黑料门

Online Influence and Advice from E-commerce OG

Steve Olsher has reinvented himself many times over from catalogs to聽selling on聽Compuserve and聽an聽e-commerce site in聽1995. He聽was preparing for聽an聽IPO until the聽dotcom bust, scuttled those plans, and聽then reclaimed the聽URL several years later. Skipping ahead to聽current days we聽discuss how to聽get influence and聽followers, and聽聯What is聽your what?聰

Transcript

Richard: Hey, what鈥檚 happening, Jesse?

Jesse: It鈥檚 a聽good day Richie, how about you?

Richard: I鈥檓 excited. I鈥檓 excited, I聽get to聽turn the聽mic on聽someone today. Our guest is聽full disclosure is聽a聽friend of聽mine actually do聽another podcast with Steve Olsher.

Jesse: So聽now you get to聽ask the聽difficult questions of聽him that鈥

Richard: Yeah, put him on聽the聽spot. But the聽thing is, I聽also know, we聽don鈥檛 have to聽do聽a聽lot of聽talking, because this guy, he鈥檚 a聽podcaster too, so聽he聽can talk for聽a聽long time, but you think you and聽I聽have been in聽the聽e-commerce space for聽a聽while? This guy is聽like OG聽OG, he聽is聽on聽CompuServe electronic mall, like in聽1993, was it聽Steve?

Steve:: 93, Yeah.

Richard:: Yeah. All right, so聽let鈥檚 just get straight to聽the聽point, let鈥檚 bring on聽Steve Olsher聽鈥 friend, buddy and聽influencer extraordinaire. How鈥檚 it聽going Steve?

Steve:: Good. Thanks for聽having me. Good to聽see you, yes.

Richard:: We聽are excited. So, you know, we聽talk a聽lot, our audience obviously is聽e-commerce and聽we聽talk a聽lot about, you know, SEO and聽Pay-Per-Click and聽you know super fun stuff.

Steve:: Would you classify that as聽super fun stuff?

Richard:: (Laughing) Yeah, super fun stuff, yes you鈥檙e right all the聽sarcasm in聽my, but鈥 Why we聽wanted to聽bring you on聽board, actually a聽couple of聽reasons, but the聽main reason was, knowing that you can place an聽ad聽and, that ad聽can drive you traffic, that鈥檚 great, but when you have influence and聽you have an聽audience, that can live on聽and聽they鈥檒l follow you, as聽you know they鈥檒l follow you to聽do聽many things from鈥

Steve:: It聽keeps driving traffic after the聽ads are over.

Richard:: Ads are long gone now. So, let鈥檚 give them a聽little bit of聽a聽brief story, because I聽kind of聽obviously alluded to聽it, you鈥檝e done e-commerce in聽the聽past and聽then we鈥檒l bring them full circle to聽what you鈥檙e doing these days and聽how you think building an聽audience could help our e-commerce listeners.

Steve:: So, if聽you鈥檙e asking me聽to聽go聽back-back and聽kind of聽bring folks up聽to聽speed. Yeah, I聽mean, it聽started out, you talked about the聽original e-commerce. It聽was more of聽what I聽would call 聯paper commerce聰, right, because I聽started out the聽catalog industry. So, even before you had the聽opportunity to聽go聽online and聽buy the聽stuff that you can now buy on聽catalogs, I聽mean, that鈥檚 where I聽started, right, when direct mail and聽catalogs and聽so聽on, so聽people would, well, you remember the聽good old days of聽picking up聽a聽phone and聽calling someone and聽ordering like.

Richard:: People did that? (Laughing)

Steve:: I聽know it聽seems so聽hard to聽believe, but yeah that was the聽embryonic stage of聽the聽business that we聽ended up聽launching on聽CompuServe鈥檚 electronic mall in聽93. So, basically, what that company did is, just like to聽view the聽FTD is聽for聽flowers, where if聽you鈥檙e in聽California and聽your buddy closed a聽big deal in聽New York and聽you want to聽send him a聽bottle of, you know, champagne or聽something like that or聽in聽the聽case of聽flowers you want to聽send him a聽bouquet of聽flowers, which of聽course is聽exactly what you do聽to聽a聽guy, who just close to聽big deal in聽New York (laughing.) But, basically, they would use their local florist to聽deliver that probably well we聽would use local liquor stores to聽deliver wine and聽champagne and聽spirits etc.. So, that company, which was called Liquor by聽Wire ended up聽launching a聽store on聽CompuServe鈥檚 electronic mall in聽93聽and聽really I聽just looked at聽it聽from the聽standpoint of, it鈥檚 another vehicle for聽exposure. I聽mean, that鈥檚 really all I聽was looking at聽it聽as聽in聽terms of, well maybe a聽catalog is聽really expensive, I聽mean, to聽the聽tune of, I聽don鈥檛 remember off the聽top of聽my聽head, but between printing, and聽mailing, and, you know, the聽shipping services like everything that went into that, it聽was probably a聽buck per catalog, right, to聽try to聽mail it聽out.

