Our host Katie Richardson is ready to kick off the new year right with an “exceptional guest,” CEO and co-founder of Marketplace Superheroes and now Grow My Reach: Stephen Somers. Stephen joins Katie to talk about how he pulled such a wide variety of products into one online store that is continually booming. Stephen will also teach us about the power of pushing back fear and utilizing  unfamiliar social platforms like TikTok. Jump into their conversation today and get a wealth of information on marketing, keeping the core focus, and applying tactical simplicity.

3 Key Takeaways

• Elements that are causing Stephen’s TikTok videos to be successful 
• The absolute cruciality of communication in the workplace
• The power of accepting realism in your own life in order to unlock energy and potential

Listen to the Full Episode

Show Notes

[1:40] Stephen tells an experience that defined him

• When his brother passed away when Stephen was 11
  • Making the most out of our time on this earth

[4:00] Stephen explains what he sells on Amazon

• Teach people how to sell their own branded products across niches
• Now having almost 10,000 students from that program

[6:00] Bringing everything together into one place

• Building their ecosystem
• Getting 12-15 million for the whole group
• “Awards are cool, but what’s more important is: are we building something for the future?” -Stephen Somers

[7:50] What is the foundational element to such a diverse store?

• Comparing to Amazon
  • Customers not going there to look for a brand, they’re looking for products
• Leveraging Amazon as a search engine for these products
• Building a house brand

[11:45] The problem Stephen was running into with his customers and how he’s solving it now

• The initial problem was customers needing someone to look at what they’re doing
  • Oversubscribed by Daniel
• Bringing in coaches and successful students to help
• Adjusting their services to cut costs of shipping
  • “If we’re going to do this, we need to do it the right way.” -Stephen Somers
• Allocating profit from the training courses into their own warehouse
• Tackling the US next

[19:55] How Stephen created help for clients who don’t know how to build a business

• Forging partnerships with experts in the space
• “Even with add-ins, we’re always careful that we don’t take away from our initial focus.” -Stephen Somers
  • Adding in excitement and interest into their world

[23:50] How Stephen knew to begin to provide more of his world to his customers

• Stephen shares a funny story
  • Stopping himself from throwing away a good opportunity on TikTok
    • Using Rachel Pearson’s TikTok program

[30:55] Elements that are causing Stephen’s TikTok videos to be successful 

• Showing people something they can actually do
• “TikTok marketing is about getting back to tactical simplicity.” -Stephen Somers
• Using training sounds 

[34:47] What drives Stephen’s passion

• Learning! 
  • His example of the incubator
    • Finding someone with potential
      • Print on demand jewelry store
• “What I want to be known for now is learning and sharing those results.” -Stephen Somers
• Seeing a product work and actually make money
• Get rid of that fear and just go with it!

[41:06] Something Stephen does consistently every day

• Communicate
  • Slack
  • ClickUp

[43:28] A book Stephen keeps on his nightstand

• Ready, Fire, Aim by Michael Masterson
• Millionaire FastLane by MJ DeMarco 

[44:00] Advice that’s served him in his life

• Produce, not consume
  • Doing changes your life
  • Look back over your time and find create real results
  • “What am I pretending not to know?”

[47:10] The new identity Stephen has taken on

• Accepting realism 
• Replacing alcohol with a different drink

Resources

Ready, Fire, Aim by Michael Masterson

Millionaire FastLane by MJ DeMarco

 Slack

ClickUp