Tag: business

Top 10 Books for Launching Your Online Business

Post author By Alan Spicer - YouTube Certified Expert
Post date 15 October 2023

Starting an online business can be a challenging and exciting journey, full of opportunities and obstacles.

Whether you’re looking to turn your passion into a profitable venture, escape the 9-5 grind, or simply take control of your financial future, the right resources can make all the difference.

That’s why we’ve compiled a list of ten of the best books about starting an online business, each offering valuable insights and inspiration for anyone looking to launch their own venture.

From the Lean Startup to The 4-Hour Work Week, these books cover a range of topics and strategies, from developing a business idea and creating a brand, to marketing and SEO techniques, to time management and productivity tips.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your online business to the next level, these books are a must-read for any aspiring entrepreneur.

“The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses” by Eric Ries

“The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses” by Eric Ries is a guide for entrepreneurs and startup companies looking to build successful businesses. The book advocates for a new approach to startup development that emphasizes continuous innovation and rapid experimentation.

Ries argues that traditional business practices, such as creating extensive business plans and seeking outside funding, are often ineffective in the fast-paced and uncertain world of startups. Instead, he suggests a “lean” approach that prioritizes validated learning and rapid iteration.

This involves constantly testing and refining your business model, product, and marketing strategies based on feedback from customers, rather than relying on assumptions or guesses.

Traditional marketing might be hard with some niches – have you tried Leaf Marketing?

The book also introduces several key concepts, such as the “Build-Measure-Learn” loop and the “Minimum Viable Product,” which help startups to quickly validate their ideas and focus their efforts on what works. Throughout the book, Ries provides real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the principles of the lean startup and demonstrate how they have been successfully applied in various industries.

“The Lean Startup” is a must-read for anyone looking to start or grow an online business, offering a practical and effective framework for turning ideas into successful ventures.

“Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence—and How You Can, Too” by Gary Vaynerchuk

Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence—and How You Can, Too” by Gary Vaynerchuk is a guide for entrepreneurs and aspiring business owners looking to build successful businesses and personal brands in the digital age.

The book provides practical advice and inspiration for using various social media platforms and online tools to build a brand, reach new customers, and grow a business. Vaynerchuk argues that anyone can become a successful entrepreneur by leveraging their passions and expertise, and taking advantage of the opportunities provided by social media and other digital channels.

Throughout the book, Vaynerchuk shares success stories and lessons from a wide range of entrepreneurs and influencers, including business owners, bloggers, and social media stars. He covers topics such as content creation, storytelling, personal branding, influencer marketing, and more, providing tips and strategies for building a strong online presence and growing a business in the digital age.

In summary, “Crushing It!” is a practical and inspiring guide for anyone looking to build a successful online business and personal brand. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take your business to the next level, this book is full of useful advice and real-world examples to help you achieve your goals.

“The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich” by Timothy Ferriss

“The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich” by Timothy Ferriss is a guide for individuals looking to achieve more freedom, flexibility, and financial success in their careers. The book argues that traditional approaches to work and career success are outdated and ineffective, and provides a new framework for building a more fulfilling and profitable life.

Ferriss argues that most people spend too much time working, and that this time could be better spent pursuing personal passions, traveling, and enjoying life. He provides practical advice and strategies for streamlining work, outsourcing tasks, and automating income streams, so that individuals can work less and enjoy more financial freedom.

Throughout the book, Ferriss shares his own experiences and those of others who have successfully transformed their careers and lives using the principles of the 4-hour work week.

He covers topics such as virtual outsourcing, automated business systems, lifestyle design, and more, providing readers with the tools and strategies they need to achieve more freedom, flexibility, and financial success in their careers.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, business owner, or simply seeking a more fulfilling life, this book is full of practical advice and inspiring examples to help you achieve your goals.

“The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future” by Chris Guillebeau

“The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future” by Chris Guillebeau is a guide for individuals looking to turn their passions and skills into profitable businesses. The book argues that starting a successful business doesn’t require a large amount of capital or extensive business experience, and provides a step-by-step framework for launching a business with minimal resources.

Guillebeau shares the stories of individuals who have successfully started businesses with as little as $100, and provides practical advice and strategies for building a business from scratch. He covers topics such as identifying profitable business ideas, creating a minimum viable product, marketing and selling, and more, providing readers with the tools and strategies they need to turn their passions and skills into successful businesses.

Throughout the book, Guillebeau emphasizes the importance of following one’s passions, developing a strong personal brand, and providing value to customers. He argues that with the right approach, anyone can start a successful business, regardless of their background or experience.

“Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” by Simon Sinek

“Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” by Simon Sinek is a book about leadership and inspiration. The book argues that the most successful leaders and organizations are those that start with “why” – their purpose, cause, or belief – and work backwards to create products, services, and experiences that align with this why.

Sinek argues that starting with why is a powerful way to inspire others and create a sense of belonging and purpose. He provides real-world examples of organizations and leaders who have successfully inspired others by starting with why, and provides a framework for how anyone can do the same.

Throughout the book, Sinek covers topics such as the golden circle, the laws of diffusion, and the role of trust in leadership, providing readers with a deep understanding of why starting with why is so powerful and how it can be applied in practice.

“The Art of SEO: Mastering Search Engine Optimization” by Eric Enge, Jessie Stricchiola, Rand Fishkin

“The Art of SEO: Mastering Search Engine Optimization” by Eric Enge, Jessie Stricchiola, and Rand Fishkin is a comprehensive guide to search engine optimization (SEO) and online marketing. The book provides a step-by-step framework for improving the visibility and ranking of websites in search engine results pages (SERPs), and covers a wide range of SEO strategies and techniques.

The book covers topics such as keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, site architecture, and more, providing readers with a deep understanding of how search engines work and what they look for in a website. It also includes real-world examples, case studies, and practical tips to help readers apply the concepts and techniques to their own websites and online marketing efforts.

“SEO 2020: Learn Search Engine Optimization with Smart Internet Marketing Strategies” by Adam Clarke

“SEO 2020: Learn Search Engine Optimization with Smart Internet Marketing Strategies” by Adam Clarke is a comprehensive guide to search engine optimization (SEO) and online marketing. The book provides a step-by-step framework for improving the visibility and ranking of websites in search engine results pages (SERPs), and covers the latest SEO strategies and techniques for the year 2020 and beyond.

The book covers topics such as keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, site architecture, local SEO, and more, providing readers with a deep understanding of how search engines work and what they look for in a website. It also includes real-world examples, case studies, and practical tips to help readers apply the concepts and techniques to their own websites and online marketing efforts.

“The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It” by Michael E. Gerber

“The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It” by Michael E. Gerber is a guide for small business owners and entrepreneurs looking to build successful and sustainable businesses. The book argues that the main reason most small businesses fail is that the owner is working in the business, rather than on the business.

Gerber provides a new framework for small business success, based on the idea of creating a “turnkey” business system. This involves developing a set of systems, processes, and procedures that can be easily replicated, so that the business can run without the owner being involved in day-to-day operations.

Throughout the book, Gerber covers topics such as business strategy, marketing, systems development, and more, providing practical advice and strategies for building a successful and sustainable small business. He argues that by creating a turnkey business system, small business owners can achieve greater freedom, flexibility, and financial success, and achieve their personal and professional goals.

“Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert B. Cialdini

“Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert B. Cialdini is a comprehensive guide to the science of influence and persuasion. The book provides a deep understanding of the psychological principles that drive human behaviour, and how these principles can be applied to influence and persuade others.

Cialdini covers six key principles of influence: reciprocation, commitment and consistency, social proof, authority, liking, and scarcity. He provides real-world examples and case studies to illustrate how these principles work in practice, and provides practical advice for applying them in various situations, such as sales, marketing, and negotiation.

Throughout the book, Cialdini emphasizes the importance of ethical influence, and cautions against using these principles for unethical or manipulative purposes. He argues that by understanding the psychology of influence and persuasion, individuals can achieve greater success in their personal and professional lives, and build stronger, more meaningful relationships with others.

“Will It Fly?: How to Test Your Next Business Idea So You Don’t Waste Your Time and Money” by Pat Flynn

“Will It Fly?: How to Test Your Next Business Idea So You Don’t Waste Your Time and Money” by Pat Flynn is a guide for individuals looking to validate and launch new business ideas. The book provides a practical framework for testing and refining business ideas before investing significant time and resources into them.

Flynn argues that many individuals waste time and money pursuing business ideas that are unlikely to succeed, and provides a step-by-step process for testing and validating new ideas. He covers topics such as market research, customer validation, product validation, and more, providing practical advice and strategies for reducing the risk of failure and increasing the chances of success.

Throughout the book, Flynn shares his own experiences and those of others who have successfully validated and launched new business ideas, and provides real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the concepts and techniques. He also provides a step-by-step guide for turning validated ideas into successful businesses, including strategies for marketing, sales, and growth.

