A long time ago, I realized just how powerful branding is. Sure, you and your clients can do it alone. But there’s a lot to be said about having an outside expert come alongside you and take it to the next level. On today’s episode, I have just such an expert here to tell you how to make branding stand out and bring you and your clients more business. Key Takeaways Proper branding will help your clients see that you offer so much more than what they’re initially looking for. It puts you in control and allows you to provide more value. Don’t just offer your services to clients. Become their guide to identifying and overcoming the issues that affect their business. About Justin Keller Justin Keller is first and foremost a dad. Justin founded Circlefifty, and he is the author of two business books: Human Always and Rebel Brands. Justin has also written one kid’s book, The Red Giraffe That Wanted To Dance. He uses his books, podcasts, business, and the life he lives to help brands and individuals fight for brilliance in everything they do. Justin’s methods have helped nonprofits and businesses alike, increase engagement, launch new momentum, and experience massive growth. Become the Expert Guide for Your Clients Throughout this episode, Justin explains how branding is about much more than just saying what you do. It’s about creating a perception around the problems that you solve. Communicating this instantly increases your value in a saturated market.  Remember that you’re in a service that exists to solve your clients’ issues. Justin wants you to think of yourself as more than just someone who completes tasks. You’re not just providing a commodity. Instead, become a guide who identifies issues and successfully overcomes them. Building Patience and Empathy to Help Others Succeed In both his personal and professional life, Justin prioritizes addressing the needs of other people. This doesn’t mean that you should neglect yourself. Rather, it means being patient enough to empathize with others and being able to respond.  This outlook allows you to build all sorts of genuine relationships. Justin finds that being there for others not only feeds your soul and improves your community, but it also provides the motivation to continue doing all sorts of good work with less struggle. How are you a guide for your clients instead of just a tripod? What do you do to build genuine relationships in your life and business? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: The power of branding to establish a clear message [11:00] How to be a guide, not a commodity [16:00] The most common branding mistake that small businesses make [26:25] The value of patience and doing good for others [35:00] Why you should always be your authentic self in your business [43:10] Quotes “The brand is the impression that you make. When you think about it like that, brand has probably never been more important than now.” [15:15] “Design does still matter. But ultimately what you’re paying for when you charge more is expertise. You’re paying for a guide.” [19:15] “We all exist first to make someone else’s life better and, in return, ours is made better.” [35:48] “You can’t underestimate the idea of having courage and believing in yourself. That determines what you charge, who you work with, and every aspect of what you build.” [56:03] Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Core Find Justin Keller online Follow Justin on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Get your free PDF of Rebel Brands: 10 New Rules For Building Brilliant Brands® Circlefifty One Day to Better Procrastinate on Purpose by Rory Vaden Originals by Adam Grant Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

Studio Sherpas

253: The Power of Branding to Win Clients and Build Authentic Relationships w/ Justin Keller

