The Smart Passive Income Online Business And Blogging Podcast

#710 Hot take—the true mark of creators with a serve-first mindset is the excitement they feel when someone they've helped gets a win! If we're not jazzed when somebody in our community hits a milestone, what are we working toward? Are we even in it for the right reasons? Celebrating wins is a huge part of SPI Pro, and we often have our incredible members showcase their expertise by hosting Teaching Friday episodes of this podcast. For instance, our recent sessions with Gillian Tietz and Benjamin Yeh uncover incredibly effective audience growth and networking tactics. Tune in if you haven't already! So how are you celebrating your audience? Listen in on this episode for more about how and where to start. Don't miss out because this is one of the great joys of being a creator! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session710.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#709 The power of in-person events is like nothing else we can offer an audience. So why do we often let fear and doubt stop us from bringing our people together? Here's the easy way to overcome uncertainty—if you've never hosted anything, just start small! In this episode, I'm excited to have Dan Franks share his expertise and help us foster real-life connections through incredible events at any point in our journey. He is the co-founder of Podcast Movement, the world's largest conference for podcasters. Dan and I have also been working side-by-side on Card Party, my first event in the Pokémon space! So how do you host your first meetup and avoid beginner mistakes that could cost you a lot of money? We cover that in today's session and give you a behind-the-scenes look at Card Party and Podcast Movement for an extra dose of inspiration. Tune in and enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session709.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com

#708 I'm challenging you with a simple but very important question—do you know what's happening? When people are on your landing page or going through your sales process, do you understand why you're getting fewer conversions than expected? Are you offering an optimal experience, or are you still winging it? For many years, I didn't know what was happening. Sure, SPI was growing, but where our sales were coming from exactly was a mystery. That's all changing as the team and I now obsess over every aspect of our marketing. So, in this episode, I share some valuable tactics to help you optimize your customer experience and make more sales! Here's the thing. If we never look behind the scenes, we can't uncover the small elements that add up to make all the difference in our success. So, do you know what's happening? Join me for today's session to find out! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session708.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/pr

#707 Starting a niche website is one of the best ways to generate income online. That said, it can often take months or years to get the results you want. But what if you could skip that part and jump in when your brand is already established and bringing in profit? That's the strategy I explore in today's incredible chat with Jared Bauman of 201 Creative and Weekend Growth. Jared is an expert at buying and flipping websites, and the insights he shares here make this tactic accessible to everyone and at every level. We discuss the step-by-step process Jared used to grow a website from $2k to $10k per month in profit. This is a fantastic case study because we explore everything from the initial research and negotiation phase to then supercharging the site with powerful monetization tools. Don't miss out, listen in and enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session707.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#706 I'm calling you out—I bet you're so focused on your own journey that you haven't bothered to notice the small players in your niche doing amazing things. But what would happen if you stepped up to give them the recognition they deserve? How would fostering these relationships help everyone grow? While others chase inaccessible industry leaders, joining forces with lesser-known creators in your space can propel you to the top. In this episode, I share my experience using this strategy for my recent Pokémon live event. You see, smaller YouTubers drove more excitement for Card Party than anyone else! In entrepreneurship, Lewis Howes and John Lee Dumas come to mind as highly successful people I was happy to support from the get-go. That has led to incredible friendships I know I can always count on. So how do you form bonds like these? Listen in on today's session to find out! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session706.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notic

#705 Too often, creators focus on profit instead of the value they provide. So what is the first step toward building a successful business? It's making sure your products actually work and proving it! My returning guest, Mark Wills, is a perfect example of applying a serve-first mindset to entrepreneurship. He and his business partner Roman run Loan Signing System, the largest notary coaching business in the US. In episode 303, we heard how they used strategies from my book Will It Fly to build their incredible six-figure business. Mark's enthusiasm is just as infectious in today's high-energy chat. We talk about why community and authenticity are vital in the age of AI, how to run a hands-on business that can scale, the importance of social proof and gathering effective testimonials, the 5+1 email marketing strategy, and more. So how do you achieve massive success without compromising your desire to help others? Tune in to find out! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session705.See Privacy Policy

