Askpat 2.0: A Weekly Coaching Call On Online Business, Blogging, Marketing, And Lifestyle Design

Today's question comes from Kelly, who has a question about using news and press icons. Where do you get those press or media icons, such as The Wall Street Journal, CNN, and The New York Times? Do you make press logos or icons yourself? Kelly’s website is http://WiredEducator.com. In this episode, I mention PicMonkey and Canva, which are both websites where you can create and design your own images. Learn more at http://PicMonkey.com and http://Canva.com. Do you have a question about using news and media icons for social proof? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Today's sponsor is FreshBooks. Go to http://www.freshbooks.com/askpat and enter "Ask Pat" for more information.

Today's question comes from Eric, who has a question about building his own video studio at home. Where should he start? What kind of camera should I pick up for my in-home video studio? What microphone and sound equipment do you recommend? What about video lighting equipment? Eric’s website is http://StartupsWithNoCode.com. In this episode, I mention that starting in AskPat episode 900, I will be dropping in hints and clues about how you can win money leading into episode 1,000! I also mention a resource, Caleb Wojcik’s http://DIYVideoGuy.com, a website that will help create your own video setup. I also mention Rode’s SmartLav mic, which you can check out at http://SmartLav.com. Do you have a question about creating your own video studio? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Christine, who has a question about people using her images online without giving credit. Is it too much to ask that people properly credit her images? What can she do to prevent people from using her images without her permission or credit? Christine’s website is http://LittleHouseOntheCorner.com. Do you have a question about people using your content without your permission? Record it at http://www.askpat.com. Today's sponsor is FreshBooks. Go to http://www.freshbooks.com/askpat and enter "Ask Pat" for more information.

Today's question comes from Ron, who has a question about validating his YouTube channel. To start, who should he reach out to for video validation? How can he validate his YouTube channel? How can he get viewers to purchase the toys that his videos advertise? How can create videos to better reach his target audience? Ron’s website is http://ScienceToy.org. In this episode, we mention Will It Fly?, my book that will help you validate your business idea. You can pick up a copy at http://WillItFlyBook.com. Do you have a question about validating your videos? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Ash, who has a question about keeping a physical product inventory. How can I create a central inventory for my physical products? What are some effective ways to keep track of my inventory? What inventory management platform do you recommend? Ash’s website is at http://ArmenianKidsClub.com. In this episode, I mention http://ShipStation.com, a great website to help manage your inventory. Do you have a question about inventory management? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Thanks to Zip Recruiter for sponsoring today's episode. Go to http://www.ziprecruiter.com/pat to get started posting jobs today.

Today's question comes from John, who has a question about promoting his YouTube channel. Should he promote his YouTube channel on his website? Should he keep his website and YouTube channel separate? What are some YouTube promotion tips? In this episode, I mention AskPat Live, which you can join every Friday at 1:30 p.m. PT on my Facebook page: http://Facebook.com/smartpassiveincome. Do you have a question about promoting your YouTube channel? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Darcie, who has a question about building her email list. How can she bring attention to her email list? What is the value of sharing personal information as an entrepreneur? What are the pros and cons of sharing personal information with her audience? Why does sharing personal information matter? Darcie’s website is at http://ErgonomicHelp.com. Do you have a question about sharing personal information with your audience? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Today's sponsor is FreshBooks. Go to http://www.freshbooks.com/askpat and enter "Ask Pat" for more information.

Today's question comes from Brandon, who has a question about being comfortable and natural on camera. What are some public speaking tips? How can he become more comfortable in front of a camera? Brandon is the owner of Vegetable, a farm-to-food truck business. Do you have a question about public speaking or speaking in front of a camera? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Brandon, who has a question about live video. What live video platforms should he experiment with? Should he use live video to answer questions from his audience? Should he use Facebook Live? Brandon’s website is http://StudentLoansGuy.com. In this episode, I mention Zoom and Go To Meeting, both of which are platforms you can use to engage with your audience live. Check out http://Zoom.us and http://GoToMeeting.com. Do you have a question about live video? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Today's sponsor is FreshBooks. Go to http://www.freshbooks.com/askpat and enter "Ask Pat" for more information.

Today's question comes from Cesar, who has a question about creating calls to action to convert podcast listeners to subscribers. How do you craft the perfect call to action? What calls to action should I use to acquire more email subscribers? In this episode, I mention Amy Porterfield’s podcast, Online Marketing Made Easy at AmyPorterfield.com/amy-porterfield-podcast. I also mention Power-Up Podcasting, my new online course which will be launching soon at http://PowerUpPodcasting.com. Join the waitlist today. Do you have a question about creating calls to action? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Thanks to ZipRecruiter for sponsoring today's episode. Go to http://www.ziprecruiter.com/pat to get started posting jobs today.