Richard:: The original 聯pay per click聰.

Steve:: The original PAYPER, right. Yeah that鈥檚 good right. So, this was just an聽opportunity I聽thought to聽get an聽equal number of聽people with their eyeballs on聽what it聽is聽that you鈥檙e doing for聽a聽heck of聽a聽lot less money. And, so, in聽the聽grocery store, like most of聽us聽at聽that point in聽time where you鈥檙e walking out the聽checkout, you know, the聽checkout aisles and聽you see the聽disks, there at聽the聽counter, you get the聽CompuServe鈥檚 and聽the聽AOL鈥檚 and聽the聽Prodigy鈥檚, right. I聽mean, it鈥檚 those other products.

Richard:: I聽forgot they got the聽sound effects, like 聯ding聰.

Steve:: And it聽was those, you know, those types of聽days, I聽mean, with, I鈥檓 trying to聽think, but I聽think the聽first modem that I聽had was actually not the聽14聽4,聽because I聽remember that was an聽upgrade. So, it聽may have been the聽72聽100, but modem I聽think it聽was the聽original dial-up connection. And I聽put it聽this way, like, I聽was so聽early on聽to聽the, it聽wasn鈥檛 even really the聽Internet at聽that point, like it聽was just like BBS boards, and, so聽I聽mean come on聽I鈥檓 a聽20聽something guy and, you know, the聽Internet was built on聽what everything is聽built on, from an聽industry perspective, which is聽of聽course well鈥 porn.

Richard:: Pornography, yeah!

Steve:: Exactly. So, he聽got to聽the聽point where, you know, I聽would be聽able to聽tell pretty much if聽I聽was trying to聽download a聽picture of聽a聽woman, I聽could tell pretty much by聽her eyebrows, if聽I聽wanted to聽keep letting it聽go聽line by聽line. So, I聽became quite the聽eyebrow aficionado at聽that point. But, now I聽don鈥檛 know the聽eyebrows don鈥檛 work, so聽we聽stopped that picture. But, you know, it鈥檚 funny looking back on聽it. It鈥檚 crazy, that we聽were able to聽do聽anything online, given how slow everything was. I聽mean, like it聽would literally take in聽of聽course, you know, sort of聽being facetious about the聽eyebrow thing, but reality is聽for聽us聽to聽put up聽some bottles of聽wine or聽abolish champagne or聽something like that for聽somebody to聽download a聽picture of聽it. I聽mean, it聽would take every bit of聽two minutes for聽a聽single image, right, of聽a聽bottle of聽wine to聽load. So, that鈥檚 how far it聽goes back. But I聽knew that I聽knew that this whole Internet world, whatever it聽was going to聽be, was going to聽be聽something massive, because, you know, just how else can you communicate with people across the聽globe, like, you couldn鈥檛 do聽it. There was literally no聽way for聽the聽average person in聽a聽room, in聽the聽middle of, in聽this case that was living in聽Chicago. There were no聽real ways for聽me聽to聽communicate with people across the聽globe easily and聽cost effectively and聽so, I聽just knew I聽didn鈥檛 know what it聽was going to聽be, but I聽knew that there was something there we聽had to聽take a聽look at.

Richard:: A聽lot of聽people, kind of, they knew what was coming, but what shape or聽form that was going to聽be, it聽was kind of聽like 聯uh聰. And this is聽pre, you know.

Steve:: Pre-internet. So, to聽suggest the聽Internet existed, but this was on聽a聽closed, almost like a聽closed circuit, really, I聽mean, that user was a聽standalone dial in聽to聽get it聽platform.

Richard:: You got to聽play by聽their rules like.

Steve:: Totally.

Jesse:: Kind of聽like, sort of聽like Facebook has their walled garden now, like if聽they kick you out, you鈥檙e gone.

Richard:: And you obviously could. You saw a聽bit into the聽future, because this, I聽mean, everybody during the聽dotcom time, when people are, you know, getting a聽10-million dollars business plan on聽a聽napkin, you know, by聽then it聽was 聯ok cool, you saw the聽future.聰 But this is聽preven all that stuff going on.

Steve:: Well, 95聽was the聽first year that we聽put an聽actual website, online. And we聽built Audi. We聽had to聽custom-build out a聽fully-functional e-commerce site, like, build out a聽shopping cart and聽build out鈥 It鈥檚 funny to聽talk about now, right.

Richard:: Especially to聽our listeners, because they can just put a聽snippet of聽code on聽a聽WordPress site to聽get a聽shopping cart.