#704 Live streaming is one of the best ways to connect with your audience. It's also probably the fastest route to growing as a communicator. So how do you step out of your comfort zone and start doing it? Wednesday's episode with Emily D. Baker reminded me just how powerful this tool can be. You might also remember that I went live on YouTube every day for a whole year during the pandemic. I'm so grateful I committed to that because the lessons learned have influenced everything I've done since. In this episode, I want to share that knowledge to help you get into streaming with the right mindset and tools to succeed. I talk about how to prepare in advance so you always have something to say, the common mistakes to avoid, engaging a live audience, building a story bank, and more. Tune in and enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session704.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#703 Claiming fair use is not a magic wand you can wave to stop people from suing you. In fact, even if you're in the right, you can still get dragged into legal procedures that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. So, how do you use copyrighted material in your content without getting in trouble? That's what we cover in this chat with the internet's favorite legal analyst, Emily D. Baker. Tune in because she helps us understand the fair use system and work within it to put ourselves in the safest position when using other people's videos, photos, music, and more. We also dive into monetizing content you don't own and what to do when someone copies your original work. If you've listened in on my previous talk with Emily in episode 621, you know she puts a fun twist on topics that can often be dry or overwhelming. So join us for this awesome educational opportunity! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session703.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:

#702 Being a creator of any kind can be frustrating. We work hard on something, put it out there, and then… radio silence. The project we've poured our time and money into falls flat, and we never find out why. That's because we can't read the label when we're inside the bottle! This is something I say all the time because it's such an essential part of success. So how do you get eyeballs on your content early and collect information to make it better? In this episode, I share a sneak peek at the feedback-powered system I use on my Pokémon YouTube channel, Deep Pocket Monster, to create videos that get millions of views. I also talk about the features we've built into SPI Pro to help our members get similar results. Finding "label readers" for an outside perspective can grow your brand like nothing else. So listen in to learn how to get started! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session702.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do

#701 Entrepreneurs without programming knowledge tend to dismiss software-based businesses as too complex. Courses and other digital products are often seen as more accessible. But here's the thing—creating digital tools to serve your audience is easier than you think! Spencer Haws, today's returning guest, hasn't been on the show since episode 066. That was over ten years ago! He still runs an incredible blog at NichePursuits.com and has built and sold several thriving software businesses with no coding experience! In this episode, Spencer brings us up to date on his journey. We hear about his niche sites and get an inside look at his latest venture, Link Whisper—a WordPress plugin that makes internal linking faster and more effective. This fascinating chat covers everything from interviewing potential customers for successful product creation to selling a business for massive profit! Tune in and enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session701.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy a

#700 Wow, we're celebrating the 15th anniversary of the Smart Passive Income Podcast! That's absolutely ridonkulous! Whether this is the first episode you're tuning in for or the 700th, I appreciate you for being here! So what have I learned working on the show for so long? In this session, I share my most important mindset shift for fast growth. You see, a book I'm reading nowadays, 10x Is Easier Than 2x, has reminded me of a powerful story from my architecture days. This perfectly illustrates the path to quick gains I've applied to every aspect of my business and life. Skyrocketing your skill level and growing your business is all about stepping out of your comfort zone and focusing on the things that can move the needle for you in a big way. So listen in on this episode to learn more. And again, thank you for sticking with us for so many years! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session700.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#

#699 When your business is optimized, you hit a button, and money happens. That said, many entrepreneurs make mistakes that stop them from reaching that level. I'm no different, and it really hurt when today's guest made me realize that. Matt Giovanisci is a classic example of finding riches in the niches with his work at Swim University and Money Lab. In this episode, he returns to the show for a powerful deep dive into the entrepreneurial mindset. You see, the knowledge he shares on Twitter really hit home with me. I had to invite him on the show to go tweet by tweet with us and expand on the vital concepts that can make or break our businesses. This is a wide-ranging discussion about filtering and prioritizing your ideas, building an ATM-like email list, simplifying your marketing, short-form versus long-form content, and even lip-syncing! Today's session will be a game-changer for many listeners, so don't miss out! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session699.See Privacy Policy at https://art1

#698 Card Party, my three-day live event in the Pokémon space, is over. With half a million dollars at stake, it's hard to believe the fear I felt is now behind me. I'm exhausted, but I couldn't be happier with how it all turned out! If you've been following my Deep Pocket Monster journey, you know how much I value the fantastic community we've built on YouTube. In previous episodes, I talked all about how we designed Card Party as a celebration of that. I'm now happy to share the lessons learned from our massive success! The response from attendees, creators, sponsors, and vendors, has been incredible. In fact, we've already sold hundreds of tickets for next year's event! So listen in to hear all about how we created an amazing experience and delivered unforgettable moments with our first edition of Card Party! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session698.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#697 The transformational power of online communities is no joke. Still, many entrepreneurs overcomplicate things and drag their feet on launching a membership. What, then, is the easiest way to get started right now? Today's special guest, Heather Lynn Angel, is someone whose trajectory I highly encourage you to replicate. You see, the value she has provided as a member of our SPI Pro community is insane. We recognized that and couldn't pass on the opportunity to hire her! Heather and I discuss all that today as we dive deep into building a thriving digital space for your audience. As a community strategist, Heather is a fantastic resource. In this episode, she shares the baseline requirements for successful membership businesses and walks us through every step, from platform choice to next-level member engagement and retention. We cover all the bases to save you from procrastination and get you going ASAP. So listen in and take action! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session697.See Privacy Pol

