In episode #1220, we share our marketing checklist for the coming year. Monetizing voice-based traffic, using a customer data platform, and readjusting your SEO strategy are only a few of the tips we offer to help you stay relevant in 2020. Tune in to hear why you should sell on live, sprout your content, and add a checkout bump to your site!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: A Marketing Checklist for 2020.  [00:37] Listen to the last episode we did about the opportunities for 2020.  [01:02] The tools you can use to monetize voice-based traffic.    [01:20] What customer data platforms allow you to do and the increasing value of data.  [02:03] How to readjust your SEO strategy for 2020, including updating and translating content.   [02:54] Survey your audience before the end of the year.  [03:38] Go live to sell on social media once a week.  [04:05] The importance of sprouting your content and leveraging the omnichannel.   [05:10] Examples of how you can grow by offering a free product.   [06:09] Focusing on your brand and creating content.   [06:52] Why you must add a checkout bump to your site.  [07:25] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Jetson AI  Segment Hull  Tai Lopez  Grant Cardone  Ubersuggest    ►Subscribe to our premium podcast (with tons of goodies!): https://www.marketingschool.io/pro   Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1219, we share the expected social media trends for 2020. From TikTok and advertising on live to connecting with people through ephemeral content, we give you everything you need to stay ahead of the game in the coming year. Tune in to hear why posting natively is most effective!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: 7 Social Media Opportunities We’re Excited About For 2020.  [00:35] TikTok’s likely growth projection for the coming year.  [01:07] Why you should sell through live and examples of people who use it this way.  [01:39] Advertising and connecting with people through ephemeral content like stories.  [02:21] The benefits of re-using content by turning it into smaller bits. [03:18] What posting “natively” means and why you should implement it. [04:36] What to do when customers visit your checkout or lead page but don’t buy.  [05:22] The continuing growth of chat and its various platforms.  [06:02] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: TikTok  Grant Cardone  Tai Lopez  WeChat  QQ Snapchat  Instagram  Facebook Messenger  ManyChat  Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1218, we talk about 7 SEO opportunities that we are especially excited about for 2020. We cover content translation, snippets, updating old content, keywords and much more! Tune in to hear how you can get your ranking up in the new year! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: 7 SEO Opportunities that We are Excited About for 2020. [00:32] Content translation and transcribing and exciting new possibilities for this! [01:20] Using and tracking snippets for optimization. [02:01] Making the most of old content over only creating new posts. [02:45] Fact schemas and ranking higher on search result pages. [03:17] Google algorithm updates and what it means for search results. [04:20] Assessing your keywords and the tools to do this. [05:07] New tools with built in SEO capabilities. [06:04] That’s pretty much it for this episode! [03:24] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: ClickFlow Matthew Woodward Quora MarketMuse Clearscope Ahrefs SEMrush Ubersuggest BrightEdge Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1217, we unpack a list of 7 ad opportunities that we are really excited about for next year. We discuss new things on Google, chatbots, TV spots, LinkedIn and more! Listen in to hear all about it! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: 7 Ad Opportunities We're Excited About for 2020. [00:34] Google's new search-result forms and their amazing ease of use. [01:12] Re-marketing and long form videos. [01:58] Chatbots and new ground in the field of chat marketing. [03:08] The trend of driving traffic towards content and educational pages. [03:49] TV and streaming platforms; the evolving and unknown avenue of ads. [04:59] Push notifications and the conversion rates through this form of marketing. [05:21] TV spots and the usefulness of getting some of this real estate.  [05:54] The growth of LinkedIn and its organic reach. [07:08] That is it for today! [07:11] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: ManyChat Toolio Netflix Amazon Prime Hulu Comcast Spectrum Disney+ YouTubeTV CNBC Microsoft Bill Gates Steve Ballmer Tinysponsor Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1216, we talk about how to do a survey in order to better serve your audience! We use the example of our recent Growth Accelerator event and the survey we did after the fact to gauge what the audience liked the most and their thoughts for improvement. Tune in to hear how you can use a survey to get closer to your people! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How to Do an Audience Survey. [00:31] Experiences at our recent Growth Accelerator event. [01:24] Some of the questions we used in our post-event survey. [02:45] Why certain people do not connect with certain types of content. [03:39] Maximizing what you already have before more growth. [04:30] Using open-ended questions and finding the common threads in answers. [06:40] Allowing space for people to add their own feedback for your benefit. [07:10] That’s it! [07:13] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: SurveyMonkey SaneBox Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1215, we discuss what you need to do to rapidly increase your growth. Providing your audience with innovative, value-adding freebies is a great way to get people talking about your business. Tune in to hear why you have to be willing to take risks to reap big rewards! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: If You Want to Grow Fast, You Need to do This.  [00:36] Think about what you can give away for free, and we don’t mean an eBook or tool.   [00:57] Examples of the kinds of value-adding freebies you could give people. [01:10] Why eBooks are no longer a good option.  [01:36] The value of giving something that others would normally charge for.  [02:14] The shift towards machine learning and AI, and staying ahead of the curve.  [03:30] Considering how you can be 10 times better than your competition.  [03:53] Why these free offerings do not have to cost you a fortune.  [04:22] The importance of being willing to take risks.   [05:23] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Ubersuggest  ClickFlow  Kissmetrics  AWS CodeCanyon  1Kprojects  The Economist  Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1214, we share our top tips for crushing a speaking opportunity. The key is to find out exactly who your audience is so that you can tailor content accordingly. Tune in to hear some great advice for interacting with your audience and getting hold of their contact details!