Ditching Hourly

Founder of The Upside, Erin Halper, joined me on Ditching Hourly to share her pro tips on creating and sustaining a premium online community. Erin's Links:Erin's community » https://betheupside.com/Erin's LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinhalper/Chapters(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome (00:19) - Erin Halper's Background and The Upside Community (03:19) - Challenges and Evolution of The Upside (07:24) - Starting and Running a Community (09:18) - Best Practices for Community Management (24:08) - Pricing Strategies for Independent Consultants (30:19) - Navigating Agency Subcontracting (30:52) - Building and Scaling Your Business (31:42) - Lifestyle and Impact in Consulting (33:00) - Celebrating Wins and Community Support (34:26) - Visibility and Positioning (36:03) - Pricing Strategies and Market Shifts (37:47) - Maintaining Boundaries in Community (40:30) - Application Process and Membership Cap (43:40) - Quarterly Open House Strategy (47:18) - Onboarding and Member Matching (55:26) - Concluding Thoughts and Contact Information ----Do you have questions about how to improve your business? Things like:Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to: https://jonathanstark.com/callI hope to see you there!

Communications consultant Lynn Safranek joined me on Ditching Hourly to learn how to apply value pricing to an industry where the consultant can't control the outcome.(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome (00:11) - Understanding Upstream Contributions (00:23) - Lynn's Background and Expertise (01:05) - The Value Pricing Dilemma (01:21) - Client Communication Challenges (02:45) - Media Engagement Strategies (05:01) - Defining Client Needs and Goals (08:08) - Crafting Effective Messaging (14:32) - Measuring Success and Impact (20:42) - Leveraging Media Coverage for Nonprofits (21:26) - Budget Autonomy of Communications Directors (22:41) - Crafting Compelling Stories for Donations (24:33) - Exploring Budget Scenarios for Media Hits (26:03) - Creative Strategies for Media Attention (26:58) - Evaluating the Impact of Media Hits (29:21) - Developing a Comprehensive Media Strategy (31:35) - Reverse Engineering Media Success (38:40) - Thinking Beyond Traditional Roles (42:35) - Conclusion and Final Thoughts Lynn's Links:Lynn on LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnsafranek/ ----Do you have questions about how to improve your business? Things like:Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to: https://jonathanstark.com/callI hope to see you there!

Diane Whiddon, a brand strategist and founder of SwayRise Creative, discusses her journey into integrating AI into branding. She reveals how AI illustration and photo services addressed a growing demand among her clients. Diane also shares insights on value pricing, focusing her business strategy, and the ethical implications of AI in branding. With a comparison of AI photo shoots to traditional methods, she highlights the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of her new offerings. Her experience illustrates the importance of adapting to technological advances for business success.

Alastair McDermott, an author and human-first AI strategist, shares insights on blending AI with human expertise. He unveils his new book, discussing practical applications of AI to boost productivity and decision-making for professionals. Alastair highlights effective prompting techniques and the importance of a tailored AI setup while navigating the challenges of using these technologies. He emphasizes striking a balance between leveraging AI tools and maintaining authentic human connections in work and learning.

Jessica Lackey, founder of Deeper Foundations, shares insights from her book, Leaving The Casino. She warns against blindly following oversimplified business strategies and emphasizes the importance of understanding unique business models. Jessica highlights the 'zone of enoughness,' encouraging entrepreneurs to balance finances with personal priorities. She delves into effective pricing strategies, marketing approaches, and the transition from client work to creative growth, stressing the need for clarity and strong sales skills in building sustainable businesses.

Robin Bonn, CEO of Co:definery, shares his expertise in agency positioning and marketing strategies. He emphasizes the crucial role of differentiation and specialization for businesses to command higher prices. The discussion dives into the integration of client feedback in project co-creation, strategic branding, and adapting to changes with AI. Bonn also highlights characteristics of an ideal client profile and introduces concepts from his book, Market of One, including tools for assessing differentiation strategies.

Ed Kless, co-founder of THRESHOLD, guides professional leaders toward transformative practices. He discusses the shift from traditional services to a broader transformation economy, emphasizing value-based pricing. Kless dives into the impact of AI on work and purpose, as well as societal challenges in wealth generation globally. He also highlights the significance of his manifesto for navigating this new economy and explores the distinction between burnout and moral injury, advocating for a client-centered approach in business.