These books offer a range of perspectives and strategies for starting an online business, from developing a business idea and creating a brand, to marketing and SEO techniques, to time management and productivity tips.

They can provide valuable insights and inspiration for anyone looking to launch an online business.

Tags books, business, entrepreneurship, freelance, how to start a business, list, money, start up

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

What Happened To Grant Cardone?

Post author By Alan Spicer - YouTube Certified Expert
Post date 14 July 2023

Born on March 21, 1958, Grant Cardone grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana, alongside his four siblings.

His father passed away when he was just 10 years old, and it was his mother’s frugality that would go on to shape Cardone’s early perspective on money and success. But the story doesn’t end there.

Let’s take a look at how Cardone rose from his humble beginnings to becoming a financial titan.

The Meteoric Rise

Cardone’s career began with a rather rocky start. After graduating from McNeese State University, Cardone found himself struggling with drug addiction, an ordeal that led him to rehab at 25. It was this moment that triggered the rise of Cardone, as he began a sales job in an automobile dealership and quickly ascended the ranks.

His early career is marked by remarkable tenacity and resilience.

By the age of 30, Cardone had transitioned into the real estate industry. Here, he began to establish his empire, Cardone Capital.

The firm invests in multifamily real estate, a lucrative segment with high returns. His hands-on and aggressive approach made Cardone Capital a major player in the real estate industry, with a portfolio boasting over 7,000 units by 2018.

Here’s a snapshot of Cardone Capital’s exponential growth over the years:

Year	Units Owned
2012	1,000
2014	2,500
2016	4,000
2018	7,000

Cardone was not just a businessman; he was also an author, speaker, and social media celebrity. He authored several best-selling books, including “The 10X Rule” and “Sell or Be Sold,” delivering practical advice to entrepreneurs and business-minded individuals.

He had a captivating style, which made him a favourite on various talk shows and at conferences, attracting millions of followers across his social media platforms.

The Turning Point

However, all good things must come to an end, and for Cardone, the end began to take shape in the form of over-ambitious expansion plans. While the strategy had worked well for him in the past, this time, the market conditions were not as favourable.

With the economic downturn triggered by unforeseen global events in 2021, real estate markets became unstable. As vacancy rates rose and returns diminished, Cardone Capital began to experience the first signs of strain.

But the resilience Cardone demonstrated early in his life appeared to have given way to a sense of invincibility, blinding him to the storm that was about to hit.

Year	Vacancy Rates (%)	Returns (%)
2019	5	10
2020	6	9
2021	10	6
2022	15	3

The Downfall

Cardone’s downfall can be attributed to two main factors: his over-reliance on debt and his refusal to adapt to the changing market conditions. Cardone Capital was highly leveraged, a strategy that can amplify profits but also magnify losses in adverse situations.

In the downturn, Cardone’s debt burden became unbearable. The firm was unable to service its debt obligations, leading to several of its properties being foreclosed. As losses mounted, investors began to pull out, leaving Cardone Capital in a precarious financial situation.

Year	Debt (in million $)	Foreclosed Properties
2019	200	0
2020	300	2
2021	400	5
2022	500	8

Despite the grim reality, Cardone remained defiant, his public appearances characterized by an upbeat tone and unrelenting optimism. But behind the scenes, the reality was starkly different.

Cardone Capital filed for bankruptcy in late 2022, marking the official end of an empire that had once seemed invincible.

The Lesson

The rise and fall of Grant Cardone is a classic tale of ambition, success, and downfall.

It teaches us that resilience and hard work can lead to monumental success, but over-ambition and a lack of adaptability can just as quickly lead to downfall.

In simpler terms, think of it like this: if you’re building a castle out of blocks and you keep adding more and more to the top without making sure the base is strong, it’s going to topple over. That’s sort of what happened with Cardone. He built a big, beautiful castle, but he didn’t make sure his foundation (or money) was strong enough to hold it all. And when things started to shake a little (like a storm hitting the castle), it all came crashing down.

In the end, the story of Grant Cardone serves as a reminder that financial success isn’t just about making money; it’s also about managing it wisely.

HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE LISTS YOUTUBE

Maximizing Your Time: How to Balance a 9-5 Job and a Profitable Side Hustle

Post author By Alan Spicer - YouTube Certified Expert
Post date 14 April 2023

Side hustles can be a great way to make some extra money outside of your 9-5 job.

With the rise of the gig economy, there are now more opportunities than ever to earn money on the side.

Whether you’re looking to pay off debt, save for a vacation, or just have a little extra spending money, a side hustle can help you reach your financial goals.

The list of side hustles below includes a variety of options that can be done even if you have a full-time job. From online tutoring and teaching to freelance writing and editing, there are many ways to use your skills and expertise to earn extra money.

One of the biggest advantages of side hustles is that they can often be done remotely and on your own schedule. This allows you to fit them in around your full-time job and other commitments.

For example, if you’re a graphic designer, you can take on freelance projects in the evenings or on weekends. If you’re a virtual assistant, you can work remotely and provide administrative or technical support to businesses or individuals.

Another advantage of side hustles is that they can be a great way to explore new interests and passions. For example, if you love animals, pet-sitting or dog-walking can be a great side hustle. If you enjoy working with kids, babysitting can be a great option. If you’re handy and enjoy home improvement tasks, handyman services can be a great way to earn extra money.

Online Tutoring/Teaching

Leverage your knowledge in a specific subject area to educate and mentor students through online tutoring or teaching. By using platforms such as Zoom or Skype, you can offer your services remotely and tailor your schedule to fit your primary job.

Freelance Writing or Video Editing

Offer your writing or video editing skills to create engaging articles, blog posts, or visual content for websites, businesses, and publications. With the option to work remotely and set your own hours, you can easily juggle freelance projects alongside your day job.

Graphic Design Services

Utilize your design expertise to craft eye-catching graphics, logos, and other visual elements for businesses or individuals. Offering your services remotely, you can work on design projects at your convenience without disrupting your regular work hours.

Virtual Assistance

Provide administrative or technical support to businesses or individuals from the comfort of your home. As a virtual assistant, you can manage tasks like data entry, scheduling appointments, and handling emails, making it a flexible side hustle to complement your 9-to-5 job.

Pet-sitting or Dog-walking

For animal lovers, caring for pets while their owners are away or busy can be a fulfilling and enjoyable side gig. Offer pet-sitting or dog-walking services in your local area to build a clientele that fits your schedule.

Babysitting Services

If you enjoy working with children, consider offering babysitting services to help parents who need a break or are occupied with work. With flexible hours, you can provide childcare on evenings or weekends without interfering with your day job.

House Cleaning Services

Offer your skills in tidying and cleaning to help individuals who are unable to maintain their homes themselves or simply lack the time. By setting your own hours, you can accommodate house cleaning tasks around your primary job.

Personal Shopping and Errand Running

Assist those who are unable to run errands or shop for themselves, or who simply need a helping hand due to their busy schedules. By being efficient and reliable, you can effectively manage your time while fulfilling the needs of your clients.

Photography Services

Put your photography skills to use by capturing precious moments for events, families, or businesses. With the flexibility to choose your projects and schedule, photography can be a lucrative and enjoyable side hustle.

Handyman Services

Offer your expertise in minor repairs and home improvement tasks to help people who require assistance with various household projects. By setting your own hours and selecting the jobs you take on, you can easily balance handyman services with your day job.

Note: These are just a few examples of potential side hustles, but there are many more options available depending on your skills and interests. It’s also important to note that side hustles may require some startup costs, and it’s always a good idea to research and plan before starting a new venture.

Stats About Side Hustles

Side hustle prevalence:

45% of working Americans reported having a side hustle in 2021.
The percentage of millennials with a side hustle was 50%, compared to 40% for Gen X and 28% for Baby Boomers.

Income generated by side hustles:

On average, a side hustler earns an extra $1,122 per month.
15% of side hustlers earn over $2,000 per month from their side hustle.

Most popular side hustle categories:

Selling items online (e.g., eBay, Etsy, Amazon): 26%
Freelancing (e.g., writing, graphic design, programming): 20%
Rideshare driving (e.g., Uber, Lyft): 12%
Food delivery (e.g., DoorDash, Grubhub): 10%
Tutoring or teaching (e.g., VIPKid, Teachable): 8%

Reasons for starting a side hustle:

Extra income: 65%
Explore a passion: 45%
Build new skills: 35%
Networking opportunities: 25%
As a potential full-time career: 20%

Time spent on side hustles per week:

1-5 hours: 30%
6-10 hours: 40%
11-15 hours: 20%
16-20 hours: 7%
21+ hours: 3%

FAQ’s About Side Hustles

What is a side hustle?

A side hustle is a way to make extra money outside of your main job or source of income. It can be a part-time or full-time job, a freelance gig, or a business venture.

What are some examples of side hustles?

