The 10 Biggest Endorsement Deals In History

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Oct 14, 2022

As the NBA season is about to start, the news is Steph Curry is in line to sign a lifetime contract with Under Armour worth “potentially more than $1 billion.” This would be an unprecedented deal in the world of endorsements, and it got us thinking about some of the other biggest deals in history.

In this article, we’ll list ten of the biggest to give you some context of where Steph Curry’s latest contract is set to rank.

1. Michael Jordan – Nike

Former NBA star and owner of Charlotte Hornets team Michael Jordan looks on as he addresses a press conference ahead of the NBA basketball match between Milwaukee Bucks and Charlotte Hornets at The AccorHotels Arena in Paris on January 24, 2020. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

After playing at the university level in North Carolina, Michael Jordan made his way into the NBA with a third overall pick from the Chicago Bulls. At the time, he was a staunch wearer of Adidas, giving the brand preference when it came time to sign endorsement deals.

But at his agent’s insistence, Jordan also gave Nike a chance by making a trip to meet the brand’s founder Phil Knight in Oregon. The offer Knight pitched was a remarkably good one – $500,000 annually in cash over five years and a signature Nike line, impressive considering Jordan had yet to play a single NBA game at that point. While he did have a preference for Adidas, that brand’s offer didn’t end up coming anywhere close to Nike’s, and Michael Jordan made the sensible decision of following the money.

It didn’t take long for Michael’s deal with Nike to start paying off. With a rising status and disruptive approach to sneaker design, his Air Jordan collection brought home a whopping $126 million in first year sales, far exceeding the original goal of $3 million over a four year period.

Today, Air Jordan remains ubiquitous with the legend himself. Just as much as Michael Jordan is one of Basketball’s most recognizable icons, so is the brand that he helped create that currently sits at a $3 billion value.

2. LeBron James – Nike

After its unprecedented success with Air Jordan, Nike had some big shoes to fill (literally and figuratively) for future endorsements. The brand waited over 30 years before making a deal anywhere close to MJ’s in value, but that all changed when they inked LeBron James to a 7 year, $90 million deal in 2003.

This made LeBron James one of the highest-paid rookies in NBA history at the time, and it was a clear declaration of Nike’s intent to make him the new face of the company.

It’s safe to say that Nike’s investment has paid off, as LeBron James’ star power has only grown in the years since. He’s broken too many records to count, including becoming the youngest player ever to reach 20,000 career points. He’s also a four-time NBA MVP and four-time NBA champion.

LeBron’s current contract with Nike is a lifetime deal he signed in 2015 worth over $500 million, making him the first athlete ever to receive a lifetime deal from the brand.

3. David Beckham – Adidas

In 2003, David Beckham was one of the first athletes of his status to sign a lifetime endorsement with a sports brand. He bagged a $160 million deal with Adidas, reportedly receiving $80 million up front. This made Beckham the highest-paid spokesperson in Adidas’ history, and it was a clear indication of the value that the soccer star had in the global market.

Beckham has since retired from professional soccer, but his legacy – and his endorsement deals – live on. He currently has partnerships with major brands like Adidas, Coty, H&M, Sainsbury’s, Samsung and his latest partner, Breitling.

In total, Beckham is estimated to have earned over $450 million from endorsement deals alone.

4. Roger Federer – Uniqlo

In May 2018, Japanese apparel brand Uniqlo announced that it had signed tennis legend Roger Federer to a 10-year contract worth a reported $300 million. This made Federer the highest-paid athlete in the history of endorsement deals.

The agreement also gave Federer greater creative control over his clothing line, as well as a greater say in the design process. This was a big win for Federer, who had been vocal in the past about feeling restricted by his previous deal with Nike.

So far, the partnership has been a huge success for both Federer and Uniqlo. In its first year, Federer’s line sold millions worth of merchandise and was one of the brand’s most popular collections. It’s set to sustain the Tennis great long after he hangs up his racket for good.

5. Tiger Woods – Nike

U.S. golfer Tiger Woods gestures as he meet students of Beijing Sports University in Beijing April 13, 2011. REUTERS/Petar Kujundzic

In 1996, 21-year-old Tiger Woods turned heads when he signed one of the biggest endorsement deals.

Like Michael Jordan before him, Tiger Woods was courted by both Nike and Adidas coming out of college. He ultimately decided to sign with Nike, inking a 5 year, $40 million deal with the company in 1996.

This made Woods the highest-paid athlete endorsement at the time, a title he would hold for nearly a decade.

During his first year as a professional, Woods won two PGA events and was named PGA Tour Rookie of the Year. He would go on to win additional events in his second year, including the Masters Tournament – one of golf’s most prestigious events.

Woods’ success on the green led to massive popularity off of it as well. He quickly became one of the most recognizable athletes in the world, and his Nike deal proved to be extremely lucrative for both parties. In 2000, Woods renewed his contract with Nike for $100 million over 5 years, and he eventually signed a $20 million per year extension in 2006.

6. Derrick Rose – Adidas

The youngest player ever to be named MVP in the NBA, Derrick Rose was drafted first overall by his hometown Chicago Bulls in 2008. He quickly became one of the best players in the league, and Adidas took notice.

In 2012, Adidas signed Rose to a 13-year, $185 million deal – the biggest endorsement contract in sports history at the time. The deal was a clear sign of Adidas’ commitment to building their basketball business around the young star.

Rose was an instant success on the court, leading the Bulls to the playoffs in each of his first few seasons. His popularity off the court was also on the rise, as he became one of the most marketable athletes in the world.

Unfortunately, Rose’s career was derailed by injuries in subsequent years, and he was never able to return to his previous form. He was eventually traded to the New York Knicks in 2016, and he’ll be a free agent as of 2023. While his play may have declined, Adidas has continued to stand by Rose, and he remains one of the faces of the brand.

7. Kobe Bryant – Nike

Kobe Bryant is one of the most accomplished players in NBA history, and his partnership with Nike is one of the longest-running and most successful in the company’s history. Bryant first signed with Nike as a rookie in 2003, reportedly after dissatisfaction with the Adidas deal he had prior.

