Think Digital: Social Media | Online Marketing | Business-Building

#228: The One Where Justin Pulls the Plug

Wed, 29 Apr 2015 06:00:00 +0000

At Think Digital, we don't want to deliver something good to our audience; we want to deliver something great. Which is why this week, we bring you the last episode of the Think Digital Podcast. But hey, it's not good-bye forever. We'll be back with a new format later this year. Stay tuned!

#227: Blaine Hogan Makes Creativity Better

Thu, 16 Apr 2015 06:00:00 +0000

This week we get deep on the Think Digital Podcast. We talk about creativity, mental and spiritual wellness, and the essence of beauty. Put your thinking cap on for this one. Don't worry, there's also a fair amount of potty humor and some Willy Wonka references. So it's also good for a laugh.

#226: How to Easily Identify Potential Clients

Wed, 25 Mar 2015 06:00:00 +0000

Doing business = selling something, right? Whatever you're offering (products, services), you need an efficient sales funnel to turn leads into conversions. My sales funnel wasn't as rockin' as I wanted it to be, so I developed a 4-step method to eliminate leads that are never going to actually convert. It will help you out like it's helped me.

#225: Long Live the Queen: Mari Smith Sits on the Facebook Throne

Wed, 18 Mar 2015 06:00:00 +0000

It gets so exhausting working your tail off, especially when you don't know if you're headed for success. We've all been there; it's tough to keep pushing forward. This week, Mari Smith reminds us that even the most successful folks didn't just pop up over night. They were there, quietly pursuing their passions, long before anyone noticed them. Keep it up; that could be you!

#224: The Entrepreneur's Checklist: Travel Tips to Keep You Sane

Wed, 11 Mar 2015 06:00:00 +0000

If you're an entrepreneur, chances are good you're a road warrior, like me. It takes a lot of travel to make connections, grow your business, and hone your craft. This week, I'm pulling from the pages of my own travel pain to get you where you need to go in one piece.

#223: 80/20 Digital Hacks

Wed, 04 Mar 2015 07:00:00 +0000

20% of your effort is responsible for 80% of your results. To increase results, you have to do more of that killer 20%, right? Great...So, how do you do that? Step #1: Get yourself set up with some digital hacks that are gonna keep your online life in line.

#222: Building Your Business with a System of Systems

Wed, 18 Feb 2015 08:00:00 +0000

A car is a system of systems—maybe the electrical system is working, but if there's a problem with the brake system, you better believe that car needs to go to the shop! A business operates the same way: ALL the systems need to be working to run smoothly. Pop the hood on your business to make sure all of these systems are working for you.

#221: The Entrepreneur's Checklist: Hacking Your Way to Success

Wed, 18 Feb 2015 07:00:00 +0000

It's taken me 19 months to cultivate this checklist of hacks for entrepreneurs. Regardless of your business focus, put this list to use and reap the benefits. I wish I'd had it when I started. It would've saved me a lot of time and heartache.

#220: Why You Need to Hire a Coach (Even if You're Broke)

Wed, 18 Feb 2015 06:30:00 +0000

Dropping $10,000 on my first business coach wasn't easy. In fact, I opened a company credit card just to do it. But I made the commitment, and it has made all the difference to my business. Even if you're broke like I was, you will benefit from hiring a business coach.

#219: Tips For Getting a Response From Anyone

Thu, 12 Feb 2015 07:00:00 +0000

You've run into this: You email, text, call, etc.—you reach out and you don't hear back. Don't get frustrated; get schooled in the art of following up.

#218: We're Changing the Social Architecture of Humanity

Tue, 16 Dec 2014 07:00:00 +0000

The World Wide Web is 25 years old this year. In its short life, it has changed the very way we communicate as individuals and communities. How? What other changes are occurring? These are huge questions that are as important to answer as they are difficult. And as digital technology continues to pick up speed, so will the necessity to keep track of its evolution.

#216: Social Media ROI = Still Existing in Five Years

Tue, 11 Nov 2014 07:00:00 +0000

Even though social media has come a long way from being "just for teenagers," there are still companies that feel they don't have time for it. But how can you not make time for building relationships with your customers?

