Written By Robert Thibodeau

In order to succeed in business, you need clients.

In order to succeed in podcasting, you need listeners.

If you use your podcast to further your business, you need a way to turn those listeners into clients! (That is pretty obvious, right?)!

In order to accomplish this, you need a lead magnet.

A lead magnet is simply a landing page that generates interest in what you are offering a potential listener to take some action. The action we are talking about here is for a person to be willing to share their name and email address with you in exchange for information.

You have probably heard the phrase, “The money is in the list.” Believe me when I say, it’s true!

It is been proven that email marketing yields an average of 4000%+ return on investment (ROI) for businesses in the USA! That means for every $1 spend in promoting email marketing, a business would generate $4000 in revenue. (DISCLAIMER: Those are averages! Some businesses earn MORE and many will earn LESS)!

But, in order to sell you products or services, you need to move listeners to take action to join your email list. You do that, you need to convince them it is in their best interests to do so.

One way is for you to make them an offer that moves them to visit your website. Usually, this will involve free information or resources that could be valuable to the other person. You cannot straight sell a visitor to your website! You need to convince them of your value to them, FIRST!

Less than 5% of the people who initially visit your website are ready to buy at that moment in time. Instead of focusing only on the 5% who are ready with credit card in hand, focus also on the 95% who are looking around and checking you out!

The 5% will buy.

But if you can establish a relationship with the other 95% that benefits them, some of those will also come back and become buyers as well.

That is what a lead magnet will do for you!

Just make sure your lead magnet will fulfill these 5 things:

1. Make one specific promise that fixes one specific problems for one specific type of person.
2. Gives the prospective client sufficient information of how this will work for them.
3. Ensure the offer is perceived as “high value” in the eyes of the prospect.
4. It provides almost instant gratification for the person who will sign up to receive it.
5. Contains clear instructions on “What to do next.” (i.e. “Receive your report here.”).

When you design your lead magnet with those five parts in mind, you will begin to see your email list start to grow on a continuous basis.

About the Writer

Robert Thibodeau has been in online media since 2010. Between his online radio programs and his podcasts, he has accumulated about 4,000 episodes and conducted 600+ interviews in that time. He has helped many people to launch their own podcasts (many of which have earned numerous podcasting awards). He has a complete podcast training program, taking you from “Concept to Launch and Into Monetization.” You can read more information on his training program at http://www.podcast-training.com You can also download his Podcast Creation Checklist for FREE under the Services tab on his website. He has also created a Christian podcast hosting and marketing platform at https://faithcasters.net

How new ventures fail while others succeed is not a matter of fate or luck, but it is caused by the very things that can be controlled. Some entrepreneurs have managed to lead several successful ventures while others failed at the first step. You may have a brilliant idea, but that does not guarantee success. Success is not based on big ideas only but how the concepts are executed. If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, avoid these factors that can make your venture brutal.

1. Lack of focus

Any venture minus focus equals failure. Entrepreneurs focus is the steering wheel that directs your goals and objectives. The focus will help you adjust with the dynamics of business and overcome the challenges that come along with entrepreneurship.

2. Improper planning

Most of the new startups fail due to inadequate preparation. Before venturing in any business, you need to plan your venture very well, or else you end up regretting. Draw your short term goals and grid them on your long-term objectives. The fact is that every strong structure is made out of a plan. Visualize on where you want to go and how to reach there. The rule is simple,” failing to plan planning to fail”.

3. Wrong location

Location is a contributing factor when it comes to your ventures market. Locating your business in the wrong place will reduce customer accessibility. For instance, if you venture in a trade involving fast-moving products, you must locate it in a busy area. The right location also reduces costs associated with long-distance travelled by customers to access your products.

4. Wrong partnerships

As much as entrepreneurship requires teamwork, wrong partners may be a source of failure. As an entrepreneur, scrutinize your circle and cut any link that is discouraging, and inhibiting progress. Toxic partners will only mess you up and reduce your brilliant ideas to nothing.

5. Financial mix-up

Entrepreneurship requires well-managed cash flows. Don’t forget that cash flow and profits are two different things that should not be compromised. The season why beginners fail is because they just get excited by the inflow of cash without negative cash flows awareness. Make sure your business records a positive cash flow or else you will soon become bankrupt.