Nike gave Kobe his own signature line of shoes and a $90 million paycheck. The Kobe line has been released every year since then, and although Bryant has since retired from the NBA and unfortunately passed away, his estate continues to profit from the arrangement.

8. Floyd Mayweather – Hublot

Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather is no stranger to big money. He’s consistently ranked as one of the highest-paid athletes in the world, and his 2015 fight against Manny Pacquiao reportedly generated over $500 million in total revenue.

In 2018, Mayweather took his money-making prowess to new heights when he signed a multimillion-dollar deal with the Swiss watch brand Hublot.

While specific details of the deal were not disclosed, it was reported to be worth at least $10 million. This made Mayweather the first boxer ever to sign an endorsement deal with a major watch brand.

The partnership was a perfect fit for both Mayweather and Hublot. As the world’s highest-paid athlete, Mayweather is known for his lavish lifestyle and love of luxury items. For its part, Hublot is no stranger to partnering with celebrities – it has deals with Usain Bolt, Diego Maradona and Depeche Mode, to name a few.

9. Dwyane Wade – Li-Ning

After spending the first decade of his career with Nike, NBA superstar Dwyane Wade shocked the sports world when he signed a deal with Chinese sportswear company Li-Ning in 2012.

Wade was one of Nike’s most popular basketball players, and his decision to leave was seen as a major coup for Li-Ning. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, but it was reportedly worth tens of millions of dollars.

Since signing with Li-Ning, Wade has had his own signature line of shoes and clothing. He’s also served as a global ambassador for the brand, helping to raise its profile both in China and around the world.

10. Neymar – Puma

Neymar is one of the most popular soccer players in the world, and he’s had a long-standing relationship with Nike. However, in 2020 he decided to change things up and ended his contract with Nike early in order to sign a new deal with Puma.

Worth a staggering $30 million per year, the deal is one of the biggest in soccer history. It’s also a sign of Puma’s commitment to making a big splash in the soccer world.

As can be seen, Steph Curry’s prospective deal with Under Armour is just one addition to a long-standing history of massive endorsement deals in the world of athletics. These deals range from simple product endorsement to complex, multi-million dollar relationships that span years or even decades. With the ever-growing popularity of sports, it’s likely that we’ll see even more of these massive deals in the years to come.

Award Winning Morning Breeze Villa by Monica Armani on the Spanish Cost

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Forever Mogul Team

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Oct 9, 2022

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Exclusivity, tranquillity, sports, gastronomy, nature, etc., this Morning Breeze villa has it all. Living in Las Colinas Golf & Country Club means residing in one of the most exclusive enclaves of the Costa Blanca, Spain. Located inside an extensive pine forest in Campoamor on the Mediterranean Sea. Las Colinas Golf & Country Club stands as one of the most attractive resorts on the coast.

Award Winning Design

Development of the resort began in 2010, and it has since acquired important national and international relevance, awarded as “Europe’s Leading Villa Resort” in 2017 and 2018.

Morning Breeze villa Armani has also been awarded in the European Property Awards 2020-2021 in the categories of Residential Property and Architecture Single Residence. The award recognizes the design, construction, location and services of this spectacular villa.

It has been awarded by a group of 80 professionals from the real estate sector, made up of architects, interior designers, and designers from all over the world and independently that analyze aspects as diverse as quality, originality, sustainability or innovation.

The Design

Architect and multidisciplinary designer Monica Armani references the principles of the contemporary Bauhaus movement to create a new breed of luxury property, a unique villa in the Costa Blanca that will sit at the pinnacle of the Spanish luxury property market. Bauhaus pioneer Mies van der Rohe’s once said, “God is in the details”,; and every detail of “Morning Breeze” has been personally designed by Monica Armani.

From the macro, building architecture and garden design to the micro, paint on the walls, pool tiles, lighting, and even the door handles, every element has been hand-picked or hand-crafted by Monica Armani.

Main Features

If privacy is the new luxury, this three-bedroomed super villa is a new high watermark. It features two independent yet interconnected self-contained suites with their own private bathrooms and kitchenettes, allowing residents to have as much or as little contact with each other as they desire.

The exceptional amenities at the property include a 240 sqm terrace with 160-degree views, a private gymnasium and spa with a jacuzzi and sauna, landscaped gardens, and the option of separate staff quarters.

An amphitheatre layout with a seven-meter-high glass facade overlooking the surrounding area ensures the magical location is maximized, whilst a two-storey aquarium-style glass infinity pool brings the outside in and the inside out.

Armani has created a space which connects with nature and enhances the sights and sensations of the local environment, blending in with its surroundings and maintaining the beauty of the landscape.

The price for this spectacular villa is not listed and is only available upon request. The property is listed with Sotheby’s.

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9 Strategies to Grow a Successful Business Fast

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Forever Mogul Team

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Oct 6, 2022

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Instant success is not a thing when it comes to business; all good businesspeople know that developing and maintaining success in business takes hard work, dedication, and investment. Growth is a process and there is no secret to success. But there are a few strategies you can use to help boost your business and reach some growth milestones.

1. Effective Staffing

Staff are the lifeline of a business. They keep the cogs turning and things moving in the right direction if you hire the right people. To grow a successful business, you need to have solid people on your team and supporting your cause. Having employees that are hardworking, dedicated, and eager to grow and learn is essential for the success of your business. This means you can effectively delegate tasks with confidence so you can free up your time to focus on important work and establish a collaborative working environment between members of your team.

2. Create Loyalties

Acquiring new customers takes more time, money, and effort than making sure you hold on to the ones you already have. Focus your attention on the people who are already using your service or buying your products by developing a referral scheme, loyalty program, and other strategies that will encourage and promote repeat business. Having a loyal and consistent customer base is key to business growth and success.

