The First 10 Podcast Conor McCarthy

"The goal of this podcast is to help business builders learn some best practices when they go looking for their first 10, to expose the things worth doing and the things that might be dead ends and ultimately cost time and money. We should all be recycling these days, and when it comes to understanding your customers and how you talk to them, there's a ton of value that my guests have shared that is worth repeating." – Conor McCarthy.
Welcome to the final episode of season 4 of The First 10 Podcast, and what a season it has been! This season, we have heard from an array of inspirational serial entrepreneurs who have created multiple businesses who kindly took the time to openly and honestly share their biggest learnings, challenges and wins with us. 
Helping business builders is at the heart of this podcast, and valuable golden nuggets of advice come with each new episode. So, to close off this season, we will be doing a re-cap with each of our guests to learn their top tips for someone just starting out and hoping to obtain their first ten customers. So, grab a pen and paper and let this refresher masterclass begin with our entrepreneurial experts Andy Mackin, Jakob Greenfeld, Shane Melaugh, Daniel Vassallo, Rob Walling, Dave Parker, Brian Casel, Brennan Dunn and Corey Haines.
Connect with the First 10 season 4 guests: 
Andy Mackin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackinconsultancy 
Jakob Greenfeld: https://jakobgreenfeld.com/ 
Shane Melaugh: https://ikario.com/about/ 
Daniel Vassallo: https://dvassallo.com/ 
Rob Walling: https://robwalling.com/ 
Dave Parker: https://www.dkparker.com/  
Brian Casel: https://briancasel.com/  
Brennan Dunn: https://rightmessage.com/  
Corey Haines: https://www.swipefiles.com/

Nick Loper: https://SideHustleNation.com


Connect with First 10 Podcast host Conor McCarthy: 
https://www.first10podcast.com
https://www.conormccarthy.me/work-with-me 
https://twitter.com/TheFirst10Pod
https://www.linkedin.com/in/comccart/


Check out my podcast partners!
Buzzsprout:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1389931
Otter:
https://otter.ai/referrals/ETRNKY16
Calendly:
https://calendly.grsm.io/ilev18qxpn1e

This podcast was produced in partnership with podlad.com

‘’In a start-up, you can’t move slowly because your competition is not moving slowly.’’ – Rob Walling. 
On this bonus episode of the First 10 Podcast, I have something a little different for you. I asked Rob Walling, serial entrepreneur, investor, author, and host of the popular podcast ‘Startups for the Rest of Us’ , if I could reshare the audio from a Youtube video he posted entitled "Top 10 Avoidable Mistakes SaaS Startups Make". When I saw this video, I knew I had to share it. Its short, and stuffed with classic (and not so classic) pitfalls to avoid when building your SaaS.  
Rob truly is a wealth of knowledge in building great businesses. Through his widespread books, recordings, articles, and discussions – Rob has guided thousands of start-up founders and continues to do just that through vlogs on his MicroConf  YouTube channel. I'm grateful to Rob for letting me share this content, and of course, subscribe to his YouTube channel (link below!)

Grab a pen and the nearest notebook as Rob shares his no-nonsense, fluff-free guide on successfully building your start-up, revealing the top 10 avoidable mistakes SaaS start-ups make. 
Resources: 
My original episode with Rob: https://www.conormccarthy.me/podcast-episodes/finding-people-who-care-with-rob-walling

The original YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Jjb7fPV6PQ

Connect with Rob Walling:
https://robwalling.com/ 
https://www.youtube.com/c/MicroConf 
https://twitter.com/robwalling 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/robwalling/ 
https://microconf.com 


Connect with First 10 Podcast host Conor McCarthy: 
https://www.first10podcast.com
https://twitter.com/TheFirst10Pod
https://www.linkedin.com/in/comccart/
 
Check out my podcast partners!
Buzzsprout:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1389931
Otter:
https://otter.ai/referrals/ETRNKY16
Calendly:
https://calendly.grsm.io/ilev18qxpn1e
Produced in partnership with podlad.com 

