David Siteman Garland – Photo by Attilio D’Agostino

Last week, I had the great pleasure of chatting with David Siteman Garland, founder of the hugely successful The Rise to the Top programs and training for mediapreneurs. We explored what mediapreneurs need to understand and do to succeed fabulously in their work and make great money doing it.

If you don’t know David already, he’s a terrifically open, straight-shooting and funny personality dedicated to helping mediapreneurs make it happen in a big way. To David, “mediapreneurs” are personal brands, coaches, speakers, experts, internet/information marketers, and authors who want to grow their business and “dominate” online. Mediapreneurs have an online platform such as a web show, podcast, blog, video blog, and they leverage it to help people and to make money.

I first saw David’s show when he was interviewing Lewis Howes about Lewis’s new Facebook marketing program FBInfluence. I was struck by (and very much appreciated) the honesty and openness that both David and Lewis revealed when talking about what works – and what doesn’t – in launching online programs. Personally, I’ve been incredibly turned off these days by the “get rich quick” and “everyone can do this” nonsense that so many online marketers promise, when all of us who are working with online information know that “quick” and “easy” are not words to describe the success arch of a mediapreneur. It’s not a wild and crazy race to success, but an endurance run, demanding time, energy, commitment, engagement, passion, integrity, and the offering of compelling, vetted information and messages that truly help people and make a difference.

That said, David has found through his hundreds of interviews with successful mediapreneurs and in his own work building his successful brand that there are 6 core strategies that create the most financial (and emotional) reward and success for mediapreneurs.

David’s 6 strategies for highly successful mediapreneurship are:

1.    Build relationships with everyone in your space

David explains that there are specific challenges inherent with a mediapreneur business. Many people think that “online” means they can hide behind their computer and never talk to anyone. But it doesn’t work that way. David encourages us to “get off our butts” and get going, connecting, sharing, networking and appearing at key events, and building relationships with everyone you can in your space. Get out there talking to people, and interacting with those who care about what you’re offering, and other great folks who are serving the same audience. Engage in social media too with the key influencers and product creators, entrepreneurs, and authors who are making a difference.

Another powerful way to build relationships is to conduct and deliver content-rich interviews with the folks you admire in your space. What’s fabulous about interviews is that you’re not asking your interviewees to help you promote something – you’re giving, not taking. David shares, “It’s as if you’re having a party in honor of this individual who inspires you.” You’re learning all along the way too, which serves your own growth as well as that of your community who looks to you for guidance and support.

If your goal is to build a successful mediapreneurship and you don’t want to be social and build relationships, then this most likely is not the right direction for you.

2. Interact your butt off

As you begin to become more and more popular, you’ll attract hundreds of folks checking out your content. You’ll receive comments on your site, tweets asking questions, people hoping to connect via social media and accessing your site’s contact form, and so on. Different groups with varying needs will want access to you. Lots of “experts” will advise you, “Be careful – you don’t want to be accessible.” But to David, that’s malarkey. You absolutely want to be in there responding and interacting personally as much as you can. Certainly, over time, you’ll have scalability issues and you’ll need someone to help you answer emails and queries.

But David believes in the power of personal response and engagement, and responds to as many comments and questions as he can. He shared a cautionary tale of an individual with a great brand he recently experienced who launched a high-quality web show, but the hostess simply never interacted with fans, ever. Unfortunately, the show just withered on the vine.  You can’t build success this way. When people reach out to share that they loved your show or with a question, you can’t be invisible. They’ll think, “Who needs this?” and they’d be right. You need to demonstrate to your fans that they’ve been heard and appreciated.

3. Host kick-butt webinars

Webinars are a powerful tool to build a mediapreneur’s platform successfully. They do two things very well.  First, a webinar is an event with a “buzz” – it’s an exciting, live experience, and folks are encouraged to show up and give their contact info to register, so it’s a terrific list and relationship builder with your target audience.

Secondly, webinars are fabulous for selling products and information that continue the learning for your community. David follows the “90/10” rule – he offers pure, unfiltered educational content for 90% of the webinar, followed by 10% of time dedicated to pitching a follow-up program that presents deeper coverage or a different angle that’s important. David doesn’t hold anything back in the webinar; he teaches what needs to be understood about a specific topic. But the follow-up product takes it to the next level or digs deeper. The 10% part that is the pitch is not a “pushy push” – it’s an authentic, legitimate communication of a follow-up product that will serve the audience well.

