Bot Academy

Time...

I love and hate you.

Any of my friends Hunters on Product Hunt?

The U.S. First Amendment protects all speech, including lies.

Before you throw stones at me, I hope you will read on.

In all of history, new ideas, and their originators have been considered heresy, idiocy, and lies, until they weren't.

Let's review just a few as examples.

Nicolaus Copernicus
Galileo Galilei
Giordano Bruno
Charles Darwin
Antoine Lavoisier

These gentlemen faced persecution in their own time for ideas they put forth that are now widely accepted as scientific fact today.

One was placed on house arrest for the final years of his life.
One was burned at the stake.
One had his books banned.
One faced significant controversy.
One was guillotined.

Too bad they didn't have The First Amendment.

What does this have to do with entrepreneurship, and those of us here on LinkedIn?

I'll just list a few names, and their corresponding entrepreneurial ideas that were ridiculed.

Steve Jobs - Fired from Apple, then rehired. Self-proclaimed crazy, misfit, rebel 🏴‍☠️
Jeff Bezos - Amazon was mocked as Amazon.bomb 💥
Elon Musk - I can't even list how SpaceX, Tesla, and Neuralink have been characterized, but thank you to them all. He is currently being called "H1tl3r" for protecting free speech through X. 🎉
Reed Hastings - Established video rental companies dismissed this upstart Netflix dvd-by-mail rental idea that later introduced internet streaming of movies 🤣
Travis Kalanick - Uber faced significant regulatory pushback, and criticism from the taxi industry 🚖

Do I need to go on?

All of these companies are U.S. founded companies, and their ideas were considered lies at first.

- You can have a phone that can replace your computer - not possible - lie.
- You can sell books online - not possible - lie.
- You can create a profitable electric car company with a rabid community following - not possible - lie.
- You can create a reusable rocket company - not possible - lie.
- You can create a computer chip to embed into the brains of humans to reanimate physical disabilities - not possible - lie.
- You can rent movies to the masses through the mail, then start a movie streaming service online - not possible - lie.
- You can use an app on your phone to call for a ride from a stranger, and you will actually get in their car - not possible - lie.

If the U.S. did not have the First Amendment that protects free speech from government regulation and control, imagine what could have happened to these amazing entrepreneurs and their world-changing ideas (evidence by what is currently happening to Elon).

The First Amendment does not protect certain kinds of speech. It protects all speech, especially offensive speech that most people consider a lie.

Before those of you compelled to give me the "yelling fire in a crowded theater" argument, stop the knee-jerk reaction, and just think for a minute about the context in which I'm presenting my statements. Context matters, and you know it.

So, what do you think?

Is it important that these types of lies are protected under the First Amendment?

Do you remember that feeling when you first discover someone who gets you?

Who understands what you're going through?

Who isn't just shining you on?

Yeah, that's the beginning of a relationship. Personal and professional, it's the same.

And, remember how you wanted to be around that person all the time?

You thought of them when you had a new idea you knew they would relate to.

You knew they would get that inside joke?

Yeah, that's demand. Personal and professional, it's the same.

Are you investing in the relationship your potential buyers need to demand your solution?

It's not about the Attention Economy any more.

Attention only gets likes, and vanity metrics.

It's about the Relationship Economy.

Are you in?

When you stop following someone else's script for success on social, and embrace your own uniqueness is when you finally don't give a s**t what anyone else thinks.

If you're quirky, be quirky.

If you're stoic, be stoic.

If you're mischievous, let's make some mischief.

Be You, and those who resonate will love that.

Way more than if you were trying to be someone else.

If you don't believe me, take it from Jalapeño Joe.

I'm not apologizing.

Too bad that the algorithm zombies don't like me switching things up.

Here's the deal.

When I find something that lights me up, I dive in deep.

Usually, I do this for several years, and don't give up easily.

This means that since my first entrepreneurial adventure in 2003, I've jumped into 7 different pools, and dived deep into each one.

That's an average of 3 years each, but in truth, some were 10 years, and some were 6 months.

I can pivot quickly if I need.

That means, the social overlords don't like me much.

They can't pin me on a board, and know who I am.