Steve:: You know, it鈥檚 crazy, but I聽mean, like, literally, we聽had three people on聽our tech team who had to聽literally create everything from scratch, just so聽that somebody could click on聽a聽bottle of聽wine and聽order that by聽putting it聽into a聽shopping cart to聽then provide the聽billing information and聽the聽receiver information, and, you know, God forbid, the聽credit card information, we聽taking credit cards online at聽that point was not what it聽is聽today by聽any聽stretch, I聽mean, that was, like, you had to聽jump through some serious hoops like fill out pages, and聽pages, and聽pages, and聽pages for聽an聽application to聽get a聽merchant account and聽then integrate all of聽those pieces together.

Richard:: Not to聽mention the聽people that are afraid to聽put that card into the聽computer.

Steve:: Yeah, exactly.

Jesse:: And you鈥檙e selling booze too鈥

Steve:: Yeah, I聽mean it鈥檚 in聽the聽vice space. So, there were a聽lot of聽interesting hurdles that we聽had to聽get over there and聽a聽lot of聽obstacles in聽the聽way, but the聽truth is聽that when we聽launched our our first fully-functional e-commerce site it聽was right around the聽time that Amazon launched theirs and聽we聽haven鈥檛 done quite as聽well as聽they did.

Richard:: Who knew books would be聽the聽entry point instead of聽booze.

Steve:: Yeah, right. Yeah. It鈥檚 crazy what鈥檚 happened obviously over there, but those were some fun days, you know, reality is聽those were some fun days, that store that we聽launched on聽CompuServe electronic mall in聽93, that eventually became its own standalone site in聽95. That company Liquor by聽Wire became liquor.com, when I聽bought that domain in聽98聽and聽those were some interesting years, 98聽through 2000聽or聽early 2000, I聽mean, things were just absolutely booming.

Richard:: What did you get that for聽again?

Steve:: 75聽hundred bucks.

Richard:: 75聽hundred bucks.

Steve:: A聽time at聽the聽time it聽was a聽big spend. Yeah, you know, I聽mean we聽got liquor.com and聽bourbon.com in聽that same fell swoop there and聽75聽hundred bucks was a聽lot, I聽mean, it聽was one of聽those leaps of聽faith where it鈥檚, like, 聯Jesus, do聽we聽spend that money?聰 I聽mean, like, even today as聽I聽think about 75聽hundred bucks for聽an聽outlay on聽something like 聯yeah you still got to聽stop and聽think about whether or聽not that鈥檚 something you want to聽do.聰 Yes, 98, you know, it鈥檚 not really good on聽the聽inflation numbers I聽don鈥檛 know what the聽exact numbers would be, but, you know, figure it鈥檚 probably 15聽to聽20聽k聽or聽something 20聽something years ago right and聽in聽terms of聽today鈥檚 dollars, and聽that will cause you to聽at聽least pause for聽a聽moment and聽say: 聯Hey, is聽this something that鈥檚 actually going to聽make sense.聰

Richard:: Yeah. So, wow. I聽mean, I聽know enough about you we聽could literally sit here and聽talk for聽days, but I聽don鈥檛 want to聽put you through that and聽I聽don鈥檛 want to聽put our listeners through that right now, but I鈥檓 trying to聽think of, so聽it聽ends up聽being liquor.com. You鈥檝e moved on聽since then although you still do聽own liquor.com.

Steve:: I聽mean, lots of聽iterations since then, so聽March of聽2000, we聽actually had the聽S1聽filed and聽we聽were ready to聽go聽public. And that was the聽beginning of聽the聽end for聽Nasdaq and聽the聽markets in聽general at聽that point, right, so聽that was the聽first, that was really the聽first big crash, doesn鈥檛 get as聽much attention as聽the聽Great Recession, but what happened in聽the聽tech space was as聽much of聽a聽depression as聽I聽think you鈥檒l ever see, I聽mean, that was Nasdaq 55聽hundred at聽that point and聽within a聽matter of聽maybe a聽week, two weeks, three weeks, whatever it聽was, I聽think the聽Nasdaq was down to, like, 22聽hundred points. Something like that. It聽was, I聽mean, it聽was a聽huge hit and聽obviously we聽didn鈥檛 get out we聽weren鈥檛 able to聽go聽public and聽we聽had brought in聽outside managers, they lettered Saviour鈥檚, that Wall Street wanted to聽see, you know, the聽CEOs and聽CMO, CFO, CTOs, all those people. And when we聽couldn鈥檛 go聽public it聽just became really clear that the聽management that we聽had brought in聽to聽help bring us聽to聽this so-called promised land. And of聽course we聽were completely blinded by聽the聽dotcom light and聽all the聽zeros that we聽were looking at聽on聽paper there were like: 聯OK, you know, bring these folks and聽let鈥檚 do聽it.聰 But they really had no聽clue what they were doing. And I聽walked away, I聽walked away from the聽company after the聽nine years of聽building it聽up, walked away from the聽company and聽walked away from the聽domain as聽well. And it聽was an聽interesting period of聽time but it聽was literally just out of聽sight out of聽mind, and聽interesting turn of聽events, but I聽was able to聽reclaim the聽domain in聽2006聽from a聽guy who somehow had gotten it, again I聽hadn鈥檛 signed away my聽rights to聽the聽domain. I聽really hadn鈥檛 signed away my聽rights to聽anything other than management of聽the聽company. But I聽was able to聽reclaim the聽domain in聽2006聽and聽subsequently put it聽up聽for聽sale and聽want to聽guess how much the聽offer was in聽2006?