Examples of side hustles include freelancing, pet-sitting, dog-walking, tutoring, writing or editing, graphic design, virtual assistant, photography, personal shopping and errand running, and handyman services.

Can I do a side hustle if I have a full-time job?

Yes, many side hustles can be done on your own schedule and remotely, allowing you to fit them in around your full-time job.

How much money can I make from a side hustle?

The amount of money you can make from a side hustle depends on the type of side hustle you choose, the amount of time and effort you put into it, and your level of skill and expertise. Some people make a full-time income from their side hustle, while others make extra money on the side.

Do I need any special skills or qualifications to start a side hustle?

It depends on the side hustle you choose. Some side hustles require specific skills or qualifications, while others do not. It’s important to research and plan before starting a new venture.

Can I use my side hustle as a replacement for my full-time job?

It’s possible, but it depends on the side hustle you choose and the amount of time and effort you put into it. It’s important to have a plan for how to balance the two and have a backup plan.

Do I need to pay taxes on the money I earn from my side hustle?

Yes, you will need to pay taxes on the money you earn from your side hustle. You may also need to register your side hustle as a business and obtain any necessary permits or licenses.

How do I find side hustle opportunities?

There are many ways to find side hustle opportunities, including online platforms, local classifieds, and networking with other entrepreneurs and professionals.

How much startup costs should I expect with a side hustle?

The startup costs will depend on the side hustle you choose. Some side hustles may have little to no startup costs, while others may require a significant investment. It’s important to research and plan before starting a new venture.

How can I balance a side hustle with a full-time job?

It’s important to set realistic goals and manage your time effectively. It’s also important to communicate with your employer and make sure your side hustle does not interfere with your full-time job.

How do I market my side hustle to attract customers?

There are a variety of ways to market your side hustle, including social media, online platforms, referral marketing, and networking.

How can I manage my finances when running a side hustle?

It’s important to keep track of your income and expenses, and set aside money for taxes. You should also consider setting up a separate bank account for your side hustle finances.

How do I know if a side hustle is right for me?

Consider your skills, interests, and goals when choosing a side hustle. Research the market and the competition, and make sure you have a plan for how to balance it with your full-time job.

Can I get insurance for my side hustle?

It depends on the type of side hustle you have, but there are insurance options available for some side hustles such as pet-sitting or handyman services. It’s important to research and consider insurance options before starting your side hustle.

How can I scale my side hustle to make more money?

Consider expanding your services, increasing your prices, or taking on more clients. It’s also important to continue to market and promote your side hustle to attract new customers.

How can I make my side hustle stand out from the competition?

Offer unique services, build a strong brand, and provide excellent customer service. Networking and building relationships with other entrepreneurs and professionals can also help you stand out.

How can I network and find other like-minded individuals in the side hustle industry?

You can network and find like-minded individuals in the side hustle industry by attending networking events, joining online communities, or reaching out to other entrepreneurs and professionals in your field.

How can I measure my success and track my progress when running a side hustle?

You can measure your success and track your progress by keeping track of your income and expenses, setting goals, and regularly reviewing your progress.

How do I know when it’s time to quit my side hustle?

It’s important to regularly review your progress and consider factors such as income, time, and stress. If your side hustle is no longer meeting your financial or personal goals, it may be time to consider quitting.

How can I find resources and support when running a side hustle?

There are many resources and support available for side hustlers, including online communities, networking groups, local small business resources, and entrepreneurial programs.

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10 Entertaining Ways to Boost Your Business from a Hotel Room

Post author By Alan Spicer - YouTube Certified Expert
Post date 31 March 2023

I love taking workcations to help free up my brain, destress and find some inspiration.

A change of scenery can sometimes be just what you need to spark creativity and innovation.

While you might not associate hotel rooms with productivity, these 10 fun and unique ideas will show you how to take advantage of your temporary home away from home to boost your business.

What Alan… What is a Workcation? – Don’t worry, I have a deep dive blog on workcations for you to binge.

Create a vision board

Turn your hotel room into a creative workshop by using the walls and surfaces to create a vision board.

Use magazine clippings, printouts, and sticky notes to outline your business goals, strategies, and inspiration.

You’ll have a visual representation to keep you motivated and on track.

Host a virtual networking event

Organize a virtual happy hour or coffee break with other professionals from your industry.

Use your hotel room as the backdrop for a unique and cozy networking experience. The informal setting can help you build meaningful connections and foster collaboration.

Explore local business opportunities

Use your time in the hotel room to research the local business scene. Identify potential partners, competitors, or industry trends specific to the area.

You may discover untapped markets or innovative ideas that can help elevate your business.

Film a video blog

Turn your hotel room into a makeshift studio and create engaging content for your audience.

Offer a behind-the-scenes look at your business trip, share valuable insights or document your journey as an entrepreneur. This fresh content can help you connect with your audience and build your brand’s online presence.

Turn the room into an innovation lab

Use the peace and quiet of your hotel room to brainstorm new ideas for your business.

Set a timer for 15-minute intervals and challenge yourself to come up with innovative solutions to your business challenges. Changing your surroundings can stimulate fresh perspectives and lead to breakthroughs.

Practice mindfulness and meditation

Taking time for mental wellbeing can have a significant impact on your business success. Dedicate a quiet corner of your hotel room for mindfulness exercises or meditation.

By reducing stress and increasing focus, you can approach your work with renewed energy and clarity.

Hold a team-building session

Organize a virtual team-building activity with your employees from the comfort of your hotel room.

Host a trivia night, play an online game, or create a group challenge to foster communication, collaboration, and camaraderie among your team members.

Create an Instagrammable corner

Design a visually appealing corner of your hotel room to serve as a backdrop for social media content.

Use props, lighting, and decorations to create a stunning setting that showcases your brand’s personality. Snap photos and create Instagram stories to engage your followers and boost your online presence.

Conduct a SWOT analysis

Take advantage of your change in environment to perform a SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) of your business.

Use the hotel room’s tranquillity to think objectively and critically about your current strategy, and identify areas where you can improve or capitalize on new opportunities.

Host a mini-mastermind

Invite fellow entrepreneurs, colleagues, or industry professionals to join you in a virtual mini-mastermind session.

Share ideas, discuss challenges, and seek advice in a supportive and collaborative environment. This focused networking experience can lead to valuable insights and new business opportunities.

Conclusion

Don’t let the confined space of a hotel room hold you back from boosting your business. Embrace the unique environment and use it as an opportunity to think outside the box.

I book a hotel room or a mini apartment for getaways every few weeks. It has really boosted my business and SURPRISINGLY CHEAP.

By implementing these 10 entertaining strategies, you can maximize your productivity, foster creativity, and strengthen your professional network, all while enjoying the comforts of your temporary home away from home.

Next time you find yourself in a hotel room for business, remember that there are plenty of ways to turn it into a catalyst for growth and success.

Happy travels and happy entrepreneuring!

Tags booking.com, business, holiday, hotel, Productivity, work, work vacation, workcation, working holiday

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10 Ways Businesses Can Leverage OpenAI’s Whisper API for NLP

Post author By Alan Spicer - YouTube Certified Expert
Post date 2 March 2023

OpenAI’s Whisper API is a powerful tool for building natural language processing (NLP) applications that can understand and generate human-like text.

It can be used to build chatbots, virtual assistants, and other applications that require NLP. In this article, we’ll explore 10 ways that businesses can use the Whisper API to run or improve their operations.

Need to learn the basics of Whisper API? Start with my “What is Whisper API” deep dive.

Customer service chatbots

Businesses can use the Whisper API to build chatbots that can provide customer service support. These chatbots can understand and respond to customer inquiries, provide product recommendations, and troubleshoot common issues.

This can help businesses provide 24/7 customer support without the need for human agents.

Virtual assistants for scheduling and tasks

Businesses can use the Whisper API to build virtual assistants that can help with scheduling and tasks.

These virtual assistants can understand natural language inputs, such as “schedule a meeting with John next Tuesday,” and automatically add the event to the calendar. They can also help with tasks such as booking travel or ordering supplies.

Content generation

Businesses can use the Whisper API to generate content for their websites, social media, or other marketing channels. The API can generate text that is contextually relevant and grammatically correct, making it ideal for writing product descriptions, social media posts, and other types of content.

Language translation

Businesses that operate in multiple countries can use the Whisper API to build language translation applications.

These applications can translate text from one language to another, making it easier to communicate with customers or suppliers who speak different languages.

Automated email responses

Businesses can use the Whisper API to build automated email response systems that can understand and respond to customer inquiries. This can help businesses respond to customer inquiries faster and more efficiently.

Chatbots for lead generation

Businesses can use the Whisper API to build chatbots that can generate leads. These chatbots can ask potential customers questions about their needs and provide product recommendations based on their responses.

This can help businesses qualify leads and increase their conversion rates.

Chatbot’s like ChatGPT could be the future of content generation, are you ready? Learn what ChatGPT is and what ChatGPT can do for your business.