3. Be Adaptable

In the world of business, things can change in the blink of an eye. You have to be able to adapt and respond to these market changes rapidly and effectively in order to make it as a successful business. By being adaptable, you can test out different approaches, experiment, and find the strategy that works best for you, your business, and your customers. You may fail, but you are able to get yourself back on your feet to try something different.

4. Customer Experience is Key

Whilst your staff are the lifeline of a business, your customers are at the core. Without customers, there would be no business, which is why their experience with your business, product, or service is of the utmost importance when it comes to growth and success. People remember and share the negatives much more than they do the positives, so you need to make sure you are providing an absolutely exceptional customer experience at all times to get people talking. Ask and respond to your customer’s needs, involve them personally in your growth and listen to what they are telling you. In business, the customer is always right and there is always a lesson to be learned that will boost your growth.

5. Invest in Yourself

As you are starting out, you likely won’t be seeing large profit margins; everything you do make should be redirected into your business to help it grow and expand. Investing during the early stages and doing so quite heavily is likely to result in quick growth. But investing in yourself doesn’t only mean through finances and business. In order to develop and maintain a successful business, you need to have some key personal leadership skills. For example, taking a Doctor in Business Administration could drive you to success. An online DBA from Aston University is designed for business leaders to advance their knowledge and give them the capabilities to become future executives. Investing in yourself by building your knowledge is a wise strategy.

6. Effective Marketing Strategies

Effective marketing is essential for business growth and success. Your marketing strategy is directly linked to your growth; it is how you build your customer base, increase exposure and make people aware of your product or service. Without effectively marketing your brand, people won’t know about you, what you do, or want to invest their time and money towards your cause. There are so many different ways to market yourself both online and offline; you just have to be strategic and consider which approach is best suited to your target audience.

7. Utilise Social Media

Social media is used by the millions each and every day. People are completely attached to it, which makes it an incredibly effective tool for growing your business and leading it to success. Nowadays people of all demographics use some form of social media, so having accounts across the whole lot is the best strategy for increasing exposure effectively. You can use it to share updates but also engage customers in completely innovative ways through videos, stories, hashtags, and other tips and tricks that will get your content shared with the masses. In this day and age, there isn’t a more effective marketing strategy than using social media.

8. Show Social Responsibility

People want to know that they are spending their money at a business that cares about their employees’ welfare and other causes that make the world a better place. There has been a huge push from customers who are now seeking out businesses that are ethical and sustainable, but there are a whole load of different ways to show you are a socially responsible business. You could fundraise or donate to charity, be transparent with your market chain and promote the fact that your workers are paid fairly and treated with respect throughout, or offer sustainable products that reduce your impact on the environment. It is these kinds of things that customers want to see which will grow your business and help you achieve success.

9. Networking and Events

To help develop, learn, and grow, getting guidance, advice, and ideas from like-minded people within the industry is an incredibly valuable tool. They may be able to provide you with a completely new perspective or insight and these relationships can be incredibly beneficial further down the line. Alternatively, you could host your own event. This way, you can create a unique experience for your customer base through fundraisers, sports events, fashion shows or whatever event you fancy that will bring people of the community together and raise your brand awareness. You can even use these to promote an offer, discount, or exclusive deals and benefits that will help grow your business and lead you to success.

Business success isn’t going to magically happen overnight, but by using these nine strategies, you may be able to get there faster than expected.

Feadship Unveils 279-Foot Superyacht Concept Slice

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Forever Mogul Team

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Oct 2, 2022

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Dutch yard Feadship has unveiled its latest 279-Foot superyacht concept during the Monaco Yacht Show 2022. The design marks the eleventh concept ever presented by the shipyard and builds on extensive research and discussions with owners, designers and architects.

The 279-footer, known as Slice, features a cutting-edge exterior engineered to brighten up the whole interior. According to the Dutch yard, the designers at Studio De Voogt sliced the vessel right down the middle and then added a long strip of glass between the two halves.

The transparent panel, which runs from bow to stern, will reportedly allow natural light to filter through multiple decks and bring the outside world in. Slice “turns the inside out and the outside in,” according to Studio De Voogt lead designer Chris Bottoms and head of design Tanno Weeda.

The Feadship concept gets its name from this “slice” of glass, which reinvents the way that light can be brought inside. According to the shipyard, “a once predictable flow of spaces is abandoned in favour of a fresh approach to the onboard lifestyle.”

Penned by Dutch designer Marco van Ham, the interior pairs a subtle, neutral palette with a range of shiny and matte materials. As Feadship requested teak be avoided entirely, the vessel is instead replete with marble, onyx, liquid metal, silver leaf, shagreen, straw marquetry and even pyrite.

The layout is free of tight, boxy rooms and is instead open and airy. The cabins can allow for up to 20 guests (or 12 for commercial purposes) and 24 crew. The owner’s suite, of course, sports its own private terrace with a small pool. Details such as undulating lines and contrast between gloss and matte surfaces work together to contribute to the refined ambience.

One example of this unexpected layout is a 753-square-foot atrium, which is flanked by cascading circular balconies and is uninterrupted by the staircase.

Outside, meanwhile, Slice is equipped with a 33-foot, multi-level pool on the aft deck, which creates a hybrid space that sits somewhere between a beach club and an open-air cabana overlooking the water. Feadship says this space was designed using “data science.” Basically, the designers researched the best place to put it (and added hidden dampers) to prevent the water from sloshing about while you’re cruising.

Elsewhere, there is a passerelle that pops out at the touch of a button, a forward tender garage, a large beach club, a sky lounge, a Jacuzzi and a number of open-air lounges.

The design team has paid particular attention to privacy as well, with a full-height segment and a passerelle that hinges open at the touch of a button, allowing guests to disappear into the privacy and security of the interior.

Slice will be fitted with four dual-fuel generators running on methanol and non-fossil diesel (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) that will power two Azimuthing pods. The yacht has an estimated top speed of 16 knots, a cruising speed of 11 knots and a range of approximately 5,000 miles.

