SPI 516: The Numbers Are Vital, but This Is More Important

#775 Selling a piece of software you've created and grown can be a massive windfall. But where do you start if you have an idea for a tool or service but can't write any code? What do you need to know upfront, and what would working with a programmer or development team cost? In episode 772, I offered you a sneak peek at my newest software venture. Now, Dave Chesson and Bhanuka Harischandra of Surge Global are joining me to reveal even more about this project and process. Together with their incredible team in Sri Lanka, Dave and Bhanuka are helping me bring my vision to life. So, how do you decide if your idea is worth building and investing in? What are the hidden costs of developing and maintaining software? How do you build something that actually works and attracts users? Tune in to find out! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session775.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

10 Apr 202454min

#774 I get asked this all the time—if I were starting over with $1000 to invest in an online business, what would I do? And here's my answer—I would go offline. This always surprises people, but the approach I cover today is the most powerful way to begin your entrepreneurial journey. But if you want to set yourself up for success, the most important part of this process should happen before you spend any money at all! In this episode, I want to help you find the right niche for your skillset and identify the key elements that will give you a leg up. So where would my $1000 go? This is the part that surprises people the most because my budget would all go toward building relationships in the space I've chosen. So, listen in to learn how I would leverage the easiest way to meet people in any industry—attending in-person live events! Show notes and more SmartPassiveIncome.com/session774.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5 Apr 202413min

#773 How effective is the marketing copy around your products? For many entrepreneurs, this is one of the aspects of online business they struggle with the most. And the truth is, there are no shortcuts to great writing. So, how do we generate compelling stories and sales pages? There's no one better to answer this question for us than the godfather of modern copywriting himself, Ray Edwards. Ray is the author of How to Write Copy That Sells and Read This or Die. His expertise is priceless, and today, Ray delivers an absolute masterclass on marketing communication in the age of AI. You'll hear us explore his PASTOR framework to guide you through every step, from positioning your products to making sales and getting incredible testimonials. Listen in because Ray and I also share the most powerful ways to leverage tools like ChatGPT to take your marketing game to the next level fast! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session773.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

3 Apr 202450min

#772 Regular listeners know I love bringing you along for the journey as I start new projects. Listen in to get a first glimpse at the software venture I hope will provide a game-changing solution for a problem no one is tackling. I desperately need this tool in my workflow, and know a lot of other creators will benefit from it as well. So, what am I talking about? I won't share all the details in this episode, but you'll get a clear look at what I'm building. This is a fascinating process because, like many of you, I don't know how to write code. That said, this is not my first time dabbling in software. I'm taking everything I've learned creating Fusebox.fm, sharing it with you, and applying it to this project. I'm also building this to sell, so I get into the economics behind this venture as well today. Tune in, and enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session772.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

29 Mar 202420min

#771 What comes to mind when you think about recording video? Many people let their aversion to being on camera hurt the growth of their brands. Still, we all know we need to get comfortable with this to make the most of today's social media landscape! But where do you start as a complete beginner? How do you create consistently, and how often do you need to upload to YouTube to build an audience? For your online courses, what is the best way to plan and leverage videos? We cover all this and more in today's episode with my friend, collaborator, and frequent guest, Caleb Wojcik. As we're expanding the Expert in Residence program inside SPI Pro, we're enlisting Caleb as our go-to resource for all things video. Don't miss out because we discuss everything from a quantity-over-quality mindset for beginners to batch recording and easy editing! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session771.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

27 Mar 202445min

#770 Making your first hire is a massive step in your entrepreneurial journey! If you're onboarding your first employee or contractor or need a refresher on being an effective team leader, listen in because this episode is for you! Of course, I've often had Jess Lindgren, my executive assistant of over ten years, on the show. Go to episode 753 to uncover the lessons we've learned working together for so long! But what do you need to do on day one with your first hire? And what are the specific things you definitely need to check off in the first week of working with someone new? Today, I cover everything from onboarding and company culture to protecting yourself against scammers and employees going AWOL. And shout out to our SPI Pro member, Derek Miller of Genius Lab Gear, for inspiring me to cover this topic! Tune in, and enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session770.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

22 Mar 202415min

#769 Very few people work the same job their whole lives anymore. Even so, many of us still perceive having to change careers as having failed. But what if a new role is actually an opportunity? This is the topic of today's conversation with my returning guest, Barrett Brooks. In the decade since our last chat, he has had to reinvent himself several times to uncover the best use of his knowledge and talents. Listen in on this inspiring session because we highlight the ups and downs of entrepreneurship and provide a fresh perspective on career experimentation! I can't wait to share this with you because Barrett's wisdom on becoming a better person, leader, and employee is incredibly valuable—so much so that we've hired him as a consultant at SPI to help us learn about each other and work better as a team! Enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session769.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

20 Mar 202451min

#768 We need to talk about pricing. Specifically, we need to discuss how discounts are hurting your business! Don't get me wrong—special offers can work wonders for your sales. So why would we want to remove this tool from our marketing arsenal? Listen in on this session for a behind-the-scenes look at what we're doing at SPI and the cohort-based model that's replaced discounts for us! This has been an incredible business move and a massive boost to our student and community member success rates. Of course, offering products at a lower price point still makes sense in some very specific scenarios. Tune in to also get my thoughts on when to use discounts in your product lifecycle. Don't miss out on this one. Enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session768.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

15 Mar 202413min