Grow Your Video Business with Ryan Koral

Have you ever been on the verge of calling it quits as a video business owner? My guest today knows just what that feels like. It was a mindset change that led her to find the focus and passion that she needed to become an incredibly successful filmmaker. If you feel ready to throw in the towel, you have to listen to this! Natalie Fava is an independent filmmaker and entrepreneur on a quest to portray the magic of real life. She is the owner and lead filmmaker behind Wonderscope Cinema. For eleven years, Natalie's innate understanding of how to connect humans to one another through emotionally charged, thoughtfully produced content, has led her to capture music festivals and live sessions across the US and UK and film weddings in 19 states from Oregon to Maine, as well as Italy. Natalie and I talk about why injecting feelings into your work is what will help it stand apart. It doesn't matter if you're shooting for weddings, corporations, or anything else. Emotions are what people connect with the strongest and the best work needs them. This is also not a business that you can do alone. Natalie found that getting a good team allows everyone to work best in their areas of strength. This leads to excellent results and prevents burnout. We also discuss the mindset around staying positive even when cash flow is unpredictable. While nothing is ever for certain, Natalie shares why her attitude that everything is going to work out, despite challenges, makes it happen in the end. How has your mindset shifted as you continue to work in video? Let's talk about it in the comments on the episode page! In this episode How an emotional angle will make your videos more powerful What to consider if you're thinking of creating a new brand Surmounting your cash-flow struggles What it takes to stay motivated in your work Leaving a legacy that matters The importance of building relationships as you build your business Quotes "Filmmaking is such a team sport. If you want to do great work, it's impossible to do it by yourself." [14:47] "A lot of this work requires a certain level of fearlessness. You just have to believe that everything is going to work out." [37:21] "The farther we go in life, the crazier technology gets, I still think the most important thing is human connection." [42:36] Links Find Natalie Fava online Follow Natalie on Instagram | Linkedin | Facebook | Vimeo Birdhouse Wedding Films Traction by Gino Wickman Inkspot Crow Watch our CRM Walkthrough 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! Studio Sherpas Onward Summit

Are you still trying to figure out which social media channel to focus on to grow your business? What about Linkedin? Sure, it may not seem as exciting to scroll through as some other feeds. However, I've brought in a guest today to tell us why it's time to rethink the value of Linkedin. Chrissie Wywrot is the president and CEO of e-Link Consulting. With more than 14 years of experience in marketing and public relations, she works with clients to generate maximum visibility on LinkedIn through profile optimization, marketing blueprints, and ongoing support. Chrissie explains how Linkedin became a platform for content generation and engagement. Once considered a serious business-only platform, Linkedin has become a great place to showcase personality and what makes you and your brand unique. This helps you identify and find the clients you will work with best. Each platform has different uses and people are on them for different reasons. That's why it's important to understand how to generate the right type of content engagement depending on what you're looking for. A good place to start inside of Linkedin is to engage with it the same way you would at a networking event. Chrissie explains why approaching people on Linkedin should mirror the way you would do it in person. What does your Linkedin strategy look like? Tell me in the comments on the episode page! In this episode Discovering just how Linkedin works Using social media to showcase the personality behind the brand How to appropriately network online so that people see you as an actual human being Three ways to interact on Linkedin so that the platform works for you Great Linkedin profiles to follow and learn from What every successful Linkedin profile needs to include Quotes "There's this idea that we have to be all buttoned-up and tight on Linkedin. The funny part is, the other stuff is working. I get business from being myself." [19:46] "If you're your authentic self, you're going to attract people who enjoy what you're doing. Those are the people who you want to work with." [21:19] "The people who engage with your content are typically not the people who buy from you…. But the people who are engaging are amplifying your content and putting it in front of more eyeballs and those who are lurking." [31:27] Links Find Chrissie Wywrot online Follow Chrissie on Linkedin CRM Walkthrough "A Conference Call in Real Life" - Video Shay Rowbottom Adam Karpiak Anthony Jones Kristin Olson-Kott Herman Moore 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!