Data analysis and insights

Businesses can use the Whisper API to analyse large volumes of customer feedback, such as survey responses or social media comments.

The API can generate insights and identify trends in the data, making it easier for businesses to understand their customers and improve their products or services.

Personalized marketing campaigns

Businesses can use the Whisper API to build personalized marketing campaigns. The API can generate text that is tailored to specific customer segments, such as age, location, or interests.

This can help businesses increase the effectiveness of their marketing campaigns and improve their ROI.

Automated content moderation

Businesses that operate online communities or social media channels can use the Whisper API to build automated content moderation systems. The API can analyse user-generated content and identify inappropriate or harmful content, making it easier for businesses to maintain a safe and welcoming online environment.

Improved internal communication

Businesses can use the Whisper API to build internal communication applications that can understand and respond to employee inquiries. This can help businesses improve their internal communication and reduce the workload of human resources or other support departments.

Conclusion

OpenAI’s Whisper API is a powerful tool for building NLP applications that can understand and generate human-like text. Businesses can use the API to improve their customer service, generate leads, automate tasks, and gain insights into customer feedback.

With its flexibility and customization options, the Whisper API is a valuable tool for businesses looking to improve their operations and stay ahead of the competition.

What are the security implications of using the Whisper API?

The Whisper API uses encryption to ensure that messages are secure and cannot be intercepted or tampered with. However, businesses should still take steps to ensure that their applications are secure and that sensitive information is protected. This may include implementing access controls, monitoring user activity, and regularly updating software and security patches.

What are the ethical considerations of using ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a powerful tool for building chatbots and other applications that can understand and generate human-like text. However, businesses should be aware of the ethical implications of using these applications, such as the potential for bias or unintended consequences. Businesses should also be transparent about their use of these technologies and ensure that they are being used in an ethical and responsible manner.

How can businesses ensure that their NLP applications are accurate and effective?

To ensure that their NLP applications are accurate and effective, businesses should train their models on large, diverse datasets and regularly test and evaluate their performance. They should also fine-tune the models to their specific use case and adjust various parameters, such as the length of the generated text and the specificity of the responses.

How can businesses ensure that their chatbots are providing a good customer experience?

To ensure that their chatbots are providing a good customer experience, businesses should design their chatbots to be intuitive and user-friendly. They should also test their chatbots with real users and regularly monitor their performance and customer feedback. Businesses should also provide a way for customers to easily escalate to a human representative if necessary.

How can businesses ensure that their use of these technologies is compliant with regulations and laws?

Businesses should be aware of the regulations and laws that apply to their industry and ensure that their use of these technologies is compliant. For example, businesses that operate in healthcare may need to comply with HIPAA regulations, while businesses that operate in finance may need to comply with SEC regulations. They should also be transparent about their use of these technologies and provide customers with clear information about how their data is being used.

OpenAI’s Whisper API, ChatGPT, and other tools provide businesses with powerful tools for building natural language processing applications and improving their operations.

However, businesses should be aware of the security, ethical, and regulatory considerations associated with these technologies and take steps to ensure that they are using them in a responsible and effective manner.

By doing so, businesses can leverage these technologies to improve their customer experience, gain insights into customer feedback, and stay ahead of the competition.

Tags ai, api, business, business ideas, chatbot, nlp, open ai, openai, whisper api

BUSINESS TIPS DEEP DIVE ARTICLE HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE

10 Ways to Use ChatGPT to Run a Business

Post author By Alan Spicer - YouTube Certified Expert
Post date 27 December 2022

Are you looking for ways to use ChatGPT to run a business? Here are ten ideas to get you started:

Virtual assistant business: ChatGPT could be used to create virtual assistants that can handle tasks such as scheduling appointments, sending emails, and managing social media accounts. This could be a great way to help busy professionals save time and streamline their workflows.
Chatbot development: If you have a background in coding or web development, ChatGPT could be a useful tool for creating chatbots for businesses to use on their websites or messaging apps. These chatbots could be used to provide customer support, answer frequently asked questions, or handle sales inquiries.
Language translation service: ChatGPT could be used to create a language translation service that can instantly translate text or spoken words from one language to another. This could be a great way to help businesses and individuals communicate with people in different parts of the world.

Online tutoring service: ChatGPT could be used to create an online tutoring service where students can receive personalized tutoring and homework help in real-time. This could be a great way to help students who are struggling to keep up with their studies or who are looking for extra support.
Social media management service: If you’re a social media pro, ChatGPT could be a useful tool for creating a social media management service. This service could handle tasks such as scheduling posts, responding to comments and messages, and analyzing social media metrics.
Personal shopping assistant: ChatGPT could be used to create a personal shopping assistant that can help users find and purchase products online.
Virtual event coordinator: ChatGPT could be used to create a virtual event coordinator that can handle tasks such as scheduling meetings, sending invites, and managing registrations. This could be a great way to help businesses and individuals plan and execute events online.
Customer support chatbot: ChatGPT could be used to create a customer support chatbot that can handle inquiries and complaints from customers in real-time. This could be a great way to improve customer satisfaction and free up human customer service reps to handle more complex tasks.
Personal finance manager: ChatGPT could be used to create a personal finance manager that can help users track their spending, create budget plans, and make financial decisions. This could be a useful tool for individuals looking to take control of their finances and make better financial decisions.
Online therapy platform: ChatGPT could be used to create an online therapy platform where users can receive counseling and mental health support from licensed therapists. This could be a great way to provide access to mental health care for individuals who may not have access to traditional therapy services.
I hope these business ideas have given you some inspiration for how ChatGPT could be used in different industries. Whether you’re looking to start a virtual assistant business, create a chatbot, or offer online tutoring services, ChatGPT has the potential to be a valuable tool for running a business.

Q: What are some ways that ChatGPT could be used to run a business? A: ChatGPT could be used to create virtual assistants, chatbots, language translation services, online tutoring services, social media management services, personal shopping assistants, virtual event coordinators, customer support chatbots, personal finance managers, and online therapy platforms.

Q: How can ChatGPT be used to create a virtual assistant business? A: ChatGPT could be used to create virtual assistants that can handle tasks such as scheduling appointments, sending emails, and managing social media accounts. This could be a great way to help busy professionals save time and streamline their workflows.

Q: How can ChatGPT be used to create chatbots for businesses? A: ChatGPT could be used to create chatbots for businesses to use on their websites or messaging apps. These chatbots could be used to provide customer support, answer frequently asked questions, or handle sales inquiries.

Q: How can ChatGPT be used to create a language translation service? A: ChatGPT could be used to create a language translation service that can instantly translate text or spoken words from one language to another. This could be a great way to help businesses and individuals communicate with people in different parts of the world.

I hope these FAQs give you a good overview of how ChatGPT could be used to run a business. Let me know if you have any other questions!

Tags ai, ai bots, ai content, ai writing, business, chatgpt, chatgpt-3, income, make money online, social media

TIPS & TRICKS

Do YouTubers Need a Business License?

Post author By Alan Spicer - YouTube Certified Expert
Post date 21 August 2021
1 Comment on Do YouTubers Need a Business License?

Many YouTubers find themselves caught off-guard by the realities of their success. It is one thing to get millions of views on a viral video and achieve a brief moment of Internet fame, but it is quite another to start making good money as a result of that success.

As much as people in certain parts of the political spectrum may be unhappy about it, we each live in a society that requires certain things of us, namely contributions to that society in the form of taxes. In an ideal world, we would all voluntarily contribute, but the reality of human nature means that governments have to take steps to make sure we all do our part, and business licenses are part of that system.

What is a Business License?

Before we get into this, we should point out that business licences are primarily a United States thing, with India also using them. We will do our best to explain the purpose of a business licence, and for those of you living in countries or regions that don’t use them, you should be able to identify the equivalent systems where you are.

Business licences are required for any… well… business. The precise nature of these licences will vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, as well as depending on what the business actually does.

Businesses are required to pay business taxes, and licences—which are essentially permits—are part of establishing what taxes that business should pay.

Do YouTubers Need a Business License?

There are three answers to this question; yes, no, and yes with an asterisk. Let’s start with the easiest one of these to answer.

If your YouTube channel does not make any money, you are not required to have a business licence for it. There may be some uncommon situations where this is not the case, however.

For example, if your YouTube channel involves owning or renting premises, or any kind of disruption to the local area, you will almost certainly need a business licence regardless of whether you make any money.

The chances of any of that being the case for a YouTube channel that is not already established and profitable, however, are very slim. For most people if, their channel is not making money, they won’t need a licence.

Now, onto the definite yes.

If your channel is making a lot of money, you almost certainly will need a business licence if you are in a part of the world where business licences apply.

But what about that yes with an asterisk?

Now, let’s be absolutely clear; this is not a business advice blog.

