On the Record by Leadpages

Ian Garlic shares the tools his company uses to keep the team focused on their key projects, the “S” word that frequently sabotages the growth freelancers are seeking, and his approach to getting out of a business slump quickly. For show notes, transcripts, and more, go to Leadpages.com/podcast.    Ian is the founder of authenticWEB, a digital marketing agency specializing in video and SEO. Ian also hosts the Garlic Marketing Show and is building a directory of video professionals at StoryCrews.com.   Top Takeaways Get hyper-focused on one thing. Make sure obviously it has value to people and just worry about delivering that value as much as possible at first to as many people as possible and know that it's going to be hard.  Passion will trump the best sales techniques all day. People want authentic excitement coming from the people they buy from. When you're feeling bad about your business, reach out and help someone else. Genuinely help someone else without any intention of trying to get something out of it. Scaling isn’t for everybody. Just because you want to have a big business doesn't mean that you should just go out and try and get a big business. Figure out what you really want and how you’re going to make it happen. What is the real purpose of creating this business? You have to work hard. The bigger the possible success, the more unknowns and roadblocks you’re likely to run into.  

Clay takes a trip down memory lane to discuss how he found the first 200 customers of Leadpages before the software existed, what he learned about leadership growing his first startup, and what it’s like to shift gears into a new industry where nobody knows about your track record.  For show notes, transcripts, and more, go to Leadpages.com/podcast.    Clay is currently growing his second startup, Nomics, a crypto asset data company delivering professional-grade market data APIs to institutional crypto investors and exchanges. He is the co-founder and Chairman of the Board of Leadpages.  Top Takeaways Don’t be afraid to give something new a try. You can invest a little bit of time and/or money and if it works out well then you can put more energy into it with less risk. Get to know your audience and be authentic. This way you are able to establish who you are and the value of your brand – without shoving a sale in their face. Keep yourself motivated. As an entrepreneur it’s easy to lose momentum, so find someone or something that can help you stay motivated and inspired. This could be anything from listening to new podcasts or following people in your space on Twitter. Put in the work to grow your list. Frequent webinars on topics that appeal to your audience is a great way to do that, plus webinars are an excellent testing ground for your next product idea.  Help your clients get real results from the work you do with them. Get them to truly know the value, not just see it in theory.

Dimitrije Ostojić shares how he’s become a leading voice in digital marketing in the Balkans, reveals his favorite list building method and gives a great way to convert leads into customers at scale. For show notes, transcripts, and more, go to Leadpages.com/podcast.    Dimitrije is the founder of Default Design, a global digital marketing agency headquartered in Novi Sad, Serbia. Focusing on marketing automation and lead generation, Dimitrije, and his team bring strategic planning and tactical implementation to each project they take on.  Top Takeaways Don’t be afraid to give something new a try. You can invest a little bit of time and/or money and if it works out well then you can put more energy into it with less risk. Get to know your audience and be authentic. This way you are able to establish who you are and the value of your brand – without shoving a sale in their face. Keep yourself motivated. As an entrepreneur it’s easy to lose momentum, so find someone or something that can help you stay motivated and inspired. This could be anything from listening to new podcasts or following people in your space on Twitter. Put in the work to grow your list. Frequent webinars on topics that appeal to your audience is a great way to do that, plus webinars are an excellent testing ground for your next product idea.  Help your clients get real results from the work you do with them. Get them to truly know the value, not just see it in theory.

Maria Dominguez-Courian shares what motivated her to start her own business, how she narrowed her niche to brides-to-be, and where she turns for inspiration and support.   For show notes, transcripts, and more, go to Leadpages.com/podcast.  Maria is the holistic nutritionist behind Vitalia Nutrition. Her coaching and courses support women who want to reboot their metabolism and re-balance their lives through food. Her Healthy Bride Method is used by wedding planning women who want less stress and more energy leading up to their big day.  Top Takeaways Self-care is important. Taking care of your mind, body, and mentality can help you achieve so much more if you’re willing to take care of yourself first. Find your niche and work hard at what you love – then it won’t seem like work. Surround yourself with people who will motivate and encourage you when you’re down. It never hurts to have a cheerleader on the sidelines rooting for you! Find the tools that work well for your business and get to know them well. Simple, easy to use tools will make you enjoy your job a lot more and keep your frustrations at bay.

Kelly McCausey shares the mindset shifts that blew the lid off her own business, how collaborating with her competition generates ripple effects and her favorite pathway to generating multiple streams of income. For show notes, transcripts, and more, go to Leadpages.com/podcast. Top Takeaways Don’t let your comfort zone keep you from doing something amazing. Getting out of your comfort zone will help you learn about yourself, achieve new things, and make you more confident in who you are as a person. Take partnerships seriously, even with your competition. Before you start a partnership, try out a collaborative project first.  Don’t let raising your prices for your product or business hold you back. When you provide value, you will also provide opportunities for your community to grow together. Playing small keeps a lid on your audience, and does a disservice to them.  Think big tree vs. tending a fledgling orchard. Focus your efforts on a singular business that eventually (not immediately) has multiple branches. 

