A tiny little thing called doing the work.

I discovered that early in my self-employment journey, when I wanted to be a writer. The only trouble was, I was a writer who did everything but write.

I watched a lot of bad television. I read a lot of advice about writing. I took some courses about writing.

But I did not write.

Call it willpower, or discipline, or even drive—whatever it was, I didn’t have it.

I’ve been fully self-employed and self-supporting since 2011. In that time, I’ve discovered that self-discipline isn’t something you’re born with (I wasn’t). It is something you can create for yourself, though.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why a results-based goal is not enough to keep you going, and what to do instead
• The unfortunate downside to self-employment, and how to shift your thinking so you can actually get stuff done
• A clever trick to try if you struggle to meet milestones
• Subtle ways procrastination shows up, and how to recognize and defeat it

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is a private community and learning resource for action-oriented entrepreneurs. Get your all-access, 7-day trial for just $7.

I told her often that I didn’t know how she managed it all. I don’t know how any parent does, to be honest.

When I left that job to launch my own business, I discovered it wasn’t just parents who have a lot to manage. Entrepreneurs—especially of the solo variety—learn pretty quickly how to juggle their many responsibilities.

They also learn a few tricks to set themselves up for success. These are mine. They’re simple things, really. And they might just change your life.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The two-minute trick I use to ensure every day starts out stress and anxiety free
• How clutter occupies more than just your desk space
• The huge difference a comfortable chair and a nice set of curtains can make
• How making a commitment frees up mental bandwidth
• Why multiple streams of income aren’t always a good idea

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program that simplifies business and eliminates the overwhelm. Start today with an all-access 7-trial for just $7.
• David Sparks at MacSparky.com inspired me with his commitment to only change apps once per year.

And you? Maybe you struggle to publish a single, weekly blog post, or you’ve been working on that course for months, and it feels like it will never be finished.

How do these prolific creators get it all done? I’d like to know, too.

I may not be as productive as Cal Newport or oversee as many companies as Richard Branson, but as a solopreneur, I have plenty on my plate. You do, too.

Right now, I have:

• A weekly podcast now in it’s fourth year of production
• A new YouTube channel
• A thriving membership to manage
• New courses and workshops to create
• Coaching clients to advise
• Emails to write
• Affiliates to partner with
• Marketing campaigns to plan

How do I manage all of that without dropping all the balls from time to time? I’ll tell you in this week’s episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The true cost of even a momentary distraction
• The one thing that takes priority over everything else in my business (and probably yours, too)
• What I advise all my coaching clients to do if they feel like they’re not achieving their goals
• The Sunday afternoon habit that changed how I approach my week
• The strategy I use to shave hours off my week
• How a tomato transformed my workday

Resources mentioned:

• University of California researcher Gloria Mark on the time cost of distracted work
• Francesco Cirillo developed the Pomodoro Technique to improve time management and reduce work-related stress
• David Cain put a new twist on the Pomodoro Technique in his book, How to Do Things
• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program that simplifies business and eliminates the overwhelm. Start today with an all access, 7-day trial for just $7.

I didn’t know that running a successful business required more than just a strong desire to escape my corporate cubicle. I didn’t know that turning my “hobby business” into a full-time income meant it would no longer have the laid-back feel of a hobby at all.

And I definitely didn’t know how much work I’d have to do inside my own brain before I could make the move from employee to freelancer to entrepreneur.

I learned a lot of lessons and made a lot of mistakes, so let’s talk about the four biggest ones on today’s episode. My hope is by sharing them with you, I can help you avoid taking the same pointless detours.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The “SMART” goal the kept me playing small. (Spoiler alert: It didn’t turn out to be smart at all.)
• How I let other people stand in my way (and three things I remind myself of now, to prevent that from happening again).
• Why not having a boss can be a bad thing for entrepreneurs. Seriously.
• The secret to not having any customers (a.k.a. Kevin Costner was misled).

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program that helps you avoid pitfalls and make smarter business decisions right from the start. Start today with an all-access 7-trial for just $7.

For him, it was a tongue-in-cheek warning not to struggle needlessly when someone else had already laid out a plan I could follow.

I took it literally, and honestly, it’s served me well.

When I was brand new to business, I didn’t have the cash to buy courses or hire a coach. I barely had enough to pay for my website hosting and email platform. I also didn’t know how to do things like set up an email funnel or create and sell a digital product.

I took dad’s “advice” and got scrappy.

This is how I did it.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to get “on the job” training even when you don’t have a job.
• Why putting on a detective hat is a good move when you’re growing your business.
• How “muddling through” and figuring it out on my own made me a better business owner.
• The one step that most new business owners miss (and it’s a huge mistake).
• Which courses and coaching programs you should purchase, and why.

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is a private community and learning resource for action-oriented entrepreneurs. Get your all-access, 7-day trial for just $7.
• Cal Newport is the author of Deep Work and host of the Deep Questions podcast.
• BuiltWith.com gives you a peak behind the curtain of any URL.
• Kit.com (formerly ConvertKit) is my email platform of choice.
• Amy Porterfield teaches online business with a focus on course creation and email marketing.

And it’s true. Sometimes.

Clothing manufacturers won’t get far selling the same styles year after year. Authors (with rare exception) can’t live on the earnings of a single book. Even theme parks rely on new attractions to keep customers coming back for more.

Maybe that’s why as course creators, we think our only option to grow is to create more. More courses, bigger membership, more coaching options.

What if doing more is actually bad for business though?

What if we’d be better served by scaling back and streamlining our offers, instead of creating more of them? What if we’d be more visible if we pared down our marketing only to those channels that attract our ideal customer?

Come to think of it, what if we narrowed our definition of what “ideal” even means?

What might that do for our business growth? Let’s find out in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What the Pareto principle really means (and the impact it has on your life)
• Three questions to ask when deciding what to eliminate from your never-ending project list
• The big mistake I see clients making (and that I make frequently, too)

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program that simplifies business and eliminates the overwhelm. Start today with an all-access 7-trial for just $7.
• 10X is Easier Than 2X is filled with examples of business owners who scaled back and streamlined to earn more.
• Explore my “big box of marketing ideas” in episode 138.

We hear about the latest and best email platform, only to be told a week later that this other one is better. A new social platform is suddenly everyone’s favorite hangout, when just last month they were raving about a different app.

Even business models are not immune. Are courses dead? Or are they making a comeback? Who even knows?

All this conflicting advice is bad for business, and in more ways than one. It keeps you stuck, never able to fully embrace any one strategy, to become proficient at it, to leverage it to its full capability. It’s a primary cause of shiny object syndrome, that well-known affliction that causes us to move quickly from one thing to the next, never gaining traction anywhere.

Short of unsubscribing from every business focused podcast and YouTube channel or moving to an off-grid cabin on a mountaintop, what else can you do to navigate through all of this conflicting advice?

I have some (hopefully non-conflicting) advice you can try.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How our pursuit of quick wins leaves us vulnerable to conflicting advice
• Why comparisonitis makes you think you’re failing, even when you’re right on track
• Understanding the difference between learning and doing (one matters way more than the other)
• The power of starting before you’re ready
• Three questions to ask when deciding which advice to follow

Resources mentioned:

• Amy Porterfield’s podcast is one of the best
• Pat Flynn is a fantastic role model for online entrepreneurs
• Gary Vaynerchuck has super-human content creation powers. His advice to create 64 pieces of content in a day proves it.
• The Side Hustle Show is filled with ideas and inspiration
• $100 MBA offers plenty of practical advice no matter what business you’re in
• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly training program to help your business grow. Get started for just $7 today.

It’s not complicated. It’s not automated. It’s not even digital.

It’s a simple index card, and it runs my entire life. I’ll tell you all about it in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why I use index cards instead of my fancy notebook or some complicated digital solution.
• What goes on my index cards (everything, obviously).
• How I keep them organized.
• How I turn quick capture ideas into a course or other content.

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly training program to help your business grow. Get started for just $7 today.
• My favorite brand of index cards on Amazon
• This box keeps all my course notes organized

There’s something I never thought I’d hear myself say. I’ve been actively avoiding tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, and rolling my eyes at those who claim their “Brand New AI App Creates Best-Seller Quality AI Courses And Automated Course Websites

In Less Than 60 Seconds” (yes, that is a quote taken from an actual sales page).

So when I came across a discussion of how Clarke Ching wrote his latest book with the help of AI… well, you can imagine my thoughts about it.

But I’ve read another of his books. He’s smart and entertaining, and I knew he wouldn’t let any AI tool lessen his impact, so I was intrigued. After reading his latest book, “The Bottleneck Detective,” I knew I had to get him on the podcast to talk about his process. It’s not what you might think, and the results really do speak for themselves.

Clarke Ching is known professionally as “The Bottleneck Guy.” He’s an author, speaker, mentor, and consultant who specializes in helping busy leaders and their teams identify and overcome bottlenecks to improve productivity and reclaim their time.

I’m happy to have him join me on this episode for a behind-the-scenes look at how—and why—he worked with two popular AI tools to write his latest book.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Two reasons Clarke believes his book is actually better for having used AI as his writing partner.
• Whether or not he chooses to disclose that the book was written with the help of AI, and why.
• Practical, useful ways you can work with AI to create content.
• The two tools Clarke used, and why he chose them.

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems
• Clarke’s website and LinkedIn
• Simple Marketing for Smart People by Billy Broas and Tiago Forte
• Mac Power Users forum discussion regarding how Clarke wrote his book
• Find Clarke’s books on Amazon

One of the best ways to be more visible is to get booked on podcasts. That lets you take advantage of the community someone else has built around your topic, so you can show up as the expert you are.

Getting interviewed on podcasts is something we talk about often in the Six-Figure Systems community, and the most common question I hear is, “How do I find shows to pitch?”

You can hire a podcast booking agency who will charge you thousands of dollars for a few interviews. You can work through a community matching platform and fill your days talking to new podcasters with few listeners.

Or you can take the advice of today’s guest, and get creative. With a 90% success rate on his interview pitches, the results speak for themselves.

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to uncover the one thing that makes you the perfect guest for any show
• How to find the “vested audiences” who need your input
• The power of being invisible (there’s a method to this madness, it turns out)
• Can any show be too small to bother with?
• Do you really need a speaker one sheet?
• Do you have to listen to the podcast before you make your pitch?

Resources mentioned:

• Find Dan Morris on Facebook
• Read Get Your Spark Back by Rachel Marie Martin
• Listen to Dan’s Tracing the Path podcast about pizza, cholera, and the Godfather
• Use Talkwalker to track media mentions
• Use Headliner to make the most of your podcast content
• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly business-building mentorship with self-study courses, hands-on support, and a welcoming community of course creators and coaches just like you. Take it for a test-drive for just $7.

At the end of each year, I sit down with my calendar and my index cards and map out what the next several months will look like. I decide what training I’ll be creating, plan the workshops for Six-Figure Systems members, and I even choose the topics for this podcast, my blog (now a Substack account) and newsletter.

A few years ago, I didn’t appreciate the power of long-term planning. Today, I can’t imagine running a business without it.

If you’re thinking to yourself, “I don’t even know what I’m going to post next week, let alone eight months from now,” then I’ve got a system you can steal.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• My “big rocks” process for mapping out my year
• Why I must have a plan for what I’m creating (and why I think you should, too)
• How I come up with so many content ideas (hint: it’s all about my favorite office supply)
• Why better content planning leads to more sales

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly business-building mentorship with self-study courses, hands-on support, and a welcoming community of course creators and coaches just like you. Take it for a test-drive for just $7.
• Substack is where I share weekly updates about what I’m doing to grow a 7-figure business.

Instead, I’d keep it simple, and prioritize the three core elements of a sustainable online business:

• Content
• List building
• Offers

These are the foundation pieces every business needs. Without them, those funnels and tripwires and course platforms are worthless.

Of course, there’s a bit more to it than this simplified checklist, so let’s talk about how you can make this work for you and your brand new business.

And if you’d prefer the video version, you’ll find it on my YouTube channel.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Three things I would not do if I were just starting out in 2025. These were some costly lessons in both time and money, and I hope you won’t make the same mistakes!
• One simple tweak that makes content marketing a more powerful tool (most people won’t do this).
• Why list-building still matters today—and probably always will.
• How to keep your offers simple, and why you must resist the urge to add more.
• Three ways your mindset impacts your business success, and what you can do about it. File this under “things I really wish I’d known sooner!”

Resources mentioned:

• • In Four Steps to Choosing Your Perfect Content Platform, I break down the three styles of content, and help you decide which one is right for you.
  • In The Big Leap, Gay Hendricks encouraged me to let go of my limitations so I could reach for something better.
  • Carol Dweck’s Mindset taught me the secret to success is in understanding how much capacity we have to grow.
  • James Clear reminds us all that there is always room for quality.
  • Six-Figure Systems is my monthly training program for online entrepreneurs. You can join us today for just $7.

Both internet superstars. Both prolific content creators. Both sharing their unique perspectives on what it takes to find success in the world of business. Yes, one is more business focused and the other more career oriented, but the message, in a lot of ways, is the same.

Here’s where they differ wildly though. Gary Vaynerchuk is the quantity guy. Be everywhere, all the time, is his motto. He’s the guy who taught us to create 64 pieces of content in a day. Newport, on the other hand, is the quality guy. Do less, but better might be his tagline.

So what does that mean for content creators like us? Do we follow Gary Vee down Burnout Road, or take the leisurely (if more intense) Perfection Parkway that Newport recommends?