#215: Digital Marketing is More Than Dating, It?s a Serious Relationship

Tue, 21 Oct 2014 06:00:00 +0000

We're always rushing around to get content out to our audiences. Produce! Produce! Produce! is all we've been hearing for a while now. How do we keep it up?

We straight-up DON'T. We have to STOP and take the time to think about our goals, our audience, and how to reach them. Without strategy, we're just creating more work for ourselves with NO RESULTS. Ain't nobody got time for that.

#214: Branding a Company Requires Tough Love

Wed, 15 Oct 2014 06:00:00 +0000

A brand isn't just a cool logo and the colors on your website. Yeah, design is incredibly important, but even more important is knowing and projecting who you really are as a company. What do you believe? What do want? What's your culture? Until you can answer those questions, you're brand isn't going to truly shine.

#213: Authenticity and Interaction for the Win

Tue, 07 Oct 2014 06:00:00 +0000

We all know we need to be on social media to connect with our audiences. Duh. But how do you start that connection in the first place?

Social media interaction (and interaction in general as a business in today’s digital world) is all about authenticity. If you don’t come off as real and human, you’re seen as pandering or cliché and no one wants to interact with you.

#212: Be a Cyborg to Grow Your Audience

Tue, 30 Sep 2014 06:00:00 +0000

You’re working hard, you’re producing great content, you’re in it to win it, but how do you let other people know that? How can you grow your audience?

Whether you write a blog, host a podcast, speak at conferences, run a business, or whatever it is you’re doing, you need to have an audience, right? Otherwise you’re just shouting into the void. So you work hard on your business, whatever that is, and look for the right people to share it with. How do you get them to listen and to keep coming back for more? It’s so hard to rise above the noise and be heard in the bustling digital world we live in.

#211: Why You Must Measure Social Media ROI and How To Do It Right

Tue, 23 Sep 2014 06:00:00 +0000

Social media marketers are always going to be asked to come up with the numbers to support their social media campaigns. The higher-ups want to know: How much did that $1000 spent on a campaign actually bring in? They don?t want to hear how something ?went viral? or ?increased engagement?; they want data about cold, hard cash. How do we do that?

#210: Jason Swenk, The Digitalpreneur Who Will Get Your Agency in Top Shape

Tue, 16 Sep 2014 06:00:00 +0000

We agonize over taking our businesses to the “next level”, whether that’s as simple as increasing qualified leads or streamlining operations. In a digital world with so many choices for consumers, how do we get our businesses to stand out? And even more importantly, how do we do it without breaking the bank or spending every waking moment working?

These are questions that are always on my mind, and I know it won’t get easier any time soon. That’s why I’m so psyched to talk to our guest this week: Jason Swenk. He’s been blowing up my Facebook feed with amazing content, and I am thrilled to pick his brain about how he does what he does.

#209: Jason Keath Keep It Fresh With Social Media Marketing

Tue, 09 Sep 2014 06:00:00 +0000

There is a lot of noise out there about social media marketing. How do you cut through the rest and deliver the best?

Everyone is on social media these days, including people who probably shouldn’t be (like our older relatives).

Social media is an amazing tool to connect with others, foster relationships, and even build a business, but when there’s so much boring, spammy junk out there, using social media tools for impact can be extremely overwhelming.

So, how can you listen and be heard with the cacophony of social media mayhem that’s going on around us?

With Jason Keath and his social media education company, Social Fresh. That’s how.

#208: Income on Autopilot With Email Autoresponders + John McIntyre

Wed, 23 Jul 2014 17:35:10 +0000

When email marketing is done correctly, the results are second-to-none.

No amount of Twitter followers or Facebook fans can match the effectiveness of a rock-solid email list. The email inbox is still the best place to get a one-to-one connection with the people in your community.

Building a list takes time. Creating trust with your list takes time. Selling products to your list takes time. But what if you could put your list-building efforts on autopilot? What if you could build trust with your list while you were hanging out with your kids? What if you could sell to your list while you were asleep?

Fortunately, good news like this is possible and attainable. It just takes a little bit of work and the right email auto-responder sequence to get the ball rolling.

My guest on this week’s episode is John McIntyre, a.k.a. the Autoresponder Guy. John’s an Aussie living in Thailand and he’s one of the best auto responder experts I’ve ever come across.

How do I know? He got me to spend $100 on his products in less than 30 seconds, all from the right Facebook ads and a solid autoresponder sequence.

He can do it. YOU can do it. We’ll show you how in this episode. Take a listen now and start growing your list, increasing trust, and generating real results.

#207: How to Create Cash With Social Media Content

Tue, 08 Jul 2014 06:00:00 +0000

Everybody wants to create cash from their social media content. Few are willing to do the work to make it happen.

Social media outlets like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are more like a Tupperware party than a used car lot. You have to have a relationship with people before they’ll take you seriously (or show any interest in what you have to offer).

When we put the cart (results: cash, donations, volunteers, etc.) before the horse (relationship), it’s almost guaranteed to be a disaster.

In this week’s episode, I give you practical examples of people who have used social media to generate massive amounts of income for themselves and their businesses.

It’s not as hard as you might think, but it’s almost guaranteed to take longer than you imagine. Why? Because relationships. That’s why.

Listen now and start building yourself a social media system that delivers the results you want.

#206: Build The Life You've Always Wanted...No, Seriously!

Tue, 01 Jul 2014 06:00:00 +0000

You’ve heard people say, “Just follow your dreams! What could go wrong?” The short answer is, “a lot.”

Unfortunately, a lot of “dream-building” advice is nothing more than hot air from good-natured folks who don’t know what it takes.

Ben Arment stops by the show today to talk about the practical nature of building the life you want. We’ve all been in a situation where our working lives were less than idea. Heck, maybe you’re there right now. It’s a drag, for sure. Sometimes it might feel like it’s never going to change.

That’s where I was in 2010. Stuck in a job I ultimately enjoyed, but knew it wasn’t a viable long-term option (for many reasons). Enter: Ben Arment of DreamYear.net. Ben helped me build a bridge from where I was to where I wanted to be. The ripple effects of his coaching are still being felt to this day.

Ben brings a focus, clarity, and perspective many do not possess. His advice and insight is formed from being in the trenches. He’s not a “all bark, no bite” kind of guy. His platform has grown because he speaks from experience.

His hands are bloody and raw from the work needed to build the life he’s always wanted to live. He’s on the show today to share some of experiences. You’re going to love it. Trust me.

#205: The 7 Biggest Blunders to Avoid When Building Your Audience

Tue, 24 Jun 2014 19:50:44 +0000

When people who have audiences in the tens and hundreds of thousands (even millions!) talk, I listen.

Chances are, you're listening to this episode because you're on an audience-building journey of your own. Whether it's wanting to grow your Twitter audience, increase email subscribers, or get more views on your blog, you're hungry for more influence and a bigger audience.

After spending time with over a dozen influencers who know what it takes to build an audience, I've boiled down the biggest audience-building blunders down to seven.

#204: Leaving the Hustle Behind–Working Smarter Not Harder

Thu, 12 Jun 2014 02:21:26 +0000

Being busy is glamorized, idolized, and legitimized by (in my opinion) way too many professionals lately. It's all about the hustle! This week, we'll dive into this loaded word AND ways to shift our priorities to get the results that we actually want without working harder. The way it stands, hustle sets us up to fail. It's a perfect storm of busyness and boundary-less that cannot maintain momentum.

It's time to work smarter. I've got 4 tips to reset your strategy, and see bigger things as a result:

TIP 1
Admit your limitations. You can't do it all, and you certainly can't do it all well if you try.

TIP 2
Focus on your strengths. Truly. Look to see where most of your results come from, and own those areas. (Outsource the rest!)

TIP 3
Know thyself, and plan your days accordingly!

TIP 4
Make resting a priority. Burning the candle at both ends is counterproductive.

#203: Why Bad Leaders Should Be Afraid of Social Media

Tue, 03 Jun 2014 06:00:00 +0000

Not to oversimplify, but when it comes to leaders, they can often be categorized into the good, the bad, and the ugly. Admit it, you can picture leaders that fit into each category right now!

I bet you can guess which leaders I'm specifically addressing with this episode. I'm talking to leaders who can't communicate their vision and who have organizational weaknesses. I'm talking to leaders who are afraid of social media and who don't understand identity. I'm talking about why bad leaders SHOULD be afraid of social media.

#202: 5 Hard Social Media Truths Most of Us Don't Want to Hear

Tue, 27 May 2014 22:50:15 +0000

We're keeping the Think Digital momentum going!

This round, we're covering the tough stuff. The fact is, many of us repeatedly make the same mistakes without even recognizing the missteps that we are taking. Shooting for internet fame, counting the wrong numbers, speaking without replying - it's time that that we recognize what works and what doesn't.

Let's talk about the 5 social media truths most of us don't want to hear, and how to leverage them towards our own success. I promise the truth won't hurt; it will help you win.

#201: What We've Learned Since Being Gone (and How It Applies to You!)

Thu, 22 May 2014 14:22:52 +0000

It's been awhile, podcast fans!

With a product launch, a book launch, a family move, and five months of not recording a single podcast episode, a lot has changed at Think Digital HQ!

Join me as I walk through three of the biggest social media and business lessons we've learned in the past five months and how they'll help you get ahead in your social media efforts.

#017: The Podcast Answer Man + Why You Need to Be Podcasting

Fri, 03 Jan 2014 04:15:00 +0000

If you look at the top Management and Marketing podcasts on iTunes, you'll see names like Amy Porterfield, Pat Flynn, Michael Stelzner, and Michael Hyatt. What you don't see is the person all of them come to for podcasting advice. That man? Cliff Ravenscraft.

If there's anyone on the planet who knows podcasting, it's Cliff. With literal hundreds (thousands?) of podcasts under his belt, a podcast network, and veritable Who's Who in podcasting clients, Cliff's title is aptly suited. The man lives, breathes, eats, and speaks podcasts.

I struck up a friendship with Cliff at Michael Hyatt's SCORRE Conference and the rest, they say, is history. A quick invite to be on #ThinkDigital and Cliff gladly obliged to share with you the magic that is podcasting.

So sit back, listen up, and take notes. Cliff Ravenscraft is on the show today and he's ready to answer all your podcasting questions. Enjoy!

#016: Amy Porterfield + Facebook Wizardry

Wed, 20 Nov 2013 19:51:11 +0000

Amy Porterfield is the nicest person on the planet. She's also one of the sharpest.

I'm ashamed to admit this, but it took me 16 episodes of #ThinkDigital to interview a female. I'm not proud of this. I don't celebrate it. I should be flogged, mocked, feathered and tarred for my transgressions.

Having said that, Amy Porterfield made the wait entirely worth it. Amy is one of those internet marketing folks that give the rest of us a good name. She's articulate, bright, insightful, inquisitive, and, best of all... not sleazy.

So often, internet marketers are modern-day snake oil sales people. Not Amy. 100% legit.

That's why I'm amped for you to check out this interview with her. We talk Tony Robbins, Facebook effectiveness, and getting started as a digital entrepreneur.

#015: Everything You Wanted to Know About Google Plus

Tue, 05 Nov 2013 02:46:06 +0000

Google Plus is just a fad, right? It'll end up in the social network graveyard like Google Wave, right? Wrong-O, Buster.

If you're like most people, you haven't spent a whole lot of time looking into Google Plus. I know I didn't. It just seemed like another half-baked social network from the folks at Google, destined to fail.

Then I made a few changes to my Google Plus profile at the suggestion of Dustin Stout, today's guest and Google Plus evangelist. Those small tweaks led to massive amounts of search traffic showing up on my blog, all thanks to Google Plus.

I knew it wasn't "just another" social network when it started delivering results. That's why I asked Dustin to be on this episode of the podcast. Take a listen as we look at why you need to be on Google Plus, how it interacts with search engine rankings, and what will happen if you continue to ignore the platform.