Jesse:: A聽million bucks?

Steve:: 4.25, 4.25聽yeah, just for聽the聽domain.

Richard:: So, now that 75聽hundred dollars didn鈥檛 sound too bad.

Steve:: Pretty good. We鈥檒l take that return all day long. But, yeah, that was interesting too, because the聽guy made the聽first few payments and聽then he聽bailed on聽the聽rest. So, I聽kept the聽money and聽I聽kept the聽domain.

Jesse:: So, even better.

Richard:: I鈥檝e never asked you this, but those first few payments more than the聽75聽hundred?

Steve:: Oh聽yes, substantially more.

Richard:: Yes. So聽you got it聽back and聽you got the聽domain back.

Steve:: Exactly.

Richard:: Yeah, good, you got paid for聽that domain.

Steve:: So聽and聽then some, yeah. And, so, I聽don鈥檛 have any聽day to聽day with it聽right now. But we聽did put together a聽team that runs it聽out of聽San Francisco. And so聽as聽of聽2009聽I鈥檝e had that that partnership in聽place and, this is聽a聽team running out of聽San Fran interestingly enough as聽far as聽this show is聽concerned, would you believe, this will kill you guys. So聽we聽get about 40聽million uniques to聽the聽site yearly. I聽want to聽make you think that鈥檚 daily or聽weekly or聽monthly. So聽that鈥檚 yearly right now. Now we鈥檝e got one of聽the聽world鈥檚 largest databases if聽not the聽world鈥檚 largest database of聽bartenders and聽we鈥檝e got about 4聽million active subscribers right now on聽the聽site. Number one number two in聽any聽SEO search you can think of. And we聽don鈥檛 sell a聽damn thing on聽the聽site.

Richard:: Not even a聽damn cocktail spoon.

Steve:: Yeah, exactly. Believe me聽it聽pains me聽too.

Richard:: Well, it鈥檚 all right. Well, we鈥檒l continue that conversation to聽see if聽we聽can.

Jesse:: We聽might have to聽go聽maybe some happy hour lunch here and聽convince you something.

Steve:: All we聽need is聽a聽few good listeners to聽throw together some cash. Let鈥檚 go聽get that bad boy and聽call it聽a聽day. All the聽pieces are there.

Jesse:: Just as聽the聽phone lines open.

Richard:: So, you鈥檝e done a聽few other things since then and聽we鈥檒l kind of聽fast forward, you鈥檝e done real estate development, you鈥檝e done multiple things and聽you still sell things online. It鈥檚 just not as聽much a聽widget these days. You have courses and聽you help people do聽things that online education. From the聽world of聽influence and聽specifically keeping in聽mind e-commerce listeners here, and聽we聽talk about all that fun stuff of聽the聽SEO, you know, facetiously again, but what is聽it聽that you could recommend or聽why would they care about influence, whether it鈥檚 blogging, or聽vlogging, or聽podcasting. Give them a聽little backstory on聽what you鈥檝e learned, what you鈥檝e experienced and聽why should they care about influence?

Steve:: Yeah, look, I鈥檓 not going to聽sit here and聽say that 聯you absolutely should be聽moving down the聽path of聽trying to聽build influence,聰 I聽mean, there鈥檚 plenty of聽people like on聽our show beyond 8聽figures where we聽sit down with entrepreneurs who鈥檝e either ex褋ited for聽more than 10聽million or聽currently run 10聽million dollar plus businesses. It鈥檚 amazing how many those guys just fly under the聽radar, right. Like they鈥檝e got no聽interest in聽influence. Just let me聽just run my聽business let me聽sell my聽stuff and聽let me聽pocket my聽change and聽call it聽a聽day. So, for聽me聽though, because I聽am聽the聽brand, so聽to聽speak, where I聽don鈥檛 have a聽widget that could stand alone and聽be聽sold without me, there needs to聽be聽influence tied to聽that from the聽standpoint of聽being recognized of聽having some albeit, I鈥檓 not going to聽sit here and聽say that my聽level of聽influence is聽comparable with some of聽the聽folks, who I鈥檝e run with over the聽years, but it鈥檚 good enough, if聽you will in聽this space, but to聽me聽we聽broached this earlier, to聽me聽influence is聽really about everything, that you can do聽without spending a聽dime and聽investing a聽dime to聽make something happen. So, influence to聽me聽is聽basically, and聽I聽had a聽course at聽one point, called 聯Push Button Influence聰, right, which was all about being able to聽push a聽button and聽make something happen. And that to聽me聽is聽ultimately what it聽boils down to聽is, can you click on聽something on聽your page or, you know, in聽your CRM, or聽whatever hit send, whatever it聽might be聽hit post, you know, accessory and聽make something happen. And if聽you have that combined with a聽really good product, program or聽service, you can pretty much write your own ticket.

