Businessese

Translating the legalese and handling the fine print

Blog

By

54: Travel Blogging and Monetization with Amanda Williams

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

In our new “Unlock the Mystery” series, we're opening up the conversation about exactly how people make their money and where they struggle to help you get to the root of your relationship with money and reach your own earning potential.

Amanda Williams is the former-journalist-turned-blogger behind A Dangerous Business, a travel blog that aims to inspire people to fit more travel and adventure into the lifestyle they already have. Since starting her blog in 2010, Amanda has traveled to more than 50 countries on six continents from her home base in Ohio, and has been featured by major publications and websites like AFAR, The Huffington Post, and USA Today Travel.

Like many old school bloggers, Amanda didn't start out with a plan to make money, and she had no prior business experience. She now makes a full-time income travel blogging, and we're so pleased to have her on the podcast to discuss her monetization tips and evolution through the past eight years.

Diversifying your income streams is so important as a blogger.

-Amanda Williams

Tune in to hear about:

  • Amanda's trial and error process moving from sponsored posts and links to her current monetization methods
  • her #1 and #2 income earners
  • how she finds success with affiliate marketing
  • her insight into the travel blogging community and their conversations around money
  • Amanda's plans for continued growth

Resources:
A Dangerous Business
Amanda's blogging courses
Amanda on Facebook and Instagram @DangerousBiz
Affiliate Marketing with Angel Djambazov
The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling and The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Got monetization questions? We'd love to cover them in a future episode. Share them with us over in our private Facebook group, Businessese HQ.

You might also like:
Monetization Tips for Influencers with Jenny Guy
Our Top Money Lessons
Embracing Your Inner Salesperson with Nikki Rausch
Growing Your Business with Social Media with Lisa Lehmann

 

By

53: Unlock the Mystery – Our Top Money Lessons

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

money lessons

We need to talk about money.

We know, it's awkward. Money can be very taboo to talk about; people tend to tiptoe around the topic, shrugging off questions about profits and expenses, tensing up when it's time to state their rates. But as an industry, it's vital to share our experiences— both the mistakes and the triumphs— so that that we collectively learn, grow and move forward.

With the “Unlock the Mystery” series we're opening up the conversation about exactly how people make their money and where they struggle. We hope to help you, our listeners, to get to the root of your relationship with money so you can really get out of your own way and finally reach your earning potential.

To kick things off, we're getting personal: talking frankly about the money lessons we’ve learned as they apply to our businesses, our lives and what we have seen clients encounter. Listen in as we discuss:

  • our own history with money issues
  • what to invest in when you “can't afford” to invest in your business
  • ways to avoid wasting money
  • one thing every influencer needs to do to protect their ongoing income
  • tips for staying on top of your financial situation
  • some recommended reading (for those who like homework!)

Let's get this dialogue going! What are your ingrained money issues, and how do you deal with them? Join us over in Businessese HQ for discussion, advice and support from your fellow digital entrepreneurs. (Bonus: it doesn't cost you a thing.)

Resources:
Monetization Tips for Influencers with Jenny Guy
New York Times: Why You Should Tell Your Co-Workers How Much Money You Make
You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth by Jen Sincero

Hey. Enjoyed this episode? You might also like:

Six Steps for Successful Negotiation
Invest in Your Self: Mindset Matters with Queirra Fenderson
Mind Your Mindset: Interview with Don Jackson
The Financial Side of Your Online Business with Cathy Derus

 

By

52: Optimizing Your Pinterest Strategy with Kate Ahl

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

Like every other social media channel, Pinterest has changed a lot over the years— and changing algorithms means needing to update those marketing strategies. For many, however, Pinterest strategy sometimes takes a backseat, and can mean a lot of untapped potential for your business or brand.

Pinterest is very much like Google. It can drive traffic year over year… there's a whole different type of ecosystem that influencers can really tap into, not only to connect with their audience, but to connect with brands.

-Kate Ahl

Just how much untapped potential? We're practically rubbing our hands together, we're so excited to dive into that information with this week's guest, Kate Ahl. She's also sharing all her top tips for evolving your Pinterest strategy to maximize traffic and convert pinners into customers.

Kate is the owner of Simple Pin Media, where she focuses on Pinterest management for those looking to take that task off their plate completely so they can refocus those energies back into their business. In addition to this strategic content management for her 120 clients (with the help of her team of 35), Kate walks listeners through bootstrapping their own Pinterest marketing on her weekly podcast.

Long story short: Kate knows a lot about Pinterest.