They can't figure out who to show my stuff to.

I was chatting with one of my dear friends the other day, and she said that she knows that I will innovate and discover the next amazing thing, and share it with her.

She loves that about me.

That was one of the best compliments anyone has ever given me.

That is what I love to do.

I listen to people.

I talk to people.

If this thing, or that thing lights me up, I dive in, then share.

So, what lights me up right now?

Video, but not in the way you think.

AI, but also not in the way you think.

Education, but completely contrary to the way you probably think.

What about you?

Do you stick with the same thing for years, and find fulfillment in it anew every day?

Or, are you a wanderer like me?

I need an Ad Specialist (Meta &/or Google) for a client.

Who is your favorite?

Spicy Sauce for the day 🌶️

Funnels, Funnels everywhere, and movements hard to find.

By design, sales funnels are a one-way tickets to a sale.

The purpose is for you to capture, and sell to as many leads as possible.

→ Top of funnel is designed to CAPTURE potential leads.
→ Middle of funnel is designed to PERSUADE those leads to buy.
→ Bottom of funnel is designed to SELL through fear of missing out, false urgency, and upsells/downsells.

Buyer's funnels, however, require a major mindset shift to understand and embrace.

The purpose is for a buyer to invite you into their buying process.

🌶️ Top of funnel is designed for a buyer to become AWARE of the potential solutions to their problem.
🌶️ Middle of funnel is designed for a buyer to CONSIDER all their options through research online.
🌶️ Bottom of funnel is designed for the buyer to become READY to buy from businesses they now know, like and trust to offer the best solution.

The language and intent of these funnels are diametrically opposed, and the true distinction can be seen in the middle.

The middle of a sales funnel is where we persuade, and sell leads through monologues.

The middle of a buyer's funnel is where we are considered as a trusted source by the buyer through dialogues.

A 2023 Gartner study showed that 75% of consumers prefer a seller-free buying experience.

No one wants to be sold, but everyone wants to buy.

Are you ready to start doing the work to secure the trust of your buyer's invitation?

I don't think anyone can say that ad costs have dropped over the last decade, so unless your margins can continue shrinking at the same rate, you need to start doing something different.

Here is that different. 👇👇👇

Let me know what you think.

Trouble building trust, and 7 ways to fix it.

Number 3 might offend some people 🔥🔥🔥!

Let's start with a basic truth:

Building trust is critical to building traction, converting customers, and turning them into advocates.

Here are 7 mistakes, and their solutions.

1. Your ideal customer isn't your main focus.

You can't really build trust until you focus on those you are uniquely qualified to serve. If your digital footprint is all over the map, your audience's mind will be too. No focus means no connection between your content, your solution & your customer.

Fix: Dig deep to clearly understand who you serve, and why you are the best to do so.

2. No clarity on your point-of-view (POV).

The biggest mistake you can make is producing 'status quo' content. That means it looks, acts, and feels like everyone else's content - it's not different. Do this and you attract the wrong audience.

Fix: Dive deep into what you're for and against. Share that everywhere.

3. Selling in the DMs.

I know you've experienced this one. You connect with a new person & they immediately send you a DM selling their stuff. You damage your reputation and brand when you do that.

Fix: Be genuine in your connection. Check out their content, and find something you align with. Comment on their stuff for at least a week. If you can't find anything, move on. When you're ready to connect deeper, share an interactive video clip that shares your alignment. We are enjoying 80% conversion to booked appointment with this relationship formula.

4. Collecting emails for email automations.

With 20% open rate averages, this only annoys a lot of people.

Fix: Email is no longer email, it's an opportunity to engage with interactive video. Potential buyers can choose their own experience with your content.

5. Using automated marketing funnels.

These are designed as one-way tickets to your customer's wallets, which typically only get the 3% already ready to buy. And, you just bug the hell out of the other 97%

Fix: Add interactive videos to your VSL's, and allow your audience to experience your stuff at their own pace, and personally engage with it.

6. Not using audio and video content.

While posts, newsletters, and blogs were good in their time, people now crave audio & video. More importantly people want interaction and community. Ever hear the term TL;DR (too long, didn't read)?

