59: Internet Marketing – Interview with Andrew Lock

Today we feature Internet Marketer Andrew Lock, one of my favourite marketers, who I’ve been following for almost 10 years!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

Im originally from Surrey in the UK, and even at school I realized I had an entrepreneurial leaning. One day I was called into the headmasters office (I was scared stiff to find out what I’d done wrong), and to my surprise he said, “I’m awarding you the top of the year prize for business studies”! That solidified my realization that I was indeed an entrepreneur! My earliest venture was buying big sacks of potatoes from a local farm, and then selling small bags of potatoes to elderly people in the community. They loved it because potatoes are heavy to carry home from the shops!

Any entrepreneurs which you look up to?

I’ve been influenced by many entrepreneurs over the years. Mainstream people like Richard Branson, and more niche marketers like Dan Kennedy and Jay Abraham.

You moved from the UK to the US. How do the two countries compare? Why you chose Sandy, Utah?

Since my first visit to the States in 1989, I fell in love with the country, and made more than 30 trips while still living in England! Originally I moved to California in 2003, and after 2 years I discovered Utah by chance, on a road trip. Utah is beautiful, with amazing mountains and national parks, and a more relaxed pace of life. After being there for more than 10 years, I decided to move back to California again, and I love the LA weather!

You have a new course out now called “WebTV Wealth”, tell us more about it!

If there’s one thing that I’m known for, it’s my WebTV show, “Help My Business!” which started in 2008. It’s been the cornerstone of my business over the years, and I’ve helped over a hundred other people to create shows in various niches. With the success of my show, naturally many people approached me and said, “how can I do that, too?” That’s what led me to create a comprehensive course that explains everything step by step (www.WebTVWealth.com) It’s immensely satisfying for me to see other people launch a show, as a result of following the course. Video is here to stay online, and I encourage every business to take full advantage of it, asap!

You are a big fan of Disney! What are your top brands in terms of marketing?

I have enormous respect for what Walt Disney established, and he was not only a visionary, but a genius marketer too. Other brands that i think are doing it right, are Virgin, Apple, Lego, NCL, and Starbucks. I find it fascinating to study how they’ve become successful, and that’s what inspired me to write my latest book, “BIG Lessons from BIG Brands” (www.BigLessonsBook.com)

Are you known to the Disney people as a superfan?

Haha, well, some of the management know who I am, and I’ve developed a good relationship with them to be able to take groups of entrepreneurs behind the scenes at Disney World, which is great fun, and a real eye opener! (www.MagicalMarketingExperience.com)

 What are some good industries to go into at the moment?

I don’t really look at industries in that way, because I think it’s dangerous to jump on a bandwagon. I always encourage entrepreneurs to follow their heart and their true passion, whatever that might be. It’s hard to build a business from scratch, and if someone is only doing it because they think an industry is ‘hot’, it will invariably end in disaster.

What are some red flags when you partner up with somebody?

I learned the hard way that it’s important to do due diligence and be very careful who you partner with. Many people partner with people who are like them, which is a big mistake. Its important to find skills that are complimentary to yours, not the same as yours. Also, if you don’t know the person very well, always ask them to provide the names of 3 people they’ve done deals with in the past, so you can verify they’re honest and ethical. If they can’t do that, it’s a huge red flag.

Outside from common sense business advice, what are your creative marketing tips that people don’t think about?

Most business owners copy each others marketing. For example, a plumber sees all the other plumbers advertising in yellow pages, so they naturally think that’s what they should do! It’s a lemming mentality, and it’s counter productive. The best type of marketing is when it makes your business stand out from the crowd. The other thing to aim for is to establish yourself as the expert in your industry. Why? Because people do business with those who they perceive to be credible experts. For example, if you have a book, or you’re interviewed on the radio or in a newspaper, those things add enormous credibility, and make people feel much more comfortable about doing business with you. Lastly, collect as many comments from happy customers as possible. What those people say about you and your business is infinitely more valuable than any type of marketing you can do.

Best advanced marketing books you can recommend?

I recommend studying all the Dan Kennedy “No BS” books, they are the best primer in advanced marketing concepts. Dan was one of my key mentors, and his approach goes counter to what’s taught in most business schools, but it works!

Do you still think eBay is a good place to start a business?

eBay has changed a lot over the years. When the management decided to favor customers over sellers, things went downhill fast in my opinion. The site has a fraction of the traffic it used to have, sadly. Having said that, eBay is still a good place to start a business for someone who has in demand unique products.

How can we achieve world peace? 😉

Yes, that would certainly be nice, wouldn’t it? It strikes me that most people want to get along, but certain world leaders are power hungry and it’s their decisions that affect the majority. We need government of course to maintain order, but history has shown that many if not most rulers invariably succumb to corruption or greed. I try not to watch too much TV news these days because (a) most of it is negative, (b) it’s incredibly biased, and (c) it’s easy to waste a lot of time and mental energy on it. I’m grateful that I live in a relatively peaceful area that encourages entrepreneurship!

To learn more about Andrew Lock please visit his main page at Helpmybusiness.com.

26: Songwriting & Tuition – Interview with Musician Amy Clayton from Actually Amy

Today we feature our first musician – Amy Clayton from ActuallyAmy – enjoy the interview!

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Tell us a little bit about yourself! What inspired you to become a musician?

My name is Amy and I’m a freelance musician and run my company ActuallyAmy Songwriting – we specialise in workshops providing children and young people with a way to develop their creative and expressive skills through songwriting.

I always loved my instrumental lessons over academic subjects in school.  In secondary school I felt I didn’t really fit in as core subjects like science and maths didn’t enthuse me, music was the one subject that ignited my passion, although I did enjoy creative writing and loved the teamwork aspect of sports.

In piano lessons after a couple of years my teacher encouraged me to play in National Festival competitions in duet and trio categories. I realised that playing music can be a social activity; it gave me an expressive outlet that I could share with other people (I’d always played the piano as a soloist) having a sense of community in music was an important turning point for me.
In addition, my first clarinet teacher was a big inspiration to me, I looked up to her and remember how she produced such a beautiful tone so effortlessly – I wanted to be able to play like that! She encouraged me so much and helped me believe I could better myself every day. My lessons were enjoyable and challenging too.

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You are a clarinettist as well as a pianist. Was learning the second instrument easier?

Yes it was, I began learning the piano first; it gave me a strong grounding in harmony and is technically more challenging than a solo instrument, so this set me in good stead for the clarinet.

Outside of teaching, how do you improve your own craft?

I feel that encouragement sits at the core of what I do. It’s impossible to draw any kind of enthusiasm from a young person (or adult!) to do anything musically unless they are in a safe, relaxed environment where they feel comfortable and able to take creative risks.
I guess it comes quite naturally to me to encourage people around me, be it friends or even someone I’ve just met – it builds trust and that’s a powerful connection. I love to find out what puts fire in peoples hearts, because that’s where they’re truly shining when they know.

Do you have a unique teaching approach?

With a young person for instance, I wholeheartedly believe that the key to getting the most from a person musically is getting down to the same level, where they can relate to you as an equal. I strive to become childlike in my curiosity towards their learning, frequently asking why and being open to their ideas.

Through a combination of encouragement and gentle challenge they can then see their progress, which excites them to want to do more.
Also, taking the time to reflect on efforts and explorations is something very powerful… If we did this from the get go our young people would be more likely to grow up to be more grounded, authentic adults.

What would be your advice for people who want to become full time musicians?

If you have the dream to craft a living in the music industry, do not limit yourself! I fully believe that if you want to do something… Give your whole self to your dream… You absolutely can’t be half hearted in something that important.
Dream big and make small steps every day towards where you want to be, use your curiosity by speaking to people who are doing what you want to do and where you want to be.

The best piece of advice I was ever given, regardless if it is paid or not, was to take every opportunity that comes your way in the first five years of your career.

“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know” or, in better terms, “it’s not who you know, it’s who knows you”.  The more people you meet and create lasting connections with, the steadier the growth of your business will be. Knowing lots of people in your industry means you will have a higher rate of referrals and recommendations. This applies to whether you are a performer, composer, facilitating workshops or something else.

When you first start, it will be necessary to supplement your income with teaching as this brings in a steady income and will set you up for whatever area you wish to go into – or to build a full time teaching schedule.

What impact do you believe music has on the people you work with?

From my experience, learning music gave me an outlet, somewhere I could be myself and stop trying to fit in to the social pressures of how I was expected to perform in school.

For the young people I work with in my songwriting workshops, it’s massive. They are able to creatively express themselves in a way that they may not have had the confidence to do before, they have a platform to be able to express their emotions. Young people become more tenacious, team orientated and able to think creatively. Often there is a hang up making sure they give the ‘right’ answer, but music is subjective, a place open to artistic expression. The most beautiful shift I have noticed is in a child’s thought process when they realise that their contributions are completely valid, no matter how big or small.

To learn more about Amy please visit Actuallyamy.co.uk.