Just getting in the door with companies you want to work with is important. But it isn't enough. You still have to close the deal. This means exuding confidence and communicating it. If your potential clients can know you, trust you, and like you then your odds of winning the job couldn't be higher. Austin Black is a Studio Sherpas Student who works as a filmmaker in the agriculture industry with Backroad Productions. A cowboy at heart, Austin has a love of cameras and storytelling. His studio provides photography and video marketing services to livestock producers as well as video strategy, marketing, and branding services for agriculture and outdoor brands. As someone who frequently works with large brands, Austin has identified a number of strategies that have won them over. Networking and knowing what to say certainly helps, but that won't be enough. Austin has found that it's crucial to have a portfolio of high-quality work. This is where your passion projects come in as they'll show the work that you want to create most. We also talk about how a focus on building and maintaining relationships is the key to success and longevity. It's easy to fall into the trap of just focusing on the numbers and sales. However, that ignores the source of those sales. By spending your energy connecting with your clients and providing them with outstanding work, the sales will naturally fall into place. Has a passion project of yours ever led to client work? Tell me about it in the comments on the episode page! In this episode Why you need to have a solid production strategy in place before the cameras start rolling How to get in front of the companies you want to work with Using your passion projects to impress and win over clients Why a focus on business relationships is the key to your company's success What it really takes to close the deal The power of a CRM to help your business run chaos-free How being willing to listen will always help you improve Quotes "If you don't have a strategy in place, then your production probably isn't going to succeed the way you want it to." [9:25] "Those passion projects are really the key to building the showcase of work that you want to do." [12:56] "It's is easy to just focus on the numbers and the sales and just be stressed. Something that has really helped me stay motivated and focused is about forgetting about the numbers and focusing on the relationship." [16:36] "Always be willing to listen and do better. Whether that's listening for improvement or just listening for feedback, everyone has great ideas." [31:54] Links Find Austin Black online at Backroad Productions Follow Austin on Linkedin Studio Sherpas Episode 164 Studio Sherpas Episode 158 with Cliff Ravenscraft CRM Walkthrough Try Pipedrive for free for 30 days Get your ticket to the Onward Summit! 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!

In today's solo unscripted episode, I want to answer just one question - If I was just starting out today, what would I do? Since you only get to do something for the first time once, It's interesting to look back with the experience of years of business and imagine what I would do if it were possible to start over. One thing I wouldn't change was getting out there and meeting with people in the industry. I explain why you should always ask questions, see how others do it, and figure out where you fit into it all. I found that this can also pay off in the form of referrals further down the road. Learning how to best use social media for my business took some time. Now we are very intentional about what we do and often defer to the experts for strategic advice. However, some experimentation is still useful for finding and connecting with your best audience. Most of all though, getting started the right way means getting out from behind your computer and meeting the right people. I discuss getting involved in trade associations and meeting potential clients in person. Rub shoulders with the people you want to learn from, grow with, and help. In the end, people will choose you over others if they know and trust you. What do you know now that you wish you did starting out? Tell me in the comments on the episode page! In this episode The power of making personal connections and meeting people in your industry Deciding which expenses are worth it in your business' early days Being strategic with social media Getting out of the office and actually interacting with people Quotes "I love all aspects of this business. That's what has helped make us successful. I don't think I've shied away from any challenges." [4:27] "If you want to be a business owner, you have to get out from behind the camera. You have to actually go out. You need to go outside. You need to have Zoom calls with your potential clients instead of just texting them." [16:20] "People are going to buy you. They're not going to buy your sweet website and videos. At the end of the day, they're going to buy you. If they know you, like you and trust you they will buy from you." [18:04] Links Check out the upcoming 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 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!

