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Dan Lok

Create Generational Wealth With Dan Pena’s In-Depth Strategies

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Have you heard the term generational wealth before? My mentor Dan Pena teaches and instructs others to generate exactly that. So, what exactly is generational wealth?

Generational wealth is a form of huge fortunes that usually take 20-25 years to create. We are talking about huge sums of money, here. Normally, the generations of an entire family line have to work together to achieve such a great fortune.

The reason why it’s called generational wealth, is because it takes generations to build it up. It’s old money.

Dan Pena is known as “The Trillion Dollar Man”. He acquired huge riches in his life. So, to learn from him is extremely valuable, as he has walked the walk. At his castle seminars, he would teach his mentees how to achieve generational wealth in 3-7 years, instead of 20-25 years. This is extremely valuable knowledge, so of course I attended his seminar.

I visited one of Dan Pena’s seminars back in 2003. That was a huge turning point in my life, and in my pursuit of financial success. Dan Pena has been my mentor ever since, and I would often visit him at his castle.

So now, what are Den Pena’s in-depth strategies for creating generational wealth? Let’s start with who Dan Pena is, and why we should all listen to his advice.

Who Is Dan Pena?

Dan Pena is often referred to as the “Trillion Dollar Man”. He has many impressive achievements, and owns a castle in Scotland.

Getting Dan Pena to be your mentor isn’t easy. You can’t just call him on the phone and book an appointment. Like most wealthy people, he is guarding his time.

When I found out about Dan Pena, I was very young and very broke. I had nothing much to offer, but I knew I wanted to be mentored by him. So I called his secretary and asked for an appointment. Of course, she told me off. But I didn’t give up. For days and weeks, I would call Dan Pena’s secretary every day. My persistence worked. Dan Pena picked up the phone and told me to come to his castle for one of his seminars.

That was the next challenge. I was pretty broke at that time and getting tickets for the flight from Canada to Scotland was a challenge for me, and a major financial risk. But I did it anyway. Today, I am incredibly grateful for everything I learned from him. Let’s just say it was worth the money to fly out to his seminar.

Many of the things that I’m teaching my students today, I learned from Dan Pena back then. Things like, “Consistency is key” or “Smell the leather” are expressions I picked up from Dan Pena.

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Dan Pena’s Way To Generational Wealth: The “Quantum Leap Advantage” (QLA)

So, what exactly does Dan Pena teach his mentees about generational wealth?

His system is called the Quantum Leap Advantage, or QLA for short. QLA isn’t for everyone. To learn the system of QLA, it would be best if you were already earning 6 or 7 figures. It’s not a strategy meant for broke beginners. Now, why is that?

First of all, if you want to learn QLA from Dan Pena live, you have to be able to pay for your tickets to his seminars. They come with a price tag. You can also learn QLA via Dan Pena’s YouTube videos. If you do that, there is one catch, however. To accumulate and hold generational wealth you need to first have the mindset of a wealthy person. For many of you, this requires a significant mindset shift.

When you spend a week at Dan Pena’s fancy castle for his seminar, your outlook on wealth changes. I remember the first one or two days at the seminar, I felt kind of uncomfortable and out of place. There was a bell to ring, so the waiter would come and get you food and drinks. I was young, broke, and not used to any of these luxuries. But after a day or two, I thought to myself, This is actually kind of awesome.

You see, even if the QLA strategies are on YouTube for free, only very few people can implement or use these strategies. For generational wealth, you have to be comfortable with wealth. If you never earned 6-figures in your life, then you are probably not ready. Focus on increasing your income first.

How Does QLA Work?

Through his teachings, Dan Pena has created millionaires and billionaires.

The foundation of the QLA method is this: It’s a commercial debt-based business model. You never use your own money. Instead, you borrow money from commercial banks. With that money, you acquire businesses in lucrative sectors. Hot sectors such as healthcare and telecommunication. You grow the business and sell it again. That is the basic concept behind generating generational wealth.

Now, this sounds easier than it’s done. If it would be easy, everyone would do it.

If you do everything right, then achieving generational wealth will take you about 3 years. If you make some mistakes along the line, it will take up to seven years. But that’s still infinitely faster than the usual 20-25 years.

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Create Generational Wealth by Changing Your Mindset

Before you can acquire any amount of wealth, you have to adjust your mindset. Most people, don’t grow up in rich environments. Rather, they grow up with a mindset of poor people. If they can’t escape from that mindset, they will stay poor. They have to adjust from a poor person mindset to a wealthy person mindset.

Dan Pena often calls the current generation “snowflakes”. Why? Because they melt under pressure. Most people nowadays have “safe spaces” where they shelter themselves from the world. But, the snowflake mindset doesn’t help you to achieve generational wealth.

To become wealthy, you have to get used to people saying “No” to you. Dan Pena and I still get a lot of “No”s. My High-Ticket Closers, when they sell on the phone, have to get used to rejection. The right mindset is that every “No” you get, means you’re getting that much closer to a “Yes”.

As a wealthy person, you are committed to your results, even if it’s challenging, and the odds are against you. The QLA seminar visitors come from all kinds of backgrounds and all walks of life. That is proof that everyone can become wealthy if they are determined and willing to make the sacrifices that come with wealth.

Your Self-Esteem Needs Some Work

The participants for Dan Pena’s seminars are getting younger and younger. His current “poster child” is a young man who came to him at the age of 17. All he had was a 15-speed bicycle. Now he is 21 and flying his own private jet.

Dan Pena often noticed that almost all of his seminar attendants had low self-esteem. To create generational wealth, they first have to start to believe in themselves. If you are the first aspiring millionaire or billionaire in your family, chances are that others don’t believe in you. So, it’s even more important that you believe in yourself and have that self-confidence to be a trail blazer despite your family’s history of being poor.

This ties back in with your mindset and how comfortable you are with getting rejected. Dan Pena himself also started out as a salesman, so he understands rejection, cold calling, and the numbers game.

The thing is, when you follow the Quantum Leap Advantage method you aren’t selling a product. Selling a product is easy. But essentially, you are selling yourself. Getting rejected when you sell yourself is twice as tough. That’s why you need unshakable certainty and high self-esteem.

How Have You Been Programmed?

Another important factor when it comes to generational wealth is the programming from your parents, peers, and people around you. Dan Pena believes that parents program their kids for a certain type of thinking from a young age.

Dan Pena himself had a rough childhood and even ended up in jail at some point in his life. Only after he changed his program did he get to generational wealth. When Den Pena started to make fortunes, his father said, “Please tell me it isn’t drugs”. He made so much money that everybody assumed it was something illegal.

That’s also a form of programming many of us have to hear every day. In a poor people mindset, it seems impossible to make a lot of money legally. They immediately assume you did something illegal.

To get to the core of your program, ask yourself, how is your program working out for you? What stories are telling yourself? How do you justify your failures? What excuses are you making? When you are very honest with yourself you probably have to admit that your program isn’t making you successful.

That’s why it’s so important to have a mentor. A mentor who practices what he preaches can help you to change your program. They have been where you once were and show you how to overcome it.

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Smell The Leather

I teach this concept to all of my students, but I actually learned it from Dan Pena. Smelling the leather is a powerful tool to expand your comfort zone and get used to wealth.

What is it about? Smelling the leather means to tap into the world of the rich, even if you can’t afford it yet. Get a taste for the luxuries you can’t yet afford.

For example, when I wanted to buy a certain car, I would go to different dealerships and test drive the car. I got so used to it, it really felt like the car already belonged to me. When I would walk on the streets with my friends and my dream car would drive by, I would tell them “Look, that’s my car.”

Or when I wanted to buy a Bentley but still had to wait, I first bought the license plate. The license plate would remind me every day of my goal to buy the Bentley.

If you want to live like the rich or get a taste for it, go to fancy hotel lobbies and do your work there. Visit the neighborhood where you want to live and have dinner there frequently. Expose yourself to the lifestyle you want to have. This practice will motivate you to take action.

Smell the leather. I learned that concept from Dan Pena. If you want to adopt a wealthy mindset, it’s the perfect strategy.

Tough Love

Another one of Dan Pena’s core principles for generational wealth is tough love. If you watch Dan Pena on YouTube or attend his life seminar you will see that he isn’t exactly a soft guy. He knows that to become wealthy, you have to go through hardships and he tells you so unfiltered. That the “No BS” mentality you will need to accomplish generational wealth.

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Generational Wealth Doesn’t Come Easy

When you want generational wealth, you have to be aware of this crucial factor:

Wealth doesn’t come for free. Most people don’t become rich because they aren’t ready to make the sacrifices to get there. Share on X

In that sense, generating wealth is very similar to losing weight. What do you have to do to lose weight? You have to put in the work and exercise. Still, so many people in North America are overweight. Why? Because they aren’t ready to make the sacrifice that comes with losing weight – sacrifices such as spending time in the gym or holding back from eating too much.