You should absolutely check the laws in your locality before making any decisions about things like business licences. That being said, it is worth noting that there has to be a reason for a government agency to come after you. If you make enough without paying taxes, they will notice. If you cause disruptions for your neighbours, and they report you to the authorities, you may bring attention to your YouTube shenanigans. In most laws, if you have a venture that makes any money at all, you should be getting a business licence for it, but the reality is that it is unlikely you will get in trouble if you are only making pennies.

But just to reiterate, the law typically doesn’t deal in likelihoods. If you get caught making pennies that the authorities don’t know about, you will still get in trouble.

Other Systems

There are, of course, many different systems in place across the world—the United States alone has different rules from state to state—so naturally, we can’t cover them all. One particularly relevant example for an English-speaking YouTube audience is the United Kingdom. Here there are no business licences, but you would be expected to declare yourself as a sole trader if you are making money, and become VAT registered if you are making a lot of money.

What Counts as Making Money on YouTube?

This may seem like a bit of a silly section to include, but it is worth pointing that government organisations do not let you off if you play dumb or claim that you have only committed a minor crime.

All of the money you make is, legally speaking, supposed to be declared to your government. It doesn’t matter to them whether that money came as result of the YouTube Partner Programme, Super Chats, merchandise, Patreon, or anything else.

In other words, if you get a business licence for your YouTube channel, you can’t just declare the earnings that come directly from YouTube and hope to play ignorant if the government finds out about your Patreon.

Should I Apply For a Business Licence Straight Away

If you are not making money or doing anything that would warrant being classified as a business, there is no sense in rushing to getting a business licence. They are not prohibitively expensive, but they do cost money. And the process of getting one is rarely long or complicated. After all, business licences are essentially a means for taxing you, and governments aren’t in the habit of making it harder for them to get your money.

How Do I Make Money on YouTube?

All of the above may feel a little like getting ahead of yourself if you’re not sure how to make money on YouTube in the first place. Broadly speaking, it is a case of more views equals more money, but there are a few steps along the way to making that happen.

YouTube Partner Programme

Unless you have a compelling reason not to, your first goal should be to become part of the YouTube Partner Programme. There some requirements for doing this, but one of the advantages is that qualifying for the Partner Programme means you have reached certain milestones that show you are on the right path. Those requirements are;

Adhere to YouTube monetisation policies
Be in a region where the Partner Programme is available
Have at least 4,000 hours of valid public watch time over the last year
Have at least 1,000 subscribers
Have a linked AdSense account

Once you meet that criteria, you will be able to apply to the Partner Programme and, in the vast majority of cases, you will be accepted. From then on, YouTube will begin showing ads on eligible videos, and splitting the revenue generated from those ads with you.

Memberships

If and when you manage to build up a loyal audience, you can start to look at memberships as an option. If you are eligible, you can use YouTube’s built-in membership platform to do this, but there are also services like Patreon that can enable you to do this as well.

The premise is simple enough; users contribute a recurring amount to you to support your content, and as an added sweetener, you can offer exclusive content and other perks to encourage viewers to become members.

Merchandise

Merchandise isn’t for every channel, but for those that it is a good fit for, there are plenty of third party options, as well as YouTube’s own partnership for eligible channels. On-demand services mean you can offer merchandise without having to buy the stock in advance yourself, which significantly reduces the barrier to entry.

Affiliate Marketing

Affiliate marketing is a way in which you can leverage your existing content by providing links and offers to your viewers which you get commission for. The most commonly used example of this is Amazon, where channels that review products or talk about new tech or similar can link off to those products through their Amazon affiliate links and earn a little money any time someone buys something through those links.

Affiliate links are handy because they can be used in a range of situations by a variety of channels. For example, a channel about improving your YouTube content might not have anything to sell, but they can leave a list of the equipment they use as affiliate links for people who are interested in using the same gear.

Final Thoughts

Business licences (or the equivalent for your jurisdiction) are the kind of thing that, practically speaking, won’t apply to most YouTubers. Sadly, the vast majority of YouTubers either don’t make any money from their channel, or they make so little that they’re probably never going to have to worry about the IRS paying them a visit.

That being said, if you earn any money from your YouTube channel, you will almost certainly be expected to declare that money to the government. While it’s true that you probably won’t have to worry if you are only making a few dollars here and there, you are still technically obliged to declare that money, and as such, legally in the wrong if you don’t.

Given the reach of YouTube and the many differences between states and countries, it is impossible for us to fit all of the relevant laws and regulations into one post. Always check your local laws and make sure you adhere to them. If you take your chances by not getting a business licence when you should, you do so at your own risk.

Top 5 Tools To Get You Started on YouTube

Very quickly before you go here are 5 amazing tools I have used every day to grow my YouTube channel from 0 to 30K subscribers in the last 12 months that I could not live without.

1. VidIQ helps boost my views and get found in search

I almost exclusively switched to VidIQ from a rival in 2020.

Within 12 months I tripled the size of my channel and very quickly learnt the power of thumbnails, click through rate and proper search optimization. Best of all, they are FREE!

2. Adobe Creative Suite helps me craft amazing looking thumbnails and eye-catching videos

I have been making youtube videos on and off since 2013.

When I first started I threw things together in Window Movie Maker, cringed at how it looked but thought “that’s the best I can do so it’ll have to do”.

Big mistake!

I soon realized the move time you put into your editing and the more engaging your thumbnails are the more views you will get and the more people will trust you enough to subscribe.

That is why I took the plunge and invested in my editing and design process with Adobe Creative Suite. They offer a WIDE range of tools to help make amazing videos, simple to use tools for overlays, graphics, one click tools to fix your audio and the very powerful Photoshop graphics program to make eye-catching thumbnails.

Best of all you can get a free trial for 30 days on their website, a discount if you are a student and if you are a regular human being it starts from as little as £9 per month if you want to commit to a plan.

3. Rev.com helps people read my videos

You can’t always listen to a video.

Maybe you’re on a bus, a train or sat in a living room with a 5 year old singing baby shark on loop… for HOURS. Or, you are trying to make as little noise as possible while your new born is FINALLY sleeping.

This is where Rev can help you or your audience consume your content on the go, in silence or in a language not native to the video.

Rev.com can help you translate your videos, transcribe your videos, add subtitles and even convert those subtitles into other languages – all from just $1.50 per minute.

A GREAT way to find an audience and keep them hooked no matter where they are watching your content.

4. Learn new skills for FREE with Skillshare

I SUCK reading books to learn, but I LOVE online video courses.

Every month I learn something new. Editing, writing, video skills, how to cook, how to run a business – even how to meditate to calm a busy mind.

I find all of these for FREE with Skillshare – Sign up, pick all the courses you want and cancel anytime you need.

5. Shutterstock helps me add amazing video b-roll cutaways

I mainly make tutorials and talking head videos.

And in this modern world this can be a little boring if you don’t see something funky every once in a while.

I try with overlays, jump cuts and being funny but my secret weapon is b-roll overlay content.

I can talk about skydiving, food, money, kids, cats – ANYTHING I WANT – with a quick search on the Shutterstock website I can find a great looking clip to overlay on my videos, keeping them entertained and watching for longer.

They have a wide library of videos, graphics, images and even a video maker tool and it wont break the bank with plans starting from as little as £8.25 ($9) per month.

Tags business, copyright, full time, law, legal, youtube, youtube full time

BUSINESS TIPS DEEP DIVE ARTICLE HOW TO MAKE MONEY ONLINE

How To Start A Business with No Money (Step by Step Guide)

Post author By Alan Spicer - YouTube Certified Expert
Post date 16 May 2020
3 Comments on How To Start A Business with No Money (Step by Step Guide)

Are you looking to start your own business? To start a business with no money is hard and is definitely something that takes time.

I don’t mean 7 hours in the bath soaking like a prune “time” – I mean months of foundation and years of grind, reinvestment and research on the job.

So how do you start a business with no money?

Pick a niche that you are going to live in for years to come. A topic you know and can talk about in fine detail in blogs, videos, phone calls and meetings for hours on end. Over time you will build your reputation, leading to long term success. Lead with value and have patience.

As long as you have the love for the business, the passion for its niche and the ability to delay gratification enough to reinvest the money then you will go far.

Here are nine steps that you should follow to get the best startup possible.

Make sure that you’re picking your niche.

This is the core focus of anything, whether it’s YouTube, a career, a long-term goal, or in this case a business.

It needs to be something that you truly love. Because something that you have been educated to, that you really hate, can only carry you so far.

Love and passion will get you up at six o’clock in the morning.

Love and passion, and the absolute thirst for that specific business, is what will drive you through when that customer cancels on you, or when you’ve had that hard day, or when you’re scrambling around for that extra bit of money in the early days.

The love and the passion of your niche is what will make you want more. More of that niche, more of that business, more in general just going forwards.

I love business, and I love social media, and I love YouTube, that’s why I’m constantly reading new books. I binge Gary Vaynerchuk and many other entrepreneurs – reading and listening to in audio books.

I use Audible to hunt out all of the best stuff. You can do the same too, they even give away free audiobooks to new people, but it’s that thirst for that knowledge, that love of that thing, which will drive you to read more books, that will drive you to educate yourself more, which will drive you to make that content, which will drive you to share it, or sell it to someone.

Because if you’re not passionate about something that you’re selling, if you don’t care about the thing you are selling, whether it’s your face, your personality, your brand your services or product, if you don’t care people can see straight through you.

You Might Need To Start A Business As A Side Hustle

When I first started my own business I was working in security. 12 to 14 hour days, every day. I’d get up in the morning, travel for an an hour and a half to work, an hour half to travel back.

I was tired, I was exhausted, but I knew that security wasn’t going to be my career, I wanted something at that time in the web development world.

I wanted computing, I wanted design. So in the hours when I finally got home, or I was very lucky, on the hours that I worked on a night shift, where all that pay attention to was the CCTV cameras, I took my laptop in and I worked on myself, my side hustle, my passion.

This was back in the day, the dark days when Wi-Fi wasn’t free at every coffee shop and a corner shop.

So unless you could hijack somebody’s Wi-Fi network, or connect to a network that gives you Internet via the cable – you were screwed.

So I had to buy that a little mobile data dongle. A pen drive sized usb stick that would give you half a Gigabyte of traffic for the month and cost £40-50 pounds. and it was it was appalling. It never truly connected, the signal was absolute shit. I mean this is the birth of 3G, it was terrible.

However the point is – if you can use that downtime.

If you do a 9am-5pm, and you’ve got kids. Why not start working the 7pm-1am shift on your side hustle?

Yes you’ll be tired! But you’ll have that passion, you’ll know that that drive, those extra hours, are on you, in you, on your business. This is your time to build your brand.

Maybe you really love real estate, and you want to be in real estate, that’s your own business, and you work in real estate, why not start writing blogs about real estate. Do your research!

Go out there and learn some things. Push your reputation outside of the company that you’re in. This will be your parachute when you leave. This is your reputation, this is your proof that you know what you’re talking about. You could blog on LinkedIn, build connections, grow your influence out there.

Do you have your own website to anchor your content?

Share your blogs in multiple places, it builds you as an individual outside of your specific company, and it preps you for the future, because right now you’re starting of your business, could be your side hustle that expands. Maybe you’re lucky and you have enough money or backing behind you to start full-time.

Live lean, no silly spending. You might have the money to start, it may have been your parents, it may have been some kind of inheritance, you may have been lucky and been invested in. Don’t be stupid, this is money for you and s good source to start your own business. Don’t go out and buy silly watches, don’t go out and buy a stupid car just to impress people, that’s not how this works.

You need to live lean, think sensibly, spend sensibly, put your nose to the floor and grind that brand.

Working your side hustle is a short term fix to build your brand. If you’re full-time, even better, you’ve got those 16, 18-hour days to really pour in that content, really pouring that brand, really reach out to people. And something that I can’t express enough, if you are full-time straightaway don’t get lazy!

Investing In Yourself

This is paramount, I can’t express it enough.

Over the last 10 years many things have changed within technology in social media. YouTube was a mere fledgling 10 years ago, and now it’s the juggernaut that’s threatening to turn off all of your normal mainstream TV.

10 years ago mobile phones were pointless and dumb, now they rule the world, and you can run a business from a smartphone.

10 years ago many of these social media platforms didn’t exist at all, you was shuffling around MySpace, and promoting yourself on Friendster.

Invest in yourself and your future, by learning. Help yourself to start a business with no money by building your knowledge. Constantly listen to the expert, constantly read books, constantly build skills, because it’s that tool kit that will help you in the long run.

When I first started in web design I pretty much a one-trick pony. I could sell, and I’m okay with online social medias through open source software. I was good with forums and networking, keeping my eye what is new. That was the emergence of the social media network.

I could chat I could talk, I had the gift of the gab, and I could show people how to set up forums and blogs, and that was kind of it. I know in the long run if I’d learnt to code, and learn to design and stuff like that, that could build my future, and that can build yours right now.

There’s nothing stopping you going to a library. There’s nothing stopping you googling online, or finding YouTubers that you can listen to, expand your brain, try new things. Or if you are making money, there’s nothing stopping you paying a little bit of money to go on an accredited course.

I don’t mean these charlatans that are like “Here’s my Merc, here’s my Ferrari, this is how I made it, you can have this giant mansion too.” We know who you are Tai Lopez, calm your shit!

But if you invest in yourself it will pay out in the future, because all of the useless general knowledge that’s in my head, all of the random facts, figures, and skill sets are the things that help me think on the hoof, think on the whim, grab that gut feeling out of midair to win me that sale, or to chat to someone.

It’s that piece of knowledge that you throw into a sales pitch, and it could win you that big boy, that retainer, that thing that makes your side hustle into a long-term thing.

Before You Start Your Own Business – Get Your Own Website!

Yes, they’re not as powerful as they used to be, the whole world used to revolve around one man, his business card, and his website.

Now, it’s kind of all buzzing around social media, but you still need places to host your own content, control the narrative, and to push people. This specifically for people with a side hustle.

I have 2 active websites that I try to update regularly. That’s where I can list my services, my expertise, my testimonials, my case studies.

To start a business with no money, I can write two or three blogs a week to boost it to 150, 200 blogs a year, all that are search friendly. Blogs that help people solve theirs problems, me get found in search, and hopefully convince you that I have enough of expertise to teach you something that you didn’t know.

The plan is if I am helpful then maybe you feel indebted to me, and you share me around, link to me as a creditable source. This helps build my brand, and the stronger the brand the more you can charge in future. Building that brand could also open doors do that big pitch, winning you that customer, and in the long term maybe even securing that lifeline to cement your side hustle as a business with a heartbeat.

QUESTIONS – Should I customize my website? Can I just use templates? How much is this going to cost me?

Website customization can look great and hit the nail on the head branding wise but its not always necessary from day onw.

Customization could get you every fine minor detail, they move buttons they put your design, they hone it in your value proposition, but if you don’t have any pennies

You can build amazing websites without any coding knowledge, with templates and amazing designs from Wix.

The key point is as long as the website looks professional and isnt broken from day one, then you have a starting point!

You just need somewhere to push people. Most custom WordPress templates allow you to pick your color scheme. Many WordPress templates can have distinctive niches or styles and from there you simple start writing. If you have a little income you wish to invest in a premium YouTube template then that might get you a step closer to a unique look – but that isn’t always necessary.

Once you have a site you can establish your own writing style and build up some statistics you can share with potential clients. This is your proof you can attract and audience and could help promote their products or services.

Start A Business with No Money by Creating Content

You need to figure out what you’re good at.

Are you fantastic at writing? Are you brilliant at video? Or maybe you’re a talker? You can create a podcast?

That content is what will carry you forward. That content is what people will get to know you for.

In my case, I’m okay in front of a camera, I could talk about my passion, my love, and those videos are very luckily quite long recently, so I can turn them into podcasts, write them into blogs, and then I can share them out.

Pinterest, LinkedIn, Facebook, Reddit, Medium, Forums, Facebook Groups, Twitter – The more you share the content the larger the spider web is to catch more “flies” aka affiliate sales, product leads, video views etc

The content is what will build up your reputation.

Nobody knew who I was three years ago (probably nobody knows who I am now lol) but the difference between now and three years ago is that now I’m able to find clients, pay my bills and based on my reputation and establish stats I can build my income streams month on month.

All this from the proof built from my blogs, YouTube channel, Testimonials and leading lead with value.

However, if I DIDN’T start making content 3 years ago… none of this would exist today.

Best of all this content will always be there to send me traffic, leads and clients. You can reuse it, re-share it and it show your passion and knowledge on your topic and niche.

Yes, some things will change, video quality will change, in some of my older videos I’ve got a completely different backdrop, in some way older videos I have problem with frame-rate.

But, they’re still reusable you can re-share them, and you never know, that one thing that could have turned that person’s brain onto business, three years ago in that video that you made, if you’re re-sharing it, it could still find them today!

Win you that client, that click, that money, that income, that thing that makes you full-time on YouTube. The thing that allows you to be a full-time artist, or a full-time creator!

So start creating today.

Business Outreach

Start a business with no money and you will need to reach out to people and let them know you exist.

This is your networking.

If nobody knows you, and you get a chance, go business meetings around you that you can go to in the morning. There will be networking groups that do breakfasts or evenings. Places that you can press flesh and chat.

These can help you be found locally. Or you could try it online with chat rooms, forums, Facebook groups.

That outreach is something that gives you that additional thread that you could put in that spider web, that makes it bigger, that catches those flies.

I’m pretty much an introvert, so for me I was reaching out on things like Facebook, and LinkedIn. I reply in forums, I was posting on blogs.

