The Influential Personal Brand Podcast

As an author, you are no doubt much more occupied with writing an exceptional book, than you are with selling it. And while not all authors are in the business of hitting bestseller lists, most publishers are. So if you’re interested in working with a traditional publisher or publishing house, then you'll need to know what it takes to be featured on these lists and what your role will be in marketing your work. In today’s recap episode, we delve into the many facets of this topic as AJ shares her thoughts on writing a bestseller while recounting her conversation with Esther Fedorkevich, Founder and CEO of The Fedd Agency, a literary agency that has helped more than 100 people hit the New York Times Bestseller list. You’ll hear AJ provide an insightful breakdown of her top takeaways, like how to create excellent content that stands out from the rest, the benefits of allowing people to accompany you on your journey, and what it takes to implement a successful marketing strategy. To hear all of AJ’s observations on writing, marketing, publishing, and more, be sure to tune in today! 

Not every author aspires to become a bestseller. But if your goal is to join the ranks of one of these coveted lists, such as the New York Times, then there are a few key things to know before you get started. Our guest today, Esther Fedorkevich, is uniquely qualified to share advice on this multifaceted topic. Not only is she the founder and CEO of her very own thriving literary agency, The Fedd Agency, but she has also helped over 100 authors hit the New York Times Bestseller list! Tuning in, you’ll hear insights from Esther’s years of experience as she unpacks what it takes to produce a bestseller, why it relies on more than just good writing, and how the decline of retail and the rise of social media has changed the way that people discover books and authors. In our conversation, Esther reflects on how her love of literature, people, marketing, and sales puts her in an excellent position to support writers, before detailing the important role she plays in helping authors and celebrities uncover the story that they are uniquely qualified to tell. We also discuss what authors need to know about marketing their books, identifying when it's time to enlist the help of a qualified sales team, and how to get books into the hands of readers, before revisiting an important reminder that the ultimate goal is not about selling copies, but changing lives. If you’re interested in sharing your story with the world but are unsure of where to start, then you’ll definitely want to hear all that Esther has to say! 

In the previous episode, we spoke to John Meese about building massive membership sites. In this recap episode, we zone in on the key ways to build massive recurring revenue within the membership site model. We explain what recurring revenue is and why it matters, how it affects business valuation, and why we love it! In order to secure consistently recurring revenue, it’s essential to generate new sales while retaining existing customers. Utilization equals retention and today, you’ll find out how to increase the utilization of your offer, keeping the back door closed and the front door open. Tune in to find out how you can better serve your customers, and reduce risk and volatility within your business. 

In this engaging discussion, membership site expert John Meese shares his journey in scaling sites to six and seven figures, including the success of Platform University. He emphasizes the importance of community and continuous value for retention. John reveals effective strategies like leveraging urgency during launches and utilizing shorter free trials to boost conversions. He also highlights the critical role of customer lifetime value in membership management and offers insights on creating a thriving, sellable asset distinct from personal branding.

Today’s episode is for all the coaches out there! Tune in for a series of quick and practical tips on how anyone can elevate their offerings as a coach. In this brief, but informative episode, AJ shares her top takeaways from her conversation with Minal Mehta, CEO and Co-founder of AllTakes, an online platform built specifically for coaches. You’ll hear AJ break down the value of niching down as a coach and how to run an exceptional coaching business, before illustrating the top three ways that technology can elevate the coaching experience. For a series of powerful insights on coaching, technology, and more, be sure to tune in today!

There’s a big difference between the skills required to be an exceptional coach and the expertise you need to create a thriving business. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the technology side of building a coaching business, then this episode is for you! We sat down with Minal Mehta, CEO and Co-founder of AllTakes, to talk about her journey from employee to coach to entrepreneur, and how she became aware of the demand for an online tool that could serve the needs of coaches. AllTakes is a groundbreaking platform that is not only built specifically with coaches in mind but is also designed by an incredible individual who has spent many years working as an accomplished coach herself! Tuning in, you’ll hear Minal share her insights on the current rise in coaching, what she has learned from her coaching career, and why she wanted to create a product that would streamline the technological components of being a coach. We also unpack what it takes to become an exceptional coach in a niche market before discussing how AllTakes is providing unique solutions for coaches who want to build meaningful connections and community. So if you’re a coach looking to streamline your process — or if you’re debating whether it’s finally time to share what you’ve learned with the people who need your expertise most — then you’ll definitely want to tune in for this one!

Building and nurturing a community is an essential part of building a brand. In this episode, we recap our recent interview with AppIt Ventures CEO, Amanda Moriuchi, and share our most significant takeaways. Our conversation with Amanda was centered around how we can use technology (apps, specifically) to deepen relationships with and within our communities. This recap lists the benefits of having your own app, rather than relying solely on social media, as well as the three things you need to consider as you strategize community-building tactics. Tune in to discover the value of owning and consolidating engagement, and what it takes to create a deeper sense of community! 

Having an app allows for a more intimate engagement with your customers, but how do you know whether you’re ready to take that step? Joining us today to break down the process of building, launching, growing, and monetizing an app is the CEO of Appit Ventures, Amanda Moriuchi. In this episode, Amanda shares insights into the growing mobile app trends, the sense of community tech facilitates, and the role of apps in creating intimate bonds amongst customers. We discuss the main revenue streams of applications, when it makes sense to monetize them, and how to calculate the price point for paid apps. Tune in to find out how to determine whether you need an app, and what it will take to create and maintain one while providing value to your community. 

Much of what we do here at Brand Builders Group and on this podcast is geared toward helping you grow your income, but there is more to being a successful business owner than just that! Today we are reflecting on our recent chat with Henry Yoshida and sharing 15 powerful tax-saving strategies. Our conversation with Henry was packed with amazing insight and useful tactics, and taxes only made up a portion of what he covered, so make sure to go back and listen to that episode if you have not already. These are all legitimate, legal, and ethical tax strategies that you can implement today if you want to save, and the crazy thing is that so many of these are not widely known about! It is important to remember that these strategies are applicable to the US, as tax laws differ across the world, but there is also a good possibility that if you live elsewhere, there may be a comparable rule that you could adhere to in order to save. So without further ado, let's get into the 15 ways you and your business can start saving today! 

Today we are very excited to bring you a finance and investment focussed episode of the show, as we welcome the CEO and Co-Founder of Rocket Dollar, Henry Yoshida! Rocket Dollar is a fintech platform aimed at helping investors prepare smartly for retirement by offering private alternative investment options. Henry has been a CFP since he was 22, and spent 10 years at Merrill Lynch before the segue into building his own companies. He is also a licensed realtor, so he knows a thing or two about the important subject of investing in real estate! In our chat today, Henry shares some amazing wisdom and insight that will help any listener improve their understanding of self-directed IRAs, pension plans, and real estate purchases. He also unpacks why he chose to pursue building a fintech company, and how this work compares to his previous position as an active advisor. Tune in to hear it all!