Most people see the glamour of rich people’s lives and want that. But they don’t see the blood, sweat, and tears that got us there. When you want to get really rich, there are many sacrifices you have to make. People, opportunities and mindsets you have to say no to.

Getting wealthy typically involves constant work, even when you don’t feel like it.

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Absolute High Performance

To create generational wealth – or any kind of wealth really – you have to be a high performer. You can’t get rich and make excuses at the same time.

You have to be committed to your results and stay consistent. As Den Pena likes to say: “High-performance people are all they can be all the time.” That means they are always like that. Not just when they feel like it. It’s a part of who they are. Peak performance is ingrained in their daily routine.

Den Pena is an absolute high performer because he doesn’t know fear. He is never afraid, because of his life experiences and the discipline he learned in the military.

What Gets Measured, Gets Accomplished

Dan Pena believes that what gets measured, gets accomplished. When you visit one of his seminars, you’ll notice that in the months after, he will follow up with you and see how you are doing. He sees it as his responsibility to keep you on your path of making generational wealth.

Your Emotional Bank Account

Most people are aware of their financial bank accounts. But, there is actually another account to pay attention to: Your emotional bank account.

Your emotional bank account is probably even more important than your financial one. The emotional bank account determines how well you react if something doesn’t go your way. How you take it when your back is against the wall and you have to perform.

Are you emotionally strong? How about emotionally intelligent, emotionally stable, resilient and able to bounce back?

When your emotional bank account is in check, your financial bank account will follow. So, you are creating generational wealth with and through yourself and your own personal strength.

Why QLA Works

Now as you can see, the strategies for creating generational wealth are mostly intangible. It’s not about how rich you are already and which investment gimmicks you are using. It’s about working on yourself so you are actually ready for fortune.

Still, there are some more methodological approaches to QLA that make it so successful.

They way QLA works, you are getting yourself in a position where there is no competition. Most people wouldn’t do it.

Generational wealth gets created by a series of transactions. It’s not just one business you sell, you have to do it over and over again. It’s also about paying attention to current interest rates and checking which sectors are hot right now. For example, healthcare is lucrative right now. As Dan Pena said himself, “My generation doesn’t want to die.” So, there is a lot of money in the health sector.

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7 Steps To Mega-Success

When you visit Den Pena’s website, you’ll see that the QLA method follows 7 steps.

Step 1 is the foundation. It discusses how to overcome obstacles, how to get the right mindset and so much more.

Step 2 is about clarifying your vision, to make sure you are crystal clear on what you want.

Step 3 is focusing on perception.

Step 4 deals with creating your dream team.

Step 5 is about the Quantum Leap Action Plan. Remember QLA works without any of your own money.

Step 6 explains why you should pay yourself first.

And finally, step 7 talks about your exit strategy.

The whole purpose of Dan Pena’s teachings is to show you how to become mega-successful. Most of the time, it’s by doing the opposite of what conventional wisdom tells you to do. Very often, conventional wisdom and traditional teachings are wrong.

Ready to Unlock Your Wealth?

Perhaps you are only just starting out as an aspiring millionaire. Maybe you aren’t sure if the concept of generational wealth is too advanced for you.

I believe that you have the potential inside of you to achieve your dreams. It’s possible that so far, you’ve been programmed in a way that gave you poor self-esteem. You’ve been following conventional wisdom that has kept you poor. But all wealthy people – even Dan Pena or myself – we weren’t born fortunate and rich.

In my early twenties, I was broke and in serious debt. When Den Pena invited me to his castle, I wasn’t sure if I would make it, because of the cost of the plane ticket.

We all have to learn to unlock our inner potential first.

My new best selling book Unlock It is exactly about that. All I learned in the last 20 years of being in business, the hardships I overcame and the lessons I learned – I divulged it all in this book.

So, if creating great wealth is your goal but you don’t know where to start, then Unlock It might be of interest to you. It’s not a regular book, either. It offers space for you to take notes and reflect. You can read it in one go or find the chapters that discuss current life situations you are facing. It’s a book full of answers. What would it mean to you to unlock your potential? Check out my book right here.

The Trillion Dollar Man, Daniel Pena, Talks About The Complete QLA Library

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If you’re familiar with my work, there’s a good chance you’ve heard about, Daniel Pena, also famously known as The Trillion Dollar Man. Maybe you’ve seen him in one of my YouTube videos or remember reading about him on my blog. 

If you don’t already know, he is the second mentor that entered my life and he has been my mentor for over 10 years. And back when I was in my twenties, it was through his castle seminar mentorship program called the Quantum Leap Advantage (QLA) that helped me bring my business to the next level. 

At the time, when he invited me to attend the seminar at the Guthrie Castle, I couldn’t believe it. It was an opportunity of a lifetime for me to learn from Daniel Pena in person. There was no doubt in my mind to take advantage of that moment. But I was reluctant. There was one problem holding me back. 

The Decision That Changed The Course of My Life Forever

The price of the seminar. At the time, it cost me a LOT to attend the seminar and I didn’t have that kind of money just sitting around. I was broke and still had $150,000 debt to carry. 

So what do most people do in that kind of situation? Yes, they come up with all the reasons why they shouldn’t go. And that exactly what I did. I threw myself into my own mental BS. Questioning whether or not I should go.

But, if I was being honest with myself, deep down I knew I had to attend the seminar. It didn’t matter that I was scared or worried. Because I knew that if I said “no” to this opportunity, it would be the end of our relationship. And I would deeply regret my decision if I made the wrong choice because of my fear. So I knew at that moment, I had to be resourceful. I had to find a way to make it work. And I did.

Today, looking back, it was one of the best decisions I made in my entire life. And because of it, I am now at a stage in my life where I can make an impact and help change the lives of today’s younger generation. 

So my mentor, Daniel Pena, gave me permission to release the same program that once cost me several thousand dollars to attend absolutely free for you to use on my YouTube channel. And if that wasn’t enough, he has also released his own complete library of the QLA products on his website and his YouTube channel. 

Why is Daniel Pena Giving Away All of His QLA Products for Free? 

His answer is very simple. He wants to eliminate every excuse you have to not succeed. Because let’s face it, you and I both know, most people only know how to talk about success but they have no proof to show for it. 

That’s why in the personal development and success industry space, a lot of what you see, not all, but a lot of what you see online are all just a big pile of garbage. It’s just like what Hitler proved. As Daniel Pena says, “if you say something that’s wrong and lie a lie evil enough, loud enough, and enough times, people will believe you.” 

This is one of the main reasons why he is so confident in the QLA Methodology. Because he created it based on real success. And he continues to improve it based on success. It’s not something he believes to be true or thinks is true. It’s all built on the foundation of a proven track record he has produced for himself as well as for his mentees and devotees. 

In the last four or five years, Daniel Pena has produced teenage multimillionaires, like Josh Kim, that are now flying around in their own private jets. He has helped one of his mentees Klaus Kleinfield produce the largest deal in recorded history – the $500 billion mega-city called NEOM. And apart from these two examples, he has many more success stories to prove that the QLA methodology works.  

Today, Daniel Pena spends two-thirds of his time teaching for free at universities all around the world because he realized the most promising way to influence the future is by influencing the younger generation.

What is The Quantum Leap Advantage Actually About?

This may not be the first time you’ve heard of the QLA Methodology. You may have heard about it in one of my YouTube videos, in Daniel Pena’s many YouTube videos, or even on his website dedicated to this topic. But even while watching those videos, you might have a pretty good idea about what QLA is about, but it’s not entirely clear. So let me share with you my thoughts on what QLA really is. 

From a personal development perspective, it is about acquiring the right mindset for success. It’s about building the self-esteem of a high performer. It’s about how messed up we are by society and by our parents. 

From a business perspective, the QLA Methodology is about buying revenue instead of creating revenue. So you do that by acquiring and buying a company or multiple companies. And leveraging the bank by using the bank’s money instead of your own money. That’s essentially what Daniel Pena’s QLA Methodology is all about. But overall, to me, QLA is simply a way of thinking and it is a way of life. However, keep in mind…

The QLA Methodology Is NOT For Everyone.

In fact, it’s for a very small percentage of people that have the right skills, the right mindset, and they have what it takes to make QLA work. So you need to know how to buy, negotiate, close, deal with people, talk to the bank, and run a business. 

If you want to make QLA work for you these are some of the many skills you need to know to be successful. You see, it’s a very high-level entrepreneurship. And the concept behind the QLA Methodology is far from starting a regular online business. It’s on a completely different level. 

