Yikes. The collapse of SVB is one of the biggest stories in business, as depositors, investors, and investees react to what can only be described as a full-blown disaster. But what can you learn from it? You don’t have to be in Silicon Valley to take a lesson from all this. We won’t be analyzing […] The post MBA2270 Lessons Learned From Silicon Valley Bank’s Failure appeared first on The $100 MBA.

Love the Hustle’s email? Now they have a podcast. Break down biz headlines in 10 min – and how it affects you. Plus random fun bits like Bob Ross thing. Fun, informative. Ep about free stuff, and why people go so crazy for it and why it’s a great biz strategy. Here’s a crazy idea: […] The post MBA2269 Bonus Episode: You’re going to love The Hustle Daily Show appeared first on The $100 MBA.

We’ve learned a ton about business in Japan, and how the country offers incredible opportunities for small business (including Western ones). Now, it’s time to take the first concrete steps. So what do we do? Today, we put our Ja-plan into action.  We’re making a few small — but important — moves to introduce ourselves […] The post MBA2268 The Business of Japan P4: How I’m Tapping Into a 5.6 Trillion-Dollar Economy appeared first on The $100 MBA.

“What got you here won’t get you there,” as the saying goes. And while a good blog is still a powerful marketing tool, one thing we can finally put to bed forever is the Comments section.  Today, we explain why — and what you can do instead. We all remember the early days of blogging, […] The post MBA2267 Why Blog Comments Are Dead + Free Ride Friday appeared first on The $100 MBA.

When you buy someone a gift, what does that buy you? Do customers, partners, and others see it as an investment in your relationship, or an unasked-for transaction? Or worse, an attempted bribe? It all depends on how you give. Today, we discuss the art of the business gift. If it’s overly transactional, or impersonal, […] The post MBA2266 Do Gifts Work in Business? appeared first on The $100 MBA.

Times are tough. Inflation, continuing supply chain issues, and price gouging are on the rise. Recessions are natural and inevitable — but should you wait them out before starting your own business? Spoiler alert: no. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a great business idea. But they’re worried about the timing. Is […] The post MBA2265 Q&A Wednesday: Is a recession a bad time to start a business? appeared first on The $100 MBA.

The customer is always right — except when they’re not. It’s time to stop clinging to customers who aren’t serving your business, just like they’d quit your business if it wasn’t working for them. Seriously. As providers of products and services, we’re often primed to bend over backwards for our customers. But when a customer […] The post MBA2264 Why You Need to Fire Your Customers appeared first on The $100 MBA.

We’ve been hanging out in Japan, learning a whole new perspective on business. Now, it’s time to explore how you can get in on the action — by actually doing business with or inside Japan. Yes, this is possible. And it’s a very good idea. Today, we explore various ways non-Japanese businesses have forged ties […] The post MBA2263 The Business of Japan P3: East Meets West- Business at Its Best appeared first on The $100 MBA.

The wrong approach: “I should do my best to make sure there’s always enough of my product/service for everyone who wants to buy it.” The right approach: “I should run out of stuff. Often.” Yes, this is tough to wrap your head around, especially if you’re new to business. But remember that value is defined […] The post MBA2262 How and Why You Should Always Sell Out + Free Ride Friday appeared first on The $100 MBA.

Let’s cut to the chase: what’s the best way to get people to buy your thing? Today, we offer 3 answers, based on our experience. These funnels work best for us — and they might for you, too. We’ll lay out exactly how to build and manage each of these funnels, with our own products […] The post MBA2261 The 3 Most Effective Sales Funnels appeared first on The $100 MBA.

You can’t sell your product or service if you can’t sell yourself. Confidence in branding is everything. But does that mean you have to be…full of yourself? Can you persuade without playing the peacock? After all, in a noisy market, the loudest voice often wins. It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’re helping one listener learn how […] The post MBA2260 Q&A Wednesday: Do I need to brag to be an effective marketer? appeared first on The $100 MBA.

Goals are hard. A goal, however, is more attainable. So how can you narrow your focus to something big and all-encompassing that’ll have the greatest impact on your business? And should you? It all comes down to a single number. There’s no shortage of business metrics you can track (and no shortage of products and […] The post MBA2259 How to Simplify Your Growth to One Number appeared first on The $100 MBA.

So how exactly did a cartoon kitten take over the world? And why does Japan consistently produce products that are almost dangerously cute? It’s no accident — it’s a business strategy. Kawaii is a catch-all term for a specific aesthetic, something Japanese businesses purposely cultivate. Loosely translated, it means “cuteness.”  But kawaii is no child’s […] The post MBA2258 The Business of Japan P2: The Economy of Kawaii appeared first on The $100 MBA.

Don’t leave home without these — and we’re not talking about hardware. You can’t put these items in your bag, but if you’re working on the road, each and every one is a potential lifesaver. Not to mention…a trip-saver. Wherever you go, you can’t predict exactly what the situation will be re: Internet, security, and […] The post MBA2257 4 Tech Must-Haves When Working While Traveling + Free Ride Friday appeared first on The $100 MBA.

It’s not as simple as “make stuff, sell stuff.” Of course it can be, but there are other ways to make money on your own. Before you start your first (or next) business, listen to this episode. Our intrepid host Omar has started several businesses in his day. And he’s learned how critical it is […] The post MBA2256 How to Choose a Business Model That Works For You appeared first on The $100 MBA.

Writers rule the Internet, but videographers are the gatekeepers. So what’s the best way to use video to support a blog? Today, we weigh the two biggest options: YouTube and the ‘Gram. If you could only focus on one, which is the most effective? It’s Q&A Wednesday, and we’ve got a listener with a travel […] The post MBA2255 Q&A Wednesday: Should I create videos for YouTube or Instagram to grow my travel blog? appeared first on The $100 MBA.

When we think coaching, we think live calls. But it’s not the only way. Yes, you can coach via email (you heard that right). Today, we explore why you should, and how it works. It’s really pretty ingenious. Because it’s asynchronous, you can coach people whose schedules don’t align with yours. Because it’s written, you […] The post MBA2254 Coaching via Email: The How & Why appeared first on The $100 MBA.

Japan does business differently. Today kicks off a 4-part series on the Japanese approach to everything from product development to customer service — and why it all just…works. We begin with Part 1, an exploration of the cultural attitudes and values that position Japanese entrepreneurs to succeed wildly. …and no, you don’t have to be […] The post MBA2253 The Business of Japan P1: Why Japan Is So Good at Business appeared first on The $100 MBA.

The best email campaign in the world won’t help your business if no one reads it. So how can you make sure people actually see what you’re saying (without misleading subject lines, that is)? Today, we offer a few very specific answers. In both of our businesses, we’ve had ups and downs in our open […] The post MBA2252 4 Ways to Increase Your Email Open Rates in 2023 + Free Ride Friday appeared first on The $100 MBA.

YouTube: it’s one heckuva revenue-generator for anyone making video content. But how much can you really expect to bring in? And how can you optimize your approach to earn the most? Today, we unpack how to monetize your YouTube channel. Yes, we’ll discuss the ad revenue model — but it’s not the only way to […] The post MBA2251 How Much Can You Earn on YouTube in 2023? appeared first on The $100 MBA.