I wax poetic on a number of automation-based topics, like switching from Zapier to Make, how ChatGPT can help creators (and exposes a gaping hole in the education system), and rebranding the YouTube channel to focus on automation tools. In PRO, I'm thinking of switching off of Castos, and sales numbers from my latest launch.



Show Notes




Join How I Built It PRO



Make vs. Zapier: Why I Moved



ChatGPT is Exposing Our Broken Education System




The Automated Solopreneur | YouTube

Sponsored by: The Solo Creator Club | Groundhogg | LearnDash

(00:00) - Intro
(01:55) - Make vs. Zapier
(13:24) - Sponsors: LearnDash, Groundhogg, Solo Creator Club
(17:22) - Thoughts on ChatGPT/Generative AI
(28:40) - The Automated Solopreneur 
(32:02) - That's it!


  ★ Support this podcast ★

Switching From Zapier to Make, and A Potpourri of Automation

A few weeks ago, I wrote that I was Considering a Different Calendar App. After testing BusyCal, Cron, and Calendar 366, while also looking at several others, nothing comes close to Fantastical. Here's why.

  ★ Support this podcast ★

Am I A Calendar Power User (Why Fantastical is Great)

There’s nothing better than good gear and automation talk, and that’s exactly what we’re getting today. Cat Mulvahill is one of my favorite YouTube creators because she has shown me so many cool things about eCamm Live. But it turns out we’re both also huge Stream Deck nerds. So if you’ve been looking to get the most out of your Stream Deck (or need a compelling argument to buy one), today’s episode is for you.



Top Takeaways:




Cat uses her Stream Deck with eCamm Live to do transitions, lower thirds, and more during recording. Because of that, she barely has to edit her videos. It’s like storyboarding your whole video in advance!



She and I both use our Stream Decks for more than just streaming though. One of Cat’s cool actions in a multi-action that sets up her entire bookkeeping workspace. This cuts down considerably on the amount of time she spends on the actual accounting stuff.



When it comes to creating content, she picks topics that are interesting and solve a problem. That usually generates comments and questions, that in turn, leads to more content ideas!




Show Notes:




Cat Mulvihill



Cat on YouTube



Cat on Twitter



Cat on Linkedin



eCamm Live



Stream Deck




Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) 



Join the Creator Crew
Sponsored by: The Solo Creator Club | Groundhogg | LearnDash

  ★ Support this podcast ★

Making the Most of Your Stream Deck with Cat Mulvihill

RSS has been such an integral part of my life basically since Google Reader. And since Google Reader shut down, I have been on a bit of a quest to find a good replacement. I think Reader by Readwise is that Replacement.



This clip is brought to you TextExpander

  ★ Support this podcast ★

My new Favorite RSS/Read Later App (Reader by Readwise)

How do you grow a newsletter to 20,000 subscribers in less than a year? Try this ONE trick! Want to 5x your YouTube downloads? DO THIS! These are both titles I could have given this episode — and taking the advice of Jake Thomas, I should have! See, Jake studies YouTube titles to see what makes people click. And while he gives some away for free in his newsletter, he also has a whole searchable database that you can pay to get access to. So today, Jake tells us how he built his subscriber base up to 20,000 in a year, as well as the importance of good titles, not just on YouTube, but everywhere.



Top Takeaways:




Titles and thumbnails are super important because if they don’t get people to click, no one watches. So spend time on them — and use Jake’s tips!



You DO still need good content. Both Jake and I have been considering more quality over quantity lately. Instead of super timely stuff, make it evergreen, really good, and dial in the titles.



If you’re getting started, find your niche, and look at similar channels (and adjacent niches’ channels). See what’s working for them, and put your own spin on it.




Show Notes:




Jake Thomas



Jake on Twitter



Creator Hooks Newsletter



Film Booth



Cortex Podcast



Join the Creator Crew
Sponsored by: The Solo Creator Club | Groundhogg | LearnDash

  ★ Support this podcast ★

Why Titles on YouTube (or any Content) is so Important with Jake Thomas

I had a t-shirt in college that was my prized possession. It read: "There are 10 types of people in the world: those who understand binary, and those who don't." The joke being that 10 or “one zero” in binary is actually “2” in decimal.



I’m sure if I looked hard enough, I could find my college ID from freshman year, where that shirt is featured. The shirt is top-of-mind  because I saw a post on LinkedIn that made me think of it. It made me realize: There are two types of people in the world. Those who ask for answers, and those find them.

  ★ Support this podcast ★

Be the Experimenter

If you’ve ever heard me say, “I’m a recovering WordPress developer,” you’ve also heard me credit today’s guest, Kronda Adair. And while she started in WordPress, she quickly moved into one of my favorite areas of expertise: automation. Specifically, Kronda’s an email automation expert. And today, she’s going to tell us the RIGHT process for automation, how to test, and why your business depends on email automation.



Top Takeaways:




Automation is employing technology to improve your processes. You can vastly improve how you work, and your customer’s journey if you automate the right things.



To start, step away from the tools and focus on the process. Map what you need to do with pen and paper. Once you do that, you have a job description. And you need something to fulfill that job. That’s when you look for the tools.



Two things you need to do with automating email: do it manually first; this helps you make that job description. Next, go through the automation yourself. See what the subscriber will see. This may be their primary interaction with you — so make sure it’s good.



Intro: Getting into automation




Show Notes:




Kronda Adair



Kronda on Linkedin



Kronda on Facebook



Kronda on Instagram



Kronda on Twitter



Kronda on Tiktok



Automation Bridge



All Systems Go! Podcast



Email Marketing Heroes: Rob and Kennedy



CaboPress



Preventing the Famine with Jason Resnick



Jotform



Join the Creator Crew
Sponsored by: GoodGames | Groundhogg | LearnDash

  ★ Support this podcast ★

Why You’re Leaving Money on the Table with Email Automation with Kronda Adair

Last week I told you about the best way to create an only course...but what's the best way to sell it? I firmly believe tools like Teachable and Kajabi are overpriced. When looking at LMSs, I turn to WordPress. And these days, Sensei is doing the coolest stuff, as it attempts to retake the title of best WordPress LMS.



This clip is brought to you by Sensei - Automatic

  ★ Support this podcast ★

Use Sensei to sell your online course

There’s an old adage that more people are afraid of public speaking than of death, meaning that at a funeral, more people would rather be in the casket than giving the eulogy. I suspect that when push came to shove, most people would actually choose the eulogy, but that’s beside the point. Public speaking is hard. And truth be told, most people are bad at it…if you feel that way, don’t fret. Mike Pacchione is here to help. He’s coached people like James Clear, Amy Porterfield, and Donald Miller on public speaking, and today, he’s teaching us his best stuff.



Top Takeaways:




The greatest gift you can give your audience is to be completely present with them. That means don’t memorize! Know your stuff, practice your talk, and be with them in the room!



Most people say too much. Embrace silence and be concise. Silence lets a point land, and communicates to your audience, “hey. That was important. Remember it.”



The best speeches are not the ones you’ve given the most. Back to the first point, they are the ones where you’ve practiced and are present for the audience.




Show Notes:




Mike Pacchione



Mike on Instagram



Glo Atanmo



Join the Creator Crew
Sponsored by: GoodGames | Groundhogg | LearnDash

  ★ Support this podcast ★

Want to be a Better Speaker? Do THESE Things with Mike Pacchione

Too many people create online courses the wrong way. They go into a cave for 6 months, develop the course based only on what they want to teach, then announce it's for sale...to crickets. Sound familiar?



There's a better way! A way that will save you time, validate your idea, and make you money faster.



This clip is brought to you by Sensei - Automatic

  ★ Support this podcast ★

Selling an online course? DO THIS (presented by Sensei)

Marley Majcher, The Party Goddess turned Profit Goddess, was running a business but not making money — despite her degree from Georgetown. But she managed to turn it around with this “one weird trick.” OK — so that sounds clickbaity, but it’s true. See, Marley didn’t have a system in place for her business. She, like many creators I think, wasn’t spending her time wisely. So, she decided to do something about it: she decided to learn how she was spending her time, organize those tasks, and figure out the crucial ones that actually made money. And it all started with the one “Weird” trick: Time Tracking.



Top Takeaways:




Revenue goals are not profit goals - You can make $1M but if you’re spending $1.1M, you’re going in the wrong direction.



Most creators don’t think they need to time-track because they don’t do client work. But they are WRONG. You need to know if you’re spending 2 hours on a video or 8 hours on a video to know if that’s a profitable activity for you.