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Daniel Pena’s QLA Methodology is The Gateway to Generational Wealth

Throughout the 7-day Guthrie Castle seminar, you’ll find many different people from different countries and from all walks of life buying companies for 5, 10, 20, 30, 50, or even 100 million dollar deals. From my knowledge, learning how to close these types of deals are not taught anywhere else except at the Guthrie Castle.

And by making deals of this magnitude you can create what Daniel Pena refers to as generational wealth. So we are talking about wealth in terms of tens of millions or hundreds of millions of dollars. Wealth that would normally take 20 to 25 years to create. But with the QLA Methodology, the goal is to create generational wealth within 3 to 7 years. 

Over the years, Daniel Pena has worked to refine QLA to a process made up of systems that can help people, like yourself, create generational wealth in a shorter period of time. According to him, if you follow QLA perfectly it would take you about 3 years but most don’t get it perfect. Five to seven years if you’re good. And eight to ten years if you really don’t know what you’re doing. 

But that’s the perspective I want to give you if you want to learn more about the QLA Methodology or if you want to attend the Guthrie Castle seminar yourself. 

However keep in mind, a large percentage of people who have attended the castle seminar in the past have actually dropped out and didn’t make it in two to three months. They gave up. And many of those that didn’t succeed had these four mental obstacles standing in their way. 

1. You Were Programmed For Poverty, Not Success

Even with the abundance of information, you can access on the internet about Daniel Pena and with all the time he spends teaching university students. Most people do not appreciate all the priceless value and knowledge they’re getting for free. 

And a big reason is because most people are not programmed for high-performance or success. A majority of society is actually programmed for poverty. 

Unless you were born into a high-performance family like Henry Ford, John D. Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Donald Trump, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs, you were not taught to be a high-performer. In fact, today we live in what Daniel Pena calls a Snowflake Generation. These are people who melt under pressure. 

They don’t have the self-esteem to become a high-performer because of all the bad programming they’ve received their entire life. When life gets tough and they can’t handle it, they feel the need to scurry back into their safe zone – a place where they can release their stress. But in reality, that method doesn’t help you. Because in life there are no safe zones. 

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In life, you have to suffer if you want to grow into someone successful. You see, everything you could ever want lies outside of your comfort zone. So to get there you need to stretch your comfort by learning how to be uncomfortable.   

When it comes to applying the QLA Method, let’s say you are 25 years old. It’ll be much harder for you to execute the system because you have to unlearn all the bad mental programming you received from your parents. 

It’s not impossible but it’ll be harder because you’ll be swimming in a lot of your own mental BS. However, if your desire is strong enough, then chances are you will do whatever it takes to produce results. 

2. People Who Pretend To Be Successful Never Achieve Any Level Of Success

Many people who dropped out of the castle seminar had this false belief about how much they wanted to achieve success. They say they have a desire to be successful but their words never match their actions. They come in with this mindset of I don’t know how to do something. 

Well, what you’re given at the seminar and through the QLA Methodology is the “how-to” or the process you need to succeed. But as soon as people find out that it’s hard. Or they hit their first obstacle and meet a little bit of resistance, they want to quit. That’s when they know they don’t have the real desire to achieve success as they had originally thought. 

Daniel Pena once said that even if you attend the 7-day castle seminar and you got one thing out of it: Okay, I don’t think this is for me. Then it’s perfectly fine. Because now you know what it takes to achieve a high level of success. Now there’s no room for you to make any excuses:

  • I don’t know how to do it.
  • No one taught me.
  • I didn’t have any guidance.
  • I didn’t have enough resources. 

So you see, most people pretend they want to be successful. But it isn’t until they realize the tough choices they need to make or as Daniel calls it the “pay price to action,” that they find out it’s not what they thought. 

In the wise words of Daniel Pena, the difference between the high-performance people and the rest of society is where “measurable expectations are demanded not asked.” The reason my mentor and I achieved success in our life and can enjoy our material luxuries is because we wanted it more than anything else. Our desire was stronger than everyone else. And that’s what it takes. 

3. Tough Love is What You Need But May Not Like

For a big portion of people that don’t succeed in life or don’t have what it takes to succeed, they’ve lived a “bubble-wrapped life” as Daniel calls it. It simply means they were raised by their parents to be weak and soft-minded.

In life, you and I encounter all sorts of problems and challenges. But why do some of us make it out alive and others don’t? Why do some of us handle problems successfully and others don’t? What makes this difference in people?

According to Daniel Pena, it’s because most of us were not taught to be tough-minded and overcome problems that are bound to happen in life. Today, as Daniel goes to teach at universities all around the world. Many of the students believe his message is not politically correct. But Daniel believes political correctness is a manifestation of lack of self-esteem. It’s just a way to hide behind their weakness.

Today people have less self-esteem than ever before. And people make the mistake of thinking that love on its own is enough to make a change and produce results. But it’s not. Even for Daniel Pena’s own three kids, he doesn’t expect love from them, even though it may be good. He would much rather prefer to have their respect. 

Because respect is timeless and it’s something you can pass on from one generation to the next. You can see this is evident all throughout history as well. Love always seems to come and go, sometimes very easily. 

But earning someone’s respect is much harder to come by. The definition of respect itself is the feeling of deep admiration for someone because of their abilities, qualities, or achievements. And most people are not proud of their abilities, qualities, or achievements because they’ve lived a mediocre life. 

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4. A Work-Life Balance Does Not Exist

If you take a look at all the high-performers today like Elon Musk, Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, and the late Steve Jobs, what do you notice?

They do not hang out or chill as Daniel calls it. You will not find them going to the World Cup, the Super Bowl, or the World Series. They just don’t go. Why?

Because they are constantly working all the time. They work on New Year’s Eve. They work on Christmas Day. And every year it’s the same routine. But understand that it’s not “work” to them and they don’t see it that way. Their work is an integral part of their life. There is no separation. It’s part of their enjoyment and obsession. The reason is because they are thinking about their work and their business all the time – 24/7. 

One the biggest struggles for the snowflake generation is they believe in a work-life balance that does not exist. There is no work-life balance. And Jack Welch said it best, “There are work-life choices and they have consequences.” 

You have to make the choice to achieve success. When you have an unbreakable will to pursue your dreams, then you will take the necessary actions to make it happen. But there is no shortcut. It’s a long, dangerous path full of pitfalls and traps. So if you don’t have the confidence, self-esteem, tough-mindedness, and skillsets to endure the journey. Chances are, you will not make it to the top. 

How Will You Transform Your Mistakes Into Seeds For Wealth, Success, and Significance?

You see, one of the main differences I didn’t discuss above that separates successful high-performers from the rest of society is their execution. It’s their ability to take action even when it’s hard. 

It’s their conviction to do whatever it takes even in the face of fear. They don’t make excuses. And they don’t whine and complain. They just take immediate action. Because as you may know, action drives out thought.

At the time before I decided to attend the castle seminar, like many people, I was scared. But I knew that it would cost me more not to take action. Maybe you’re facing this same dilemma. Your ego and insecurities may be getting in the way of your success. But if you are ready to make a change and you want to learn how you can unlock the door to reach your full potential, then click here to order my new book, Unlock It. 

How To Create Interesting Instagram Posts That Keep People On Your Page

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Are you struggling to create interesting and engaging Instagram posts? There are plenty of ways to create an interesting post, even if you’re selling a digital product that’s impossible to visualize or something that’s not glamorous. 

If you’re using Instagram to grow your business, it’s essential to grow your audience and keep them engaged on your page, but how do you create interesting Instagram posts that could help you grow your business? 

With over a billion people active on Instagram monthly, it’s crucial to know how to use it effectively. Instagram has become one of the favorite social media channels for many people. As you know, Instagram is a photo-sharing platform. They have 500 million daily active stories users worldwide in 2019. 

If you can create interesting Instagram posts, it is a platform to grow your audience fast. So how do we do that?

For some businesses, it makes sense to establish a presence if you want to monetize on this platform. It has become a very competitive platform for those who are aiming to grow their audiences. You need to constantly find innovative ways to keep them interested. Only then, you can keep people engaged on your page.

A good and shareable post means you need to have a compelling caption. Why? Because a compelling caption draws your audience to share and stay on the page. In this article, I will share with you my Instagram secrets and on how you can create interesting Instagram posts that hook people to stay on your page.

Create Compelling Caption for Instagram Posts

Instagram is all about visuals. Not only good quality photos will capture the eyes of your audiences, but also a compelling caption will make them stay. While a good photo exhibits your brand instantly, a compelling caption explains what the photo is about and tells your audience to take action. 

With that said, there are many ways to create compelling captions. It’s either you do a lot of research about your competitors and other brands, enroll in a course, or borrow ideas from other online sources. However, coming up with great ideas to generate compelling captions can be very easy. 

To create compelling captions is a learnable skill. Even for someone without a digital marketing background can do this – as long as it’s relatable to your brand. It may sound easier said than done because not only does it have to be relatable, it needs to look good to be able to capture your audience’s attention as I said earlier.