In this episode, we’ll explore both options, consider the pros and cons of each, and (hopefully) find a solution that works for you unique business.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why you can’t have quality without quantity, and how to use that fact to your advantage.
• The reasons you might deliberately choose either quantity or quality, depending on where you’re at in your business growth
• Why I’m opting for more quality, even at this stage in my business

Resources mentioned:

• • Cal Newport’s Slow Productivity
  • Gary Vaynerchuk’s How to Create 64 Pieces of Content in a Day
  • How to create standout content
  • Tiny Course Empire on YouTube
  • Inevitable Success on Substack
  • Six-Figure Systems is my monthly training program for online entrepreneurs. You can join us today for just $7.

Entire industries have sprung up as a result of these two conflicting statements, from private label (done-for-you) content you can purchase for pennies to generative AI solutions and costly freelancers who handle all your writing needs.

Honestly, I’ve tried all those solutions, and none of them worked for me. Done-for-you content didn’t sound like me (at least not without a lot of effort, and then what’s the point?). Generative AI is even worse. Ghostwriters—the good ones—are out of my budget.

Not only that, but I enjoy creating my own content. I don’t want to outsource it, I just need a way to be more efficient with my time. That’s where a content framework shines.

I use these simple frameworks to not only save time, but also to maintain consistency in my branding, ensure I’m not rambling or missing important bits (as I have a tendency to do when left unchecked), and they help me avoid the dreaded TMI trap.

In this episode, I’m sharing my podcast framework, plus a simple three-part system you can use to build your own reuseable content framework.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How I shaved two entire days from my weekly podcast production schedule
• The simple, five-part framework I use as a fill-in-the-blank template to get me started
• An easy, three-question template you can use when creating any piece of content

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly training program for online entrepreneurs. You can join us today for just $7.
• If perfectionism throws a wrench into your content creation plans, here’s help.

• Are you really retiring?
• Will I still have access to my purchases?
• What will happen to Six-Figure Systems?
• What will you do instead?

Today, I’m answering those questions and more.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why we decided to retire our courses.
• What’s next for Six-Figure Systems.
• What to look forward to in the new year.
• A fun visibility project I’m planning.
• Two new coaching programs to consider.

Resources mentioned:

• • Six-Figure Systems is my flagship resource where you can access all of my courses and toolkits for one low price.Start today for just $7.
  • Cindy Bidar Susbstack

I get up to get coffee, or take a shower, or eat breakfast, thinking that when I come back I’ll find my focus. Sometimes it works. Other times, I sit down just as distracted as I was before.

What the heck is going on? I decided to find out, and the research I found is disturbing.

• 73% of us are overwhelmed with distractions.
• Employees lose 720 hours per year to workplace distraction.
• 68% of us are unable to maintain focus on important tasks.
• 60% can’t commit to even two hours of distraction-free work.

While it’s comforting to know I’m not alone in my distraction battle, it’s concerning that distractions are such an issue—one that only seems to be getting worse.

If constant distractions are preventing you from growing your business, making a difference in the lives of your clients, or accomplishing the goals you have set for yourself, you’ll be glad to know I’ve uncovered 14 ideas to help.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Two types of distractions we face, and why understanding the difference is the key to finding a solutions
• My favorite distraction-destroying tools
• How treating your business more like a job can help eliminate distractions before they become a problem
• Three ways your calendar can help manage distractions
• Two surprising habits that can help you stay focused
• What to do when, despite your best efforts, you just can’t overcome the distractions that derail your efforts

Resources mentioned:

• Freedom.to is an app that blocks distracting websites.
• Be Focused is the app I use on my phone to time my work blocks.
• The Pomodoro Technique is a simple and effective way to maintain your focus.
• 10% Happier is the book that convinced me meditation was worth my time.
• Interstitial Journaling is a useful method for tracking your time and your results.
• Time blocking helps me prioritize my days and prevent what Cal Newport calls “uncontrolled time.”

Then it will be ready to publish.

Or will it?

For content creators, perfectionism is a never-ending search for better, and the result is a backlog of content that’s never published. It’s never quite good enough.

How do you set aside your perfectionism and start putting content out in the world that serves your audience and helps your community achieve their goals? I’ve got four ideas for you in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Three not-so-surprising causes of perfectionism
• Five signs you might be a perfectionist (personally, I check all these boxes)
• What we can learn about overcoming perfectionism by some of the most successful creators
• How to give yourself permission to be a beginner
• Understanding the point of dimishing returns
• How a well-known golf term helps me get past my own perfectionism
• How I use time blocking and deadlines to get past my perfectionistic tendencies

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems
• Genetic and environmental contributions to perfectionism and its common factors
• Perfectionism and the Five-Factor Model of Personality: A Meta-Analytic Review

These are some of the words that might describe a difficult niche—one that’s so competitive it’s difficult for a new voice to gain traction.

If those are the words you’re using to describe your niche, it’s easy to feel defeated before you even begin. You might think there’s no point in creating content, because no one will ever see it, and if they do, it will just be more noise for them.

What if I said you have the power to stand out and make an impact even in the most competitive of niches? And what if I said it’s not even that hard to do?

In this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’ll give you three ways you can create standout content that grows your brand, no matter what niche you’re in.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The right way to use AI and done-for-you content (and why the wrong way is the opposite of standing out)
• Why your “voice” is your brand, and how to develop yours
• Having the confidence to stand up for what you believe
• How your core values make you, you

Resources mentioned:

• The Accidental Tech Podcast
• Core Values Assessment
• Six-Figure Systems

That’s a question I hear often, and my response is always, “No. You should create content so you know what to sell.”

Here’s the thing. Content invites conversation. It helps you to refine your processes and your unique stance on topics that matter to your audience. It forms a foundation upon which you can build (and market) a sustainable business.

That’s just one of the reasons I put content first in my business, and why I advise all of my clients to do the same.

Today on the podcast I want to tell you five reasons content comes first in my business. I’ll share how I leverage content to build relationships, make sales, and yes, decide what courses and programs I should be creating for my clients. And I’ll let you in on maybe the biggest benefit of content creation that no one else talks about.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why content creation is the best way to learn about your audience, yourself, and your business
• How to create more conversations and collaboration opportunities through content
• How content creation supports another critical element of business success
• Why content rules, even if you have enough money to run all the ads you want to run
• How content helps you stand out even in a crowded niche
• Why content is an asset that will pay for itself over and over again
• The power of compounding content, and why you should start building that body of work right now

Resources mentioned:

• The CLEAR Framework for building an online business
• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where we demystify what it really takes to start and grow a business online, with a special focus on eliminating the overwhelm. Start today for just $7 for your first week.
• The importance of consistency is one of 15 things I wish I knew sooner when building my business.

I’m not even talking about the big stuff, like the 2008 recession (although it can be argued that we all should have seen that one coming).

What I’m talking about are things like, “Dang, I wish I’d known that I can wear whatever I want and no one will notice or care,” or “I wish I’d known that investing a tiny amount when you’re young adds up to big dividends when you’re old.”

I’ve come across many of these lessons in business as well, and I’m sharing 15 of them with you in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast. It’s my hope that you will both benefit from my hindsight, and learn to identify the ideas you have today that will later become “I wish I’d knowns.”

Because when you spot them early, “I wish I’d known” becomes “I’m glad I did.” That’s a much better outcome, don’t you think?

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why the value of your work is probably not what you think it is
• The most important skill any entrepreneur can develop (and it’s not email marketing or copywriting or even self-discipline)
• The least important thing I spent the most time on, and what I would do instead
• What you can learn even from a failed launch
• How to stay frustrated and stuck, and what to change if you don’t want to be there

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where we build your business from the ground up. Get started today for just $7.
• Ira Glass on doing creative work

Let’s hit the pause button for just a minute.

What if I told you that before you publish that sales page, there are strategies you can use to make it easier to sell your course, and that will increase your sales, too?

These are the same ideas multi-million dollar sellers use to pre-sell everything from McRib sandwiches (remember those?) to the new, must-have SUV. In this episode, I’ll show you how to use strategies just like this to improve sales of your digital courses.

In fact, you could even be putting some of these tactics in place while your course is still in the planning and production stage.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to make your potential customers feel as if they’re members of an exclusive club—and why that makes a difference in your sales.
• How to leverage a waitlist to create better, more impactful courses.
• How to harness your own excitement about that new course and use it to pre-sell content long before the sales page is ready.
• Three powerful digital assets that drive interest and promote your course long before it’s ready to sell.

Resources mentioned:

• The Course Creation Challenge is back, and you are the first to know! Register today, and before you know it, you’ll have your own digital course ready to launch.
• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where we dive deep into all things online marketing. Start today for just $7 for your first 7 days, and get instant access to every course, toolkit, and live training call.

I sure didn’t, but after speaking with learning design expert Lisa Tussey, it makes perfect sense.

Learning design is all about making it easy for your students to be successful. I was thrilled to learn that we don’t have to radically change how we approach course creation either. Just a few simple tweaks is all it takes to transform a poorly designed course into one that has a real impact on your students.

In this episode, you’ll hear Lisa’s best tips for improving video engagement, practicing inclusivity, and content development. Her backward approach to course design is a gold nugget you won’t want to miss—especially when she shares the dangers of including too much information.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to keep video viewers engaged, even if your lesson videos are long (along with some shocking stats about viewer drop-off rates for longer videos)
• Lisa’s backward planning method for course design
• How to avoid adding too much information to your course (and why it’s a problem when you do)
• Tips to help your students get more out of your courses
• Why it pays to apply these principles to all your trainings

Resources mentioned:

• Understanding by Design
• Tiny Course Empire
• Quick & Easy Course Creation
• The Course Creation Challenge will be open for registration beginning September 24, 2024
• Lost Connections
• Start with Why
• Summit-First Framework Get this free training on better course design
• Lisa’s course review offer Use promo code CINDY50 to save $50 for a limited time

I’ve seen creators spend months or even years planning and developing a single course. They start with the best of intentions, but with no milestones to aim for and endless time available, progress—ironically—slows to a crawl.

I spent several months creating my first digital course. That was far longer than I intended it to take, and a big part of the problem was that I didn’t have a timeline to follow. I didn’t know that I needed to compartmentalize my tasks to keep from muddying the project waters. I didn’t know how to prevent scope creep—or how badly it could derail my progress. I didn’t know the importance of single-tasking.

Fast forward a few years and a few dozen completed courses, and I now have a plan that lets me create a brand new course in four weeks or less, without the backtracking, overwhelm, and rabbit trails that can make a product launch take longer than necessary.

I’m sharing my course creation timeline with you in this week’s episode, so you can make Parkinson’s Law work for you instead of against you.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• My tried-and-true four-week course creation plan
• Three reasons why creating a course takes longer than you want it to (and how to fix it)
• How to make adjustments to the timeline to match your course-creation style
• Why I write the sales page first

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where I share everything I know about building and growing a digital course business. Start today for just $7 for your first week.
• Tiny Course Empire is my strategy for building a multiple-six-figure course business, one tiny course at a time.
• Six Ways to Validate Your Course Idea will help you decide if your course idea has legs, or if it’s a waste of your time.
• Quick & Easy Course Creation offers up the step-by-step process to follow to take your course from idea to finished in record time.

Charge too little, and you might end up feeling resentful about all the work you put into your training only to be “giving it away for practically nothing.” Price it too high, and you might feel self-conscious about it. Who do you think you are, anyway?

So we try to apply some logic. We try to math, but when it comes to digital goods, math doesn’t work either. There’s no additional cost involved in delivering one more video download or one more PDF, so we can’t multiply the cost of goods sold by our markup to arrive at a retail price.

What’s the answer then? Well, it’s one part art, one part intuition, with a dash of espionage and just a hint of a power pose thrown in for flavor.

We’ll get into all the ins and outs of how to price a digital course in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire Podcast.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What I discovered about pricing while managing a gas station.
• Two reasons low-cost products and courses might be more trouble than they’re worth.
• Where not to land on the pricing scale (here there be dragons).
• The surprising element that can dramatically increase what potential students are willing to pay for your course.

Resources mentioned:

• My CLEAR Framework offers a step-by-step strategy for building a digital business from the ground up. When you’ve worked through the Framework, pricing your online course becomes much easier.
• The Framework Formula turns what you know into what you’re known for, which in turn opens the door to premium pricing for every course you create.
• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly training program where we talk strategy, pricing, marketing, and all things digital course creation. Start a 7-day, all-access trial today for just $7.
• Peter Boyle’s $1 Product Challenge offers a great reason to create an ultra-low-cost product.
• Tiny Course Empire focuses on creating a library of small courses you can leverage in a variety of ways.

The only question that remains is, “What’s the best business model to choose? Should you create courses or become a coach?”

That’s what we’re answering in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast. We’ll take a look at what makes each model appealing, the big drawbacks you need to be aware of, and I’ll give you some pointers for choosing the best model for you, your goals, and your students and clients, as well.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• 3 big downsides to the course creator model, and how coaching solves those problems
• How to fix the scalability issue you’ll face as a coach
• How even low-cost courses can turn into a seven-figure business
• The unique advantage a course-based business has over coaching
• Why you might want to consider a hybrid approach that capitalizes on the best elements of each model
• What it really takes to charge top dollar as a coach

Resources mentioned:

• In Six Ways to Validate Your Course Idea, I’ll help you determine if your idea has legs or if you should go back to the drawing board.
• Coaching Without Calls from Angela Wills will show you how to do exactly that. If you’ve ever thought that you’d love to coach, but don’t have the time flexibility, this course is for you.
• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where I share everything I know about launching, growing, and scaling an online business. Start an all-access, seven-day trial for just $7 when you visit TinyCourseEmpire.com/join.