One of the biggest struggles of any business owner is aligning their work with their purpose and values. You may feel that you need to make personal sacrifices in support of the bottom line. However, today's guest has made a career by building his studio around the values and lifestyle that are most meaningful to him. I believe that all of us can do the same! Jesse Bone is a partner and producer at Filter Studios on Vancouver Island. A fellow sherpa and Onward Summit attendee, Jesse and his studio focus on making amazing films for the outdoor industry. Jesse lays out how his business is intentionally aligned with his values. Being intentional from the very start of building your business and in every project that you do will lead to work that you find most meaningful. One thing that's helped Jesse is creating a clear vision of where he wants to be and what he wants to have accomplished by the end of his career. Niching down is an essential part of this. You really can't be too focused on who you serve. Jesse and I have both seen the truth in this. Making sure your niche is aligned with your values leads not only to a healthy company but a healthier you as well. When you're connected to your niche, you'll find that the business connections you make will be meaningful and authentic. What niche would you find most meaningful to work within? Let me know in the comments on the episode page! In this episode What it means to have a purpose-driven mission for your business Avoiding the trap of being mentally at work all the time Why properly niching down will lead to more success and fulfillment The power of meeting people in person to make a real connection and establish trust The proper pronunciation of niche What to do when business isn't coming in The power of belief to drive a business' success Quotes "If we're connected to it, if we're more invested in it, a better product is going to come from it." [9:38] "Don't underestimate the power of seeing people face to face." [30:29] "When I say I believe something, it's not just in my mind. It's how I talk. It's how I walk. It's how I email, do fitness routines, play sports, ride my bike. It's all these kind of things. Belief is doing everything humanly possible to make this happen." [44:54] Links Find Jesse Bone online Follow Jesse on Instagram Episode 138 (In which my family and I got "shipwrecked" in a storm) Get your ticket to the Onward Summit! 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!

We all want our business to be the best it can be. As leaders, though, that improvement starts with us. In order to take your business to the next level, you're going to need to look inside of yourself and see where you can grow. This type of introspection is hard. Today, I've brought in a good friend and business mentor who has helped many leaders do this important work. Christopher Cook is a business consultant and podcaster, not to mention an amazing thinker and communicator. As a leadership coach and consultant to both Fortune 1000 companies and non-profit organizations, he serves as a guide to help people design their roadmap to wholeness from the inside out. He's also the host of his own podcast, Win Today with Christopher Cook. Today's episode is all about your personal identity and how your business is an extension of that. The important thing is to know if you're working from that identity or for it. That will help you to understand that significant personal growth can't help but influence your business for the better. Even if your business is producing a decent revenue, there may still be aspects that need attention. Simply exerting your will as a leader will result in disappointment. In fact, Christopher explains why relying on willpower will only result in frustration. Once you find yourself frustrated and not making the progress you're after, it's time to bring in an outside perspective. In what ways is your business an extension of your identity? Share in the comments on the episode page! In this episode What it means to work and lead from a position of wholeness Knowing when you're ready to receive coaching to get the results you're after Why relying on willpower will not work for your business Signs of an unhealthy business to look out for How a coach can lend new insight into your journey of personal growth Why it's important that business leaders be open to vulnerability How identity is the most important part of any business Quotes "I've just been a nerd for leadership and growth. So I've got this huge desire to teach and add value to people…. There's a niche for me. And that niche is organizational help." [6:05] "Everything starts from the inside out. The quality of the soil determines the fruitfulness of the seed." [14:19] "When we exert willpower in and of itself, we put ourselves in a state of stress. When we do that, we're working from deficiency." [18:02] "Shame manifests in self-protection and self-promotion. I think those two things cripple a business from growing." [25:19] "In life, you'll never know what to do until you know who you are." [38:25] Links Find Christopher Cook online Follow Christopher on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Get Christopher's free 31-day course "Scissor Me" - The Office Start with Why by Simon Sinek The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni The Studio Sherpas Onward Conference 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!