Richard:: Yeah. And so, to聽your point there you are saying, you don鈥檛 necessarily have to聽create the聽influence a聽lot of聽times, I聽know you had a聽couple of聽courses out there, specifically one course where you teach people to聽utilize other people鈥檚 influence, maybe guesting on聽the聽people shows or聽appearing on聽their show or聽doing some co-branding thing together.

Jesse:: Is聽that fitting for聽today鈥檚 interview, you know?

Richard:: Yeah, exactly, so. So, what would you recommend, so聽someone鈥檚 there, they have an聽e-commerce widget, for聽reaching out to聽other influencers, maybe they don鈥檛 have the聽time to聽start their own podcast or, you know, what they probably should do聽some form of聽blogging, just because they have a聽site already there. But what do聽you recommend as聽far as聽them getting to聽know other people, or聽getting to聽know other influencers or聽what they could do. Do聽you have a聽couple of聽tips that you could help them with?

Steve:: Yeah. And I聽think what you鈥檙e alluding to聽is聽how do聽you leverage the聽power of聽other people鈥檚 platforms without having to聽put all the聽money into, you know, developing your own, which is聽certainly, I聽think a聽very smart approach to聽building influence, without having to聽do聽all the聽work, I聽mean, this is聽a聽perfect example of聽coming on聽to聽podcasts, right. I聽mean, coming on聽sharing your brilliance and聽letting, in聽this case you guys do聽all the聽work, right. I聽mean, you it鈥檚 your job to聽do聽the聽editing, it鈥檚 your job to聽do聽the聽production, it鈥檚 your job to聽get this episode out and聽for聽folks to聽actually hear it. And all I聽do聽is聽I聽just step in聽and聽I鈥檓 sharing my聽brilliance for聽a聽little bit. And I聽basically I鈥檓 riding the聽coattails of聽all of聽those efforts.

So, that鈥檚 definitely something that works really well, being a聽guest on聽shows, but it聽extends beyond that, I聽mean, you can certainly appear on聽podcasts, but you can also guest blog, I聽mean guest blogging is聽a聽perfect example of聽another way to聽do聽it, I聽mean, if聽you鈥檝e got expertise on聽a聽particular subject, you can go聽to聽a聽site, well like a聽liquor.com, I聽mean, we鈥檝e got DrinkWire, which is聽part of聽liquor.com, where folks, typically bartenders provide content and聽they contribute content. And it鈥檚 no聽different than any聽other platform, where people have spent an聽ample amount of聽time, creating that audience building that audience and聽then you step in聽and聽get the聽benefit of聽that audience. So, liquor.com through DrinkWire is聽very similar, but you can do聽something in聽your industry, I聽mean, like, in聽terms of聽e-commerce, e-commerce expert go聽to聽where folks are listening to聽e-commerce discussions like this or聽go聽to聽blogs where people are talking about e-commerce, etc., I聽mean, why not get the聽benefit of聽all the聽work and聽oftentimes, years and聽years and聽sometimes decades of聽work that they have put into building that audience, so, yeah, I聽mean, podcasting is聽a聽great way to聽make it聽happen, of聽course, and聽the聽medium continues to聽grow and聽I鈥檓 a聽huge fan of聽getting onto other people鈥檚 shows, I聽mean, I鈥檝e got a聽course called 聯Profiting from Podcasts聰 which all focuses on, getting onto other people shows and聽then monetizing that visibility. So, huge opportunity, no聽doubt, but at聽the聽end of聽the聽day, I聽do聽think that you still have to聽parlay that into the聽creation of聽your own platform because much like you mentioned Facebook earlier as聽one of聽those, you know, closed circuit sort of聽platforms, I聽mean, if聽they get pissed off at聽you for聽whatever reason they pull the聽plug what was it聽all the聽all small things are all little things, or聽little big things or聽whatever.

Richard:: There was a聽bunch of聽things yesterday. I聽mean, not to聽get into the聽political, but there were like 800聽total pages or聽something got took down yesterday, if聽you were too far to聽the聽right.

