All Episodes

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 NotesRonald Gijsel TwitterYithEnable e-commerce data in Google AnalyticsAll in One ExportBuild Your Email List using ConvertKit with Angel MarieConvertKitSponsored by: Ahrefs | TextExpander

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 NotesBrian CasselAudienceOpsProcessKitProductize CourseSponsored by: Ahrefs

 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 NotesMaddy Osman | TwitterHow to Make Money on FiverrCGP GreyUsing Systems with Shannon ShafferLearnDash YouTube ChannelHow to write a kickass blog postSkillshare WorkshopsMillion Dollar ConsultingMaddy's WCUS Talk on UX AuditsGet your FREE Podcast WorkbookSponsored by: Ahrefs | TextExpander

 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 NotesSara Dunn | Twitter | InstagramSara Dunn and Niching Down, Part 1My Fountain Pen CollectionShow It Website BuilderProfit FirstCompany of OneAutomation Blog PostsUsing Systems with Shannon ShafferOptimizing Your Time with Erin FlynnGet your FREE Podcast WorkbookSponsored by: Ahrefs | TextExpander

 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!WP FeedbackDownload FestivalBuddyBossVova Feldman and FreemiusGet your FREE Podcast WorkbookSponsored by: Ahrefs | TextExpander

 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 NotesMatt Adams | LinkedIn | TwitterHourly Rate CalculatorAIGAProfit FirstWhen by Daniel PinkPandaDocGet your FREE Podcast WorkbookSponsored by: Ahrefs | Yith | TextExpander

 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 NotesNathan IngramMonster Contracts (get 20% off with code HIBI)Dealing with Problem Clients | WordCamp TalkWordCamp MiamiTrademark and Copyright with Rian KinneySponsored by: Yith | TextExpander | FreshBooks

 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 NotesErin Flynn | InstagramErin Flynn and Teaching OnlineJackie D'Ellia and What We Learned PodcastingFighting the Famine with Jason ResnickUsing Systems to Run a More Efficient Business with Shannon ShafferHourly Rate CalculatorBook: Start With WhySponsored by: Yith | TextExpander | FreshBooks

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 NotesGet ConvertKitBuilding Your Mailing List with Angel MarieHow to Set Up a Landing Page with ConvertKitPointing a Custom Domain to a ConvertKit Landing PageSponsored by: Yith | TextExpander | FreshBooks

 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 NotesAngel MarieConvertKitConvertKit on Facebook | InstagramHow to Set up a Free Landing Page with ConvertKitGet More Clients Using Content with Jessica LawlorSome 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

 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 NotesBen Collins | TwitterTeachableHave a Daily Schedule when Working from HomeSponsored by: TextExpander | FreshBooks

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 ShafferTwitter | LinkedInGet More Clients Using Content with Jessica LawlorLiquid WebDubsadoZapierClickupMilanoteLoomGustoSponsored by: TextExpander | FreshBooks

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 NotesPodcast Liftoff CourseGrowing your Business through Podcasting with Matt MedeirosEdison Research's Podcasting StatsYour First Podcast SetupPodcaster's Gift / Gear GuideStart with WhySponsored by: TextExpander | FreshBooks

 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 NotesMatt Medeiros | TwitterSouthcoast.fmPagelyMissing WPWeekly podcast, YoastGate, and 2020 plans! - The Matt ReportStart with WhySponsored by: FreshBooks | Creator Courses

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 NotesThe original Twitter ThreadJean Perpillant | TwitterSal Ferrarello | TwitterTopher DeRosia | TwitterBirgit Pauli-Haack | TwitterJonathan Bossenger | TwitterGetting Back to Blogging with Colin DevroeCheck out the memberships over at Creator CoursesSponsored by: SaneBox | FreshBooks | Creator Courses

 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 NotesJessica Lawlor | TwitterThe Write LifeAirtableClick UpNathan Ellering and CoScheduleRepurposing Content with Jaclyn SchiffRepurpose.ioConvertKitOptinMonsterHow to get More Comfortable Recording a PodcastBecome a Creator Courses MemberSponsored by: SaneBox | FreshBooks

