Lighting Up My Automation

I am a huge fan of automation.  I love using apps and services to make life just that little bit simpler.

Service such as Zapier or IFTTT, but there are other forms of automation.  Those that use physical equipment.

I'm referring to the Amazon Echo, Google Home and Apple Home (through Siri).

Using these small, unintrusive, devices, it's possible to listen to music, find out information and connect to a host to different technology.

But - you don't need these.  For example; I have a TP-Link HS100 in the hall, to which is connected a lamp.  The plug has a companion app (called Kasa) and it's this where the magic happens.

It's possible to schedule the lamp to turn on through a regular schedule, set a timer for how long the lamp is on, see the total amount of time the lamp has been on, and, of course, turn the lamp on and off remotely.

One big benefit is home security.  You can now control the lights to turn on and off to make it look as though there is someone home.

Want to add a caption to this image? Click the Settings icon.
Now - connect this to your Echo (or Home) and you have the ability to turn the lamp on and off with your voice....
"Alexa - turn on the hall lamp"; "Alexa - turn off the hall lamp"


Of course, the HS100 isn't just for lamps; you can connect compatible cameras (Kasa Cam) so you can view what's happening.  You can set up routines; which will link lots of devices together - maybe a lamp in the hall, and another upstairs.
When it's time for bed, you can set the downstairs lamp to turn off and the upstairs one to switch on!

I also have a routine on my Amazon Echo.  I just say "Alexa, bedtime" and the lamps downstairs turn off.

As autumn (and winter) approach, and the nights start drawing in, then why not get a couple of these devices so you can easily control the lamps in your home.

I love home automation; and I love the flexibility it gives me.  If you don't already have it, this is a great way to start (and you don't need an Alexa or Google to make it work).


Disclaimer - This post contains affiliate links.  If you purchase from these links I will earn a small commission.  This doesn't affect the price you will pay.

Earn Money With Instagram While You Sleep

I know you’d love to drink your morning coffee and see the money you’ve just earned while sleeping.  
This is what I'm now working to.

It sounds great, isn’t it? But how did I get here?

My passion for Instagram started 4 years ago. I was following @millionaire_mentor, he is the guy which inspired me a lot.

I started with small steps and almost NO INVESTMENT!

When I started, I knew nothing about affiliate marketing, how to create digital products or even how Influencers make money.

I still didn’t know how they got so popular. I was so fascinated by the fact that you can upload a picture and earn a sh*t ton of money.

I was actually spending more than 2-3 hours on Instagram and didn’t make money at all! (this thing needed to change)

So I started to search for answers. I started to look for Instagram opportunities.

It took me more than 1 year to learn exactly what’s working right now.

So, because I want to save your time and I would love to help you to skyrocket your Instagram and get passive income, I’ll tell you the secret.

Click here and discover how to earn $3000/month with The Influencer Playbook!

I’ve written a book... and more!

Welcome to a new episode from Productivity Matters. It's been a hugely exciting few weeks and I wanted to share it all with you.

Excitement Level 10 - my first book has been published, via the Kindle Direct Publishing program.

I decided to try this, as my idea for a book came about quite quickly, and I didn't spend months and months writing it. It just flowed.

KDP is free to use, to set up paperback and Kindle editions of the book, and they take a relatively small cut of the sale. In fact, when I looked into it, there are a few ways to make money - so long as the book actually sells, of course.

1. The initial 70% royalty of the ebook
2. The initial 60% royalty of the paperback, after printing costs have been applied
3. A small percentage when anyone reads a page from a Kindle Unlimited download, or from Kindle Lending Library
4. I also get a smaller royalty when someone downloads
5. And, this one surprised me - if I sell the book via my Amazon Affiliate link then I benefit from an additional 4%

As I said, of course, the book needs to sell to gain any of this... so, what are your waiting for :)

Updated Website

I've also been re-building my website, which is due to be launched in the next few weeks.

I've been building it on Wix - which is given a hard time by some, but so far I've been quite happy with how it's gone.

It's very flexible in allowing all sorts of layouts. It's almost there, so watch this space for news of the launch date.

Mailing List

Finally, I've been working on building up my mailing list. Now; this isn't the easiest thing to do.

I've watched countless videos on YouTube about it, and everything leads to giving away freebies - or lead magnets.

Brilliant, I thought - I can do that. And I created a productivity guide to give away. I think it's quite a good guide. It has the basics for managing your to-do list, and other ways to remain productive, as well as short reviews on the apps and services that I use.

I sent emails directly to people I know and asked them if they'd like to know more about this, and those that replied positively, I added them directly to my email management system - more on that in a moment.

Those that said no, I marked as such and left them out.

I'm still working at it; and I've taken to heart the fact that it's not a quick thing to do... need to plod away for some time.

Chatbot

Also (I said I've been busy) I've also been playing with a chatbot creator - Chatfuel.

It's only playing at the moment, but you can now send a message to my Facebook page, and sign up for the productivity guide I mentioned earlier.