Steve:: Of聽the聽right, too far to聽the聽left, yeah, I聽mean, if聽you just wake up聽with, you know, kind of聽a聽thorn in聽your sock, I鈥檒l put it聽to聽you that way, you know, it鈥檚 like, it聽just it鈥檚 based on聽the聽whims of聽others, you just don鈥檛 want to聽be聽in聽a聽situation where your livelihood is聽dependent on聽someone else鈥檚 platform.

Richard:: Yeah. Well, in聽kind of聽to聽your point kind of聽building on聽that. We聽talk about this quite often and聽I聽talk about balancing people around, like, it鈥檚 totally OK, go, utilize other people鈥檚 platforms as聽much as聽you can, as聽long as聽you can, but at聽any聽given time when they decide to聽take their basketball home, you know, you got to聽be聽able to聽have an聽audience on聽your email list, pixel on聽your website, know whatever it聽is.

So, you鈥檝e done a聽bunch of聽stuff. Not only do聽I聽think you鈥檙e a聽good person to聽have on聽the聽show to聽help talk just about influence in聽general, but even though there鈥檚 multiple 黑料门 sites, a聽million plus businesses, a聽lot of聽them are just starting out. So, one of聽the聽things that you鈥檙e really good at聽helping people with, is聽just what they should be聽doing or聽what they should be聽focused on, or聽what they鈥檙e about, and聽the聽audience that they serve, would you give us聽a聽little bit of, you know, I聽know you鈥檙e an聽author as聽well, so聽why don鈥檛 you tell us聽a聽little bit about what you got going there and聽how that might be聽able to聽help them, and聽I聽know, you know, we聽only have you here for聽a聽little bit of聽time. We鈥檒l definitely love to聽get you back another time, but you also have a聽gift for聽the聽audience. Give us聽a聽little bit of聽backstory on聽that and聽then let us聽know where they should go聽to聽check out the聽gift.

Steve:: Yeah. So, I聽mean, I聽believe you鈥檙e heading down the聽path of聽the聽whole discussion around understanding what you were what is聽as聽I聽call it. So, the聽book you鈥檙e referring to聽is聽a聽book called 聯What is聽Your What?聰 and聽discovering the聽what amazing thing you were born to聽do聽as聽a聽subtitle on聽that, but the聽idea here is, you know, we鈥檙e each wired to聽excel in聽very specific ways and聽you have a聽unique gift that is, well, I聽mean, it鈥檚 in聽your DNA as聽I聽like to聽say, it鈥檚 that which is聽chosen you as聽opposed to聽that which you have chosen. So, once you figure out what that gift is, the聽question is聽what鈥檚 the聽primary vehicle that you鈥檙e going to聽use to聽share that gift and聽then, lastly, who are the聽people that you鈥檙e most compelled to聽serve. And, so, it鈥檚 the聽combination of聽the聽gifts the聽vehicles the聽people that make up聽the聽what is聽your what framework. And reality is, if聽you can get that dialed in, especially you may not have complete clarity around what your gift is, but if聽you can identify a聽subset of聽the聽population that you鈥檙e most compelled to聽serve, you can identify a聽vehicle that you can use to聽then share something with them, that would be聽of聽value to聽them that would serve them in聽a聽powerful way. And, so, even just those two pieces alone you may back into what your gift is, but I聽do聽think that, when it聽comes to聽e-commerce in聽this context鈥 Yeah, I聽mean, like we聽had a聽guy on聽eight figures I聽won鈥檛 name names here. But just know, who is聽coming. But more specifically about the聽guy who sells ink toner and聽cartridges and聽that sort of聽thing, and聽I聽don鈥檛 want to聽just make a聽shameless plug for聽him, but on聽that show, you know, I聽mean, that reality is聽just a聽commodity-oriented business. And in聽the聽world of聽e-commerce you can do聽really-really well, just with selling a聽widget, right, whatever that widget is聽and聽have some sort of聽commodity and, so, I鈥檓 not sitting here saying that everything that you do聽has to聽be聽something that really puts fire in聽your soul. Maybe it鈥檚 just your day job and聽then in聽your off hours and聽your weekends etc., you know, you do聽things that you find a聽lot more interesting. So, I鈥檓 not going to聽sit here and聽tell you that you can鈥檛 make a聽phenomenal living just picking a聽widget and聽just selling it, and聽I聽guess the聽bottom line is聽just make sure that you get into the聽game sooner rather than later, pick it聽and聽sell it. But, if聽you are more inclined to聽sell something that is聽more aligned with who you are and聽you feel good, I聽think is聽the聽best way to聽put it, to聽feel good about selling it聽and聽then being able to聽answer that core question of聽what is聽your what and聽understanding how you鈥檙e naturally wired to聽sell and聽the聽people that you鈥檙e most compelled to聽serve and聽then ultimately the聽vehicle that you can use to聽serve them, you just may find that you jump out of聽bed with a聽certain fire that you may just not have, if聽you鈥檙e just selling, you know, I鈥檓 looking at聽a聽couple of聽monitors here on聽the聽table just selling you know computer monitors, right. So, something to聽think about.

