Launching our new app, the Pool Care App, has been an exciting journey. Teaming up with an experienced developer, we’ve transformed an existing app into a Swim University-branded tool designed to simplify pool maintenance. From testing the water to getting precise chemical instructions, our app is all about eliminating guesswork and frustration. Unlike other apps pushing unnecessary products, our focus is purely on helping you maintain a clean and safe pool. This freemium app will offer essentia...
Jun 07, 2024•31 min•Season 5Ep. 76
I've been contemplating the impact of AI on the business landscape and how it's affecting independent creators like me. With companies like Google and Apple shifting their practices, the challenges of relying on SEO and organic traffic are becoming more apparent. Drawing from Swim University's journey and past market disruptions, I discuss the importance of adapting to new realities. Emphasizing a shift towards video content and maintaining a human touch, I explore strategies for navigating thes...
Jun 06, 2024•56 min•Season 5Ep. 75
I explore the process of designing a personalized pool care plan for Swim University, aiming to make our lead generation tool more engaging and effective. By focusing on user-specific routines and creating a dashboard-like experience, I want to provide a resource that feels truly customized. I discuss the steps involved, from asking the right questions to integrating interactive elements, and consider the potential of launching an app to enhance the user experience further. This episode captures...
Jun 05, 2024•37 min•Season 5Ep. 74
I dive into the power of tuning out external business advice and tuning into my own intuition and experiences. By stepping back from constant tactical advice and an overwhelming amount of information, I've reconnected with my own ideas and insights. I stopped consuming business content, unsubscribed from channels, and put my business books away. This allowed me to focus on truly understanding the emotions and frustrations of my customers. I realized that applying my own experiences, such as my s...
Jun 04, 2024•38 min•Season 5Ep. 73
I share my latest realization about the Swim University home page. After discussing my own experiences with pond care, I decided to focus on offering a custom pool care plan instead of just a newsletter signup. I explain how I plan to implement this idea using Typeform, Zapier, and Klaviyo to deliver personalized plans through email. I discuss the technical aspects and benefits of this approach, emphasizing its potential to improve user engagement and provide more value. My goal is to create a d...
Jun 03, 2024•42 min•Season 5Ep. 72
Focusing on the Swim University home page, I decided to transform it from a general landing page to a lead capture system tailored for pool owners. Historically, the page had a generic headline and separate buttons for pool and hot tub care, which wasn't as effective. I considered various approaches, including Klaviyo forms and offering a newsletter, but concluded that a quiz might be the best solution. This quiz would help users create a custom pool care plan by answering a few questions, makin...
May 31, 2024•34 min•Season 5Ep. 71
I'm discussing the ups and downs of March and laying out my plans for April. Despite a 30% traffic drop due to Google's algorithm changes, revenue increased thanks to effective Facebook ads. However, the high costs associated with e-commerce have made me rethink my strategy. My primary focus for April is optimizing my offers and sales pages. I’m testing new offers and improving our sales funnel to increase conversion rates and revenue. Additionally, I'm phasing out physical products to concentra...
May 30, 2024•37 min•Season 5Ep. 70
I’m giving an update on the April Fools campaign I launched for Swim University. I created a faux product and promoted it across various platforms. The response was lukewarm; we've sold about half of the 96 bottles so far. Launching on April Fools’ Day may have impacted the reception, as people are skeptical of anything released on this date. While it's a fun, creative project, it highlights that in the pool industry, people appreciate straightforward, helpful content more than stunts. Moving fo...
May 29, 2024•18 min•Season 5Ep. 69
Today, I’m sharing how I’m optimizing my work schedule to better manage my time and reduce stress. By focusing on concentrated, high-leverage tasks for a set number of hours each day, I aim to maximize productivity while freeing up personal time. Tasks like crafting marketing emails, recording and scheduling podcasts, publishing articles, and developing ads are prioritized. The goal is to create a well-oiled machine at Swim University, ensuring impactful work without overextending. Simplifying a...
May 28, 2024•47 min•Season 5Ep. 68
I'm discussing the best ways to collect testimonials. Tactics for effective testimonials include avoiding incentives that offer monetary rewards, guiding customers with specific questions, and focusing on quality over quantity. Video testimonials, while valuable, should ideally be filmed in relevant settings and show real results. For e-commerce, external review platforms like Trustpilot are beneficial, but I prefer controlling testimonial presentations. Finally, using social media contests to g...
May 27, 2024•41 min•Season 5Ep. 67
Brainstorming a pool urine detector 404 page and April Fool's event, I share how to design an engaging sales page for a fake product. Inspired by the myth of a pool urine detector dye, I discuss creating a convincing product to deter pool pee-ers. The sales page includes a hero image, how it works, history of the myth, pop culture references, and statistics on the dangers of pool urine. I also explore the importance of design and storytelling in making the page both believable and entertaining....
May 24, 2024•34 min•Season 5Ep. 66
I discuss the challenges of creating effective marketing for local businesses, emphasizing the need to understand the target audience. Using Swim University as an example, I highlight the importance of aligning content with business goals and audience needs. I explore the potential of Brew Cabin to attract new homebrewers with community-driven content and advanced brewing techniques. Finally, I brainstorm creative ideas for engaging short-form content, including experimenting with unique and out...
May 23, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 5Ep. 65
I've been experimenting with a content strategy shift that might surprise traditional SEO practitioners. We're a video-first education company, creating videos first and repurposing them into blog posts, podcasts, shorts, and emails. Recently, I replaced a 5,000-word article on how to drain a pool with a concise 700-word script. The original article ranked #10 on Google, and I wanted to see if a more streamlined version would perform better. Additionally, I created separate posts for draining ab...
May 22, 2024•25 min•Season 5Ep. 64
I've been working on Swim University's email strategy. I aim to treat email more like social media notifications, directing attention to long-form content on YouTube and our website. For March, I planned video promotions, a filter cleanse BOGO sale, and an article on hot tub water testing. I've also switched from Yoast SEO to Rank Math and migrated to the Gutenberg editor in WordPress for better features and efficiency. If you have any feedback or questions, email me at matt@moneylab.co.
May 21, 2024•21 min•Season 5Ep. 63
I've been on a kick recently with templatizing everything. After dealing with bottlenecks in creating featured images for blog posts, I decided to templatize this process too. Inspired by our YouTube thumbnails, I'll create a Figma board with 6-8 background colors, textures, and reusable assets. Each featured image will include up to three words of text, one action icon (like an arrow or check mark), and a topical item (like a hot tub or pool). This approach will streamline the process and ensur...
May 20, 2024•35 min•Season 5Ep. 62
May 17, 2024•50 min•Season 5Ep. 61
May 16, 2024•25 min•Season 5Ep. 60
May 15, 2024•25 min•Season 5Ep. 59
May 14, 2024•53 min•Season 5Ep. 58
May 13, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 57
May 10, 2024•27 min•Season 5Ep. 56
May 08, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Season 5Ep. 55
May 06, 2024•54 min•Season 5Ep. 54
May 03, 2024•37 min•Season 5Ep. 53
May 01, 2024•15 min•Season 5Ep. 52
Apr 29, 2024•30 min•Season 5Ep. 51
Apr 26, 2024•58 min•Season 5Ep. 50
Apr 24, 2024•57 min•Season 5Ep. 49
Apr 22, 2024•28 min•Season 5Ep. 48
Apr 19, 2024•21 min•Season 5Ep. 47