Welcome back to the final episode of season four, and what a season it has been – but it’s not over just yet! Joining me to wrap up this serial-entrepreneur season is founder and chief side hustler of Side Hustle Nation, Nick Loper. 
Have you ever had the itch to get a side hustle going!? If so, you will love this episode! If you have ever researched how to start your own side business, chances are high that you’ve come across Nick’s go-to website, www.sidehustlenation.com. Through his website and books, Nick guides start-up and seasoned entrepreneurs from all corners of the globe to make extra money, amplify their power and security, and create a business they love. 
In this episode, Nick talks us through his impactful career throughout his college days, how he pivoted through business ventures and what it means to be expert enough when launching a business. Nick also shares his wine-ing road into the virtual assistance world, reveals his take on filtering through business ideas, and discusses whether social media is necessary when kickstarting your entrepreneurial journey. Key points throughout this episode include:
An introduction to Nick Loper.Early pitching days and mastering door-to-door sales.Entering the world of internet marketing. Finding inspiration from failures and pivoting into a new career.  Standing out in a crowded space. The beginning of Side Hustle Nation. The ups and downs of an entrepreneurial journey.How curiosity is key in business and the importance of gathering feedback.Why entrepreneurs should focus on niching down.Introducing sales and marketing to first-time entrepreneurs. Do you know where your customers hang out?Overcoming imposter syndrome sirens and embracing social media.Nick’s business book recommendations.Nick’s advice for finding your first ten customers.Connect with Nick Loper:
https://www.sidehustlenation.com/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickloper/ 
https://twitter.com/nloper 


Connect with First 10 Podcast host Conor McCarthy: 
https://www.first10podcast.com
https://twitter.com/TheFirst10Pod
https://www.linkedin.com/in/comccart/
 
Resources:
Nick Loper Books: 
https://www.amazon.com/Nick-Loper/e/B009N31662 


The Go Giver by Bob Berg.
https://thegogiver.com/ 


The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco. 
https://www.themillionairefastlane.com/


Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman. 
https://www.oliverburkeman.com/books  


Check out my podcast partners!
Buzzsprout:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1389931
Otter:
https://otter.ai/referrals/ETRNKY16
Calendly:
https://calendly.grsm.io/ilev18qxpn1e


Produced in partnership with podlad.com 

"When people are actively looking for a product like yours, and you're not marketing it, you are actually doing an act of disservice. You are starving them of something that they need, that they could use. By not marketing, you're putting a ceiling on your potential." – Corey Haines. 
Are you currently creating or marketing a product in the SaaS space? If so, you will love and learn so much from this week's episode with SaaS marketing expert Corey Haines. Corey is a marketer, entrepreneur, podcaster, investor, and soon to be an author who is on a mission to help people and their products, services, and content get the recognition that they truly deserve. 
Corey is the mastermind and creator behind the popular Swipe Files and has consulted with numerous start-ups on growth and marketing, including SavvyCal, Evercast and Holloway, to name but a few. Throughout this episode, Corey shares his go-to research methods, the importance of live customer experience feedback, marketing cheat codes, and reveals his three tried and true methods guaranteed to bring your first customers through the door. Key points throughout include:  
An introduction to Corey Haines. Obtaining Swipe Well's first customers and the creation of Swipe Files. Communicating with potential buyers on social media platforms.Dripping marketing: striking the right amount of marketing ahead of product launching. The key to mapping out appropriate marketing methods.Overcoming the fear of marketing. How avoiding marketing is an act of disservice. Methods for understanding your customer's needs. The power of asking why and the benefit of running polls.Navigating through career challenges and failures. Advertising conversion: does it really work?Corey's business book recommendations.Lessons to be learned from activating a landing page. Corey's advice on obtaining your first ten customers."You do need marketing. You have to treat it as an investment, something that's going to pay dividends later." - Corey Haines. 
COMING SOON! Join the waitlist to get your hands on Corey's forthcoming marketing handbook Founding Marketing  HERE. We do not doubt that this book will feature on many guests’ recommended lists in future First 10 podcast episodes. 
"Without promotion, something terrible happens. Nothing! – PT Barnum. 
Connect with Corey Haines:
https://www.coreyhaines.co/ 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/corey-haines/ 
https://twitter.com/coreyhainesco 
https://www.swipefiles.com/ 
https://www.defaultalive.fm/ 
https://www.swipefiles.com/foundingmarketing 


Connect with First 10 Podcast host Conor McCarthy: 
https://www.first10podcast.com
https://twitter.com/TheFirst10Pod
https://www.linkedin.com/in/comccart/
 