4.  Attend to your website and your branding because looks matter

David shares that no matter how people hear of you, they’ll go to your site to check you out. If it looks terrible, you’ll have a problem. People mistakenly think that “The content will speak for itself” but unfortunately, that’s not true – looks do matter. Content is critical but design is 50% of your message and of the equation. You are the star of your brand, and how your site looks, including your optins, your downloadable content, your graphics and photos, etc. – are essential in reflecting who you are and what you have to offer. Spend the time and money necessary for a great web design — this is your home base on the internet and design is not one place to skimp. Hire a designer who really “gets” you and captures your personality and essence to a tee. For David, his design reflects his personality – offering a fun, casual, “edutainment” vibe. The key lesson is this – the worst vibe is no vibe at all.

5. Keep a focus on email (yes, over social media!)

No one would argue that a key part of your success as mediapreneur is having subscribers, fans and an audience. Years ago, David made the mistake of considering everyone – no matter where they came from – a “subscriber.” He’d encourage people to follow him on Twitter and Facebook, until his friend, online marketing expert Derek Halpern of SocialTriggers.com – said “You idiot! You’re doing it all wrong!” Derek asked David, “When you sold your last product, what generated the most income and the strongest relationships?” The answer was email.

Email forges a more personal and intimate relationship. In what turned out to be a one-year experiment, David removed all the social media icons from his site and focused on obtaining email optins. In doing so, his email signups went through the roof. He’s been able to build great relationships with people via email, and is able to sell them more quality programs and products. Revenue went way up, but ironically, so did his social media following.

6. Create an awesome, flagship online course

Finally, David is most excited about this strategy, because he’s neck deep in the process of creating online courses and helping others to do it. David feels that producing compelling and informative courses is the strongest way to monetize your content.

As mediapreneurs, we hear thousands of messages about the different recommended models through which to generate revenue – membership sites, coaching, courses — and let’s face it: they all work. The ones you choose depend on what you personally like and where you want to put the effort.

Last year, David decided he wanted to teach his community how to deliver interview shows successfully, and he grappled with the best format for the content.  Several of his friends said “Do it as a course!” David agreed, and then sought to learn everything he could about the topic – conducted scores of interviews, read hundreds of articles and books, discovered what he liked and what he didn’t in terms of guidance from others. In doing so, he realized that the mixed advice out there creates a great deal of confusion and overwhelm for the beginning course developer. He simplified the process and presented it in his Create Awesome Interviews course, which generated over six figures from a very small but committed subscriber list.

*  *  *  *  *

Listening to David’s shows, it’s clear that he’s found his authentic voice and his true sweet spot, a process that took him five years and a great deal of energy, commitment and passion, and is still evolving. To me, the best message he shares is that to be a successful mediapreneur you must have important messages that are of use to your targeted fan base, along with an email list that reflects your loyal, interested community, and a powerful way to involve and engage your fans in a mutually-beneficial relationship over time.

In the end, no fans + no content + no relationship = no mediapreneurship.

Which of these strategies resonates most with you right now as a new mediapreneur on your way to the top?

For more information on David’s programs that support mediapreneurship success, check out  www.therisetothetop.com and www.createawesomeinterviews.com.

(To learn more about Kathy’s career and leadership coaching and training programs for women, visit www.elliacommunications.com.)

Originally posted on Forbes.com.

Dave’s advice is how I was raised; in other words, nothing new under the sun but there are so many people who weren’t raised with Godly parents who taught right from wrong, how to manage money, how to save money and so on. Dave’s time has come but not without cost. Before he was 30 years old, he’d made a million dollars and declared bankruptcy. He’s been on the receiving end of nasty phone calls from bill collectors who, I’m fairly sure, were raised by coyotes, and people cursing him, threatening him, etc. When Dave talks, I listen and no, I don’t agree with every word that comes out of his mouth but an overwhelming percentage of them find me in agreement.

There are a ton of places to learn good habits regarding money management and Robyn, at Simply Me, has been asking some really good questions and receiving equally good answers that have been helpful. (YIKES! I just realized she’s lived one year more as I’ve been out of high school! Oh my. Now I feel like her Granny; and I was feeling really good about this post. sigh.)

The Christian Dollar has some really good advice on a variety of topics,  all dealing with Christians and finances.

Christian Personal Finance was begun by a Ramsey fan and their Archive page has a huge list of well written articles on a variety of subjects all gear toward money management.

White Fence is a good place to shop and compare prices on utilities, television suppliers, internet suppliers, etc. It’s better for urban dwellers but I did find out Direct TV is offering a one year $39.99 special which is 2/3 less what I’m paying now. Oh yeah, I’m calling them on Monday.

