Grow Your Video Business

It’s not uncommon to feel that your business needs to do many different things to be profitable. Being able to offer all sorts of services or products sounds like it would lead to more opportunities. But without clarity on what you specifically offer, you’re just going to struggle more. Today’s guest has become wildly successful by being clear and specific in what his businesses really do. Matt Giovanisci is a serial entrepreneur, website wizard, podcast producer, music maker, video veteran, and alliteration addict. In 2006, he started the website Swim University and the site now makes over $250,000 a year! Since then, he co-founded a personal finance brand and podcast called Listen Money Matters. His current project, Money Lab,  was started in 2016 to help brands grow and make more money. Matt and I discuss what it takes to refine your business savvy in order to turn an interest into a profitable business. Matt describes how he recognizes opportunities as they appear and always experiments with them as he goes along. Matt makes it clear that success comes easier when you are incredibly specific about what your business actually does. This clarity keeps you focussed on what it actually is that you do and defines your business better for your customers. We also talk about the freedom that comes from outsourcing. By setting up clear operating procedures and handing off the parts of the job you don’t need to be doing, you’ll find that you’ll have more opportunities to help your company grow. With that in mind, Matt explains how he’s done it for his businesses.  What do you do to find clarity in your business? Leave a comment on the episode page!   In this episode What it takes to turn an interest into an actual business Recognizing the potential in the different ideas and opportunities you have and deciding if they’re worth it The freedom that comes from being very specific and clear about what your business does Advice for how to effectively outsource parts of your business by building processes   Quotes “You need to have focus and express your creativity within a certain boundary.” [11:17] “Once you get incredibly clear on what your business does, you can easily say no to everything else and then you can find opportunities in what your company does.” [22:16] “Now I don’t answer emails and every email becomes a soft sales pitch for our product. So now, not only do I not have to do it, we actually make money.” [56:05] “You’re not special. You might think you are and you might think you’re the only one and you’re going to care more, but if you give somebody enough leeway and ownership, they might out-care you one day.” [1:00:59]   Links: Money Lab Swim University Brew Cabin Matt Wants to Be a Guest on Your Podcast Traction by Gino Wickman The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber I Will Teach You to be Rich   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Those that know me, know that I am passionate about being all-in on whatever it is that I do. When I know what it is that I’m after, I go for it. This is true in how I do business and also with how I interact with my family and a key part of living my best life.  This is a bit of a personal episode. I want to share with all of you a little about me and what motivates me every day. A lot of it became clear during a recent trip I took with my son. During our time together I was very intentional about making that time meaningful, and that got me thinking about what it means to live our best life. Asking yourself if you are living your best life should apply both to your personal and professional life. It involves asking yourself the serious question of what’s going well and what’s not. Defining what your best life looks like, knowing how to achieve it, and understanding who shares your goals are essential parts of this process. What can you do today to start building your best life? Let’s talk about it in the comments on the episode page!   In this episode Bringing intention to all that we do and never being satisfied with the status quo Why we need to stop and ask ourselves if we’re truly living our best life The questions you should be asking yourself about your business and life Understanding the power of community to support you in achieving your goals   Quotes “I don’t want a moment to go by where I’m not intentional. When I see in my life that I’m not having the kind of impact that I want to have, whether that’s in my personal life or my business life, I want to do something about it.” [5:21] “Sometimes we’re not living our best life because we haven’t really defined what it even means to live your best life. What would that look like?” [11:29] “If you’re all by yourself, if you’re doing all of this work on your own, if you’re not asking other people if it’s a good idea … then you are in a vacuum and you’re going to struggle. You are better with other people.” [24:57]   Links: The High Performance Planner Learn about the upcoming Studio Sherpas workshop here Storyblocks   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Sometimes things go wrong. The footage gets lost, equipment breaks, clients get angry. That doesn’t mean it’s game over for your business. How you respond to your clients makes all the difference and, if done right, can salvage almost any situation. That’s just one reason why it’s crucial to make client relations one of your top priorities. Wes Wages is the director and janitor at Armosa Studios which specializes in commercial videos. Wes oversees client relationships and is passionate about each client's experience. When not at work, Wes enjoys tacos, airplanes, messing with telemarketers, and trying to remember the names of his four small children.  