If Instagram is for you and your business, watch this video on how you can grow your followers organically.

Now you must be wondering how to create compelling captions.  

Are You Offering Value or Persuading Your Readers?

Like any other skill you learn, it’s either from enroll for a course, engage a mentor to teach you, learn from tutorial videos, read blog articles, or read some books on how to create interesting Instagram posts.

To be able to write something that’s so compelling is not an overnight success. For those that have been creating captions for social media, they are experts in digital marketing and if you’re one, you can relate to this. 

Now, what if you’re a copywriter who wants to learn content writing? Or you would like to learn more about copywriting?

As a copywriter, first you have to understand the difference between copywriting and content writing. Both are important to know for marketing as they have different purposes, but the differences have a fine line between them. 

Content writing is about offering value while copywriting is about persuading the reader.  So, knowing the difference will be able to help keep people on your page, depending on your brand and niche.

As I said earlier, like any other skill, you can always learn copywriting if you want to venture into online business. Maybe you have an interesting product that you want to share with the world. But you have little to no knowledge about Instagram. Honestly, I know how you feel, and I can relate to that. That’s why, in this article, I’m going to share some Instagram secrets that got me from zero to 1.5 million followers.

Using Hashtags Is One Interesting Way to Get Attention

Don’t neglect using hashtags. One interesting way to get attention and gain new followers is by using relevant hashtags. With that said, you’ll not only get to keep your organic followers on your page but also new people. Although you can basically hashtag any word that comes out of your mind, if you’re marketing for a certain brand or company, doing research is an important factor to find out what’s the top trending hashtags. Of course, you want to find out what’s related to your topic or brand.

Hashtags have great connectivity element which connects users who aren’t connected to one another. Share on X

No matter how interesting a hashtag can be, limit to 4 hashtags. You don’t want to flood your audience with too many hashtags. It has to tie with the conversation of different users into one stream. So, if your account is public, anyone who searched for that particular hashtag may find your Instagram post. 

Hashtags have a great connectivity element. It connects users who aren’t connected to one another. This means people who are interested in the same topics, brands, meetings, and events. They will be able to find you through a hashtag. 

Now, why limit to 4 hashtags? If you use a string of hashtags, people will notice and they might think you’re just looking to gain new followers (it’s like spamming). They would get the wrong idea so use it sparingly.

Use High Quality Images

Stock images are probably the easiest and fastest way to find high quality images. Even though they have a bit of a bad reputation recently, that doesn’t mean that you can’t use stock images. However, not all stock images are perfect for your niche. Although some can help you create a varied feed, if it’s not given a prime spot to your feed, they can be bad for your branding if that is the case.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words. Share on X

When you’re looking for ideas online, be aware of the differences between commercial and editorial licensing. Especially when you download an image with a quote or a caption. Legal action can be taken against you, so beware of using an image improperly. That’s why understanding all of the rules is important. Many digital marketers neglect to understand the danger of acquiring stock images, even though most of them are easily downloadable for free. 

According to HubSpot. High quality stock photos don’t have to come hand-in-hand with a hassle of a high price tag. They’ve compiled 20 of the best free stock photo sites for you to use in 2020. 

Here is the list of the best 20.

  • Negative Space
  • Death to Stock
  • Picjumbo
  • Stokpic
  • Kaboompics
  • Startup Stock Photos
  • Freerange
  • LibreShot
  • Fancy Crave
  • Unsplash
  • StockSnap.io
  • SplitShire
  • Life of Pix
  • HubSpot
  • Pexels
  • Gratisography
  • Jay Mantri
  • ISO Republic
  • New Old Stock
  • Pixabay

If you have a bit of budget to spend, you can get better quality images and have access to a wider variety. But bear in mind, the recommended dimensions of an Instagram post, it’s at least 1080p and aspect ratio between 1.91:1 and 4.5.

  

Post Consistently At The Right Times

If you’ve watched the video I shared in the beginning, I said to post at least once a day or maybe 2. Don’t over-post as that is a surefire way to turn off your existing followers. You want to stay fresh and relevant to your audience. 

On top of that, it’s critical to know when the best time is to do what kind of post on Instagram. With the recent growth to one billion monthly active users on Instagram, the median engagement rate is 1.6%. More and more people are leaning towards segmentation, because it provides a more satisfying journey to your customers. So, to fully understand your market when creating your Instagram post is crucial. 

Now, you might have this question in mind, “why do I need to segment my audience?” Well, segmenting your audience will provide you more focus and authenticity. This gives a more personal experience because the Instagram algorithm prioritizes certain posts. With that said, you’ll want to know those key statistics on the best time for your Instagram post.

Use Instagram Stories

As I said in the beginning, 500 million people use Instagram stories daily and we’re talking about worldwide. So, can you imagine, the traffic in an hour? I have 1.5 million followers, that’s only 0.003% of the total number of people. 

So, if you can create an interesting and compelling Instagram post, people would share your post across and in addition, it keeps them on your page. Instagram stories have become very popular. Not only is it interesting, but it’s also attracting people in an engaging way. Why? Because stories that are on Instagram only last for 24 hours on your page and usually, people are always curious about what you’re up to. Especially when you have a new product and service. 

The reason behind people’s curiosity is that they don’t want to feel left out. That’s why it’s interesting. 

When you tell your audience what you’re up to. It shows more authenticity and builds trust among your audience. By doing that, it’ll help you increase the number of followers and engagement rates. 

Having said that, when creating Instagram stories. Tell stories instead of preaching marketing missives. Because if you want to keep people on your page. You should captivate your audience through compelling stories, images, videos, and words. Become a storyteller. 

People are mostly curious, and they don’t like to be left out. So, telling stories is one of the best ways to keep people engaged on your page.

Be Consistent On Your Feed Visually

As you know, Instagram is all about visuals and to create interesting Instagram posts, keep your visuals consistent. Experiment with profile colors, it’s the simplest and most popular way to make a stylish account. On top of that, it’s incredibly effective. 

You can repeat the same color theme in different ways using objects and filters. Or background color but post photos in one colored theme as it reflects on your brand. You could change your theme anytime you want, as long as you are consistent with your feed. Besides that, you’re giving your followers a fresh new look at your products. 

Users prefer to experience authentic expression and diverse perspectives. Which means, people today want to see something that’s more natural-looking. For example, replace your high-saturation filters and perfectly positioned item with candid shots.

Instagram is all about visuals. Create interesting Instagram posts by experimenting with profile colors. Share on X

Again, keep your feed visually consistent. So, to achieve a consistent look, using photo editing apps is the key. Here are some of the best photo editing apps.

  1. Snapped
  2. Afterlight 2
  3. Prisma Photo Editor
  4. Adobe Photoshop Express
  5. Foodie
  6. Adobe Lightroom CC
  7. Canva
  8. Adobe Photoshop Fix
  9. Visage
  10. Enlight Photofox

Now, I’ve shared some of the best photo editing apps. Did you know that videos will make up more than 80% of all consumer internet traffic by 2021? This means you could also add a couple of videos on your feed. 

Leverage Instagram Video Formats

From Instagram stories to standalone 60-minute videos, consider Instagram stories’ live video options. Maybe a sneak peek about your new products or service. This will add authenticity to your Instagram posts which will also keep people on your page. 

While video continues to dominate the online space, according to Instagram, 60% of stories are viewed with sound on. So, what does this mean? When 40% are viewed without the sound on, subtitles have become essential for marketers. Now, having subtitles delivered alongside your visuals would enable your core message to your audience. 

Knowing the difference between copywriting and content writing for a copywriter is important. On top of that, captioning a video increases average video view time by 12% (Research from Facebook)

Although it’s not part of Instagram’s best practices for stories, it’s more about how compelling your caption is that keeps people on your page.

Use Emoji With Instagram Post

Emojis are used by most people across online platforms. Such as, messaging apps, social media and so on. Even for emojis, you need to create a strategy on how to use it effectively but when it comes to Instagram posts, use emojis because it catches people’s attention and it has a more fun engagement.

The power of compelling words extends to “Emojis.” Share on X 

Emojis can sum up a sentence with a dash of personality. In fact, little emojis can make a huge difference when you’re trying to convey a message. On top of that, it can also increase your click-through rates and engagement levels.

Include a Call-To-Action (CTA)

On any social media platform, always include a call-to-action. This gives your audience the answer to what’s next? If you don’t have a call to action or some form of a close, you’re most likely to lose a potential customer or further engagement. 

Your whole point of creating an interesting Instagram post is to keep people on your page as long as you can. As a result, they continue scrolling on your profile or visit your website (if you have one on your bio) and they could share some of your content across other channels. 