Resources:
The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick

Wondering how best to grow your audience or perhaps, how to fund your next trip to Ireland? If so, this week's podcast is a must-listen for you! This week, joining Conor on the show is special guest and serial entrepreneur Brennan Dunn. Brennan is the co-founder of RightMessage, a platform for online businesses to enhance their automated segmentation and website personalisation. In this episode, Brennan walks us through his fascinating leap from consulting into SaaS, launching and selling his project management tool Planscope and the accidental beginning of his thriving community, Double Your Freelancing, where he advises 50K + freelancers and agencies across the globe.
Conor and Brennan unpack so much, including the secret to building with your audience, effective communication and truly understanding your customer's needs. Brennan also reveals what worked well when starting a new business from scratch. Main points throughout the discussion include: 
An introduction to Brennan Dunn.  The rise of an accidental business. Being personable and building connections with your customers.The practice of creating evergreen content.The art of conversational copywriting: write as you speak!Utilising the voice of customer data.Re-evaluating a career and starting a new venture from scratch.What worked well: Brennan's proven business stepping-stone.Why you should borrow an audience. The key to real-time product positioning.Communicating directly and effectively with customers.How to elevate your customer testimonials to new heights. Brennan's advice for obtaining your first ten customers. Connect Brennan:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/brennandunn/   
https://doubleyourfreelancing.com/ 
https://twitter.com/brennandunn 
https://rightmessage.com/ 
https://createandsell.co/ 


Connect with First 10 Podcast host Conor McCarthy: 
https://www.first10podcast.com
https://twitter.com/TheFirst10Pod
https://www.linkedin.com/in/comccart/
 
Resources:
https://copyhackers.com/ 
Book: The Brain Audit by Sean D'Souza
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Brain-Audit-Customers-They-Dont/dp/0473175045 
https://www.robfitz.com/home 


Check out my podcast partners!
Buzzsprout:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1389931
Otter:
https://otter.ai/referrals/ETRNKY16
Calendly:
https://calendly.grsm.io/ilev18qxpn1e


Produced in partnership with podlad.com

This week, joining the podcast is special guest, serial entrepreneur, and the king of shiny objects, Brian Casel. Brian is the founder of Zip Message, a popular video messaging tool for async conversations, which launched at the beginning of 2021. Brian recently sold and exited some of his earlier businesses, including Audience Ops and ProcessKit. Brian firmly believes that with each business opportunity came great learnings and experiences, which he has carried forward to get him to where he is today. 
Get ready to dive into an episode filled with fascinating insights and advice as Brian brings us on his journey from freelancing to fearlessly launching and running multiple businesses. In this episode, Brian offers brilliant advice for business start-ups as he openly shares how to talk to your customers, tactics on building an audience, how to master sales calls and how to approach the awkward conversation of pricing. Key points throughout the discussion include: 
The leap from freelancing to building businesses.The joy of obtaining your first customer. Building an audience through networking. Mastering sales: how to get the most out of sales calls.Customer observation: learning from customer pain points. Curiosity is key: questions to ask your customers. Attracting your ideal customer base. Increasing brand awareness and speaking directly with potential customers. The benefits of asynchronous communication. How to discuss pricing with potential clients. Assessing and filtering through business ideas. Book recommendations for business builders. Brian’s advice for obtaining your first 10 customers.  ‘’I went through this long list of businesses. I would never have landed on Zip Message if I didn't learn things from Process Kit. I never would have landed on Process Kit if I didn't learn a ton from Audience Ops and Audience Ops came from what I learned from Restaurant Engine. I wouldn't have landed on those ideas unless I had gone through that experience.’’ – Brian Casel. 
Connect with Brian Casel:
https://briancasel.com/ 
https://briancasel.com/podcasts 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/briancasel/ 
https://twitter.com/CasJam 
https://zipmessage.com/  
 
Connect with First 10 Podcast host Conor McCarthy: 
https://www.first10podcast.com
https://twitter.com/TheFirst10Pod
https://www.linkedin.com/in/comccart/
 
Resources:
Book: The Mom Test by Rob Fitzpatrick. 
http://momtestbook.com/  
Book: The Cold Start Problem by Andrew Chen.
https://www.coldstart.com/ 


Podcast partners
Buzzsprout:
https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=1389931
Otter:
https://otter.ai/referrals/ETRNKY16
Calendly:
https://calendly.grsm.io/ilev18qxpn1e
Produced in partnership with podlad.com