Aside from just understanding tasks, time tracking can hold you accountable. You’ll see where you’re wasting your time, and be more mindful of it. And your devices have some tools to help you do that automatically.




Show Notes:




Marley Majcher



Marley on Linkedin



Marley on Instagram



Marley on Facebook



Marley on Twitter



But Are You Making Any Money Ebook



The E-Myth Revisited Book



Mowing Your Lawn Blog Post



Analog by Ugmonk



Timery for Toggl



Timing Automatic MAC Time Tracker



Join the Creator Crew
Sponsored by: Groundhogg | Ahrefs | LearnDash

  ★ Support this podcast ★

You NEED to Time Track to Make Money as a Creator with Marley Majcher

Paid Memberships Pro is the lifeblood of my main product offering, The Podcast Liftoff Playbook. So in this first bit of 2023, I want to tell you everything I love about the plugin, and why I thought it best for my membership/learning site.



This clip is brought to you by Paid Memberships Pro

  ★ Support this podcast ★

How I’m Using Paid Memberships Pro

It's episode 300! I thought I'd wax poetic on the top 10 things I've learned from both running this show, and the guests I've had on. After that, I talk a little bit about what's in store for How I Built It, and where I'd like it to go in the future. Plus, in the PRO show, I talk about what life without Twitter has been like. 




Become a Pro



Top 10 Lessons




Build Your Email List



Talk to your customers



Experiment



Niche/Specialize/Focus



Don't be afraid to say no



People care about the problem you're solving. Not you, not the tech you used. The problem



Tell Good Stories



Do things that don't scale at first



Ship what you have and iterate



Don't be afraid to ask




Show Notes




ConvertKit



Podcast Liftoff



Learning Management and WordPress: LearnDash with Justin Ferriman



Making Better Leaders with Chris Lema



Designing the Profitable Project Plan with Jennifer Bourn



The Best Way to Build Community is Easier Than You Think with Drew Dillon



The Most Important Thing You Can Do as a Creator with Marie Poulin



Turning WordPress Sites into iPhone Apps with Scott Bolinger and AppPresser



Join How I Built It Pro
Sponsored by: Groundhogg | Ahrefs | LearnDash

  ★ Support this podcast ★

Top 10 Lessons from 300 Episodes (Plus the Future of this Show)

Most attempts to start a community these days feel a lot like the approach the Underpants Gnomes from South Park took in making money. Step 1: Launch a Discord, Step 2: ???, Step 3: Community! But it’s not like that at all. And Drew Dillon, founder of Burb and community expert, is here to set the record straight.



Top Takeaways:




You need to think of the community as a business. Create a reason for people to care and engage. And close the look by making sure the community isn’t just about you - it’s about people connecting.



Start with a hypothesis. Ask what you think your audience has in common and why they might want to come together. Then test and iterate. Start with a Zoom call first and see if people want to connect after.



Do things that don’t scale at first. With 10-20 members, you can really get to know them and understand their needs (and those of the community). Around 50, you’ll likely need to start automating.




Show Notes:




Drew Dillon



Drew on Twitter



Drew on Linkedin 



Burb on Linkedin



SPI 603: The Secret to Building the Best Community interview with Drew Dillon



How To Build a $1000/year Membership with Jay Clouse



Burb Blog



Garbage Day Newsletter



Join the Creator Crew
Sponsored by: Paid Memberships Pro | Ahrefs | LearnDash

  ★ Support this podcast ★

The Best Way to Build Community is Easier Than You Think with Drew Dillon

Molly Keyser made half-a-million dollars selling a 15-page, $59 eBook without spending money on ads. How do you ask? She created something SUPER valuable, that immediately made the buyer money. And throughout this episode, Molly is going to tell us how she went from professional photographer to online educator making digital products, all by knowing and serving her niche. There’s A LOT to unpack, and I know you’ll find a lot of actionable tips here.



Top Takeaways:




Clearly define your niche so you can serve them, and stay true to that niche. Remember: Just because you know how to do something doesn’t mean you should teach it.



For your digital products, you need to solve a problem for your audience. Painkillers sell better than vitamins most of the time. And bonus points if you can point to immediate ROI.



If you (or you from 2 years ago) aren’t your ideal client, immerse yourself in communities of your ideal clients so that you can learn their biggest pain points.




