The $100 MBA Show

You can’t sell your product or service if you can’t sell yourself. Confidence in branding is everything. But does that mean you have to be…full of yourself? Can you persuade without playing the peacock?After all, in a noisy market, the loudest voice often wins.It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener learn how to market without being a total tool. There is a way to showcase everything that makes you awesome in a way that doesn’t seem egocentric or irritating. In fact, the best marketers do it every day.It’s all about focusing on the audience and what they need, rather than yourself and why you’re a big deal.Learn how to stay on the right side of the line between flexing and inspiring trust and confidence. Let the world see what you have to offer, without offering everyone a heaping helping of your own thirstiness. It can be done — Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

Goals are hard. A goal, however, is more attainable. So how can you narrow your focus to something big and all-encompassing that’ll have the greatest impact on your business? And should you?It all comes down to a single number.There’s no shortage of business metrics you can track (and no shortage of products and services designed to help you track them). If you’re not careful, you can get lost in a sea of analytics — without actually accomplishing anything meaningful.That’s why it’s critical to pick one, just one, metric that makes the biggest difference.So which number are we talking about? Well, that’s the tricky part. Today, we share examples of the single-number strategy, including from our own business. Once you hear a few real-life cases, you’ll have a better idea of what number you should put your chips on. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

So how exactly did a cartoon kitten take over the world? And why does Japan consistently produce products that are almost dangerously cute? It’s no accident — it’s a business strategy.Kawaii is a catch-all term for a specific aesthetic, something Japanese businesses purposely cultivate. Loosely translated, it means “cuteness.” But kawaii is no child’s play. It’s a cultural vein that Japanese companies tap into in order to reach their target markets. By understanding what makes people go gaga for Pikachu and Hello Kitty, these businesses give themselves a serious edge — nothing “cute” about it.So what can Western entrepreneurs learn from the kawaii principle?In a word, presentation. Today, we explore the concept of kawaii, how it’s applied in Japanese business, and why the way your product looks and feels can be your greatest marketing asset. That’s not to say you abandon substance!Instead, you learn to embrace the feelings you can induce by presenting your products in certain ways. When you put care, thought, and a deep understanding of your audience into the aesthetic, it speaks louder than any ad can. Learn how to inject a little kawaii into your strategy. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

Don’t leave home without these — and we’re not talking about hardware. You can’t put these items in your bag, but if you’re working on the road, each and every one is a potential lifesaver.Not to mention…a trip-saver.Wherever you go, you can’t predict exactly what the situation will be re: Internet, security, and your ability to communicate with the rest of your team. For that reason, it’s important to build in some fail-safes so that whatever happens, you can get the job done from wherever you are.Today, we share the 4 most critical “things,” so to speak, that come on the road with us.This isn’t only applicable to working trips. If you’re a full-time digital nomad, or even if you have a global remote team, this stuff makes your business truly location independent. Find out what we use and why, and start “packing” (again, so to speak) for your next adventure.Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

It’s not as simple as “make stuff, sell stuff.” Of course it can be, but there are other ways to make money on your own. Before you start your first (or next) business, listen to this episode.Our intrepid host Omar has started several businesses in his day. And he’s learned how critical it is to choose the right model — regardless of the industry or niche.These days it’s SaaS (Software as a Service), as in our webinar platform. It’s also course creation and coaching, aka selling content and services. But Omar’s also done everything from affiliate marketing to arbitrage to e-commerce. Along the way, he learned which models are a good fit — and which are not. So which model is right for you?Today, we explore the concept of business models, run through a few examples, and outline a strategy for picking the model that you’ll excel with. You may know what business you want to be in, but it’s crucial to think about how you want to be in it, and where you expect your money to come from.Get into a business that suits your talents and preferences. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

Writers rule the Internet, but videographers are the gatekeepers. So what’s the best way to use video to support a blog? Today, we weigh the two biggest options: YouTube and the ‘Gram.If you could only focus on one, which is the most effective?It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a travel blog. The good stuff is in the articles, but this savvy blogger knows that people find their way into content via visual media these days. The plan: dump some time and resources into YouTube or Instagram, and funnel the followers to the blog.Each platform has its ups and downs, of course.Today, we break down what you can expect to gain from a following on both of these platforms, and examine which one is most likely to support a blog-based business best. Each platform is built for a certain kind of video content, so it’s best to choose a focus and stick with it.Get the details on what each platform wants from you, and what each can do for you — with a special focus on converting watchers to readers. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

When we think coaching, we think live calls. But it’s not the only way. Yes, you can coach via email (you heard that right). Today, we explore why you should, and how it works.It’s really pretty ingenious.Because it’s asynchronous, you can coach people whose schedules don’t align with yours. Because it’s written, you can reach people who aren’t comfortable with live video. Because it’s email, you can keep the whole program focused only on what matters most with greater efficiency. In fact, good ol’ Omar runs an email-based coaching program himself.In this episode, Omar shares what he’s learned as an email coach, and why it’s something every coach should consider. It doesn’t have to replace other kinds of coaching; it can simply be a powerful supplement. But the bang for your buck (in both directions) is undeniable. Learn what the advantages of email coaching are, and how to build your own program. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

Japan does business differently. Today kicks off a 4-part series on the Japanese approach to everything from product development to customer service — and why it all just…works.We begin with Part 1, an exploration of the cultural attitudes and values that position Japanese entrepreneurs to succeed wildly.…and no, you don’t have to be Japanese to do some of this yourself.It’s all rooted in a different notion of what “success” actually means. For Westerners, the endgame is the primary focus, and everything you do on your way is a means to an end. But in Japan, the means is just as important — perhaps more so — than the end.How does that translate into better business? Because consistency in your day-to-day efforts adds up over time, to something more than the sum of its parts.Join us as Omar travels the Land of the Rising Sun, and shares the lessons he’s picking up along the way. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

The best email campaign in the world won’t help your business if no one reads it. So how can you make sure people actually see what you’re saying (without misleading subject lines, that is)?Today, we offer a few very specific answers.In both of our businesses, we’ve had ups and downs in our open rates. Along the way, we’ve discovered some moves that work. In this episode, we’ll share 4 things that reliably moved the needle for us. The best part? It’s not the elaborate or overly technical stuff that does the trick. It’s the simple, best-practice, tried-and-true methods that get results. From copywriting without sounding like a copywriter, to basic list hygiene, to storytelling, you don’t need a PhD in email to be heard.Learn what you can do to get real, useful engagement with your emails — and watch your leads and sales grow as a result. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed

YouTube: it’s one heckuva revenue-generator for anyone making video content. But how much can you really expect to bring in? And how can you optimize your approach to earn the most?Today, we unpack how to monetize your YouTube channel.Yes, we’ll discuss the ad revenue model — but it’s not the only way to get paid for YouTubing. In this episode, we’ll explore a few ways to turn videos into profit, and how some of the best YouTubers out there make their living.We’ll dive deep into exactly how popular your videos need to be before they can really generate income, and why YouTube is such a gold mine, especially compared to other content platforms like blogs and social media. …assuming, of course, that you’re doing it right.We did the research, you get the strategies. Learn how to approach YouTube with profit in mind, and get the most out of the content you put so much work into. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed