Episode 200 Celebration: Business Advice In An Elevator [LNIM200]

For the 200th episode of Late Night Internet Marketing, Mark invited four of his closest business friends to deliver their best advice as if they met you in an elevator and had only moments to change your trajectory. Ray Edwards, Leslie Samuel, Michael Stelzner, and Cliff Ravenscraft share the wisdom that matters most.

What You'll Learn in This Episode

• Ray Edwards' advice on finding your perfect customer
• Leslie Samuel's philosophy on content as the currency of the internet
• Michael Stelzner's honest take on the effort required for online success
• Cliff Ravenscraft's blueprint for building powerful business relationships
• Why perseverance, identity, and service are the foundations of online business

Episode Summary

One of the amazing things about doing something for 10 years is the relationships you build along the way. For this milestone 200th episode, Mark posed a scenario to four successful entrepreneurs: imagine you meet someone in an elevator who tells you they are starting an online business. You have only a few moments. What advice would change their destiny?

Ray Edwards says to find your perfect customer. Not just someone you can help, but the person you want to help the most. Think about who you would work with if you only got paid when they delivered results. That clarity changes everything about how you build your business.

Leslie Samuel reminds us that content is the currency of the internet. If you want to build a successful online business, create helpful, useful content that provides value to a specific audience. Let your character shine through. Some people will be turned off, and that is fine, because the right people will be attracted to the real you.

Michael Stelzner delivers the honest truth: it is not going to go as easily as you hope, and that is normal. Building an online business takes more time and effort than most people expect. His advice is to commit to regularly creating content, start watching for the signals that tell you what is working, and create on a channel you control so you can build a loyal following that eventually becomes your customer base.

Cliff Ravenscraft emphasizes relationships above all else. Build a strong mastermind group of people who consistently elevate your mindset and thinking. Then build genuine relationships with every customer, subscriber, and listener. Care about each of them as human beings. Invest in people, and the business follows.

Key Takeaways

• Find your perfect customer: the person you can help the most and want to help the most
• Content is the currency of the internet. Create valuable content for a specific audience
• Let your authentic character show. The right audience will find you
• Building an online business takes longer than you think, and that is completely normal
• Create content on channels you control to build a following that cannot be taken away
• Invest in mastermind relationships and genuinely care about every person in your audience

What's Changed Since This Episode

Mark recorded this milestone episode in April 2020. All four guests continue to be influential voices in the online business space.

Ray Edwards continues to teach copywriting and has expanded his focus on faith-based business principles. His PASTOR copywriting framework remains one of the most widely taught methodologies in online marketing.

Leslie Samuel continues to help aspiring bloggers and content creators build their online platforms. His emphasis on content-first business building has proven even more relevant as content marketing has become the dominant strategy for online businesses.

Michael Stelzner and Social Media Examiner remain the go-to resource for social media marketing education. Social Media Marketing World continues to be one of the largest marketing conferences in the world.

Cliff Ravenscraft has continued his evolution from podcasting expert to business and life coach, helping entrepreneurs align their businesses with their deeper purpose and identity.

Resources Mentioned

• Ray Edwards — copywriter and business strategist
• Leslie Samuel — Become A Blogger
• Michael Stelzner — Social Media Examiner
• Cliff Ravenscraft — business and mindset coach

Related Episodes

If you found this episode helpful, you might also enjoy:

• LNIM201 — Creating Cashflow On Command: Copywriting Tips From Ray Edwards
• LNIM191 — Is It Too Late To Start Your Internet Business?

Listen and Subscribe

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