Here's the link to the chatbot: Give it a try - https://chatfuel.com/bot/prodmatters

ConvertKit

For my mailing list, I started with Mailchimp; but found the interface to be a little unintuitive; plus, I worked out the cost could become prohibitive in the future, due to the way they count subscribers. So I watched a couple of videos and set up an account with ConvertKit. It is much easier to use; and any questions that I've had have been answered relatively quickly, given the time difference.

ConvertKit allows you to see visual automation sequences, that have allowed me to not only capture subscribers and send them the free guide; but I also launched a mini course, via email, using the sequences - so, all emails are automated; you can see what's been delivered and, more importantly, those that haven't been opened. I set them up to send a week apart, so that I'm not considered spamming!

I actually integrated this with the Chatbot, using Zapier; so whenever someone signs up via the chatbot, they get added to the list in ConvertKit, and the automation in there takes over.

Keeping Busy

1. Keep Buffer full of posts for social media (Twitter and Instagram)
2. Launch the book
3. Update the website and get ready for full launch
4. Write more emails to be sent, via ConvertKit, to my mailing list
5. Create a chatbot, to drive more leads to my mailing list
6. Create new Zaps on Zapier, to manage new leads when they come in from chatbot
7. Write a script for todays show

Now; maybe I should only concentrate on one thing at a time. There's an awful lot of balls to keep in the air!

That's it for this episode.

I'm out of breath just thinking about everything I've been doing.

Links to everything I mentioned are in the show notes.

Thanks very much for listening, and until next time remember - Productivity Matters.

Equipment I use to make my podcasts:

Blue Yeti Microphone

Pop Filter

Professional Microphone Boom Arm

This page contains affiliate links. If you purchase from these links then I may receive a commission.  This does not affect the price you will pay.  Thank you.

Stream Wars!!

Actually, I'm writing this from the view of two services

Amazon Prime Video and Netflix.  However, this is becoming a packed market, with at least two new services due to be launched in the UK very soon.

ITV and the BBC are launching Britbox later this year, at the same time that Disney will be launching their Disney+ service.

However, until then, arguably the two biggest video streaming services today are Netflix and Amazon Prime.

So; how do they stack up?  

Well; I subscribe to both; with the Amazon service part of my overall Prime subscription.  For Netflix, it's £9.99 per month (and that's about to increase a little bit too!)
If you purchase only the Amazon service, it's £7.99 per month (but you do get 30 days free).

Originals and Exclusives

They both boast their Originals and Exclusives.  What's the difference?

An Original series or movie was commissioned directly for the service, whilst and Exclusive is where they have negotiated to be the only streaming services to show the title.  It is highly possible to see and Original on other broadcast services - for example, The Bodyguard was made by ITV, but was shown on the BBC, and was then bought by Netflix.  It's a complicated business.

Both Amazon and Netflix heavily promote their own 'original' tv series and movies; and whilst Netflix seem to have the upper-hand with some of their content, Amazon are right on their tail with some great offerings.

It's also good to see that both of these services have stepped up, in recent times, and 'saved' network series' after they were announced they were being cancelled.

Shows like Brooklyn 99 and The Expanse are two examples where they were picked up by Netflix and Amazon respectively, all down to fan-pressure.

Netflix, of course, has huge titles, such as Stranger Things, Black Mirror and a number of Marvel titles too (but that is likely to change when Disney+ is launched).

Amazon has the brilliant Mrs Maisel, Sneaky Pete, Man In The High Castle and Good Omens and many more great shows.

So, which is best?

So, back to the question I asked at the beginning?  

Which is best?  

It's difficult to answer, as they both offer so much.  

I think Netflix might just 'win' based on the sheer volume of content available; but that will change when titles are removed in the coming months.

New services will be vying for your money; and if you're a Disney fan there is a whole load of new and exclusive content being made for that platform.  As I said at the start, it's a busy marketplace, which doesn't look like it's going to quieten down any time soon.

Stock up on the popcorn.

x

Imposter Alert

Introduction

Hello there.

Podcasting

Podcasting in the UK is on the rise.  At least, that's according to Ofcom.

Who are Ofcom?  It's the The Office for Communications; the regulator for the communications services that we use and rely on each day, in the UK.

They make sure people get the best from their broadband, home phone and mobile services, as well as keeping an eye on TV and radio.

They also oversee the universal postal service, which means Royal Mail must deliver and collect letters six days a week, and parcels five days a week, at an affordable and uniform price throughout the UK.

Another remit is to help to make sure people don’t get scammed and are protected from bad practices. This is particularly important for vulnerable or older people.

They also help to make sure people across the UK are satisfied with what they see and hear on TV and radio, and that programmes reflect the audiences they serve. We consider every complaint we receive from viewers and listeners. Often, we investigate further and we sometimes find broadcasters in breach of our rules.

Ofcom are independent, and funded by fees paid by the companies they regulate.

It appears that podcasts fall outside of the Ofcom remit, but that doesn't mean they don't keep a keen eye and report on findings.