Feadship says there is also the option of replacing one of the generators with fuel cells in the future, which would generate clean, green energy to power the hotel load. The modern design also harnesses eco-friendly propulsion options, with the engineering team calling her “fuel agnostic”. In a statement, Feadship touched on using both methanol and non-fossil diesel (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil – HVO) for powering two Azimuthing pods.

Feadship has been producing fully engineered concepts for more than a decade to inspire future owners. Slice, which marks the yard’s 11th design, is available for immediate construction and could be delivered as soon as 2027.

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Gun Point: Iconic Private Estate in The Bahamas

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Forever Mogul Team

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Sep 25, 2022

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Gun Point is an iconic property located in North Eleuthera, Bahamas, with a truly rich heritage. The property is one of a kind and has Royal ties to England dating back to World War II. The property was originally gifted to Lord Beaverbrook from the crown after his service to England during the war; he selected Gun Point after being given a choice to choose from any property of his liking.

The property stretches for approximately 80 acres, with miles of sandy beach, and is easily considered the trophy property of the area.

Gun Point is conveniently located on the Northern Tip of North Eleuthera and can be accessed by boat or by plane via North Eleuthera’s International airport, which is used frequently by visitors to neighbouring popular destinations Harbour island and Spanish wells.

Gun Point is best suited as a private residence, a luxury hideaway for someone who wishes to enjoy the ultimate privacy and seclusion, as well as indulge in the key essentials of the mainland such as the airport, shops and restaurants. However, the property is versatile and can also be developed as a boutique hotel or resort as it boasts an opportunity for land expansion.

The property has a 4,000 sq ft main residence with 4 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms and a 2,500 sq ft guest house with two bedrooms and 1.5 Bathrooms. All infrastructure is in place and in working condition, including the electricity, roads, water and backup generator systems. The property also features a 210,000-gallon water catchment system constructed by the current owners.

North Eleuthera is known for its great deep sea fishing, with many flocking to the island to experience its beautiful waters and marine life. The property has a 175 ft dock that can accommodate large vessels, and has room for major expansion. This property is a boater’s paradise and is perfectly located for those who wish to island hop to other nearby islands and experience all that Bahamas has to offer.

A property like this is a rare find on the market in The Bahamas, and it is tough to compare to anything else in the area. Its uniqueness and historical value is immeasurable, and will be a special piece of property for its new owner.

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How to Monetize Your Podcast in 2022

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Forever Mogul Team

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Sep 22, 2022

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Whether you already have a podcast or are thinking of starting one, like with any business, one of the questions you should constantly ask is how to monetize your podcast. A large audience base is meaningless if your podcast doesn’t generate adequate revenue for you.

But how much do successful podcasters earn? At the top end, there is Joe Rogan, whose podcast earned around $30 million in 2019. With over 100 million downloads, Tim Ferriss has one of the highest-ranked podcasts, which earns him around $54K per episode.

If Joe Rogan and Tim Ferriss sound like outliers, let’s look at others in the podcast industry who aren’t as big as these two but are still generating substantial amounts of money with significant potential for growth.

The Ramsey Show, hosted by Dave Ramsey, is expected to bring in $3.7 million in advertising revenue. The Tim Dillon Show isn’t far behind. It earns its creator close to $1.5 million every year.

Your podcast could be about anything, from true crime to gardening to naval history. If you know how to monetize your podcast, you can generate a reasonable amount of money if you apply the tactics we will discuss in this guide.

Ways to monetize your podcast in 2022

These proven methods can help not just monetize your podcast but also diversify your revenue stream and grow your business.

Seek donations

The first tactic might seem obvious, but it’s surprising how many podcasters don’t do it. If you can consistently provide value to your listeners, no matter how small your audience might be in the initial stages, you can ask them for donations to sustain the show.

It’s easy, simple, and a direct way to monetize your podcast. You can request your audience to support you through PayPal or Patreon. There’s nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

Offer tiered membership

Another way to monetize your podcast is by offering membership tiers. You can give your paid members exclusive access to additional content. This also frees you from having to seek brand sponsorships.

If you already have sponsors, you can offer your paid members ad-free content. Ensure that you mention your membership tiers in all your podcasts, along with the exclusive content and other discounts the paid members will be getting.

Get sponsorships

The tried and tested method to monetize your podcast is by getting sponsors. Like with all sponsorships, you will be selling air time for sponsors’ ads. These can be pre-roll (before), mid-roll (during), or post-roll (after the episode).

There are three things you need to keep in mind before you start looking for sponsors. Your podcast needs to have a stable audience for brands to be interested in you. To put it simply, you shouldn’t seek sponsorship when you start your podcast but wait for it to form an audience.

Secondly, look for brands that would be interested in your audience. Once you segment your listeners and back them with statistics, it becomes easier for brands to partner with you. Finally, different ad placements should have different fees. The mid-roll segment is usually the most expensive since the audience is less likely to skip those ads.

Promote products

In conventional sponsorship, you allow brands to place their ads in your podcast episodes. These ads will be created by the companies, and your podcast would be the channel to reach your audience. There’s another way to monetize your podcast, and that’s through directly promoting products.

As a host, you can talk about the product and its benefits. This will seem more credible because it’s coming from an individual your audience can relate to. Importantly, this won’t disturb the flow of your episode. To do it effectively, you should ideally try out the product and speak from firsthand experience.

But you should be careful about the brands you choose to promote. Remember that they should be respectable and in alignment with the character and brand equity of your podcast.

Repurpose and sell your content

Repurposing content is an effective way to monetize your podcast. The information and insights you share on your podcast need not end with that episode. They can be transcribed as blogs, social media posts, emails, and articles.

This is why you should constantly engage with your audience through other platforms. For example, if you create an email newsletter with episode announcements and other giveaways, you can offer your repurposed content to that audience.

You can also pitch these articles to popular online publications with a link to your podcast. Along with additional revenue, this also increases your visibility and builds credibility. It might also get you invites to appear on other popular podcasts, where you can promote your podcast.