#014: The 3 Must-Have Behaviors for Social Media Success

Tue, 15 Oct 2013 15:15:31 +0000

There are three essential behaviors you need to get right to be successful with social media. Do you know what they are?

You're familiar with the 80/20 rule, right? 20% of your efforts in any given area account for 80% of your overall results. The same principle holds true to social media.

It's not about using the right tools, the right timing, or the right social network. There is no magic bullet, so we need to stop acting like there is one.

There are basic building blocks to creating a successful social media strategy that anyone—anyone—can (and should) implement, regardless of their budget, time available for social media, or technical know-how.

In my experience, if these three behaviors are absent, failure is not far behind. It doesn't matter how much time, effort, or resources you put towards social media, these behaviors need to be present or, ultimately, it's a lost cause.

#013: Four Elements Every Social Network Needs to Survive

Wed, 18 Sep 2013 04:28:00 +0000

All the tweets you’re sending out, the fan page updates, the emails, the asks, the texts…how do you know if they’re doing what you want them to?

If the answer is “we don’t,” or “I’m not sure,” or even, “what strategy?”, don’t worry—that’s completely normal.

In my work with over 100 organizational leaders, I find many struggle with setting and sticking to a social media strategy.

At the end of the day, there’s only so much time left. Social media, as important as it is, tends to get shuffled down the priority totem pile. What’s often left is a lukewarm social strategy that generates ho-hum results.

However, there’s good news! I find the majority of social media pains can be eased by fixing these four common mistakes.

#012: Change Your Life by Building an Online Course (Lessons From the Field)

Tue, 03 Sep 2013 18:32:00 +0000

In this episode, I share the biggest takeaways from building an online course and prepping it to launch.

We're getting ready to launch Think Digital Academy in a few weeks, and I've learned a TON throughout the course of the process. I want to share my learnings with you, including:

The biggest reason YOU should be focused on building an online course...
The highs, lows, unexpected obstacles I've encountered...
Key insights from people who have helped me along the way…

Online courses provide an opporunity to create the ever-elusive recurring revenue. If it's done correctly, you can build a system and replicate it over and over for multiple online courses.

Take a peek behind the curtain and see how the Think Digital Academy is being built from the ground up. More importantly, you can use this information to build a course of your own.

It's going to be awesome—I think you're going to love today's show!

#011: Jeff Goins + Launching Big Projects Online

Mon, 19 Aug 2013 05:00:00 +0000

Have you ever wanted to launch something of significance online? Master online marketer, blogger, and author Jeff Goins is back by popular demand to walk us through the launch plan for his latest project.

Get real-world, practical advice from Jeff you can put into play immediately. Jeff also shares about how he works with a virtual team, his time at the World Domination Summit, and more.

#010: Michael Stelzner + Building an Audience & Launching Big

Tue, 30 Jul 2013 00:25:47 +0000

Michael Stelzner is my guest on this episode of THINKDIGITAL. Michael has built one of the largest social media news sites on the web, SocialMediaExaminer.com. He shares some of his most essential audience-building tips, along with how to launch a new project with maximum impact. Michael also talks candidly about one of his biggest launch failures, and what he would do differently the next time around. If you've ever wanted to launch something online—and launch BIG—this episode is a do-not-miss!

#009: The Crushing Demands of Content [YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED!]

Tue, 16 Jul 2013 06:00:00 +0000

I'm always amazed at how similar all of our struggles are when it comes to social media. We're all asking the same questions, which means the answers still need to be found!

In this episode we answer the most common social media questions from the #THINKDIGITAL community, including:

1. What are the best uses for Google+?

2. How do you discover your audience (and what do I do when you find them)?

3. How do you best set yourself up for social media success?

4. How do you balance the crushing demands of content production? How does one keep up?

Don't miss the burning questions YOU wanted answers for. Plus, I share a project we're building for the #THINKDIGITAL community and how you can get early access.

#008: Pat Flynn + Building an Online Business

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:43:38 +0000

Pat Flynn got his start after getting laid off his first gig out of college. Not exactly the splash he was hoping to make!