A word to the wise…when you’re negotiating with suppliers, you want to call their 1.800 number and say, “I’d like to speak with Customer Retention, please.” Now, the person who answers your call is going to hem and haw because they don’t want you to talk to Customer Retention; they know you’re going to get a deal and their job is to put YOUR money in THEIR pockets! Those two words are worth money in the bank…CUSTOMER RETENTION. Then, explain how you’ve been a good and loyal customer for X number of years. It really helps if you’ve signed up for their auto-pay on either your credit card (hush, Dave Ramsey!) or checking account. Dave Ramsey despises credit cards while I find having one a convenience. Anyway, tell them you’ve found a special or gasp! you’re thinking of getting rid of their service because you can no longer afford them. Trust me, they’ll find a way for you to stick with them and at a lower cost.

Mary and I are opening an Etsy site, details forthcoming, and Laurie, at Indulge Your Shelf, has been instrumental in my decision. She has a delightful blog and Etsy site and has taught me a lot. Just about every time I visit her blog I see “my” stuff she’s found at antique and thrift shops! When Dave and I married, he brought 25 years of household goods, I brought 23 years of household goods and when his mother moved in, she brought 50 years of household goods. I’m beginning to think I’m sitting on a mini-gold mine! Laurie also sent a copy of Etsy 101 by Steve Weber in which she’s featured. For what it’s worth, the information in this book may be found free on Etsy, but I’ve found the book to be easier to navigate. I’m old school and would far rather have a book in one hand, the mouse in the other.

One problem I’ve run into…definitions of antique, vintage, mature, retro. Any ideas? As soon as the site is open, you’ll be the first to know. There have been so many huge life changes for me since Dave died; this is the beginning of the Next Step. Prayers appreciated and love you all, dearly, for your kindness toward me.

Originally posted on Thistle Cove Farm.

This blog post was written by Steve Spring of Steve Spring.org and reprinted with his permission. Thanks Steve!

Do you ever feel like you’re pressured into making decisions before you’re truly ready? It’s always a good idea to weigh your alternatives and make your decision in a calm fashion. Sometimes, though, you may not have a lot of time on your hands, and in these situations you can speed up your decision making skills instead of throwing yourself into a panic.

Try these techniques to help you make good, quick decisions:

1. Calm down. If you’re feeling pressured into making a fast decision, the first thing to do is calm down. If you aren’t in a position where you can think clearly, then it will be more difficult to make a good decision. Take a few deep breaths to aid in clarity of thought and help you become less stressed.

2. Avoid running in circles. When time is of the essence, you might find that your mind begins to run in circles. Break you decision down into the vital parts and focus on the benefits of each alternative one at a time.

3. Take the time you need. Most of the time you won’t need to make decisions in a matter of seconds. You may need to make a decision quickly, but allow yourself time to go over your options.

4. Make a list of options and alternatives. You can write the steps down, or keep a list in your head. Do what works for you. Consider the outcomes of the available choices, as well as alternative ideas.

5. Consider your feelings and the feelings of others. Sometimes it’s good to just follow a gut feeling even if you don’t have much to back it up. Explore your initial feelings about the decision. Also, take the time to consider the feelings of the other people involved.

6. Ask for help. Most of the time you don’t have to be alone with your major decisions, and if you need to make a decision quickly, it’ll help to get another pair of eyes on the situation. Ask for help from someone you know and trust.

7. Narrow down your choices. See if you can quickly cross some alternatives off of your list of possibilities. Your decision will be easier if there are fewer choices.

8. Think on your feet. Strengthen your ability to think fast. This takes practice, confidence, and a firm belief in yourself. As you become more accustomed to thinking on your feet, you’ll automatically stop second-guessing yourself in tough situations.

9. Make your decision. If you’ve arrived at a conclusion but you’re still hesitating, then you haven’t made your decision yet. Have confidence and go with whichever alternative seems best based on the information you have. Remember, many day-to-day decisions aren’t permanent. If your information changes drastically, or things don’t go as planned with this decision, you may be able to change your decision to a new one based on the new circumstances.

As long as you practice these tips, you’ll improve your decision-making skills. It may take some work, but the ability to make quick and wise decisions is just around the corner.

How do you make good decisions? Share your secrets in the comment box below.

Steve Spring writes on personal development, leadership, productivity, and social media. His mission is to help his followers live with more passion, work with greater focus, and exceed their own expectations. Find him at Steve Spring.org

Originally posted on Getting Over Overwhelm.