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How to Crush A Speaking Gig.  [00:49] The importance of developing your own voice and presence.  [01:12] Keeping in mind that your goal is to promote your brand, and get more business.  [01:35] How you can quickly expand your email list and collect leads.  [02:17] Getting connected with an intimate group through a cool LinkedIn feature.  [03:32] The benefits of frequently publishing content on LinkedIn.   [03:38] Knowing what kind of audience you will address and tailoring your message accordingly.  [04:02] Why you need to constantly engage with your audience: talk with, not to them.  [04:20] Ideas for interaction: asking questions, making jokes, etc.  [05:03] Avoid talking about yourself too much and having a long bio. [05:13] Asking the event organizer for more information on the audience, and avoiding cliches.  [06:07] The advantage of asking people to text you to get the presentation notes.  [06:33] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: LinkedIn  TED Twitter  Evernote  Twilio  Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1213, we discuss how Eric prevented his SEO traffic from dropping drastically. Failing to redirect correctly when redesigning and assuming that your developer knows the ropes are two big mistakes you should avoid. Tune in to hear which tools Eric used to prevent a traffic disaster!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How Eric Siu Saved His SEO Traffic from Tanking. [00:53] What went wrong: not giving the developer a checklist when the site was redesigned.  [01:15] Going ahead with the redesign without having the correct redirects in place.  [01:44] Using Google Search Console to help point out issues with your site.  [01:54] Using monitoring tools such as Ahrefs, SEMrush, and SEO Spider.  [02:20] What happened once 404 issues were fixed.  [02:32] Ensuring that you don’t lose traffic by breaking the URL structure.  [03:49] Increasing the mobile site speed and maintaining the desktop speed.  [05:00] Why you don’t have to be perfect everywhere.  [05:44] Avoid making the same mistake by actively monitoring redirects and hiring appropriately.  [06:16] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Google Search Console  Ahrefs  SEMrush  Screaming Frog  ClickFlow  Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1212, we share the top marketing trends for the coming year. You can expect to see wider use of chatbot software, voice search, and business intelligence (BI) tools. Tune in to hear why companies will continue to develop products only to give them away for free!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Marketing Trend for 2020.  [00:45] The growing popularity of software such as ChatBot and ManyChat.  [01:17] The benefits of combing chatbots with text tools such as Twilio.   [01:45] Some of the biggest companies in the chatbots space and the expanding market.  [02:13] How voice search will start to dominate searches through applications like Alexa.  [02:36] Companies building products and giving them away for free to generate leads.  [03:57] Learning what to optimize by using Pattern89 to run Facebook and YouTube ads.   [04:33] The excess of channels and data sources and the growing need for BI tools.  [05:27] Streamlining all the data sources through customer data platforms such as Hull.  [06:25] The emergence of companies that fill in the gaps.  [08:06] That’s it for today! [08:12] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information.   ►Subscribe to our premium podcast (with tons of goodies!): https://www.marketingschool.io/pro   Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: ManyChat ChatBot  Facebook  Twilio  MobileMonkey Intercom Drift Alexa Jetson Ubersuggest Ahrefs SEMrush  Pattern89 TikTok Reddit Google Analytics Google Data Studio Hull  WordPress Shopify Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1211, we share all the best templates for accelerating your business growth. Whether to stay organized, test and implement new ideas or find out the projected cash you’ll have left at any given point, there is a formula for each. Tune in to learn more about the three must-read books for growing your business! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Templates We Use to Grow Our Businesses Faster.  [00:50] When Traction is a great framework to use and how it helps you stay organized.  [01:43] Traction as the first, Scaling Up as the second, and 3HAG WAY as the third step.  [02:53] A growth plan for coming up with, implementing and testing new ideas faster. [04:37] Using Runway to show you how much cash you will have left at any given point.  [05:30] The ideal amount of cash to have in the bank when you are in startup mode.   [06:02] Accelerating growth by hiring experienced people.   [06:53] The awesome templates available from Point Nine Capital.  [07:38] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Traction Traction on Amazon Gino Wickman on LinkedIn Vern Harnish Scaling Up 3HAG WAY  Runway Point Nine Capital Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1210, we share seven practical ways to use data to grow faster. It is all about finding the right tools to help you optimize and automate your operations so that you can get the maximum benefit from your marketing efforts. Tune in to hear why you should use a data scientist and keep a record of everything you do for marketing.   TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Seven Practical Ways to Use Data to Grow Faster.  [00:30] Why data is important – think machine learning and artificial intelligence.  [00:49] Google’s built-in AI that can help you optimize your ads.  [01:10] The tools you can use to make the most of your Facebook ads.  [01:29] How using the search bar inside Google Analytics can assist you.  [02:01] The helpful reports Google Data Studio provides for executives and agencies.  [02:23] Finding automated solutions for SEO such as BrightEdge, ClickFlow, and Distilled.   [03:08] Why you want to work with a data scientist and what you can expect to pay.  [03:54] Putting everything you’ve done in marketing on an Excel spreadsheet.   [05:20] Why you want to make use of APIs.  [06:16] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Google Facebook Pattern89 Google Analytics  Google Data Studio  Supermetrics  BrightEdge  ClickFlow Distilled  RankScience  Upwork Toptal  BuiltWith  SEMrush  Ahrefs  Zapier Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1209, we discuss the various problems that WeWork recently ran into. It is crucial to remain realistic about what your company is and what it offers rather than thinking it is more than it is. Tune in to hear what venture capitalists will likely look for in time to come! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: What You Can Learn from WeWork’s Debacle.  [00:42] What WeWork is and the information that was recently uncovered about them. [01:35] Their IPO having to be canceled and SoftBank bailing them out.  [01:52] The crazy payout that the co-founder and former CEO Adam Neumann got.   [02:19] Learning that we as marketers cannot put lipstick on a pig: we need a decent product.   [02:34] How WeWork pitches themselves versus what they actually are.  [03:22] Being realistic about what you are as a company and what you are good at. [03:52] Learning to negotiate well even if things aren’t working out as you planned.  [04:09] The importance of taking care of your money and your people.  [05:09] What venture capitalists will likely push for in the future.  [06:07] That’s it for today! [06:09] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: WeWork  SoftBank  Secrets of Power Negotiating  Conductor Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1208, we discuss how BERT helps to refine Google searches and queries. It is estimated that one in ten searches will be affected by this update and this portion is likely to be increasing even more. Tune in to hear practical examples of how BERT will help to produce relevant search results.  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How to Beat BERT, Google’s Latest Algorithm Update.  [00:52] What BERT stands for and what its implication is for users.  [01:23] How this update helps with search queries and a practical example.  [02:10] Considering each search word to produce more specific context search results. [02:26] The portion of searches that will be affected by this change. [03:16] Google’s mission to understand what people are looking for.  [03:27] Why the number of searches BERT impacts will likely increase.  [03:43] The sites that are getting traffic from the BERT algorithm update.  [04:16] That’s it for today! [04:19] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: More about Google BERT Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1207, we share the secret to what has made the Henokiens so successful for over two centuries. Focusing on the big picture rather than on short-term goals is guaranteed to make your business more sustainable in the long run. Tune in to hear why you should pay closer attention to your stakeholders than your shareholders! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: A Simple Marketing Lesson from the Henokiens.  [00:46] Who the Henokiens are and what sets them apart from many others.  [01:04] The problem with the short-term perspective of most companies today.  [01:47] How certain companies manage to stand the test of time.   [03:30] Why you have to think long-term rather than focusing only on short-term solutions.   [04:25] Shifting the focus from shareholders to stakeholders and what it involves.  [05:03] Accepting that focusing on the long game will take more time.  [05:16] Why this approach is more difficult for us marketers.   [05:47] That’s it for today! [05:56] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: The Henokiens Vanderbilt family  Beretta  TerraCycle  TikTok Business Roundtable  Salesforce Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1206, we discuss the content that you want to keep updating. Start by identifying those posts that have experienced a drop in traffic and rewrite them to align with current topics and trends. Tune in to hear all about the new Clickflow feature that will help you to track down decaying content!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Which Pieces of Content to Update.  [00:29] The benefits of updating your content. [01:14] Writing four to five pieces a month and having a team to update three a day!  [01:34] Why writing every day is difficult to sustain.    [02:01] Using Google Search Console to see which of your posts dropped in traffic.  [02:35] Sending poor-performing pieces to be rewritten.  [02:55] The new feature in Clickflow to track decaying content.  [03:34] Why you want to track the efficacy of what you are doing.   [04:10] When to update video or podcast content.  [04:37] Paying attention to the content that is labeled with a year and the most popular ones.  [05:13] That’s it for today! [05:16] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Google Search Console  Clickflow Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1205, we share the best things you can learn from Constellation Software. Through strategic acquisitions and looking for markets with a big total addressable market (TAM), they’ve managed to skyrocket to success. Tune in to hear more about the founder Mark Leonard and how they leverage the Berkshire Hathaway model.  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: What You Can Learn from a $20 Billion Company.  [00:32] Constellation Software: where they are based, their market cap, and company size.  [00:56] How they are unique and what they do with other software businesses they buy.  [01:52] Their model of simply maintaining the current revenue. [02:07] They type of companies they seem to be interested in buying and their criteria.  [02:43] How they’re making money from companies that are under the radar.  [03:13] You don’t have to do something well known to make money.  [03:36] Looking for markets that have a big total addressable market (TAM).   [03:52] The mistake of going after businesses that are in niches.  [04:23] Why you don’t need a lot of press — just look at Mark Leonard.  [04:37] Why Constellation follows the Berkshire Hathaway model.   [05:20] That’s it for today! [05:48] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Constellation Software Fortive SEMrush Ahrefs Mark Leonard  Berkshire Hathaway Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1204, we talk about why customer reviews are important and how you can actually get more. In our online society, reviews play a critical role in helping customers make their purchase decisions. Listen in to discover the tips and strategies for encouraging customers to leave reviews in both B2B and consumer-based markets.  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Why Customer Reviews Are Important. [00:31] The prominent role that reviews play in purchasing decisions. [01:13] B2B and consumer-based strategies for getting more customer reviews. [02:02] Using NPS software to encourage customers to write reviews. [02:32] Learning to capitalize on previous customer reviews to get more fresh reviews. [03:46] The positive impact of following up with customers to gain more positive reviews. [05:01] That’s it for today! [05:03] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Boostability AskNicely Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1203, we share how you can use intent to shape your content and SEO. The buckets of intent are the best way to gauge where in the sales process your potential customer is, drive them toward the point of purchase and engage them most appropriately. Tune in to hear how to organize your content within the funnel system and what percentage of content should belong to each funnel.  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How to Use Intent to Shape Your Content and SEO.  [00:35] The three main buckets of intent: top, middle and bottom of the funnel.  [00:45] What top of funnel typically involves: information and education.  [01:32] How the middle of the funnel is different and refines searches by comparison.  [02:13] The bottom of the funnel: when someone is ready to buy and the keywords they’ll use.   [02:38] The importance of understanding how customers buy and how your content performs.  [03:07] Map out the percentage of content that will be top, middle and bottom of the funnel. [03:20] Examples of how to drive your customer from the top to the bottom funnel.  [03:53] Using Gliffy and other flow chart software to organize and communicate your ideas.   [04:10] Thinking carefully about the call to actions in converting people into customers.  [05:57] Targeting people based on the funnel category of the article they downloaded.  [06:29] Ensuring that you have the right email service provider.  [06:47] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Gliffy ScheduleOnce  ConvertKit Drip Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1202, we share how we constantly find fresh content topics. There are plenty of tools available that can help you track down the titles and topics that are hot at the moment. Tune in to hear how brainstorming activities can get you ten viable topics on the table in less than five minutes! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How to Come Up with Unlimited Content Topics.  [00:58] Using the Ubersuggest and Answer the Public tools to find relevant topics. [01:20] Pick topics that resonate with you and not just for the sake of popularity.  [01:46] Doing a site colon command of competitors and what it shows you.  [02:39] Why Ahrefs’ content explorer and BuzzSumo are such helpful tools.  [03:15] How to leverage popular titles from other industries.  [04:15] Getting a group of industry friends together to brainstorm ideas.  [05:05] Looking on social media and on the web at what works for other popular people.  [05:33] How we come up with topics for this podcast.  [06:05] That’s it for today! [06:07] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Ubersuggest  Answer the Public  HubSpot Ahrefs  BuzzSumo  Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1201, we talk about how Eric Siu gets ahead of his competitors! From attending events and going to bed early, Eric has a bunch of helpful tips and possible jumpstarts for you and your business. Tune in to hear what he does and find some new things for yourself! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How Eric Siu Gets Ahead of His Competitors. [00:46] Scanning the media landscape for numbers from founders and startups. [01:15] What Eric does with this information and the things he pays attention to. [01:56] Holiday work and putting in the time to get ahead. [03:02] Looking at numbers and comparing these with competitors. [03:20] Blocking off time for peaceful strategizing. [04:19] Competing with bigger and more well-resourced competitors. [06:17] Getting up early in the morning, a focus on sleep and attending events.  [07:59] That’s it for today! [08:02] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Nathan Latka The Top Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1200, we talk about how Neil Patel gets ahead of his competitors! From working in the holidays, allowing small amounts of downtime, and mapping out partnerships, Neil has some great strategies to share with everyone! Tune in to hear some inspiring ways to get ahead. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How Neil Patel Gets Ahead of His Competitors. [00:43] Putting in the extra work and the difference input time can make. [01:40] Vacation time and what happens during those periods. [02:31] The integration of work and life; benefits of bringing these together. [03:35] Unusual call times and putting in the effort in order to win. [04:21] How Neil calendarises his partnerships and reaches out to people. [05:42] That’s it for today! [05:48] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Michael Moritz  Netflix Ubersuggest Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1199, we talk about a few books that can help you and your brand in 2020! We share some choices that deal with customers, coaching, ambition and more, while also considering the benefits of less reading and more action. Tune in to find the right content that help you grow in the best way in the new year! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Business Books That Will Help You Grow in 2020. [00:41] Why a book is a such a great value proposition. [01:05] The Mom Test and figuring out what to build for your customers. [01:39] The benefits of reading no books at all in 2020! [02:20] Taking action instead of stockpiling knowledge that leads to nothing. [03:40] Allowing time for perspective every day. [04:15] Trillion Dollar Coach, Play Bigger and Traction. [05:55] That’s it for today! [06:00] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Seth Godin The Mom Test Audible Rob Fitzpatrick The Startup Chat Warren Buffett Trillion Dollar Coach Steve Jobs Eric Schmidt Play Bigger Traction Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1198, we discuss the main thing that is preventing you from achieving SEO success. Your leads won’t convert to sales if you haven’t spent time on customer development. Tune in to hear what you can do to better understand your customers’ pain points!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: The One Thing That Can Make or Break Your SEO.  [00:32] How customer development is related to SEO.  [01:06] Constantly trying new ways to get traffic in the early days of business.  [02:11] Why traffic and ranking for everything shouldn’t be your goal. [02:50] The importance of figuring out what your customers’ specific pain points are. [03:16] What happens when you focus too heavily on keywords and not the people.  [03:42] Two highly recommended books on learning to understand your customer.  [04:49] Examples of things you can do to promote customer development.   [05:30] Realizing that customer development is an ongoing process.  [06:03] Keeping in mind that search patterns change as people become more educated.  [06:17] The type of companies that venture capitalists are looking for.  [06:47] That’s it for today! [06:48] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Marketing School TechCrunch SEMrush Ubersuggest The Lean Startup The Four Steps to the Epiphany  ClickFlow  Sicoya Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1197, we share our top seven content marketing tips. One of the most effective and economical ways of keeping your content current is to update old material regularly rather than creating new content all the time.  Tune in to hear what you need to do to boost your content in 2020!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Seven Practical Content Marketing Tips.  [00:36] Avoid reusing the same information and relying only on the Skyscraper Technique.  [01:29] Be sure to sprout your content and make the most of the omnichannel strategy.   [02:12] How to leverage the land and expand strategy to optimize existing content.  [03:10] Testing the performance of titles and meta descriptions and tweaking when necessary.   [03:46] Translating and transcribing your content to increase your traffic.  [04:42] Don’t forget about emails – it’s the one channel you can control!  [05:18] Spend a lot of time revising old content rather than creating new material.  [06:44] That’s it for today! [06:46] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Marketing School BuzzSumo Ubersuggest  ClickFlow Google Search Console  Upwork  Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1196, we share the quickest ways to get skilled at digital marketing. Keeping up to date with industry news, checking out what competitors are up to, and attending conferences are a few of the ways you can get a handle on marketing. Tune in to hear which app will help you work through articles much faster!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How You Can Learn Digital Marketing Faster.  [00:55] Why you must keep up with all the marketing sites and news in the industry.  [01:29] Using the examples that people post to learn from. [01:45] Saving marketing-related posts and articles in the Pocket app and its cool audio feature.  [02:37] Studying everything that your competitors are busy with.   [03:15] A good example of learning from the competition – listen to their podcasts.  [03:51] Listen to Nathan Latka’s podcast where you get all the numbers!  [04:28] Why attending events are the most effective way to learn.  [04:55] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Marketing School AdAge Search Engine Land Pocket  Leveling Up  Tim Soulo on Twitter Ahrefs  Nathan Latka  Blinkist Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1195, we share several alternative (yet effective!) ways of funding your business. We give you all the details on crowdfunding, revenue-based financing, and the more traditional routes involving bank loans. Tune in to hear what you need to do to attract investors!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Alternative Ways to Fund Your Business.  [00:37] Why people should consider funding and the problem with bootstrapping. [01:02] The need for funding even if you are Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos. [01:47] Thoughts on crowdfunding and the various platforms you can use.  [02:22] A list of the main crowdfunding platforms and how much you can raise per year.  [03:03] The importance of having traction before attempting to raise money.  [03:27] How you can raise money through revenue-based financing.  [04:15] The models that companies like Lighter Capital use.  [05:05] Getting a traditional bank or SBA loan in the US and their interest rates.  [05:22] What the credit card company Brex is offering in terms of credit.   [06:01] The importance of having a formula that is already working.  [06:24] That’s it for today! [07:02] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Jeff Bezos on Twitter Elon Musk on Twitter PayPal Tesla Kickstarter Indiegogo  CrowdEngine  StartEngine Republic  Wefunder MicroVentures Lighter Capital  SaaStr Clearbanc Brex  Activision  Disney  Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1194, we discuss Eric’s biggest marketing blunder of the year. Rebuilding a website can be tricky and there is a range of factors to keep in mind before you can roll out the revised version. Tune in to hear what is on our checklist that will help you to avoid making the same mistake!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: The Biggest Marketing Blunder of 2019.  [00:34] Trusting the developer instead of following the checklist when doing a website rebuild.  [01:21] Don’t assume anything about what a new developer might/might not know. [01:35] Communication is key: establishing the tracking, lead flow, redirections, etc.  [02:36] Why Neil never does website redesigns and how he approaches changes. [03:39] The checklist for making sure that you rebuild correctly.  [04:23] Doing big changes to a website during a slow period, such as over the weekend.  [04:50] Benchmarking with your old data and ensuring that internal links are right. [05:17] An example of how you would keep internal links effective.  [06:10] Make sure you have a backup! [06:22] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Single Grain  Zapier  Slack  Google Analytics Google Search Console Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1193, we discuss the best strategies for overcoming the traffic drop that often results from updates. Creating a product such as a simple game, tool, or widget is an effective means of getting your traffic numbers climbing again. Tune in to hear what percentage your visitor numbers might be reduced and some of the novel ways to combat the problem!   TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:28] Today’s topic: How to Survive a Google Core Update.  [00:34] Our recent experience with dropped visitor numbers. [01:05] An observation about the quality and the number of traffic for certain sites.  [01:14] How Core updates affect the traffic to a site and when it recovers. [02:00] Why it is not always possible to avoid hits when Google makes algorithm changes. [02:20] The trend that started in 2018 and not relying on search and social media.  [02:48] Thinking outside the box by generating your own traffic. [03:35] Gaining traffic by building your own unique product, such as a game or a tool! [04:27] Taking matters into your own hands as far as leads are concerned. [05:48] Another great example of a product you can create to get more traffic.  [07:45] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Crazy Egg Ahrefs WordPress CodeCanyon Search Engine Smackdown  HubSpot Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1192, we share with you the best free SEO tools that we’ve come across. Whether you need to track snippets, check the vitality of your content, get rid of spam or create the most effective tags, there is the perfect tool for it. Tune in to hear how to master SEO with these free applications!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: The Best Free SEO Tools to Check Out!  [00:47] SEO Ninja and their unique way of tracking snippets.  [01:06] All the great things Animalz Revive can tell you about your content.  [01:28] Coming up with new content ideas using AnswerThePublic.  [01:39] The browser extension that gives you a list of keywords from any web page.  [02:08] What you can do with the Reddit keyword research tool called Keyworddit. [02:20] Why the Google Analytics Referrer Spam Killer is the best! [02:45] CanIRank allows you to see if you can show up as number one for a keyword search.  [02:58] The tools that can tell you if your own or another person’s URL is penalized.  [03:36] BROWSEO: See what your website appears like to a search engine.  [03:48] Create the right tags with Aleyda Solis’s tag generator tool.  [04:21] That’s it for today! [04:22] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Ahrefs  Google Search Console  SEO Ninja Animalz Revive  AnswerThePublic  Wordtracker Scout Keyworddit  Google Analytics Referrer Spam Killer CanIRank  Panguin Tool  Keywords Everywhere BROWSEO  The hreflang Tags Generator Tool Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1191, we share how Neil grew his Instagram to 60k followers! With social media status being what is and all the theories floating around for how to grow your following on Instagram and other platforms, we thought we would weigh in on how Neil has experienced such rapid growth in his follower-ship! Join us to hear about leveraging your audience, grinding it out, and why partnering up might be your best tool for growth! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How Neil Grew His Instagram to 60k Followers in No Time. [00:41] Posting content, videos and organic growth by leveraging brand equity. [01:42] Applying this lesson to other platforms aside from Instagram. [02:03] Looking at the example of Gary Vaynerchuk! [03:35] Using podcasting and collaboration as a means of brand marketing. [05:01] Leverage what you already have and make the most of your associations. [06:24] Go find someone to partner with! [08:50] There is a time for grinding and a time for leveraging. [09:47] Offering value to more established people and companies early on.  [10:45] There you have it! [10:52] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Gary Vaynerchuk Conan Wine Library Leveling Up Podcast Ubersuggest Backlinko Mashable TechCrunch GigaHome Gawker Media VentureBee ReadWrite Huffington Post Mark Cuban Zynga Tony Robbins LeBron James The Kardashians MoneyMap Robert Herjavec Shark Tank Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1190, we discuss what you can do if your traffic is flat! Whichever platform you are wishing to promote, our number one piece of advice is to go find someone who is an expert at that field; there are so many resources and people out there to help you out! Tune in to hear our thoughts on boosting your traffic and knowledge about bringing people on board. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: What to Do if Your Traffic is Flat. [00:35] Hire experts or coaches if you have hit a wall! [01:20] There is always more to learn and someone who can help you. [02:38] Recurring costs versus one-time expenses and weighing them up. [04:32] The challenges of finding quality, outsourced labor. [05:02] Ideas for screening possible candidates from UpWork. [06:01] Learning from others' experience and building more expertise. [06:56] That is it for today! [06:59] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Hootsuite Video Influencers UpWork Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1189, we share how you can plan your 2020 marketing goals! From ways to think about goals, KPI’s, and the ability to pivot at the right time, we cover everything you need to know going into the new year. Tune in to get inspired and equipped to make 2020 your best year yet! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How to Plan Your 2020 Marketing Goals. [00:35] Thinking of goals as a realistic percentage and the laws of slowing growth rates. [01:18] The Entrepreneur's Operating System and weekly meetings around KPI's. [02:02] Shifting strategies when necessary to maintain goals and growth rates. [02:23] Keeping it simple; taking stock of the past and present and mapping out the future. [04:03] Ways to improve your overall approach and grow your marketing in 2020. [04:55] The power of simplifying and getting away from overwhelm. [05:46] Breaking down your goals by quarter, month, week and day.  [06:35] End of year reviews and how they tie into new year planning. [07:12] That’s it for today! [07:21] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: EOS Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1188, we talk about how to plan for Black Friday and Cyber Monday this year! We all know about the sales frenzy that happens every year over the weekend in question, but how can you make the most of it? Tune in to hear our strategies and ideas to get your shop in order to rake in some cash! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How to Plan for Black Friday and Cyber Monday this Year. [00:58] Getting set with retargeting pixels and consistency across platforms. [01:19] Making sure to leverage caching and CDM to avoid any stoppages. [02:14] Utilizing an omnichannel approach to capture the most sales. [02:48] Offering really good deals on a couple of your products to drive traffic. [03:38] The great boost that gift guides can give your sales. [04:21] The pros and cons of personalization for Black Friday. [05:42] That is it for today! [05:50] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Walmart Netflix Amazon Prime Shopify Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1187, we talk about the conversation we had with Gary Vaynerchuk's social team! As one of the leading content marketing personalities in the world, Gary Vee and his large content team has wisdom from which we could all benefit! Tune in hear the tips and ideas they gave us for LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: What We Learned from Talking with Gary Vaynerchuk's Social Team. [00:45] Some of the reasons Gary does so well on social media! [01:03] The conversation and audit that Gary's team offered us. [01:45] Why to use carousels and how to make multiple impressions on visitors. [02:00] Tips for LinkedIn and how things have changed recently. [02:34] How long to make your videos on the YouTube. [04:01] Posting natively on Facebook and adapting it to the audience. [04:35] Why Gary Vee handles his own Twitter account.  [04:47] The hours of Gary's content team and why they differ from his agency.  [06:06] That is it for today! [03:09] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Gary Vaynerchuk Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1186, we answer the question of whether or not you should be using Twitter in 2020. With a committed but stagnant user base, it can be hard to know if Twitter is even still worth your energy. Tune in to hear our thoughts on using Twitter for marketing and what strategies might still be useful to you and your business! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Should You Even Use Twitter in 2020? [00:31] Twitter user numbers, growth and our own usage of the platform. [01:10] Is Twitter still worth using from a marketing perspective? [01:41] Examples of successful strategies on Twitter. [02:25] The downsides of traffic rates from Twitter and your tweets. [03:50] How you can use Twitter effectively in 2020. [04:10] Why LinkedIn and YouTube are mostly better options to pursue. [04:56] Some of the benefits you can still accrue from Twitter.  [05:28] That’s it for today! [05:31] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Twitter  Rand Fishkin Scott Galloway BuzzSumo Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1185, we dive into the aspects of social media that we get wrong. Being lazy or in a hurry often causes us to simply broadcast information rather than being thoughtful about the content we put up on these platforms. Tune in to hear whether you are posting too little or too much!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: The Biggest Mistake We’re Making in Social Media.  [00:35] Neil’s thoughts on why social media isn’t working so well for Eric. [01:04] Why we reduced the number of YouTube videos and blogs we post per week. [01:28] Two problems with the way Eric uses social media.  [01:46] Writing natively on social media platforms versus broadcasting all the time.  [02:02] What it means to post natively: creating content that the platform seeks. [02:48] Common mistakes: Not posting enough and having old, disengaged followers.  [03:16] That’s it for today! [03:23] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Marketing School Andrew Chen on Twitter Rand Fishkin on Twitter   ►Subscribe to our premium podcast (with tons of goodies!): https://www.marketingschool.io/pro   Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1184, we share with you our hit-list of 7 must-read books for leveling up in your business! The books we recommend will help anyone who is interested in learning more about startups, team management, simplicity, and making it happen in an engineering organization. Tune in to hear which outstanding authors and business moguls have made our ranking!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Seven Evergreen Books Guaranteed to Help You Grow.   [00:32] Suffering through startup world and the woes of being a founder in Ben Horowitz’s book. [01:16] More great advice about startups and how to win in Peter Thiel’s Zero to One.  [02:56] Why The Ideal Team Player should be required reading!  [03:22] Learn the value of being simplistic with Steve Krug’s Don’t Make Me Think. [04:22] The Phoenix Project: a resource for effectively managing an engineering organization.  [05:05] How multibillionaire Ray Dalio’s book Principles will help you grow in business.  [06:35] Multipliers as a must-read for anyone who is about to start working with other people.  [07:25] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Marketing School The Hard Thing About Hard Things Ben Horowitz on Twitter Netscape LoudCloud  Zero to One  Peter Thiel   The Ideal Team Player Patrick Lencioni  Don’t Make Me Think Steve Krug  Basecamp The Goal  Jeff Bezos on Twitter The Phoenix Project  Gene Kim Principles Ray Dalio on Twitter Multipliers Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1183, we share everything you need to consider when it comes to hiring someone who is still learning versus someone who is experienced. There are advantages and disadvantages to both, so it’s all about looking at the specific role you want them to fulfill. Some positions lend themselves more to one or the other. Tune in to hear more about which candidates to hire for executive, marketing, and SEO functions!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: When to Hire for Experience.  [00:29] Hiring someone who is learning versus someone with experience. [00:54] Experience is invaluable when your business is in the rapid growth stage.  [01:19] Why, when it comes to executives, you should always prioritize experience. [02:07] Past mistakes: waiting for people who you think have potential to learn on the job. [02:52] Considering RIO and the employees you want to hire when you are new.  [03:21] The pros and cons of getting younger people on board. [04:05] Considerations for hiring someone for marketing and SEO.  [05:22] That’s it for today! [05:26] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Marketing School Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1182, we talk about why marketers should not buy the latest gadgets! Just because there are a million amazing looking tools and pieces of technology out there, does not mean you should go and get all of them! Tune in to hear about how keeping it simple and functional can really work in your favor. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Why Marketers Should Not Buy the Latest Gadgets. [00:45] It is not realistic for everyone in the world to upgrade all their tech. [02:01] When should you think about getting the latest tools? [02:45] Avoiding ADD around the newest shiny objects. [03:15] Spending money when it really benefits your marketing and business. [03:40] That is it for today! [03:42] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Marketing School Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1181, we share seven productivity hacks to help you make the most of your day! From sleep tools, to better to-do lists and useful literature to peruse, we cover a ton of stuff that will definitely help you! Tune in to learn how to optimize your workflow and minimize time wastage! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: 7 Productivity Hacks to Get More Out of the Day. [00:33] The foundational importance of sleep; tools to help you get it right. [01:58] Planning the day ahead, the night before. [02:45] Getting the most important task done during the morning! [03:18] Clearing out that email inbox every day! [03:41] Using the Getting Things Done framework. [04:15] Avoiding time wasting rereading and responding to emails. [04:54] The utility of Sanebox and scheduling reminders as emails.  [05:23] Bonus tip! How the iPad Pro has improved productivity for both of us! [06:36] That is it for today! [06:24] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Why We Sleep TedTalk Matthew Walker Oura Ring Chili Pad Getting Things Done David Allen Sanebox   ►Subscribe to our premium podcast (with tons of goodies!): https://www.marketingschool.io/pro   Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1180, we are talking about the most important Google Analytics report, other than goal-tracking. Spoiler alert! It's cohort reports! We talk about how useful these can be to your business and the basics of starting to utilize the data they provide. Tune in to give your marketing the edge it deserves! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: The Most Important Google Analytics Report, Other than Goal-Tracking. [00:37] Apart from goal-tracking, the cohort analysis is so important! [00:51] What you can see in these reports by just changing the duration of the period. [02:02] The different ways that cohort analysis can be used. [02:15] Learning how to read a cohort chart; the two main ways to read them. [03:04] The flow of a cohort chart and the basic directions you want the numbers to go! [03:12] That’s it for today! [03:16] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Cohort Analysis Goal Tracking Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1179, we share how long it really takes for a business to become successful! There is always a period of learning and growing that happens with any business and we believe it often takes three years to experience profitability and stability, no matter who you are. Tune in to hear how we have learned this lesson with our different businesses! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How Long it Really Takes for a Business to be Successful. [00:48] Ways to measure success; starting with revenue and profitability. [01:20] Managing the difficulties and pain of the first two years. [03:04] All the things that can go wrong in the early stages. [03:59] The rule of three; waiting out the teething years.  [04:19] That’s it for today! [04:21] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: ClickFlow CrazyEgg Ubersuggest Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1178, we ask whether you are leveraging a great new form of marketing. Mobile text messaging as a marketing tool is becoming more and more attractive and companies are seeing great results from the creative ways that it can be used. Tune in to hear how you can apply it to your strategy! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Are You Leveraging This New Form of Marketing? [00:40] The use of emojis in text message advertising. [01:37] The surprising amount of sales from mobile text messaging. [02:20] Privacy rules and the US' own version of GDPR. [03:04] E-commerce marketing through text messaging and its efficacy. [03:23] Some useful tools that we use for this task. [04:08] Using text-based marketing for reminders for scheduled calls. [04:35] That is it for today! [04:37] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Luxor Linens Jonah Hill Angels and Entrepreneurs Call Loop Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1177, we share seven evergreen marketing tools that should be in your toolkit! We go through Ahrefs Content Explorer, Ubersuggest, IFTTT, and more. Tune in to hear about the best things to be adding to your marketing stack!  TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: 7 Evergreen Marketing Tools to Keep in Your Toolkit. [00:33] The simplicity and effectiveness of Supermetrics. [01:03] Why you should check out Ahrefs Content Explorer. [01:25] Making use of Google's Search Console and Google Analytics. [01:58] The amazing time saving tool called IFTTT. [02:35] Go get Ubersuggest! It's free and pretty much unbeatable. [03:01] Getting a great mobile chat application that works for you. [04:05] Using SimilarWeb to get an idea of your competitors.  [04:25] That’s it for today! [04:28] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Supermetrics Ahrefs Google Search Console Google Analytics WordPress  Zapier IFTTT Ubersuggest SEMrush MobileMonkey Manychat SimilarWeb Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1176, we share some creative ways to boost your site speed! From online tools to little trade secrets, there are a ton of ways you can get your website loading that much faster and we dive into all the reasons for doing this! Tune in to hear how you can get up and running at the best speed possible! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Creative Ways to Boost your Site Speed. [00:29] How site speed can improve your search engine ranking. [01:03] The tools to measure and help you increase your site speed. [01:38] Creative and uncommon ways to increase speed! [02:28] Using WP Beginner to challenge yourself to even faster speeds. [03:30] All the different ways and small things you can do to speed up. [04:05] Finding a developer on UpWork to do all of this for you. [04:58] Reasons why people go after these improvements in the first place. [05:22] That is it for today! [05:26] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Amazon Shopify GTmetrix Lighthouse Pingdom WP Beginner UpWork Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1175, we talk about why MoviePass failed. Most of us remember MoviePass from a while back, a service that promised something that seemed too good to be true. Well, it turns out that it was a bit too good to be true and we unpack what contributed to its demise. So tune in to hear it all! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: Why MoviePass Failed as a Business. [00:30] What was MoviePass? Do you remember it? [01:08] What we can learn from their business model. [02:41] Going for sustainability over initially undercutting competition. [03:01] The example of WeWork and high costs against income . [04:01] Reliable operators as the foundation of successful business. [04:40] That’s it for today! [04:41] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: MoviePass Crunchbase Helios WeWork Uber Lyft Blockbuster Netflix Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1174, we talk about how we handle our to-do lists and get our marketing things done! From prioritizing and cutting excess to methods and frameworks, we cover a ton of great ways to get things moving in the right direction. Tune in to hear how you can get the most of your goals and build as fast as possible. TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: How We Handle Our Marketing To-do List. [00:34] Approaching the lowest hanging fruit first, to move the needle. [01:12] Good resources for planning out your list of priorities. [02:20] Avoiding a laundry list of things to do. [03:05] Breaking things down to small accomplishable chunks. [04:12] Things to start doing, stop doing and keep doing. [05:01] Scaling out what is already working instead of new ideas. [05:26] That’s it for today! [05:29] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Traction  The One Thing 3HAG Way Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode #1173, we talk about the trend that email newsletters and podcasting is currently moving towards. We are seeing more paid subscription services for content creators, whereby subscribers can pay a small fee to get a direct content feed. Tune in to hear how this can be used to boost your income and whether it will replace other methods of income generation! TIME-STAMPED SHOW NOTES: [00:25] Today’s topic: The Current Email Newsletter and Podcasting Trend. [00:33] Paid newsletter subscriptions and giving more power to the content creators. [01:32] The amount of money you can make from these small subscriptions. [02:12] Comparing this model with advertising or Patreon. [03:22] Significant revenue requires a large amount of subscribers. [04:01] As influencer marketing grows steadily this trend will follow. [04:46] That’s it! [04:48] To stay updated with events and learn more about our mastermind, go to the Marketing School site for more information. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Substack Andreessen Horowitz Acast Patreon Supercast Tim Ferriss Crunchbase Thrive Capital Index Ventures Leave Some Feedback:   What should we talk about next? Please let us know in the comments below Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave a short review.   Connect with Us:  Neilpatel.com Quick Sprout  Growth Everywhere Single Grain Twitter @neilpatel  Twitter @ericosiu Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.