Have you ever fallen into the trap of taking any job that pays? While it’s healthy to try a bunch of different stuff to see what you enjoy, you also don’t want to spread yourself too thin. Today’s guest explains all these considerations and what he learned while building his video business. Key Takeaways Setting expirations for proposals and bids will push clients to act faster and allow you to get more work done in a shorter time frame. If you have a partnership between multiple people, make sure that one person is a majority owner. That way hard decisions will ultimately fall to just one person and impasses can be more easily avoided. About Guy Giaimo-McClung Guy has been filming since 2012 in one avenue or another. Today, he is the owner and operator of Skinikid Productions. From wedding videography to political and industrial work, he has experienced many different facets of the freelance world. He is currently working on the challenge of building a business while balancing the demands of family life and parenting. Being Clear with Clients From the Start In this episode, Guy and I discuss the importance of setting proper expectations for clients. In order to eliminate unnecessary work for both you and them, be clear on your process from the very beginning. For instance, communicating your revision process and timeline will ensure that you’re not working endlessly on a project. One way to do this is to set expiration dates for proposals. You don’t want clients sitting endlessly on a bid. Let them know from the start that they need to act by a certain date if they want the price you quoted. It also gives an extra incentive for them to work with you now rather than later. Considerations When Forming Partnerships Guy also explains the structure of his business, which is a partnership between him and one other person. These arrangements have a lot of benefits. But they can also be fraught with potential strife. I share my advice that one person should be the majority owner. That way, bickering, and standoffs can more easily be avoided when tough decisions arise. I also urge anyone entering into a partnership to prepare for its possible end. No matter how awesome working together may seem at the start, it’s best to have all eventualities covered. Having contingencies planned for and expectations set from the start will prevent possible complications and strife further down the road. What do you always communicate to clients to set proper expectations? Do you provide statements of work? How do they help you avoid issues with clients later on? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: Balancing work and family life while starting and building your business [6:00] Learning what type of work fulfills you the most [9:00] Our responsibility to communicate the process and set expectations for clients [11:50] Building partnerships as you grow your business [17:00] The importance of segmenting and having specific language around your niche [23:20] Doing extra freelancing work that you’re passionate about [28:30] Learning how to learn from your mistakes as your business grows [33:00] Quotes “It’s been super beneficial to narrow down the type of work that I like to do, and probably more importantly, the type of work that I don’t like to do.” [10:04] “If clients have a timeline that they’re trying to get this done by, we have this bit of time open for now. It’s not yours until you sign the contract.” [15:45] “In retrospect, I feel that I really would have appreciated if I’d made the effort and invested in myself and went out and figured out how to make it happen and learned on the business end what I didn’t know.” [33:45] Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Core Find Guy Giamo-McClung online Follow Guy on Twitter | Instagram | Facebook Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes! Related Episodes: Episode 250: The Biggest Takeaways from 5 Years of This Podcast

252: Why Setting Expectations is Essential to Your Business' Success w/ Guy Giaimo-McClung

As video makers, YouTube seems like a natural fit. You can use it to grow a channel and connect with an audience and clients. But many people struggle to do so. It’s just not as intuitive or straight-forwards as it might seem. Today’s guest is on a mission to help people like you and me find success on YouTube. Key Takeaways Creating a specialized channel on YouTube will present you as an expert in your field. This will attract the type of customer you want and allow you to charge a premium for your work. Value needs to be the main focus of your videos. Instead of making them advertisements for your business, make them about what value your viewers and clients will receive from you. About Scott Simson As a YouTube content creator with almost 400,000 followers and CEO of Video Marketing World, Scott is recognized as an expert at video marketing and creating online communities with video. His creative and viral style videos have racked up over 120 million views personally, and he is responsible for helping generate hundreds of millions of views and millions of dollars in revenue for his clients. Scott has worked with big brands, such as Amazon, HEB, Mattel, VTech, and many others. He has been featured in CBS Money Watch, San Francisco Chronicle, the New York Daily News, and the Boston Globe. Overcoming the Challenges of YouTube In this episode, Scott describes some of the biggest challenges that creators have when making content for YouTube. Too often, content creators find themselves stuck in a rut. They’ve been making great videos but nobody engages with them.  Fortunately, the solutions are often pretty simple if you know what to look for. Scott explains that your reach on YouTube can often be improved with better titles, formatting, and thumbnails. Using YouTube to Become an Expert in Your Field As a service-based video business, YouTube is a great tool for finding leads and promoting your work. YouTube helps you connect with an audience that’s interested in your offers. Once you’ve established a following, you’ll be able to charge a premium for your work based on the reputation you’ve built. Scott wants you to think about what you’re most passionate about. What topic, no matter how small, do you know a lot about. If you can go deep into a niche, you’ll attract more of the clients you want and have a topic cornered on YouTube. What niche could you be an expert on with your YouTube channel? What role does YouTube play in your business? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: How giving will end up paying you back in the end [5:00] Discovering that there is money to be made creating for YouTube [9:00] Simple fixes for when you’re just treading water with YouTube [18:10] The special role of YouTube for service-based video businesses [19:40] How to know if it’s time to start a YouTube channel [24:00] Why your channel should not be a portfolio of your work [27:10] What happens if YouTube disappears [30:40] The factors behind creating a viral video [35:40] Quotes “I realized, especially on YouTube, that I can give away my most valuable content and people still want to pay to work with me.” [6:50] “YouTube is a search engine and your content is evergreen. So people can find your stuff forever and you can continue to get leads to your business forever.” [24:41] “Pick a very specific niche. Focus on that. Grow your business on that and then go broad as that niche becomes populated with people.” [27:55] “If you’re going to start creating content for yourself, start today because there’s always a tomorrow and you’ll end up pushing it off. But the people who succeed are the ones who start right now and don’t stop until they make it.” [42:45]   Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Core Find Scott Simson online Follow Scott of Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Video Marketing World Conference 2021 Giftology by John Ruhlin The Go-Giver by Bob Burg & John David Mann The Slow Mo Guys Harmon Brothers Chamber Media Sandwich Video Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes! Related Episodes: Episode 119: Why Using YouTube is the Best Way to Grow Your Business with Kelsey Brannan Episode 153: The Importance of the 5 Laws of Stratospheric Success with Bob Burg