21: Interview with Mark Chapman from Tesol Zone

Today we featured Mark who runs Tesol Zone, a website for teachers who are interested to teach English as a foreign/second language (EFL/ESL).

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What kind of business do you run?

TesolZone.com helps potential (or current) EFL/ESL teachers learn more about teaching English abroad. Firstly, the website provides job seekers with information on the employment situation around the world, the type of certification they need, and how to go about finding a job. Secondly, Tesol Zone provides guidance on how to teach, and effective ESL activities for the classroom.

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

I’m from the North of England, but have lived in various parts of Europe and Asia for the past twenty years or more. I’ve taught ELT, trained teachers, written a series of ELT textbooks, and I set up, and then managed, a chain of English schools in Northern Taiwan. I ran them for almost ten years. I now run Tesol Zone, write ELT books, and teach at a university in the countryside in Northern Taiwan.

What inspired you to start this business?

I’ve worked in most areas of TESOL and wanted to help new teachers make better choices, and to help improve the quality of teaching in the field. I was also interested in running an online business, without the need to rent physical premises, recruit and manage a workforce – although I do sometimes hire assistants and other freelance help .

Does your business generate enough money to support you?

Not yet. But it does provide me with an income equivalent to a part-time job – which is helpful. Actually, my main focus for the past few years has been on writing a series of novels; however, I’m now working consistently on the website and have seen a recent increase in traffic and income. My goal is for Tesol Zone to support me by the end of 2017.

Which resources to run your business do you use most?

I use SBI (Site Build It) a company that provides a lot of support (not only hosting, templates, and technical support) but also tools and training for running an online business. Their training is almost like taking a master’s degree in online business – very practical.

Have you ever started a new business and then given up for some reason?

Yes. I set up a copywriting business in London. I quickly found that although I could write, I didn’t have the necessary experience or contacts in the field. It was hard, and I was working alone. I managed to get some work, but I found it difficult to get enough business and soon gave up.

My second business was more successful. I set up a language school in Northern Taiwan with partners. I was much more organised this time, and the language school soon attracted students – some of whom travelled over 10km to attend. We expanded to three schools, and employed about 20 people. The schools did well and are still operating, but I sold my share to free myself to focus on other things.

How important do you think is talent when starting a business?

Not as important as hard work and intelligent planning, but it helps, of course.

How did you come up with the name of the company?

I wanted a short name and a dot com. Teaching English has many acronyms: TEFL, TESL, TESOL and more. TESOL was a newer term which as a keyword had a higher demand and lower supply than most others. Also it incorporates the meaning of TEFL and TESL.

How many people are involved in your business?

I work by myself, but I employ freelancers when I need to. For example, I sometimes hire designers or assistants to help with research or more mundane tasks.

How do you stay productive and not get distracted?

I don’t always, but I have list of tasks to achieve each day, and I try to focus on those. Having a quiet office at home helps, but I also work on my commute up and down the mountain.

I’ve turned off all distracting sounds on my computer, such as the one for incoming email (this simple act has helped me avoid the feeling to check incoming mail).

What are your future plans for the company?

I plan a series of 8 short ebooks, each focussing on specific areas of TESOL. I plan to release one every four months for the next two and a half years. I also plan to increase visitor interaction on the site by introducing more opportunities for visitors to submit their own content and comments on certain aspects of teaching abroad.

Outside of business what do you enjoy doing?

I write novels. I also like exercise: running and kung fu.

Do you think that anybody could start a business?

Anyone who wants to badly enough could. You would have to be prepared to be uncomfortable at times, and to stay focussed. If giving up TV in order to work on your new business after you come home from your day job seems unreasonable, then probably not. However, many more people than actually do, could start one. But not everybody is suited to working independently.

What is the best strategy to utilize Twitter for a business?

This is an ongoing experiment for me; I’ve mastered SEO more than social media. But, Twitter has been useful for connecting with related businesses, and I’ve found advertisers there.

I’ve recently registered the hashtag #tesol, and am experimenting with this. Registering a hashtag does not confer ownership, but my hope is that it will encourage the search engines to look more favourably on my site.

Twitter has also been useful for brainstorming ideas for articles and areas of interest related to my website.

What is your experience with LinkedIn?

I’ve only recently become actively involved on Linkedin. I’m still exploring the website, but it looks like a good way to connect with other professionals, and directly with businesses.

As with Twitter, it’s been useful for generating ideas. I’ve become involved in groups related to my area and have met many other ELT professionals in this way.

For more information please visit TesolZone.com.

8: Interview with German teacher Angelika Davey

Today’s interviewee is Angelika Davey who teaches German. She lives in the UK and has contributed to LearnWithOliver.com, a language site I’m running. I’ve asked her if she would like to be part of this interview series and she agreed as you can see! 

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Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background.

My name is Angelika Davey. I was born and brought up in Germany but have lived in the UK since 1982.

What kind of business do you run? When did you start it?

I started Angelika’s German Tuition & Translation in 2006, which means in July this year I will have been self-employed for 10 years teaching German and helping clients with their translation needs.

What keeps you motivated to keep working on your business?

The feedback! It feels great when students, no matter how old they are, tell me how much they enjoyed their lessons or when clients are happy with their translations.

Also, I am learning so much myself. I never saw myself as a writer but started a blog five years ago and from that moved to writing books. Seeing that people are buying my books is a great feeling. Since last year I also offer online courses on Udemy, which was another learning curve for me as I have never thought of making videos of my lessons. There is still so much to learn and do and it is a great feeling when I have achieved something new!

How much time do you spend running your business per day?

How long is a piece of string? This is a very difficult question to answer. I love my work and I often don’t know when work finishes and leisure starts as my work is also my hobby. For example, I love walking and I always have my phone with me to take pictures, but often they are taken with blog posts or lessons in mind. I might wind down at the end of the day with reading things on Facebook and find useful posts for German learners which I they pass on. I watch some videos on YouTube and find useful information for teaching or learning German.

Of course, it can also be the other way round: I’m supposed to work on marketing, translating, lesson planning … and I find a great YouTube video that needs watching or a Facebook meme that needs sharing.

What is your daily routine of running your business?

One of the great things about my work is that no two days are the same. Some days I spend nearly all day teaching, other days I don’t teach at all and spend the day with lesson planning, translating, writing or making new online courses. Some days I teach early in the mornings (although I try to avoid that), on other days I teach in the evening. The variety is wonderful, but it is probably also another reason why it is difficult for me to say how much time I spend running my business.

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Does your business generate enough money to support you?

It does now. Before I started I saved up enough money to keep me going while I got my first clients. I was also very lucky to get work as a supply teacher for an agency, gradually decreasing the days I was available until about three years ago when I stopped completely.

My business generates enough to pay all the bills and some extra. I might never earn as much as I did when I taught full-time but I am having a lot more fun doing the things I love doing.

What tools do you use to run your business?

I rely heavily on my computer and the internet. I have several students that I teach via Skype and as I offer those online courses I need to be able to check if anybody has asked any questions that need answering. I also still work with pen and paper, especially when I teach face-to-face as I don’t always have access to the internet.

My most important tool is my smartphone, especially my google calendar. I have a lots of students who don’t have weekly lessons, so every day is different. When I don’t teach I work on new lessons or translate and can easily get carried away. If google didn’t warn me that I need to go and teach I’d be late a lot of times!

What are the best and worst parts of running your business?

The best part is the enjoyment I get when I see that my students enjoy themselves or, even more importantly, when they have their ‘lightbulb’ moment, when something they struggled with has become clear or when they tell me about their holidays in Germany and how they were able to have conversations in German.

The worst part is not having paid holidays and having to decide when to go and how many lessons need to be cancelled. Oh, and I’m not too fond of tax returns either.

Do you read any discussion forums about business?

When I started my business, none of my friends were working for themselves, so nobody was able to help me with running a business. All I knew was how to teach German or translate, I didn’t know anything about setting up a website, marketing, social media etc …

But I quickly found a site where self-employed people met, Ecademy. It doesn’t exist anymore but I have met many people who have small businesses and have helped me initially. Since then I have also met quite a few of them ‘for real’. Nowadays I am a member in a few business groups on Facebook, LinkedIn and Google+, although I have to say that the Facebook groups would always be my first port of call.

What was your experience setting up your company website?

When I started my business I had one client and no money. I could not afford a website designer who would design a site for me. Luckily, I was able to use the services of Business Link (which was closed in 2012) and learned how to set up a very simple website and only had to pay for the domain name. After a few years that site was far too basic for what I wanted and I transferred it to another server. When that wasn’t enough I made the move to wordpress.org.

Can you recommend a company or designer who helped you build the website?

Although I have learned a lot over the years about setting up and maintaining a website, the last one had grown so much I didn’t dare transferring it on my own.

Barbara Saul of Blogmistress.com did a beautiful job transferring everything for me. I still do everything on my own on my website, but Babs keeps it all ticking over and comes to the rescue when I mess things up … which, unfortunately, I still do on occasions.

If you are curious to learn more about Angelika please go to her website.