Syndicate your show to YouTube

Looking for ways to monetize your podcast? The second biggest search engine on the planet, YouTube, could be the solution you need. By repurposing your podcast into videos, you can reach a global audience that runs into billions and find numerous ways to increase your revenue.

The biggest reason for joining YouTube is that it puts your work in front of audiences who otherwise wouldn’t find you. Remember that podcasts run on different platforms that many of your potential audience members may not use. But most of them would be on YouTube.

The first step is to join the YouTube Partner Program. This will give you access to YouTube features and resources, making it easy to monetize your podcast. But among other requirements, your podcast needs to have a minimum number of subscribers and viewers for you to join the program.

Once you’re admitted into the program, these are the four ways in which you can monetize your podcast that’s now repurposed as videos on YouTube:

Advertising revenue: The platform will share with you a part of the revenue they generate from ads that are overlayed, displayed alongside, or played before or during the content you upload.

Membership: YouTube allows you to create membership tiers and charge your subscribers monthly fees for exclusive content and extra perks.

Merchandise: You can sell branded merchandise through your YouTube channel, which will create an extra income stream for your podcast.

YouTube Premium revenue: If any subscriber of YouTube Premium watches your videos, you will get a share of their subscription fee.

Sell merchandise

While YouTube allows you to send branded merchandise, you can also do it independently. For this, you need to develop a unique and interesting brand identity, including a logo, graphic elements, and artwork. You can always find qualified designers online, and there’s no need to go to a specialist design agency unless you want work of exceptional intricacy.

The next step is to get these printed on everything from t-shirts to mousepads to coffee mugs. You can find manufacturers online who will not just produce your merchandise but also take care of its shipping.

Mention your merchandise on your podcasts, website, emails, and social media channels. If you have tiered memberships, offer exclusive discounts to your paid members. The more branded merchandise you sell, the more visibility they will generate for your podcast.

Create online courses or ebooks

If your content is educational or informative, creating an online course is an effective way to monetize your podcast. And it doesn’t take a lot of effort to create one, either. You can repurpose your content into interactive videos or articles with easy-to-use advice and recommendations.

In case your content doesn’t easily translate to a course, you can create ebooks out of them. These should be easy to read and have concise information with actionable steps. The biggest advantage of a digital asset like an ebook is that you can easily scale it without having to produce additional copies.

You can market these to your listeners with special offers for paid members in case you have membership tiers. Along with your podcast episodes, you should also have shorter YouTube videos that highlight your ebooks and online courses. You can also offer them through marketplaces like Amazon to reach an exponentially large number of users.

Offer consulting services

Another way to monetize your podcast is by offering consulting services to your listeners. You should only do this once you have a minimum number of users and you have been creating content on a specific topic for a while.

Your regular content will be for all audience members. The consulting services are for those looking for customized solutions. Whether your podcast offers fitness tips or real estate investment recommendations, you can charge your listeners for personalized answers to their queries.

Ensure that you mention the successes of your current and past clients to your listeners. This offers social proof to potential clients.

In short

A podcast needn’t be a side hustle. It can be your primary income stream if you take these steps to monetize your podcast. You can start focusing on a couple of these ideas until you figure out the combination that works well for you.

Bootstrap Marketing for Startups in 2022

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Forever Mogul Team

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Sep 15, 2022

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One of the biggest challenges for any entrepreneur or startup is to market their product or service. Everyone knows marketing requires significant investments and it can be exceedingly expensive for startups. That’s where bootstrap marketing can help startups and small businesses.

No matter how much you believe in your product or service, as an entrepreneur, you know that without marketing, nothing else will count. Unless potential customers, media, and investors know about your product, everything else is academic.

But what you don’t want to do is spend exorbitantly on marketing. If you fail to make the desired impact, your financial situation would be needlessly vulnerable. This isn’t to suggest that there aren’t any alternatives. Using bootstrap marketing tactics, you can promote your startup and rein in your costs.

In this guide, we define bootstrap marketing and share seven actionable steps that you can take to scale your business without spending much.

What is bootstrap marketing?

Bootstrap marketing is about promoting products with minimal or no marketing budgets. While larger organizations with millions to spend rely on the scale of their communication budget, in bootstrap marketing, you use creativity to make your marketing effective.

In other words, bootstrap marketing delivers more bang for your buck.

In case you’re wondering why large businesses don’t employ bootstrap marketing, here’s the answer: It takes time. You have to spend a considerable amount of time coming up with imaginative ideas and tactics to maximize your marketing budget.

It’s also important to remember that no matter what tactic you come up with or the budgets that you use, you will be competing with the big boys out there. Everyone’s competing for the same consumers and that’s why you should consistently employ viable, effective, and budget-friendly methods.

To make it easy for you, here are seven bootstrap marketing ideas for startups in 2022.

7 ways to use bootstrap marketing for startups in 2022

With these bootstrap marketing ideas, your startup will be able to amplify its communication without spending too much money.

1. Use content marketing to scale your communication

Consumers are tired of the same old visuals and catchy headlines that just talk about the product or the brand. That peripheral communication cannot connect with consumers. What can build relationships is meaningful content.

The content may be in the form of text, video, blogs, emails, or social media posts. These shouldn’t explicitly promote the product or service. They should inform the audiences and add value to their lives. They should be designed as engaging conversations.

But does it work? Research shows that content marketing is 62 percent cheaper than conventional forms of advertising while delivering three times more leads. That’s why creating and delivering engaging content should be part of your bootstrap marketing strategy.

Ramit Sethi has built his personal finance advisory business on the back of content marketing. HubSpot is a stellar example of a brand that has built its reputation on inspiring and informative content.

2. Use organic social media traffic

Most people don’t realize how social media ads influence their buying decisions. Social media has dramatically changed how people communicate with each other and engage with businesses. For consumers, it’s a direct, regular, and dynamic medium when compared to its traditional counterparts.

Irrespective of who your startup is targeting, chances are you can find them on social media. Not just that, it’s also cheaper and more effective than conventional platforms. Plus, you can target with better accuracy and measure and monitor your campaigns with ease.

