James Schramko Podcast

There are the daily updates Google does unbeknownst to most of us, then there’s those that they announce. What’s the diff? [01:05]Gert runs through one of the latest updates and what it means for site owners. [02:32]How do we know a specific update will impact our site? And what do we do if it does? [05:39]Some sites have been doing well thanks to a user-friendly content layout. [08:12]You can check how you’re doing using the basics, or you can go beyond that. [09:32]James’s team gets told what to do - is everyone that fortunate? [11:37]The latest updates have impacted Gert’s app - here’s how. [13:41]What do you do if you’re ranking for something you’d rather not? [14:58]Gert works with a variety of businesses. Is there anyone he can’t help? [16:11]If you get wind of an update, here are some recommendations… [18:31]SEO still works, though Google would rather you do ads. [20:38]

When a founder has to let a COO go and step back into the role, what are the challenges? [02:07]This is how Lloyd helped his client in the wake of their COO’s departure. [06:13]Skills are just one aspect of hiring. Is a candidate also the right person for the role? [08:34]James has advice for the business owner torn over letting staff go. [10:31]When a founder has support in the process of dismissal and hiring, it can pay off in a big way. [12:47]If you’ve ever made the mistake of hiring the wrong person, here’s a tip to keep you from repeating it. [14:46]Are you hanging on to someone on your team who shouldn’t be there? [16:57]This is the big thing James wants you to take away. [19:18]

Some people advocate failing early and often. Here’s why you don’t have to. [02:03]A great success can lead to expecting another and over investing to get that result. [04:32]James recalls an instance when he was just too good at what he did. [09:12]There are circumstances where a partnership is not the best option, however good an idea it seems at the time. [12:46]Sometimes a bad experience can be the driver to achieve something good down the line. [17:51]A lack of early education in finances led to Charley living in constant fear of losing money. [21:43]When your money mindset focuses on lack, you could be missing out on a lot. [23:53]If there’s someone you don’t want to shortchange, it’s your team members. [29:39]Luckily, there’s a cure for a scarcity mindset. [30:51]Charley recalls when his emotion got the better of him, which skewed his decision-making. [32:54]The pandemic situation in some places was challenging, James admits, which is why he moved states. [35:29]

Accounting finance has been around for some time, but it’s not an easy business. What challenged Josh at the start of his growth? [01:40]One of the biggest hurdles in a service business is when people only want to deal with the CEO. [03:08]Here’s how Josh educates his clients to work with his team. [05:28]At what point does documentation become a real necessity in a business? [07:52]Too many companies offer zero training with promotions. At Mighty Digits, they have that well-covered. [09:46]Something Josh took for granted became an important subject of documentation in his company. [13:02]What is the possibility your employees will want to set up shop for themselves? [15:23]As a member of James’s community, Josh recalls some conversations that yielded great results for his business. [18:54]Is quality or quantity more important when it comes to content? [20:47]A lot of business owners don’t know what they really want to achieve, and James helps put them straight. [23:52]Hiring has been a hugely important part of scaling Josh’s company. Here are key tips for the listener. [28:44]

Before John’s company became Kleq, it was 10XPRO. Here’s the story behind that. [01:29]When you’re just releasing a brand new product, how important is the name? And what are the considerations? [03:26]A brand doesn’t last a while without some sort of evolution - what does this do to its name? [06:43]When a big telco edged in on James’s company name, this is how it played out… [08:39]What have been the results of James and John’s rebrandings? [10:09]Having been through the process of name change, John has some technical tips to share. [14:48]If you want to preserve SEO rankings and URLs, this is what you can do… [17:15]

The SCAMPER method can completely change the way you approach idea creation in your business.

James and Charley are not wealth advisors, so in this episode they direct you to the pros. [01:28]How can you benefit from a wealth-building team? Let’s count the ways… [02:52]If you’re still not convinced you need professional help, here’s the advantage in numbers. [07:55]Those tips you picked up at a barbecue? You may want to get better advice. [09:45]A good wealth professional protects you from these pitfalls… [12:31]So who exactly do you want on your team? [15:45]First thing’s first - you need someone to be keeping score. [17:24]A business needs an accountant, and they’re just as important in building wealth. [17:50]Getting a good financial planner is critical to your wealth-building. [19:24]This is how you pick financial professionals - and hint: it’s not their interview skills. [23:37]There’s a variety of ways a good broker comes in handy. [27:31]This professional’s fee may seem hefty, but the benefit far outweighs the cost. [30:35]If you have any plans at all to sell your business, you’ll need one of these. [36:28]Do your professionals work with other business owners? [39:21]They’re a team - you want them talking to each other. [41:47]

For those unfamiliar with Pat Flynn, here’s what you need to know… [01:06]Pat and James have a history together many people aren’t aware of. [02:22]How do you approach YouTube channel creation? It depends on who you want watching. [04:20]Like many things worth pursuing, you’ll get your best results on YouTube with a plan. [05:28]Pat does one simple thing that creates better connection with. His audience. [07:39]Venturing into YouTuber territory is not without its challenges. Here’s how Pat handled some of them. [08:33]Where do you want to be in the YouTube market? There are ways to find your place. [10:07]Do shorts belong with long-form content, or should the two be kept separate? [12:05]Good news: you don’t need a million subscribers to be a YouTube success. [14:39]The longer people watch, the more YouTube likes you. So how do you get viewers to stick around? [16:05]Numbers are important - these are the stats Pat suggests you keep tabs on… [25:55]The written words you use in and about your video have impact. [32:44]Sometimes just using different locations can up the engagement with your content. [36:29]

Mike Michalowicz has made a name for himself, and hasn’t needed any famous friends to get there. [00:42]Arrogance and ignorance can bring you down fast in business, as Mike knows firsthand. [03:40]Which of Mike’s books has done the best commercially? [06:52]How do you improve on an already great book? By rewriting 60 percent of it. [09:06]James and his team have a special relationship that spans a decade of working together. [12:12]Letting people take a month’s vacation a year can do great things for a company. [14:34]If you feel you’re doing too much in your business, Clockworks’s four Ds may be the answer. [17:27]You can have a hierarchy in your business, or you can have something far better… [22:53]

Many business owners would like to build wealth apart from their business. What’s holding a lot of them back? [01:50]Comfort isn’t where growth happens. What would it take to light a fire under you? [04:21]One way out of your comfortable mindset is to change the people you hang out with. [08:26]It could be time to change your idea of a lot of money. [10:28]What are the targets you’re setting your sights on? [12:29]Are you closing in on your goal? Are you off track? Here’s how to find out. [16:31]Before you hammer on leads and sales, ask if your business model supports it. [25:53]Get the data, make decisions, do what’s needed. [27:18]Sometimes changing your business model is the way to go. Of course, it’s not always easy… [29:56]Where you’re not doing great on your own, sometimes bringing someone else in makes a big difference. [35:10]You’ve got the process down - now do it again, and again. [41:02]