The Solopreneur Hour Podcast with Michael O'Neal

He's "your Facebook ads guy's favorite Facebook ads guy".  And the one that the pros turn to.  On today's episode, we chat with Rick Mulready (http://rickmulready.com) about Facembook ads, YouTube ads, Instagram ads...you name it. We answer the question...is Facebook relevant anymore? Where you should be spending your ad money. How Rick would make money if he only had a $1000 budget, all in.

...and how to fix them. On today's show, I run down some questions featured on the Proudly Unemployable Facebook Group and answer them on the show.  Note:  This episode is straight FIRE...so don't burn your ears!  

If you're reading this you've probably had the idea for an invention. Have you wondered what's the best way to take your idea and make it into a viable product? Our returning guest for episode 359, Mr. Stephen Key, can help you. Stephen is an inventor extraordinaire as well as an author and a speaker. He rejoins The Solopreneur Hour to talk about what he's been up to since his previous visit a year ago, what he revised in his book One Simple Idea and what he's learned about the world inventions in his nearly 40 years as a solopreneur. More About Stephen Key If you missed Stephen's previous visit to The Solopreneur Hour find him here on episode 201. We dug into his backstory and how he's become the inventor and patent expert he is today. On this episode Stephen and I spend a bit of time talking about one of the three pillars of freedom: time freedom. There's a lot of discussion about being a solopreneur to create the income you want, not what is dictated to you. But sometimes we overlook how important and healthy it is for each of us to have time freedom. Whether it's taking a few weeks to spend with your loved ones for the holidays or going off with your family for 6 months like Stephen has done, that time freedom is truly priceless. And it's a gift many solopreneurs overlook because they aren't making six figures yet. On This Episode You'll Also Hear: * Why he likes knocking on doors. * Why you need more than just money to get your idea off the ground. * Why you don't need to reinvent the wheel with your idea. * How can you do a focus group without actually doing a focus group? * What is the best protection for a product in the marketplace today? * And much, much more! Time freedom and flexibility is something Stephen treasures, as is the knowledge he's gained in his nearly 40 years as a solopreneur. He's learned so many lessons like walking away from an idea or a project, and working smarter rather than harder. We discuss those lessons, as well as what's changed in the world of ideas and why Stephen revised his book, One Simple Idea. In the past pitching your idea meant creating a one page sell sheet, but today it means making a one minute video. It also means using crowdfunding and social media to test your idea, get proof of concept and connect with companies who would be willing to license it from you. Crowdfunding is so powerful because people speak with their wallets, before you put your product on the shelves. If your pitch is strong enough and the idea resonates with enough people you can get your idea funded. And if you have proper funding and a strong online audience companies will take notice; they will want to license your concept. Stephen gives the great example of the Woof Washer 360. Woof Washer 360 was an idea that all the big companies turned down. The inventor came to Stephen and his team who suggested he take it to social media and crowdfunding. A video was made, garnered 70 million views and a big licensing deal followed! On this episode Stephen answers the question of what he'd today if he were starting over with nothing, and what he'd have to show for his efforts after a month. It's an interesting scenario and what he says in response will teach you a lot about the solopreneur hustle. We've got all of that and more on episode 359 of The Solopreneur Hour. QUESTION OF THE DAY: What is the next thing you're going to do to get your idea made? Let us know in the comments below! Do you enjoy this podcast? If so, could you please leave a review here. I read them, sometimes on the show, and will reach out if you leave your Twitter handle!

on this Solopreneur 1/3 hour I catch you up on some news, talk about how to make a landing page, join a mastermind, and stop making excuses for why you haven't built your business or had your fun yet.

We focus so much energy around making more money, when it's really the time freedom that we seek.  Tune into this (abridged) episode to learn how important time freedom can be in your life, and how it should be your primary focus.

Today Erin Cell and I chat about what's working in 2018 for Social Media, chatbots, and Social Media Day Denver! Follow Erin @sociallypowered everywhere. http://socialmediadaydenver.com.  Use promo code "solohour50" for 50 bucks off your ticket!!  

The imitable Sunny Lenarduzzi (youtube for bosses http://sunnylenarduzzi.com/youtube4bosses) joins us for part III of the YouTube Masterclass series.  Today we talk some serious STRATEGY, channel optimization, apps, and tons more about how to get your first 100,000 subscribers. free webinar: www.bossyoutubestrategy.com guide: 0-100,000 in under 12 months www.sunnylenarduzzi.com/subscribers Resources:  http://sunnylenarduzzi.com/youtubechannelchecklist Apps to check out: Keywords Everywhere VID IQ Morning Fame

On this Topic-based miniseries, this is part 2 of how to create grow and monetize a YouTube channel.  This episode features the first half of my conversation with Brian G. Johnson, and we dig deep into how to initially set up your youtube channel, your brand and your artwork, and how to deconstruct the analytics for further growth. Find Brian G Johnson on Youtube: Brian G. Johnson TV on Youtube Tube Ritual, Vol.1 on Amazon Follow my new Youtube Channel (If you're a car geek) rennch.com/youtube

On this Topic-based miniseries, this is part 1 of how to create grow and monetize a YouTube channel.  This episode features the first half of my conversation with Brian G. Johnson, and we dig deep into how to initially set up your youtube channel, your brand and your artwork, and how to deconstruct the analytics for further growth. Find Brian G Johnson on Youtube: Brian G. Johnson TV on Youtube Tube Ritual, Vol.1 on Amazon Follow my new Youtube Channel (If you're a car geek) rennch.com/youtube

On today's episode (which is a DOOZY!) we celebrate 9 Million Downloads together.  (Warning:  This episode is FULL of actionable advice that you will probably end up taking to move your life forward...sorry about that.)