Today's question comes from Tammy, who has a question about answering questions from her audience. What system should she use to answer questions from her audience? What are some tips to make sure her answers are natural and genuine? How should she organize her answers and her notes as she answers her audience? Tammy’s podcast is the Local Small Business Coach Podcast. In this episode, I mention Speakpipe, a great tool you can use to answer questions from your audience. Check that out at http://Speakpipe.com. I also mention AskPat Live, which I do most every Friday at 1:30 p.m. PT over on my Facebook page at http://Facebook.com/SmartPassiveIncome. See you there! Use the hashtag #AskPat854 if you want a free AskPat t-shirt. We’ll pick a winner randomly. Thanks! Make sure to tag @PatFlynn on Twitter. Do you have a question about asking audience questions effectively? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Today's sponsor is FreshBooks. Go to http://www.freshbooks.com/askpat and enter "Ask Pat" for more informatio

Today's question comes from Jason, who has a question about submitting a podcast to iTunes. Should he submit his podcast to iTunes now? Should he wait to submit his show when he has multiple episodes? Should he launch with just one episode? Is there a minimum or maximum number of episodes he needs before submitting to iTunes? Dave’s podcast is Solomon’s Porch Podcast. In this episode, I mention AskPat Live, which you can join every Friday at 1:30 p.m. PT at http://Facebook.com/SmartPassiveIncome. Do you have a question about submitting your podcast to iTunes? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Thanks to our sponsor, Design Crowd. To learn more about working with their designers, go to http://designcrowd.com/askpat.

Today's question comes from Maverick, who has a question about business tips from The Walking Dead television show. What are five business lessons I have picked up from watching The Walking Dead? Maverick’s website is at http://HellIsFull.net. On this episode, I mention The Walking Dead Story Sync. Check it out at http://AMC.com/shows/the-walking-dead/story-sync/. I also mention my new online course, Smart From Scratch. Join the waitlist at http://SmartFromScratch.com. Do you have a question about business tips, from The Walking Dead or elsewhere within the zombie apocalypse? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Today's sponsor is FreshBooks. Go to http://www.freshbooks.com/askpat and enter "Ask Pat" for more information.

Today's question comes from Adam, who has a question about following up after his initial email. How should he reach out to people for potential partnerships or after he’s pitched an idea? How long should he wait to send a follow-up email? What’s the email follow-up etiquette? Are there other places where he can reach out to people, other than email? In this episode, I mention that my course, Smart From Scratch, will be launching again to the public in June. Smart From Scratch helps you find a winning business idea and potentially find your first customer. Sign up for the waitlist at http://SmartFromScratch.com. Do you have a question about follow-up emails and the email etiquette you should follow? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Jason, who has a question about podcast content storage. Should he store his podcast content online? What about using an external hard drive as backup storage? Is there another place to store his podcast content on his podcast host, such as SoundCloud or Libsyn? Jason’s podcast is the Solomon’s Porch Podcast. Do you have a question about podcast content storage? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Thanks to ZipRecruiter for sponsoring today's episode. Go to http://www.ziprecruiter.com/pat to get started posting jobs today.

Today's question comes from Brad, who has a question about blog categories and blog post tagging. Should he re-categorize his blog posts? What should he do about blog post tags? How should he organize the tags on his blog? what’s the benefit of blog post reorganizing and blog post tag categorization? Brad’s website is at http://BradHobbs.com. In this episode, I mention http://TopRankBlog.com, a great SEO website you can check out. I also mention Todd Tresidder, who talks to me about content auditing on Smart Passive Income Podcast Session #200. You can listen to that at http://SmartPassiveIncome.com/session200. Do you have a question about blog post tagging? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Thanks to our sponsor, Design Crowd. To learn more about working with their designers, go to http://designcrowd.com/askpat.

Today's question comes from Vegard, who has a question about annotations for YouTube videos. Why don’t I use a lot of annotations on YouTube videos for Smart Passive Income? What are some alternatives to YouTube annotations? What’s working right now for YouTube video add-ons? How does he utilize YouTube cards and end screens? In this episode, I mention that, starting in May, annotations on YouTube videos will go away, which means you won’t be able to add annotations going forward. I also mention my AskPat Live, which is held every Friday at 1:30pm PT at Facebook.com/SmartPassiveIncome. See you there! Do you have a question about YouTube video annotation? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Thanks to ZipRecruiter for sponsoring today's episode. Go to http://www.ziprecruiter.com/pat to get started posting jobs today.

Today's question comes from Jules, who has a question about boosting ebook sales. What can she do to selling more ebooks? Should she revise the book and relaunch it? Should she reformat the ebook to improve sales? Should she add her book to Amazon’s Kindle service? What are some ebook marketing strategies she can use to get more book sales? Jules’s website is at http://HelloImHandmade.com. In this episode, we mention my book, Will It Fly? Learn more at http://WillItFlyBook.com. Do you have a question about improve your ebook sales? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Today's sponsor is Freshbooks. Go to http://www.freshbooks.com/askpat and enter "Ask Pat" for more information.

Today's question comes from Mike, who has a question about search engine rankings for specific keywords. Is it possible to rank high for five specific keywords? How can he be sure his website is ranking high across the country, and not just regionally? What are some strategies he can use to improve his search engine rankings for the five keywords? Should he use short-term keywords or long-term keywords? In this episode, I mention http://SEMRush.com, a neat keyword research website. I also mention http://AnswerThePublic.com, a fun website that will give you the who, what, why, and when of your keyword search terms. Do you have a question about search engine rankings and SEO? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. Today's sponsor is Freshbooks. Go to http://www.freshbooks.com/askpat and enter "Ask Pat" for more information.

Today's question comes from Glenn, who has a question about growing his email list by using his email list. He has about 30k people on his list, so how does he continue growing his list by tapping into his audience? What are some email marketing best practices to help grow his email list? What kinds of strategies can he implement to serve his audience while growing his email list? Glenn’s website is at http://SurvivalStill.com. Do you have a question about growing your email list? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. In this episode, I mention two contest tools you can use to grow your email list: King Sumo (KingSumo.com) and Rafflecopter (Rafflecopter.com). Thanks to our sponsor, Design Crowd. To learn more about working with their designers, go to http://designcrowd.com/askpat.