Followers may love your Instagram ads and share your content but make sure you lead them to the most powerful action. With that said, this last action is the most direct way to increase interaction. This means, you’ve managed to keep your audience right to the end of your goal and it’s time to let your audience make a decision.

So, a clear and concise call-to-action is critical to tell your audience what they have to do next. A call-to-action can be leading them to your profile or a certain landing page. It can also be a website, a comment or even a request for an emoji.

Discover More Instagram Secrets To Keep People on Your Page

Now that you’ve read this far, all of this might sound daunting. Your Instagram profile is like your business and it is constantly growing and evolving. That’s why I created this training called Instagram Secrets. In this video training, I’ll show you how to build a massive tribe of followers. 

But you might have this question in mind, ”What do I get out of this training?” Here’s what you’ll get:

  • Instagram Secrets: How To Get Your Next 10,000+ Followers 
  • The Secrets to QuickStart Guide
  • Decoding Dan Lok’s Top 3 Instagram Posts
  • Instagram Secrets Bonus Material

Now, here’s the thing I don’t want you to miss. Almost every hour people are purchasing my Instagram Secrets from the shop and it’s currently priced at $49.00. The problem is, I don’t know for how long it will be at this price because I usually sell this at $99.00.

If you’re a serious digital marketer and a copywriter or you want to start a profile on Instagram to monetize your presence, I recommend you get your personal copy. Instagram is one of the best social media channels for marketing. I’ve also created different training videos based on your expertise. 

If you want to discover the secrets to Instagram’s success. Head over to the Dan Lok Shop now to get your very own personal copy before my team decides to remove the discount, click here to get your copy now. 

Otherwise, if you prefer to continue watching my free content, you can also subscribe to my YouTube channel where you watch the many educational videos that my team and I upload everyday.

B2B VS B2C: Which Business Model Is Better?

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When it comes to B2B vs B2C, which business model is better? Can you make more money selling your product or service to businesses, or to general consumers? If you are trying to decide which business model you should pursue, you might be wondering which one to choose: B2B vs B2C?

Which business model is more profitable and scalable? Where can you make more money and grow your business faster?

The short answer is that it depends. It depends on your background, your expertise, your knowledge, your specific set of skills, and what you’re offering the marketplace. It also depends on what you want for you and your business.

In general, for most people, it’s a little bit easier to start with B2C. Why? Because in your day-to-day life, you are a consumer, too. So, understanding what consumers want will come more naturally to you. Chances are, you face similar problems as other people do, and you understand what people need.

So, if you are just starting out, you might want to start in the B2C sector since it’s an easier place to start.

B2B, on the other hand, will be easier for you if you have plenty of experience working in a corporation. B2B is even easier if you’ve already built some relationships with other businesses.

For most people, I would say start with the B2C model. Then later, perhaps branch out into B2B.

If you possess the right skills, the B2B model can be incredibly profitable. Why?  Because businesses usually have much more money to spend than the average consumer. Businesses have a much larger budget to pay premium prices.

You can make a lot of money in the B2C sector, too, but it requires you to first build a massive customer base. You need a lot of customers to make good money in the B2C sector. There is often more money in B2B, and with B2B, you don’t need as many customers to make good money, since you can charge higher prices.

As you’re now realizing, a lot of factors play into the decision when you’re deciding between B2B vs B2C for your business model. Below are some deeper insights into B2B vs B2C.

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What Exactly Is The B2B Business Model?

B2B stands for business to business. That means your company is selling products or services to other companies. As you sell to other businesses, you have to understand one thing: The person buying from you doesn’t make the buying decision for themselves.

Rather, they are buying your product or service for their company. They are making the purchase on behalf of the whole organization, and their organization’s needs are being considered. Common B2B products are consulting services, customer relationship management systems, copywriting services, lead generation and many more. You see, a single customer probably wouldn’t need such products. But these types of products provide immense value for businesses.

What Exactly Is The B2C Business Model?

B2C stands for business to consumer. A consumer is a regular customer. So, you are selling to individuals. Your product would be designed and developed to solve the problems of everyday people.

In B2B, you could be selling anything from outerwear to toothbrushes to mattresses. Everybody needs those items, but there is also a lot of  competition. That’s why B2C companies have to be creative in their marketing strategies, in an effort to stay on top of the market and ahead of their competition..

It Depends On Your Experience

If you start a business in a niche industry that you have personal experience in, chances are, you understand your customers very well.

As a B2C company, you could be selling a simple product on an e-commerce site. On your online store, you’re simply selling something that everybody uses. Starting such a business isn’t that expensive. It also doesn’t take a lot for you to advertise it on the internet. Advertise it through Facebook, Instagram, Google or other channels. You could even sell your product on Amazon. Just get in the game and make those first few sales. You might even consider going to Kickstarter and start a crowdfunding campaign. That way you can pre-sell your product before you even make it.

If you have a background in the corporate world a B2B business model might be for you. Let’s assume you worked in the human resource department, for example. You already gained some insights into that sector and chances are you built some relationships. Maybe now you want to branch out and start your own human resource agency. Then the B2B model might work for you. Why? Because you have some experience, you know some people and have been in the industry for some time.

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B2B vs B2C: What Are The Similarities?

B2B and B2C businesses aren’t complete opposites. Actually, many businesses offer both B2B and B2C solutions.

Let me give you a perfect example. Let’s assume your company sells beverages. You could have a store where you sell beverages to individual customers. At the same time, you could also have contracts with businesses. Businesses would offer your drinks in their restaurants, cafeterias or in vending machines in their office buildings.

In such a case, you would have both a B2B and a B2C business strategy. More and more businesses are doing exactly that and do very well with both. It opens up an even bigger market for them.

B2B vs B2C: What Are The Key Differences?

Now, when it comes to B2B vs B2C there are some key differences that you should be aware of. What works perfectly in the B2C sector might not work at all in B2B. So, be very aware and make conscious choices about your business model. What are those key differences? Let’s have a look below:

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Different Target Markets

The target market of B2B and B2C businesses are different. Generally speaking, the B2C market is a bit larger. Why is that? Yes, there are plenty of businesses out there that you could market to. However, you most likely have to specialize. You have to pick a certain niche and a certain vertical. Like the example I gave above – when you have relationships in human resources already, you could build up your business there. But here comes the important point: the product you offer might be extremely valuable for HR departments. But chances are, it wouldn’t work that well in other industries or other departments.

For B2B businesses, the market is often smaller and more specialized. But that also means you might be able to charge a higher price in the B2B sector. In fact, it’s estimated that the US B2B market is a 780 billion dollar market compared… Share on X

Still, there are also plenty of very pricey B2C products. Think about luxury stores such as Prada, Gucci, and Hérmes. These are B2C businesses, but still have a high price tag. So, price isn’t the only key difference between B2B and B2C companies.

Different Customer Needs

In general, the target market for B2B is a bit more sophisticated. They want to be educated on your product or service, and you need to build personal trust with them. Remember, they are making the purchase decision for the whole organization. They don’t want to look stupid and make sure their decision actually makes sense. So if you educate them on how your product helps them, you have bigger chances of making a sale. They will also want to see that investing in your product makes financial sense for them. It has to save them time, make workflows easier or give them any other return on their investments.

B2C customers, on the other hand, want to be entertained rather than educated. So, you would heavily focus on your brand image. B2C customers usually don’t think about return on investment. They want to have a good time and enjoy a purchase from a cool brand.

Some people argue that B2B clients make rational decisions, while B2C prospects buy out of emotion. I would be careful with such assumptions, as I believe all buying decisions are emotional. But we justify it with logic later. That’s why for B2B, relationship building is so important.

Different Sales Cycle

A great distinction from B2B vs B2C is the sales cycle of your product.

First, let’s define what a sales cycle is. The sales cycle is the whole process of selling a product. From the first contact with a customer until closing the sale. The exact steps look different for every business.

In a physical retail store, for example, the sales cycle could be simple. The customer goes in, chooses a product  from a rack, and pays. That’s it.

For B2B businesses, the sales cycle is usually longer compared to B2C. Your customers need more touchpoints with you before they are ready to buy. In general, B2B also takes longer because several people have to approve the buying decision. They have accounting departments that have to approve the purchase, and it’s also often a team decision. It can take some time until the purchase is approved internally.

You have to provide your B2B customers with a very clear understanding of the value of your product or service. Once they buy from you, however, they will likely stick with you. So, the B2B business is a lot about customer retention. Ideally, you keep them as a returning customer for a lifetime.

B2B-VS-B2C-Which-Business-Model-Is-Better-Graphic-03-OPTIMIZED

In the B2C business model, the focus is more on customer acquisition. The market is bigger and you want to reach a higher volume of people. Especially if your product is something that people need to buy only once. You need to generate new customers constantly.