When I started out online, I thought courses had to follow a specific format, and honestly, that thinking kept me stuck for a while. Later I learned that courses can take many forms, and the one you choose has less to do with you than with your subject matter and your students’ preferences.

In this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, we’re taking a deep dive into six different styles of online courses, the pros and cons of each, and how you can know which one is right for you.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Two course formats you might not think of as “courses,” and why you may want to consider them
• The pros and cons to consider before deciding on your course format
• What to consider when you’re being too hard on yourself about your course creation skills
• How one course can become many, and why you might want to repurpose your content
• The best course styles for student success
• The skill you need if you want to create engagement in your courses (and it has nothing to do with your teaching style)
• Three questions to ask as you’re deciding which course format to try

Resources mentioned:

• The CLEAR Framework is a free eCourse that helps you develop a strong online business foundation.
• Jennifer Burke has promised to keep my favorite content challenge going.
• Six-Figure Systems has all the resources you need to develop your course-creation skills, and you can get started for just $7 today.

Today that blog has reached more than 50 million page views, and Rachel’s content has been featured in The Today Show, NPR, and many more—including the Tiny Course Empire podcast.

This week, Rachel joins me to talk about how she built a community of more than one million followers on Facebook, how she sets and achieves big goals, and why she loves getting out of her comfort zone.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How Rachel manages to run multiple businesses, write books, travel, and speak, all while raising 11 children.
• Why she’s sometimes called the “OG Mommy Blogger.”
• How she built a Facebook page with 1M+ followers (without spending a dime on ads).
• How she maintains a personal connection with millions of fans and followers.
• Why she thinks written content is still a force in a world filled with TikTok videos.
• Why it’s important for you to put yourself out there as the face of your business.
• How to push the limits of your comfort zone to create more growth—both personally and in business.
• What a polar plunge taught her about getting out of her own comfort zone.
• How he uses micro-challenges to achieve big, audacious goals.

Resources mentioned:

• FindingJoy.net is where Rachel connects with other moms.
• Rachel’s husband, Dan, decided he wanted a vaulted ceiling in the garage. So he built one.
• Mom Enough offers inspiration to moms everywhere through a series of heartfelt letters.
• The Brave Art of Motherhood is for anyone who feels stuck in the “I’m just a mom” phase of life.
• Get Your Spark Back mixes personal stories with practical action steps to help you reignite your spark and live a vibrant, fulfilling life.

I didn’t have the skills.

I didn’t have the audience.

I didn’t know how to sell.

I didn’t have anything unique or special to say.

My list of reasons to not create a course was long and—I know now—meaningless. While I was waiting to build better skills and grow an audience and learn to sell and create a unique process, other, less-skilled entrepreneurs were making bank.

I finally got over myself and discovered a few things about what it really means to be “ready” to create an online course. Let’s talk about it in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire Podcast.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The critical business piece to have in place before you launch your course (and it has nothing to do with your logo or website).
• How to know if your course idea is “good enough” (spoiler: it is).
• Why you need to stop letting your competitors make decisions about your business future.
• How to uplevel your skills so you can launch pro-level video courses.
• Why the tech should never hold you back.

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program that turns those overwhelming projects into doable action steps so you can grow your business. Start for just $7 today.
• 5 Course Creation Lies That Hold You Back
• How to Generate Endless Course Ideas
• ThriveCart makes selling and delivering online courses easier than ever, and it’s the most cost-effective solution available today.

It’s a thought-provoking question and one I want to ponder (on a bit smaller scale), so I wrote a sticky note and stuck it on the wall above my desk.

“Why aren’t we earning $1M?”

It’s easy to blame the economy, the competition, or Mercury in Retrograde (whatever that means).

It’s much harder to point the finger back at myself and ask, “Why aren’t we earning $1M yet?”

One thing I’ve uncovered—or let’s call it RE-discovered—is that habits are what make or break you, both in business and in life. And I have more than a few bad habits holding me back.

Maybe you do, too. Let’s figure out how to fix them.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to stop letting problems get in the way of finding a solution.
• Why we overthink things, and how to keep things simple instead.
• Why it’s almost never the right time to change tools or platforms.
• What to do if you find yourself sucked into a rabbit hole of mindless scrolling.

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program that turns those overwhelming projects into doable action steps so you can grow your business. Start for just $7 today.
• ConvertKit is my top choice for email platforms.
• This video offers one possible solution for list cleanup on ConverKit.
• Get the CLEAR Framework here.
• Three books I’m loving are The Big Leap, We Should All Be Millionaires, and Traffic Secrets.

No, no, and no.

Turns out, it’s as simple as the framework they’ve developed to help their clients and customers achieve a goal. Whether it’s to be more organized, reduce clutter, or get out of debt, this foundational piece is the thing all successful coaching and course-based businesses seem to have in common.

In this episode, we’re taking a look at some popular frameworks and the creators who made them famous, plus how you can develop your own memorable, transformational framework.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why you don’t have to “create” a framework. Some of the most successful people have taken existing (and even obvious) ideas and turned them into 7- and 8-figure businesses.
• How a simple framework becomes a lifetime of coaching, courses, and paid speaking gigs.
• Examples of famous frameworks that sparked books, careers, and even inspired millions to clean up the clutter.
• How to begin developing your own framework.

Resources mentioned:

• The Framework Formula is my brand new course and workshop, where I’m revealing everything you need to know about uncovering your unique framework ideas, marketing your framework, and how to turn the simplest of ideas into a thriving business.
• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where I teach everything I know about email marketing and so much more. Take a 7-day full-access trial for just $7 and get instant access to 50+ courses, hundreds of hours of call recordings, and our exclusive Six Steps to Six Figures Roadmap.
• David Allen has been teaching his framework for decades.
• Marie Kondo has a one-question framework that sparked an industry.
• Jim Collins’ framework takes the guesswork out of starting a new business.
• Mel Robbins’ framework helped her overcome debilitating anxiety and depression and launch a 7-figure speaking career.
• Tara Jones has a framework for getting out of debt.
• Corrine Crabtree has a framework for losing 100 pounds.
• I have a framework for starting a business, and you can get it here for free!

Most decisions are made in a fraction of a second without much thought. The choice between toast or cereal is, after all, pretty inconsequential.

Some decisions are much more daunting than choosing breakfast, of course.

That’s especially true when you’re embarking on a whole new adventure, like starting a business. The list of things you don’t know far outweighs the list of things you’re confident about, which makes deciding even more difficult.

In this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’m taking on decision making, and offering up six simple frameworks you can use to make any decision, whether big or small.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Six different frameworks to use when deciding anything, and the best uses for each.
• Why some decisions warrant more in-depth consideration, and some are not worthy of spending more than a few minutes.
• How your goals, your lifestyle, and your values impact the decisions you make.
• How to know when it’s time to let go of a project or plan (even if you love it).

Resources mentioned:

• Start a seven-day, all-access Six-Figure Systems trial for just $7
• Cal Newport talks about lifestyle-centric career planning
• Personal core values assessment
• The ICE scoring model
• Pareto principle

Relentlessness is a powerful force for good, though.

It allows athletes to train their way to gold medals, and novelists to land seven-figure book deals.

It also allows entrepreneurs like you and me to create our own economies with nothing more than a laptop and an internet connection.

Because contrary to what some people might tell you, there is no easy button for building a business. You can’t just hand it over to your favorite AI and walk away. You have to be a little bit relentless in your pursuit of success.

Don’t worry though. Even if you weren’t born with a relentless streak, it’s pretty easy to develop. In this episode, I’ll give you seven tactics to boost your resolve and help you keep going even when you want to quit.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How reframing a challenge keeps me motivated
• Why poor results are an opportunity, rather than a signal to quit
• How to celebrate small wins
• How to know when to give up
• What I learned from a diet coach that has improved my business

Resources mentioned:

• Seth Godin’s The Dip
• This motivational cartoon
• Six-Figure Systems (snap up a $7 trial here)

And I know that for some of you, my email marketing method feels a bit overwhelming—especially if you’re just getting started.

That’s why when I met Amy Kuphal, I knew I had to introduce her to you. Amy is an email marketing ninja, but more than that, she’s a systems lover, and she wants nothing more than to make email marketing easy for everyone to do.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

Join me for this interview, and you’ll learn:

• How Amy discovered the power of email marketing
• How Amy’s Lead Generation Pyramid works to grow your mailing list
• How an email list allowed Amy to scale her 1:1 coaching business while working fewer hours
• Why you should sell to your email subscribers first, and how Amy does it with integrity
• The most important part of your lead magnet (this one caught me off guard)
• Why launching your lead magnet fast is more important than making it perfect
• Where to promote your lead magnet with some creative ideas you’ve probably never thought of
• How to turn new subscribers into raving fans with a short welcome sequence
• How Amy is using AI in her email marketing content
• How to make writing a weekly newsletter easy with Amy’s email templates

Resources mentioned:

• Amy Kuphal, email marketing specialist and online business coach
• The Inbox Entrepreneur
• Six-Figure Systems (snap up a $7 trial here)

Kelly recently announced that she’s closing the doors on the content marketing side of her business so she can focus on full-time mindset coaching. To celebrate, she’s hosting one final Stretch Yourself Challenge event, so I invited her to come chat with me about content marketing.

We talked about how she got started with creating content, the mistakes she sees some marketers making, and what’s next for her own content as she transitions from a B2B business into a B2C market.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Kelly’s history with content marketing and why she still thinks it’s the best thing you can do for your business growth
• Kelly’s experience with SEO and what types of businesses benefit from it most
• The types of content you should not be creating (even though it feels fun and easy)
• How the Stretch Yourself Challenge evolved and how you can get involved
• Whether I prefer brownies or coffee mugs as a finisher’s prize

Resources mentioned:

• Stretch Yourself Challenge #15 (the last hurrah)
• Me Skills (Kelly’s new home on the net)
• Six-Figure Systems (snap up a $7 trial here)

This call recording gives you a sneak peek into what we do inside Six-Figure Systems, and the support we offer to both new and more established business owners. Give it a listen and learn about things like prioritizing your projects, growing your email list, and selling digital products on third-party marketplaces.

Then come join us on a podcast-listener exclusive 7-day trial for only $7.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to focus on the most important work and let the distractions go
• Six ways to grow your mailing list
• Selling digital products on Gumroad
• Changes to Gmail and Yahoo! email sender requirements
• Leveraging an existing audience when you don’t (yet) have one of your own
• How to choose just one idea when you have so many

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems podcast listener trial. Start today for only $7.
• Atomic Habits by James Clear
• Gumroad
• Udemy
• Google’s email sender guidelines
• What email marketers need to know about Google and Yahoo! email changes

For many online entrepreneurs, anonymity is appealing. The thought—whether conscious or not—of hiding behind a laptop screen, never appearing in public, and even using a pseudonym in place of their real name makes introverted entrepreneurs feel safe.

But is keeping a low profile, firmly sheltered within that comfort zone cocoon, really doing your business any good? And if not, what steps can you take to expand your cozy bubble, show off your brilliance, and earn what you deserve?

That’s what we’re exploring in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why I believe every online business owner must be willing to step out of his or her comfort zone, especially right now
• How comfort zones hold you back (including a little-known benefit of pushing yourself just a little further than you like)
• What the research says about the stress and anxiety you’re feeling as you try to put yourself out into the world
• How your own brain is working against you, and what you can do to rewire it

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems trial offer: Start today for just $7.
• Overcoming Imposter Syndrome (free webinar February 15, 2024)

That’s what having well-maintained SOPs (standard operating procedures) can do for your business… so why do we not make them a priority?

If you’ve ever said:

• I know I need better procedures, but I don’t know where to start
• I have procedures and checklists… somewhere
• I don’t need procedures because I’m the only one who works here
• I don’t want procedures—they’ll just stifle my creativity

Then this episode is for you.

We’re going to take a deep dive into creating better procedures and checklists, including how to write them, where to keep them, how to keep them updated, and more.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The critical difference between processes, procedures, and work instructions, and why they’re all called simply “checklists”
• How to make a truly useful checklist by just asking a few questions
• How to maintain your SOPs without it sucking up all your time
• Where to keep your procedures
• The number one way to get your team to use your procedures and checklists—maybe the only way

Resources mentioned:

• Atul Gawande’s Checklist Manifesto
• Sam Carpenter’s Work the System
• Our own Six-Figure Systems Program

That’s what my friend Tish said when I casually mentioned I had written 10 emails that morning.

It’s a complaint I hear from other online business owners, too. Content is such a critical part of doing business online, but yet we struggle to create it consistently.

Sound familiar?

In this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I have 17 tips I’ve learned since I fired up my keyboard for the first time. Some will help you write faster, some will help you write better, and some will maybe just give you food for thought.

But if you’re a writer (and you are) they’ll all help you improve your craft in some way.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to make course creation (or slide decks, or planners) take way longer than it should
• Why your high-school writing teacher was all wrong
• Two lessons I learned from fiction writers that will make your content more compelling
• The real reason you need to proofread your writing (and it’s not because people will judge you for your typos)
• The number one way to never run out of ideas
• What the productivity gurus can teach us about good writing habits

Resources mentioned:

• Tish Lee podcasts about body positivity at Shining Self
• Stephen King’s “On Writing” is one of the best books about the craft whether you’re publishing blog posts or trashy romance novels
• Julia Cameron’s “The Artist’s Way” is a masterclass on how to be more creative
• Cal Newport recommends productive meditation for solving problems. I find it useful for being more creative.
• Shower Thoughts on Reddit is a fun diversion (but don’t spend too much time there)

You’re not alone.

A few months ago both Google (Gmail) and Yahoo! announced that beginning in 2024, they will impose new requirements on senders of bulk email—in other words, email marketers like us—and if we want to keep our email messages out of the spam folder, we’d need to shape up.

