The $100 MBA Show

Risk-taking isn’t just for the boldest entrepreneurs. It’s a job requirement for everyone who starts a business. As we explain today, everything we do — and don’t do — is inherently a choice between risks. To reach your full potential as an entrepreneur, you have to develop the skill of risk-taking like any other: with practice. Today, we discuss how. Learn why risks are unavoidable, and why they’...

Diversity is never an accident. Making sure your company speaks with the right mix of voices takes a little effort. But as today’s special guest teacher explains, it’s beyond worth it. When you invest in female empowerment, it comes back big. In other words, it’s not only about justice. It’s also about business. Janel Dyan is a brand strategist who specializes in helping companies uninstall their...

“Viral”: as a buzzword, it’s past its prime.  As a marketing concept, it just needs a little fine-tuning. Today, we discuss how simply “getting your brand out there” and hoping some influencer spotlights it is a flawed strategy. Real, sustainable brand awareness is built more gradually, and on firmer footing. It’s not that you can’t have a “viral” moment. It’s just that you want the hype to last l...

Some customers are worth more of your time and resources than others. I know, that sounds harsh. But it’s better for all customers when you understand this simple truth. It’s not that your “best” customers are inherently superior. It’s just that they’re a better fit for your product or service. …which means they’re worth a little extra love. Today, we discuss how to figure out who your real cheerl...

Believe it or not, offline businesses still exist. I know, right? Crazy. But it’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener get some marketing traction for a local clinic. The good doctor knows his trade, but there weren’t many marketing classes in med school.  Fortunately, he came to the right podcast. Today, we’ll discuss how to market a good-old-fashioned brick & mortar local business. With...

2021: where to start? We’re all eager to leave the past behind and conquer new challenges. But which challenges? How can you decide where to focus your time and effort? When the year is over, what will be your most impactful achievement? It’s time to prioritize. Today, we discuss how to zero in on what 2021 should be all about for you. The best part? Once you decide, the rest of your year is execu...

As entrepreneurs, we like to think we’re logical. But as today’s special guest teacher explains, we’re subject to all kinds of limiting, wired-in behaviors that make less sense than we realize.  Susan Robertson is an Innovation Strategist, someone who helps companies break out of the box and achieve new things. She’s here with a lesson in making yourself a more daring, more optimistic problem-solv...

By now, newly remote teams are familiar with the challenges and struggles of working from home. That hasn’t made any of it easier. But it’s nothing new to us. Both The $100 MBA and WebinarNinja have always been 100% remote. With a few dozen employees on 4 continents — and half a dozen time zones — we’re somewhat ahead of the curve on this. Learn how to motivate (and trust) your team to get the bes...

Podcasts are a perfect way to gain exposure for your brand. But how do you get yourself on them? With a plan, that’s how. The good news is that podcasts are always looking for great guests. All you have to do is be one — a few times — and it won’t be long before the podcasts come looking for you. Trust us…we would know. Learn our system for making the rounds on podcasts, including how to approach...

A year on, we’re still adjusting. Some industries were hit particularly hard by COVID — in particular, anything to do with travel and tourism. So what’s a successful travel blogger to do when travel isn’t really a thing?  Turns out there’s quite a bit to do. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener navigate the new ‘rona reality. Tune in, and learn what you can do if the virus has put yo...

There’s a new social platform in town. Much like TikTok took many by surprise, the latest (possible) game-changer is Clubhouse. It’s in private beta now, so you might not’ve heard of it. But it has the potential to make waves. But what’s it mean for you? Today, we explain what Clubhouse is (short version: an audio-only social platform), and discuss its potential for business marketing — and its we...

Data is power. No one understands that better than Piyanka Jain, who specializes in using data to achieve explosive growth. A best-selling author, speaker, and thought leader in analytics, Jain knows how powerful data can be. …when used correctly. Today, Jain stops by to explain the key components of data-based transformation. By using the numbers to understand your audience, you can move them to...

