INspired INsider Podcast

Today we have Laura Roeder, Founder of MeetEdgar.com, which is a social media automation tool designed to prevent updates from going to waste. Basically you don't have to keep feeding in posts because it recycles them for you! Since Edgar's launch they have grown to 16 employees and have more than $2.8 million in annual recurring revenue AND they've bootstrapped the entire way. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: [0:47] Jeremy's welcome and introduction to this episode with guest Laura Roeder, founder of MeetEdgar.com. [1:25] Some of Laura's favorite business books. [2:35] Laura's journey and what she wanted to be when she was growing up. [3:43] What did you learn from your parents early on? [5:00] Balancing parenthood with running a business. [5:46] Why Laura decided not to wait, but to go ahead and start the business while she was pregnant. [7:36] How do you create boundaries to make sure you have balance with family time? [9:05] What was your first hire for Meet Edgar? [12:06] Laura discusses her key hires through the growth process. [15:46] Laura's journey from her design job into entrepreneur. [21:41] What you keep and what you leave out when building a course. [26:37] How did Meet Edgar come from the process you teach in Creating Fame? [28:25] Launching Meet Edgar. [32:24] What are the toughest parts about running the business? [34:01] What was in the initial version of Meet Edgar that you decided not to include? [36:40] Some things in the pipeline and new products they've launched. [38:47] The decision to go with a "Get Your Invitation" button on the website. [40:55] Pricing options and the decisions behind those options. [43:28] How do you respond to common questions you get from people considering other software? [45:30] Some advantages and disadvantages of starting a business with family. [46:38] One of the lowest points and how you got through it. [50:20] What has been the proudest moment? [51:25] Keeping a positive work culture with a team that works remotely. [52:48] Some of Laura's mentors. [54:18] How to connect with Laura. [54:37] The time-saving benefits of using Meet Edgar. In this episode… When it comes to success stories, Laura Roeder stands out from the crowd. Her belief in the power of Meet Edgar before it launched is inspiring, and it's clear she knew it was something that needed to be accessible to the public. Laura shares everything from her decision to launch while pregnant to the highs and lows along the way in this enlightening chat with Jeremy. As a child, Laura was inspired by her entrepreneurial parents. After spending time in a design job, Laura realized she needed to branch out on her own - so she decided to follow in her parents' footsteps. With several businesses under her belt, including Creating Fame and LKR Social Media, it's obvious Laura knows how to be a successful entrepreneur. She talks about the evolution of her businesses and the inspiration behind Meet Edgar. Laura goes on to discuss some of the challenges of running a software business and how they overcome obstacles as they arise. She also talks about the process of building the team and some of the tactics that maintain a positive work environment with a remote team. Laura gives insight into how the team stays connected, including a daily video chat to maintain a strong team environment. In closing, Laura shares some of the highs and lows of the evolution of Edgar. She shares insight into what it's like to start a business with her husband, as well as how they maintain balance as a family. Laura discusses some of her top business books and a few mentors that have helped her along the way. The journey of Meet Edgar to a 7-figure SaaS is paved with determination, teamwork, and a desire to create the best product on the market. Resources Mentioned on this episode Edgar On Air www.MeetEdgar.com Creating Fame LKR Social Media Laura's Favorite Business Books: Scaling Up Double Double Decisive Debt The Customer-Funded Business Connect with Laura on Twitter

Today we have Travis Romine, Founder of Sharp Commerce. His company is a group of ecommerce ninjas helping with customer engagement, retention and advanced marketing. He took sales from $100/day to $15,000+/day over 10-year period at Paradise Fibers that he cofounded, which grew to one of the top performing businesses in the needle-craft industry. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: [0:45] Jeremy's introduction of Travis Romine, founder of Sharp Commerce. [1:24] Advantages and disadvantages of various ecommerce platforms. [5:23] What level would someone have to be at for you to tell them to try Magento? [7:00] Other ecommerce platforms to consider. [9:11] The main differences between BigCommerce and Volusion. [11:05] Why would you recommend BigCommerce over Volusion? [12:38] Travis discusses Shopify. [17:45] At what level would it be a no brainer to choose Magento? [19:36] Travis compares the major ecommece platforms, discussing the pros and cons of each. [22:30] What is it about Magento that makes it a worthwhile investment? [24:04] The role of reporting in ecommerce platforms. [28:19] Comparison shopping engines and other tips. [31:01] How to connect with Travis. In this episode… With over a decade of experience in the ecommerce industry, it's clear Travis is a guru. He's the go to guy for insight into the business, tips on selecting the right platform, and so much more. In this chat with Jeremy, Travis offers insight into the top ecommerce platforms, including how to choose the right one for your budget. When it's time to select an ecommerce platform and you aren't sure which way to go, there's no better guy to ask than Travis. As an innovator in the field, Travis has a comprehensive understanding of the pros and cons of each platform, including (perhaps most importantly) which one is best for your budget. He shares tips on his top 3 platforms - Magento, BigCommerce, and Volusion - including what's great and not so great about each one. Travis starts with an in-depth analysis of Magento, including why it's not the right choice for fledgling businesses with a smaller budget. He also shares insight into some of the things that make Magento stand out from other ecommerce platforms in terms of ease of use, functionality, and versatility. Travis goes on to share the main issue with Magento: an absence of scalability. The solution? Take a look at BigCommerce and Volusion. When comparing BigCommerce and Volusion, it's clear that some of the things that make Magento great are missing. But what's also clear is that these are 2 great options for smaller businesses without a monster budget. Travis discusses the pros and cons of each platform, in order to simplify the selection process for companies in search of the right platform. Travis closes by offering tips on reporting, search, and other essential functions - including how each platform performs. Resources Mentioned on this episode Sharp Commerce Magento BigCommerce Volusion

Heath Squier is the master food formulator and CEO of Julian Bakery, which is a company that develops and sells "transitional" Paleo foods Products include Paleo and Primal Products like Paleo Protein Bars®. Paleo Wraps, Paleo Cereal, Paleo Chocolate and more! they are grain-free, gluten free, GMO-Free. Heath learned the benefits of using vitamins and whole foods from his mother, Barbara who is a certified nutritionist who founded the original Julian Bakery in the 1990. By combining his background running tech companies with his parents' brick-and-mortar business, Heath has grown Julian Bakery into a worldwide brand. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: [0:45] Jeremy's introduction of Heath Squier of Julian Bakery. [1:35] Fun facts about Heath. [2:47] An overview of the supplements Heath takes daily. [5:40] Some of Julian Bakery's best sellers. [7:32] The evolution of the Julian Bakery protein bars. [10:27] The most popular bar and how they develop various flavors. [13:38] What's the best method to get the bars out to the masses? [14:45] The first foods carried by whole foods. [16:05] Creating kid-friendly products. [16:50] Some advantages and disadvantages of being in Whole Foods. [19:36] Some online strategies to sell products and what's worked for Julian Bakery. [21:16] How do you stand out in a very saturated market? [21:57] Some milestones for Julian Bakery. [24:17] Heath discusses the Julian Bakery social media strategy. [27:51] Some mistakes he sees people making in eCommerce. [31:33] How Heath's family approached nutrition while he was growing up. [39:53] Some of the biggest challenges of the business growing really fast. [42:21] Some of the milestones they hit after Heath took over in 2009. [45:56] Heath discusses some Paleo experts he follows. [48:30] Another big milestone Julian Bakery hit after Heath took over. [50:41] A few of the roadblocks they've hit along the way. [55:07] The value of delegating and the impact it makes. [56:08] Software recommendations for ecommerce. [1:04:58] The proudest moment for Heath. [1:06:42] The goals of the company. In this episode… A focus on nutrition has been a part of Heath's life for as long as he can remember. Heath's mother, Barbara, is a certified nutritionist and the original founder of Julian Bakery. He carried on the tradition by taking over the company after his mother's retirement and focused on growing the business into a worldwide brand. Today. Julian Bakery products can be found in large and small health food stores around the world. Heath discusses the process of taking over the company and how he's managed to grow the business so much in such a short time. He talks about the influences of his background in tech companies combined with his parents' brick and mortar approach, and how that truly allowed Julian Bakery to flourish. Heath offers insight into his own daily regimen of supplements and the role nutrition plays in maintaining optimum health. He believes in practicing what he preaches and setting an example for everyone around him, especially his young daughter. Heath talks about the influence his daughter has had on the creation of kid-friendly products, including pancakes and kid's protein bars, and why it's important to give them health food that's disguised as "junk food" to keep kids happy and healthy. Heath goes on to share the growth of the company from being in 20 stores to 40 stores to being a global brand, and the importance of the partnership they have with Whole Foods. He also talks about the value of having solid online strategies in place to grow an ecommerce brand and why you need to constantly work to refine your strategy. In closing, Heath shares the highs and lows of the growth of Julian Bakery, some lessons he's learned along the way, and some advice that can help other ecommerce businesses grow. He also talks about his proudest moment: seeing his daughter enjoy the products and knowing she's eating healthy. Resources Mentioned on this episode http://www.julianbakery.com/ The Paleo Diet Mark's Daily Apple Paleo, Inc.

Jordan Gal is founder of CartHook. Their software recovers lost revenue by contacting people who don't finish the checkout process. He previously ran a successful ecommerce business that was acquired. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: [0:43] Jeremy's introduction of Jordan Gal, founder of CartHook. [1:08] What are some of the best things ecommerce business owners should take action on right now? In this episode… For any business owner, finding ways to grow and connect with the target market are the keys to success. Jordan Gal is no stranger to growing an ecommerce business into a resounding success, so much so his last business was acquired. In this short chat with Jeremy, Jordan shares some tips and strategies to help you connect with areas of opportunity in order to grow your ecommerce business. He offers insight into how you can analyze all areas of your business to identify what's working, what's not, and how to improve. Jordan discusses the value of "doing a sweep" of your business. He talks about what areas to look at, what to look for, and some tactical steps to take to make improvements. From optimizing your shopping cart page to analyzing various channels, it's clear Jordan understand how to help you connect with your market in order to make a bigger impact. Resources Mentioned on this episode CartHook

Matt Miller is Founder of School Spirit Vending. The combined efforts of his business and his franchisees, allowed them to sell over 5 million stickers last year alone while helping schools raise funds. School Spirit Vending has accumulated over $12 Million in sales over the past few years. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: [0:39] Jeremy's welcome and introduction to this episode with guest Matt Miller, founder of School Spirit Vending. [0:01:10] Did you ever think you'd sell over $12M in stickers? [0:01:39] What were you thinking when you first started this? [0:02:50] Can you share something that was really tough at the time that you can laugh about now? [0:04:45] How do you handle tough situations like that with your family? [0:06:41] The transition from job to entrepreneur. [0:08:30] When did you transition full-time into being an entrepreneur? [0:09:25] What made things change around 2008-09? [0:10:35] Matt shares his sales pitch. [0:11:29] Some obstacles you face when you try to get vending machines into restaurants. [0:13:16] Matt discusses his decision to enter the Air Force and the experience of being in the military. [0:20:02] Matt talks about some of the campaigns he saw that worked during his time in the industry. [0:27:53] The decision to get into vending machines and the success Matt had right away. [0:32:06] The next major milestone with vending machines. [0:39:16] The benefits to schools of having one of your machines. [0:39:53] The transition into franchising. [0:42:58] Structuring the franchise model. [0:46:16] One mistake you train franchisees to avoid. [0:55:55] Matt's favorite success story with franchisees. [1:00:15] The low point for Matt in his journey. [1:02:41] The proudest moment for Matt. [1:05:35] How to connect with Matt. [1:07:11] Matt's comic book company. In this episode… Accumulating over $12M in sticker sales is no small feat - and it wasn't always easy. Matt discusses his road to success and the many obstacles he faced along the way, including going from "hero" to "zero" in his career and having major financial issues as a result. Through his focus on survival, Matt discovered the vending business. Things were tough, and Matt worked hard to turn things around for himself and his family. He shares how he managed to beat the odds and build a hugely successful business. Matt shares his low point, which came after suffering a career setback that caused him to lose a huge chunk of his annual income. He discusses with great honesty what it was like to be in such dire straits with a family to support and why he chose to be totally honest with his children about their situation. Matt also shares the lowest point - being forced to buy York Peppermint Patties instead of birthday cake, because that was all they could afford. To this day, Matt and his family have Peppermint Patties on birthdays as a reminder of how far they've come. Matt discusses his experience in the military and the decision to leave the Air Force to give corporate America a shot. He talks about some of the frustrations of his corporate job and what eventually pushed him in the direction of entrepreneurship. Matt shares insight into the 7-year grind of transitioning from his corporate job into being a full time entrepreneur. As they close out their chat, Jeremy and Matt talk about some of the things that have inspired him along the way and how he's managed to transform his business from 1 used gumball machine in a restaurant to a flourishing million-dollar business. He also discusses the decision to franchise and what it's like to see the success of his franchisees. Matt closes with his proudest moment: being able to pay cash for his kids' college tuition. That's the stuff a success story is made of. Resources Mentioned on this episode www.SSVBusiness.com www.SchoolSpiritVending.com Free eBook - Live Your Dreams: Top 10 Reasons You Need to Start a Vending Machine Business Marlin and Percy Comic Book

Kenny Kane has been coding since the age 13 and began his career as a pharmacy technician at the age of 15. Kenny is COO and Cofounder of StupidCancer.org where he oversees eCommerce, content curation,and much more. He has also helped develop corporate relationships such as Siemens, General Motors, Seattle Genetics and many more. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: [0:41] Jeremy's introduction of Kenny Kane, co-founder of StupidCancer.org [1:10] What best tips do you have to help people increase their eCommerce business. [3:07] What has been one of your proudest moments in your eCommerce journey? [4:02] Winning Non-Profiteer of the Year. In this episode… Working in the nonprofit space isn't for everyone. It comes with its own set of unique challenges, but it also can be tremendously rewarding. Kenny shares some of the ups and downs of the business, offering valuable insight into how he managed to grow the Stupid Cancer eCommerce business so effectively. Kenny gives his top tips for fellow eCommerce professionals - offering tactical ideas that can truly transform your business. His main tip? Find the intersection of minimum orders and profit. Kenny also discusses the value of finding ways to improve efficiency by automating wherever possible. Jeremy asks about the proudest moments of Kenny's experience with Stupid Cancer. Kenny gives insight into the pride he feels in seeing people posting pictures of their shirts and the difference it makes in their lives. He talks about how rewarding it is to be a part of helping them come to terms with their cancer diagnosis. In closing, Kenny discusses what it was like to be named Nonprofiteer of the year by the NYC chapter of the Young Nonprofit Professionals Network. He also talks about his role in YNPN today and why he's passionate about the work they do. Resources Mentioned on this episode Stupid Cancer Young Nonprofit Professionals Network

Eytan Wiener is co-founder and COO of Quantum Networks, founded with Ari Zoldan and Jonathan Goldman. They grew from 0 to $30million in sales in just under 4 years. They sell items such as wireless routers, signal boosters, hard drives and much more. It all started with Eytan and 2 friends in a cubicle. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: [0:41] Jeremy's welcome and introduction to this episode with guest Eytan Wiener, co-founder of Quantum Networks. [1:22] Eytan's background in dental school and his motivations for initially pursuing that career. [2:47] Some tips you can implement to boost your business. [4:43] The main channel people should be thinking about. [6:12] What was working early on? [9:54] What was working for you with SEO and online to gain customers? [18:12] Some surprises for Eytan as far as conversion. [22:30] Talk about the checkout process - what do you do to optimize that? [33:57] What can you do without redoing your whole site to make it easier to use on a mobile device? [39:40] Tips on pricing products. [46:12] What are some things you look for in what to sell next? [50:40] What else works as far as increasing the dollar value of a customer who is shopping for something else? [52:12] Some examples of a value add that customers respond to. [54:19] What's your process for dialing in tech support in order to add value to the customer. [58:47] Some things you can do outside of your website to improve quality and sales. [01:13:22] Discussing the process of hiring and one of Eytan's favorite hires for the company. [01:24:41] What was the biggest gamble you've taken with products? [01:28:32] What were some of the challenges early on compared with today? [01:33:45] What's your biggest challenge today? [01:42:40] What makes a company decide to release numbers publicly? [01:46:16] How to connect with Eytan. [01:47:11] What do you see in the future for the company? In this episode… From the early days of being 3 friends in a cubicle to running a multi-million dollar company, Eytan and his partners have gained a lot of insight into what works - and what doesn't - when it comes to growing a business. Throughout this chat with Jeremy, Eytan shares tips and strategies, obstacles, wins, and much more. With an impressive evolution from idea born in a cubicle to planning for what will certainly be a hugely successful future, it's clear Quantum Networks is here to stay. Eytan discusses how the Quantum team decided which channels to focus on - and how that's changed through the years. He also gives insight into why it's essential to focus on checkout efficiency and offers a tip that can help your business gain the edge over the competition. Eytan goes on to discuss some of the early products Quantum offered and the evolution they've seen in terms of product offerings. Eytan shares one of his key strategies for attracting customers: content. He discusses why posting quality content helped them in the early days to gain customers and grow as a business. Eytan also talks about the value of continuing to focus on content, even after you've found success. In closing, Eytan and Jeremy discuss some early challenges for Quantum, as well as the biggest gamble they took in early on. Eytan also shares the biggest challenge they faced in the beginning, along with their biggest challenge today. Even with a few bumps in the road, there's no doubt Quantum has found their niche and they continue stand above the rest. Eytan shares actionable tips and valuable insight to help other ecommerce businesses gain the edge. Resources Mentioned on this episode www.Quantum.co Connect with Eytan on LinkedIn

Steve Chou is founder of bumblebee linens and mywifequitherjob.com He is a smart dude ...how do I know that? Because he has bachelors and a masters degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University. He not only runs multiple six figure businesses but also is a hardware engineer by day and entrepreneur by night - in addition to being a husband and dad of 2 kids. We met at a mastermind meeting that John Corcoran and I put together SF. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: [0:37] Jeremy's introduction of Steve Chou, founder of Bumblebee Linens and MyWifeQuiteHerJob.com [1:31] Some actionable tips to help people grow their ecommerce business. In this episode… Steve Chou is no stranger to navigating the world of ecommerce and coming out on top. Steve's business, Bumblebee Linens, has become hugely successful - being featured on the Today Show and in magazines like Real Simple, Brides, Martha Stewart Weddings, and many others. In this short chat with Steve, Jeremy asks for some actionable tips and strategies that can help people grow their ecommerce business. Steve discusses the difficulty of being seen in a highly saturated market, which has been commoditized by Amazon. He shares some tips to help your business gain traction in a highly competitive market. Steve discusses the value of establishing your own brand presence in the market and he offers insight into how you can do that: content. Steve talks about why it's important to put out content and how it helps you connect with your target market and, therefore, grow your business. Steve goes on to discuss how he uses this content strategy during product launches and why it helps him sell products. Resources Mentioned on this episode http://mywifequitherjob.com/ www.BumblebeeLinens.com

Jason VandeBoom is founder of ActiveCampaign which is a web based marketing platform that helps hundreds of thousands of small businesses improve and automate their marketing. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: [0:40] Jeremy's welcome and introduction to this episode with guest Jason VandeBoom, founder of ActiveCampaign. [2:43] Who should be using ActiveCampaign? [3:30] Jason discusses the evolution of ActiveCampaign since its beginning in 2003. [7:24] Transitioning from multiple products to focusing solely on email marketing. [8:01] Some misconceptions about ActiveCampaign. [11:01] Jason discusses some things he's had to "put his foot down" about in order to ensure value added marketing by clients. [13:39] Do you actively pursue partner campaigns? [17:24] Some of the most popular integrations ActiveCampaign offers right now. [21:22] Jason's introduction into the tech field. [23:53] Jason's original aspirations as a young person. [27:45] Jason's work experience in web design and contact management. [31:47] The evolution of the ActiveCampaign product offerings after starting email marketing. [40:03] Some other challenges ActiveCampaign faced. [45:06] Some actions that it takes to have a client enter the sales pipeline. [56:35] Some of the biggest challenges ActiveCampaign is facing now and how Jason plans to overcome them. [1:02:43] Some of the milestones of the last 5 years. [1:07:18] What's been the lowest point for ActiveCampaign? [1:08:34] What was the most painful part as far as products? [1:10:11] How do