The Amy Porterfield Show

It’s the 200th episode! Cue the confetti and champagne! If you have been listening to me since I first aired in 2013, THANK YOU! It’s been 5 AMAZING years and I couldn’t have done it without you!To celebrate, I have asked some of my closest friends and peers to share quick pieces about something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately…How do you zig when others are zagging?How do you “go against the grain”?When do you take a risk and change things up?And I couldn’t think of anyone better to tackle this topic than my small group of much-cherished and loved peers. I hope you enjoy listening to these as much as I have. Get ready to make some zigs happen for your own business!If you’re wondering if it’s a right time to “zig” for your business, listen up to my four scenarios to help you decide.Want a personalized message from me on instagram? And if you want that new “outtake” of me sharing my personal story of zigging, make sure to 1) take a screenshot of this episode 2) post it on Instagram (feed or stories) and use #200withamy and tag me when you post it. Then I’ll slide into your DM with a link to this clip! That’s right, I will personally DM you...Here’s a sneak peek of each of my amazing group of peers: Jasmine Star gives us the inside scoop into how she invested a year of heart, soul and money into a launch that got her … an underwhelming amount of students. But then she decided to “knock on some digital doors” ... [12:50] Ray Edwards shares the personal touch he provided for each person who bought one of his high-end programs. [18:25] Pat Flynn starts off with a life-changing story from his childhood, then talks about how giving away a study guide for free became the launching-off point for Smart Passive Income. [20:03] Diane Sanfilippo on why you need to be focused on creating paid content and programs. [26:30] Julie Solomon offers up her own version of “Pitch Perfect” and how she took the initiative to start monetizing her blog. [32:01] Tarzan Kay shares how she broke ALL the rules of launches, and executed a simple (no stress!) promotion that netted her five figures. [39:59] James Wedmore gives us multiple examples of zigging, and asks a series of questions to help you come up with your own different “out of the box” ideas. [45:36] Russell Brunson talks about how one T-shirt helped to reduce his ClickFunnels churn by 23 percent (!)—and build a powerful community in the process. [51:03] Rick Mulready walks his own talk and tries his hand at Facebook Messenger for feedback about this podcast. The results may surprise you—because they surprised him! [56:51] Jenna Kutcher gets real (as always) and tells you why she decided to go completely transparent with her messaging. [1:01:18] Links to learn more about my special group of friends: Jasmine Star: www.jasminestar.com/ Ray Edwards: www.rayedwards.com/welcome/ Pat Flynn: https: www.smartpassiveincome.com/ Diane Sanfilippo: www.balancedbites.com/ Julie Solomon: www.juliesolomon.net/ Tarzan Kay: https://tarzankay.com/ James Wedmore: www.jameswedmoretraining.com/ Russell Bruson: www.russellbrunson.com/hi Rick Mulready: www.rickmulready.com Jenna Kutcher: www.jennakutcher.com/

Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss: My dream was to knock it out of the park for my first launch. But to know me and my story is to know that it took me a few tries to get it right. Which is the case for MOST people. And that’s why I wanted to bring Michelle Evans on the show. Michelle is one of my very first students, and she’s here to share how she turned TWO complete launch failures into an astonishing success. I’ve got a feeling that for some of you, Michelle’s experiences of saving what seemed like a huge mess (including an ice-cold, 6% open-rate email list into a hit), is just what you need to hear. Michelle and I start at the very beginning (including how she transitioned from her 16-year corporate job at Microsoft to creating online courses). Michelle dives into all of the excruciating details of her two failed launches, and also what she did to turn it all around. I think you’ll get a lot out of the strategies, lessons and insights she’s sharing, including how she used my program Courses that Convert to make her own course dreams come true.Check out these highlights: Michelle and I reminisce about the moments we walked away from our corporate gigs. [4:58] The biggest hurdles Michelle faced in her path to online course-creation success. [11:02] How Michelle made time to create her course. [19:13] Mini-offers and how to use them to do your validation calls. [21:45] How sharing her struggles surprisingly interested her audience more than only sharing her successes. [26:58] Using quizzes to warm people up for your ultimate offer. [32:29] Tiger Time and protecting your time from you own business. [37:38]

Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss: Keeping up with Facebook updates can (at times) feel like a full-time job. And if you’re not staying on top of everything that’s changing, you can feel like you’re stuck back in 2012. I’ve got you covered because today, my Facebook Ads sidekick and dancing machine (more about that in the episode!) Rick Mulready, is joining me to fill us in on some of the most recent, and relevant, updates on Facebook Ads. We’re talking everything from the Power Editor going away, to budget optimization, all the way to Messenger Ads. You can’t miss this goldmine of an episode—especially because Rick is introducing us to an amazing new feature to optimizing our budget and get more bang for our buck. If you’ve decided that this year is THE year to master Facebook ads, you cannot miss out on all the juicy details Rick has for us in today’s ep. Some of you know Rick from previous podcasts, and I love having him back because he’s always making sure you’re on top of your game with Facebook AND Instagram Ads. So let’s get started on the five must-areas Rick says you need to be aware of today.Check out these highlights: Where did Power Editor go? [4:51] How Facebook is updating the potential audience reach. [7:39] Should you keep your audiences separate? [10:40] Budget optimization at the Campaign Level: you want to be ready to optimize this update. [11:45] How to choose between manual and automatic bidding. [15:26] Customizing ads for different placements in both Facebook and Instagram (this one’s brand new). [19:01] Messenger Ads—why Rick thinks they will be BIG in 2018. [25:47] Cyber Monday’s billion-dollar payoff and why keeping the mobile user in mind is super important. [31:22]

Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss: Marie Forleo is back to tell it like it is. Today she’s bringing three so-simple strategies that ANYONE can use to amp up their results this year. So no more “I’m never going to make enough money to quit my day job.” No more “My list is stuck at 900.” No more “I can’t connect with my audience.” So if you feel overwhelmed or overstretched or maybe, just maybe, like you’re drowning, this conversation is for you. Marie has this uncanny ability to help you uncover what’s truly holding you back from getting results and on this episode, you’ll be amazed to discover that all of the strategies we’re diving into today require more of you and less of all the tools and gizmos you think you need to succeed online.And if you let them, these strategies will free you up and open the door to a business you’ve been dreaming of.WARNING: This one is definitely an “ear-buds episode” (to wear around the kids); Marie’s breaking out the adult language.Check out these highlights: Why running faster and faster and faster and working harder and harder and harder (like a hamster) will not get you the results you want. [10:00] What it means to show the raw, real you. [12:02] How Marie shook up her longtime video show with a little sumthin’ called Marie Unplugged. [17:23] Do NOT spend a lot of money on that production! [20:46] A real unscripted moment Marie had on the streets of New York. [22:23] Our 24-hour challenge for you. [23:25] Forget Social and focus on THIS instead. [25:05] One of the most underrated and overlooked traits for creatives and entrepreneurs. [35:43] How Marie took her B-School refund rate from 19% to less than 2%. [40:31] Make sure to check out Marie’s FREE Video Training SeriesThis is some of the best marketing training out there today (in my opinion!). In Video One Marie covers two burning questions: Where should I focus in my business? How do I know if I’m working on the right things for my business? Grab video one here now.Links I mentioned in this episode:Exploring B-School: 30 Days of Diving Into the Details For the third year in a row, I’m bringing back my free, 30-Day B-School Pop-up Facebook Group, where I will get laser-focused on my experience with Marie’s B-School program. I’ll share personal business-building stories of how I got where I am today, exclusive live video trainings, and a lot of insights of how I got the most out of B-School. You can request access here.

Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss: If I know one thing after running hundreds of webinars, it’s this: Connection on a webinar presentation is THE path to higher conversions. With that in mind, I wanted to show you three key strategies that may just surprise you—not because they are advanced, or radically different. They may be surprising to you because they are not the typical strategies you talk about when it comes to boosting webinar conversions. Which is EXACTLY why I wanted to share these three elements with you, so that you can focus on creating true, real touch points with your audience on your webinar, create those deeper connections, and ultimately see better conversions. As some of you might already know, I relaunched my List Builder’s Lab program with a series of live webinars. And every time I do a series of live webinars I always learn new strategies or walk away with aha moments about how to do things differently or have a bigger impact. And you know me: I’m holding nothing back. Including sharing an embarrassing story of how I blew off advice from Marie Forleo. So let’s dive in.Check out these highlights: The true path to higher conversions begins here. [2:12] How to get your webinar audience thinking “That’s totally me!” [4:58] The (strong) case for keeping the chat live and open. [8:35] What my team does during live chats to keep attendees engaged. [12:08] How to get the most out of your Q&A time. [14:50] Increasing the trust factor during every presentation. [17:45] Are you asking: At what point in my live webinar do I focus on selling? I’ve got answers. [19:10] The importance of reading between the lines and identifying what your audience SHOULD be asking. [20:18] This episode is brought to you by:Free Masterclass: How to Create Your Ultimate List Building Catch-up Plan

Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss: You KNOW you have to create “quality content” for your different outcomes—but how do you make sure that it is relevant and compelling, and the entire process doesn’t feel completely overwhelming Today I’m taking the overwhelm out of getting out weekly material plus creating content inside of your programs and promotions plus everything else you’ve got to think about by breaking down every single part of the content-creating process for you. Introducing: My six pillars of content creation process and how they help me stay focused with every content piece I produce. When you start categorizing your content and just hone in on one or two things (versus the 30 things on your project plan!), you can do them much more effectively. With these pillars, I want you to know exactly what you’re focusing on for where you are in your business. No more second-guessing on what kind of content you need to engage your tribe, or build up to a promotion. I’ve put it all out there so you can take immediate action.Oh and by the way, it may surprise you to know that I will often spend more time and energy working on my free content than on my paid content. And there’s a solid why behind that. (19:33)Check out these highlights: How I create so much content in my business [00:38] The type of content that brings in my ideal customer avatars like bees to honey. [6:48] To freebie or not to freebie? (Or: How to know if my content will work best with a freebie?) [9:07] Content for the masses vs. content for your Tribe. [13:34] Who is social media content really for? [16:50] When to focus most of your content creation time into your free promo content. [19:33] The key lesson for creating paid course content. [25:10] The right time for paid bonus content. [27:45] Why I’m including paid relationship content in my six pillars (and what that even means!). [31:40] Here's the '6 Pillars SlideShare' I promised in this episode: www.amyporterfield.com/6pillars

Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss: Criticism—it’s inevitable as an online marketer and business owner. As an entrepreneur I’ve come across my fair share. You’ll run into your own criticism at some point (if you haven’t already!) and yes, it may get uncomfortable. So I want you to be prepared for it. Today I’m sharing with you my three-point approach to dealing with criticism in a graceful way (and saving your sanity and overall well-being). In the end, it’s all about how you face it. With the right strategies you can actually turn criticism into something powerful (15:19) for you and your business. It can even change HOW you do business. When you are building your online business, you’re opening yourself up to a completely different world for feedback (in contrast to say, the corporate realm). And the fact is that total strangers may be giving you “input.” It can be daunting in the beginning, however if you can learn to face this feedback without taking it personal, then you will become that much stronger of an entrepreneur. Let’s check out those tips now.Check out these highlights: Trolls are the worst, and you have to learn to deal with them. But what about when it’s from your audience, your clients, your students? [5:17] That one time I tried to make up for a “mistake” with a disgruntled fan and how it went very, very wrong. [6:13] How two of my students handled a flood of negative comments… [12:16] Sometimes criticism can actually be really helpful- depending on the delivery. [15:50] What I actually learned after that horrible experience dealing with criticism (and what I do now). [16:44] What about when you want to give feedback? [17:56] This episode is brought to you by: Free Masterclass: The Ultimate List Building Catch-up Plan

Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss: I don’t know it all. That’s an incredibly humbling thing to say, but it’s the truth. I don’t know everything about business, and in fact, I’ve got my share of blind spots. That’s exactly why I surround myself with incredible peers, so I can have a go-to resource to solve for business challenges and help make big decisions. And I think a great way to find that sounding board is through a mastermind. I know there are no real silver bullets in online business, but a good mastermind comes pretty darn close. I think it can make the difference between success and total failure for you as a business owner. So today I’m digging into masterminds— Why you should think about joining a mastermind How you know if you’re ready How to pick a great one Plus I’ll talk about a big decision I just made to join a mastermind for 2018, why I’m signing up, and who’s coming with me.By the way—if you know me, you know I’m always looking for inspiration. And a big thing about working with a mastermind is that the group members inspire you to take action, partly because you’re seeing them take action, and partly because you’re in this together, and want everyone to succeed. I’ll even share a specific example of how I inspired one member to get some serious things done for her business. (13:19)Check Out These Highlights: The many reasons to join a mastermind. [7:54] A really good mastermind has members that do this on a consistent basis. [9:00] How do you know when you are ready to join a mastermind? The criteria to consider. [14:17] Three steps to help you find the right mastermind for you. [19:51] The elements that are crucial for me in joining a peer group. [25:17] Your must nots are just as (if not more) important than your musts. Here’s why. [28:44] End cap: Let’s talk about money and masterminds. [34:26] This episode is brought to you by: Free Masterclass: The Ultimate List Building Catch-up PlanMastermind/Group Coaching Resources:Jeff Walker’s Masterminds Jeff has two—a Launch Club and a Platinum group. Currently all spaces are full; for more information, email support@productlaunchformula.com.Brendon Burchard’s Masterminds (2 levels)Rick Mulready’s Accelerator Group Coaching ProgramThe Course for Completion Mastermind (for course creators)*Note: At this time both of James Wedmore’s masterminds are full and therefore I am not linking to them in the show notes.

Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss: Today, I’m going to make some confessions about my weaknesses in leadership. I’ve been thinking a lot about what it means to be a stellar leader, and ultimately, a VISIONARY. You’re going to hear me talk about the idea of being a visionary in this episode, and I’m also sharing my own mantra for 2018. Not only what it is, but also specifically how I came up with it, the questions I asked myself and how I plan on using this mantra to drive my year forward. Then I’m giving you an easy, three-step strategy (that I call my Three V’s) to embody your theme every year and move forward in the direction you want to go. (5:01) As you listen to me figure out what I really want to be as a leader I want you thinking about this for yourself, and how you can implement these three steps and transform your business in the next year. Being intentional about setting my vision for each year has shifted the way I think about my business, and I want the same for you! Let’s start to work those visionary muscles...Check out these highlights: See how one of my favorite TV characters inspired my theme. [1:54] How this all started with a simple quiz on an airplane ride. [6:58] One person I definitely look up to as the iconic visionary leader. [10:46] How to find your own visionary role model. [13:00] Being real and vulnerable doesn’t necessarily clash with being professional. [13:52] When your image online takes over your real-life identity. And how to prevent it. [17:38] How to actually manifest your vision. [21:22]

Biggest Takeaways You Don’t Want to Miss: If you’re anything like me, you love to see behind the curtain, to what’s really going on with successful entrepreneurs. Many of you have been asking me (for a while) to map out my day—what I plan to do, what I actually get done, how I use my time. Well I’m taking it one step further and talking through an entire WEEK. You’ll hear about my struggles. How I get into the flow. And when I couldn’t get it together. Oh, and the one podcast I’m obsessed with right now. The truth is, my processes and habits are a big part of what makes my business successful. I’ve got BIG chunks of time carved out where I can stay hyper-focused and get what might take another person weeks to do. And I know that many of my students want to do that too. So I’m hoping you’ll learn a little something about how to optimize your routine with this episode...Here’s How the Episode Breaks Down: I’ll start the week with my Sunday session.From there, each day I’ll check in during the Morning and talk about what the day is going to look like.Then I’ll check back in during the Evening to chat about what actually happened.Check Out These Highlights: My personal and professional goals for the week (including my battle with one food that makes me feel sick). [7:08] How I approach a new content project. [18:45] My workday shutdown ritual. [24:47] All about my co-working space and how it helps my business. [30:50] My quality time with the hubby, Hobie. [34:51] The 3 roles I play in my business. [38:06] My new favorite podcast featuring one of my business idols. [41:23] Jasmine Star and my first InstaLive. [43:00] Where I ended up at the end of of the week. [1:03:01]