The $100 MBA Show

If you’re cutting costs this year, you’re not alone. One of the easiest ways to boost profits is to cut down on overhead. But lowering expenses can cost your business in ways you might not realize — especially when it comes to ditching providers and suppliers in favor of cheaper options.Whether it’s digital providers (of things like CRM software), or suppliers of physical materials, breaking up is hard to do. So should you?Today, we discuss how to calculate whether severing a B2B relationship is the right move. With examples from our own business, we’ll explain why we stayed when we stayed, and why we left when we left. If you’re considering a provider switch, give this episode a listen. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Where are your (potential) customers?More importantly, how do you get their email addresses?Today, we’re talking top of the funnel. We’ve got 3 creative ways to find your audience, and get them to opt into the conversation. You probably haven’t tried these (or all of them, anyway), but they work — if executed properly.Give them a try!Consumers guard their inbox more fiercely than ever. Earning the right to email someone is getting harder. For your business to succeed, you’ll have to make sharing an email address a very, very easy decision. Today, we’ll show you how. Start building that list, so you can start building relationships. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Swag is fun. But is it effective?What’s the real power of t-shirts, mugs, stickers, and all the rest? What’s a reasonable ROI, and how do you even measure it? We’ve given away lots of branded gear over the years. Was it worth it?At least one listener wants to know. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re discussing how to produce and distribute swag as a marketing strategy. Our listener has an up-and-coming company that’s producing enough revenue to up the marketing budget. Should they spend it on…stuff?Tune in, and learn how we get the most out of our swag budget, how we know it works, and what we even mean when we say it “works.” Click Play!TeespringTo submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How good can 2020 be?Crazy question, right? But it’s one you should be asking. This sh*tshow of a year has derailed businesses and shattered motivation around the world. But entrepreneurs thrive on challenge — even if it’s just the challenge to survive. So how can you get the most out of this wacky year?Today, we’ve got some answers.There are a few pieces you can put in place now, so you can look back on 2020 with no regrets. See the opportunity in crisis, and attack your goals for the year — even if the ‘rona or another crisis upended business as usual. We’re halfway through the year. You got this! Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How much revenue are you leaving on the table?Rob Ristagno knows data. From baseball to balance sheets, he specializes in figuring out what the numbers are saying — and what they’re hiding. Today, he’s here to teach us a simple exercise to get the most out of the data we already have.Best of all? This method works for any size business.You don’t need years of analytics experience, like Rob has. You simply have to look at the data you have from another angle, with a simple technique that’s as easy as it is surprising.Play a little “Moneyball” with your business. Use the information you have to get the results you want. Tune in, and see what opportunities are waiting for you, hidden inside the data you’re not (yet) using to its fullest potential.Click Play!Sterling WoodEmail Sterling WoodsSUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There’s no way around meetings. But they don’t have to suck.Today, we’re sharing our best tips for ensuring that your team’s meetings are tight, efficient, and not a boring slog. Most importantly, these 4 “Must Do’s” guarantee that your meetings aren’t the worst possible thing: a waste of time.It just takes a little planning.These are the tactics we use for each and every one of our meetings, because every second our team spends in meetings is time they’re not developing, writing, supporting, creating. The best part? The meeting itself and its planning aren’t all on you — it’s a team effort, too, from setting the agenda to evaluating just how productive each meeting really is.Get more out of your employees, by showing them how much you respect their time and work. Click Play!EasyCourseSUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

If business isn’t doing any good…what’s the point? We’re interrupting our regular podcast stream to bring you something special. It’s the first episode of Real Good, a new podcast about people using the power of their business to make a better world.  Seriously. These stories aren’t about PR or charity.  They’re about businesses and leaders who found ways to invest in the people, places, and ideas that fall through the cracks of our social and economic systems — investments that yield returns for everyone. As COVID-19 revealed disparities based on wealth, race, and other systemic factors, some companies stepped up to turn disadvantage into opportunity, finding their niche in serving the underserved in a way that demonstrates the “real good” business can promote.  This episode features an interview with Maurice Jones, CEO of LISC (Local Initiative Support Corporation). Jones tells the story of his company’s efforts to invest in communities, and their devotion to creating more equal access to the resources that make success possible, like broadband Internet.  Tune in, and be inspired by those who make it their business to help build something better than what we’ve got. Click Play!  SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS Stitcher | SoundCloud | Podcast Feed | How To Subscribe Give us a Rating & Review Show Links Real Good podcast The post [Bonus Episode] Introducing: Real Good appeared first on The $100 MBA. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

They say success is mostly perspiration, with a little inspiration.But what about motivation?Keeping spirits high is a team leader’s responsibility. The best way to do that? Breed success with success by regularly celebrating wins. By making a point of basking in small victories every week, you keep the motivation going. Feeling the little wins paves the way for the big wins.Today, we’ll discuss why and how we take the time to acknowledge the small-to-medium-sized successes that add up to long-term progress. With just a few minutes each week, you can feed the fire that keeps your team positive and on point.Tune in, and learn just how powerful the impact can be over time. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Solo no mo’. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener who’s finally making enough revenue to double the size of their one-person team. The only problem? This soon-to-be-former solopreneur isn’t sure what position to fill.What’s the priority? Your first hire is a big investment (and commitment). It’s crucial to find someone that doesn’t just do a job, but maximizes the ROI of their salary —  and frees you up to do more. So who can get the most off your plate? A marketer? Salesperson? Developer?We know what our answer is.Hear who we think a small business owner should hire first, in almost every case. There’s one position that — regardless of industry — usually has the biggest impact on an entrepreneur’s ability to keep the company growing. Find out who it is, for our money anyway. Click Play!onlinejobs.phWe Work RemotelyTo submit your questions, visit 100mba.net/q.SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We dare you.Seriously, we want you to do this. Raise your prices, even if it’s just a little. Do it this month, and you’ll learn something very powerful. You’ll learn that you can charge more than you think — without pissing off your customers.And there’s one way to prove it.A few factors keep small business’ prices artificially low. Mostly, it’s fear. Fear that your product isn’t worth that much, or that customers will be scared off. Sometimes, it’s just complacency — you’ve been charging the same amount forever.But if you’re not growing, you’re dying.You may be shocked at how undramatic a price hike can be. We’re asking listeners to make a modest increase in price, then tell us about it in an iTunes review. We’ll give your business a shout-out, and show everyone why raising prices isn’t just a good idea — it’s a must.Remember: a modest increase doesn’t make a big difference to any individual consumer. But it can make a huge difference in your total revenue. Hear the details of the challenge, and get ready for some black ink. Click Play!SUBSCRIBEYouTube | Apple Podcast | Spotify | Podcast Feed Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.