That’s why most startups that successfully employ bootstrap marketing rely on social media promotions.

Facebook Business and Instagram for Business are excellent tools to discover users and build communities. You can start small by targeting specific audience groups and then create lookalike audiences to market your product or service.

The online fast fashion giant, Shein, had sales of around $16 billion in 2021. The brand didn’t rely on primetime ads or billboards to find its customers. They focused on social media ads to build a global community. Now they’re valued at a whopping $100 billion!

3. Optimize your digital presence with SEO

Another successful bootstrap marketing idea is to invest in search engine optimization (SEO). Those searching for your product or category are much more likely to be serious buyers and you can only attract that traffic through SEO.

Admittedly, optimizing your online presence for organic traffic isn’t easy. And it takes time. But the rewards that SEO can generate make it one of the most necessary tools in bootstrap marketing.

The first step is to find out the keywords your prospective customers will be looking for. As a startup, it’s important to opt for long-tail keywords and not generic short keywords. Then, it’s time to optimize your website with those keywords.

For example, let’s say that you’re an HVAC business in Philadelphia. Along with the keywords “HVAC service Philadelphia,” you should also look for “how to clean AC” or “how to purify indoor air” and questions like these.

A proven bootstrap marketing technique is to focus on local searches since that would put you in front of more relevant users. Secondly, you should regularly refresh your website’s content to move up in the rankings.

Neil Patel became a digital marketing influencer by consistently delivering content optimized for search engines that helps businesses make the most of online platforms and tools.

4. Use word-of-mouth marketing

Want to maximize your marketing without increasing your budget? Word-of-mouth marketing will help you do that. That’s because consumers are resistant to generic messages from brands. They want to hear from their friends, family, and colleagues.

To put it another way, consumers want to hear from people like themselves.

How do you include word of mouth in your bootstrap marketing? You start by identifying your satisfied customers. This is the core group that can exponentially magnify your communication without you having to spend significant sums of money.

Talk to your happy users and thank them for using your product. Ask them to refer their friends, family, and colleagues and incentivize them with discounts or sneak peeks of upcoming products or early bird offers.

Along with asking for referrals, encourage crowd-generated content. If your users can talk about your product, show how it solves their problems, and recommend it through a video or post, it will have greater credibility.

Dropbox was highly successful in widening their user base when they offered their existing users up to 16 GB of free space when they referred their friends.

5. Start doing your own PR

Most entrepreneurs believe that they need an agency for PR (public relations). But the truth is that with consistent effort, you can build your own PR and promote your startup. It involves research and persistence but when done well, it can boost your brand’s visibility.

Your objective should be to market your startup and its product to consumers, media, potential partners, and investors. You can start by listing out online groups, podcasts, blogs, and publications where you would find these audiences.

Remember to also focus on your own social media pages. Post long-form content that’s both authoritative and credible. Start discussions using relevant hashtags. Regularly post content and you will start getting noticed online.

Use your social media connections to appear on podcasts and online publications. Make sure that you mention your product on all these platforms.

6. Create an affiliate program

Another effective bootstrap marketing tactic for startups is creating affiliate programs. This can instantly increase the visibility of your brand provided you’re smart about your affiliate partners.

What you want is to identify your potential customers and then discover what other websites or social media pages they follow. If you choose affiliate partners without doing an audience analysis, you will end up driving irrelevant traffic to your website.

You should ensure that your affiliate partners are credible and experienced in generating quality traffic. Like every other bootstrap marketing tactic, it’s important to regularly audit your affiliate program’s success.

7. Use authentic and purpose-driven messaging

The consumer landscape has fundamentally changed over the last few years. Consumers want their brands to be rooted in their ecosystem and aligned with causes and issues that matter to society at large.

In other words, successful brands will be about more than just products or services.

To effectively connect with customers on societal issues, the first step is to identify your brand’s mission and purpose. It should be beyond the product benefit and tied to a larger benefit to individuals and society.

Secondly, you should proactively support movements both offline and online associated with those issues. Finally, contribute to organizations that work in those areas and invite your users to follow them on social media.

Remember not to make it about your product or service. This is about your startup’s commitment to a cause that matters to society.

In short

Where conventional marketing presents limitations to startups and small businesses, bootstrap marketing offers smarter solutions. With these tactics, you can maximize your marketing tactics without having to make significant investments. It takes time, but once it starts paying dividends, you will be glad that you did it.

‘Tatoosh’: Paul Allen’s Second Superyacht Hits the Market for $90 Million

By

Forever Mogul Team

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Sep 10, 2022

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A 303-foot (92.4-meter) superyacht owned by late Microsoft Corp. co-founder Paul Allen is on sale after an almost year-long retrofit.

Paul Allen’s 22-year-old yacht, “Tatoosh,” which boasts five decks, two helipads and a jetted, heated pool among its numerous features, is listed for for $90 million and will be available for viewings at the Monaco Yacht Show later this month.

The superyacht, Tatoosh, was one of at least two owned by Allen, who was the world’s 27th-richest person at the time of his death in 2018, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. His 126-meter explorer yacht, Octopus, was sold last year after being marketed for $278 million. It’s now available for charter through Camper & Nicholsons, starting at $2.2 million a week.

Tatoosh was just one of the assets contributing to his $26 billion fortune. His estate is now working to offload some of those assets, and it’s so far sold more than $350 million worth of trophy homes, according to Bloomberg. To add to that, in November, Christie’s New York will sell Allen’s 150-plus piece art collection, estimated to be worth about $1 billion.

As for the show-stopping yacht, Tatoosh, which has a range of 6,855 nautical miles and can hit 16 knots at maximum speed, is being co-listed by Fraser Yachts and Burgess.

Built by the German shipyard Nobiskrug, Tatoosh can accommodate up to 19 guests in 11 staterooms. Its has bulletproof, triple-laminated glass windows, a pool that can transform into a dance floor, a beauty salon and a cinema. Its name comes from a wildness area near Mount Rainier, southeast of Allen’s lifelong hometown, Seattle.

