“I told him not to pay a cent—and definitely not to shut his website down.”

What would you do if you got a scary letter using legal language, claiming you owed $700 for a photo on your website? In this episode, I share a true story about an old client who received one of these copyright trolling threats, and how we handled it. From sleuthing image origins to proving usage rights, this is one episode you’ll want to listen to if you’ve ever used photos online.

I'm Trudy Rankin and I am the founder of Online Business Liftoff and a seasoned digital strategist who helps people build sustainable, flexible businesses online. 

I ALSO TALKED ABOUT
What copyright trolling is—and why it’s not quite a scam, but not ethical either.
How to verify image licensing years after a website goes live.
The steps to take if you receive a copyright infringement notice.
Why immediately removing the image can neutralize most threats.
How creating a simple image tracking spreadsheet could save hours of work later.
The importance of demanding proof of ownership before taking any legal-sounding demand seriously.
What to include in a response that shifts the burden back to the sender.

If you've ever published a photo on your website, you need to hear this. Tune in to protect yourself and your clients.

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Wayback Machine: https://archive.org/web/

Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business:
 👉 https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

<blockquote>
&ldquo;I told him not to pay a cent&mdash;and definitely not to shut his website down.&rdquo;
</blockquote>
What would you do if you got a scary letter using legal language, claiming you owed $700 for a photo on your website? In this episode, I share a true story about an old client who received one of these copyright trolling threats, and how we handled it. From sleuthing image origins to proving usage rights, this is one episode you&rsquo;ll want to listen to if you&rsquo;ve ever used photos online.
I'm Trudy Rankin and I am the founder of Online Business Liftoff and a seasoned digital strategist who helps people build sustainable, flexible businesses online.&nbsp;
I ALSO TALKED ABOUT
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">What copyright trolling is&mdash;and why it&rsquo;s not quite a scam, but not ethical either.</li>
<li aria-level="1">How to verify image licensing years after a website goes live.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The steps to take if you receive a copyright infringement notice.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why immediately removing the image can neutralize most threats.</li>
<li aria-level="1">How creating a simple image tracking spreadsheet could save hours of work later.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The importance of demanding proof of ownership before taking any legal-sounding demand seriously.</li>
<li aria-level="1">What to include in a response that shifts the burden back to the sender.</li>
</ul>
If you've ever published a photo on your website, you need to hear this. Tune in to protect yourself and your clients.
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Wayback Machine: <a href="https://archive.org/web/">https://archive.org/web/</a></li>
</ul>
Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business: 👉<a href="https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/"> https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/</a>

This podcast is for new and emerging online business owners who are determined to do what it takes to reach their financial goals, help people along the way and learn a bunch of useful new skills. Have a love/hate relationship with the tech? We talk about that. Not sure you have what it takes to achieve success? We talk about that, too, plus how to deal with mindset challenges. Trudy Rankin, Founder of the Online Business Program, shares actionable tips that will help you really get your business growing, as well as interviews with experts and inspiring stories so that you can grow your online business with confidence.

This podcast is for new and emerging online business owners who are determined to do what it takes to reach their financial goals, help people along the way and learn a bunch of useful new skills. Have a love/hate relationship with the tech? We talk about that. Not sure you have what it takes to achieve success? We talk about that, too, plus how to deal with mindset challenges. Trudy Rankin, Founder of the Online Business Program, shares actionable tips that will help you really get your business growing, as well as interviews with experts and inspiring stories so that you can grow your online business with confidence.

Online Business Launchpad | Start An Online Business | Online Business Growth

The Online Business Launchpad podcast shares tips, techniques and stories from small business owners who have solved problems and challenges like the ones you face.  This podcast is for you if you want to increase revenue and profits without burning out so that you can have more time for yourself and your family and more choices in how you live your life.

The Online Business Launchpad podcast shares tips, techniques and stories from small business owners who have solved problems and challenges like the ones you face.  This podcast is for you if you want to increase revenue and profits without burning out so that you can have more time for yourself and your family and more choices in how you live your life.

Scared by a Copyright Troll Letter? Here’s What To Do

"I was working 18-hour days, seven days a week, and my mum said, 'You're making good money, but we have something you don't—free time.'"

Sara Vezensek had the kind of job most people fantasize about—flying on private jets, managing superyachts, and earning big. But it came at a cost. In this episode, she shares how she walked away from the dream lifestyle to build a business on her terms—one with time, financial, and location freedom.

Sara Vezensek is an online business coach who specializes in helping women build businesses that give them “ultimate freedom.” After leaving a high-flying career managing multimillion-dollar projects, she went all in on organic marketing and intentional strategy to grow her own thriving business—all while working just 15 hours a week.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT
Why success on paper doesn’t always mean happiness
How to prepare for a business pivot before burning out
Strategies for building a business on 2 hours a day (or less!)
Why content strategy beats going viral
The glass ceiling of “200 views” and how to break through it
Using EFT tapping and mindset work to stop sabotaging success
How to rewire your relationship with money and self-worth
The unexpected power of speaking to just one person in your audience

Tune in for a grounded conversation about building a business that supports the life you actually want.