B2C customers depend less on other people when making a purchase. The influence of friends and family might be increasing, but they don’t have to go through a whole command chain before making any purchase.

So when you compare B2B vs B2C in general, the sales cycle of B2B clients takes longer but they will likely stay with you. B2C requires to find new clients frequently. That’s why many B2C companies offer subscription models.

Different Marketing Strategies

You will need different marketing strategies for B2B vs B2C. Depending on who you want to sell to, you’ll develop a different marketing campaign. As I briefly touched on, B2B clients usually want to be educated. So you have carter informational content towards them. You probably have to “nourish” them before they would buy. That means to build a relationship with them and showing them in which way you add value to their lives.

In the B2C market, education can also be important but the customers are also looking for entertainment. They maybe don’t want to build a close relationship with your brand – sometimes they just want to buy their necessities and be done with it. This will greatly depend on your product.

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When Is B2B Probably Better For You?

The B2B business model might work very well for you if you’ve worked in the corporate world before. Maybe you already got some insights on how big companies make buying decisions. Maybe you even know some problems that companies face. Then you could create a product that solves exactly that problem.

B2B might also work well for you if you like planning for the long-term and enjoy going into detail. As the sales cycle is longer in B2B you have to plan for the purchase in a long term view. Usually, you also would research your potential prospects and really find out their pain points.

When is B2C Probably Better For You?

Starting out as a B2C business might be easier, as you yourself are a customer, too. So you could create and sell products that you yourself would enjoy. To stay in the business, however, you will need the ability to keep customers engaged with you. You need some form of creativity to attract customers. If the idea to attract masses interests you, then B2C might be more suitable for you.

B2C customers may buy from you once but don’t immediately come back for more. They could be drawn to your competitors too. So you have to figure out how you can stay interesting and have them come back for more.

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B2B vs B2C? It’s all P2P

As you see, the answer if a B2B or B2C business model is better can’t be answered easily. So many factors determine success. If you do it right, both can be very lucrative.

But no matter if you have a B2B or B2C business model, at the end of the day it’s all P2P: Person to Person. You have to remember that your customers aren’t just numbers on a screen. They are real human beings. If you understand why people buy, and how people buy, you will be able to close them on any deal.

You might be wondering, does this really apply to B2B businesses too? The truth is, it does. Because even big businesses are run by people. So if you know how to find out the needs and pain points of a person you can much more effectively communicate how your product can help them. Selling has a lot to do with emotions and psychology.

So which to choose B2B or B2C?

In conclusion, the decision between B2B and B2C business models is not a matter of which is definitively better, but rather which aligns best with your background, expertise, and goals.

While B2C may offer an easier entry point due to its broad consumer appeal, B2B holds the potential for substantial profitability, particularly for those with corporate experience and industry insights.

Regardless of the model you choose, understanding the nuances of your target market, their needs, and the art of effective selling is paramount.

What to do after deciding B2B or B2C?

Start to craft offers that align with your target audience’s unique characteristics, motivations, and purchasing behaviors. Consider to create high-ticket offers for your business.

High-ticket offer typically commands a higher price point but offers significant benefits, exclusivity, and results that make it compelling and desirable to potential buyers. High-ticket offer is good for business because it attracts high-value clients, increases revenue per sale, and strengthens the brand’s positioning in the market.

If you’re seeking to learn how to create high-ticket offers for your business, download the FREE “High Ticket Offer Formula™”. This will equip you with the strategies on crafting irresistible high-ticket offers, whether you’re engaging with businesses or consumers. Unlock new opportunities for growth and success.

How To Pitch To Investors When Seeking Funding To Scale Your Startup Business

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Looking to scale your startup business, but need funding in order to do it? Knowing how to pitch to investors will make the process smoother.

If you want to know how to pitch to investors, there is a harsh truth that you need to be aware of. Like everyone on this planet, they are tuned into the radio frequency WIIFM, which stands for What’s In It For Me? Investors are only interested in providing you with funding so that they can get a return on their investment.

Investors want to make money. They do not care about your passions or your dreams. To them, you are just a risk they are considering investing in, in order to make more money.

That means if you want to successfully convince an investor to give you funding to scale your startup business, you need to cater your presentation to that aspect. Your investors will have doubts, fears, and questions about whether or not they can trust you. If you can overcome all of these doubts and objections in their minds, they will be more than happy to give you what you are looking for. 

Get Clear on Why You’re Pitching in the First Place

If you want to learn how to pitch to investors, you need to get clear on why you are presenting in the first place. What is the goal of the presentation? What outcome are you looking for? 

When you plan ahead and know the ‘why’ behind your reason for presenting, you will be able to much more effectively communicate that to your audience. The investors you are pitching to could have seen hundreds of presentations before yours. If you can’t clearly and effectively communicate why they should provide you with funding, the chances that you’ll do business together are very slim.

Do you have a vision of where the company will be in a few years? What are your next steps once you acquire the funding? Communicating your plan to the investor is very important to influencing them to fund your startup business. Your investor does not trust you nor know who you are. By presenting a detailed plan to them, it shows that you have done your research, and you know what you are doing. You are giving them reasons to believe that you will become successful, and that their money will not go to waste.

When you have clarity on what you want, communicating it to others is very easy. All that’s left is to overcome their objections by presenting a well-organized plan of how you both can succeed. The most important factor when learning how to pitch to investors, is that when your audience has no reason to doubt you, they’ll be inclined to say yes.

Make them an offer they can’t refuse. - The Godfather Share on X

Who is Presenting is More Important Than What is Being Presented

Have you ever sat through a presentation that made you bored out of your mind? Chances are, the speaker spoke in a monotone voice, or exhibited low energy in their presentation. The speaker bored you to death.

If you want to know how to pitch to investors, you’ll need to make sure your presenter makes a good impression. If you are not a good presenter, get someone else to do the pitch, who is good at presenting.

Remember: It’s not about the offer, it’s about the person who’s presenting it. Someone who demonstrates charisma, passion and energy for what they believe in, will come off as someone who is trustworthy and entertaining. Your audience is not just judging the business, but also the people who will be running the company. And if they perceive the CEO or marketing team to be sloppy, they’ll think the same way about your offer.

That’s why making a good first impression is crucial to build rapport with an investor. For them, it’s not just about making a good ROI, it’s also about who they are working with. Successful business people know that there’s nothing worse than dealing with someone who is difficult to work with. And if they sense the two of you won’t be a good fit, you won’t get the funding you need.

If you want to successfully learn how to pitch to investors and scale your business, you need to come off as someone they can trust. That means the way you look, talk, act and move all needs to be aligned with that image. If you get nervous during presentations or freeze up and forget what you wanted to say, that means you haven’t practiced enough.

Practice Until You Are Sick Of It, Then Practice Some More

Having difficulty with presentations or have trouble getting your thoughts across clearly means you haven’t practiced enough. 

When I first started doing public speaking, I was terrible at it. Like everyone else, I had stage fright and often got nervous when speaking to a large audience. But as time went on, I realized the reason why I got nervous was because I was not ready. I didn’t put in the work to prepare before the speech, and tried to wing it like everyone else. The problem was that I lacked the confidence to deliver an outstanding performance, because I did not rehearse enough.

how to pitch to investors

So instead of making excuses, I practiced for hours each day, in front of a video camera, to perfect my presentation. My advice for you is to film yourself while presenting. It allows you to see how your presentation would come across to members of the audience. And if there’s certain parts of your presentation that you are not satisfied with, you can be sure your audience is going to feel the same way.

You may feel awkward watching yourself present, but it is the fastest way you can correct your flaws. After all, no one can spot your mistakes better than you can. Think about it as a way for you to see what is wrong, and correct it so you can continuously improve. I guarantee that if you practice and really focus on improving every part of your pitch, your first time presenting will be drastically different from your 20th time doing it. And when you’re finally giving your pitch to an investor, you’ll be more than ready to deliver your lines.

Practice makes perfect. If perfect means getting the funding to scale your startup business, would you be willing to practice?

Why The Best Candidate For Presentations Is Yourself

It may be tempting to simply delegate the task of presenting to another team member and skipping over all that practice, but when it comes to pitching to investors, the CEO and founder should be the ones presenting. As long as you are a good presenter, that is. And if you’re not good at it, perhaps you could learn.

Wondering why the best person to pitch is you, the founder? This is for two reasons:

First, your investors are going to have questions, and you’re the best person to answer those questions. Imagine the scenario where the investors ask if your team member is the CEO, and they reply with no. What do you think your audience is going to think?

“The CEO of this company can’t even show up to their own presentation? Do they even care about their own success?”