Along with five decks, two helipads and a jetted, heated pool, you can watch movies in the on-board cinema; and there’s a beach club, a dive center and a beauty salon.

If you’re looking for a second yacht, now’s your chance to add a classic superyacht to start your collection.

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15 Ways to Earn Money While You’re Sleeping

By

Forever Mogul Team

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Sep 3, 2022

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Can you earn money while you’re sleeping? Is it that easy to make money? The answer is yes. That’s exactly what all successful entrepreneurs do. They decide to go beyond their primary stream of income and come up with ways to consistently make money without doing any additional work.

A 9-5 job is only good if you’re there from, well, 9 to 5. You’re trading your time for money. If you work hard and your manager decides to appreciate it, there will be an insignificant addition to your income. Your income is safe as long as you have a job and the organization likes to keep you employed.

Unfortunately, this can also create a false sense of security. As long as people put in their hours and get their salaries, they feel that they’re financially safe. When a job loss or furlough happens, they realize how vulnerable their careers – and lives – are.

By then, it would be too late for many to think of ways to make passive income.

What is passive income?

So, how do you earn money while you’re sleeping? By creating passive income. It’s a stream of income where you don’t have to actively work for it. You set it up and get it into motion, and then sit back. With minimal effort, it can earn money while you’re sleeping.

With passive income, you’re not just saying goodbye to the 9-5 culture. You’re leaving a system where you have to trade your time for money and where you’re always at the mercy of a superior.

Passive income gives you the freedom to not worry about the number of hours you put in every day. You don’t have to worry about working hard just to keep up with your colleagues.

15 passive income ideas to earn money while you’re sleeping

Just because it’s passive income doesn’t mean that there’s nothing you have to do to earn money while you’re sleeping. In the initial stages, you have to invest either your money or effort and in some cases, both. And if you’re wondering where to start, here are 14 ways to earn money while sleeping.

1. Invest in the stock market

This one requires some initial capital. So if you have some money lying around in the form of savings or from the sale of an asset like a home, you could pick the right stocks and invest.

It’s always good to diversify your portfolio with both risky and stable picks. Even if you don’t have a sizable amount to invest, there are micro-investing apps that allow you to invest in small amounts.

2. Start a blog

Do you have expertise in any field? If so, you can share your insights through a blog. You don’t necessarily have to be an expert in writing, but you need to develop a reader-friendly writing style.

Early on, you may not have a large audience. But all it takes is one noteworthy piece. You can earn money through affiliate marketing, where you earn a commission when your audience buys from a link you recommend. You can also make money by placing ads on your blog.

3. Create a YouTube channel

If writing isn’t your thing, maybe videos can help you make money while you’re sleeping. Think of a subject you’re passionate about and start making videos. It doesn’t require any expensive cameras or sets. You can make videos with the camera on your laptop or smartphone.

Start a channel on YouTube and consistently upload videos. Engage with your audience and incorporate their suggestions. Other than affiliate marketing, you can go for brand sponsorships to make money.

4. Rent a room

Got an extra room in your apartment? You can rent it through Airbnb and earn money while you’re sleeping. Of course, you would need to keep it clean and be a good host.

Once you start getting good reviews, you will have a steady stream of renters. The income that you earn can even help you make payments on your mortgage.

5. Write an ebook

If you believe you can add value to a topic, an ebook is an excellent way to make money while you’re sleeping. It could be on a topic related to your work or something that you’ve always been passionate about. It could also be a “how-to” guide on a topic that solves a problem for your readers.

You can self-publish through Amazon or Gumroad. Importantly, you don’t have to write a 300-page book. You can make money even from a 50-page book by marketing it through your social media pages.

6. Start dropshipping

Start a website and add products from manufacturers. Market your website through social media and drive traffic to it. When someone purchases from your website, notify the manufacturer and let them ship the product to the customer. That’s the dropshipping model, and it’s becoming increasingly popular.

Dropshipping is a viable way to make money while you’re sleeping because you don’t require any major initial investments and can easily scale your business.

7. Register and sell domains

This requires not just some initial investments but also imagination. It’s also a bit risky but the payoffs are excellent. Think of domain names that potential clients would be interested in buying. They could be tied to an existing business or could simply be new names that you’ve thought of.

You can list your domain names for sale on the marketplaces of internet domain registrars. If someone is interested in buying your name, you could potentially charge more than a thousand dollars depending on the uniqueness of the name.

8. Design and sell merchandise

Are you good at design? Then you can design your own merchandise, create a brand, and sell it through popular print-on-demand online stores like Threadless, TeeSpring, or CafePress.

You don’t have to spend any money on printing your merchandise. You also don’t have to handle its shipping. The site will take care of it and give you a commission from the sale.

9. Start a content subscription community

It’s similar to a blog in the sense that you’ll be writing or creating content and publishing them online. The difference is that you have a community of users who will pay to read your blog, see your photos, or watch your videos.

Sites like Substack allow you to build a community of paid users. Remember that even with 500 users who pay $5 monthly, you’re looking at more than $2000 every month!

10. Build an app

Good at coding? Use your skills to build an app and sell it online. If it finds users, you can earn money while you’re sleeping.

It’s also an excellent idea to team up with someone who has marketing skills. So, you could take care of the product part, whereas they can handle the marketing.

11. Create an online course

Online courses are a proven source of passive income. Several sites allow you to share your courses and find paying audiences. You don’t have to be an authority on a topic. You only have to explain it in an easy and friendly way.

Upload videos and make your content as interesting as possible. You can easily scale your online course without putting in any additional effort.

12. Sell stock photos

Are you good at photography? Do you have a collection of photos from your travels? You could sell them and make money while you’re sleeping, that too, without having to find the audience.

Several websites, blogs, and publications turn to stock photo websites for photos. By uploading there, you could sell your photo to these buyers and make money.

13. Get a high-yield bank account

High-yield accounts pay you higher interest when compared to regular savings accounts. See if your bank has a high-yield account and if so, transfer your savings into that account.