Formulating an idea is not good enough to make you succeed in entrepreneurship. Technology is changing everything on the face of the earth. Customers’ needs are getting are sophisticated every day as technology advances. Marketing is the catalyst that facilitates product awareness. However, every entrepreneur must know that customers have got tastes and preferences. With every new venture made in the business world, there is a risk of customers switching to unique choices. To get hold of your customers, you need to catch up with the dynamics of technology. Here are four reasons why your business may be losing customers

1. Boredom

Customers get bored with the same product throughout the year. Modifying your product will rejuvenate your customer’s desires. Take advantage of digital marketing to break the boredom. Don’t be a boring master; make your customers miss your service by creating a deep relationship with every customer. Know that customers are not people but personalities. What might excite one customer may bore the other one. Personalize the relationship to fit each customer’s satisfaction.

2. Declining product quality

No customer will sacrifice quality products for loyalty. Despite winning your customers. You need to retain them by upgrading the quality of your products subsequently. Every new venture is trying to win customers, and this presents a risk of customers switching behavior.

3. Lack of differentiation

Customers will always go for unique products in the market. If you sell similar products with your competitors, then you risk losing the market. A distinction is a strategy that is unchallenged in the entrepreneurship field. Product differentiation will mark you different from your competitors.

4. Customer conflict

“Customer is always right” This slogan has stared up the war between entrepreneurs and customers. As an entrepreneur, you must consider how you treat your customers.  After all, customers gave got alternative sources, and they won’t stick where they are unsatisfied. However, this slogan can mislead you. Some customers are just toxic and want to make your venture a social amenity. Critical thinking will help clear the misunderstandings and create a mutual relationship.

A positive lifestyle is all about optimistic thoughts and taking constructive actions. It means to focus on solutions but not on troubles. The power of positivity can earn you extra miles in life. Positive people live a healthy and happy life since they concentrate on what they want and how to achieve it.

Positivity is more than smiling and showing an unbeatable outlook. It goes far to encompass long-lasting life skills. Staying positive in the current corrupted world may seem impossible. The biggest question is how to stay happy and positive in this world full of troubles, challenges, and misfortunes. The solution to this question is that, you have to concentrate on what satisfies your life.

1. Count your achievements

Rather than regretting how many times you have failed, think of how much you have achieved. You will find thousands of reasons to be happy. Results are life motivating factors that keep us growing.

2. Visualize positively

Your mind is the processor of everything you do. As a man thinks, so he is. It is true to say that what you create in your mind is what you can achieve. Always think big and create heroic personality within you. Create your glory and let things flow the way you plan them. Forget the failure, losses, suffering, and take a positive meditation.

3. Live in the present

One of the drawbacks of a positive lifestyle is dwelling in the past. Let go of yesterday for it will never come back. Take each day the way it dawns and hopes for better tomorrow. The fact remains that we can never change the past, but you can use the present to better the future.

4. Accept what you cannot change

The reason as t why people don’t progress s because of trying to change the world into their conformity. Just the same way we don’t resemble each other our status doesn’t match. Live in your capability and leave the rest of the world alone.

5. Drive your life

You are the director of your life, and no one should alter your life. Plan your life, actualize your vision, and stick to your decisions. Make your happiness your priority.

Most entrepreneurs lead a positive lifestyle not because they earn much, but because they find joy in what they do. Regrets happen as a result of trying to justify perfection in doing things. It is not the case with entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurs put attitude in their work and learn from their mistakes. There is no room for complains in the entrepreneurship field since every mistake is a teacher for perfection. If you aspire to be an entrepreneur, then you must develop an unbeatable attitude and make it a lifestyle.

1. Creativity

Creativity enables entrepreneurs to see opportunities where ordinary people see troubles and distress. This attribute allows entrepreneurs to take high risks but profitable ventures.

2. Determination

An inner force drives entrepreneurs. They see defeat as an n opportunity and not a failure. Entrepreneurs are determined to achieve their goals, no matter what comes their way. I f you are willing to venture into entrepreneurship when you must try, try and try and never think of quitting.

3. Extraordinary Passion 

Entrepreneur’s number one characteristic is that they love what they do. That is why there is no one size business in entrepreneurship. Everyone specializes in what they love doing. They make their job a lifestyle. You may wonder why entrepreneurs put extra energy in their work, yet no one is monitoring them. The fact is that they take their job like ordinary life.