These build up over time – if you are linked via your website and your name, and you leave a very intriguing comment then people might be intrigued and check you out.

This is not me telling you to spam videos and comment sections.

If you truly engage with the post, the blog, the forum, and you help them, they will remember you when they need more advice and maybe even suggest you to others in times of need.

There’s a website I post on from time to time called Quora.

It’s basically Yahoo questions, they post a lot of questions, I answer a load of YouTubey questions, and then I can end up drop in my video, or they click on my name and it drops them back on my website, or my youtube channel.

You can do the same!

These outreach programs could be the way that you get into the DMs of somebody. It could be you reaching out on Instagram answering their question. It could be you tweeting at someone, or replying when they’re asking a question about your specific thing.

Gary Vaynerchuk for example, the world-renown Gary Vaynerchuk, started on twitter by simply replying to everything that had some kind of wine term in it.

When people were worried about a red, or a white, or whether it’s a Rioja, or whether it’s a Grenache, he would jump in, offer them some advice, give them some links, not try and sell, just let them know that his around, over, and over, and over again, and he slowly built reputation.

That is the way that you build your audience on blogs and YouTube – one subscriber, two subscriber, 10 subscribers.

Builds your YouTube channel, build your blog, your websites, your mailing list, and over time – your business.

Can Working For Free Help You Start A Business with No Money?

Many people see this is some kind of slave labor.

I can’t pay my bills with “exposure”

I totally agree! I’ve been in situations where I was saying to myself

Yeah, well I need to pay my gas and electric bill, and you’re giving me exposure – brilliant, Om nom nom nom nom nom nom nom!

Oh no I’m gonna get kicked out of my house now, ’cause that was my rent, thank you!

But there are times when exposure truly does help.

I use a website called PeoplePerHour, but there are other ones out there for example UpWork, Fiverr.

They are “gig economy” websites in which you can set up your offerings for next to nothing but slowly build a client base and reputation.

I get peanuts from it!

However, what I do get is a contacts, reviews and a chance to hone my skills in the niche I offer.

As you start a business with no money these successful sales and interactions are your practice – prepare your brain muscle, build a portfolio.

Over time those 20-30 mini sales can help you land those bigger fish. 20-30 clients willing to praise you and give you feedback that you can put into testimonials and justify your pricing.

Over the last 3 years I have landed some of my largest retainer clients through just doing something small.

You impress them, build up trust and up-sell when you get the chance. Now those clients are the vast majority of my monthly income!

Don’t get me wrong, some are dickheads, right? And that’s fine! Just remember at the end of the day if you designed logos for 20 clients, each with 3 different styles… you now have 60 examples you can display in your rapidly growing portfolio!

You could even use tools to make it easier for you to deliver those tasks – I have a load of easy to use tools on my resources page.

Reinvest Your Income – How To Grow A Business with No Money

Okay so you’ve reached out, you’ve started getting sales, started building up reputation – maybe there’s a trickle of income.

Now this is where you have to be very smart, and reinvest that back in you, your business and your skills.

It can be so easy to get your first pay slip, and blow it on something fancy. It can be all too easy to think this ever growing gold mine will produce clients and money forever… but you need to future proof your business.

In the first year, you’re really passionate, you’ve really got that drive, so you’re really going out there, you’re doing a lot, you’re tapping that low-hanging fruit.

Those connections you may have already known that you could pluck quite easily, quite early, but if you don’t invest in your future, if you don’t keep learning to grow your future – spider web that catches your clients disappears over time.

Very soon all that easy traffic and low-hanging fruit will just disappear, and you’ll start to starve, and so will the business.

If you wanna grow in the future, you need to invest in the future.

There’s no point in eating this year’s harvest if you’re not buying seeds to plant for next year, and next year, and next year.

Keep funneling it back into yourself.

I’m not saying don’t take an income. If you can afford to take an income and still invest into the business then do so, just be smart.

Do you really need that wage?
Could you live a little more humble?
Could you live a smaller house?
Could you use a different laptop?

You could learn to start a business with no money – You just need be a little bit more sensible and use that extra bit of money to invest in your business, to get that next customer, and the next customer, that guarantees you a future three years down the line – rather than just assuming next week will be fine!

Customer Care is Paramount!

You’ve hooked them in, they may even be one of your free clients, if you keep them happy – they will come back.

They might even up-sell or might refer a friend!

Customer care is paramount because if you upset somebody, you’re really desperate in two months time, and you’ve got a fantastic idea that you know that client would really love – you are 100% sure they will buy – if you’ve upset them, you can’t phone them anymore.

They won’t refer you to anyone anymore, and it might leave a nasty taste in their mouth that they spread faster to your potential clients.

Bad news spreads 10x faster, than good news.

Now, for the sake of your small business that you’re starting right now, reset, go back to number five – Create Content – and work your way to Customer care over and over again.

Content
Out Reach
Free Work
Reinvest
Customer Service
REPEAT

Your biggest mistake would be getting lazy – keep building – you can start a business with no money and reap the rewards for years to come!

Why not check out the five biggest mistakes I’ve made in business – so you can avoid them and grow your business faster!

Tags business, business growth, business investment, business start up, entrepreneurship, gary vee, how to grow a business, how to start a business, how to start a business with no money, how to start your own business, start a business from scratch, start up

BUSINESS TIPS DEEP DIVE ARTICLE TIPS & TRICKS

How Working For FREE Can Help Grow Your Brand

Post author By Alan Spicer - YouTube Certified Expert
Post date 22 April 2020
No Comments on How Working For FREE Can Help Grow Your Brand

Working for free. Should I work for free? Should you work for free?

Working for free can be a great way to build up a brand and your personal reputation within your niche. As you work for free you would build up contentions, reviews, a ever increasing portfolio, and most importantly, improving your skills from all the practice as you do so. Working for free might not earn you money in the short term but can be a very valuable investment in your long term future earning power.

It’s become a meme over the years, if you were creative, you’ve seen it. In fact, you’ve probably been approached, and people are like…

“Hi, can you do this, this and this for me?

Great. Sure. Here’s a quote.

“Oh, I wasn’t expected to pay you. I thought you could use the exposure, you know, get out there.”

And people are thinking, yeah, there’s exposure where you promote me and exposure where I die, a cold, lonely hungry death in the middle of a field because your exposure, can’t pay my rent. Your exposure, can’t pay my bills. Your exposure is me dying of exposure. I get that. I do. I do. That’s why you need to be sensible about this. Right?

I couldn’t do the whole free thing to start with either. And it’s become much more of a thing now that I can because I have a steady income.

Make Working For Free Your Side Hustle

Now, working for free can initially be your side hustle. I’m not saying that it has to cost you thousands of pounds to do a project that you hand away for nothing and you have no control over. I mean that you can build upon your future by adding value, leading with value first. Your side hustle has the potential to be the base for your future business success.

When I first started doing YouTube consultancing, I set up a profile on a few freelance websites like PeoplePerHour, on Fiverr. Yes, that does technically mean that I got paid for it, but it was pittance, deliberately pittance because I wanted to attract people to me. So I could pull a few strings and build a few Lego bricks on top of my board. They are good marketplaces that can offer you a chance to practice your skills or build a portfolio. So that aside, on the PeoplePerHour website, or Fiverr for example, I sell really, really cheap logos or really, really cheap Web designs, or really, really cheap channel reviews or video optimizations for say three, four or five dollars.

The money is negligible. But, what it does do, is it gives me a chance to build up 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 examples of me doing the thing that I want to get paid for, to do. If it’s on PeoplePerHour as well then it’s an hour’s worth of work, two hours worth of work depending on how much you’re willing to sacrifice in your time. But let’s say you do 20 logo designs at a $1 each, that’s 20 bucks, that’s not really much for you. It’s a cup of coffee, or that’s your electricity to cover that laptop that made those on, but you now have 20 designs that you can put in your portfolio, 20 designs that you can then show to a new client that is willing to pay you two 300 pounds for a logo and you’ve got 20 examples of stuff that you’ve done in the past.

Yes, it does mean that you sacrifice a bit of your time. Yes, that does mean that you couldn’t have charged 200 pounds for 20 of them each and made four grand. But if people don’t know you, the grand value price of one sale when they don’t want to buy from you is zero, zip, zilch nothing, nada. I would much rather have 20 sales, 20 logo designs at 20 bucks at one buck each, because then I’ve got those examples that I can then go and hunt the next big fish that’s willing to pay maybe a little bit more, 20 bucks each 50 bucks each 100 bucks each.

Working For Free is Improving Your Skills

Now, this is one of the things that that doesn’t dawn on people. I’ve been on YouTube for about eight, nine years. I’ve been creating these videos on this channel for about three. That means somewhere out there, there’s thousands of videos that I’ve edited, or I’ve been in, or I’ve uploaded, I’ve downloaded, I’ve deleted and that means that I can do this, I can communicate with a camera, I’ve improved my skill, I’ve improved my lighting, I’ve improved my ability to talk to you, to edit. Improving my skill, improving my speed, improving my skill set that I can sell to somebody else.