What exactly are these new requirements, and how can you make sure your emails are compliant? That’s what we’re going to find out in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What are SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records, and how they work to authenticate your email
• Which of your email subscribers are impacted
• How sender rules are changing, and when
• Important dates you need to know
• How spam complaints are counted, and what’s considered an acceptable number
• Where to get help if you need it

Resources mentioned:

• Google Postmaster Tools
• Google Email Sender Guidelines
• Yahoo! Sender Requirements & Recommendations
• MailerLite blog post/video on domain authentication
• Verify your domain with ConvertKit
• SPF, DKIM, and DMARC Authentication on ActiveCampaign
• How to make sure your emails get through from Email Tool Tester

This is great advice not just for kids, but for all of us—maybe especially for online business owners.

With a never-ending supply of webinars, courses, blog posts, TikToks, YouTube, books, and more, it’s easy to find yourself consuming more than you produce. That’s a dangerous path to follow when your income is dependent on the courses, products, and other content you create.

But where should you draw the line between “need to learn” and “need to create”? That’s what we’re exploring in this week’s podcast episode.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why you can’t learn without creating
• How to choose what you consume with more intention
• Why content creation is harder than content consumption
• Why learning new things feels more productive than it really is
• The difference between high-value and low-value consumption
• How not to waste time and money on content you can’t use
• How to schedule enough time to both learn AND implement

Resources mentioned:

• Mike Schmitz on Focused and on Bookworm
• MyNAMS
• Six-Figure Systems
• Lynn Terry’s ClickNewz
• How to Grow an Idea Garden

The only question is, what’s your content style? Will you be all business? Will you let your personality determine the direction you take? Or will you approach your content like a scientist, and follow the keyword data to find success?

In this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’m breaking down the three distinct content marketing styles. I’ll share some examples of each style, plus I’ll give you the pros and cons, so you can find the right style for your marketing goals.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Three styles of content marketing, and how to know which one is right for you
• How your content style helps shape your business income strategies
• Which style of content is best if you prefer to stay “behind the scenes”
• Why most people who identify as “creative” shy away from certain content styles

Resources mentioned:

• Stupid Simple SEO
• Niche Site Academy
• Finding Joy
• Ahrefs
• The Care and Feeding of Your Idea Garden

My client—the beneficiary of the project worksheet—was so impressed he shared it with the rest of the team, and asked me to create more workflows for other ongoing projects.

That was when I knew that not everyone thinks like me. Not everyone can look at a big project and see the smaller building blocks, and what order to complete them in for best results. Not everyone can easily see where the gaps are, and identify the things that can be safely eliminated.

Turns out, that’s my superpower.

If it isn’t yours though, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered with this episode because I’m letting you in on my easy, four-step process for creating efficient, productive workflows in your business.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• My four-step process for creating an efficient, effective, and results-oriented workflow out of any project.
• Four steps to quickly create a rough draft of a project plan.
• Why your first instinct (“I’ll just outsource this!”) is likely the wrong one.

Resources mentioned:

• Canva
• Trello
• Asana
• Flowlu
• Text Expander
• Marketing without social media
• Six-Figure Systems

There’s just one thing missing… testimonials.

And that’s the sticky bit, isn’t it? I mean, how are you supposed to get testimonials when you haven’t sold anything yet? And how can you sell anything without testimonials? It’s a catch-22, online marketing style.

The good news is that testimonials aren’t strictly required. Nice to have, for sure, but not a requirement. Some people—most maybe—will buy without them.

But the even better news is this: You do have testimonials (or you can get them) even if you are brand new, even if you’ve never launched a course before, even if you just started your business this very morning.

Listen up, and I’ll tell you all about it.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What makes for a really great testimonial
• Why less-than-stellar testimonials still work
• 4 places to find testimonials for a brand-new product or course
• 3 examples of social proof that don’t require testimonials at all
• Why your testimonial collection is a living document, and how to keep it thriving
• How to get really good—I mean REALLY good—testimonials

Resources mentioned:

• Indestractable, by Nir Eyal
• James Clear
• Shane Snow
• Greg McKeown
• Tiny Course Empire
• Six-Figure Systems
• Angela Wills
• Trello
• Evernote

Always in the back of our minds lurks the question, is this the best tool? Is there something else out there I should be using instead? Is there something better?

In this episode, I’m taking you on a behind-the-scenes tour of the apps and tools that are running my business, including what’s changed in the past year, and what’s due for a change in 2024.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why I changed up my single most important marketing tool this year, and what I’m using instead.
• Why I still recommend (strongly) that you own and control your online home, the platform I use, and the one I’d choose if I were just getting started today.
• Where I host specialty files, such as video and audio.
• Why I’m abandoning my (formerly) favorite page builder in 2024, and the tool that will replace it.
• Why my preferred shopping cart isn’t what I recommend you use, especially if you’re just getting started, as well as my current top pick.

Resources mentioned:

• LiquidWeb
• MomWebs
• Vimeo
• Libsyn
• Dropbox
• Google Drive
• Amazon S3
• WordPress
• Astra
• Membership Academy
• ThriveThemes
• Eliminator
• SolidWP
• PostGopher
• Seriously Simple Podcasting
• Squarespace
• ConvertKit
• MailerLite
• Medium.com
• Substack
• aMember
• PayPal
• Stripe
• ThriveCart
• Canva
• Deposit Photos
• Ulysses
• Scrivener
• Audacity
• Noota.io
• Camtasia
• Snagit
• Trafft
• Zoom
• Trello
• Flowlu
• MacBook Pro, 16” M1
• ATR 2100 USB mic
• Focusrite Scarlett Solo
• Logitech web cam
• LG UltraFine 32” monitor
• Leuchtturm 1917 notebook
• Bear
• Evernote

If you’re building a business along side a more traditional jobby-job, you’re in good company. It’s how lots of small business owners (including yours truly) got their start.

That doesn’t mean juggling a business and a job is easy though. There are some pitfalls to watch out for, and many people will stumble along the way.

Recently a listener wrote in and asked my advice on how to manage a growing business while still working a day job, so let’s tackle that question together on this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The one thing you must do to build a business on the side
• Where to find the time when you think you don’t have a minute to spare
• My top tip for avoiding overwork and burnout (especially if you’re a freelancer)
• What to focus on first when your time is limited
• Two things we did to make the transition from employee to entrepreneur less stressful

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly online business coaching program.
• Carl Pullein is one of my favorite podcasters, and his productivity advice is useful for anyone trying to build a business while still holding a full-time job.

So when I decided it was time to really embrace content marketing as a tool in my business, podcasting was my first choice. I knew a few things going in.

I knew I had to be in it for the long-run. Content marketing is all about long-term strategy, not quick wins, so I was committed to a long-term plan.

I knew I had to be consistent. Probably more than any other content medium, podcasting benefits from a consistent publishing schedule.

I knew I wanted to teach, not interview. I’ve never enjoyed listening to interview style shows, and I never wanted to create one, so I knew going in that this would be a solo show—just me and my thoughts about running an online business.

I also thought I was prepared, but there are always things you can’t truly know ahead of time. In this 100th episode, I’ll share five things I learned (or learned again) over the past 27 months.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Two big benefits of consistency that go way beyond just earning more money
• How setting deadlines in public helps ensure I do what I intend to do
• Why building a sustainable business requires long-term commitment (and that’s actually a good thing)
• Why showing up as your imperfect self is good enough

Resources mentioned:

• Cal Newport’s Deep Questions is one of about 25 podcasts I regularly listen to.
• Letting Go of Perfectionism

In this episode, we’re going to talk about how simple improvements in your product offers can result in both more sales and in higher revenue. In many cases, you can even make these improvements without adding a bunch of extra work for yourself. How’s that for a win/win?

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why your customers value proximity, and three ways to offer it without booking 1:1 calls
• How “perceived value” works to increase your revenue
• How catering to different learning styles can allow you to charge more for the same product
• Why making it easier for your customer to succeed can result in more sales

Resources mentioned:

• How to build an audience from scratch (Online Business Roadmap Step 1)
• How to create your first opt-in offer (Online Business Roadmap Step 2)
• Create a newsletter habit (Online Business Roadmap Step 3)
• Creating your first digital product (Online Business Roadmap Step 4)
• How to write a simple sales page (Online Business Roadmap Step 5)
• Improving your content marketing results (Online Business Roadmap Step 6)
• Improving your opt-in funnel (Online Business Roadmap Step 7)
• Increasing engagement and making more sales with email marketing

It’s all about turning up the dial in a few strategic places so that you can build your list faster, generate more opens, and get more eyes on your offers.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How incremental improvements increase revenue without having to work harder
• Why no one can tell you what your open or click rates should be, and why you should still care about them
• Why you don’t need a complicated split-testing system to make improvements to your email marketing efforts
• How to change up your calls to action to increase click through

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems
• How to build an audience from scratch (Online Business Roadmap Step 1)
• How to create your first opt-in offer (Online Business Roadmap Step 2)
• Create a newsletter habit (Online Business Roadmap Step 3)
• Creating your first digital product (Online Business Roadmap Step 4)
• How to write a simple sales page (Online Business Roadmap Step 5)
• Improving your content marketing results (Online Business Roadmap Step 6)
• Improving your opt-in funnel (Online Business Roadmap Step 7)

In this week’s episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, we’re going to focus on some small improvements you can make to your opt-in offer so that it begins to turn new subscribers into buyers.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What a tripwire is, and how to add one to your opt-in funnel using the assets you’ve already created
• How to quickly write an email follow up sequence (also known as a funnel or autoresponder) to promote your paid products
• Why email funnels are ultimately better than broadcast emails for making sales
• Three places to offer your subscribers an opportunity to buy from you

Resources mentioned:

• The Tripwire Toolkit offers checklists to make creating tripwires easier
• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where I teach everything I’ve learned over the past 12+ years about building and growing an online business
• TheOpt-In Funnel QuickStart Guide details all the steps for creating your first opt-in funnel
• The Opt-In Funnel Follow Ups are email templates you can edit and add to your funnels

So far you’ve established a content publishing routine, created your first opt-in offer, build a newsletter habit, released a paid product, and written a sales page for it. Well done!

With that foundation in place, now you’re in a great position to start growing, so in this episode, we’re going to circle back to your content routine, and look for ways you can improve your results.

We’ll make plans for getting in front of a wider audience, driving more traffic, and refining your messaging to better appeal to your ideal customer.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to know what your audience needs from you (including paid products to create)
• Why you should be publishing your content on more than one channel
• Why now is the right time to build your own website if you haven’t yet done that
• How to borrow other people’s audiences to boost your own
• How to get started with search engine optimization
• Why it’s important to pay attention to your own content preferences, too

Resources mentioned:

• How to build an audience from scratch (Online Business Roadmap Step 1)
• How to create your first opt-in offer (Online Business Roadmap Step 2)
• Create a newsletter habit (Online Business Roadmap Step 3)
• Creating your first digital product (Online Business Roadmap Step 4)
• How to write a simple sales page (Online Business Roadmap Step 5)
• Stupid Simple SEO is the most comprehensive SEO training I’ve seen
• Easy On-Page SEO (for beginners) offers simple strategies for getting started with search optimization
• Medium.com is a publishing platform used by thousands of bloggers and podcasters in hundreds of niches.
• Substack.com offers both blogging and newsletter management, and provides a way for creators to get paid, too.

Many of us have negative feelings about sales, and the people who make their living at it. After all, who hasn’t bumped into a pushy appliance salesman who just would not take no for an answer?

Those unpleasant experiences often lead to discomfort when we’re on the other side of the desk, asking potential customers to hand over a credit card to buy something we’ve created.

That means writing emails, hopping on a discovery call, or even writing a sales page is something we’d rather avoid.

Here’s the problem, though. When you’re in business for yourself, it’s your job to sell what you create. That’s the only way you’re going to get paid.

The good news is, even if you don’t enjoy sales, you can still craft a compelling sales page. All you have to do is follow a simple three-step process.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The three questions every sales page must answer (if this is all your sales page does, it’s a winner)
• The most important element of your sales page
• How to let the world know about your new product
• Where your sales page should live (you have lots of options here)

Resources mentioned:

• Sales Pages That Convert
• Email Marketing Campaigns
• Six-Figure Systems
• Lexi Rodrigo
• How to build an audience from scratch (Online Business Roadmap Step 1)
• How to create your first opt-in offer (Online Business Roadmap Step 2)
• Create a newsletter habit (Online Business Roadmap Step 3)
• Creating your first digital product (Online Business Roadmap Step 4)

Don’t wait to create your first digital product.

Sure, there are loads of ways you can make money from an online business. You can be a coach, or a freelance writer, or an affiliate marketer, or build websites or publish a Substack or write a blog.

I even know of one couple who hunt for scorpions and tarantulas on their property that they then sell online. #onlyinarizona

Clearly, you have a lot of options. But when it comes to leverage, digital products offer the most flexibility and potential for growth.

They’re what building a Tiny Course Empire is all about.

Here’s the kicker though. Getting started can feel hard. It can look overwhelming. It can come with a lot of self-imposed pressure to get it just right. And that’s the kind of thinking that will keep you stuck right where you’re at.

I’ve watched brilliant people with solid skills spend years creating and then updating a “signature course,” while never quite getting to the launch pad, because it’s never good enough. It’s never done, at least in their eyes.

There’s a better, more achievable approach, and that’s to create a simple digital product. Nothing fancy here. Just a solution your audience needs, in a format they can use, at a price they can afford.