Today, Wes and I discuss how to best take care of clients. Focusing on managing great relationships with clients is often the key to having a great business and shouldn’t be overlooked for any reason. Wes explains how he makes this a priority for him and his company and how it pays off time after time. Wes even shares the story of the time he had an epic fail with losing hard drives after shooting in four countries. But he took care of the client and they called again the next year! As we discuss, things go wrong, but it’s how you handle it and the responsibility that you take that keeps it from turning into an actual disaster. Have you ever had to avert a business disaster? Tell me how you did it in the comments on the episode page!   In this episode Finding meaning and joy in transitioning from shooting video to handling client relationships The resilience and patience necessary to grow your business Advice for how to handle and keep upset clients when everything goes wrong Recognizing when your passion has the potential to be your career The importance of understanding costs and numbers  The real payoffs that come from attending conferences and workshops Keeping your priorities front and center by creating healthy boundaries   Quotes “If you have that gift of shaking hands and talking to people, you’re going to do well in business.” [8:47] “Solutions always follow problems, so come to anyone with both.” [24:28] “Just listen. Listen to the problems they’re having and then find a solution to those problems and present it to them in video.” [35:28] “Do what you feel should be done in your own way, but make sure to keep physical and mental health the top priority.” [36:16]   Links Find Wes Wages online at Armosa Studios Follow Wes on Instagram TedTalk: James Veitch: “This is what happens when you reply to spam email.” Join the Studio Sherpas Business Academy   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Getting stuck in a funk can happen to any of us. Other times the work pours in faster than we can keep up with it. Being an entrepreneur and business owner is unpredictable. It has its ups and downs and you don’t always know which way the wind is blowing. My guests on this episode know what it’s like to navigate this uncertainty and have some great advice that all of us can use. My two amazing and hilarious guests on today’s show are brothers and video producers. Ross and Jacob Hamil have done incredible work for some big brands like Shell, Penzoil, and AutoNation. They’ve been involved with MZed/Cinema Sound and run their own studio where they help all sorts of people and brands produce outstanding videos.  Today we examine the importance of making great video and how to make it meaningful throughout your career. We discuss how to find the clients that offer you the type of work you want for the pay that makes it worth it. Ross and Jacob talk about the challenges and benefits of their entrepreneurial journey and how they keep a clear head throughout it all. How do you know when to say yes or no to jobs? Let me know in the comments on the episode page!   In this episode Why it’s usually more important to have great sound than great video Why it’s crucial to be proactive versus reactive in order to maintain your sanity How to use a vision board and why it could make a huge difference for how you plan your projects How your passive voice could be killing your sales The kinds of people you want to have working for you so that you have the best team possible Three tips to having a better life as a business owner   Quotes “If you want to up your game, start with sound. It’s not the easiest way, but it’s definitely one of the biggest impacts you can make.” [4:04] “Just say no. Figure out what you want to do and what you like doing and what you want to make money doing and then say no to everything else.” [12:31] “When things get tough, don’t do something dumb.” [20:10] “Surround yourself with people who are better than you are.” [38:51]   Links Find the Hamil Bros online Follow the Hamil Bros on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube MZed/Cinema Sound 1 Million Cups From Poop to Gold by Chris Jones Creativity, Inc. by Ed Catmull Cine Gear Expo Learn about the upcoming Studio Sherpas workshop here   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

