The $100 MBA Show

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MBA1107 How to Prepare for Growth + Free Ride Friday! Oct 05, 2018

Show notes

You’re about to blow up. Are you ready?

When big things are on the horizon, you have to prepare your business. “Catastrophic success” is real and dangerous, and businesses that aren’t prepared to handle a sudden spike in recognition and sales can founder. If you know your business is about to raise its profile, it’s time to gear up for the next level.

Today, we discuss how to get ready for when the attention — and the customers — start pouring in. We’ve got 5 specific bases you need to cover, so that sudden success doesn’t turn into suddenly losing your footing. You’ve got to make the most of those rare, golden opportunities to parlay big moments into long-term profit, so don’t miss your chance!

If you’re not ready, your business infrastructure can be overwhelmed. Your website can crash. Your payment processor can trigger alarms. Your inventory can be exhausted. Your ability to keep up when the good times start rolling is crucial to your survival.

Worry not, entrepreneurs. Sudden success is a good problem to have, and we’re here to help you navigate it. Click Play!

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Braintree

Stripe

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MBA1106 5 Ways to Save Money To Start A Business Oct 04, 2018

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What’s stopping you from starting your own business? If you said money, you’re not alone.

In fact, a lack of startup cash is among the primary reasons people never get their big idea off the ground. So how can you break free from a lack of capital, without resorting to loans or investors? How can you put together the scratch all on your own?

We know how. We’ve done it.

Today, we help you create your business-starting action plan. Our host Omar started his own first business one dollar at a time, while maintaining a conventional job. He learned from experience how to save up money and that create demonstrable progress towards the day you can actually pull the trigger.

Some of these methods are easier than others. All require sacrifice. But all get the job done. See which of Omar’s 5 methods can work for you. Click Play!

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Dave Ramsey

EasyCourse

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MBA1105 Q&A Wednesday: How do I validate an idea for a niche subscription box business? Oct 03, 2018

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The subscription box: it’s all the rage, as enthusiasts of all kinds sign up to get a fresh collection of hobby-specific goodies each month. But how specific can you get? How niche is too niche to sustain a profitable box-driven business?

It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a very targeted, extremely niche idea for a subscription box service. And while we always recommend finding very, very specific problems to solve, you still have to make sure there’s a big enough market to keep your company profitable.

So how can you find out?

Today, we discuss exactly how to test the waters, and gather the intel you need to determine whether your big idea has a big (enough) audience. We take our listener through some business recon, and explain step-by-step how to do the low-cost market research necessary to reach an answer.

Niching down minimizes risk, but you can’t go in blind. Find out how small the target can really be — Click Play!

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Wet Fly Swing

Wet Fly Swing Podcast

AdEspresso

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MBA1104 How to Quickly Create Tutorials for Your Product Oct 02, 2018

Show notes

When it comes to keeping customers, onboarding is everything.

Getting your customers immediately engaged with your product is key to reducing churn and getting a return on all your marketing and advertising investment. It’s also key to creating evangelists for your brand, as new customers become repeat customers and convince others to join them.

You don’t just need buyers — you need users. And you can’t have users without tutorials.

Today, we’ll show you how to quickly, efficiently create bare-bones, minimum viable tutorials that get the job done. No fancy effects, no bells or whistles — just fast, effective resources that’ll get your customers using your product and reaping the benefits. These tutorials are built for speed, without sacrificing efficacy.

With our tips, you can put your entire library of tutorials together in a day or two (or less!). These tutorials don’t require new website pages or a massive budget to create. They just require a (very) little time, a little know-how, and some of the helpful resources we use ourselves.

Get your tutorials done, and get your customers on board — quickly! Click Play!

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ZenDesk

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MBA1103 Guest Teacher: Kate Erickson- How podcasting can help grow your business Oct 01, 2018

Show notes

You know that podcasting is a powerful marketing tool. You know it can build brand awareness and accelerate the growth of your business. You know it works.

You’re just not sure how, exactly.

Well, we’ve got the special guest teacher for you. Kate Erickson is an authority on podcasting, having helped turn the EOFire (that’s Entrepreneurs On Fire) podcast into a multi-million dollar revenue generator. She’s also one of the brains behind Podcaster’s Paradise, the next-level podcast training program.

Kate’s here to show us 5 ways you can grow your business through podcasting. With these 5 totally actionable, totally achievable tips, you can stop dreaming and start ‘casting. But instead of simply talking into the mic, you can structure and promote your podcast in a way that’s specifically geared towards business growth.

Create something that will draw listeners. Turn those listeners into customers. Learn how to get your message out over the digital airwaves — and get access to a fee resource, courtesy of Kate. Click Play!

To get started with an incredible free podcast course, head to freepodcastcourse.com

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EOFire

Podcaster’s Paradise

John Lee Dumas Free Podcast Course

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MBA1102 Do Giveaways Work? + Free Ride Friday! Sep 28, 2018

Show notes

Everyone loves a freebie. But if you do a promotional giveaway, are you getting anything in return?

