HANDSHAKING - Blog about marketing, startups, online assets, and properties

Why a Website is Key for Personal Branding

4/7/2025

In 2025, if you are looking for a new job, one of the most effective ways to approach your job search is by networking. More now than ever with AI ruining your chances.

However, if you haven't worked on building your personal brand, there is a good chance some of your efforts might not be as successful as you hoped.

Why I Abandoned Using Voicemail In 2016. (Updated 12/23)

12/19/2023

Updated 12/2023: See italics for edits

Merry christmas from 2023, it appears that I abadoned using voicemail years ago, that was a win. I should have abandoned everything that's not data based (sms, calls, voicemail, etc)

Just after Christmas 2015, I was driving from Santa Fe, NM back to Handshakin' Headquarters in Denver, Colorado. I dialed my google voice number to check voicemails because there was nothing else I could do to be productive while driving. It was already my lowest priority, only to be considered out of boredom.

“You have 54 new voice messages.”

"The Power of Networking: How Handshaking.com is Revolutionizing Business Connections"

3/30/2023

Networking has always been a key component of building a successful career, but with the rise of technology, it's become even more important to master the art of virtual networking.

That's where Handshaking.com comes in. This innovative platform is changing the game when it comes to connecting with other professionals online

Ai Videos for Lead Gen sites? Yep! Here's how:

3/25/2023

Handshaking.com is excited to announce our newest partnership with Yepic, a cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) video creation tool. Our lead generation websites and contractor clients can now utilize Yepic’s AI technology to create high-quality videos in a matter of minutes.

How to increase leads for your website

2/1/2023

There are several ways to increase the number of phone leads for your website, including:

1. Optimizing your website for search engines: This will make it easier for potential customers to find your website when they search for keywords related to your business.

Why "Rank and Rent" Websites are the New Rental Properties

12/1/2022

If you're an experienced investor, you know that there are a lot of similarities between rental properties and lead generation websites. Both require a upfront investments, both can be quite profitable if managed correctly, and both can be a huge headache if you're not prepared for the challenges that come with them. However, real estate properties typically cost 20% down and $100,000s, and rank and rent websites, literally cost $10/year for your domain, and ~$8/mo for hosting if you do all the work.

While there are certainly some key differences between the two (we'll get to those in a minute), the fact is that lead gen sites are quickly becoming the new hot investment for savvy online investors.

Here's why:

Assets & Entrepreneurship: Real Estate (Part 2/3)

11/17/2022

Updated 11/17/2022

Written 2017:
Last week, you may have seen my blog post detailing the various ways you can make money and build your net worth in the auto industry. You might have also noticed that, although it's the easiest to get into, I don't recommend it because A) they are depreciating assets, and B) they are small assets. You'd have to own a lot of cars to make enough for one persons salary from them.

Let's talk about Real Estate and how to leverage debt (mortgages) in order to make money off appreciation of assets that are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Not including monthly cash flow and rental income. When building assets, let's ditch the auto industry where any asset over $100,000 is going to cost you tens of thousands instead of make you tens of thousands.

Photo & Link to my most recent fix and flip

Fun Things to Do on the Vermont Side of Lake Champlain

6/6/2022

If you love being near a lake, Vermont has a lot to offer. Lake Champlain separates northwestern Vermont from New York. If you are on the Vermont side of the lake, there are many options for fun things to do and see.

Whether you want a laid back day or an action-packed adventure, there is a ton to do on the Vermont side of the lake and many cities, towns, and attractions to consider when planning a visit. If you plan to visit Vermont near the lake, or you are looking for your own lake town to call home, here are a few places to consider and some fun things to do:

Finally, We are formally Handshaking.com

12/21/2021

We finally rebranded from handshakin.com to HANDSHAKING.COM! (Or, handshaking.com) Emails, website, everything. What a task. And, we had to wait till the slow months, the holidays, to do it.

Our Much Awaited Domain Upgrade to handshaking.com!

11/28/2021

Handshaking (previously Handshakin.com) will be undergoing a domain change to Handshaking.com before the end of 2021.

Our business name and website are now formally: Handshaking.com.

Useful Tools to Market a Political Campaign

8/5/2021

Political campaigns can be difficult to set up and even more so to run effectively, and fundamentally, they will always come down to a matter of public opinion, which is why the quality of your marketing techniques is so important. So, if you are looking for methods to boost the quality of your marketing techniques when it comes to your political campaign, then this article aims to help you along your way.

An update on our Privately Offered Full-Service Sales Management

7/23/2021

Guess what? We've made our first buyer a 70% return on their first asset puruchased from us 12 months ago.

Read the blog here.

Announcement:
Commissions are changing from any previous agreement to 45% starting on sales processed after August 1. This includes credit card processing fees, and the cost of us hosting your phone number in our account. Our goal is to send bigger payouts to you with this new fee, not smaller.

This is due to our recently improved Sales Team Training process, improved sales scripts, and now a sales team that earns a higher base + commission and is four times the size.

Make a 70% Annual Return by buying the Right Online Asset!

6/30/2021

A CASE STUDY ON ONE BUYER WHO BOUGHT A WEB ASSET FROM US

Last year, we sold two of our Lead Generation Assets to savvy investors who know that investing in online businesses can be lucrative, if you buy assets from a credible source, like Handshaking.

