Ditching Hourly

Jason Cohen, WP Engine founder, discusses the uniqueness of AI, the benefits of niching down in marketing, and the importance of a regular writing practice. Learn how targeting a specific customer profile can bring in more customers than expected and how writing can leave a lasting legacy.

Corey Quinn, author of 'Anyone, Not Everyone' and host of Deep Specialization podcast, shares insights on deep specialization, vertical market selection, and using gifts like cookies in outbound marketing. Topics include defining a vertical market, detecting traction, founder-led sales, ongoing gifting campaigns, reaching target markets through multiple channels, and adapting strategies for smaller businesses. Quinn emphasizes the benefits of specialization, consistent engagement with target industries, and focusing on dream clients for business growth.

Geraldine Carter, an expert in niching down strategies, discusses with Jonathan the benefits of specializing in a specific niche, debunking the fear of boredom. They explore how niching down can lead to more success, fulfillment, and increased revenue through tailored solutions and deep expertise in a niche market, emphasizing the courage and excitement needed for niche mastery and business growth.

Tim Dietrich and Eric Grubaugh invited me to join them on SuiteScript Stories to talk about the pros and cons of a platform specialization, the paradox of positioning, and, of course, the horrors of hourly billing. Tim and Eric were kind enough to let me post the interview here on Ditching Hourly, but if you're a NetSuite developer, you should check out their podcast at https://suitescriptstories.com/ We discuss:Jonathan's and Tim's shared history in the FileMaker Pro spaceJonathan's AHA moment when he realized hourly billing was killing his businessThe misaligned financial incentives created by hourly billingHow specializing in a narrower target market amplifies your opportunitiesThe various forms of specialization: Vertical, Horizontal, PlatformThe obstacles an agency faces when trying to specialize ----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!

Joe Quadara, former indie game developer turned consultant, shares his journey from fighting fires in indie game studios to advising them on scoping and funding projects. Topics include the size of the video game market, the appeal of weird, indie games, preventing fires in game studios, accurately scoping and funding projects, creating a sustainable indie game studio model, leveraging expertise in consulting, and the benefits of specialization for consultants.

Bryan Strawser, Bryghtpath CEO, shares the secrets of his business wins, including focused niche positioning, using content marketing and authority building. They discuss the roadmapping process to diagnose client needs, pricing and selling high-value services, and building ongoing managed services for recurring revenue.

Jonathan, a business owner, shares his insights on running a business. The podcast covers various topics including the value of time over money, transitioning from consulting to coaching, the power of daily emails as a marketing strategy, the importance of clear positioning, and advice on transitioning from weekly to daily emails.

Tech professional Alexander Lapa discusses transitioning to Salesforce, specializing in the nonprofit market, different types of services and pricing, contract duration and categorization, selling Salesforce customization projects, pricing options for Salesforce support, and exploring business models and Salesforce expertise in the nonprofit space.

No-BS marketer Rod Aparicio joins Jonathan Stark to debunk the myth of personal branding. They discuss the importance of authenticity and credibility, the concept of aspiration vs inspiration, differentiating between demographics and psychographics, and building trust and credibility. They also highlight the dangers of personal branding and the need to shift focus to providing value and assistance to the target audience.

Zach Stevens, co-founder of Conversion Factory, shares how they achieved $36k MRR in one month by helping SaaS teams monetize traffic. They start small to manage client expectations, communicate via Notion and Loom, centralize efforts to avoid confusion, and value work-life harmony. They discuss fear of burnout, pricing tiers, and the importance of clear communication to solve churn problems.