difference in his online presence and his podcast. * His account of one of the most challenging moment in his life and how it motivated and drove him to work for success, and how an email from a listener encouraged him to reciprocate the gesture to help and lift other people up. * The value of being humble enough to share your life stories for people to be able to relate to you and how other , like our former guest Patrice Washington, can attest that this gesture can get you to connect to people. * About the interviews that he had when he was starting off, the value he got from them and the strategies he put in place for his podcast to take off. * Our discussion about getting random people in the show, even those which are not big names, and how it can surprise you in terms of the traffic they can generate and how they can engage you with their communities. * About Podcast Movement and how Jared lands the lineup of speakers for these events, including building rapport with the key players in the industry to get more people on board; and his big reveal on yet another grand keynote speaker for this year’s conference. * Sharing our thoughts about how we feel towards social media and being treated simply as a number, and his own personal Twitter strategies. Quotes from Jared: * If you are willing to do the work, if you are willing to get your hands dirty, if you are willing to genuinely notice other people that you want to serve and do business with, that’s how to start to create momentum. * You can start changing your life if you can start getting a little bit of the community and start getting advice. * Don’t judge a book by its cover. * Just because you are not in a certain level with a person, don’t write them off because you just don’t know where they are going. * I like to treat people like they’re friends. I don’t like to be treated like I am a follower. When you treat me like I am a follower, that’s when I hang it up. To Connect with Jared Online: Featured Sponsor The Social Strategy Academy is where you can take the podcast information you receive here to the next level with customized training and toolkits.  Not only do you get extended versions of the podcast but there are free templates that you can literally just put your name on and use.  I take you step by step through some of the most asked questions and skill needed to succeed online and in business. Click the image below to visit our sponsor and download the free sponsorship toolkit while it...

In this episode I had the amazing opportunity to sit down with Reece Sims.  She's  a Personal Branding Strategist and host a very unique podcast with an equally unique name called – The Lovenoteworthy Show.  We discuss her journey towards entrepreneurship and the values of networking and creating your own opportunities. Here are the highlights of my conversation with Reece: * The events leading to Reece’s drive to start a women-focused podcast and about her aim to showcase women in leadership roles to inspire other women that they can be competitive in the business space as well. * The importance of networking and her tips on how to start and nurture connections as early as in college by joining different clubs, being in student government and being in activities which could broaden your reach even outside of your university. * Where her income streams come from and the value of always having side hustle. * Her three main reasons for building her podcast and about her engagement in Novus television and why she chose to spend time and effort in building a presence in this platform. * The value of creating your own opportunities, going to extra mile and coming up with your own initiatives rather than waiting, Notable Quote: Mentorship is a really important tool to help you validate and define what path you are going through and to get advice based on experience. A Couple More Pearls of Wisdom: Always treat everybody as a prince regardless of their status because you never know who knows the right person that you need to connect with. Creating opportunities is key and going above and beyond expectations is going to make people want to work with you. It shows that you are committed and that you are serious. To Connect with Reese Online: Check out Reese Sims on Novus TV: Books Mentioned in this Episode:  Work the Pond by Darcy Rezac –  http://shepalearning.com/ Featured Sponsor You can’t steal second base when your foot is still on the first is such a true quote.  If you're not learning then you're still on first base.  What will you do to win the game? Lynda.com is the place where you can start to change that and round the bases of growth with usable business knowledge that can have a direct impact on your career.  Starting today with a  free 10-day trial. Just go out to lynda.com/ross to get started today. Lynda it's used by millions of people around the world with over 3,000 courses on topics like web development, photography, visual design business courses and more. Friends of the Podcast To check out Spreaker for a free account or to take advantage or a 30 day broadcaster trial check out our “Friends of the Podcast” page for all the details. Disclosure: In the interest of full disclosure after my interview with Spreaker I agreed to help promote Spreaker.  I agreed because I love the platform.  Spreaker is a friend of the show and not a sponsor.

In this episode, I catch up with CorpNet’s CEO and Founder, Nellie Akalp, during new media expo NMX to talk about copyrights and trademarks and how they can be vital to your business.  In addition we covered the value of forming an LLC or a corporation for podcasters and bloggers. Nellie and I touched on things I've never really considered as a podcaster that normally would have done in my PR business.  For me this reveals the mindset shift that needs to happen when our blogs and podcast become an actual business. Below are the highlights of my short but information packed session with Nellie: * What a copyright is, what it protects, how other people can borrow your copyrighted contents and why you should still register and file the paperwork despite the automatic logo that comes with WordPress. ( This was shocking ) * What you should know when borrowing images from other sites or when using music ( Start @ [4:00] to hear about music) for your shows for your show so you don't end up in court. * Nellie got into this industry starting from buying domains and posting content in a website with her husband in 1997, growing their company with nearly a million dollars gross sales in 2005, selling the company out to retire but deciding to start back all over again in 2009 with their current company CorpNet where they help start up entrepreneurs in legitimizing their businesses. * What sets CorpNet out from the competition, from their pricing to their service, and how they engage through social media. * How they help entrepreneurs regarding the restrictions in setting up revenue streams via Amazon in some states through setting their businesses up as an LLC or corporation. Quote from Nellie: If you have a viable business that’s creating a revenue stream and you have assets that they can potentially come after, my recommendation would be to always do your due diligence if you are going to be utilizing content, images, music. Otherwise, you are going to be on the wrong end of a copyright or a trademark infringement. If you want to learn more on how to start a business, how to protect your personal assets, what liability protection is and how to protect yourself as a blogger or a podcaster, you can reach Nellie through the following channels: To Connect with Nellie: Links Mentioned: * CorpNet Website * CorpNet’s Twitter Page * CorpNet’s Instagram Featured Sponsor You can’t steal second base when your foot is still on the first is such a true quote.  If you're not learning then you're still on first base.  What will you do to win the game? Lynda.com is the place where you can start to change that and round the bases of growth with usable business knowledge that can have a direct impact on your career.  Starting today with a  free 10-day trial. Just go out to lynda.com/ross to get started today. Lynda it's used by millions of people around the world with over 3,000 courses on topics like web development, photography, visual design business courses and more. Friends of the Podcast To check out Spreaker for a free account or to take advantage or a 30 day broadcaster...