Nancy Marmolejo shares a different perspective on what a "freedom lifestyle" really looks like, what she's reading to fuel her spiritual engine, and what she learned during challenging times that can help you persevere during your own.  For transcripts, show notes, and more, go to Leadpages.com/podcast  Nancy has an uncanny knack for getting her clients to discover their own Deep Genius® – a unique blend of purpose, passion, and prodigy that entrepreneurs and (and the companies they run) bring to the world. A former high school teacher, Nancy believes everyone's Deep Genius is their personal master key to making the difference you're here to make.  Top Takeaways Take one step at a time, just because someone says you need to do something doesn’t mean it’s always right for your business or it might be better done at another time. There is honor in working. Do what you love and don’t be fooled by others touting a 3-hour lazy lifestyle. Find people who can hold you accountable. This might be accountability circles for small business owners. Take time to check in with each other, ask each other questions. Don’t be afraid to ask for help during challenging times. Life is unpredictable. Asking for help can give you time and space to heal, and give you the ability to do your best work when you’re back in action.  Think of LinkedIn as a search engine. Consider the type of people you want to connect with and create your profile with the right keywords to make it easy for them to find you.

Lou Bortone shares how to get the right mindset for incorporating video into your campaigns, thoughts on the entrepreneurial life while being an active parent to teenagers, and the tools he uses to accelerate the projects he and his clients work on.  Get the show transcripts and more at Leadpages.com/podcast. Lou helps busy small business owners fully leverage and express themselves by using video marketing in authentic ways. A former marketing executive for radio and television, including with Fox Family (now ABC Family) and E! Entertainment, Lou’s consulted entrepreneurs with their video strategies and action plans since 2002. Top Takeaways: With today’s tech and resources, small business owners are essentially their own TV stations. Your role is producer, director, and actor of the shows you wish to make. To be successful on camera, you don’t need to adopt some stranger’s persona – just be you. With people sometimes watching 2 or 3 screens at the same time, it’s important to keep your videos short and attention-grabbing. You don’t have to start from scratch. Use templates from services like Leadpages and Envato marketplace to get a head start on your marketing. It’s awesome if everything you do is successful, but don’t be afraid to fail. Even Major League Baseball players are MVPs when they get hits less than 4 out of every 10 at-bats.

Julie Raich Diémé shares how she was able to turn her own mindset challenges into solutions, realize the value she brings to her clients, and begin to cash in on her talents as an educator.   For show notes, transcripts, and more, visit Leadpages.com/podcast. Julie is an online course consultant for health and wellness business owners. A linguist and educator by trade, Julie partners with her clients to develop digital programs that get students to the finish line.  Top Takeaways Be resilient. You simply can’t give up after trying one thing that doesn’t work out. Involve other people. Expanding and nurturing your business doesn’t have to be done alone. Asking for help or hiring someone to help around the house while you work can make all the difference. Understand your audience. Match your product or service to the needs and skillsets of your students and customers. This way you can offer exactly what they’re hoping to receive in an easy, understandable, and timely fashion.  Make it easy for your students to take action. Online learning is all about taking action because action produces results. Don’t leave your audience guessing at every turn–– if you do, they won’t last long. Make connections. Set aside time with others to fuel your journey. Sometimes all you need is a solid brainstorming session to get the creative juices flowing.

Jenn Cohen shares the story of her entrepreneurial journey, including what held her back, who pushed her forward, and how she persists in order to impact more kids around the world as they pursue their college dreams.    For transcripts, show notes, and more, visit Leadpages.com/podcast   Jenn is the founder of LaunchPad Education. With a team of tutors, they provide personalized, 1-1 online SAT and ACT test prep to students with ADHD or other special learning needs.   After two decades in the world of in-person test-prep for high school students, Jenn decided to strike out on her own to develop an online tutoring business that serves teenagers who learn a little differently.    Top Takeaways If you’ve developed skills at delivering a service in person, consider doing it online to a wider audience. Pay attention to the encouragement coming from your inner circle. Start building a team as your personal bandwidth diminishes, freeing up your time to do higher-leveraged activities for your business. Test new marketing ideas with list-building/interest campaigns in Leadpages Persist and prosper – probably in ways you can’t predict.

Tim Paige shares his journey into the world of voice acting, how he handles the stress of a gig-to-gig business and his secrets for finding work-life balance as you pursue your passions. For show notes, transcripts, and more, go to https://www.Leadpages.com/podcast Over the last few years, Tim has established himself as an in-demand voice actor for podcast intros, television promotions, and audiobooks. In fact, you may have heard Tim's voice on commercials promoting shows on NBC, The CW, and in Jimmy Kimmel skits, just to name a few.  ** Top Takeaways ** Reach out for help from people who are doing what you do and do not be afraid to ask for the yes. The mental game is the most difficult part of the entrepreneurial journey. Be open to doing the thing you love to do more frequently for your happiness, even if it doesn’t pay as well as alternatives.  The entrepreneurial schedule can bring you more time with your family, while also bringing narrow times of sacrifice to grow your status in the field.  Do what you love to do that the market is willing (and eager) to pay you to do it.