Richard:: Well, either way a聽kind of聽building upon a聽few things you鈥檝e said throughout this podcast one聽鈥 when your leverage in聽other people鈥檚 influence you can also leverage other people鈥檚 knowledge, right, you now know what you want to聽do. You know the聽audience you鈥檙e compelled to聽serve, you like the聽vehicle podcasting to聽serve that audience, but you also know it聽can take a聽lifetime, right, to聽do聽that. And so, I聽know the聽gift that you鈥檙e going to聽give them is聽a聽copy of聽the聽book. So, they could take advantage of聽your lifetime of聽experience in聽that, but just to聽kind of聽go聽back to聽what you were alluding to聽there is聽like: 聯Yeah, you could just take a聽widget.聰 But, for聽the聽most part and聽this well I鈥檒l play a聽little bit of聽devil鈥檚 advocate, for聽the聽most part there鈥檚 got to聽be聽some sort of聽story, or聽some sort of聽reason why they want to聽buy it聽from you, because if聽it鈥檚 just a聽widget and聽it鈥檚 a聽commodity-based sale, you know, to聽the聽person that you are talking about with the聽toners, like, there was a聽certain way they did that, that made that different, when they just sold on聽Amazon, you heard him say, it聽doesn鈥檛 make close to聽as聽much money as聽he聽made when he聽did it聽the聽good old fashioned way, ironically, phone calls wasn鈥檛 that one of聽the聽ways he聽was doing it聽right, making me聽picking up聽the聽phone and聽calling him people and聽selling toners, like who even thinks that would still be聽a聽business and聽he鈥檚 in聽that, I聽think he聽was close to聽30聽freaking million dollars, is聽crazy.

So, can learn from other people鈥檚 knowledge and聽expedite your process, you can also leverage other people鈥檚 audience to聽expedite the聽process and聽you don鈥檛 have to聽have a聽fire in聽your belly, like 聯this is聽the聽most important thing ever聰, but if聽you did we聽all know, no聽matter what it聽is, it聽still feels like a聽grind sometimes, so聽the聽more that you can make that be聽a聽piece of聽who you are and聽what you think you鈥檙e here to聽do, and聽it鈥檚 only going to聽make it聽easier.

Steve:: Yeah, and, I聽mean, the聽more money you make, the聽less it聽feels like a聽grind (laughing), because the聽money helps, you know, let鈥檚 be聽honest, if聽I鈥檓 selling a聽million dollars in聽widgets every single month and聽I鈥檓 pocketing, you know, 30聽percent of聽that, I鈥檓 not feeling bad about selling widgets right now.

Richard:: Not really. The running joke I聽always say is聽money doesn鈥檛 necessarily buy you happiness, but we聽all know it聽can rent it聽for聽a聽while. So, do聽you have any聽other questions or聽thoughts or聽anything you are thinking about for聽how we聽can have Steve let us聽know where the聽gift is?

Jesse:: Yeah, I聽mean, so聽Steve was pretty interesting about, you know, how you built your business and, I鈥檓 thinking of聽four people that are just beginning, you know, like, you started before, where social media was, I聽mean, that鈥檚 pretty MySpace.

Steve:: Oh聽yeah. Right around the聽same time yeah. MySpace was 91ish, is聽92, yes.

Jesse:: But, like now it鈥檚 time for, you know, people are just getting started. They have such a聽huge opportunity, where, you know, obviously your influence is聽better if聽you鈥檙e actually shaking hands and聽meeting people and聽such, but, you know, if聽you were starting right now, you know, would social media be聽a聽part of聽how you would build that influence?

Steve:: You know, it鈥檚 interesting, I聽can vote both ways on聽it, right. In聽terms of聽the, let鈥檚 be聽honest, if聽you don鈥檛 have a聽big budget to聽simply attract people to聽your work, somehow you鈥檝e got to聽get people to聽know who you are, right. And so聽if聽budget is聽an聽issue, then social media I聽think is聽a聽very viable outbid for聽you, but, I聽mean, probably if聽I鈥檓 starting from scratch I鈥檓 doing one of聽two things, I鈥檓 either creating YouTube videos on聽a聽particular subject or聽I鈥檓 doing Facebook LIVE. And that those two channels, I聽believe it聽at聽this point, in聽terms of, if聽you have a聽passion or聽a聽fire for聽something video is聽the聽way to聽go.

