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In this super short episode Kevin discusses how the podcast is changing and what you can expect going forward.

Links:

• Episode 29 – Josh Gordon serves as guest co-host.

Have a question you’d like us to answer? Mail it to feedback@freeagenttoolbox.com or call us at 949-4AGENTS and leave a voicemail. We’ll play it in an upcoming episode and do our best to answer your questions.

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On this Memorial Day, please join me in thanking all our military personnel, both past and present, for their sacrifices to the United States.

I am extremely thankful for the freedoms I have in our country. The dedication of our military to defending our freedoms allows free agents to enjoy the life and work we choose to pursue.

Picture courtesy of SpecialKRB.

The post Memorial Day Tribute appeared first on Free Agent Toolbox.

I met Jim Kukral at a conference in September, 2010. Jim has been an internet marketer as long as the internet has been around, and been quite successful. I asked him what was the most important thing a person could do when starting their online marketing efforts.

His answer: build your email list.

Get as many people on your list as possible. The more people on the list that want to hear from you the better engagement and conversion you will experience. Of course, this assumes you provide value and not only send “buy now” emails, constantly selling and not serving. You want to avoid email list fatigue.

Your mailing list is golden. The size and the quality of your list can lead to more sales because these are the people who have given you permission to contact them. They’re pre-qualified, so to speak. A large list gives you a network of people to engage who are more receptive to what you have to offer, whether for free or paid.

Next week I’ll discuss some tools for collecting email addresses on your site.

Are you actively building your list? If not, what are you waiting for?

The post Build Your Email List. Now! appeared first on Free Agent Toolbox.

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Ivan’s off working hard this week so Kevin talks about the first winner of The $100 Startup contest, the Facebook IPO, Michael Hyatt’s new book Platform and how free agents create substantial value without creating jobs for others.

There are still two copies of Chris Guillebeau’s new book, The $100 Startup, to give away! Send your business idea to feedback@freeagenttoolbox.com and why you could use a copy of the book to help you launch your microenterprise.

Links:

• Jelena Olvari won the first copy of The $100 Startup
• Facebook’s latest stock price
• Learn more about Michael Hyatt’s seven bonuses when you buy his new book, Platform, here.
• Investor’s Business Daily article on U.S. startups

Have a question you’d like us to answer? Mail it to feedback@freeagenttoolbox.com or call us at 949-4AGENTS and leave a voicemail. We’ll play it in an upcoming episode and do our best to answer your questions.

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The post Episode 30 – Michael Hyatt’s Latest Book and Free Agent Job Creation appeared first on Free Agent Toolbox.

Your website home page should have two primary functions. Ideally, every page should do these two things, but let’s focus on the home page.

First, the benefits you provide must be obvious to the visitor. The sooner they can tell what benefits you provide, the better. You only have a couple seconds at the most. Don’t list your features. Focus on the benefits.

Second, you have to display a clear call to action. Do you want the visitor to sign up for your newsletter? Subscribe to your blog’s posts? Stop by your physical location? Whatever it is, it must be clear to the user what you want them to do. It needs to be prominent (but not overwhelming) and simple. If it’s for a newsletter, first name and email address are all you need. You can get more information from them after they’ve warmed up to you.

Does your website have these two items in place? Are they working the way you intended?

The post 2 Things Your Homepage Should Do appeared first on Free Agent Toolbox.

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Ivan’s started a new job this week so Josh Gordon joins Kevin to discuss lessons learned from challenging clients. The key lessons are to have people around you as you go through a tough contract and to use your disappointment as a springboard into greater work and money.

Kevin and Josh also talk about Chris Guillebeau’s latest book The $100 Startup and meeting Chris on the book tour.

Do you have an idea for a micro-enterprise but don’t know where to start? Send your idea and what success looks like to you to feedback@freeagenttoolbox.com. We’ll send the top 3 entries a copy of The $100 Startup.

Links:

• 100Startup.com  (be sure to check the Tour page for events near you)
• Art of Nonconformity
• Only72 created by Adam Baker and Karol Gajda
• How to Screw Up a Marketing Plan at CoachRadio.tv
• JoshuaGordon.net
• Josh and Kevin on the Sane Dad podcast

Have a question you’d like us to answer? Mail it to feedback@freeagenttoolbox.com or call us at 949-4AGENTS and leave a voicemail. We’ll play it in an upcoming episode and do our best to answer your questions.

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Kevin: I apologize for the sound quality. Skype was not cooperating this morning. If you want to hear what it sounded like originally, featuring Ivan and the Chipmunks, play this one:

Ivan tells about his new job and how it will help him as a free agent.

Lemonade Day was Saturday May 5th, 2012. Kevin tells us how it helped him explain to his kids what it’s like to work for yourself

Kevin Miller posted two questions on Facebook wanting to know that if you went to college would you do it again, and if you didn’t go, would you go knowing what you know now. We give our answers on whether college is necessary or not.

Send your questions or feedback to feedback@freeagenttoolbox.com or call (949) 4AG-ENTS.

Links:

• Lemonade Day
• Google Voice

Have a question you’d like us to answer? Mail it to feedback@freeagenttoolbox.com or call us at 949-4AGENTS and leave a voicemail. We’ll play it in an upcoming episode and do our best to answer your questions.

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We talk about four “simple” steps to improve your life. Okay, so maybe they’re not simple, but they are essential if you want to improve an area of your life.

Life improvement steps:

1. Soul searching
2. Setting 10x goals
3. Accountability and motivational partners
4. Daily execution via kaizen.

Send your questions or feedback to feedback@freeagenttoolbox.com or call (949) 4AG-ENTS.

Links:

•  Dan Sullivan and the 10x Goal
• IRunURun.com
• ExpertEnough.com
• Kaizen – continuous improvement with consistent, small actions

Have a question you’d like us to answer? Mail it to feedback@freeagenttoolbox.com or call us at 949-4AGENTS and leave a voicemail. We’ll play it in an upcoming episode and do our best to answer your questions.

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Kevin talks about  Barbara Sher’s Refuse to Choose book and how scanners can work within their strengths despite what society says about them.

Links:

• Refuse to Choose (affiliate link) by Barbara Sher (Disclaimer: Don’t let the look of her website deter you. You can’t judge a book by its website).
• Onavo – Free app for extending your data plan

Have a question you’d like us to answer? Mail it to feedback@freeagenttoolbox.com or call us at 949-4AGENTS and leave a voicemail. We’ll play it in an upcoming episode and do our best to answer your questions.

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