If you’re like me, you started off in this business to make films, but now you find yourself as more of a business person. Priorities change and now you spend more time doing operations, sales, and marketing than filming. But, as you’ll hear today, that doesn’t mean you have to surrender your creativity. Chris Sharpe is many things. He’s a writer, director, producer, and digital content strategist. He is the CEO and co-founder of Yoga with Adriene, which has over 5 million YouTube subscribers. Chris is the author of YouTube Black Book which is an incredibly useful guide for helping people grow and monetize their YouTube presence.  In today’s interview, Chris takes us on the journey of how he built a career on YouTube. It may have taken some time before it became the success it is now, but today it’s more profitable than he ever thought it could be. Chris details his day to day responsibilities running a YouTube-based business and how his company is structured. We talk about how to sustainably manage your business as it grows, such as hiring the right people and putting repeatable systems in place. Much of this involves removing yourself as the bottleneck of your company so that the work that needs to happen can take place. Chris also lays down some sound advice for figuring out where your niche is so that you can find more and more business. What do you do every day to foster your creative side even as you systemize your business? Share it with me in the comments on the episode page!   In this episode Key ingredients for building a successful video business How to be creative even inside the boundaries of a process When and who to hire as your business grows The advantages of being a filmmaker first and an entrepreneur second Putting processes in place to make your job easier and allow the work to flow easier throughout your business Advice for narrowing down your focus so you can find more work   Quotes “Our mission is to reach as many people as possible with high-quality free yoga videos, and YouTube is such a great platform for that.” [11:23] “If you’re sitting there, fine-tuning edits, your business is probably getting away from you in other areas because you’re so focussed in this micro-level and you have to be able to step back and see the big picture for the health of the business and the employees that you have.” [19:45] “Look for ways to turn everything into systems so that you can replicate it and keep moving forward and not get bogged down on the little stuff.” [45:07]   Links Find Chris Sharpe online Follow Chris on Twitter | Instagram Yoga With Adriene YouTube Black Book by Chris Sharpe 30 Days of Yoga: Free Case Study Studio Sherpas Episode 121 with Tom Martin Learn about the upcoming Studio Sherpas workshop here   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Some clients just can’t give up creative control over a project. I and many of you know how frustrating this can be. Of course, they want an amazing video, but sometimes people get in their own way. Regaining and keeping creative control is so very important to delivering an amazing product, but just how do you do it? This episode is all about getting back your creative control. Having clients who don’t understand the creative process is often the source of huge amounts of frustration and wasted time. I’m going to tell you about avoiding the unlimited revision trap and handling clients who don’t value your creative process.  I’ve dealt with all of this through personal experience, so I want to shed a little bit of what I’ve learned with you and help you avoid some of these sources of frustration in advance. You’re going to walk away from this episode with some clear steps on how to avoid some of these all too common frustrations. How do you set clear expectations with a client? Have you ever struggled with this? Share in the comments on the episode page!   In this episode Realizing that what you have is a video business even if it’s just you in it The incredible importance of setting clear expectations with all of your clients How to easily avoid getting stuck making unlimited revisions What to do about clients who don’t value filmmaking and storytelling Why you shouldn't try to sell a client something that they’re not asking for   Quotes “They are out there but there are probably some practices and habits and things you need to do in your work so that you are attracting the right client.” [11:23] “All of our frustrating clients and situations that end up costing us extra money are investments in you as a business owner and entrepreneur. Those are learning opportunities. Those frustrating clients are your teachers.” [15:43] “Your job is not to convince somebody. Your job is to understand where somebody’s at, so ask good questions and figure out where they’re at so you can help them and give them resources that will help them understand your perspective on the value of video.” [28:06] “Get clear on what it actually is that the client wants and don’t try to give them something that they’re not asking you to give.” [31:25]   Links Learn about the next Studio Sherpas workshop The Video Blueprint Method Episode 131 with Graham Cochrane   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Could your voice, your actual voice, be one of your best sales tools? This might sound strange since many of us feel that our voice sounds weird or annoying. But the reality is, most other people don’t think that about your voice. It really is an overlooked asset that most of us are ignoring. This episode is all about how to make your voice into something that can work for you! Roger Love is one of the world’s leading authorities on voice. As a coach, he’s worked with some voices you probably have heard, like Gwen Stefani, Jeff Bridges, Angelina Jolie, Bradley Cooper, and so many more. He offers courses and speaks at conferences all to teach people how their voice can both scientifically and emotionally move people to feel what is being communicated and remember what was said. This interview will inspire you to use your voice to create the influence and the income that you want. Roger and I talk all about why you are not the voice that you were born with. Roger shares some great advice you can start doing right away to make your voice sound better and more confident when you need it to the most so that it really brings out your true personality. Roger explains how we all play the role of professional speakers and ignoring the role of our voice is a missed opportunity. Believe it or not, the words you use are not the most important part of this. Rather, as Roger tells us, it’s the sounds you use when speaking that matter most. What changes can you make right now to let your voice help you in your business? Share it with me in the comments on the episode page!   