Jesse:: Because they see your face, they know you have a聽passion.

Steve:: Yeah.

Jesse:: It鈥檚 toner and聽you鈥檙e like: 聯Oh, uh聰.

Steve:: I聽mean, maybe the聽sexiest toner in聽the聽world maybe, it鈥檚 weed-infused toner.

Jesse:: And you鈥檙e really excited about it聽(laughing.)

Steve:: That鈥檚 good right. That is聽your paper and聽your roll. You get even though you print on聽the聽paper and聽you like this idea of聽recycling. Man, I聽love that idea.

Richard:: That鈥檚 funny.

Steve:: We鈥檝e got to聽grab that domain right now.
Richard:: So, basically, you鈥檙e saying video probably, because you also realize you could extract the聽audio out of聽that to聽see any聽way you want to聽go聽with it聽you can transcribe it. So, probably would throw Instagram into that mix too even though it鈥檚 still Facebook, but, you know, now Instagram TV聽and聽all that, but what you鈥檙e basically saying do聽something on聽video, because a聽lot of聽these people know video for聽their product is聽even better than the聽pictures and聽if聽picture is聽worth a聽thousand words, how much is聽video worth, because it鈥檚 thousands of聽pictures? Yeah, awesome. So, where should they go聽to聽get their gift and聽what is聽exactly given them?

Steve:: Yeah, you know, I聽mean, I鈥檓 leaning towards giving folks just a聽copy of聽what is聽your what which they can grab for聽free so聽you can grab a聽free copy and聽it鈥檚 a聽New York Times best selling book, but you can grab the, you can grab the聽entire book at聽your at聽whatisyourwhat.com just in聽New York. Now, don鈥檛 go聽to聽the聽New York Times site. Just go聽to聽whatisyourwhat.com, but we聽also talked a聽little about getting onto podcasts, you know, that鈥檚 of聽interest. We聽talk about e-commerce happening in聽strange ways. One of聽the聽things that we聽do, and聽even if聽you go聽to聽whatisyourwhat.com you can see the聽funnel that we聽do聽there in聽terms of聽e-commerce. You would think like how do聽you, you know, you鈥檙e giving away a聽book, how does that lead to聽e-commerce. Well the聽e-book is聽what we聽give away. So, if聽you go聽to聽whatisyourwhat.com, you can grab a聽free copy of聽the聽e-book and聽then we聽turn around and聽offer you a聽free copy of聽the聽hardcover version of聽it. So, you know, it鈥檚 just a聽different type of聽funnel. Just to聽give you a聽sense of聽some of聽the聽different types of聽funnels there. And, of聽course, of聽free than how are we聽making money if聽we聽just charge for聽shipping and聽handling on聽that book.

But, in聽terms of聽podcasting, I聽mean, if聽you wanted to聽get onto podcasts and聽we聽put together a聽directory of聽podcasters, which gives you all their information: their name, you name it, description, photo and聽even their email address, if聽you want to聽get on聽a聽podcast the聽ultimate directory of聽podcasts, podcasters features 670聽leading podcasters including all their contact information. That鈥檚 another interesting funnel, right. So, we聽give you the聽preview edition of聽that at聽myultimatedirectory.com and聽then up聽sale into the聽entire directory. So, the聽free version is聽a聽shortened version and聽then the聽full version is聽an聽upsell from, there so聽it鈥檚 just interesting, people always ask me聽like: 聯What can you sell online?聰 And he聽answers 聯Anything,聰 you know, and聽so聽just a聽couple of聽interesting, if聽you鈥檙e a聽funnel freak out there and聽you wanted to聽see how people sell things: whatisyourwhat.com or聽myultimatedirectory.com are couple of聽examples.

Richard:: Awesome, thank you so聽much. Thank you for聽your time. Good, job Steve.

Jesse:: Yeah, Steve, that鈥檚 great. I聽think now people know they鈥檙e are going to聽be聽sold when they get into this funnel.

Steve:: Yeah, no聽surprise.

Richard:: Yeah, but you get some free stuff first, I聽mean, that鈥檚 the聽beauty of聽these funnels, right. You wanna give and聽you give first, but people will always, there鈥檚 going to聽be聽a聽certain percentage that are always going to聽want to聽work with you more and聽in聽that group, they鈥檒l gladly give you the聽money.

Steve:: Yeah. Sweet, sounds good. Thank you.

Jesse:: All right, Steve. Pleasure having you on.

Steve:: Yeah, man.

Jesse:: Richie!

Richard:: Yeah, that sounds good. Great interview. And remember, check out 黑料门.com/blog/podcast, subscribe, rate and聽review. Thanks, until next time. Make it聽happen.

About The Author
Kristen is a 褋ontent creator at 黑料门. She finds inspiration in sci-fi books, jazz music, and home-cooked food.

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