Contests, random drawings, and other giveaways are definitely fun, and they definitely generate some buzz. But if you’re not careful about how you implement your giveaway, you can end up simply…giving stuff away!

You’re a business person, not Santa. You want a return on investment.

So how can you make sure it’s worth it? Today, we discuss how to conduct giveaways designed to convert, not just build hype. We describe the kinds of giveaways that actually help grow your business, as well as the kinds that simply cost you money for no good reason. We teach you how to run your giveaway efficiently, so that it generates more than the prizes cost.

Remember, you want your audience to be interested in your business and product, not just the prize. What you offer as a prize is far less important than who you offer it to. You’ve got to make sure that your giveaways are targeted, not just generous.

Find out how to maximize the positive impact of a giveaway campaign. When done, right, it’s a fantastic business-booster. Click Play!

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King Sumo

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MBA1101 One Thing That Will 3X Your Work Productivity Sep 27, 2018

Show notes

Get. More. Done.

Every independent business person wants to be more productive. The more we get done, the faster our business grows — and the more time we have to enjoy the lives we build for ourselves. We’ve discussed a zillion productivity hacks on this podcast, from scheduling to single-tasking and more.

Today, we’ve got a trick from way out in left field. You probably haven’t thought of it. But when you hear it, you’ll see how much sense it makes.

This single strategy can triple — yes, triple — your output. It takes a little time to implement, but the results are way, way worth it. It involves something we all do every single day, and how to do it far more efficiently. Once we tried it, our productivity skyrocketed. And all because we took the time to perfect the art of…

Well, you’ll have to tune in and find out.

We’ll discuss what this strategy is, how to implement it, and offer a list of resources you can use to make it happen. What are you waiting for? How can you stand the suspense? Click Play!

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Mickey’s Typing Adventure

Text Expander

EasyCourse

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MBA1100 Q&A Wednesday: How do I know I can trust my customer support team with my company’s financials? Sep 26, 2018

Show notes

It’s a question every growing business has to face once they scale: can I trust new team members with sensitive information?

It’s Q&A Wednesday, and one listener is in exactly that pickle. Support staff in particular need to have access to banking details and other info you’d like to keep in-house. Is it a security risk? Are there ways to keep your information safe while still serving your customers efficiently?

We’ve got good news.

If your support system is set up right, the chances of staff doing something nefarious with your financials is extremely low. More to the point, it’s way easier to rectify (extremely rare) breaches of trust committed by support staff than it is to make up for poor customer service. You simply can’t afford to handicap support staff out of irrational fear.

To put it another way: support and service have to come first — but there are perfectly safe ways to manage both priorities.

There are scads of tools you can use to limit your staff’s access to company financials in a way that still allows them to do their job. We’ve got tons of “need to know” software that empowers your team to help your customers without giving them (all) the keys to the kingdom. Learn how to manage access without handcuffing support. Click Play!

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MBA1099 How Many Pricing Options Should You Have For Your Product? Sep 25, 2018

Show notes

Does one price fit all? Or should you offer different strokes for different folks? If so, how many different pricing tiers make sense for your business?

That’s the question we’re pondering today, as we discuss the number of price options you should present to your potential customers. It’s a frequently asked question, one whose answer depends on several factors. Your pricing structure has to communicate the real value of your product, while also empowering the customer to make their own choices.

Today, we discuss exactly how to nail down those numbers.

We help you figure out how to determine — and even more importantly, present — pricing options that will work for and entice your customers. We offer tips on how to reveal these options for maximum effect, using the psychology of comparative pricing to create a sense of value.

With this information, you can figure out what pricing options are most likely to attract, convert, close, and delight your audience. Click Play!

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MBA1098 Must Read: Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuk Sep 24, 2018

Show notes

Ready to take on social media marketing?

Gary Vaynerchuk is a teacher, leader, best-selling author, and an omnipresence on social media. The man is everywhere in the online entrepreneurial space. His book Crush It was an instant classic, and an inspiration to countless independent business people.

Now, he’s back with a sequel, and it’s this week’s Must-Read: Crushing It.

We love this book for several reasons, but mostly because it challenged our viewpoints. Anyone who listens to this podcast knows we don’t buy the hype when it comes to social media, taking a restrained approach to Facebook, Twitter, and the rest. But Crushing It forced us to reconsider our approach, and ultimately have a little more respect for the power of the medium.

We learned some things from Crushing It, and so can you.

Today, we discuss this book’s lessons on the usefulness of social media, how to choose the right platform for your business, and Vaynerchuk’s 7 principles of producing great content. Crushing It is the ultimate guide to personal branding, from a highly successful consultant, speaker, and thought leader. Hear what you can learn — Click Play!

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