The $100 MBA Show

Charging in installments works for infomercial products. But will it work for yours?When you don’t collect the entire price of your product or service right away, you take a risk. You may see one or two payments, only to forfeit the rest. That said, when you only accept full payment up front, you risk not making the sale.The key is to understand what kinds of offers benefit from payment plans — and which don’t.Today, we break down the advantages and pitfalls of payment plans, and what factors make them riskier. We’ll explore the price points and product types that do better or worse with payment plans, including the one thing you should always get money up front for.Make the most sales — and the most revenue — with the right payment approach. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

When it comes to social media, more isn’t always better.Our instinct (and a lot of advice out there) is to post as much and as often as possible. But the data — and our experience — don’t bear that out.Today, we take a dive into the available data on social media, and unpack how exactly you can use FB, Twitter, the ‘Gram, and LInkedIn to your advantage. Remember: these platforms and the companies that run them have their own goals, and it’s not to grow your business.The key is to balance the platform’s agenda with your own.Learn what each channel looks for (and rewards) so that you can post and interact in a way that works. Choose the right channel for your niche and content style. Use the numbers to create a strategy that’s effective — not a guess.As they say, if you’re not paying for the product, you are the product. Don’t let social media platforms benefit only themselves. With the right knowledge, they can work for your business too. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Email is one of the most powerful tools for an independent business.As they say (and as we often repeat) “the money’s in the list.” For all the marketing channels out there, email still gets the best results in terms of reach and conversions.But there are way too many email platforms out there.Today, we help a brave, aspiring young entrepreneur get started on the right track, by choosing an email platform that gets the job done on a high-schooler’s budget. But it’s not just about finding the cheapest option — it’s about finding an option that won’t hold you back when the business actually grows.Learn what every independent business needs from their email platform, and how to make sure you choose the right one. And of course, we’ll share our personal recommendation for the platform we trust with our own campaigns.Once you choose an email service, switching is a heavy lift. Make sure you don’t have to do it too often, by starting with one that’ll serve you well for years. Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Charging for a physical or digital product is fairly easy. But what about services?If you’re a freelance web designer, copywriter, or coach, getting paid can be tricky. Today, we explore the best ways to charge for services and process payments quickly — without hurting sales or getting yourself overburdened with complicated software tools.Buying your service online should be just as seamless as buying a t-shirt!In this episode, we explain exactly what your point-of-sale and payment processing tools need to do for you, and share our top recommendations for the tools we like most. Save yourself a few hours of research, and get more sales for your services. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Harder doesn’t mean better.In fact, the opposite might be true. For as powerful as grit and a solid work ethic can be, we’re never grunting and sweating when we’re at our best. We’re smooth. We’re fluid.We’re…Effortless.Greg McKeown first changed our approach to business with his truly essential Essentialism, which advocates for a strict focus on what matters most. Now, Effortless adds a new dynamic: embracing the ease that characterizes our best efforts.Of course, it means reframing your mindset. If you believe that “hard work” is always the way forward, it might take some mental pivoting to understand that incredible results often come from low levels of effort — at least as people typically understand effort.Hear the key points and top takeaways from this instant classic. Click Play!Effortless by Greg McKeownEssentialism by Greg McKeownDiscover all our must-read book reviews at https://100mba.net/bookreviews.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Information isn’t the only thing that gets leads.When we create free lead magnets, we often default to sharing information. After all, sharing what we know doesn’t cost much, and knowledge is easy to transfer online. But there’s another option — and it’s just as good for conversions: templates.Whether it’s email or blog post templates, slide deck templates, or something else, a template doesn’t teach your lead anything. But it still empowers them.In other words, a free template is a solution to a pain point, just as much as an e-book or checklist is. The difference: it’s easier to use right away, and leaves a smaller gap between what you gave your lead and what they actually did with it.Today, hear how we use free templates as highly effective lead magnets. And learn how to ask yourself what kinds of templates your audience might appreciate. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Offering live, in-person workshops, retreats, and other events isn’t easy.…but it’s so worth it.Recently, Omar hosted a 4-day in-person ski & snowboard retreat for independent founders. It was the first in-person event we’ve put together in a while, and it didn’t go exactly as planned — but it was still a win for us, and a worthwhile experience for everyone who attended.Today, we share how we planned this event, what went right and wrong, and how we navigated the unexpected twists along the way.If you’re thinking of organizing an event like this (especially if it involves travel, lodging, and the other logistics that can get complicated quickly) give this episode a listen. Learn how to make sure that both you and your attendees get the value they’re looking for — and have a great time while they’re doing it. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Entrepreneurship is about more than just making money. …or at least it can be. Today, we resume our partnership with US Bank’s Real Good podcast, a show that highlights business ventures for which profit isn’t the first goal. In this episode of Real Good, get to know Jennifer Openshaw, founder and CEO of Girls With Impact. GWI’s mission is to empower young female business people with a 10-week “mini MBA” program, designed to give these young women the skills and confidence they may not get from formal education. Hear how the power of business education and mentoring can lay the groundwork for a better tomorrow, by strategically offering the right tools to underserved groups in advance. Businesses can make more than money. With the right goals in mind, they can make investments in a future that looks a little more like the one we need. Click Play!  SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Show Links Real Good podcast The post [Bonus Episode] From Real Good Podcast: The Business of Empowering Girls with Jennifer Openshaw appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If you’re running a business by yourself, the question isn’t if you should hire an EA or VA (Executive Assistant/Virtual Assistant). The question is when.And wouldn’t you know it, one of our listeners asked exactly that. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a solopreneur who knows an EA will be a good idea at some point. But how soon is too soon? How can you know when it’s the right time?In other words, at what point does an EA become an investment, rather than just an expense?In this episode, we’ll discuss why and how an EA can empower you to make more money, by freeing you up to focus on higher-priority revenue-generating tasks. We lay out a step-by-step system you can use to determine if the time is now, or if your EA is still a while down the road.Bonus — we also get into where to look for a great EA, so you can hire one that’s (almost) as good as ours. Click Play!To submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Profit is oxygen. But if you’re only creating profit by maximizing revenue…you’re only doing half the job.It’s time to get lean, and stay lean.Today, we explore how to keep expenses down, by consistently tracking and trimming the fat. It’s not about obsessing over overy penny or being a miser. It’s about making smart deals with the people and companies who make up the “Loss” side of your Profit & Loss sheet — and renegotiating regularly.Learn how we systematically analyze our own spending, and slash expenses by a significant percentage every couple years.The fact is, you’re probably spending more than you have to, somewhere. And to keep your small business growing, you can always make more room in the budget. Hear how to get the most out of your budgets, and keep that P&L sheet in shape. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.