4. Discipline

Entrepreneurship is a personal pursuit, and no one is there to monitor what you do. Therefore you need you to be disciplined.  A self-appraisal will help you stick to your goals and objectives.

5. Self-motivation

When you are self-motivated, you push yourself to achieve your goals and objectives. No one is answerable for your failure apart from you. Even if you don’t receive immediate payback, you need to keep moving.

6. Flexibility

Entrepreneurship is not a static business approach. You need to be flexible enough to take move with the dynamics of technology in every field. You also need a flexible mind for complex problem-solving.

7. Take full responsibility

As an entrepreneur, you don’t need to entertain excuses or shift blames when thing turn another way. Take full responsibility for everything you do. County it on you both success and losses.

Entrepreneurship is a journey. Every day presents an opportunity to learn and to create new ideas. The life of an entrepreneur is craziest. For example; working at weird hours and having fun at work. But what gives entrepreneurs the energy? This question is just answered by the definition of an entrepreneur that is a risk-taker. Quitting is not the means to end problems, but the means to create problems. With that being said, checkout our list of the five drivers of success in entrepreneurship

1. Open mind

Entrepreneurs’ number one driver is an open mind. Therefore, an entrepreneur should be ready to embrace new ideas, to accept the dynamics of technology, and to take his customers views positively.

2. Value your work.

The aim of entrepreneurship is not prioritized on profit-making, but rather on satisfaction. Delivering the best to the customers creates loyalty and long-lasting customer relationship. If you wish to be a great entrepreneur, don’t dwell on becoming rich. Richness automatically comes when you have the right spirit of doing things.

3. Think beyond today

Entrepreneurship is a journey and not a destination. Think beyond what it is today by initiating new ideas. Technology is driving the field of entrepreneurship. Communication technology is developing at a crazy speed. The world is now a small village where information takes seconds to go round the world. Make new techniques for doing things. No one is limited to live in the past or present. You can stretch out and reach far beyond today.

4. Embrace results rather than reasons

What matters for an entrepreneur is delivery. The joy is an entrepreneur should be in the results. No excuse for failure in the entrepreneurship world. Dwelling on reasons will only tell you why you are a failure and should quit. Reasons demoralize and give thousands of excuses as to why you should not take any risk. 

5. Challenge yourself

Entrepreneurship is a personal pursuit, and no one is going to mind your business. Until you challenge yourself, you will always think you have made it. Try new difficult things more so the ones people fear to try. Let your slogan be, “I need a bigger challenge.”

Marketing is more than just advertising your products. Market competitiveness can be hectic if you don’t have a strategy to win and retain customers. Technology has become a critical component of marketing. Customers in the current markets want a more personalized awareness. If you’re going to win customers, you need to use marketing strategies that create brand awareness and better customer interaction. Keep reading for the seven techniques to help your business grow

1. Artificial Intelligence.

Artificial Intelligence is a driving force in developing marketing technology. You don’t need to do cumbersome tasks as long as you know about Artificial Intelligence. Blueshift revealed in his study that 55% of marketers use Artificial Intelligence in their products brand awareness. Using artificial intelligence can significantly improve customer service through personalization.

2. Video presentations

Technology advancement has made it possible for marketers to present their products in person without traveling. Platforms like YouTube, Face book, Instagram, Netflix, and Amazon prime video has made this possible. It is now a one tap, and you get all you want about a particular product.

3. Smart speakers

In the current era, these devices have become more available and affordable with the advancement in technology. Now marketers can reach their target customers with much ease in a personalized form.

4. Forbes Agency council

Forbes Agency refers to an invitation program for use in advertising agencies, public relations, and media strategy.

5. Integrated marketing programs

Integration of online advertising with social and mobile advertising can make a significant move in the market growth. An integrated marketing program will eliminate redundancies and improve the efficiency of marketing techniques.

6. Chatbots

One way of bringing your customers closer is by use of chatbots. They create a platform where customers can directly chat with marketers. Customers can ask questions and get answers immediately without the use of natural persons. Amazingly, you can integrate chatbots in your business website to be greeting visitors when they access the site.

7. Voice search

With the advancement in communication technology, voice searches have made it easy to order products by use of a verbal command. Voice search is easier and faster than traditional management.