Ditching Hourly Jonathan Stark

Long-time friend-of-the-show Kevin Freidberg joined me on Ditching Hourly to share how he helps freelancers and consultants create effective websites by starting with email conversations.
Kevin's Links:
https://marketyourselffirst.com/AI-Generated Info:
Summary
Kevin Friedberg shares his approach to helping freelancers and consultants create effective websites by starting with email conversations. He suggests that instead of focusing on building a website, which can be overwhelming and time-consuming, freelancers should start by writing emails that address the problems their clients are facing. These emails can serve as the foundation for a content solar system and can eventually be repurposed for a website. Kevin also shares his strategy for growing an email list using LinkedIn, where he sends personalized messages to potential subscribers. Overall, his approach emphasizes the importance of one-on-one conversations and providing value to potential clients.
Takeaways
- Instead of starting with a website, freelancers and consultants can begin by writing emails that address the problems their clients are facing.- These emails can serve as the foundation for a content solar system and can eventually be repurposed for a website.- LinkedIn can be a valuable platform for growing an email list by sending personalized messages to potential subscribers.- The key to success is providing value and engaging in one-on-one conversations with potential clients.
Sound Bites
"A website, it's not a one-on-one conversation. An email is.""You'll have this conversation with someone, and they go off... they like brain dump about the problems that they solve for their clients. And it's gold. It's great.""I'm obsessed with the very idea of a one-on-one conversation. I just don't understand how else to do it."Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Pain Points03:05 Starting with Email Conversations13:10 Using LinkedIn to Grow Your Email List25:31 Transitioning from Emails to Websites28:31 Conclusion and Next Steps

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Have you ever thought about starting a podcast but gave up because it seemed too hard?
I’ve got good news for you:
If you can run a Zoom call, you can host a podcast.
In my 5-Day Podcast Challenge, you will learn exactly what to do (and, more importantly, NOT do) to get your podcast off the ground in as little as five days.
Stop thinking and start doing. You could be inviting guests to your new show in less than two weeks.
ENROLL IN 5DPC NOW »
I hope to see (and hear) you there!

Residential architect Jason Comer joined me on Ditching Hourly to brainstorm how he might migrate from commodity labor to productized leverage with his expertise in home design. Even if you're not an architect, I think you'll find the discussion useful.
Jason’s Website:
https://www.jasoncomerarchitect.com/

----
Have you ever thought about starting a podcast but gave up because it seemed too hard?
I’ve got good news for you:
If you can run a Zoom call, you can host a podcast.
In my 5-Day Podcast Challenge, you will learn exactly what to do (and, more importantly, NOT do) to get your podcast off the ground in as little as five days.
Stop thinking and start doing. You could be inviting guests to your new show in less than two weeks.
ENROLL IN 5DPC NOW »
I hope to see (and hear) you there!

WP Engine founder Jason Cohen joined me on Ditching Hourly to talk about why AI is different from other big tech advancements. We also discussed why niching down in a single ideal customer profile will bring you 10x more customers than you expect and how a regular writing practice makes the world a better place (and maybe even builds a legacy).
Jason’s Links: 
A Smart BearAI is DifferentSelling to CarolWP EngineTwitter
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Have you ever thought about starting a podcast but gave up because it seemed too hard?
I’ve got good news for you:
If you can run a Zoom call, you can host a podcast.
In my 5-Day Podcast Challenge, you will learn exactly what to do (and, more importantly, NOT do) to get your podcast off the ground in as little as five days.
Stop thinking and start doing. You could be inviting guests to your new show in less than two weeks.
ENROLL IN 5DPC NOW »
I hope to see (and hear) you there!

Corey Quinn joined me on Ditching Hourly to discuss his excellent new book, “Anyone, Not Everyone.” In it, Corey shares insights on deep specialization, selecting a target vertical market, and using gifts like cookies to transform outbound marketing. 
Corey's Links:
Anyone, Not Everyone by Corey QuinnDeep Specialization podcast by Corey QuinnCorey's Website0:00 - Episode intro0:17 - About Corey Quinn and his background 1:30 - Corey's ideal client: agency founders doing $1-5M and looking to specialize3:07 - Benefits of specializing in a vertical market vs. skillset5:17 - How to define a vertical market7:19 - Detecting traction in a potential vertical to specialize in11:33 - Identifying a vertical market that's the right size (2,000-10,000 businesses)15:25 - How specializing enables you to speak your target market's language 17:35 - Creating a "point of view" to differentiate beyond just positioning22:33 - Shifting from founder-led sales through deep specialization 25:09 - Using gifting (like cookies) to transform outbound marketing30:42 - Creating an ongoing gifting campaign, not just a one-time gift32:21 - Reaching your target market in multiple channels beyond just gifting37:46 - The multi-million dollar cookie budget that drove Scorpion's growth41:17 - Adapting this approach for smaller shops through focus and consistency45:01 - Advice for soloists: specialize, do thought leadership, focus on dream clients48:54 - Consistently engaging with a target industry year after year to build trust50:34 - Where to find Corey's book and other free resources

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Have you ever thought about starting a podcast but gave up because it seemed too hard?
I’ve got good news for you:
If you can run a Zoom call, you can host a podcast.
In my 5-Day Podcast Challenge, you will learn exactly what to do (and, more importantly, NOT do) to get your podcast off the ground in as little as five days.
Stop thinking and start doing. You could be inviting guests to your new show in less than two weeks.
ENROLL IN 5DPC NOW »
I hope to see (and hear) you there!

Geraldine Carter and I swapped interviews about why niching down doesn't lead to boredom. 
Geraldine's Links:
Geraldine's websiteGeraldine's newsletterGeraldine's podcast
----
Have you ever thought about starting a podcast but gave up because it seemed too hard?
I’ve got good news for you:
If you can run a Zoom call, you can host a podcast.
In my 5-Day Podcast Challenge, you will learn exactly what to do (and, more importantly, NOT do) to get your podcast off the ground in as little as five days.
Stop thinking and start doing. You could be inviting guests to your new show in less than two weeks.
ENROLL IN 5DPC NOW »
I hope to see (and hear) you there!

Tim Dietrich and Eric Grubaugh invited me to join them on SuiteScript Stories to talk about the pros and cons of a platform specialization, the paradox of positioning, and, of course, the horrors of hourly billing.
Tim and Eric were kind enough to let me post the interview here on Ditching Hourly, but if you're a NetSuite developer, you should check out their podcast at https://suitescriptstories.com/ 
We discuss:
Jonathan's and Tim's shared history in the FileMaker Pro spaceJonathan's AHA moment when he realized hourly billing was killing his businessThe misaligned financial incentives created by hourly billingHow specializing in a narrower target market amplifies your opportunitiesThe various forms of specialization: Vertical, Horizontal, PlatformThe obstacles an agency faces when trying to specialize
----
Have you ever thought about starting a podcast but gave up because it seemed too hard?
I’ve got good news for you:
If you can run a Zoom call, you can host a podcast.
In my 5-Day Podcast Challenge, you will learn exactly what to do (and, more importantly, NOT do) to get your podcast off the ground in as little as five days.
Stop thinking and start doing. You could be inviting guests to your new show in less than two weeks.
ENROLL IN 5DPC NOW »
I hope to see (and hear) you there!