In this case, a report from 2018, which found that, in the UK, the number of weekly podcast listeners has almost doubled in five years – from 3.2m (7% of adults aged 15+) in 2013 to 5.9m (11%) in 2018.

The increase is across all age groups, but the steepest growth is now among young adults aged 15-24 with around one in five now listening to podcasts every week.

- the most popular podcast genre is Comedy, followed by music, TV and film.

- Half of podcast listeners are under 35. While only 29% of traditional radio listeners are under 35, this rises to 49% for podcasts.

- Approximately 96% of listeners also listen to the radio each week, though live radio commands a much lower share of their total listening activity (48%) than adults generally (75%).

- Podcast versions of BBC radio programmes such as Desert Island Discs and Kermode & Mayo’s Film Review feature regularly in Apple’s iTunes podcast chart. TV broadcasters are increasingly interested in podcasts as a source of material for TV shows, or as an extension of established series (such as ITV’s podcast Love Island: The Morning After).

Starting Your Podcast

So, now is a great time to get into podcasting.  What's more, because it's yours, you can do with it what you like.  You own it.  You can record to your own schedule and not answer to the regulators or senior bosses.

Plus - there is no age barrier to running a podcast.  Young or old, everyone has a voice, and it can be quite cathartic to sit and talk; get things off your chest.  It's like a self-service therapy!!

However, you do need to consider your audience.   Content is king - you'll hear a lot about that when researching podcasts; simply because, without great content, you won't have an audience.
You need a reason to 'tune in'.  Either download or stream the episodes.

You also need to get over the anxiety of talking to yourself.  Which is, basically, what you're doing when you sit down to record.  The anxiety that what you're recording isn't good enough, and even greater anxiety that nobody will listen.

Of course, if you don't promote your podcast, then no-one will know it exists, and you will end up with very few listeners; just those who fell over your podcast whilst browsing.  But put in some serious promotion and the numbers will grow.

One of the biggest issues with podcasting, is PodFade.  It's easy to get started, but it's easier to stop.  Life gets in the way and you stop doing it.
There are hundreds, if not thousands, of podcasts that start with great intentions, but fade into the background as the episodes dry up.

It's hard to keep going. You have to really work at it.  I've missed publishing for a couple of odd weeks; and I felt really guilty.  But who was I feeling guilty for?  You?  I doubt anyone noticed I wasn't there.  I felt quilty for me.

The other point that might stop someone starting a podcast is because they don't think they'll be any good!  To quote Zig Ziglar....

"You don't have to be great at something to start, but you do have to start in order to be great"

If you're thinking about podcasting; just pick up your mobile phone, download the Anchor app and record and publish. 
It's all there, in your hand, and I highly recommend giving it a go.

Imposter Syndrome

Leading on from this, and especially the point about feeling inadequate to start a podcast, comes the subject of Imposter Syndrome.

This is a psychological term referring to a pattern of behaviour where people doubt their accomplishments and have a persistent fear of being exposed as a fraud.

This feeling of being a fraud is not uncommon. It has been estimated that nearly 70 percent of individuals will experience signs and symptoms of impostor phenomenon at least once in their life. 
This can be a result of a new setting, academic or professional. Research shows that impostor syndrome is not uncommon for students when entering a new academic environment. Feelings of insecurity can come as a result to an unknown, new environment. This can lead to lower self-confidence and belief in their own abilities.

Certainly, this is something that I can relate to.  When I start a new contract, there's always this feeling that 

The Symptoms:
A lack of self-confidence, anxiety, doubts about your thoughts, abilities, achievements and accomplishments, negative self-talk, feelings of inadequacy, dwelling on past mistakes and not feeling good enough — these are all signs and symptoms of imposter syndrome.

The Cause:
Nature and nurture together create the tendency to experience feeling 'not good enough' or the Imposter Syndrome. However, the feeling remains latent until it is triggered by something external to us; something we react to; something that tips us into actively feeling not good enough.

Overcoming:
The first step in overcoming Impostor Syndrome is to acknowledge what you're feeling, and why. Start by keeping a journal. Whenever you experience feelings of self-doubt or inadequacy, write them down, and explain why you're feeling this way. Be as specific as possible about each situation.

The next steps are:
Step 2: Realise The Truth. ...
Step 3: Choose Someone To Confide In. ...
Step 4: Turn It Around And See The Gift In Your Imposter Syndrome. ...
Step 5: Set Goals And Expectations You Know You Can Achieve. ...
Step 6: Accept Where You're At And Revisit In 90 Days.

Thank You

I hope you’ve found this interesting.

Don’t forget to follow me where you normally listen to your podcasts.

Thank you very much for listening and until next time, remember, Productivity Matters.

Equipment I use to make my podcasts*:
Blue Yeti Microphone - https://amzn.to/2R2am1N
Pop Filter - https://amzn.to/2OVMbQP
Professional Microphone Boom Arm - https://amzn.to/2P4EIio