#696 When you agree to disagree with someone, you're just avoiding the issue. But there's a better and more productive way to handle conflict. At SPI, we disagree and commit. My great friend and business partner, Matt Gartland, taught me this when we started working together. It's been an absolute game-changer ever since! In this episode, I explore the benefits of this powerful mindset and share the methods we use to implement it. That said, this approach felt counterintuitive at first. If you're anything like me, you prefer to avoid endless fighting. Agreeing to disagree is the civilized way to move on, right? But does that ever solve anything? In fact, many of our most popular products wouldn't exist if we didn't commit despite having doubts. Our fantastic Unstuck newsletter is just one example. So listen in on today's session to learn how to use this mindset shift for incredible results! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session696.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California

#695 You go through a honeymoon phase with every person in your life. Business partners, co-workers, and clients are no exception. Of course, these connections are critical to your success as an entrepreneur! So what can you do to keep the spark alive in the boardroom and maintain the best possible version of your working relationships? Joining me today is Michael Bungay Stanier, bestselling author of The Coaching Habit. This favorite of mine has massively impacted how we do business at SPI. His new book, How to Work with (Almost) Anyone, uncovers the one essential conversation and five powerful questions to help you master relationship-building. Today, Michael shares why your most successful connections should be safe, vital, and repairable. He and I explore the value of knowing yourself, the signals to break off unhealthy relationships, and screwing up as a way to increase customer loyalty. Tune in because Michael's advice will supercharge your communication skills! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome

#694 What is the experience you create for your audience? How do you imagine people reacting to your products? What do your ideal reviews and testimonials sound like? Now more than ever, I'm obsessing over these questions because my first in-person event in the Pokémon space is just two weeks away. You see, even with ticket sales going very well and many sponsors supporting us, we might still lose a lot of money on this first event. But that's okay! My main goal with Card Party is to deliver unforgettable moments for our attendees and celebrate this incredible community in a unique way. But, while that's happening behind the scenes, detractors have been popping up online. Tune in to find out how I'm handling these people and why I can't wait for their honest reviews after the event! Enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session694.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

#693 How do you build a side hustle that can replace your job in under a year? How do you go from earning $300 to $12,000 per month online? How do you create a profitable passive income business designing, selling, and shipping physical products? Today, we get an inside look at a print-on-demand business that generates incredible revenue. But that's not all. The best part is that this online store runs on just six hours of work per week! Joining me for this chat is the wonderful Christina Umerez. She is an entrepreneur and online business content creator who runs a hugely successful Etsy store. We discuss finding a profitable niche, creating successful designs with AI, positioning and promoting your products for massive sales, the easiest print-on-demand platforms to use, and much more. Today's episode is an in-depth blueprint you can follow to start generating income online immediately. Tune in and take action! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session693.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/p

#692 I always say the riches are in the niches, but that's not what this episode is about. You see, you can still make the mistake of growing too big too fast, even if you're operating in a super niched-down space. Why is that? It's because bigger truly isn't always better. When we start our entrepreneurial journey, many of us want to become as successful as possible and as rich as possible. But here's the thing. A small business can be optimized and refined to help us reach our exact economic goals! So why take on extra work that isn't aligned with your mission? Why go down a path that can distract you from the vision you have for yourself and your family? Listen in on this session because I want to shock you back on track today. So tune in for a perspective shift to help you understand your journey and enjoy success along the way! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session692.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-

#691 If your business doesn't bring in enough cash, you can't help anyone. So how do you reverse engineer a big economic objective and build a profitable company around it? I'm very excited because returning to the show today is none other than Donald Miller, bestselling author of Building a StoryBrand. His book is one of my favorites of all time and one I'm always recommending here on the podcast. Donald is back to introduce us to his new book, How to Grow Your Small Business, his six-part framework to succeed and reach your financial goals! This interview highlights the vital aspects that determine the growth of your brand. We discuss everything from scaling a business with the right systems in place to the crucial principle of effective marketing. Donald also shares insights into hiring the right people to uplevel your company and mastering leadership. Listen in on this powerful conversation, and enjoy! Show notes and more at SmartPassiveIncome.com/session691.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy