Business Casual

I just ran some striking numbers on lead magnets and wanted to share the results. Comparing our longstanding pool care cheat sheet with our new custom pool care plan, I've found that the plan quadruples our conversion rate. By allowing dynamic, article-specific headlines, we can tailor our offers to increase relevancy and engagement. I'm nervous but excited to roll this out across our entire site...

I'm optimizing conversion rates by customizing headlines for different articles on Swim University. I explore how specific headlines can significantly increase subscriber rates and how this concept can be applied to Google Ads for better performance. I discuss my plans to implement these changes using advanced custom fields in WordPress, aiming to create dynamic, relevant offers for each post. Thi...

I debated between consistency and quality in content creation, which was sparked by a discussion between Justin Jackson and Thomas Frank. Reflecting on my experiences with Swim University, Money Lab, and Brew Cabin, I explore how different niches and goals impact the balance between frequent publishing and producing standout content. I also discuss the importance of staying top of mind for your au...

I dive into my passion for homebrewing, sharing insights into my brewing setup, recent upgrades, and upcoming beer projects. From my custom-built home brewery to my favorite brewing techniques and tools, I discuss the joy of creating unique beers and the constant quest for improvement. I also touch on my brewing experiments, including a white IPA and a Mexican lager, and the intricate process of m...

I delve into the creation and testing of a new lead magnet for Swim University—a custom pool care plan. I discuss the development process, from using Typeform and Klaviyo to coding the plan in WordPress. I share early results from split testing this new lead magnet against our traditional cheat sheet, revealing higher conversion rates and the potential for better user engagement. Additionally, I e...

I dive into an insightful email from Scott, discussing USPS package pickups, the pros and cons of renting office space versus working from home, and strategies for enhancing our pool care handbook packaging. I share my thoughts on maintaining efficiency in our shipping process, the financial implications of branded packaging, and the practicality of setting up a dedicated business space. This epis...

I realized that my custom pool care plan had a conversion rate of 2.92%, matching the performance of our original cheat sheet. After mistakenly thinking no one signed up, I discovered 10 people had subscribed by fixing an internal notification error. This promising result suggests that with better homepage copy and targeted split testing, the new plan could outperform the cheat sheet. The episode...

I talk about the decision-making process behind launching a new custom pool care plan on Swim University. After struggling with the homepage's effectiveness, I created a more targeted lead magnet aimed at pool owners. Initially planning a complex setup, I decided to launch an MVP version to gather early feedback. By breaking the project into manageable tasks and focusing on the essential elements,...

I discuss the concept of "How to Eat an Elephant" and explore the importance of breaking down big projects into manageable tasks. Reflecting on past experiences with Swim University, brewing, health, and home improvement, I share how embracing a calm, deliberate approach has led to greater productivity and reduced stress. By limiting work hours and focusing on core priorities, I’ve found a more ba...

I’m excited to talk about an idea I’m exploring for Swim University: transforming it into a calm company. Inspired by Justin Jackson’s essay, "We Need More Calm Companies," I’m reflecting on how Swim University can embody principles like profitability, purpose, flexibility, and sustainable growth. I discuss how these attributes align with my vision for a business that not only thrives but also enh...

Balancing work and home life while working with family has been a unique journey. I've worked from home since 2011, and it's had its challenges, especially being an extrovert who thrives on social interaction. My wife and I set clear boundaries, always prefacing work discussions with a question. She runs our YouTube content, and I act as the employee, following her lead. My brother, who works remo...

I'm brainstorming a new mini-offer for my email list. This simple, compelling offer doesn't need a dedicated sales page; the emails will act as the sales letters. I'll send out two emails over a three-day flash sale to test the response. The emails will hook readers with the idea of firing their pool company, then detail the course and book offer, emphasizing the limited time to act. By excluding...

Launching our new app, the Pool Care App, has been an exciting journey. Teaming up with an experienced developer, we’ve transformed an existing app into a Swim University-branded tool designed to simplify pool maintenance. From testing the water to getting precise chemical instructions, our app is all about eliminating guesswork and frustration. Unlike other apps pushing unnecessary products, our...

I've been contemplating the impact of AI on the business landscape and how it's affecting independent creators like me. With companies like Google and Apple shifting their practices, the challenges of relying on SEO and organic traffic are becoming more apparent. Drawing from Swim University's journey and past market disruptions, I discuss the importance of adapting to new realities. Emphasizing a...

I explore the process of designing a personalized pool care plan for Swim University, aiming to make our lead generation tool more engaging and effective. By focusing on user-specific routines and creating a dashboard-like experience, I want to provide a resource that feels truly customized. I discuss the steps involved, from asking the right questions to integrating interactive elements, and cons...

I dive into the power of tuning out external business advice and tuning into my own intuition and experiences. By stepping back from constant tactical advice and an overwhelming amount of information, I've reconnected with my own ideas and insights. I stopped consuming business content, unsubscribed from channels, and put my business books away. This allowed me to focus on truly understanding the...

I share my latest realization about the Swim University home page. After discussing my own experiences with pond care, I decided to focus on offering a custom pool care plan instead of just a newsletter signup. I explain how I plan to implement this idea using Typeform, Zapier, and Klaviyo to deliver personalized plans through email. I discuss the technical aspects and benefits of this approach, e...

Focusing on the Swim University home page, I decided to transform it from a general landing page to a lead capture system tailored for pool owners. Historically, the page had a generic headline and separate buttons for pool and hot tub care, which wasn't as effective. I considered various approaches, including Klaviyo forms and offering a newsletter, but concluded that a quiz might be the best sol...

I'm discussing the ups and downs of March and laying out my plans for April. Despite a 30% traffic drop due to Google's algorithm changes, revenue increased thanks to effective Facebook ads. However, the high costs associated with e-commerce have made me rethink my strategy. My primary focus for April is optimizing my offers and sales pages. I’m testing new offers and improving our sales funnel to...

I’m giving an update on the April Fools campaign I launched for Swim University. I created a faux product and promoted it across various platforms. The response was lukewarm; we've sold about half of the 96 bottles so far. Launching on April Fools’ Day may have impacted the reception, as people are skeptical of anything released on this date. While it's a fun, creative project, it highlights that...

Today, I’m sharing how I’m optimizing my work schedule to better manage my time and reduce stress. By focusing on concentrated, high-leverage tasks for a set number of hours each day, I aim to maximize productivity while freeing up personal time. Tasks like crafting marketing emails, recording and scheduling podcasts, publishing articles, and developing ads are prioritized. The goal is to create a...

I'm discussing the best ways to collect testimonials. Tactics for effective testimonials include avoiding incentives that offer monetary rewards, guiding customers with specific questions, and focusing on quality over quantity. Video testimonials, while valuable, should ideally be filmed in relevant settings and show real results. For e-commerce, external review platforms like Trustpilot are benef...

Brainstorming a pool urine detector 404 page and April Fool's event, I share how to design an engaging sales page for a fake product. Inspired by the myth of a pool urine detector dye, I discuss creating a convincing product to deter pool pee-ers. The sales page includes a hero image, how it works, history of the myth, pop culture references, and statistics on the dangers of pool urine. I also exp...

I discuss the challenges of creating effective marketing for local businesses, emphasizing the need to understand the target audience. Using Swim University as an example, I highlight the importance of aligning content with business goals and audience needs. I explore the potential of Brew Cabin to attract new homebrewers with community-driven content and advanced brewing techniques. Finally, I br...

I've been experimenting with a content strategy shift that might surprise traditional SEO practitioners. We're a video-first education company, creating videos first and repurposing them into blog posts, podcasts, shorts, and emails. Recently, I replaced a 5,000-word article on how to drain a pool with a concise 700-word script. The original article ranked #10 on Google, and I wanted to see if a m...