It really doesn’t get any easier. I’ll walk you through how to do it in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Three guidelines that make it easier to create your first digital product
• The question that will instantly determine what your first product should be
• How we try to talk ourselves out of creating paid products (and why we’re wrong every single time)
• My favorite ideas for quick products anyone can create
• Top picks for product sales platforms that are perfect for new creators

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where you’ll learn online business building strategies that work. Get instant access to all of our courses and toolkits, plus live workshops, Q & A Calls, and more.
• SendOwl.com is a low-cost, easy-to-use sales platform for digital downloads.
• WarriorPlus.com is a marketplace where you can sell digital downloads and courses. It mostly caters to the online marketing niche.
• EJunkie.com is another marketplace for selling digital downloads.
• PayPal is the most popular payment processor for online transactions.
• Stripe is an easy-to-use credit card processing company.
• How to build an audience from scratch (Online Business Roadmap Step 1)
• How to create your first opt-in offer (Online Business Roadmap Step 2)
• Create a newsletter habit (Online Business Roadmap Step 3)

It’s oh-so-easy to let another week slide by without sending an email to your list. Before you know it, they haven’t heard from you in months, or maybe even years. Believe me, I know. I’ve been there.

Sometimes you feel like you don’t have anything useful to write. Sometimes you tell yourself you don’t have time. That next week will be better. Sometimes you worry that you’re just cluttering up your subscribers’ inboxes for no good reason.

The problem with that line of thinking is that it leads to even more email procrastination. Even more self-applied pressure to do just the right thing, the perfect thing.

But if you instead create a repeatable email system that’s easy to follow and quick to complete, you’ll find it’s a simple task to keep in touch with your subscribers, and build those relationships, too.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to create your weekly email in 10 minutes or less
• Why now is the best time to be building a relationship with your subscribers—even when you only have a handful of people on your list
• Why the day you email doesn’t matter, but consistency does
• Three quick ideas you can use when asking, “What will I mail about?”

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where we not only talk email marketing, but all the other pieces and parts of building a six-figure online business. Get personalized help starting today.
• Email Marketing Momentum teaches you how I run my email marketing, including how I plan my emails, track my results, and keep all of my email content organized.
• Email Marketing Campaigns is an advanced training for those who are ready to boost your email profits with multi-day promotional campaigns.
• How to build an audience from scratch is step one of the Online Business Roadmap
• How to create your first opt-in offer is step two of the Online Business Roadmap

So why do so many of us wait so long to build one—especially when it’s as easy as this?

Today we’re laying out a step-by-step plan you can follow to get your first lead magnet online and collecting email addresses. I’ll give you my top recommendations for useful offers you can create, the tools to use, and my three must-follow rules for creating a great lead magnet.

When you’re all done (and don’t worry, this won’t take you more than a couple of hours, tops) I’ll show you exactly how to start promoting your new lead magnet.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The two lead magnet formats I recommend when you’re just getting started
• Cindy’s three rules for a successful lead magnet (don’t skip these!)
• The easy way to create a landing page and opt-in form (even if you don’t have a website yet)
• A simple, two-paragraph welcome email you can use as a template
• Three options for hosting your lead magnet so new subscribers can access it
• How to correctly test your opt-in to make sure it works (no more embarrassing broken links or 404 pages)
• What to do now that you have a lead magnet set up

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly business-building program where we show you step-by-step how successful digital businesses are created.
• Opt-In Funnel QuickStart Guide is everything you need to get your next lead-magnet and follow-up email sequence running smooth, with video walkthroughs for both Active Campaign and ConvertKit.
• How to build an audience from scratch (Online Business Roadmap Step 1) is part one of this series

Is it traffic? Starting an email list? Creating a product? Branding? Website? Keywords? Something else?

Or maybe all of that, plus a dozen more “must do” projects.

If that big pile of unfinished, disorganized ideas is weighing you down and causing you to rethink you goal of even starting a business, this episode and those that follow in this series are for you.

Grab a notebook and a pen, sit back, and get ready to find your focus and nail those first critical steps towards a sustainable, profitable online business. You’ve got this.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The most important place you can be spending your time right now, when you’re just getting ready to launch your business
• A surprising benefit of regular content creation (and it’s not about traffic or list-building or even product creation)
• How to finally get clear on your niche (takes five seconds)
• Why you should stop worrying about SEO (maybe not forever, but definitely for now)
• Why you don’t need a website to get started (I never, ever thought I’d say that, but it’s true)
• Why it’s critical that you focus on just one thing, and that you don’t get hung up in the details

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where you’ll learn the strategies and tactics that are working right now in the digital marketing space.
• Dawson Trotman was an evangelist and founder of the Navigators.
• Brooke Castillo is the founder of the Life Coach School.
• Medium.com invites content creators in any niche to share their expertise and ideas for free.
• Substack.com lets independent writers and podcasters publish directly to their audience and get paid through subscriptions.

Oh, and somewhere in there, you’re supposed to be creating content. Blog posts, podcast episodes, opt-in offers, emails, and don’t forget courses and digital products to sell.

It’s a lot, I know, and it leaves most of us looking for ways we can lessen the workload.

Enter PLR, or private label rights content. These pre-written (and in some cases, pre-designed or even pre-recorded), rebrandable products promise to slash your content creation time while maintaining your quality standards, but do they really? And how can you use content that’s sold to hundreds of people and not sound like everyone else in the process?

We’ll find out on this week’s episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What PLR is and why you might want to use it in your business
• Legitimate uses for PLR content
• Some less-than-ethical ways you might be tempted to use PLR
• Why some uses for PLR will only end up costing you money
• Smart “rules” for buying and using PLR that will save you time and effort
• My personal list of trusted PLR sellers

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where we focus on sustainable, profitable business strategies for coaches, digital product sellers, and course creators.
• Coach Glue is my go-to resource for business coaches in search of rebrandable content.
• Thrive Anywhere creates the best looking workbooks and planners I’ve ever seen, and they all come with commercial (PLR) rights.
• Piggy Makes Bank is my top pick for self-help and business-related content.
• Color Monthly designs adorable coloring pages that all come with private label rights.

Welcome to the land of overwhelm, where small business owners like you and me work long hours without accomplishing anything, and where every new idea results in feeling even more stuck. It’s not a fun place to be, but there is hope. You can overcome the overwhelm, but first, you have to recognize it for what it is.

That’s what we’re talking about today.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What overwhelm looks like in real life, because it’s often disguised as something else. * How we inadvertently increase our feelings of overwhelm, even when we think we’re doing the smart thing.
• Why getting out of overwhelm is all about focus, and not at all about learning more.
• Four steps you can take to stop feeling like you’re in over your head.
• The ridiculously simple fix I discovered when feelings of overwhelm caused me to have a total anxious meltdown.

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly “end the overwhelm” training program where I’ll teach you the exact steps to follow (and in the right order) to make your business dreams a reality.

What if you don’t know enough about the subject you want to teach?

What if you get lost in a sea of others all talking about the same thing?

What if what you make doesn’t live up to your own (ridiculously) high standards?

Just who do you think you are, anyway?

Creators in every niche can find these and other questions on endless repeat in our minds. If we’re not careful, they’ll kill our confidence and shatter our dreams.

On this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’ll give you a new way to think about these and other confidence-crushers, and I’ll share my personal struggle as well.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The confidence-crushing question that kept me from creating my first digital course (until a smart coach set me straight)
• Why “expert status” is overrated, and what you should aim for instead
• Why it’s ok (maybe even preferable) to admit when you don’t have all the answers
• What it really means to have a USP (unique selling proposition)
• How to think about your competition
• Why you’ll never run out of ideas for new courses and content

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is where I’ll teach you everything I know about launching and growing an online business.
• Nicole Dean is one of my favorite people in the world, and a phenomenal business coach, too.
• Kelly McCausey teaches mindset and marketing—a killer combo. Here’s her coaching ladder graphic.
• Jeff Herring knows more about content marketing than I’ll ever know.
• Letting Go of Perfectionism offers up my best advice and some tricks I’ve learned for silencing your inner critic.
• Three New Ways to Think About Your Competition gives you… well, new ways to think about your competition.

Whether you’re deciding on a new product line to create, a new marketing strategy to try, or even a new business model to explore, there’s no end to the advice you’ll hear on how to choose the right path.

But what I’ve found is that one simple question is more important than everything else, and it’s often the one we never bother to ask.

In this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’m giving you the question I ask all my clients whenever they’re making a decision. It will help you decide, too.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The single most important consideration before you take on any new project or business (and it’s not how much money you’ll make)
• What to do when you’re feeling stuck or not sure what direction to go next
• How to plan a business shift when you’re not loving your current trajectory
• The many benefits of simply enjoying what you do every day

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where we make running a six-figure online business as easy as following a checklist.
• Nicole Dean makes having fun a priority in everything she does.
• Brooke Castillo turned fun into her company policy.
• Amy Porterfield‘s staying power is proof she loves what she does.

It means a lot of different things depending on who you ask and what their particular business model is. Just to add to the confusion, it also goes by many different names.

In this episode of the Tiny Course Empire Podcast, we’re taking a look at funnels. You’ll learn what they are, how they’re used, and I’ll answer the big question: do you even need a funnel at all?

Listen in to find out!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Three different names for funnels, and why they all mean basically the same thing
• Why the funnel visual works so well for describing your products and services and how they help your customers succeed
• The many different types of funnels you might use in your business
• The real benefit of having funnels
• Why you might not need a funnel at all (yet)

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where I teach everything I know about email marketing and so much more. Take a 7-day full-access trial for just $7 and get instant access to 50+ courses, hundreds of hours of call recordings, and our exclusive Six Steps to Six Figures Roadmap.
• Jeff Walker perfected the video funnel and used it to launch a multi-million dollar business.
• Ryan Lavesque is an advocate of using quiz funnels.

A great looking new software solution comes along and promises to solve all our business problems. It will help us make more money, land more clients, create more content. What’s more, everyone is talking about it, and many of them are making the move, too.

You’re tempted. Who wouldn’t be?

But how can you tell if this is a good move to make, or if it’s just another distraction dressed up like progress?

In this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’m going to give you a decision-making framework that will have you making better choices even when faced with a shiny new tool that seems to be on everyone’s must-have list.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What shiny object syndrome is, and how it damages your business
• The hidden costs of switching platforms (there’s more at stake then just your time)
• Three questions to ask before you consider dropping one platform in favor of another
• Reasons why the “latest and greatest” option might not be so great after all
• Red flags to watch for when you’re considering jumping on a trend
• Ways to get more out of your current platforms without having to pay the high cost of switching

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where I teach everything I know about email marketing and so much more. Take a 7-day full-access trial for just $7 and get instant access to 50+ courses, hundreds of hours of call recordings, and our exclusive Six Steps to Six Figures Roadmap.

Sound like a pipe dream?

It might if you listen to those who say it’s impossible to be successful in so many things, like Randi Zuckerberg claims. She says that you must choose only three areas of life in which you can thrive. All the rest? They’ll suffer from lack of attention.

I have a different take, and in this episode, I want to explore some ways we can “have it all” without feeling overwhelmed and sleep deprived.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The one thing you need to make everything possible (no matter how busy or overwhelmed you are right now).
• How putting some things on autopilot lets you focus on other roles.
• How to “coast” in certain places while you build up others.
• Why you should let go of perfectionism.

Resources mentioned:

• Angela Wills runs LivingLifestyleFreedom.com
• Work, Sleep, Family, Fitness, or Friends: Pick 3
• A wheel of life is a tool for prioritizing aspects of your life you want to improve.
• Six-Figure Systems helps you put good systems in place so you CAN have it all. Start a 7-day all-access trial for just $7 and see for yourself.
• Brooke Castillo says it’s ok to turn in B-minus work.
• Nicole Dean wants you to know that done is better than perfect.
• I want you to let go of perfectionism.

When you’re just getting started and not earning much (or anything) yet, that’s a bad spot to be in. It might be keeping you stuck in a day job you hate. It might erode your excitement about being in business at all. It definitely undermines your confidence about your future business growth.

It’s also not bringing in any money.

A quick win can make all the difference, so in this episode, I’m giving you 14 ideas for digital products you can create in a weekend, including plenty of real-life examples.

All you have to do is pick one and get started.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Two hot niches for easy-to-create digital products.
• How to repurpose your personal digital assets into something you can sell.
• Two things you can sell before you even create them.
• Where to sell digital goods if you don’t have a website.

Resources mentioned:

• 6 Online Business Models to Try offers more ideas to earn money in your business.
• Conjure Clients Out of Thin Air is a product I created from emails I sent to clients and prospects when I was a new freelancer looking for work.
• Funnel Builder’s Checklist Pack is the checklist product I wrote while sitting on the patio watching the husband grill up some dinner.
• Karon Thackston’s Blog Post Shortcuts are created from her own notes to herself, and they’re one of her top sellers.
• Win Back Your Audience is an ebook I wrote in just two days.
• Stephanie Lewis creates and sells guided meditations on her site and through meditation apps.
• Etsy is a popular marketplace for digital and physical goods.
• Teachers Pay Teachers encourages teachers to sell their lesson plans and printables to other teachers.

• Two things I don’t use for list-building. I’m going to start testing one of them soon, though.
• What I consider to be my most important list-building strategy (they’re all important, but this one is a must have, and I’ll tell you why).
• One strategy I’m considering that has me feeling quite a bit out of my comfort zone (and I’ll probably do it anyway).

Rather read the transcript? Here you go!