Have you ever tried to put on a different persona when working with a client? I bet it felt awkward. The reality is, there's no need to do that, even when working with giant brands. Don't fall into the trap of believing that you're not good enough as you are. The right client for you isn't looking for someone else. They want you as you are with what you have to offer. Ryan Spanger is the founder of Dream Engine, a corporate video production company in Melbourne, Australia. Since 2001, his company has been turning out high-quality corporate videos, training materials, events, and TV commercials, and website videos for businesses, government departments, and universities. He's won numerous awards and filmed across the globe with some of the best-known brands out there. Having been making videos for over two decades, Ryan discusses what he has learned about doing this over the long run. While a certain element of luck might be involved, Ryan describes the attitude and dedication necessary to take advantage of the opportunities that present themselves. Being dedicated above all else to create success will lead from one happy client to the next. As someone who has worked with many big brands and companies, Ryan explains just who they are in reality. There's often a perception of these organizations as an impersonal behemoth. In reality, since big brands are so familiar, we are actually better positioned to create a working relationship with them than many of us might believe. He describes just what you need in order to win over clients of any size and keep them coming back for more. One key part of building a good working relationship with any client is to present an honest image of who you are. Ryan has found that by presenting himself as a creative, instead of a suit-and-tie businessman, he is able to offer clients what they want. The important part is still understanding their culture and needs to create an understanding. However, you still want to retain your individual character as a storyteller. How can you present your authentic self when working with clients of any size? Let's talk about it in the comments on the episode page! In this episode The secrets to longevity in the video business Who corporate clients really are at their core Why being your authentic self is important for finding and impressing the right clients The key elements of winning large corporate clients Identifying the red flags of projects that are best avoided Practical tools you can use to niche down your business Quotes "It's not like there's a hierarchy that you start working on weddings and then smaller businesses and then medium and large. There's no one right way. It's important to find the types of clients you like working with." [17:30] "Because we're creatives, they don't expect us to be carbon-copies of them. They want us to be creatives. They want us a little bit out of the box." [21:09] "We have this impression of this big brand that's been built up over time with all this branding and marketing. At the end of the day, you're just working with some else, not too different from yourself." [22:10] "The most important thing is to just keep on thinking from the client's point of view. What is the immediate problem that they want to solve? What are they thinking about?" [34:59] "This is really achievable. If this is the market that you want to work with, it's only the barriers in your own mind that would be stopping you." [53:42] Links Find Ryan Spanger online Find Ryan on Linkedin | Instagram Dream Engine Web Video Marketing Show Get on the waitlist for the 2020 ONWARD Conference! 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!

Have you ever reached the end of your workday and wondered if you even accomplished anything? I bet it's not an uncommon feeling. That's why I am joining you today to talk about how daily habits have improved my life and how they can help you too. When first developing a routine, it may be difficult to notice its impact. However, at some point, you'll notice that it has paid off in a big way. That's why it's crucial to be both patient and consistent with your new habits. I've certainly noticed this with my morning ritual and the processes I established at work. Furthermore, having a set process that other people can learn from has allowed me to delegate important work to my team members. This permits me to spend less energy worrying about the minutiae of work. Now I can focus on the big picture instead. It has even given me the freedom to take every Friday off. So that you can start benefiting from habit building, I share useful strategies and tools that you can use to start owning your day. This involves dedicating a particular day to establishing processes, using organizational tools, creating a morning routine, and working on your business instead of in your business. Have you experienced the benefits of a daily routine? Let's talk about it in the comments on the episode page! In this episode The value of creating a regular morning practice Applying the processes that you hone in your morning ritual while at work How establishing a daily process has allowed me to work just four days a week The power of habits to give you a better perspective on what's really most important Five strategies towards building helpful habits and processes Quotes "Now, as a CEO, I understand that part of my job entails creating a regular rhythm of being able to think about my business on a regular basis." [10:32] "My morning and evening rituals help me to really own days. It forces me to be proactive." [14:23] "In handing off the parts of this work that I don't like, it's freed me up to really live and work in my sweet spot. That's just helped my company be successful." [23:32] "Adding process into your business and life puts you in control." [38:40] Links The E-Myth Revisited Episode 131 with Graham Cochrane Basecamp Evernote Atomic Habits Learn about the next Studio Sherpas Onward Summit 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!

Many of us are doing just fine on the creative side of our work. But if you don't know how to sell and market what you make, then your business isn't going to go very far. Today's guest is going to share some easy to follow advice for helping you level-up your marketing strategy right away! Allan Dib is the best-selling author of The 1-Page Marketing Plan. He's a serial entrepreneur, a rebellious marketer, and a technology expert who has started, grown, and exited multiple businesses in various industries. He spends his days working one-on-one with clients and creating new courses and content. As a source of expertise in growing any kind of business, Allan shares some of the pitfalls that many creatives end up in when trying to market their services. He's found that many of us tend to think that the creative work will sell itself. That would certainly be nice, but it seldom works that way. So that you can start marketing better right away, Allan describes the mindest needed to make it happen and briefly walks us through the creation of your own one-page marketing plan. What can you do right now to increase the reach of your marketing? Let's talk about it in the comments on the episode page! In this episode What most creatives are missing when they try to grow their business What to do if you truly don't want to market what you create Making the mindset shift necessary to focus on business growth How to create a tribe of raving fans and get more referrals from it Why you're missing out if you don't offer any high-end products and services Why getting referrals is easier than many people think The undeniable importance of having an email list Quotes "To a creative, selling out is an insult, right? Whereas to a marketer, selling out is what you want to do." [4:34] "If you believe that you have something of value to give to the world, then you have a right and a responsibility to get that message out there." [11:32] "You don't need a hundred different referral partners to build a really successful business. You only need a handful of good producing partnerships. If you spend time developing those, they can be very profitable." [35:46] "You're not a filmmaker. You're not a videographer. You're a marketer of films and videography services." [45:37] Links Find Allan Dib online Follow Allan of Facebook | Instagram | Linkedin The 1-Page Marketing Plan Episode 155 with Dan Cockerell 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!

I'm sure that there are goals you want to accomplish in your life and business. Actually visualizing what your life would be like once those goals have been accomplished is a powerful, but not that intuitive, exercise. Today, you're going to hear from someone whose expertise is helping people identify and realize their most important goals. Cliff Ravenscraft is a business mentor, life coach, and motivational speaker. He mentors coaches, consultants, and thought leaders through the transition from their unfulfilling day job to their own responsible and profitable online business so that they can live the life of their dreams and do the work they feel most called to do. Today, Cliff delves into what happens when we find work that truly fulfills us and brings us joy as well as a reliable income. This is often called your "zone of genius" and working within it adds more value than any other work you could ever do. Cliff shares his insight into what you can start doing right now to get on the path to working full-time in your zone of genius. In fact, avoiding this path, which is ingrained in our very culture, is both unhealthy and a huge waste of your limited time. To get you on track, Cliff tells us what we can do to live more intentionally aligned with our true life goals. Fill in the blank: What would your life be if ________? Let me know in the comments on the episode page! In this episode What happens when you work within your zone of genius Techniques for determining what you truly want out of life Getting over the fear of charging more for your work The unsung benefits of failure How to bring more clarity to what's most important to you and your business Quotes "This is that thing that you do where time does not exist for you. You literally are on an existence of reality that is without time." [12:38] "Don't quit your daydream my friends. Life is all about asking yourself what it is you want." [21:29] "Stop going after the low hanging fruit. You're talking about leaving your day job to go do what your zone of genius is, that thing that you're most gifted at. Go and find the path of least resistance to get what you want sooner rather than later." [36:46] "I want to encourage you to fail and fail often and keep changing your approach each time you fail until you get what you want." [49:19] Links Find Cliff Ravenscraft online Follow Cliff on Instagram | Twitter Get instant access to Cliff's 1-hour keynote video The Big Leap by Gay Hendricks Episode 131 with Graham Cochrane The 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 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!