The $100 MBA Show

Latest Episodes:

MBA1527 Focus on The Things That Don’t Change + Free Ride Friday May 15, 2020

Show notes

Entrepreneurship isn’t just about innovation. Sometimes, understanding that which doesn’t change is just as important.

Real long-term success requires a strategy that’s built around a few key principles; eternal truths about your industry that aren’t subject to the whims of the market. No matter what, consumers will always want their food to be tasty, their apps to be user-friendly, their trains to be on time.

So when you’re trying to come up with that unique “twist” on a product, start with the unchangeables.

Maybe your product does something in addition to the unchangeables. Maybe it addresses one unchangeable far better than the competition does. What your business does differently is crucial, but what consumers want to stay the same is equally so, and should never be forgotten.

If in the quest for innovation we forget the fundamental, basic needs behind our product category, we set ourselves up to flop. Today, we’ll share examples of those permanent truths, and how successful companies keep them at the heart of their strategies. Click Play!

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MBA1526 How to Get Great Customer Reviews Quickly May 14, 2020

Show notes

Your business needs good reviews.

These days, people don’t buy a paperclip without seeing how many stars it got on Amazon. We live in the “social proof” era, where consumer opinions carry far, far more weight than any of your marketing or advertising.

If people can’t find reviews of your product, it creates uncertainty, if not outright suspicion. More importantly, you can’t stop people from voicing their opinions about your product — and statistically, the haters are far more likely to post a review than the lovers.

Fortunately, there’s a way to make sure most of your reviews are positive.

We use a system that harnesses the social proof power of our happiest customers. By encouraging our “evangelists” to spread the word, we ensure that unhappy customers aren’t disproportionately represented, which is exactly what happens if you don’t take a proactive approach.

Tune in, and hear our system for cultivating good word-of-mouth with honest reviews from satisfied customers. Click Play!

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MBA1525 Q&A Wednesdays: Do I need an About Page if it’s just me and my EA? May 13, 2020

Show notes

Every business needs a website. But does every business need an “About” page?

Yes.

It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener who’s building their (very) small business website, and wonders whether showcasing his tiny “team” sends the wrong message. Can an About Page backfire, or make visitors take you less seriously?

Not if you do it right.

Today, we’ll discuss the real value of your About Page, and why it’s critical for traffic and SEO. We’ll explain what a good About Page needs, and how to tailor one for smaller businesses – even those run by solopreneurs.

Don’t miss out on the marketing potential of your website’s About Page – no matter how small your company is at the start. Click Play!

To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.

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MBA1524 Add-Ons In Your Business The Right Way May 12, 2020

Show notes

Ever get annoyed when businesses try to tack on little upsells?

What if we took a different approach, one that puts added value first and added revenue second? That’s a better way to approach the optional features customers can add to your product – or not.

Today, we’ll explain how to determine what should be the core base of your product, and what should be reserved for add-ons, as well as how to package and sell those add-ons in a way that doesn’t feel scammy.

These aren’t one-time upsells, but permanent or recurring benefits that are genuinely worth the added investment for some, but not all, of your customers.

We’ll discuss the best times and ways to offer add-ons, as well as the difference between add-ons and pricing tiers. Plus, we’ll share some examples of add-ons done right from successful companies. Click Play!

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MBA1523 Must Read: Remote by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson May 11, 2020

Show notes

The book isn’t new, but the review is timely. This is the best guide to running a remote team available, from two guys who helped pioneer and popularize the concept.

Fried and Hansson are the co-founders of Basecamp, the tool we use here at The $100 MBA to coordinate the work of about two dozen employees on four different continents. Their approach can be described as radical, and the pair haven’t always made friends with their committed approach to letting people work from home.

But now might be a good time to revisit their advice.

This book will help you understand how to make remote work work. More importantly, it explains why; whatever happens with COVID-19, many businesses will have the option of not going back to normal…and that can be a really, really good thing.

Learn why remote work isn’t just necessary in a crisis, but preferable all the time. See what pitfalls are common, and how to address them. Start planning your company’s transition to a fully (or partially) remote team long-term. Click Play!

Remote by Jason Fried and David Heinemeier Hansson

Discover all our must-read book reviews at https://100mba.net/bookreviews.

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MBA1522 Set Up a Home Office on a Budget + Free Ride Friday May 08, 2020

Show notes

Our company has always been remote, and we’ve always worked from home.

With millions suddenly forced to do business from the same building they live in, we figured a little advice on effective home office setup might be helpful. The good news? It’s pretty easy, and not that expensive.

If you’re used to working in a conventional office, you may not be going back to it for a long time — or ever.

That’s not because COVID-19 won’t be under control; it will be, sooner or later. But the benefits of remote work for employees and employers will remain. Remote work was always an excellent alternative for many businesses; coronavirus just forced many of us to give it a try.