Resources mentioned:

• Episode #6: Email Funnels for Non-Marketers: If you’re stuck on what to offer or what to say after you get the opt-in, this episode is for you.
• Operations and Marketing Checklists: The first digital product I sold that really took off.
• Piggy Makes Bank: Done-for-you content in the business and self-help niche.
• Val’s calendar: Bookmark this one so you can go back to it when you’re on the hunt for an online event to participate in.
• My affiliate program: If you reach an audience of online business owners or those who want to be, you’d be a perfect fit.
• Blogging Success Zone: Lisa Atkinson’s website and training resources.
• Thrive Themes: Makers of amazing page builders, lead forms, quiz engines, and a host of other must-have plugins for online entrepreneurs.

In this episode, I’m going to break down six popular online business models, including what it takes to get started, the profit potential for each, and how to know which one is the right fit for you.

Plus, we’ll talk about how to combine business models to create multiple streams of income in your business.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Which online business to build when you need quick cash.
• Why even the most passive sounding model requires a lot more work than you think it will (sorry – no free rides here).
• How bloggers get paid, and why it might not be exactly like you imagine.
• The one business model that I think is right for everyone (even you).

Resources mentioned:

• How to Choose Your Tech Stack: If you’re feeling stuck in marketing technology quicksand, this episode is for you.
• What Happens to Your Business if You Can’t Work: For freelancers and solopreneurs who need a backup plan (in other words, all of us).
• Membership Site Q & A: Before you dive into creating a membership site, you’re going to want to give this a listen.
• Six-Figure Systems: My monthly training and mentoring membership where you’ll get help with all your online business questions.
• Discover Your Ideal Online Business: Take this quick quiz to see which business model is right for you.

Pinterest users are even feeling the pinch. The platform is often referred to as a search engine rather than a social network, and as such it’s been the go-to traffic source for bloggers in many niches for years. But now, even Pinterest has left some content creators feeling frustrated over a dramatic drop in traffic.

But what can you do? How else can you get the word out about your latest course, or your new opt-in offer? Turns out, there are plenty of ways you can market your business without social media, and in this week’s episode, I’ll give you my top 21 suggestions.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why I finally (mostly) left social media, and how I’m making Facebook work on my terms today.
• The single most important marketing channel all small business owners should be prioritizing, and why.
• How to leverage search (and not just from Google) to get in front of your ideal audience.
• The strategy I used to launch my business and quickly grow to six-figures in revenue.
• What Steve Martin can teach us all about getting noticed in a competitive world.

Resources mentioned:

• Debbie Gartner’s SEO guides are worth every penny. Start with this one if you’re brand new, or this one if you’ve been blogging for a while.
• Stupid Simple SEO is the best full-featured course on SEO I know of. I took it two years ago and it’s well worth the time and money investment. Start with Mike’s free class to learn more about the topic and his teaching style.
• Affiliate Program Success was not mentioned, but it’s a helpful resource if you’re interested in creating your own affiliate program to sell your courses and products.
• Medium.com has a built in audience and it’s easy to get started syndicating your content there.
• HelpAReporter.com is a great resource if you want to get quoted on high-traffic sites. Sign up as a “source” and then choose the types of notifications to receive.
• Meetup.com makes live, in person networking easier. Just search your area for your topics of interest.
• UpViral makes hosting a viral contest as simple as filling in a few details.
• Steve Martin has the best advice you will ever hear about finding success, and it’s not just true for show business.
• In episode eight I talked more about participating in bundles and giveaways for list building.

Turns out, the size of your team has little to do with your success.

In this episode, I’m giving you the scoop on how my thinking has changed, and why I prefer to run a tiny business with as few team members as possible.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The big advantages I enjoy by not having a team
• Why I changed my thinking about team building
• Who I do recommend you hire (and when)
• What’s more important to me than having a big team

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly business training program for solopreneurs. Take a 7-day full-access trial for just $7.
• Outsourcing Success Plan gives you the tools and strategies you need to make smart hires when the time is right.
• 5 Questions to Ask Before You Hire Your First Team Member helps you decide if it’s time to get help for your small business.

Maybe life got in the way. Maybe your business changed. Maybe you simply ran out of things to say.

Regardless of the reason for your absence, it’s time to re-engage your cold email list, but where do you even start? What’s the best way to get back in the game?

In this episode, we’ll look at what you can do to revive a cold email list, including questions to ask before you start, and some ideas you can use when crafting that first email.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to know if you should try to re-engage your cold list or if it’s better to simply start over
• Three ways to re-engage your list, and when to consider each option
• My personal choice when I let my list go cold a few years ago (and why I’d do it differently today)
• What to expect from your first few emails
• Why you’ll get more spam complaints initially, and why your email provider probably won’t care

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where I teach everything I know about email marketing and so much more. Start your seven-day trial today and get instant access to 50+ courses, hundreds of hours of call recordings, and our exclusive Six Steps to Six Figures Roadmap.
• If you’re drawing a blank about what to email your list, here are 49 ideas you can use.

That’s a worry that many small business owners face, and it sometimes causes them to play small, saving all the “best ideas” for their paid products.

What they don’t know is that people pay for more than just information. When you add that to the equation, you might just change your mind about how much to publish for free.

In this episode, we’ll dispell some myths about free content and discuss the most often shared advice for deciding what to give away and what to sell. Then I’ll explain my personal approach to deciding how much free content to publish.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Three strategies I learned about how to separate free from paid content, and why I don’t follow any of them.
• How I manage a balance between free and paid resources for my business.
• Why I feel it’s ok to give away your best content.
• Three reasons your customers will still pay you, even though they can learn everything they need for free.
• Real life examples of successful online businesses (including this one) that give away far more than they sell, and why it works.

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where we make marketing your small business as easy as following a checklist. Start a 7-day trial for just $7 and get instant access to all the courses, toolkits, workshops, and other resources.
• I used to help people with their Digital Access Pass membership sites.
• Brooke Castillo is the founder of the Life Coach School, and her thought download model is a powerful mindset tool. It’s available for free here.
• Michael Hyatt published Free to Focus using the content from a course of the same name.

Now, you might not be selling cars or toilet paper or eggs, but all of this economic weirdness we’ve experienced over the past few years is taking its toll even in the online space.

In this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’ll share four steps you can take to get your business back on track if things have slowed down recently. And truthfully, even if your sales are humming along nicely, it makes good sense to have a plan. Just. In. Case.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The single most important thing you should be doing right now, even if sales are strong and business is growing.
• Why it’s easy to let important systems take a backseat, especially if you’re busy.
• How to prioritize your efforts for maximum results.
• Where to find new ideas to boost your profits when times are slow.
• Why now is the best time to go “back to basics” and polish up your marketing assets and messaging.

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where we make marketing your small business as easy as following a checklist. Start a 7-day trial for just $7 and get instant access to all the courses, toolkits, workshops, and other resources.
• SEO Crash Course from SEM Rush will teach you the basics of using SEO to drive traffic.
• Stupid Simple SEO from Mike Futia is my top choice for learning in-depth, proven SEO tactics for bloggers.
• Affiliate Program Success shows you how to create an affiliate program and attract top affiliates.

Small business owners—even those who aren’t selling bread or cars—are feeling the pinch. Every week I hear from clients, customers, and friends who say their sales are down, their expenses are up, and they’re beginning to wonder if they’ll still be in business in a year.

Now is not the time to panic. Instead, there are some smart, practical strategies you can follow to smooth out that income roller coaster we so often face as small business owners—and not only when the economy is on shaky ground, either.

Listen in for tips you can use at any point in your business to take control of your finances, lessen the stress of unpredictible income, and recover quickly when things start to trend in the wrong direction.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why budgeting is so hard for new business owners, and how I almost made a whopper of a mistake when I started my business.
• Why having an emergency fund is especially important for freelancers and others who don’t have a “regular paycheck,” plus how much you should save.
• How much money you might be spending that you’re not even aware of, and how to find out the true numbers so you can cut back if necessary.
• Easy ways to bring in more revenue without working more hours. Put these systems in place today so they can’t start bringing in a trickle of cash that will grow over time.
• How freelancers, course creators, and others can create cash on demand. This is the one skill that will serve you best as a small business owner.
• Why it’s critically important to always have an eye on the future, and to never stop marketing yourself and your business.

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where I teach you everything I know about starting, managing, and scaling a six-figure business. Start a 7-day trial for just $7 and get instant access to all the courses, toolkits, workshops, and other resources.
• Three Ways to Earn Passive Income in Your Business goes into more detail about setting up passive income streams that will serve you for years.
• C & R Research reports on subscription service costs.
• Nerd Wallet recommends having three to six months of expenses in your emergency account.

I was fascinated, and the whole process made perfect sense to me. Until I actually sat down to create the first blog, and I realized it’s just not as easy as it looks on a webinar.

That was just one of the harsh realities I’ve learned about running an online business. In the past 12 years I’ve learned many lessons that I’m sharing with you in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why doing what you don’t want to do is a good thing, and not just for your business.
• The outsourcing secret successful entrepreneurs don’t tell you.
• Why you probably don’t want to turn that hobby you love into a business.
• How to make better use of those courses you buy and the webinars you watch.
• What I learned about shiny new tools when I was just 17 (and it’s just as true now as it was then).
• The one thing every business has in common, and it just might be the thing you dislike the most.

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where we focus not just on learning new strategies, but also on implementing what you learn. Join us for a 7-day all access trial for just $7.
• Brooke Castillo says that life is always 50/50, and that we wouldn’t want it any other way.
• The E-Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber reminds us that turning a hobby into a business might not be the best choice
• Lynn Terry teaches online marketing at ClickNewz.com

But what if it turns out the whole “nurturing” thing has morphed into something it was never meant to be? What if instead of building stronger relationships, you’re actually hurting them by trying so hard to “add value” that you forget to sell to them at all?

That’s what I’m asking in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire Podcast, and I have to warn you, I may have been a little fired up in this one. Tell me in the comments below if you think I’m way off base or if you agree. I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How the word “nurture” has come to mean something completely different than it was originally intended.
• Why nurturing your list might actually be hurting the relationships it’s designed to, well… nurture.
• How we waste time and money by waiting “until the last email of a sequence” to ask for the sale.
• Why your audience needs you to make offers (in other words, to sell them something).
• How not to overcomplicate and overthink the whole thing. It’s just email, after all.

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems includes more than 60 courses and toolkits to help grow your business. Start your $7 trial today and see everything that’s included.
• Tiny Course Empire Episode #6: Email Funnels for Non-Marketers
• What can I mail my list today? Use these suggestions to send regular campaigns (broadcast emails) OR as a part of your nurture sequence.

This week as I walked my dog, considered selling putting our house up for sale, and unsuccessfully tried to make a purchase online, I saw several things that could be improved in my own business—and maybe yours as well.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What happens when your message doesn’t match your brand, and how to spot potential issues in your business
• Why you’re probably not following up enough, and how to make it easy to reach out to potential clients and customers
• One simple thing you can do to make more sales

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems includes more than 60 courses and toolkits to help grow your business. Start your $7 trial today and see everything that’s included.
• Email Marketing Campaigns offers a system for crafting emails that your subscribers want to read, and that make sales, too.

Unfortunately, there’s a subset of people who are taking it a step further, and claiming that tools such as ChatGPT can replace you. They can write your content, create your lead magnets and products, handle your customer service, build your website… everything. Just click a button, and head to the beach.

Sounds ideal, doesn’t it? If only it were true.

Join me for a short, ranty episode where I’ll tell you why I’ve avoided talking about AI, some ways I’ve been using ChatGPT to help me create content, and how I think you should approach this new breed of tools for your business.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to spot sketchy “get rich with AI” offers so you can avoid them
• How to use AI tools like ChatGPT ethically and sustainably
• Why push-button solutions are unsustainable as a business model
• Why AI tools will never replace you, and how they can still save you time and energy

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where I help you plan, build, and grow a six-figure online business. Start your $7 trial today and see everything that’s included.
• ChatGPT is a language learning model that can help you create content. I hope you’ll resist the urge to let it do all your work for you though.

I love podcasting because it gives you all the SEO benefits of a blog, without requiring stellar writing skills (perfect for the grammatically challenged, in other words). Plus, podcasts offer a level of “know, like, and trust” that you just can’t get with written content alone.

After all, a podcast feels more like a conversation and less like reading a news article. Even email marketing (which you know I love) doesn’t offer the same level of connection a podcast can.

But podcasts require a bit more intention and planning than a blog does. For one thing, there’s additional technology to consider, distribution channels to navigate, file hosting to worry about, and that’s before you ever record your first episode.

Today I’m sharing how I started my podcast, some mistakes I made along the way (and what I think I got right), plus I have a plan you can follow if you’re interested in starting your own show.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How I decided on the format for my podcast
• Why I wanted to have loads of episode ideas before starting
• What I’d do differently if I were starting a podcast today
• Why it’s important to have good audio quality (but it doesn’t have to be perfect)
• My personal recording and publishing schedule
• Eight steps to follow to launch your own show

Resources mentioned:

• Amy Porterfield’s Online Marketing Made Easy is one of my favorite shows. I never miss an episode.
• The Life Coach School with Brooke Castillo isn’t just for life coaches. There’s plenty of savvy business and life advice, too.
• Michael Hyatt’s Lead to Win is for anyone who wants to be a better business leader.
• The Membership Geeks podcast is all about starting and running an online membership.
• AudioTechnica ATR 2100 is the microphone I use and recommend.
• Focusrite Scarlett audio interface offers a slightly better quality than a simple USB connection will.
• Libsyn is the media host I use for the podcast.
• Zoom is useful for interview shows.
• Christina Lemmy set up the tech side for me.
• Noota.io is the transcript tool we use now.
• Descript looks interesting, but I haven’t tried it yet.
• How to Use Time Blocking to Get Stuff Done details the strategy I’ve been using for years to stay on top of my commitments.
• Igor Mihajlović Bucin does my podcast editing.