In this short post, I'll share with you how we have already been paying our first investor an average of 69% annual return, and share more details about another investor in the next post.

We've Listed our June Web Asset for sale (Earned $1446.50 last month)

6/6/2021

We are selling one of our rank and rent assets. This is a site that earns money by receiving phone call leads in a specific city for a home service niche. The phone calls are paid for by a contractor(s) in the city.

Gross Sales:
May - $1446.50
April - $1077.50
March - $739.00
February - $535.00
January - $333.10
December - $100.00
November - $726.25
October - $297.40

How to Hire your First Virtual Assistant

4/27/2021

EDITED Oct 2023, ORIGINALLY Posted August 2017:

I've worked with many Virtual Assistants (VAs) since the start of handshaking.com who have helped immensely behind the scenes. Since starting in 2014, and now multiple trips visiting Philippines, and a couple long-term leases of living in Manila, this guide has changed a lot.

Recently, we had two dozen Filipino full-time team members, but as of today we have downsized our sales team to keep the winners. It's not easy to find all-star Filipinos that are both interested and knowledgeable on American culture which is a skill you need to actively seek here in Asia; meanwhile it's something we can take for granted when hiring Americans in the USA.

How to Buy a Domain Name for Your Startup

4/11/2021

Publishied 3/7/2016, updated 4/11/2021

Oftentimes, we're asked "how do I go about purchasing a domain name if someone else owns it?" Or, "what determines the price or value of a domain name?"

Also, the infamous "someone else owns myname.com, how can I get it?"

My Lexus was Totaled during it's 2nd trip on Turo.com

4/10/2021

Posted 1/30/2017, edited 4/10/2021

Have you ever tried the "sharing economy"? I've always been the first out of my group of friends to try stuff and take risks.

In my opinion, it presents entrepreneurs some of the best passive income and part-time/flexible incomes while launching their startup.

I've been an Airbnb host (I rented out extra rooms in my house to other entrepreneurs for cash), I have an unused garage space in an investment property on my friends app Stow It, and most recently, I made the decision to list my car on Turo, where you can rent your car to people for cash... First trip went just fine. Second one, my car was totalled...

Domain Names & Startups: Where to start

4/8/2021

Posted 7/16/2017, Updated 4/8/2021

It's been almost 6 months since I attended NamesCon, and I'm still on fire about domain names, small websites, and how to make money online. But it all starts with 'owning the land.'

If you think about the internet as real estate, it really becomes clear where the opportunities lie, and where you're able to make money.

Here's some important insights I've learned after being a domain name investor and online entrepreneur for 3+ years.

Oh, and the photo is of course a handshake with the Founder of NamesCon, Richard Lau. I'm already getting excited for January 2018 just uploading this picture.

Most Job Seekers Miss This Personal Branding Opportunity

3/16/2021

The time to begin considering Personal Branding is now! The branding mindset gives you tools that differentiate between scoring big opportunities and being forgotten.

The tool that makes the most significant impact is a website on your own domain (yourname.com) that represents your personal brand.

How to Establish Credibility by Creating Online Content

3/12/2021

Edited 3/12/2021, Posted 3/13/2017

There are two parts to the creating credibility in online content, the first is widespread prominence and the other is credibility.

Establishment of prominence can be translated into getting hits on your business website and getting cited by other websites so your name gets out there into the public.

Credibility is the hard part. The word "credibility" has a lot to do with reliability, authority, honesty. And several other characteristics as internet users look for something they trust online.

Integrate Online Tools into a Website

3/5/2021

The integration of online tools and add-ons to your website can help to create a better overall user experience, as well as boosting your sales and ensuring that you achieve the best results possible. There are plenty of different options out there, so you need to choose the one that suits what you are offering the best.

How to use your blog and Instagram to Meet Influencers

3/3/2021

Posted 7/3/2017, Edited 3/3/2021

Last Friday, I was invited to give a talk to Social Media Day Denver. There was almost 250 paid attendees, and they were an amazing group of social media enthusiasts and bloggers. I was surprised by how many people already had their blogs up and how many used Wordpress, we previously used Weebly.

But I definitely got everyone's wheels turning on interviewing influencers to accelerate your career and current goals...

The Handshake: A Powerful Networking Tool

3/1/2021

Posted 7/6/2015, Edited 3/1/2021

June 25 was National Handshake Day...and the opportunity to learn more about this powerful networking tool.

In business, we shake hands at every networking event, or at least we did before covid dropped the bass.

The handshake is such a common gesture that most of us give it little thought. It's much more important to consider how much hand sanitizer you have left.

How to Build an “Investment Alluring” Brand With a Website

2/11/2021

(Guest post by Empire Flippers:)

The entrepreneurial career is pretty simple: build a skill and use it to make money. In the services sector, it’s usually a case of using your skills to help someone else make money.

This is an excellent way to make money if you’re a hands-on person.

In the offline world, it’s very much a “get out of your house and go to work” sort of deal. If you’re social and you like to be active, then this is ideally suited for you.

Guest Post by Janice On Matt Holmes' entrepreneurial Journey

2/11/2021

Over the last couple of years, marketing and influencing have taken over the sales world. Slowly and surely, influencing and marketing are slowly morphing into becoming the same thing. Thus, numerous brands, organizations, and franchises are looking for ways to push their brands and products.