Show Notes:




Molly Keyser



Molly on YouTube



Molly on Facebook



Molly on Instagram



Molly on Tiktok



Product Ladder by Chris Lema



Join the Creator Crew
Sponsored by: Paid Memberships Pro | Ahrefs | LearnDash

  ★ Support this podcast ★

How to Create a KILLER Digital Product with Molly Keyser

We’ve been told for years that creating an “ideal customer avatar” is the best way to understand your audience. But the truth is that’s just guessing on your part. Do you know how you actually get to understand your customers? Have customers! Talk to them, and then write content for them. That’s what Will Shultz recommends. And as a Sales and Marketing coach, he knows a thing or two.



Top Takeaways:




You need someone in-house to make your content. That’s how you’ll create great content that shows a deep understanding of your customer and their journey.



If you’re having trouble coming up with content, take what you’re creating for a specific client and generalize it. That way, you’ve written for someone. Chances are there are similar folks out there.



Don’t worry about giving too much away for free. You differentiate yourself by becoming trusted and valued. You do that by showing people you deeply understand their problems.




Show Notes:




Will Shultz



Will on Linkedin



Free Virtual Consulting Sessions



Upgrade 438



Join the Creator Crew
Sponsored by: Paid Memberships Pro | Ahrefs | LearnDash

  ★ Support this podcast ★

How to Drive More Sales by Writing Content for REAL Customers with Will Shultz

I know what you’re thinking. Budgets? That’s what you’re going to base your entire year on.



I know this because that’s what my wife said. But fear not, my friends. Like Transformers™, it’s more than meets the eye.



Show Notes:




My 2023 Yearly Theme 



Cortex Podcast



Join the Creator Crew
Sponsored by: Paid Memberships Pro | Ahrefs | LearnDash

  ★ Support this podcast ★

The Year of Budgets

Earlier this year, Amazon announced the Kindle Scribe -- their competitor to the reMarkable 2. It's more affordable, they had an initial deal for Prime members, and a good trade-in price for my Kindle Oasis. SO the  $500 device got down to $238. I bought it. Here are my initial impressions. 



Show Notes




Kindle Scribe



 reMarkable 2




Read my initial thoughts 



Want to see a video demo? Join How I Built It Pro



  ★ Support this podcast ★

Kindle Scribe: Initial Thoughts

The show is on break, but that's not preventing me from adding a bonus episode or two! It's no secret I love automation, and invariably those automations spill out into my personal life. I view the holidays as a great opportunity to flex some home automation muscles. Here's what I did, what I use, and some improvements. 



In the PRO show, I get into the gory details, share my shortcuts, and talk about Matter and the future of home automation. 



Show Notes




Become a PRO member



Phillips Hue Color Bulbs



Phillips Hue Play Color Smart Lights



Phillips Hue Go



Phillips Hue Light Strips



Meros Smart Plugs



Meros Outdoor Smart Plug



Wemo Smart Plug


  ★ Support this podcast ★

Automating my Home for the Holidays

It’s the time of the year were small business owners and creators have some extra time to tinker with (or fully redesign) their websites. I’m here with Copywriter Ame Proietti to tell you to skip the new design and focus on the copy instead. We get into what makes good copy, blog posts vs. sales copy, and we finish out with how to write good scripts. As you prepare for 2023, good copy will be at the heart of what you do thanks to Ame’s advice. Plus, in the Pro show, we broke down the sales page Ame wrote for me.



Top Takeaways:




Where blog posts are meant to share and educate, copywriting is meant to convince people to take an action. Ame calls it “assembling” words and sections in the best way for your target audience



To get the best copy, you need to talk to customers. Ame recommends interviewing 3 customers and gathering testimonials to learn how you people and the language they use, which you can then mirror in your copy.



Bringing in someone else can help you get the best results. They are objective and don’t know what you know. They’ll also the right questions and allow you to gain a better understanding of your offer too.




Show Notes:




Ame Proietti



Ame on Twitter



Ame on Linkedin



How To Build a $1000/year Membership with Jay Clouse



Don't Make Me Think



Join Creator Crew
Sponsored by: Ahrefs | TextExpander | LearnDash

  ★ Support this podcast ★

How I Built It

How I Built It

Get Started

Download the App