There are a few tried-and-true strategies I’ve used, such as participating in bundles and giveaways or starting an affiliate program. But there is one method that consistently brings in high-quality subscribers to my email list, and that’s content upgrades.

In this episode, I’m chatting with content creator Jeff Herring about four ways I use content upgrades. I love these methods because they’re fast and easy, and they offer loads of value for my subscribers, too.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What the heck is a content upgrade anyway?
• How to turn your content into a downloadable resource
• A clever WordPress plugin that does all the work for you
• How to do more with content you’ve already created
• The types of content that are perfect for content upgrades
• Why this type of list-building gives you superpowers as an email marketer

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where I help you plan, build, and grow a six-figure online business. Start your $7 trial today and see everything that’s included.
• Designrr.io takes your written content and turns it into beautifully formatted documents with the click of a button.
• Uncovering Hidden Cash will help you find all those profit streams that are costing you money every month.
• PostGopher makes creating content upgrades as easy as installing a plugin.

You can get started right now, today, with nothing more than a few dollars shaved off your household budget.

That’s what bootstrapping is all about, and in this week’s episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’ll share how I bootstrapped my own startup, and the steps you can take to do the same.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The only two things you must have to start an online business
• Why bootstrapping is about more than just finding the money to get started
• One “rule” that will keep your finances in check
• The one thing I recommend investing in, right from the start

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where I help you plan, build, and grow a six-figure online business. Start your $7 trial today and see everything that’s included.
• Shopify offers an e-commerce platform for sellers of both digital and physical goods.
• Active Campaign offers a low-cost “lite” plan for email marketers just starting out.
• ConvertKit lets you get started for free.
• WordPress is the only website builder I recommend (and it’s free).
• PayPal is the best choice for payment processing when you’re brand new.
• Grit is Angela Duckworth’s book about what makes some people more successful than others.
• Fiverr is a marketplace for service providers, and it’s a good place to earn your startup funds.
• Upwork is another marketplace for freelancers in any niche.
• Facebook Marketplace is where to list those unneeded items that are taking up space in your home.
• OfferUp is an app that connects sellers to buyers.
• Lynn Terry is at ClickNewz.com.
• AWeber was the first email marketing platform I used, and they’re still a good option for simple lists.

I’m much more likely to remember things I wrote by hand. It’s also easier for me to solve complex problems on paper than it is with a keyboard. And sometimes, I just need to dump out all my thoughts into a notebook so I can see them. It makes whatever I’m working on easier to manage.

Turns out that even when you run an online business, sometimes the best tool for the job isn’t digital, it’s analog.

In this episode, I’m taking you behind the scenes at Cindy Bidar HQ to explore the analog tools that fuel my creativity, and that keep me organized and productive.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why a whiteboard is my favorite brainstorming tool
• How to make sales funnels easier to build by drawing a map
• Three ways I use index cards and sticky notes
• The important job a simple legal pad does for me
• My favorite journal and how I use it
• How I migrate ideas from analog to digital storage for long-term use

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where I help you plan, build, and grow a six-figure online business. Start your $7 trial today and see everything that’s included.
• Quick & Easy Course Creation details exactly how I create my courses, including how I plan them using index cards.
• How to Use Time Blocking to Get Stuff Done
• How to Create Your Course Outline Fast
• The basic index cards I use every day.
• I keep this legal pad on my desk for quick notes.
• My favorite notebook for journaling, to-do lists, and project planning
• I often move my temporary notes into Trello or Flowlu. Asana is a good choice as well.
• The Bullet Journal is Ryder Carroll’s method for staying organized using nothing but a notebook and a pen. He wrote a book about it, too.

You have to build and manage a website, design sales pages, master your email platform, figure out a shopping cart and payment processors, and make sure your students have easy access to their purchases, too.

And you have to connect all of those systems together for better branding and a good user experience.

All of that can make the ever-increasing number of all-in-one platforms sound pretty appealing. After all, they promise to do it all with a single login and no troublesome tech to hold you back.

But are these all-in-one systems the right choice for you? I’ll help you decide.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What makes all-in-one solutions so appealing, especially for new course creators.
• The pros and cons of using an all-in-one system for your course-based business
• Pricing “gotchas” to look out for when deciding on which tools to use
• How to choose an all-in-one platform for launching your business.

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where we create online business success. Join now for just $7 for your first 7 days, and see how Six-Figure Systems can help make your business goals a reality.
• How did you build that gives you an overview of all the tools I used to build and manage my own Tiny Course Empire.
• BuiltWith.com shows you all the tech behind any URL.
• Teachable is my favorite all-in-one platform for course creators.
• Kajabi is a popular option that includes email marketing in the mix, too.
• Circle focuses on community building with features for course creators as well.
• ThriveCart is an all-in-one solution with a big benefit: a one-time payment model.

• without mailing more often (although you certainly can)
• while serving your subscribers better
• using tools you already have

That’s what segmenting your email list is all about, and it’s a technique every business owner can master. On this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’ll share some easy segmentation strategies you can use starting right now, as well as tips for getting started.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Four reasons you should be segmenting your list (hint: it’s all about serving your subscribers better)
• Eight common segmentation strategies to use
• Tools that make segmenting your list easier
• Five ways I segment my list every single week
• How to get started with list segmenting today

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly online business training. Join 600+ entrepreneurs just like you for only $7 for your first week, and let’s create a profitable business you love.
• Active Campaign is my email marketing platform of choice.
• ConvertKit is another popular solution.
• Debbie Gartner blogs about home decor at TheFlooringGirl.com. She also teaches about SEO, affiliate marketing, and blogging.
• Karon Thackston teaches copywriting and other online business skills at MarkeingWords.com.

For those of us with a bit of anxiety, stepping up and being seen in this new way is intimidating.

In this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’m welcoming a special guest to help calm those nerves and make you a better speaker, too.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why it might not be anxiety you’re feeling at all, and how to reframe your thoughts around those butterflies in your stomach.
• A simple technique for instant relaxation when you’re speaking.
• How to recognize the signs of over-excitement, and how they make it difficult to get your point across clearly.
• Why you should speak slower than you think (and even slower than that).
• How to practice your presentations with intention.

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly online business training. Join 600+ entrepreneurs just like you for only $7 for your first week, and let’s create a profitable business you love.
• Dancing with Ease is Laura’s site. She uses the Alexander Technique to help her clients overcome performance anxiety.

The words simply will not come. You don’t know what to include, or even where to start. You are definitely not alone. Even though writing sales copy is one of the most important skills for online business owners to master, it’s also one of the most difficult, and with good reason.

Starting at a blank page is hard. It’s intimidating.

Writing about your own products is uncomfortable.

Or maybe you’ve convinced yourself you’re just not a writer.

Whatever is holding you back from writing sales pages with ease, in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’m going to help you get past it. I’ve got a simple framework you can follow that’s going to give you the confidence to write those sales pages, and to get them done quickly.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• My number one tip for overcoming writer’s block, no matter what you’re writing
• The most important part of your sales page, and how most online entrepreneurs get it wrong
• How to “chunk” your writing so you’re not overwhelmed by it

Resources mentioned:

• • Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where I’ll show you how to start an online business from scratch, even if you’re brand new. Start a 7-day trial today for just $7.
  • Lexi Rodrigo was one of my first online mentors, and she got me started writing sales copy.
  • Sales Pages That Convert takes a deep dive into all things sales pages, from headlines to that final call to action.

That means that time you spend hunting down a password, or searching through your email for the link to a meeting that’s about to start, or wading through you Canva account looking for your logo adds up to as much as 10 hours every single week. It seems hard to believe, but those few minutes searching really do add up.

Over the course of a year, you may have wasted as much as 12 weeks worth of your precious time.

As a small business owner, that’s disastrous for a lot of reasons. First, because you didn’t start your business so you could work longer hours. You probably wanted more time freedom, not less. Not only that, but you probably went into business for yourself so you could do what you really love to do… and I’m guessing that hunting for lost logos isn’t high on your list of tasks you love.

Finally, if you manage a team (even a tiny one) then your wasted time is their wasted time, too. When you can’t quickly put your hands on something they need, you end up paying them to wait while you look for it.

So what can you do to get more organized and save those 2.5 hours per day? I have three tools that will help in today’s episode.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why your biggest time-waster might not be Tik Tok after all
• How I’m using Evernote to keep track of what’s important in business and in life
• How Trello helps me keep track of brand assets, SOPs and more
• The tool that ensures I always know what to write about next

Resources mentioned:

• My Plug-and-Play Trello Toolkit includes 18 done-for-you boards and six video lessons to get you started (available for a limited time).
• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where I teach online entrepreneurs how to create repeatable, profitable systems to grow their business. Click here to start your 7-day trial today.
• Evernote is where I keep everything I might need someday.
• Airtable is how I plan and manage all my content. You can copy my content planner here.
• Trello keeps my SOPs and brand assets organized and easily accessible.

That’s the number one concern I hear from new (and even more established small business owners). How can they most effectively market their products—and where?

It can feel like a constant struggle, and it’s one that many entrepreneurs aren’t equipped to handle. As one client said to me, “I don’t want to learn to be a better marketer. I don’t care about marketing. I care about being a better coach.”

But what if you could get in front of a steady stream of new visitors who were not only interested in what you have to offer, but who come to you primed and ready to buy? That would tick all the marketing tasks off your to-do list, and let you get back to what you really want to do.

Enter, the affiliate program. The concept is simple (and actually pretty brilliant). All you have to do is invite other marketers to share your offers with their audiences, then reward them for the sales they bring with a percentage of your profits.

In this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’ll walk you through the five steps to start your own affiliate program. It’s easier than you think, and when you’re done, you’ll have new ways to effectively market your small business—without earning a degree in marketing.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to know if an affiliate program is the right choice for your business
• Three things to consider before choosing your affiliate platform
• Important affiliate program terms to decide
• How to make it easy for your affiliates to be successful
• How and where to find affiliates
• How to maintain a thriving affiliate program

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems – start your one-week trial today
• Affiliate Program Success is where I show you exactly how to run a successful affiliate program
• How to Choose Your Tech Stack (not mentioned, but a good review that will help you choose the best affiliate platform)
• aMember is my affiliate program of choice
• ThriveCart is a popular option as well
• Nicole Dean runs a top-notch affiliate program at Coach Glue
• Karon Thackston is always teaching me something new and valuable

For small business owners though, income ups and downs don’t always make that possible. That feast-or-famine cycle can cause havoc in your budget, and make it seem as if you’ll never get ahead.

But here’s the good news:

You have everything you need to earn an extra $1,000 (or more) whenever you need to!

With just a little creativity, you can easily boost your revenue, and often in a very short time frame. You won’t have to say “no”

And here’s the best news of all. Once you learn how to conjure up cash on demand, you’ll use that skill over and over again to grow your business.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The fastest way to earn money in any niche
• Where to look for freelance gigs even if you’re brand new
• Real world examples of people who tapped into their unique skill sets with great success
• How to leverage your course-creation skills for fast cash even if you don’t (yet) have a course to sell
• Where to find instant commission affiliate offers you can promote
• How to turn your abandoned projects into quick cash

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly training program for online business owners. Start your 7-day, all-access trial today.
• Kelly McCausey hangs out at LovePeopleMakeMoney.com
• You can hire Tishia Lee to write your affiliate swipes (and plenty of other smart tasks) at TishiaSavesTime.com
• Crissy Herron is the head honcho at IndieBizChicks.com
• Angela Wills teaches lifestyle-focused business owners how to have a thriving email list.
• Debbie Gartner blogged herself out of $200k in debt, and she’ll show you how you can do it, too.
• Zaxxa and Warrior+ both feature instant commission affiliate programs.
• ProBlogger.com has job boards for writers.
• VANetworking.com members enjoy access to job boards with a wide variety of freelance work.
• Upwork.com brings small business owners and freelancers together.
• Fiverr.com is a great place to start if you have a very specific skill to share.

We’ve all had those thoughts at one time or another, and it all starts with how we think about the competition.

A few weeks ago, I received an email from a subscriber who wondered if she was making a mistake by promoting her potential competitors. Would it take away from her sales down the road? Would she lose customers?

That got me thinking about what it means to compete with one another in business, and why we often see competition as a bad thing when in fact, it’s the opposite.

In this episode, I’m challenging you to change how you think about the competition. I’ll give you three new perspectives to try on, along with some real-world examples to show you how each of them can actually improve your business.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to grow your reach and your income by turning competitors into collaborators
• Why having competitors in your niche is actually a good thing
• How your competitors can inspire you to do better

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems: Start a one-week all-access-pass trial today for just $7
• Karon Thackston teaches you how to use words more effectively
• Kelly McCausey builds communities through content
• Liz Wilcox wants to help boost your email marketing skills
• Amy Harrop has some brilliant ideas for creating low-content products
• Debbie Gartner is a master of SEO
• Sue Painter has a wealth of information in a wide variety of business models and niches
• Angela Wills wants you to design a business around your life instead of the other way around
• Jeff Herring helps you turn content into profits
• Tracy Roberts and Susanne Myers create rebrandable content for your blog, email, and other publishing needs
• Connie Ragen Green believes in giving back to her community as a way of growing her business

But all of those are personal mistakes. No one ever knows about them but me (and maybe the husband, if he’s paying attention).

In business, it’s a whole different matter. Mistakes made here are often done in public, where others can see.

No one wants to make mistakes in public, so instead we only act when we know we have it perfectly figured out. And that right there is the biggest mistake of all, because making mistakes helps us improve. They’re what reminds us that next time, we should pay more attention to the recipe, or use more care when sorting the laundry.