Keep in mind that most high-yield accounts require a substantial initial investment.

14. Rent your car

If your car is lying around, renting it out may be one of the easiest ways to make money while you’re sleeping. This is especially true if you have remote or hybrid work and don’t have to travel now.

You can list your car on websites like Turo. But make sure that they return it in excellent condition.

15. Start peer-to-peer lending

Not everyone who needs a loan can secure their funding through conventional lending channels. That’s where peer-to-peer lending comes in. In the early stages of peer-to-peer lending, it was difficult to analyze the risk and repayment potential of a borrower.

But now, with the help of technology, the platforms take care of the due diligence. Websites like PeerStreet also allow you to lend to individuals who’re planning to borrow for specific industries. You can lend money and earn interest on it.

In short

With some planning, effort, and persistence, any of these ideas can earn money while you’re sleeping.

Michael Jordan’s Chicago Mansion Still on the Market After 10 Years

By

Forever Mogul Team

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Aug 27, 2022

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NBA legend Michael Jordan’s Chicago mansion is still on the market after 10 years. It seems like nobody wants to buy the mansion.

After failing twice to sell his estate at auction, in 2014, Jordan relisted his Highland Park, Illinois estate for $16 million. After failing to sell his estate for $16 million, Jordan briefly removed his estate from the market. The NBA Superstar and apparel mogul placed his home back on the market with The Agency for $14,855,000, significantly reduced from the $29,000,000 price tag.

The NBA legend believed he will have better luck selling his home with the sale price set at $14,855,000. Why? The numbers in the sale price add up to 23.

Well, he still has had no luck selling his home. Jordan’s Chicago estate is still on the market, after 10 years, despite listing twice and cutting the price nearly in half. The apparel mogul is paying more than $130,000 in annual property taxes.

Set on 7.39 immaculately landscaped acres just north of Chicago, the longtime personal residence of Michael Jordan offers the ultimate in privacy and luxury. This secluded compound includes 56,000 square feet of living space, with 9 bedrooms, 15 full and 4 half bathrooms, and, as one might expect from this basketball legend, a regulation-size, NBA-quality basketball court — all surrounded by a living fence of 150 mature evergreens, creating an envelope of unparalleled privacy.

While many areas of the home provide a cozy, intimate setting for friends and family, the public living areas welcome guests to expansive, light-filled rooms. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the family room, an exercise in understated elegance with plush carpeting, a built-in aquarium, and a fireplace. Likewise, in the soaring two-story living room, a series of ten floor-to-ceiling windows make the dramatic outdoor landscaping as much a part of the room as the cove ceilings and circular design.

Luxurious Suites

The property includes nine bedrooms, with six located in the primary residence. All include spacious closets and en suite bathrooms. The master suite (not pictured) is an inviting 504 square feet, set into a curved wall with windows overlooking the landscaped lawn. The master bedroom shares a three-sided fireplace with a private lounge and the master bathroom. His-and-hers closets, a dressing and make-up area, and a sky-lit bathroom complete this luxurious suite.

The Entertainment

This is where it all happens. Where the good times roll. Tucked away on the lower level of the primary residence, you’ll find a card and cigar room with a custom-built, walk-in humidor, a wine cellar, wine tasting room, sitting room, and a fully equipped in-house beauty salon. The card room is richly appointed, ready for rounds of poker late into the night, and includes a built-in HDTV, an intricately patterned cove ceiling, and recessed lighting. The 500+ bottle wine cellar is an oenophile’s delight and is completely climate and humidity controlled.

This richly appointed suite hearkens back to another era, with a billiard parlor, fireplace, library, and full wet bar for your drinks of choice. But even classics can be improved upon, in this case with a conversation starter that will never stop: The entrance to this private sanctuary includes the original doors from the Playboy Mansion in Chicago. The Gentleman’s Retreat also includes a video screen that descends from the ceiling for your viewing pleasure.

Fitness Studio

With the legendary MJ behind this fitness studio, you can imagine the caliber of its equipment. And you’d be right. All the equipment will stay with this extraordinary high-tech studio, including Jordan’s personal treadmills, elliptical trainers, Stairmasters, Precor bike, Cybex arc trainer, and free weights to keep you in peak form.

Play like Mike

In 2001, this full-size, regulation basketball court was built to Michael Jordan’s exacting specifications. It features specially cushioned hardwood flooring, adjustable backstops and baskets, and competition-quality, high-intensity lighting. The court also includes a custom sound system with speakers expressly tuned for the court space.

Adjacent to the basketball court is locker rooms and showers, as well as a circular lounge with comfortable leather chairs and a built-in HDTV. The lounge boasts a glass observation overlook where spectators can comfortably enjoy the action on the basketball court. The gymnasium opens to additional outdoor recreational areas like the tennis court and putting green. To ensure privacy from the main house, if desired, the facility has a separate entry and a nearby parking area.

Indoor Meets Outdoor Living

The pool pavilion was built in 2009 and links the primary residence with the guest wing. The design is a stunner, including a retractable electric canopy that, with the touch of a button, can transform the enclosed room into an extraordinary indoor/outdoor experience geared for entertaining.

Fresh air and sunlight by day, cool breezes, and twinkling stars by night. A built-in 110” rear-screen projection system with state-of-the-art surround sound system and a full-sized bar further enhance the entertaining possibilities, while telescoping floor-to-ceiling windows on both sides can be fully opened to the outdoor pool and terrace.

About Highland Park

Located 23 miles north of Chicago with easy access to the city, Highland Park boasts some of the region’s most beautiful and exclusive homes. Here, residents enjoy small-town comforts with big-city advantages, with a strong emphasis on recreation and culture. The Chicago Symphony summers in Highland Park every year, and the city plays host to the well-known Ravinia Festival, an open-air concert series during the summer. With lakefront parks and beaches on Lake Michigan, Highland Park has plenty of outdoor activities to keep residents busy, and its bustling downtown shopping district is a strong indicator of the vibrancy of this community.