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Studies show that subscribers to Shoestring101 are generally smarter, better-looking, and more fun to be around.

Hello, Gorgeous!

😉

Seriously, thank you for subscribing to Shoestring101.

Here’s my mission: to help YOU find your marketing muse, mojo, or whatever you call it– so that your local small business can do better than survive… it can THRIVE.

And bring you the lifestyle you deserve.

Warning: Shoestring101 Strategies May Lead to More Sales and Less Work

Let me be straight with you, bestie. I’m sorry for the problem I’m getting ready to cause for you.

You read that right. I’m apologizing, right here and now, for what you’re about to experience.

Because if you can follow directions and simle checklists… you might just have every single excuse you have for failure in business STRIPPED away.

And you might just become extremely BUSY with all the new business you’ll get by implementing the tools, tips, and tricks you find here. At least until you find some reliable employees to take over the busy work.

Can’t say I didn’t warn ya. 😉

Okay, my favorite new Subscriber! Here’s your first to-do list:

1. Write me a quick email: kurt at shoestring101 dot com… to let me know you got to this page, and to tell me the BIGGEST PROBLEM you have getting new or repeat sales for your business.

2. In that email, tell me the NUMBER ONE THING that, if you could wave a magic wand and fix about your business… what would it be?

3. Poke around here on Shoestring101. Read at least two articles that you think will help you most, and then leave your intelligent opinion! I read and reply to every one.  Plus it could be the start of a beautiful friendship.

C’mon, pick one! Only take ya about ten minutes, but the insight you gain could make you piles of new sales for your business, more cash in your pocket, and more time to enjoy it.

Here’s a list of my faves to start you off:

7 Ways to Hack Local SEO for a Free Front Page Listing
This post shows how I’m generating thousands of dollars WEEKLY for my local businesses, a martial arts studio and a mobile screen repair company. Whether you have a sticks-and-bricks location, or if you go to your customer… this post will teach you to DOMINATE your local area nd do it for free.

19 Ways to Create Value Out of NOTHING
My favorite brain food when it comes to generating business ideas. You can’t “make money”… that’s the Fed’s job. But if you can create value, you might as well have your own printing press for hundred dollar bills. See if this list doesn’t get your creative juices flowing!

My Take on the 24 Hour Business Challenge, “Sumo Jerky”
Noah Kagan of AppSumo publicly declared that he would start from scratch (actually, he needed a $7.99 upfront investment) and make a thousand dollars in one day. Get this- he actually pulled it off. In my insane jealousy rant glowing review of his accomplishment, I share how each step that he took was a Shoestring Step that I’ve been teaching for years. For his insolence at applying the Steps faster than most, I sentence Noah to zombiehood…

We MADE It! (30 Day, $1,000 Challenge)
My 14 year old son wanted a way to start saving for a car, but lamented that ‘no one would him a job.’ “Phooey!” I said. “Let’s MAKE a job.” And we did. Using $62.66 seed money, we began a mobile screen repair service that’s inspired others to do the same. In a 30-day Challenge documented here on Shoestring101, my young son Pierce and I took an idea from zero to $1,195 profit in 30 days flat, using spare time and the Shoestring Steps.

Another Case Study: Five Steps to Five Figures
The sequel… Just over a year after the 30 Day Challenge, the mobile screen repair business ^ that Pierce and I started “just to prove a point” has its first of many $500 profit days. This post details how the we followed our feet using the Shoestring Steps to get to the five figures per month level.

Okay, you good-lookin’ Subscriber, you!

Remember your assignments:

1) WRITE me! … kurt at shoestring101 dot com. Show me you’re alive!! And I want to hear what challenges you’re facing. If I can’t help you directly, chances are someone in my network can. Would love to get you the right info and see YOUR small business take off for the moon.

2) TELL me! …if there was ONE THING you would like to wave a magic wand and accomplish RIGHT NOW for your business, what would it be? Sample ideas:

“Actually get it started”

“Get more exposure”

“Get some dang time OFF”

“Find reliable employees”

“Beat out the competition in this town”

“Make better margins”

Please, PLEASE tell me what the one thing is that you would change about your business instantly if you could… chances are your dream isn’t as far off as you may think.

3) READ me! …well, read the blog anyway. Lots of useful stuff here.

And if it’s NOT here… yet… and you think it should be, let me know in the comments. This isn’t a one-man show, not by a long shot. A lot of the best and most useful stuff here on Shoestring101 has come from its esteemed Readers. I ALWAYS want to hear what the Shoestring Steppers have to say, and so does everyone else here.

So if you have a tip, trick, hack, or other insight to share and help small biz owners all over the fruited plain and across the pond… share ’em, wouldja?

Once again, WELCOME to Shoestring101.

Keep Stepping,

Kurt