Second, is that your team members won’t have the same knowledge as you do. As the founder, you know where you want to take the company in 1, 2 or 5 years. You know exactly why you are seeking funding, why you’ve gone to them instead of everyone else, and why if you two decide to do business, that you can make it a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Your team members won’t have the same knowledge or passion that you do. Like your audience, they are also tuned into WIIFM, and only care about what they have to gain – which is most likely a paycheck. They lack the experience and vision that you as the founder possess. And unless the team member presenting has equity share in the company, they will most likely not demonstrate the best version of themselves during the presentation.

Some aspects – such as passion and vision, cannot be delegated. It’s one thing to have a veteran salesperson do the presentation – it’s another for the founder to take the initiative and do it themselves.

Use The Future as Negotiation Leverage

If your startup business isn’t currently at a point where it can be ‘shown off’, use its future potential as a bargaining tool. Correlating where your company will be a few years from now, is another strategy on how to pitch to investors.

For example, let’s say you sell teddy bears and your business revenue per year is $200K, with $30K as profits. To an investor, they may think your annual numbers are far too low for them to provide you with the funding. He’s impatient and wants to get his money back within a year of investing. But at the rate your company is growing, it’ll take more than 20 years before he gets his return on his investment.

If you currently lack results, you can paint a picture and make them imagine what it would be like if they did invest. For example, if they decide to provide you with more funding, it would allow you to use that funding to increase your production line and sell more bears. Now, that $30K in annual profits could rise to $100K, shortening the time it takes for the investor to make back his money.

how to pitch to investors

Being able to form an image, a vision of where the company could be in the next couple of years is a powerful tool that many successful entrepreneurs use in their lives. This is called visualization, and it allows entrepreneurs to imagine a desired scenario. Once the entrepreneur has an image of what they want, they can then go after it. And if you’re familiar with the Law of Attraction, you’ll know that whatever you can conceive, you can achieve.

You can use this visualization trick to convince investors to provide you with funding. Convince them that the only thing holding your business back from becoming the giant success that it is, is finding an investor who is willing to provide the funding.

Be Willing To Take The Lower End Of The Bargain

One of the problems holding many entrepreneurs back from getting the funding to scale their business, is that they aren’t willing to settle. Besides knowing how to pitch to investors, the other part of your presentation is going to be about negotiation. Imagine that you have 100 balls in front of you. These balls are to be divided amongst you and the person you are doing business with – the optimal outcome being that you get half of the balls and they get half of the balls. It’s a fair 50-50 ratio.

However, in reality this rarely ever happens. The person with the most leverage – AKA the person who is less needy, usually walks away with more balls than the other person. In the situation where you are a startup business and are looking for funding, the investor has more leverage and can call the shots. The investor is aware that he has the upper hand in the negotiation, and will use it to collect more balls – a 40-60 or 30-70 ratio.

To some entrepreneurs, they may be happy with this deal if it means they get what they want. As long as they get the funding they need, they are willing to take the shorter end of the bargain. But for some entrepreneurs, they don’t like the fact that they are being taken advantage of. As a result, they’ll say no to every single deal and opportunity that comes their way, not realizing that if they would just accept taking the shorter end of the bargain for now, they could have much more to gain in the future.

how to pitch to investors

Remember: Settling does not mean taking the lower end of a bargain forever. You are simply enduring the terms and conditions now, to give yourself an opportunity for re-negotiation later on in the future. 

Opportunities multiply when they are seized. - Sun Tzu Share on X

How to Pitch to Investors Using Storytelling

Storytelling is a powerful way to get your point across without sounding like you’re lecturing your audience. Lectures are boring, but stories are compelling. Humans are wired to do things based on emotion, not logic. For example, why are so many people spending $10,000 on a diamond ring, when they are never going to use it again afterwards? 

Storytelling allows you to convey your emotions to your audience in a very effective and entertaining way. Especially when it comes to giving a pitch to investors, you want to do everything you can to stand out from everyone else. If you incorporate your emotion and passion into a well spoken story, you will be able to captivate their attention like no one else.

For example, here is a story you could tell that provides your investor with information about who you are, the history of the business and why you need funding:

“2 years ago, when I was in college I realized there was an ever growing problem of men who did not shave. You could see men with stubble and 5 o’clock shadow sticking out in plain sight, as you walked down the hallways. Everyday, my professor would come to class with a thick, grotesque beard. And even I was a victim of this fashion frenzy during times of extreme stress.

One day, I realized I had enough of seeing other men and their unsightly beards. That’s when I decided to make two life-altering decisions:

  1. I dropped out of college
  2. And pursued my dream of creating men’s grooming products

With my friend, who also had problems keeping his beard under control, we founded the company Shave It Off, where we currently provide quality shaving products to men across 30 different countries worldwide.

Our company has been growing faster than we’ve ever imagined, and now we’ve run into a problem only you can help us with: we need funding. Our revenue and profits are currently bottlenecked by our lack of delivery trucks, and as a result we need more funding to buy more trucks. By doing so, we can deliver more products to men all over the world, to help them get a clean shave every single time.”

Now imagine if you didn’t put that into a story, how much less entertaining would that sound?

“2 years ago I dropped out of college. I hated beards, so me and a buddy found this company called Shave It Off. We sell shaving cream to guys around the world, because it makes a lot of money. We’re short on trucks at the moment, and need money to buy more trucks. Want to help us out?”

Captivate your audience by using storytelling in your pitch. You’ll be able to effectively communicate your side of the story, and inspire them to help you achieve your goals as well.

Facts tell, stories sell. Share on X

Get The Perfect Closing Script To Control Any Conversation

In any conversation you’ll ever have, there will always be some sort of push and pull. One person will always be trying to gain leverage over the other, through their words and actions. The person who ends up victorious, is the person who knows exactly what to say.

Those who lack business experience are often taken advantage of, and find themselves on the lower end of the bargain. The person you are speaking with can sense your inexperience, and oftentimes will use it against you to get the best deal for themselves.

However, when you know how to handle questions and objections thrown at you, you can shift the conversation so it flows in your favor. Having the intuition to tell where the conversation is heading and steer it in a direction that benefits you, is a crucial part in being able to influence others to do what you want and win negotiations. 

If you want to succeed in business and learn how to influence people to do what you want, get the perfect closing script here.

Develop A Powerful Personal Brand With These 3 Secrets

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To develop a powerful personal brand can be a daunting task, as many entrepreneurs and small business owners struggle with developing a brand for themselves. But branding is not only for companies, it defines who you are. Like everything else, your personal brand is unique.

What is a personal brand and why is it important?

A personal brand is a perception in someone’s mind. As I said earlier, when someone calls out your name, what would be their response? The truth is, you can determine what you want people to think and say about you.

Developing a brand is about taking control of your image, and that reflects who you are in many aspects. When someone calls out your name, it should give them an honest impression of your talents, values, and beliefs. 

Developing a powerful personal brand is crucial for entrepreneurs and small business owners. In fact, it’s important for everyone. Because our personal brand will not only boost our business – it helps drive them to success. 

For example, what makes you different? What are you known for? This means, what are your values? Are your values aligned with your mission and beliefs? And what kind of impression do you want to leave behind for the world?  

You are your brand, no matter what your current job is. Share on X

Branding is like a mental game. It acts as a magnet that pulls the matching pair together. So, if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you must develop a powerful personal brand. 

If you don’t develop a powerful personal brand, it makes you no different than others in regards to your profession. 

The more you present yourself to the world, the higher your brand gains its credibility and recognition. So how do you develop a powerful personal brand? In this article, I will share 3 of my secrets to develop a powerful personal brand. 

1. Brand Around Your Talents, Values, And Beliefs.

People like to know the story around why you did it and what makes you do it. It can be because of a certain talent you have or a strong belief of a product that you’ve created. Either way, people are drawn into a combination of vulnerability and enthusiasm. Your beliefs are what drives your core values. 

 Everyone looks at your watch and it represents who you are, your values and your personal style. – Kobe Bryant

When I say value, it isn’t based upon your position at your company. Rather it’s based on what you can bring to the marketplace. What is the unique talent that you do exceptionally well that others can’t? When you establish your own target audience in your niche market. You’ll be able to develop a unique talent around your niche. So, why do you have to do this?

Because with your own target audience, it helps you narrow down your potential customers. Clients won’t just walk up to your doorstep. You need to put yourself out there and when you understand your audiences, it is easier to create value based on their problems.

But before you do that, ask yourself these questions. This is where you begin. 

  • Am I perceived as I want to be? 
  • How strong is my reputation in my industry?
  • What does my brand reflect most on my personality? My ability?
  • What makes me unique?
  • Does my website/blog reflect my brand?
  • Does my social media channel reflect my brand?

Asking yourself these questions is where you begin developing a powerful personal brand. Choose what you want to be known for and focus on being the best at it. If you’re looking to be a successful entrepreneur, being the best at what you do sets you apart from your competition. 