Welcome to episode 706 of The Solopreneur Hour! I love episodes like today's when I get to speak to not just one guest, but two. And today's duo is even better: they are a married couple who now run a super successful online business helping other couples do the same. Shane and Jocelyn Sams of Flipped Lifestyle are here to chat about what it's like to run a business together, what led them to create their brand and what's next. All of that and more on episode 706 of The Solopreneur Hour. More About The Flipped Lifestyle From the mountains of Kentucky, Shane and Jocelyn Sams have built an empire with digital products. But neither of them started out as entrepreneurs; in fact, it took a bit of proof to get Jocelyn on board! When they first struck out into the online marketing world they were both working full-time and raising their son (they have since had a daughter). Shane found podcasts and listened to one of Pat Flynn's Smart Passive Income episodes. He thought he had struck gold, Jocelyn wasn't so sure until one of Shane's AdWords accounts started making some money. It wasn't much, but it was enough to pique her interest. Until that point Shane had been learning about and trying numerous strategies to make money online. But Jocelyn initially focused on digital products and used what she already knew, lesson plans, to build a business. That simple strategy paid off for them; today they run several businesses together and earn multiple six figures annually. On This Show You'll Also Discover: * Does Shane miss coaching at all? * What is an 11 cent moment and why is it important? * The most common reason people fail. * What is the 168-hour calendar and how does it apply to business? * What book changed Shane's life? * And much, much more! The secret to their success is a simple formula they now teach other families with their flipped lifestyle business. That simple formula is this: take what you know, find an audience, find out what they need and create a product for them. Build a web site, get a payment button on it and go. It doesn't have to be perfect, it just needs to be good and it needs to help your audience. Using that formula for themselves and for their audience, their success blossomed. Initially they were selling a thousand dollars' worth of products, then it became five figures a month, then six. It didn't take long for them to leave their jobs (Shane was a history teacher and a football coach, Jocelyn was a librarian), and work from home together full-time. And that brought with it its own set of challenges. They learned how to prioritize their time, and how to work together and stay sane! To stay sane they simply take time apart. They may go to the gym together but Jocelyn will go to a class while Shane hits the weights. Jocelyn might run with friends, and Shane makes time for playing his X-Box with his brother. One of the key points they also share on today's show is the 168-hour calendar. We all have 168 hours in a week, it's the same for every single person on the planet. Shane and Jocelyn decided to map out what they do with their 168 hours. Using accounting paper with a grid on it containing 168 squares, they filled in each square with how they spent their time. They looked for places they could stop doing less productive things and add business-building time instead. While they were both still working full-time jobs they gave up cable TV and replaced that time with business activities and their family. It helped them leave those jobs, and it's a technique they still use today. On today's episode they share the impact this technique has had for them, their clients as well as the most common reason they see people fail with an online business and how they handled the logistics of being away at Tropical Think Tank for 8 days!

Today I go over 10 ways to monetize your solopreneur business, whether you're running a podcast, youtube channel, blog, or any other solopreneur biz!

Free Coaching Friday from The Solopreneur Hour! If you're new and don't know how this works here goes: once a week I ask you to send me your questions and I answer them on Friday. If you want to be part of the fun for next week's Q&A show join us in the Facebook group here or grab my free course called CONFERENCETOPIA.  Look for my post on Thursdays, write your question in the comments or respond to my weekly email, then listen in to the show on Friday! Thanks to every one of you for tuning in on a regular basis   Episode Resources The Art of The Interview Course Social Media Ninja Tactics The Solopreneur Hour on Facebook Want coaching with me? I Want SoloLab! The Solopreneur Hour on Twitter Proudly Unemployable, the Facebook group Leave a review of the show!

Joel Comm stops by the show to talk about his new book: The Fun Formula - How Curiousity, Risk-Taking, and Serendipity Can Revolutionize How You Work., in stores June 5. Pre-order Joel's Book Here On this episode we chat about Joel's career, and how "fun" is the connective tissue between all of his projects, between the Bad Crypto Podcast, or the world famous iFart App in App Store. Follow Joel on Twitter

In this "Free Coaching Monday" Episode, I define the acronym B.A.M., and how following it will all but ensure your solopreneur success.  I also discuss my new YouTube Channel, Rennch. Then I dig into your questions for Free Coaching Monday! Rennch™ on YouTube Rennch™ on Instagram