Fix: Please consider exploring podcasting, and interactive video as part of your content mix. Videos do great on Facebook - but get people into the world you own ASAP.

7. Focusing solely on transactions.

We all love customers, and the revenue they provide. But, chasing wallets puts you on a hamster wheel to burn-out. Because, you have to continue chasing.

Fix: Build relationships. This will increase your customer LTV by keeping your existing customers coming back. You can do this at scale with interactive video.

I would love to hear what you think! 👇👇👇

Your personal branding and POV is no longer just an added benefit, it has become essential for success.

The way you showcase yourself online can determine whether you optimize the right opportunities or miss out on them.

Developing your personal brand, and POV entails creating a tribe, a community of people who share your values, what you stand for, and against.

As we move forward, it's all about forging connections and sharing mutual moments with others.

Meaningful relationships, engaging with others, and thriving together are more important than self promotion and lead generation.

Since over 50% of the global population are Native Digitals (those 35 and younger), this shift has already happened.

Native Digitals reject the old business rules of lead generation, email marketing, funnels and algorithms.

Native Digitals crave and embrace interaction and community.

Creating a 'movement' is the new code to crack for business success. This is the natural result when you create strong interaction and a thriving community.

a 2023 Hubspot study found that 70% of consumers are more likely to trust a company after watching a video from the CEO. 55% of consumers are more likely to recommend a company to others after watching a video from the CEO.

When that CEO uses her POV to relate to her audience, potential buyers and customers, she can enjoy that 70% and 55% of recommendations.

So it's about being relatable.

Showing your authenticity and vulnerability to build trust and relationships is being relatable.

Being relatable means building video dialogues to replace the one-way monologues present in most funnels.

Share your point of view, and put status quo funnels in your rear-view mirror.

The best way to do this is with interactive video.

See how we've done it at Relatable. 👇👇👇

Trouble building trust, and 7 ways to fix it.

Number 3 might offend some people 🔥🔥🔥!

Let's start with a basic truth:

Building trust is critical to building traction, converting customers, and turning them into advocates.

Here are 7 mistakes, and their solutions.

1. Your ideal customer isn't your main focus.
You can't really build trust until you focus on those you are uniquely qualified to serve.
If your digital footprint is all over the map, your audience's mind will be too.
No focus means no connection between your content, your solution & your customer.

Fix: Dig deep to clearly understand who you serve, and why you are the best to do so.

2. No clarity on your point-of-view (POV).
The biggest mistake you can make is producing 'status quo' content.
That means it looks, acts, and feels like everyone else's content - it's not different.
Do this and you attract the wrong audience.

Fix: Dive deep into what you're for and against. Share that everywhere.

3. Selling in the DMs.
I know you've experienced this one.
You connect with a new person & they immediately send you a DM selling their stuff.
You damage your reputation and brand when you do that.

Fix: Be genuine in your connection. Check out their content, and find something you align with. Comment on their stuff for at least a week. If you can't find anything, move on. When you're ready to connect deeper, share an interactive video clip that shares your alignment.

4. Collecting emails for email automations.
With 20% open rate averages, this only annoys a lot of people.

Fix: Email is no longer email, it's an opportunity to engage with interactive video. Potential buyers can choose their own experience with your content.

5. Using automated marketing funnels.
These are designed as one-way tickets to your customer's wallets, which typically only get the 3% already ready to buy.
And, you just bug the hell out of the other 97%

Fix: Add interactive videos to your VSL's, and allow your audience to experience your stuff at their own pace.

6. Not using audio and video content.
While posts, newsletters, and blogs were good in their time.
People now crave audio & video.
More importantly people want interaction and community.
Every hear the term TL;DR (too long, didn't read).

Fix: Please consider exploring podcasting, and interactive video as part of your content mix. Videos do great on LinkedIn - but get people into the world you own ASAP.

7. Focusing solely on transactions.
We all love customers, and the revenue they provide.
But, chasing wallets puts you on a hamster wheel to burn-out.
Because, you have to keep chasing.

Fix: Build relationships. This will increase your customer LTV by keeping your existing customers coming back. You can do this at scale with interactive video.

I would love to hear what you think! 👇