Improving my expertise that I can pitch to somebody else. Hi Mr. logo man. Yes, here’s 20 examples from point number one and I can do it much better than I used to because logo number 20 is better than logo number one because I learned how to do graphic and vector work a little bit better. And instead of it taking me four to five hours to render that wonderful piece of artwork, I can do it in half hour to an hour, and I can start tweaking and I can make it bigger.

Skill, improvement, more money.

You’re investing in yourself by doing free stuff – Building your reputation.

You’ve sold 20 logos to 20 people or 20 teddy bears, or 20 stockings or 20 handmade cards, it doesn’t matter what it is, you’ve sold 20 things to 20 people that can leave you 20 reviews. Those 20 reviews, you can then put on mailing list. Those 20 reviews you can put on your website. There’s 20 reviews, or people that hopefully you can refer to. Those are 20 advocates that know who you are and what you can do, that will refer hopefully another friend next time they need a logo, a teddy bear, a T shirt, a sock design, whatever you’re doing.

That reputations stacks on top of the skill that you’ve learned and the portfolio that you’ve gained. All of which has helped me in the past, hook that bigger fish. That’s got my foot in that door. Though I’ve got a couple of people that have come from these platforms, they are constant retainers, they are clients that I consult with. They are people that I directly work with, and they wouldn’t have found me if they hadn’t have used the freelance site to buy something small from me, for me to over deliver value, for them to trust me with my portfolio, the reputation, the reviews, and loving my work for me to then upsell.

I didn’t advertise for these people. I didn’t put ads on Facebook, I didn’t go out there on Google ads and hook people in. I’ve not pulled them in with some kind of skeezy sleazy kind of sales click funnel. I offered them value at a fair price and created quality, for them. And I’ve got my foot in the door, in which I can start talking to, and then I upsell, and I upsell and I upsell which then, supports the ability for me to give cheap, entries at the other end of that one dollar logo, those five dollar logos, those mini cheap reviews.

Leverage your new skill base, the things that you have learnt, your reputation, your portfolio, that foot in the door, you’re not actually doing it for free anymore.

Yes, initially, you do have to do the legwork, build the foundation and build upwards. And all it takes is for you to slowly stack over time. You put in some hard work.

And yes, let’s say you you have some really bad luck, and you sell 400 of these logos at one dollar each. You now have a huge portfolio, you’ve now had a skill based on these things. It may look like you are working for free, but you’re actually investing in yourself. And sometimes someone will help subsidize that by upgrading or by selling or buying or promoting you. And I did a lot of this at the start of my consulting career. I worked my ass off for 12 months, giving away freebies, or very cheap reviews and very cheap this and very cheap that. Why? Because it built those connections.

I’ve got 400, 500 videos on my youtube channel. They’re exactly that. I worked for free. Don’t get it twisted, yeah. YouTube can pay me a little bit of money in advertising but trust me it is pittance compared to what you can make by building that reputation. Building a back catalog. Making those links, putting your foot in the door and building a business from the ground up. All by just initially working for free. It’s one of the very important steps that you have to deal with when building a business and this nine of them here which I’m sure you know.

If you want more advice on how to start and grow your business using YouTube watch this video below.

MARKETING TIPS & TRICKS VIDEO YOUTUBE

5 BUSINESS MISTAKE I Wish I’d Learned From Sooner!

Post author By Alan Spicer - YouTube Certified Expert
Post date 6 January 2020
No Comments on 5 BUSINESS MISTAKE I Wish I’d Learned From Sooner!

alan spicer,business lessons,business lessons for beginners,business lessons for entrepreneurs,small business mistakes,biggest business mistakes,top 5 business mistakes,mistakes,mistakes in starting a business,making mistakes in business,biggest mistakes in business,retainers,customer care,pick your niche,business niche,business advice,business advice for artists,business advice for entrepreneurs,business advice for beginners,business,money,#garyveechallenge

5 MISTAKES In Business I Wish I’d Learnt From Sooner // Starting and growing a business has its up and downs I have learnt a lot from my business mistakes. In today’s video I want to share with you the 5 lessons i learnt from my biggest mistakes over the years.

I’m going to be reading a lot more starting with @GaryVee Crush It (https://amzn.to/2sokRFH) and Crushing It (https://amzn.to/37nuByM) then pouring more into my head over the year. I want to try and read 50+ books/audiobooks using audible, I will also be revisiting John Green’s (https://amzn.to/39ty14W) books in 2020 as well – if you want a free trial goto https://tinyurl.com/y4xfnxet

SOCIAL MEDIA TIPS & TRICKS VIDEO YOUTUBE

How I Made YouTube My FULL TIME Job (From ZERO to FULL TIME in 3 Years)

Post author By Alan Spicer - YouTube Certified Expert
Post date 3 January 2020
3 Comments on How I Made YouTube My FULL TIME Job (From ZERO to FULL TIME in 3 Years)

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Going full time on YouTube is the dream of many creators. Some see YouTube as a goldmine, a get rich quick scheme that anyone can easily jump on and build a brand or business. But sensible people understand that is takes time, effort, luck and A LOT of hard work to make YouTube a Full Time job. In today’s video I share with you the last 3-4 years and tell you the steps I took to go from 0 subscribers to being Full Time YouTuber and business owner in 2020.

Want to hear more on how I started? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9orTPdI_mA
How To Go Full Time on YouTube with 3K Subs – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkFPkIuBgPI

Tags Alan Spicer, business, full time on youtube, going full time on youtube, how i made youtube my job, how i went full time on youtube, how to do youtube full time, how to make money on youtube and quit your job, how to make youtube a business, how to make youtube your career, how to make youtube your full time job, how to make youtube your job, make money on youtube, money, youtube as a career, youtube as a full time job, youtube as a job, youtube full time, youtube full time job

“The Lean Startup: How Today’s Entrepreneurs Use Continuous Innovation to Create Radically Successful Businesses” by Eric Ries

“Crushing It!: How Great Entrepreneurs Build Their Business and Influence—and How You Can, Too” by Gary Vaynerchuk

“The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich” by Timothy Ferriss

“The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future” by Chris Guillebeau

“Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” by Simon Sinek

“The Art of SEO: Mastering Search Engine Optimization” by Eric Enge, Jessie Stricchiola, Rand Fishkin

“SEO 2020: Learn Search Engine Optimization with Smart Internet Marketing Strategies” by Adam Clarke

“The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don’t Work and What to Do About It” by Michael E. Gerber

“Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” by Robert B. Cialdini

“Will It Fly?: How to Test Your Next Business Idea So You Don’t Waste Your Time and Money” by Pat Flynn

The Meteoric Rise

The Turning Point

The Downfall

The Lesson

Online Tutoring/Teaching

Freelance Writing or Video Editing

Graphic Design Services

Virtual Assistance

Pet-sitting or Dog-walking

Babysitting Services

House Cleaning Services

Personal Shopping and Errand Running

Photography Services

Handyman Services

Stats About Side Hustles

FAQ’s About Side Hustles

Create a vision board

Host a virtual networking event

Explore local business opportunities

Film a video blog

Turn the room into an innovation lab

Practice mindfulness and meditation

Hold a team-building session

Create an Instagrammable corner

Conduct a SWOT analysis

Host a mini-mastermind

Conclusion

Customer service chatbots

Virtual assistants for scheduling and tasks

Content generation

Language translation

Automated email responses

Chatbots for lead generation

Data analysis and insights

Personalized marketing campaigns

Automated content moderation

Improved internal communication

Conclusion

What is a Business License?

Do YouTubers Need a Business License?

Other Systems

What Counts as Making Money on YouTube?

Should I Apply For a Business Licence Straight Away

How Do I Make Money on YouTube?

YouTube Partner Programme

Memberships

Merchandise

Affiliate Marketing

Final Thoughts

Top 5 Tools To Get You Started on YouTube

1. VidIQ helps boost my views and get found in search

2. Adobe Creative Suite helps me craft amazing looking thumbnails and eye-catching videos

3. Rev.com helps people read my videos

4. Learn new skills for FREE with Skillshare

5. Shutterstock helps me add amazing video b-roll cutaways

Make sure that you’re picking your niche.

You Might Need To Start A Business As A Side Hustle

Investing In Yourself

Before You Start Your Own Business – Get Your Own Website!

Start A Business with No Money by Creating Content

Business Outreach

Can Working For Free Help You Start A Business with No Money?

Reinvest Your Income – How To Grow A Business with No Money

Customer Care is Paramount!

Content Out Reach Free Work Reinvest Customer Service REPEAT

Make Working For Free Your Side Hustle

Working For Free is Improving Your Skills

You’re investing in yourself by doing free stuff – Building your reputation.

Content
Out Reach
Free Work
Reinvest
Customer Service
REPEAT