Geraldine Carter, a coach for CPAs, shares her journey from a $9,500 mastermind model to an accessible $995/month subscription service. She discusses the concept of 'melting the pyramid,' focusing on how to optimize client relationships for better scalability. Geraldine reveals key strategies for navigating business transformations, adapting coaching for unique CPA demands, and simplifying launch processes. Her insights on subscription models emphasize the emotional investment needed from clients while maintaining revenue stability and enhancing community engagement.

Craig Hewitt, founder of Castos, joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss the current state and potential future of podcasting as a medium for building trust with your audience.AI SummaryIn this episode of Ditching Hourly, Jonathan Stark speaks with Craig Hewitt, founder of Castos, about the evolving landscape of podcasting. They discuss the shifting definitions and formats of podcasts, the importance of different content strategies, including private and hybrid podcasting, and the impact of new technologies like AI. Craig also shares insights on leveraging platforms such as YouTube and podcasting for trust-building and discovery, what makes podcasts unique in the AI era, and tips for solo business owners looking to optimize their content. The conversation is packed with actionable advice on how to effectively use podcasting to build authority and nurture audiences.Chapters(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome (01:14) - The Evolution of Podcasting (02:24) - Private and Hybrid Podcasting Explained (03:27) - The Role of Video in Podcasting (05:21) - Discovery and Monetization Strategies (06:44) - Business Models for Podcasters (09:34) - Content Strategy and Audience Engagement (16:14) - The Future of Podcasting and Platforms (29:09) - Content Strategy and Funnel Optimization (30:36) - The Power of Long-Form Audio (31:46) - Podcasting for Authority Building (34:24) - YouTube as a Discovery Platform (34:48) - Shorts, Segments, and Long-Form Content (51:18) - The Role of AI in Content Creation (55:44) - Private and Hybrid Podcasting (59:12) - Conclusion and Future of Podcasting Craig’s LinksCastos » https://castos.com/Craig’s Website » https://craighewitt.com/Craig’s YouTube » https://www.youtube.com/@thecraighewittCraig’s LinkedIn » https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-hewitt-78386a66/ ----Do you have questions about how to improve your business? Things like:Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to: https://jonathanstark.com/callI hope to see you there!

Jason Lengstorf, founder of Code TV, joined me on Ditching Hourly to share how he is successfully navigating the transformation of the video production business. Jason's Links: https://jason.energy/https://codetv.dev/AI Summary:In this episode of Ditching Hourly, Jonathan Stark is joined by Jason Lengstorf, founder of Code TV, to explore the current landscape of the video production industry, especially within the tech sector. Jason shares insights into his career journey from being a web engineer to running a successful video production business for tech companies. The discussion delves into industry transitions, the significance of genuine community engagement, the crucial role of video in marketing campaigns, and strategies for delivering measurable ROI. Jason also offers practical advice for video production professionals on pricing their services, specializing in niches, and maintaining consistency to build a strong client base.Chapters:(00:00) - Introduction and Guest Welcome (00:08) - Jason Langsdorf's Background (00:47) - The State of the Video Production Industry (02:52) - Strategic Video Production (09:38) - Top of Funnel Growth Strategies (16:26) - Jason's Approach to Video Production (23:47) - Specialization and Niche Market (28:44) - Measuring Campaign Effectiveness (29:37) - The Importance of Patience and Follow-Through (30:13) - Qualitative Metrics and Social Listening (30:36) - The Value of Organic Mentions (31:14) - Case Study: Microsoft's Image Transformation (33:54) - Challenges in Sales Processes (39:34) - The Power of Consistency in Content Creation (42:59) - Outsourcing Video Production (44:49) - Finding Your Niche and Adding Value (53:15) - The Journey to Success (55:40) - Conclusion and Resources ----Do you have questions about how to improve your business? Things like:Value pricing your work instead of billing for your time?Positioning yourself as the go-to person in your space?Productizing your services so you never have to have another awkward sales call or spend hours writing another custom proposal?Book a one-on-one coaching call with me and get answers to these questions and others in the time it takes to get ready for work in the morning.Best of all, you're covered by my 100% satisfaction guarantee. If at the end of the call, you don't feel like it was worth it, just say the word, and I'll refund your purchase in full.To book your one-on-one coaching call, go to: https://jonathanstark.com/callI hope to see you there!