2. Develop A Powerful Signature Style

As I said in the beginning, branding is like a mental game. It’s like a magnet that pulls a matching pair together. So, when you develop a powerful personal brand, you need to stand out. Because being average makes you similar to everyone else and this is where you take control in developing what people think and say about you. 

When you think about a signature style, it can be varied. It can either make or break a personal brand. So, be careful when you decide on your style. If you can develop this well, it can be powerful and make you instantly recognizable. Think about your favorite brands. What makes them unique? This is crucial to know because your brand allows self-expression through your personality to the marketplace. 

You can visualize your style with these guides. But remember to be consistent with your style. 

  • Logos
  • Trademarks
  • Signs
  • Core visual elements
  • How you dress

Think of it this way, if you have a different color logo on your signs and your blog. People will find it hard to understand what you do. So, being consistent with your style is a surefire to success. 

Apart from that, develop your unique dress code. As I said earlier, you are in control of what people think and say about you. You want people to remember you for the right reasons. My mentees associate me with my red suit and my Bentley. Steve Jobs always dressed exactly the same and Obama only wears either a blue or a gray suit. 

My point here is, these may be their signature style. But when you call out their names, what is the first thing that comes to mind? Steve Jobs – Apple products. Dan Lok – Red suit and Bentley. On top of that, a powerful personal brand gives you an advantage in your professional and personal life. 

3. Create An Impression With An Elevator Pitch

An elevator pitch allows you to earn someone’s conversation. It is never an opportunity to close a deal. However, it’s an opportunity to get people’s attention. It acts as a quick introduction and with a short, snappy explanation, it explains how you can help your customers. 

So, where and when should you use your elevator pitch? You can leave an impression with an elevator pitch during a networking event, warm calls or conferences. You also use an elevator pitch with job interviews. Especially when someone asks you this question, “Tell me about yourself” or “What do you do?”

Instead of convincing someone to hire you, earn 30 seconds of conversation. Share on X

A compelling short stunning elevator pitch will uplift your value. Which means, people will instantly remember who you are. But never forget that when people who listen to your pitch, the first thing they think about is “Does that bring me value?” or “What’s in it for me?” Therefore, when you develop a powerful personal brand, it’s crucial to understand your audiences.

For example, at a networking event. Someone prompts an attention-grabbing question saying, “Isn’t it a daunting task to develop a personal brand for yourself?” And you answer, “ Yes, but you know what will make it less daunting? The founder of my company constantly creates educational content. They created a video training that cost less than a cup of coffee a day. And if you spend 30 days on coffee, you could discover the secrets to develop a powerful personal brand without feeling daunting.”

Or if someone asks, what do you do?. You can say, “I help companies scale their business by exponentially increasing their conversion rates.” While different types of questions have different impressions, it should also be memorable and punchy. 

What Should You Be Doing To Maintain Your Personal Branding?

Now that you’ve developed a powerful personal brand. What should you be doing to maintain your brand? Yes, it’s time to gain visibility. This is where you’re letting your audience know you exist. 

To gain visibility requires multiple processes. For example, creating a well-strategized plan across your social media platform. In order to establish a strong foundation, you need to be active in a couple of things.  

Here’s how you can market your brand through different channels. 

  • Client Referrals 
  • Direct Mail 
  • Networking
  • Joint ventures
  • Seminars
  • Public Relations
  • Warm Calling (if you have a product or service)
  • Internet (Social media platforms)

Don’t get overwhelmed by the number of platforms. To begin with, you can start with one. Decide which is your best channel according to your target audience. Now, let me give you an idea of what I do to promote and maintain my personal brand.  

Here’s what I do to maintain my personal brand. And this is strictly on personal branding. 

  • Give one interview per week. 52 interviews a year which includes TV, Radio, Podcast or print.
  • Conduct one interview per week with successful entrepreneurs.
  • Create and upload 200+ videos per year on YouTube.
  • Publish at least one new book per year.
  • Give away a minimum of 3,000 books a year.
  • Deliver at least 20 presentation or speeches a year.

Ensuring your brand is personalized, creates compelling and convincing content. Write valuable and educational content to your audience. You need to put value to the marketplace. Why? Because your brand and value is a self-expression through your personality. So, if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, position yourself by being the best at what you do.  

Why Entrepreneurs Fail At Developing A Personal Brand

As I said in the beginning, many entrepreneurs struggle to develop a powerful personal brand. So, whether it’s personal or business life, it defines who you are. In order to be successful in any business, having a powerful brand is crucial because branding elevates your success exponentially. 

Developing a powerful personal brand right is crucial for success. Share on X

Of course, it’s not an overnight success. You can’t get the world to know who you are in a day. But if you’re consistent, it’s a surefire to success. It takes time and effort to understand and learn how to develop a powerful personal brand effectively. 

Here’s why entrepreneurs fail at developing a personal brand.  

They Don’t Fully Believe In Themselves.

If you don’t believe in yourself, certainly, nobody will. If you want to develop a powerful personal brand, you must be clear and certain about who you are and what you can offer to the marketplace. Again, your value is on what you can bring to the marketplace. But keep this in mind, there’s a difference between confidence and arrogance. If you set yourself with confidence, you’ll overcome hurdles with grace.  

No Strategy 

Everything you do reflects on your brand. Therefore, having a good strategy is important in every area of business. If you want to stand out and be remembered. You need to put in the extra effort as it won’t magically appear for you. Think and plan out a couple of strategies before you execute. But don’t be afraid to fail. I failed in 13 businesses before i became a self-made millionaire. 

How you do anything is how you do everything – Dan Lok 

Unsure What Is Personal Branding 

Don’t get confused between professional and personal branding, because they are very different. Personal brand is a perception in someone’s mind. It is how people perceive you would be. Remember the first question you ask yourself? Am I perceived as I want to be? Talking to people and asking for honest opinions is the best way to do this.  

They’re Inconsistent With Their Content On Social Media

Have a narrow focus on your topics with your social media channels. When you’re consistent, it’s easier to recognize a voice. To ensure a powerful brand is achieved, you have to demonstrate consistency across your communication.  

Never Leverage On Social Media Platforms

In 2018, an estimate of 1.8 billion people worldwide purchased goods online.  And during the same year, global e-retail sales amounted to 2.8 trillion U.S. dollars. It’s projected to grow up to 4.8 trillion U.S. dollars by 2021. So, can you imagine the number of people purchasing a product through social media platforms? It’s significantly high. So, leveraging social media might be the key to your success.  

Not Investing In Themselves To Learn

I’ve seen many entrepreneurs make plenty of excuses. Such as, I’m too old to expose myself in social media. I’m not young enough to learn new things anymore. Well, let me tell you this. If you want to develop a powerful personal brand, you need to have a shift in mindset. The process of gradually developing into the person you wish to be is crucial. When you get constructive criticism, you can use that to grow. Regardless of how long it takes, your brand will grow much more quickly. 

If you want to grow your business, investing in yourself to learn new technology is essential. Unless you have the confidence to learn through my free 200+ video content. Engaging a mentor and gaining their secrets will bring you success quicker. 

 

Want To Develop A Powerful Personal Brand?

Making a name for yourself can be tough and frustrating. As I said in the beginning, it can be a daunting task. It requires time, effort and consistency. When you see other leaders making a name for themselves, you wonder, how did they have it all figured out? When you want to develop a powerful personal brand, you have to understand the most important aspect, which is trust. 

A brand is the set of expectations, memories, stories and relationships that, taken together, account for a consumer’s decision to choose one product or service over another. – Seth Godin

Whether it’s for personal or business. If they aren’t any trust, you’re not likely to achieve a personal brand for yourself. That’s why I told my team to prepare a special training video that consists of my secrets. Discover the secrets of my personal branding here. 

Back in my early days, when I was in high school, I was the invisible kid. No one wanted to talk to me and people didn’t think I could succeed in business. But now that I’m a business magnate, Internet celebrity and global educator with students and fans around the world, people want to know how I developed such a reputation. 

In today’s world of technology, opportunities for growth are more than before. So, to develop a powerful personal brand, be sure to stay focused and the brand stays with you. 

A personal brand is nothing more than your personal reputation. If you want to create a powerful reputation for yourself, create a compelling elevator pitch and develop the perception you want your audience to think and say about you. That drives your core values with the beliefs you have. 

And, if you’re a serious influencer, entrepreneur, and expert earning over $300,000 in revenue and want to take your business to the next level, read below. If you are an influencer and entrepreneur who wants to:

  • Scale their business to 7-figures and beyond using social media.
  • Generate a predictable and sustainable return on investment every month.
  • Build a 7-figure business that runs with or without them.

High-Ticket Influencer is the answer.

I hope you enjoy reading this blog post.

Schedule an add a zero session™ with our team to see how you can use our time-tested strategies and systems to scale your business now.

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