In the 11 years I’ve been in business, I’ve made a lot of mistakes in an effort to not make any mistakes. I’m sharing seven of them with you in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, in the hopes that you’ll give yourself permission to embrace your mistakes early on. It’s the best way I know to find success.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• The best piece of advice I’ve ever received. I hope you’ll remember it as you work to build your business.
• The most common regret successful online business owners have.
• How being afraid of making mistakes held me back for too long.
• What happened when I finally gave myself permission to be wrong.

Resources mentioned:

• • Six-Figure Systems: Claim your $7 trial today
  • How to Build an Email List
  • Four Steps to Choosing Your Perfect Content Platform
  • How to Become a Better Writer

That’s what split testing is all about, and in this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’m walking you through everything you need to know to create a simple split testing action plan in your business.

Here’s what you’ll gain by implementing this strategy:

• Better email open and click through rates. If your subscribers don’t open and click, they can’t buy, so this should be your first stop on your split-testing journey.
• Higher opt-in rates. Growing your email list is (hopefully) at the top of your to-do list. Having a split-testing plan for all of your opt-in pages helps to fill your list with quality leads.
• More sales. A tiny improvement in conversion rates can dramatically increase your revenue, so before you launch your next product, plan to split test that sales page.

So grab a cup of your favorite beverage, and let’s dive in. You might just be surprised at the results you can create when you add split testing to your online business toolbox.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What a split test is and how it will improve your business
• Simple split test examples you can use in your own business
• Three places to use split tests, along with tools that make the job easy
• Real life examples of split test wins as well as a pretty big failure
• Two ways split testing can help increase your revenue

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems: Claim your $7 trial today
• Entrepreneurial Math
• Active Campaign
• ConvertKit
• Thrive Architect
• Thrive Leads
• Thrive Optimize
• Google Optimize
• Lead Pages

Looking back, I can see all the things I did wrong, but the biggest problem was I didn’t take the time to validate my idea before plunging forward.

Today, I take a much different approach. While I can’t say they’ve all been best sellers, I can tell you that taking the time to validate my offers before I create them has massively improved my results.

In this week’s episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’m sharing some of the ways I’ve used to validate my course ideas. Which ones will you use to make sure your next digital course is a hit?

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Which keywords can indicate that a customer is looking to make a purchase
• Three easy ways to ask your audience what they most want and need, and when to use each method
• How to use your internal data to decide on your next course offer
• How to 100% guarantee your new course will make sales

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems
• Ubersuggest
• Google forms
• Google analytics
• Email Funnels for Non-Marketers

For more than a decade, I’ve been working with online business owners, first as a virtual assistant, then as an operations and marketing expert, and now as a course creator and coach. Here’s what I’ve learned.

Success doesn’t depend on who or what you know. It’s not about having the best ideas or more education or even creating better courses or products. Success is about you and your unique mix of personality traits.

That’s good news! It means you are in control of your success, not some outside force you may or may not have any influence over. And even if you think you don’t have these essential traits, it’s easy to get them.

That’s what we’re talking about in this week’s episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why curiosity about life in general makes you a better entrepreneur
• Why focusing on tactical steps might be hampering your business growth
• How to overcome the hurdles and setbacks that threaten to derail you
• How to create success even if you’re missing an essential trait or two
• How to fall in love with your business
• The difference between a growth and a fixed mindset, and why it matters for your business

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems
• Angela Duckworth says there’s one thing that determines success. She calls it Grit.
• Jim Rohn said “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.”
• In How to Achieve Every Goal, I give you a plan for… well, achieving your goals.
• Carol Dweck studies the difference between a fixed and a growth mindset.
• From fixed mindset to growth mindset: the complete guide, by Anne-Laure Le Cunff

They say it’s boring or they’re just not good at it. They think it’s too rigid and cold, or that the rules are too complicated. They’re frustrated with memorizing endless formulas.

The list of reasons people give for resisting math is long. Maybe some of them resonate with you. Maybe you even have your own reasons for avoiding it.

But love it or hate it, math skills are a must for entrepreneurs. You cannot successfully run a business without at least a basic understanding of concepts like profitability, income predictability, and conversion rates.

Math is what allows you to make good business decisions. I don’t know a single successful business owner who, when deciding whether to hire a contractor or buy a new piece of software or invest time in a new business venture, doesn’t first pull out a calculator to see if the numbers work.

Understanding which numbers matter and what to do with them is what this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast is all about. Join me as I break down the basic math concepts every successful business owner needs. I promise, it’s a lot easier than you think.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to calculate your profit margin and why it matters
• How to really know if your business is growing
• How to predict your earnings for the next month or next year
• How to budget for future business expenses, like hiring a new team member or buying a new computer
• How to set—and actually achieve—your income goals
• How to calculate conversion rates, and how they impact your income and goals

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems
• A License to Print Money

On this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’m sharing a few recent questions, because I know if one person is asking, there are many, many more who can also use the answer.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to balance free content with paid programs
• What makes a “tiny” course
• How to get testimonials and social proof when you’re brand new
• How to change up your email schedule
• What it means for your website to be ADA compliant
• What to do when a launch doesn’t go as planned
• How to improve your email click-through rates
• Whether or not you have to use PayPal in your business

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly online business mentorship program
• Darren Rowse’s 31 Days to Build a Better Blog
• Michael Hyatt’s Your Best Year Ever
• Kelly McCausey’s Ten Testimonials program
• Google Drive
• LastPass
• Evernote
• Americans With Disabilities Act (In the episode I mistakenly said this dates back to the 1970s. It actually became a law in 1990.)
• ADA Compliance Now
• PayPal

That’s the question that came up recently on a Six-Figure Systems Q & A call, and honestly, it’s something I struggled with in the beginning. It’s something a lot of new (and even more established) solopreneurs wonder about, too.

The trouble is, there are so many things you could be doing, and it’s hard to know which ones are the most impactful. Not only that, but when you don’t know what you don’t know, you might worry that you’re missing out on some critical activities.

In this episode of the Tiny Course Empire podcast, I’m breaking down how I spend my days (it’s probably not as exciting as you might imagine), and also helping you make better choices about where to invest your time, too.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• What I do at the start of every single day (yes, even Christmas and my birthday) and why this morning ritual helps my business grow
• Why I spend most of my time creating content
• How I theme my days for more efficient working habits
• Why where you are in your business journey determines what you should focus your energy on
• What to focus on if you’re brand new
• How to effectively divide your time so you get the most important things done

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly online business mentorship program
• In How to Be More Visible Online, I gave you tips for getting past your fears so you can be seen
• Marketing Without Social Media details several ways you can market your business without relying on social media algorithms
• How to Use Time Blocking to Get Stuff Done gives you tips for making better use of your calendar

You have to be seen if you want to be successful.

Once upon a time, when making money online was new and competition was nearly non-existent, you could start a blog, use a fake name and a fake photo (or none at all) and still attract traffic, fans, and cash.

As competition increased though, and buyers became more savvy (or maybe skeptical is a better word), it grew more and more difficult to hide behind a computer screen—at least if you wanted to earn a good living.

“Relationship marketing” was the buzzword. “Know, like, and trust” became so overused as to turn into a cliche.

But that’s exactly what it takes to be successful online these days. Relationships with real people we know, like, and trust. And you can’t build that without being visible.

In this episode of the Tiny Course Empire Podcast, we’re taking a look at what it means to be more visible online, some things that might hold you back, and how to choose a visibility path that works for you and your business goals.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How fear can prevent you from being more visible, and some of the more common types of fear to watch out for.
• Why visibility is more important in some niches than in others.
• How choosing to remain invisible can mean a much longer road to finding success.
• The benefits of being visible (it’s much more than just profitability).
• Ways to create visibility on your own terms, and even if you’re a self-proclaimed introvert.
• The number one thing you must do if you want to be visible online.

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where we focus on building repeatable, profitable systems to help your business grow.
• Visibility Toolkit was not mentioned in this episode, but this checklist pack is designed to help online entrepreneurs get seen online, even if you’re brand new, and even if you consider yourself an introvert.

If your’e an affiliate marketer, or if you run an affiliate program, that might have you in a panic. Like most things though, these rumors have been blown out of proportion. Your affiliate commissions are safe—at least for now.

The truth is, the changes that Google and Apple have made are not aimed at affiliate marketers at all, but rather at advertisers who stalk you across the internet, showing unwanted ads that seem to know too much about you. You know the ones I’m talking about.

I’ve got all the details in this episode of The Tiny Course Empire Podcast, including how you can test your links and your tracking for yourself to put your mind at ease.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Why your email open rates can’t—and never could be—trusted
• The difference between email tracking and cookie tracking
• How cookies are used by affiliate programs
• What a “third party cookie” is and why it (probably) doesn’t matter to affiliate marketers
• The difference between a link redirect and a third party tracker
• How to test your own affiliate links to be sure they’re tracking properly

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly training program where you’ll learn how to start, grow, and scale your online business
• Impact.com article on the changes to Apple’s Safari browser

Pretty disheartening, right? You might be tempted to just give it all up and go get a job.

Jono Petrohilos had a different plan. Instead of just giving up as many others might, he doubled down, determined to find a way to make it work.

Along the way, he found a whole new career as an online course creator. Today he runs a seven-figure business offering continuing education to personal trainers and fitness professionals worldwide. Jono also mentors other digital creators through his courses, free Facebook group, and with his podcast.

There are a ton of gold nuggets in this episode that you can use in your own online course business, so hit the play button and give it a listen.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How Jono went from no knowledge of the online world to $1M in revenue
• The steps he took to create his first online course (good tips here for everyone)
• The unique marketing method he used to get the word out about his first course
• What advice he has for new course creators who are just starting out today

Resources mentioned:

• FitnessEducationOnline.com is Jono’s continuing education site for personal trainers.
• Course Creator Community is where he helps other course creators develop, launch, and sell online courses.
• The Course Creator Community Podcast is where he interviews other course creators.
• ClassMarker.com offers quiz software for business and education.

That makes content creation both the most important thing you can do as a business owner, and the most time consuming.

But what if it didn’t have to be?

What if you could publish more content while putting in fewer creation hours?

That’s what repurposing will do for you. In this week’s episode, we’re diving into the types of content that are ideal for repurposing, how to organize your content to make it easy, and how to reuse your content assets in a variety of ways.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Seven types of content to repurpose
• How I make repurposing easier by keeping all of my content organized
• Real world examples of repurposing in action

Resources mentioned:

• Sales Page CPR is a podcast episode created from repurposed course content
• Michael Hyatt frequently re-runs older episodes of his podcast
• Medium and LinkedIn are great places to repurpose/republish your existing content
• Darren Rowse at ProBlogger.net repurposed his blog content into a very popular ebook
• Karon Thackston’s Repurposing Game Plan is a framework you can use to (as she says) easily repurpose what you already have into 5, 10 or even 20 new pieces in way less time. Use coupon code REPURPOSE to save $10 at checkout.

Maybe you make one or two sales—or maybe not even that many, but pretty soon you find yourself questioning everything about the course.

It’s the wrong topic for your audience. It’s not appealing enough. It’s the wrong time of year. Someone else just launched a similar product.

You might even be tempted to scrap the whole project and just start over.

I know that’s how I felt when it happened to me. But you know I’m all about problem solving and repeatable processes, so instead of scrapping what I knew to be a great product, I got to work fixing my key marketing piece – the sales page.

In this episode, I’m offering you a glimpse into one of my most popular courses and giving you the tools you need to rescue a low-converting sales page.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• Important conversion rate facts vs. fallacies (and why you can’t believe what you’re told about “good” conversion rates).
• One critical piece of information you’ll find in Google Analytics (and that few product sellers ever stop to consider).
• Simple troubleshooting steps to take before you blame your sales page (you might be surprised to find out it’s not a copy problem after all).
• How to know if you even have a conversion problem… because sometimes it’s another issue completely!
• The top technique for improving any sales page (even one you think is doing pretty well as it is).
• The single most important element of your sales page, and why I recommend creating multiple versions of it.
• How to uplevel your sales page simply by getting clear on the difference between a feature and a benefit.

Resources mentioned:

• Sales Pages That Convert offers a much deeper dive into creating high-converting sales pages for your digital products or courses. Use code PODCAST at checkout to save 40%.
• Google Optimize let’s you split test any landing page using your Google Analytics account.
• Thrive Optimize works with Thrive Apprentice to easily set up split tests for any sales or landing page.
• Six-Figure Systems is dedicated to helping you grow your online business, with more than 50 courses, live workshops, Q & A calls, and direct access to me for answers to all your marketing questions.

But the truth is, there are endless ideas out there. You just have to know where to find them.

In this episode of the Tiny Course Empire Podcast, I’m taking you behind the scenes as I research and brainstorm course topics. I’ll show you all the places I look for inspiration, and how you can use them, too.

Prefer a transcript? Here you go!

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• My biggest source of inspiration for new courses
• Two websites to visit when you’re feeling stuck for ideas
• How to mine your existing courses for additional ideas
• How to use your traffic stats to find new course topics
• 48 course ideas I found in under two hours

Resources mentioned:

• Six-Figure Systems is my monthly program where you can join me twice each month for live Q & A calls.
• How to Create a Content Development System gives you some additional places to look for new ideas.
• Udemy is a course platform mostly focused on business-related topics.
• Skillshare is another course platform that offers a wider range of subjects.
• Back to Basics: An Online Business Startup Plan gives you the tools and strategies you need when you’re just starting out and have no idea what to do first.
• Thinkific’s online learning trends report gave me a few ideas.