251: How YouTube Will Grow Your Business and Make You an Expert in Your Niche w/ Scott Simson

Holy cow! This is episode 250 of the Grow Your Video Business podcast. Five years ago, my buddy Matt and I started this show to help video makers succeed as business owners. It’s been an amazing journey. For today’s special episode, I want to share the three biggest takeaways I’ve learned from hosting five years of this podcast. Key Takeaways Your core values are what give your business direction. They’re how you structure your company and must be at the center of how you build your team. Having systems and structures in place for your business will allow you to stay on mission when the unexpected occurs. Why You and Your Business Need Core Values Identifying what you want to drive your business is critical. At my studio, knowing our core values has given me clarity on who I want on my team and what we are ultimately striving for.  Your core values should be at the center of how you build your team. When you begin hiring and firing according to our core values, it will find its way into your company culture. It will influence how you interact with clients and complete projects. It will make your job easier by giving you something to measure success against. Have a Vision and the Structure to Put it into Action Having core values is just the start. Part of success is being focused and clear on what you want as a business. Build a plan around that clarity that includes the accountability to get you there. But if you’re the business’ visionary, you’ll likely have more ideas than can be practically put into action. I describe the EOS model and how it provides a framework for applying your business’ ideas in practical and productive ways. Becoming the Master of Your Time One thing I’ve noticed since starting my business is that time moves quickly. The longer I’ve been a business owner, the more time I’ve wanted to free up for myself. I want more time with my family and to pursue the things I love.  To this end, I’ve done my best to make myself redundant at work. I want my business to run efficiently without me. That’s why we’ve created packages and automated systems that allow me to step away from a lot of the responsibility of day-to-day operations. What have you learned by listening to this podcast? How do your core values impact your company? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: How this podcast and Studio Sherpas got their start [2:00] The importance of having core values [13:20] Having the structures in place to implement your vision [24:00] The importance of time management to create more freedom for yourself [29:00] Quotes “This has transformed my life and business. I’ve been able to interview people - to sit at the feet of so many incredibly smart and talented people.” [10:39] “Nail down some core values that you would be able to say are requirements for working here. Hire and fire by these core values.” [23:47] “You don’t have to be the bottleneck in your business. There are other ways to build a business. Granted, you might be the most amazing, creative director that there is. That’s awesome. And you can build on that and not always be the one on call.” [32:05] “I’m getting more used to this idea of delegating and hiring other people to do what they are an expert at. That is allowing me to stay in my zone of genius.” [40:47] Links: Core The E-Myth The Ideal Team Player by Patrick Lencioni Traction by Gino Wickman Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

250: The Biggest Takeaways from Five Years of this Podcast

Once you get into marketing, there are countless things you can do. As entrepreneurs, this gives us many opportunities to try different strategies and apply them. But strategy without vision won’t get you anywhere. Today’s guest describes how staying focused on what’s most important will lead to more business. Key Takeaways The secret to getting repeat clients is to follow up with them after the project. Get in touch a month after you’re done. There’s likely something else you can do for them. About Ryan Snaadt Ryan is a videographer, marketing strategist, and owner/operator of Snaadt Media Group. Snaadt (it rhymes with odd) discovered his interest in video during his sophomore year of college while shooting weight lifting videos or his YouTube channel. Since 2015, Ryan has had the pleasure of working with a variety of clients ranging from national brands including Schutt Sports and Primo Chalk to social media influencers, taking him across the country creating content. He truly loves the process of learning new areas of video and connecting passionate people with their target audience. In addition to shooting, Ryan also consults and speaks on topics surrounding online marketing and using video to grow brands. Apart from creating videos, he also teaches other videographers how to build businesses of their own via his YouTube channel, Facebook Group, and online course, Solo Video Pro. Winning Strategies to Get Repeat Clients Throughout this episode, Ryan shares some of his most successful sales strategies. His favorite method doesn’t even happen until the initial project is over. Ryan always follows up with a client several weeks after delivering the project. Many times, this reminds the client that there is more work they’d like him to do for them. We want our videos to help clients find success. With that in mind, ask them at the start what success looks like to them. Then you can work backward from that goal. If you help them get success on one video, they’ll be that much more eager to work with you again. Your Filming Process as Marketing Potential clients are often interested in your process as much as they are in your product. Ryan uses this to his advantage by creating behind-the-scenes videos of his shoots. In fact, both of us have seen social media posts of our processes garner lots of attention. This helps clients better connect with you when they consider you for their project. Clarity is the Key to Progress More than anything, Ryan credits having clarity to leading to sustained success. You need to know what it is you want out of your business. For some, it may be the opportunity to shoot videos all day. For others, it could be connecting with different brands. Whatever the case, knowing what you want from your work will give you something to work towards and a measurement for your success. So, imagine what your perfect job would look like. Be specific. If you can become clear on that, you can move towards it. You’ll be more motivated because you can easily see your progress. What does your perfect job look like? How is that vision a motivator for you? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: What it means to be in charge of marketing strategy [7:45] The number 1 way to secure repeat business from a client [11:25] How to use behind-the-scenes footage for marketing [19:10] What happens when your vision and goals are clear to you [22:20] Resources to help achieve financial clarity [32:00] Quotes “I want to put recurring revenue in your business for having marketing clients that pay on an ongoing basis. We have people who help with their marketing so they don’t have to hire on a whole internal team.” [8:16] “It’s proactively solving problems and the money just comes that way. And it’s not even sales at that point; it’s just helping people out with your skillset.” [15:00] “If you want to go full-time as a freelancer, that’s cool. Just have a really clear reason why.” [40:41] Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Core Find Ryan Snaadt online Follow Ryan on Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | YouTube Solo Video Pro Facebook Group Hacks Meaning Over Money Dave Ramsey High Performance Habits by Brendon Burchard Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

249: How to Get Repeat Business From Your Favorite Clients w/ Ryan Snaadt

Every business is about making relationships. This is true when building your teams or landing clients. We might be tempted to be someone we’re not when working with other people. Today’s guest would urge us not to do this. Instead, being your genuine self is the key to having the best team and finding your ideal clients. Key Takeaways Building the right team takes time and patience. Put the effort in to get to know each other and how to support one another. This creates bonds that go deeper than simple work relationships. About Juan Ortiz Born and raised in Trenton, NJ, Juan is a self-taught filmmaker. He started his company Redd Pen Media in 2011. Juan is passionate about motivating and helping others find their purpose. His company was founded with a mission to give back and connect people through storytelling. Business is About Giving Back Juan wants to do more than simply make videos. He wants to empower others with them. His company works with all sorts of clients, from major brands to small businesses. With small businesses, in particular, Juan enjoys being part of their growing process. He discusses how helping them succeed not only leaves you with good feelings but will help your own business grow as well. For Juan, just earning money is an empty pursuit. There’s only so much that money can get you. For him, and I believe for many of us, video has a larger purpose. It draws people together. It shows us our common humanity through storytelling. There’s no price that you can put on that. Building Your Best Team Juan credits much of his success with the team he’s built. More than just a gathering of filmmakers, Juan’s team is a close-knit group that really knows and understands one another. It’s not just about making videos. It’s also about helping each other succeed in all aspects of life.  When this level of camaraderie is achieved, people go above and beyond for each other. You’ll find people who are genuinely eager to help out. Juan never needs to scramble to find help. Instead, his community is right there when he calls. How can you build strong bonds with your team and with clients? How do you reach out and connect with others? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: The value that comes with connecting and sharing information [5:30] Fostering relationships with other small businesses [9:20] Building a team that’s centered on character and shared values [15:35] How being genuine and transparent creates bonds and fuels growth [31:30] Making relationships that lead to landing big clients [36:25] Resources to help you grow your business [46:20] Quotes “It’s been a big life-changing thing for me to get the mindset of scarcity out of my system and just try to help as many people as possible because when you take care of people, people take care of you.” [6:20] “There’s just something you can’t put a price on with helping people grow and winning together.” [15:05] “When you’re in a position to help other people, that’s a big part of our purpose to being here on Earth.” [33:54] “Success, to me, is when preparedness meets opportunity. If you’re prepared for the opportunity, you can’t lose.” [36:49] “You can be as creative as you want and do the things that you want to do  as long as you do it with the right intentions.” [49:47] Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Get access to the FREE Client Budget Workshop Core Find Juan Ortiz online Follow Juan on Facebook | Instagram Switch by Chip Heath and Dan Heath How to Win Friends and Influence People By Dale Carnegie Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Fix This Next by Mike Michalowicz QBQ! The Question Behind the Question by John G. Miller Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes! Related Episodes: Episode 125: What it Truly Means to Be Profitable with Mike Michalowicz  

248: Why Being Authentic Leads to Winning Connections w/ Juan Ortiz

Every business is about making relationships. This is true when building your teams or landing clients. We might be tempted to be someone we’re not when working with other people. Today’s guest would urge us not to do this. Instead, being your genuine self is the key to having the best team and finding your ideal clients. About Juan Ortiz Born and raised in Trenton, NJ, Juan is a self-taught filmmaker. He started his company Redd Pen Media in 2011. Juan is passionate about motivating and helping others find their purpose. His company was founded with a mission to give back and connect people through storytelling. Business is About Giving Back Juan wants to do more than simply make videos. He wants to empower others with them. His company works with all sorts of clients, from major brands to small businesses. With small businesses, in particular, Juan enjoys being part of their growing process. He discusses how helping them succeed not only leaves you with good feelings but will help your own business grow as well. For Juan, just earning money is an empty pursuit. There’s only so much that money can get you. For him, and I believe for many of us, video has a larger purpose. It draws people together. It shows us our common humanity through storytelling. There’s no price that you can put on that. Building Your Best Team Juan credits much of his success with the team he’s built. More than just a gathering of filmmakers, Juan’s team is a close-knit group that really knows and understands one another. It’s not just about making videos. It’s also about helping each other succeed in all aspects of life.  When this level of camaraderie is achieved, people go above and beyond for each other. You’ll find people who are genuinely eager to help out. Juan never needs to scramble to find help. Instead, his community is right there when he calls. How can you build strong bonds with your team and with clients? How do you reach out and connect with others? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: The value that comes with connecting and sharing information [5:30] Fostering relationships with other small businesses [9:20] Building a team that’s centered on character and shared values [15:35] How being genuine and transparent creates bonds and fuels growth [31:30] Making relationships that lead to landing big clients [36:25] Resources to help you grow your business [46:20] Quotes “It’s been a big life-changing thing for me to get the mindset of scarcity out of my system and just try to help as many people as possible because when you take care of people, people take care of you.” [6:20] “There’s just something you can’t put a price on with helping people grow and winning together.” [15:05] “When you’re in a position to help other people, that’s a big part of our purpose to being here on Earth.” [33:54] “Success, to me, is when preparedness meets opportunity. If you’re prepared for the opportunity, you can’t lose.” [36:49] “You can be as creative as you want and do the things that you want to do  as long as you do it with the right intentions.” [49:47] Links: Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Get access to the FREE Client Budget Workshop Core Find Juan Ortiz online Follow Juan on Facebook | Instagram Switch by Chip Heath and Dan Heath How to Win Friends and Influence People By Dale Carnegie Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink and Leif Babin Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Fix This Next by Mike Michalowicz QBQ! The Question Behind the Question by John G. Miller Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes! Related Episodes: Episode 125: What it Truly Means to Be Profitable with Mike Michalowicz  

