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

Today's question comes from Lauren, who asks about online business training courses. Which is best for her? The courses Lauren mentions are Internet Business Mastery (http://askpat.com/ibm) and Ramit Sethi's Zero to Launch (http://askpat.com/ztl). I also discuss Chris Ducker's Youpreneur (http://www.youpreneur.com/) and Fizzle (http://askpat.com/fizzle).

Today's question comes from Taj, who has claimed his social media accounts but has not started using them yet. Is it too early to start posting if he's not ready to start his business yet? Do you have a question about social media? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Garrett, who has an interview podcast that he records through Skype. How can he improve the audio quality from his guests? Garrett's site is http://www.thesquadroom.net/. The tool I recommend trying is Auphonic (https://auphonic.com/), which can help you automatically process your caller audio. Do you have a question about podcasting? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. If you're planning to start a podcast, follow my podcasting tutorial (http://www.podcastingtutorial.com).

Today's question comes from Riley, who asks how to promote himself better on Fiverr. What can he do to stand out? Also, should he build his own website? Riley talks about the work he does on Fiverr (https://www.fiverr.com/). Do you have a question about marketing your services? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Travis, who asks about the ethics of working with ghostwriters and guest writers. Is it ethical to use ghostwriters for blog posts published under your own name? How do you involve guest writers on your site while still maintaining a relationship with your readers? The transcription service I use is Rev (http://askpat.com/rev). Do you have a question about writing for your website? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Corey, who has a question about the right tools for estimating website traffic. What are the best tools I can use to estimate web traffic of my competitors? Are there other things I should be looking at for website rankings, traffic, and the like? In this episode, I mention a few great analytics tools, including Alexa at http://www.alexa.com/, SEM Rush at http://www.semrush.com/, and http://www.similarweb.com/. Do you have a question about finding the right tools for estimating website traffic? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Aaron, who has a question about communicating with your competition without burning bridges. How can we support each other without creating conflict? Is there room for building relationships with your competitors? What are some ways you can set your website apart from your competitors in your unique niche? Aaron's website is at http://www.hamconnect.com/. Do you have a question about separating your business from your competitors without burning bridges? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/. You can also share your thoughts on this topic on Twitter by using the hashtag #AskPat718

Today's question comes from Jessica, who has a question about organizing the content on her website. Is it okay to have different types of videos on your website? Where do I put those videos? How do you build your website to make your brand more clear for your audience? What are some ways you can instantly explain who you are on your website? Jessica's website is at http://www.jessicacrossasmr.com/. Do you have a question about organizing your website to better serve your audience? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Mark, who has question about the "cold subscribers" on email lists. What are the pros and cons of engaging with cold, or inactive, subscribers? Should I delete my bounced subscribers? What are the best ways to reach out with inactive subscribers? What happens when they do not respond? How many emails do I send to my cold subscribers? Mark's website is at http://www.firstresponderfitness.us/. In this episode, I mention ConvertKit. You can learn more about ConvertKit at http://www.convertkit.com/. I also mention my ebook, Email the Smart Way. You can get this ebook for free at http://www.emailthesmartway.com/. Do you have a question about engaging with your inactive email list subscribers? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Jeanette, who has a question about how her new book can help build her brand and monetize her website. How do I use my book to help promote my brand? What can I do to connect my book to my website? Can the book help me build my email list? Should I write a new book? You can find Jeanette's art and activity website at http://www.craftwhack.com/. In this episode, I mention SPI Episode 37 with Lain Ehmann on monetizing in a hobby niche at http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session37/. I also mention Survey Monkey to help you to get feedback from your audience through surveys. Learn more at http://www.surveymonkey.com/. Do you have a question about leveraging your book to support and monetize your brand and website? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Jake, who is interested in starting a niche site aimed at iPhone users. Is it okay to use the term "iPhone" in his website URL? Jake's website is http://www.goodnightjakeandtraci.com/. I have experience with this issue from my niche site, Green Exam Academy (http://www.greenexamacademy.com/). Jake mentions my book, Will It Fly? (http://willitflybook.com). Do you have a question about intellectual property? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Zubin, who is fatigued by spending so much time in front of his computer. What would I recommend to keep eye strain down? The tool I recommend for adjusting screen brightness is Flux (https://justgetflux.com/). Do you have a question about staying healthy as an entrepreneur? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Rob, who is in the process of migrating his email list from AWeber into ConvertKit. What's the best way to migrate people from AWeber lists into ConvertKit? I'm an advisor for and big fan of the email service provider ConvertKit. They have made advanced email marketing easy and affordable. Check out my affiliate link: http://askpat.com/convertkit. Do you have a question about email marketing? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Lucas, who started his animation business a year ago. He needs to grow his business but doesn't have a significant email list or fan base. What should he focus on right now? Lucas's website is http://mudbrickstudios.com/. Do you have a question about growing your business? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Glenn, who asks why I haven't built a marketplace for buying and selling successful niche websites. There are several marketplaces available where you can buy and sell niche websites, including Flippa (a past sponsor; http://www.flippa.com/). Do you have a question about buying a niche website? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Chris, who in the process of launching a website with a blog. How much content should he have prepared before launch? Here is the FoodTruckr launch post I discuss: http://foodtruckr.com/2013/10/what-i-wish-id-known-before-starting-my-food-truck/. Do you have a question about getting started? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Abel, who asks about how Tim Ferriss's business model compares to mine. Tim doesn't seem to focus as narrowly on a niche as I do—is that a bad business model? Tim was my guest on Smart Passive Income Episode 51 (http://smartpassiveincome.com/session51) and Episode 110 (http://www.smartpassiveincome.com/session110). I also discuss Ramit Sethi (http://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/) and Gary Vaynerchuk (https://www.garyvaynerchuk.com/). Do you have a question about starting a business? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Bryan, who asks about using music in videos and on podcasts. Does he need to buy music or is it sufficient merely to give credit to the artists? Bryan's site is http://thebusinessplan.co/. You can buy music at iStockPhoto.com (http://www.askpat.com/istock-photo) or AudioJungle (https://audiojungle.net/) or use music in the public domain (http://www.pdinfo.com/public-domain-music-list.php). Do you have a question about copyright licenses? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Adriaan, who sends a regular newsletter to his clients. How can he "spice up" his newsletter so that it is valuable for his customers? I'm an advisor for and big fan of the email service provider ConvertKit. They have made advanced email marketing easy and affordable. Check out my affiliate link: http://askpat.com/convertkit. Do you have a question about email marketing? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.

Today's question comes from Paul, who has a weekly podcast that relies on listener-submitted questions. How can he ensure that he gets enough submissions on an ongoing basis? Is there a baseline amount of traffic his website needs? Paul's website is http://godzoneshow.com/. Paul and I both use Speakpipe to collect recorded questions from our audience (http://askpat.com/speakpipe). Do you have a question about podcasting? Record it at http://www.askpat.com/.