In this episode Why all of us are professional speakers whether we realize it or not The most important thing to remember when you are feeling nervous about speaking Why the words you say are actually the least important part of speaking Tips you can begin using right now to start using your voice as an instrument, not just as a vehicle for talking What your outside voice is and why it is the most important voice that you can use   Quotes “I think everyone is a professional speaker. When you open your mouth, even if you’re talking to your dog and the goal is for the dog to stop eating your shoe, then you’re a professional speaker and the dog is your audience. We’re all professional speakers whether we have one person or are speaking to thousands.” [10:32] “The first thing we have to remember is that the words don’t matter that much.” [13:48] “We’re supposed to open up our mouths and enough sound is supposed to come out that you should vibrate other people’s bodies.” [32:06] “I used to want to teach people to have great voices. Now I say that I want to use voice to help make great people.” [42:03] “You’re not the voice you were born with and it’s about time that you stopped looking towards all the ‘normal’ reasons why you’re not succeeding in the things you want to succeed at.” [48:10]   Links Find Roger Love online Follow Roger on Twitter | Facebook Get your discount on the Perfect Voice course here! Just enter promo code SHERPA at checkout to get $50 off. Impact Summit by Kajabi Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray Get notified about the next free Studio Sherpas workshop   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

If someone asked you right now, “What do you do?”, how would you answer them? How confident would you be in your answer? How salesy would it sound? Would your answer be boring? If you’ve ever struggled to answer this common question, then you are far from alone. My guest today makes it his mission to help people like you and me explain what they do better so that we can find better clients and better-paying jobs. Brian Dixon is a conference speaker, podcaster, marketing strategist, and business coach who is passionate about helping business leaders and their teams thrive in a world of overwhelming options. He even has a doctorate from the University of San Diego. His overall goal is to help all sorts of people find a way to live a life that they truly love. How great is that? In this interview, Brian shares what it means to have true clarity in your purpose and who you serve. As he explains through personal experience, vision is more important for achieving this than just having energy and effort. Achieving this clarity, as Brian explains, comes from really knowing who your ideal client is, and he shares some amazing and practical advice for figuring that out. Who is the one person you can serve best in your business? Leave a comment on the episode page and let me know!   In this episode What to do to get meaningful clarity on your purpose in life and business One incredible tip for how to work directly with your ideal audience What to do right now if you don’t have a niche or target audience The easiest test you can take for figuring out your dream for your video business Why it’s crucially important to come up with a name for your ideal client   Quotes “When you know who your people are -- who you serve -- that leads to purpose. And when you live with purpose, that leads to profit.” [7:27] “Nineteen years old and I should have died. I had three doctors tell me I would never walk again. I made it my mission that day to run a marathon.” [11:14] “What’s obvious to you is magic to other people.” [20:35] “You either outsource your weaknesses and grow your strengths or you have to grow some of your weaknesses. Go defeat those.” [38:00]   Links Find Brian Dixon online Follow Brian on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter Start With Your People by Brian Dixon Dan Miller’s Coaching with Excellence The Ultimate Sales Machine by Chet Holmes Get notified about the next free Studio Sherpas workshop   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

There often comes a time in every business owner’s career when it feels like it’s time for a change. That’s why I’m here by myself today to talk about one very important but difficult topic -- whether or not it’s time for you to pivot your video business.  Maybe you’re feeling stuck, frustrated, or confused in some part of your work. Maybe it’s lost the excitement that it once had. There’s no need to keep hitting your head against the wall. One of the best parts of the work that we’re in is that it provides countless opportunities to shift your perspective and find another way to do great work while building on the amazing things that you’ve already accomplished. If you’re feeling that it may be time for a change, then this episode is for you. I’ve pivoted my business a number of times for a number of different reasons. So today I’m sharing that experience with you to hopefully add some clarity that I wish I had had when I made these crucial decisions. To that end, I’m asking you to seriously think about some of the crucial questions that I’ll be asking throughout this episode. Is it time for you to pivot your business? Share your thoughts in the comments on the episode page!   In this episode Being truly profitable in your work so that you’re not just trading time for money Why it’s incredibly important to really enjoy working with your clients and providing a valuable service for them The reasons why finding joy in your work should be one of the most important parts of what you do Crucial steps to take right now if you think it’s time to pivot your business   Quotes “If you’re just getting paid for your time and you’re not building something that is making you profitable so that when unexpected things happen -- when gear breaks or it’s time to upgrade or get a studio or hire an employee --  if you’re not profitable, you can’t do any of that.” [11:21] “For the people who really got it and understood what we were passionate about, I loved what we were creating and the people we were creating it for.” [16:15] “If you’re not enjoying working with the majority of the clients you have, then it’s probably a time to consider pivoting because you’re probably frustrated a lot and life’s too short for that.” [19:20] “You’re not doing anybody any favors if there is no joy in what you’re doing today. You’re not doing any favors for your clients because they deserve the best. They deserve who they hire to want to give 100%. And you’re not doing any favors for yourself.” [20:32]   Links Get notified about the next free Studio Sherpas workshop Episode 131 with Graham Cochrane Company of One by Paul Jarvis Go to Storyblocks for stock audio, images, and footage   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

One of the biggest struggles for filmmakers is that we are in the business of trading time for money. But if we can create some passive income streams, then that naturally frees up more time for us while still helping us put bread on the table. Today, I have Sean Cannell on the podcast, someone who has had just a phenomenal amount of success in doing just that.  In case you didn’t know, Sean Cannell is a bestselling author, Youtuber, international speaker, and business coach who built a seven-figure media company helping entrepreneurs and creatives increase their influence and income with online video. With over one million YouTube subscribers, it’s obvious Sean knows what he’s talking about. In this interview, Sean shares his story of how he went from filming videos for his church to becoming one of the biggest names on YouTube. This includes some great lessons on where and how to find fulfillment in the trajectory of your career. This is a messy process as Sean makes clear, but nothing is going to happen if you don’t take consistent and meaningful action. We also dive into how you can make more money on the side using your already existing areas of expertise. Sean shares a ton of ideas that any of us can start doing to make more passive income on the side. He also answers several questions from listeners on topics ranging from getting a better ROI to tactics for building subscribers. Do you earn passive income on the side? Tell me how you do it in the comments on the episode page!   In this episode The indispensable lessons that are learned through trial and error Finding joy in new aspects of your career as it evolves Pressing onward through feelings of self-doubt to discover what you and your business are capable of The most important thing you can do to get better as a communicator YouTube’s power to help build your business from the very start  The best side-income earning strategies for filmmakers How highly ranked videos will pay dividends in the long run   Quotes “All of us would do better to be more business minded. A lot of us already are, but sometimes as creatives, we actually are weak from a business-minded standpoint. It was hard for me to let go of creative controls.” [8:21] “What you learned because of taking actions and hustling now, will be the skills you need actually to jump in and kill it in the next thing.” [14:41] “Before even creating additional income streams, I love YouTube just to build your filmmaking business.” [23:30] “A ranked video is like an employee you pay once that works for you for free for weeks, months, and years to come.” [49:31]   Links Get the free Viral Video Checklist Find Sean Cannell online Follow Sean on YouTube | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook YouTube Secrets by Sean Cannell The EntreLeadership Podcast The Proximity Principle by Ken Coleman Chelsea Nicole Photography Video Ranking Academy  vidIQ Keywords Everywhere   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Studio Sherpas survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Studio Sherpas Tune into our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!