Listen in and learn about:

    • the type of growth she's seen from clients once overhauling their Pinterest strategy
    • the relative importance of follower count as opposed to other metrics
    • how to determine your target audience, and how to get in front of them on Pinterest
    • Pinterest best practices, and the only penalty to keep in mind as you prepare your pins
    • when to update old pins, and when it's a waste of time
    • the pros and cons of using a third party scheduler like Tailwind
    • how your Pinterest hashtag strategy should differ from Twitter or Instagram
    • recommended first steps for new Pinterest accounts, or when converting personal boards for your business

What did we miss when it comes to your Pinterest questions? Let us know over in Businessese HQ, our private Facebook group for influencers and other digital entrepreneurs.

Resources:
simplepinmedia.com
The Simple Pin Podcast
Sign up for Kate's weekly newsletter
Kate on Instagram: @simplepinmedia
The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It by Michael E. Gerber
One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp

By

51: Celebrating Diversity with Hope McGrath

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

We're opening up conversations about diversity and race more than ever online, and yet it can seem like these topics are as difficult to navigate as they've ever been. We know that we want to advocate for change, but what does it mean to truly be an ally? When is it best to speak up and use our respective platforms and when should we sit down and listen?

We're so pleased to have Certified Transformational Coach Hope McGrath on the podcast to discuss this important topic. A multi-passionate entrepreneur, Hope combines her love of social consciousness, psychology, spirituality, wellness, fashion, and culture into her work. Her lifestyle platform Radiant Mix celebrates diversity from the mixed, multiracial experience through the lens of culture, style, parenting, and storytelling. Propelled by the current political climate, Hope created Radiant Mix as her way to talk about bringing racial dynamics together. She's also a board member of her family’s non-profit organization, H2 Empower, that enhances education and sustainable development in Africa.

People that are one culture, they can have the richness of that culture. But when you're of two or three cultures, you kind of flow between cultures, and that's a different storyline. So I think that's what I'm interested in talking about.

-Hope McGrath

Hope is co-hosting an international wellness retreat called the Tropical Transformation Wellness Retreat November 7th-12th in the mountains of Colombia. (Contact her using the email address in the resource list below and mention Businessese to receive a very special deal of 20% off your registration for the retreat!)

In this episode, you'll hear:

  • thoughts about the phrase “I don't see color”
  • the importance of speaking out, as opposed to being worried about saying the wrong thing
  • how to ask about the things you can't already know
  • how personal stories lead to dialogues and teaching moments with your children around race
  • how you can support the Radiant Mix and sites like it.

Let's keep the conversation going in our private Facebook group, Businessese HQ!

Resources:
RadiantMix.com
TropicalTransformation.com
HopeMcGrath.com
Contact Hope: info@radiantmix.com
@radiantmix on Instagram
Do You Really Talk to Your Friends About Race?
She's Black, but not Black, Black
Siddhartha by Herman Hesse

By

50 and Feeling Fine: 10 Lessons Learned While Podcasting

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | RSS

Time FLIES!

It's so hard to believe that we've managed to record and publish 50 WHOLE EPISODES of the Businessese Influencer Marketing Podcast. In that time we've become very familiar with our verbal tics, learned so much about the process of podcasting and interviewing, been lucky enough to talk to an array of amazing and inspirational guests, and received a ton of new book recommendations to add to our to-read pile.

It's also been a fast moving year in the influencer space, with changes in privacy regulations, disclosure policies, SEO best practices and attitudes around follower counts vs authentic engagement.

In this episode, we're celebrating 50 and feeling fine! Listen in as we discuss our ten favorite episodes and take a look back at the lessons we learned from each:

    1. 1% Infinity: Next Level Food Blogging with Bjork Ostrom
    2. Word of the Year: Reflecting on 2017, Ready for 2018
    3. Hiring and Growing Your Team with Shelli Warren
    4. The Financial Side of Your Online Business with Cathy Derus
    5. Invest in Your Self: Mindset Matters with Queirra Fenderson
    6. Monetizing with Affiliate Marketing with Angel Djambazov
    7. Selling or Acquiring a Business with Eric Nagel
    8. Monetization Tips for Influencers with Jenny Guy
    9. Creating Authentic Sponsored Content with Patrick Quinn
    10. Growing and Leveraging Facebook Groups with Brandi Riley

Hot tip: don't miss the end, we have a special treat for you with a delightful blooper reel.

Be sure to join us in Businessese HQ as we pass around some virtual celebratory cupcakes and champagne! We're so grateful to have had your company along the way and we can't wait for the big 1-0-0.