YouTube is huge and a bit overwhelming. Many videomakers wonder if it’s even worth getting into. But if approached the right way, it can be a huge boon for your business. If you want ideas on how to use YouTube to win clients and grow your influence, then this episode is for you. Key Takeaways The most important part of your YouTube strategy is knowing your target audience. These are your ideal clients. Once you identify what they want and how you fill that need, you’re ready to move forward. YouTube is a great platform for generating leads. But it shouldn’t be your only one. Get to know potential clients through as many different channels and methods as you can. About Tim Schmoyer Since 2011, Tim Schmoyer has been one of the leading YouTube strategists in the online video industry. His company, Video Creators, has been featured by FOX, Forbes, BBC even YouTube themselves as his team trains creators and brands to master YouTube and use it as a place to spread messages that change lives. Their clients have grown organically by over 18 billion views and 81 million subscribers under their guidance. Today he lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with his wife and seven children. Get to Know Your Audience and Put Them First Tim explains how any growth strategy on YouTube begins with the viewer. Before you do anything else, identify your target audience. You need to know what they want and what their story is. Then you can figure out the value that you’ll provide for them. Each video you make must deliver that value. You might be excited about your equipment or your filming process. However, your clients probably aren’t. They’re concerned with how the video makes them feel. When you know your ideal client, you can focus on making them feel good about their business and getting results for their clients. That’s what will keep them coming back to you. Understanding Your Ideal Client There’s a lot to consider when coming up with your content strategy. Tim recommends starting by honing in on what your ideal clients ultimately want. So do some research. Talk with your clients and identify their needs, wants, and pain points. Get familiar with the language that they use when describing their perfect video. You’ll want to use the same language when you describe the problem you solve for them. How can you connect with clients to learn their stories? Have you used YouTube to generate leads? Tell me about it in the comments on the episode page! In This Episode: Managing the work-life balance when growing both your business and family [6:10] How Tim became a YouTube expert [12:40] The importance of understanding your clients [24:20] Why you’re not really in the business of selling videos [33:10] Resources to help keep your business current with the changing times [36:00] How to start your channel when you need more clients [43:10] Quotes “Remember, each view represents an actual person who’s giving one of our clients an opportunity to speak into their life.” [19:49] “Starting with the person is where any content strategy should start. Who am I going after, what do they want, and how can I serve them?” [32:08] “Your customer most likely is not buying a video from you. What they’re actually buying is a communication tool that’s going to help them or their customers feel something.” [34:36] “I want to tell good stories, but I want to live a good story. Living a good story means venturing into the unknown, saying yes to the inciting incident, and facing obstacles, and overcome the challenges in order to have a lived experience that most people will only dream of.” [41:31] “This isn’t about making fancy videos. It’s about making an asset that can reach people and change their lives.” [57:40] Links: Join the Onward Summit! Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group Core Group Find Tim Schmoyer online Follow Tim on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Grow Your Channel with Tim The E-Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber Every Good Endeavor by Timothy Keller The Pumpkin Plan by Mike Michalowitz Primalbranding by Patrick Hanlon Profit First by Mike Michalowitz Ready, Fire, Aim by Michael Masterson A Million Miles in A Thousand Years by Donald Miller Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller Thou Shall Prosper by Rabbi Daniel Lapin The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufman Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes! Related Episodes: Episode 119: Why YouTube is the Best Way to Grow Your Business Episode 121: How to Create a YouTube Channel That Will Enhance Your Business  

247: How to Best Use YouTube to Generate Leads w/ Tim Schmoyer

You want to make videos. Yet, to be a video business, you need to manage a lot of other aspects, particularly taxes. I know you didn’t get into this work because of the taxes. So why are you pulling out your hair over it? Today’s guest on this special Facebook Live recording explains how to make sense of it all. Key Takeaways Generally speaking, an employee is someone who works for you long-term whereas contractors tend to be temporary. You have more control over how employees do their work than you do with contractors. About Jeremy Doorn As a ten-year-plus employee of Core Wealth Management, Jeremy Doorn helps small businesses do a better job of tax planning. In addition to firm administration, he handles business advisory services and business succession planning for his clients. The Subtle and Not So Subtle Distinctions Between W-2s and 1099s Jeremy explains why it’s crucial to classify people who work for you correctly. Understanding the difference between a contractor and an employee is essential. If you get caught misclassifying them, it will come back to bite you.  While there are subtle differences, generally speaking, an employee is someone who works for you on a permanent basis doing a variety of tasks. A contractor is someone who is hired on to do a specific, often temporary, job. Jeremy describes what to consider when classifying these people so that you don’t end up paying hefty penalties that could threaten your business. Just Do the Right Thing Jeremy stresses that it’s always best to just do the right thing. Don’t misclassify the people who work for you just to save some money. Not only is this dishonest, but it could land you in a whole heap of trouble.  When things look fishy to the IRS, an audit will likely follow. Although the risk on an audit is generally low, the risk just isn’t worth it. Jeremy repeatedly emphasizes that trying to save a little money now, could end up being very expensive in the end. Have you had trouble classifying people who work for you? Do you prefer to work with employees or contractors? Why? Leave a comment on the episode page! In This Episode: Why it will save you money to pay for a tax expert [4:00] The most important differences between 1099 contractors and W-2 employees [9:15] How and why to transition from a contractor to an employee [17:20] Why people and businesses get audited [25:20] Calculating payroll costs for productions that can be billed to clients [33:20] Quotes “It’s really about getting close with your taxes. I don’t want you to be super overpaid or super underpaid because both are costing you money.” [6:55] “If the person who you’re hiring is controlling what they do, how they’re doing it, the level of their work, they’re probably a contractor. If you’re controlling it - their hours, where, how, when they work, giving them tools to work with - then they’re probably employees.” [12:42] “There’s not a whole lot of risk, but if you do get caught, you’re going to get penalized and it’s going to hurt.” [28:19] Links: Join the Onward Summit! Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group The Budget Maximizer 2.0 Core Group Follow Core on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes! Related Episodes: Episode 203: The Importance of Proper Bookkeeping to Save Your Business Episode 236: How to Become an Authority within Your Niche Episode 245: The Importance of Knowing Your Numbers to Protect Your Business

246: How to Tell Contractors and Employees Apart and Why it Matters w/ Jeremy Doorn

I hate the topic of this episode. Just the mention of taxes and numbers sends shivers down my spine. But just because I wish I could ignore the issue doesn’t mean it isn’t important. If you’re serious about your business, you need to be taking these things seriously too. Fortunately, today’s guest is here to make the numbers less intimidating for small business owners like you and me.   Key Takeaways The essentials for all business owners boil down to being able to track income and expenses and having the proper legal protections in place. The two most important insurances to have for your business are general liability insurance and errors and omissions insurance. Having a contract between you and clients will set proper expectations and show that you’re a true professional in your field. About Braden Drake Braden is a California licensed attorney and tax professional. His tagline is your gay best friend here to help you get your legal and tax sh*t legit. Braden works primarily with service-based, creative small business owners through his courses where he educates on contracts, business entities, cash flow, systems, and taxes.   Knowing Your Numbers Braden starts off by explaining what many business-owners get wrong. To run efficiently, we need to be implementing the right tracking systems. When you accurately know your income and expenses, not only will you be better at tax time, but you’ll be better informed to make strategic business decisions. While it’s often best to get professional help, there are certain steps that you can take on your own. Braden talks about how to go about forming an LLC, doing your own bookkeeping, and even how to file some of your taxes.   Protecting Your Business with Insurance and Contracts Life is unpredictable and so is business. Braden talks about important types of insurance to have to protect yourself and your livelihood. General liability insurance and errors and omissions insurance will protect you and your business from many mishaps. With all the many possibilities out there, Braden urges all of us to find an insurance agent who really understands your industry. Contracts are another thing to pay attention to. Although many of us make deals with just a handshake, putting the important parts in writing is in everyone’s best interest. A well-written contract sets expectations and can protect you if things go awry. What do you dread most at tax time? Has insurance saved you from an expensive mistake? Tell me about it in the comments on the episode page!   In This Episode: Why your numbers matter for more than just taxes [4:50] The most important insurance considerations [11:00] What every contract needs to include [14:50] How a contract will improve your reputation [23:38] Setting expectations for pro bono projects [25:25] How to move forward in your business when you’re feeling stuck [28:10] Quotes “You never want to get hate mail from the IRS. So if that’s not incentive enough to be on top of your numbers, then I don’t know what will be.” [4:44] “The idea of insurance is that we hope that we never need it. A lot of people say that they don’t want to pay for it because they hope to never use it. Well, we hope they won’t have to, but if they do, they’ll be really happy they have it.” [14:37] “If I, as a client, am hiring you and I’m ready to pay you money and you don’t send me a contract, I’m going to be questioning your professionalism.” [25:00] “If you’re feeling stuck and challenged, first of all, you got to strip it back and ask yourself why you’re feeling stuck and what’s challenging you.”  [29:00]   Links: Sign up for the Onward Summit! Join the Grow Your Video Business Facebook Group The Studio Sherpas Store Core Find Braden Drake online Follow Braden on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Unf*ck Your Biz Podcast  Find Braden Drake online Follow Braden on Twitter | Facebook | Instagram Unf*ck Your Biz Podcast  Unf*ck Your Biz by Braden Drake   Additional Links: Check out the full show notes page Do you have something to share on this podcast? Fill out this form here. Be sure to take the Grow Your Video Business survey for a chance to win some incredible prizes (if we do say so ourselves!) Stay up to date with everything we're doing at Grow Your Video Business Tune in to our weekly Facebook Lives Follow Studio Sherpas on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram If you haven't already, we'd love it if you would take 1 minute to leave us a review on iTunes!

245: The Importance of Knowing Your Numbers to Protect Your Business w/ Braden Drake

Grow your video business by increasing your profits and keeping your sanity all without losing your creativity! Learn how to create a system – how to become a sherpa. Be inspired by filmmakers and creative professionals (aka sherpas). Start elevating your video business to the next level. Learn more at https://studiosherpas.com/

hubhopper

Studio Sherpas

hubhopper