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 NotesJason Resnick | TwitterLive in the FeastWooCommerceDiversifying Your Income as a FreelancerThe Imagineering WorkoutCurtis McHaleBecome a Creator Courses MemberSponsored by: SaneBox | FreshBooks

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 NotesThe Theme SystemCortex PodcastMy 2019 Yearly ThemePat Flynn’s AMP’d Up PodcastingMacSparky’s OmniFocus Field GuidePodcast Liftoff

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 NotesRyan WhiteRodeRodecaster ProRode PodmicOther Rode Mics: NTK, NT1-A, NT-USBGetting Good Room AcousticsAurulex Sound Panels | DeskMax$20 vs. $12,000 micTesting out the Rode Podmic Sponsored by: Cloudways | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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 NotesColin DevroeJujamaBarleyWriting is How I ThinkBad Reasons to Not BlogColin's personal blogging tipsZeldmanSeth GodinMicro.blogRepurposing Your Content with Jaclyn SchiffIndieWebChris Lema and Managed WooCommerce HostingThe Future of BloggingMastodonThe Talk Show | Daring FireballBullet JournalSend your feedback for 2020!Sponsored by: Cloudways | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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 NotesEnter the 1 Million Downloads Celebration Giveaway!Great Gifts for People who work from Home (updated 2019)Gift Guide for Podcasters (updated 2019)ATR2100Logitech C920Logitech BRIORode PodMicRode ProcasterFocusrite Scarlett Solo InterfaceAirPods ProAudio-Technica ATH-M50sThe FOCUSED CalendarAeropressHamilton Beach Thermal Coffee MakerBaratza Encore Conical Burr Coffee GrinderRook CoffeeCarlin Brothers CoffeeUNTUCKitStitch FixMack WeldonmeUndiesParks ProjectTOPO MatImprint CumulusPRONFC TagsWeMo Smart PlugsSonos OneWestern Digital My BookBackblazeNomatic BackpackeBags Professional Slim Laptop BackpackTech GridYETI TumblersAnker PowerCore SlimAnker PowerCore+ 26800 PD 45WWall Charging 5-Port HubAnker 30W PIQ 3

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 NotesSvetlana KouznetsovaSvetlana on TwitterCode of Professional Ethics for Captioners and Interpreters - Audio AccessibilityI want to hear from you! Leave your feedback here.Sponsored by: Cloudways | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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 NotesNathan BeckordFoundersuiteCodequestHow I Raised ItLet me know what you want to hear in 2020!Sponsored by: Cloudways | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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 NotesJaclyn SchiffPodReacherPodcast MovementAlex McClafferty & Productize.coThe GMail GeniusThe HustleTemi.comProductized StartupsTurning the Tables: Joe Casabona & How I Built ItOvercastPodcasting is the new BloggingSponsored by: Gusto | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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 NotesTevya WashburnStarfish ReviewsTrust PilotSPI 378: Amazon Book Marketing—Everything You Need to Know with Dave Chesson from KindlepreneurGet your free podcast workbookSponsored by: Gusto | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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 NotesGreg KobergerReadMeSwagger (Open API Spec)Escape Room FinderRon Swanson loves puzzlesAllie Nimmons and Freelancing / Mental HealthStartup Escape (Greg's Escape Room)Want to start your own podcast? Get our free Podcast Workbook!Sponsored by: Gusto | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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 NotesMicah RowlandFountainEpisode 54: The GiveWP TeamSponsored by: Gusto | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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 NotesBrian GillGillware2FA | 2FA plugins for WordPressEquifax PaymentFacebook FTC SettlementSponsored by: Gusto | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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 NotesTim Camposemail: tim@woven.comWovenLean StartupSponsored by: Gusto | Ahoy! | Pantheon

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 NotesAjay GoelGMassGmailEpisode 3: Brian Krogsgard and Post StatusJangoMailInbox SDKGatsby.jsG-LockSponsored by: Gusto | Ahoy! | Pantheon