What’s the “right” time for a launch? Whether it’s a business, product, website, or content launch, timing is everything. Today, we discuss how to create a smart launch timeline that creates a real moment — and takes advantage of it. We’ve had to learn how to nail this ourselves. As our own software company moves towards a major launch, our experience can help you prepare for your next rollout. He...

Growth spikes happen. Are you ready? 2020 was a year of insane growth for our software company. With everyone forced to work and learn from home, sudden demand for our webinar platform forced us to expand in a hurry.  Today, we share lessons from that (sometimes stressful) experience. Our successes, our stumbles, and everything we wish we’d known can help you prepare for something similar. You can...

Is the pandemic winding down?  Even in a digital economy, in-person events are crucial. With vaccines for COVID-19 rolling out, is it time to start thinking about a return to the “old normal?” Can you plan and schedule IRL events for 2021? More importantly, should you? Today, we help one listener navigate the practical and ethical issues involved. Even with vaccines, we probably won’t return to bu...

Apple just rocked the digital marketing world. If you haven’t heard, an iOS update for Apple mobile devices allows users to opt out of having their Internet activity tracked, logged, and sold to advertisers. This tracking makes targeted advertising on Facebook and Google…kinda impossible. What’s it mean for you? Today, we explain this development, and how it will affect paid advertising for startu...

Entertainers are entrepreneurs too — especially Matthew McConaughey. Greenlights is the memoir of an actor. But it’s also the memoir of an accomplished business person, marketer, and independent creator. When Omar bought this book to read for fun, he had no idea it would be so valuable as a business resource. Today, we share the most relevant lessons. Take some time to study one actor’s success st...

Happy New Year! 2020 was…well, you were there. So what happens now? What can we reasonably expect to go down now that COVID has (permanently?) altered the business landscape? We’ve got 3 predictions. 3 specific trends are almost certainly going to continue through 2021. By adapting to them, you can position your business to thrive in the not-exactly-roaring 20’s. Learn how to prepare — Click Play!...

Are goals…useful? As 2020 wraps up, it’s time to look forward. A common way to do so is to set goals, to envision outcomes you want for your business. But is that effective? Does setting goals do anything by way of actually achieving them? We’ve got a better idea. Today, we discuss an alternative to goal-setting that takes things several steps further. With a little more up-front effort, you can r...

Jack of all trades, or master of one? That’s the question facing one listener today.  It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a budding entrepreneur who’s ditching the 9-to-5 for full-time independence. But she wonders whether she should take some popular advice: building multiple income sources. Of course, popular doesn’t always mean good. Today, Omar bucks the trend and explains why multi-streaming ca...

Email is *checks notes*…yep, still King. It’s the most powerful marketing channel, even over social. But how can you grow a robust email contact list that actually converts? How do you go from no subscribers — or just a few — to a teeming list that feeds your marketing and sales funnels? Steadily, that’s how. Today, we explain the steps it takes to get more, better contacts. By balancing the quali...

Remember when working from home seemed…revolutionary? Now, it’s kind of a drag. If your team is losing focus, motivation, and momentum, this is the episode for you. Jessica Burlingame is the founder of Agon Advisors, a talent development firm that specializes in team-building. Today, she’s here with a few strategies. The best part? These strategies are simple, subtle, and easy to implement. Tune i...

YouTube: it’s kind of everything right now. As a search engine, it’s second only to The Big G. As a media platform, it’s literally second to none. With billions of viewers, there’s billions to be made. So where’s your slice? How can you get aboard the YouTube revenue train? A step at a time, that’s how. Today, we discuss how money is made on this global behemoth of a platform. The bad news? It tak...

You put a ton of work into your course…but it won’t last forever. Like your business, your course has to grow, evolve, and adapt to the times. Otherwise, you’re getting closer and closer to irrelevance.  So how do you stay on top of it?  How can you make sure that your newest students are just as blown away as your first ones?  Today, we explain how to keep the value level high by regularly checki...

You can’t keep charging the same amount forever. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a small but successful web development company. Business is booming, and it’s clearly time prices reflect that.  But how can you suddenly charge people more without…ticking them off? More importantly, when should you do it? You’ll never scale if you don’t have a plan to keep rates on pace with growth...