you disconnect from that level of stress when you go home? [1:11:46] The proudest moment for ActiveCampaign. [1:12:36] What are you most excited about in the future of ActiveCampaign? [1:13:32] The proudest customer experience you've had. [1:14:29] What's the most unique type of business you work with? [1:15:10] Jason's final thoughts. In this episode… For Jason VandeBoom, finding success with his flourishing company ActiveCampaign came with its fair share of bumps in the road. From the early days of the company back in 2003, there has been an evolution of both product offerings and its approach to the customer experience. Jason discusses everything from the start of ActiveCampaign to the obstacles they've faced as they've grown. In the early days of ActiveCampaign, they were a product focused company. Jason discusses how they evolved into email marketing and what encouraged them to pursue a more focused avenue. He also shares the process of introducing email marketing as a product offering and how it grew from a small option to their main focus. Jason goes on to discuss in more detail the process of transitioning from 8 products to focusing on email marketing. He shares how the transition began in 2010 and why it took until 2014 to complete the process. Jason also offers insight into some common misconceptions about ActiveCampaign and how they deal with these issues. As they continue their chat, Jason and Jeremy discuss how ActiveCampaign uses partner campaigns to add value to the client. He gives insight into some of the more popular integrations and how their products evolved after the introduction of email marketing. In closing, Jason shares the high point, low point, and some milestones for the company, as well as what he sees in the future of ActiveCampaign as it continues to grow. Resources Mentioned on this episode www.ActiveCampaign.com Zapier Shopify

Craig Ballantyne has helped over 1.5 million people with his Turbulence Training and Home Workout Revolution exercise programs. He has been a fitness expert to Men's Health magazine since 2000, and is co-owner of the popular success newsletter, EarlytoRise.com, where they reach hundreds of thousands of people daily with success, fitness, and self-improvement advice. He is the author of The Perfect Day Formula: How to Own the Day and Control Your Life. Here's a glimpse of what you'll learn: [0:37] Jeremy's introduction of Craig Ballantyne, founder of Early to Rise and author of The Perfect Day Formula. [1:14] What's been the lowest moment, and how did you push through it? [3:28] Dealing with severe anxiety and overcoming it. [3:58] One of Craig's proudest moments. [4:49] The inspiration behind The Perfect Day Formula Book and the kit. [6:52] What is The Golden Ticket? [7:46] Some flaws Craig has discovered when people follow the Perfect Day Formula. [9:55] Where to find The Perfect Day Formula and get more information about it. [10:55] What else do we need to know about The Perfect Day Formula? In this episode… It's clear Craig has a solid background in helping people maximize their health and therefore their lives. Not only is he a proven fitness expert, but Craig is also a master at helping people add structure to their lives and create more freedom through his book, The Perfect Day Formula. Like all success stories, Craig's has its share of ups and downs. For Craig, the lowest point came back in 2006, when he found himself struggling with severe anxiety attacks. Craig discusses what it was like to experience these attacks daily, for a period of about 6 weeks, and how he was able to overcome the anxiety. He offers insight into how the formula he shares in his book played a key role in helping to improve Craig's health and life by getting rid of anxiety and understanding how to better manage it when it starts to come back. Craig goes on to discuss some of his proudest moments over the years. For him, getting his book published was a huge moment and one that gives him a sense of pride. Craig also discusses taking over Early to Rise and the thrill of the Toys for Tots drive he does each year. For Craig, success comes in many forms, most notably in helping others. In closing, Craig and Jeremy talk about The Perfect Day Formula, the Kit, and The Golden Ticket. Craig offers insight into how the Kit sets people up for success and gives a glimpse into what's included in the Perfect Day Kit. He goes onto share one flaw he's seen in people following the Formula and how to avoid falling into this trap yourself. Craig offers one last piece of advice: creating more structure in your life will actually create more freedom. Resources Mentioned on this episode www.PerfectDayFormula.com www.EarlyToRise.com The Perfect Day Formula Book