You might not want to go back!

You don’t have to spend thousands of dollars for a professional, comfortable, productive home office space. Even if you have to buy a few furnishings and pieces of equipment, a modest investment can create a perfectly efficient space you might actually prefer to your good ol’ cubicle.

Today, we’ll share our best tips for the perfect setup, with loads of specific recommendations (we hope you like IKEA). Remote work can be liberating, especially if you plan the space right. Click Play!

IKEA Micke Desk

IKEA Skarsta Desk

IKEA Linnmon Table

IKEA Kullaberg stool

Asus monitors

Light & Glo Candles

Google Home Mini

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MBA1521 First Steps In Setting Up a YouTube Channel May 07, 2020

Show notes

YouTube: ignore it at your peril.

It’s the world’s second largest search engine, and its content often dominates the results of that other search engine. It’s a powerful marketing channel, as powerful as any blog or social media account.

So how do you get started?

Today, we’ll explain how to get your own YouTube channel up and running with minimal hassle. With step-by-step instructions and loads of online resources, you can claim your space on this increasingly vital platform.

We’ll discuss how to manage realistic expectations, and how “standing out” on this very crowded platform is less important than finding your niche. With a reasonable investment of time and effort, you can reap major traffic from YouTube — even if you’ve never shot a video before. Click Play!

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MBA1520 Q&A Wednesdays: I Want To Sell My Books. Do I need a Website? May 06, 2020

Show notes

Standing out as a writer is tough.

Fortunately, you don’t necessarily have to shoot for the New York Times’ best-seller list. You just have to find your audience, and grow it. But for today’s authors, that begs the question: does Amazon help with that, or hurt?

Or both?

It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one of our listeners is a fiction author who’s not sure whether to even build their own website, since Amazon…y’know, exists. After all, most books are sold on Amazon, right? Is it worth the time and effort to build a site that just forwards people to The Everything Store anyway?

Spoiler alert, budding authors: do not rely on Amazon.

We get into the details on today’s episode. We’ll discuss why Amazon is helpful for authors, and the price you pay in return. We’ll explain how important your own website really is, and what you lose by not having one. We’ll also explain why even if you are selling books on Amazon, your own separate corner of the Internet is still a must..

Plus, we’ll discuss how the difference between physical books and e-books factors into the overall equation.

Amazon is a useful resource for writers and entrepreneurs of all kinds, but that doesn’t mean you should only market and sell there. Find out why, plus learn where to get some affordable help in setting up your own website. Click Play!

To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.

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MBA1519 How to Create a Demo Video for Your Product May 05, 2020

Show notes

No matter what you’re selling — product or service, physical or digital — a great video can be a marketing game-changer.

Videos are an efficient way to get attention, get your message across, and nurture leads faster. As content goes, video is almost as important as the written word these days, and will almost certainly keep trending up.

And by the way: it’s ok if you’ve never made a demo video before.

Today, we’ll explain how to craft short, effective, professional demo videos for your product. We’ll go through each step in the process, and take the intimidation factor out of the equation for anyone with something to sell.

We promise it’s easier than you think!

We’ll explain how to plan and execute your video with conversions in mind, and of course we’ll offer recommendations for hardware and software that makes it all a snap.

A good short video can be far-reaching and seriously impactful. Take the time to produce one or two, and you just might make it an integral part of your overall marketing strategy. Start with this lesson. Click Play!

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MBA1518 Guest Teacher – Angela Henderson – How To Use Human to Human Marketing In Your Business May 04, 2020

Show notes

You’ve heard of B2C and B2B. But H2H is still important, no matter what kind of business you run.

Angela Henderson is a business coach, keynote speaker, and podcaster who helps women business owners from around the world earn consistent 5-figure monthly revenue and multiple 6-figure years… without burning out in the process. Her focus on the human aspect of lead nurturing and customer relationships might sound a little analog, but that’s exactly what makes it effective.

Today, she’s here to help us understand how there’s no substitute for the personal touch.

If you’re looking to stand out in your marketing, and turn customers into lifers, H2H may be the ingredient you haven’t considered. People’s human interactions with your brand can define it in the long term, regardless of everything else you’re doing to grow your business.

In other words, while outsourcing, automation, and staffing are important for efficiency, those tactics have their limits.

Tune in, and let Angela explain why that phone call, that check-in, and all the ways you personally show up can make all the difference – even though you’re busy. Click Play!

Finlee + Me

Angela Henderson Consulting

BuiltWith

NerdyData

Discover all our must-read book reviews at https://100mba.net/bookreviews.

To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.

Watch the episodes on YouTube: https://lm.fm/GgRPPHi

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