One of the things that surprised me most about Pat Flynn was hearing how he got his start. He didn't set out to start one of the top online business blogs on the planet. It was largely an accident.

I use that word lightly. If you spend more than five minutes with Pat or listen to his podcast, Smart Passive Income, you know very quickly he's categorically intentional. No doubt it's his intentionality that's carried him up the business podcast chart on iTunes, contributed to the massive success of his blog, and allowed him to create a lifestyle he controls (rather than the other way around).

In this episode, I ask Pat what his daily routine looks like, what he's most excited about next, and Pat gives an unexpected answer when I ask him what surprises him most about his success.

If you want to build a better online business, or just want to be a snappier online communicator, this episode of #THINKDIGITAL is a keeper!

Check out Pat at SmartPassiveIncome.com.

#007: Jeff Goins + Doing What You Love

Tue, 04 Jun 2013 00:47:16 +0000

Who doesn't want to wake up and do what they love everyday? Everyone, regardless of industry, wants to find fulfillment in their craft. Promise.

On this week's show, I sit down with author and blogger Jeff Goins and talk shop. Jeff reveals how he built his business to a point where he was able to quit his 9-to-5. He also gives some practical advice to those looking to do the same (and it's not what you think). Building a business online has never been easier.

Jeff gives a level-headed perspective as to how you can get started (and what to expect along the way).

If you've ever felt like there was something else you wanted to spend your days doing, you owe it to yourself to listen to this week's episode of #THINKDIGITAL.

#006: Gary Vaynerchuk + The True Nature of Social Media

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:20:00 +0000

Gary Vaynerchuk is a New York Times bestselling author, leads a profitable online media marketing agency, and is widely considered to be one of the leading voices in the social media field—and today he's on #THINKDIGITAL.

Join me as I talk with Gary about the social media trends he absolutely hates, how he balances the work/life tension, the true nature of social media, PLUS he unveils the method ANY business or organization can use to build a thriving online community.

Check out this candiid talk with Gary and be sure to pre-order "Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook" here: http://justinwise.net/jabjab

#005: The Generosity Principle + Content as Currency

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

What do you do when people can get your content anywhere? There's a great equalizer when it comes to subject matter expertise. It's called Google.com. If someone wants to know what you know, they can Google it.

What they can't look up on the web is how you treat them. How generous you are with them. How they feel when they walk away after doing business with you. In short, they can't get your generosity from a search engine.

I talk about some of my own experiments in being generous, along with some example from people who have impressed me throughout the years. This is a no-miss episode if you want to get a leg up on your competition!

If you're building a business, you exist to enhance the lives of your tribe members. It's your primary goal. Profitability is second. Confusing this order will be deadly in the digital days ahead!

#004: Five Legit Ways to Earn Income Online

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 00:01:00 +0000

If you've ever wondered how to earn income online in a non-scuzzy way, check out this episode. I outline five proven methods to bring in extra income without sacrificing your soul in the process.

#003: Six Email Mistakes You Might Be Making

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 18:49:00 +0000

We've all been there: writing email after email with little to no response. If you've felt the pain of an unrequited inbox, see if you're guilty of one (or all) of these six email marketing mistakes.

#003: Six Email Mistakes You Might Be Making

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:40:43 +0000

We've all been there: writing email after email with little to no response. If you've felt the pain of an unrequited inbox, see if you're guilty of one (or all) of these six email marketing mistakes.

#002: Building a Lifestyle Business with Stu McLaren

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:40:51 +0000

In this episode, I sit down with entrepreneur Stu McLaren and talk about what it means to start a lifestyle business. Learn how Stu got started and how he continues to build his online business, all from a sleepy little town in Canada.

#001: Introductions, the Communications Pyramid, and G. Love

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 21:37:10 +0000

In this episode, we'll get a lay of the land. I'll share what #THINKDIGITAL is all about. We'll also take a listener call about building your email subscription list and look at the organizational communications pyramid. Hooray!

#000: Four-Minute Preview

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 21:30:51 +0000

This is a preview of the first show. To sign-up for early access, please visit www.THINKDIGITAL.co.