👉 Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Free Masterclass: Your Million Dollar Course Idea – Sara’s step-by-step guide to turning your current knowledge into a course
Money Breakthrough Masterclass – Learn the exact strategy Sara used to hit $100K in 30 days
Sara’s Instagram: @saravezcoach

<blockquote>
"I was working 18-hour days, seven days a week, and my mum said, 'You're making good money, but we have something you don't&mdash;free time.'"
</blockquote>
Sara Vezensek had the kind of job most people fantasize about&mdash;flying on private jets, managing superyachts, and earning big. But it came at a cost. In this episode, she shares how she walked away from the dream lifestyle to build a business on her terms&mdash;one with time, financial, and location freedom.
Sara Vezensek is an online business coach who specializes in helping women build businesses that give them &ldquo;ultimate freedom.&rdquo; After leaving a high-flying career managing multimillion-dollar projects, she went all in on organic marketing and intentional strategy to grow her own thriving business&mdash;all while working just 15 hours a week.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why success on paper doesn&rsquo;t always mean happiness</li>
<li aria-level="1">How to prepare for a business pivot before burning out</li>
<li aria-level="1">Strategies for building a business on 2 hours a day (or less!)</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why content strategy beats going viral</li>
<li aria-level="1">The glass ceiling of &ldquo;200 views&rdquo; and how to break through it</li>
<li aria-level="1">Using EFT tapping and mindset work to stop sabotaging success</li>
<li aria-level="1">How to rewire your relationship with money and self-worth</li>
<li aria-level="1">The unexpected power of speaking to just one person in your audience</li>
</ul>
Tune in for a grounded conversation about building a business that supports the life you actually want.
👉 Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business:<a href="https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter"> https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter</a>
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Free Masterclass: <a href="https://www.saravezcoach.com/opt-in-1f6985c8-1726-4816-b9e0-8ab0474297ad?utm_source=OBL-Podcast&amp;utm_medium=OMNY-shownotes&amp;utm_content=resources-mentioned&amp;utm_campaign=Episode-242">Your Million Dollar Course Idea</a> &ndash; Sara&rsquo;s step-by-step guide to turning your current knowledge into a course</li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.saravezcoach.com/opt-in-bb663c6a-1c85-48d4-81aa-8a78ed00d775?utm_source=OBL-Podcast&amp;utm_medium=OMNY-shownotes&amp;utm_content=resources-mentioned&amp;utm_campaign=Episode-242">Money Breakthrough Masterclass</a> &ndash; Learn the exact strategy Sara used to hit $100K in 30 days</li>
<li aria-level="1">Sara&rsquo;s Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/saravezcoach"> @saravezcoach</a></li>
</ul>

What Happens When You Walk Away From a Dream Job with Sara Vezensek

"Just because someone’s great at marketing doesn’t mean they can teach."

When Jasmine Jonte invested in a high-ticket online course and discovered it was badly designed and nearly impossible to learn from, she had an epiphany: great teaching is a skill — and it’s one most experts don’t have. So, she used her background as a teacher to build a business that helps experts teach well, turning their brilliance into scalable, binge-worthy programs.

Jasmine Jonte is a former kindergarten teacher turned founder of a course creation agency. She’s helped build over 140 programs across more than 70 niches — from real estate investing to tarot to dentistry — helping experts turn their intellectual property into powerful learning experiences that actually get results.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT:
The real reason most online courses fail (hint: it’s not lack of expertise)
How Jasmine went from teacher to six-figure business owner with a 14-person team
The difference between being an expert and being able to teach effectively
The framework Jasmine uses to turn expert knowledge into curriculum
What to ask in market research interviews to truly understand your audience
The two pathways for experts: build a team or build a scalable offer
Why completion rates and student results matter more than flashy marketing
Using AI in ethical, efficient ways to streamline course creation
The surprising AI tools Jasmine uses in her own business

CALL TO ACTION

If you're ready to turn your expertise into a powerful, scalable program — or just want a peek behind the curtain of what that takes — you won’t want to miss this episode.

👉 “Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business” https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter

RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Jasmine’s website: https://www.creation.co (note: creation is spelled with an 8)
Free guide: https://www.creation.co/netflix — “10 Next Level Strategies to Make Your Program as Binge-Worthy as Netflix”
Tools mentioned: 
ChatGPT - AI tool, 
Claude - AI tool 
Descript(affiliate link) - audio and video editor, transcript maker and AI tool
Senja - Collect, manage and share testimonials

My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families:
👉 https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter

<blockquote>
"Just because someone&rsquo;s great at marketing doesn&rsquo;t mean they can teach."
</blockquote>
When Jasmine Jonte invested in a high-ticket online course and discovered it was badly designed and nearly impossible to learn from, she had an epiphany: great teaching is a&nbsp;skill &mdash; and it&rsquo;s one most experts don&rsquo;t have. So, she used her background as a teacher to build a business that helps experts teach well, turning their brilliance into scalable, binge-worthy programs.
Jasmine Jonte is a former kindergarten teacher turned founder of a course creation agency. She&rsquo;s helped build over 140 programs across more than 70 niches &mdash; from real estate investing to tarot to dentistry &mdash; helping experts turn their intellectual property into powerful learning experiences that actually get results.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The real reason most online courses fail (hint: it&rsquo;s not lack of expertise)</li>
<li aria-level="1">How Jasmine went from teacher to six-figure business owner with a 14-person team</li>
<li aria-level="1">The difference between being an expert and being able to teach effectively</li>
<li aria-level="1">The framework Jasmine uses to turn expert knowledge into curriculum</li>
<li aria-level="1">What to ask in market research interviews to truly understand your audience</li>
<li aria-level="1">The two pathways for experts: build a team or build a scalable offer</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why completion rates and student results matter more than flashy marketing</li>
<li aria-level="1">Using AI in ethical, efficient ways to streamline course creation</li>
<li aria-level="1">The surprising AI tools Jasmine uses in her own business</li>
</ul>
CALL TO ACTION
If you're ready to turn your expertise into a powerful, scalable program &mdash; or just want a peek behind the curtain of what that takes &mdash; you won&rsquo;t want to miss this episode.
👉 &ldquo;Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business&rdquo;<a href="https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/"> https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter</a>
RESOURCES MENTIONED:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Jasmine&rsquo;s website:<a href="https://www.cre8tion.co/?utm_source=OnlineBusinessLiftoff-podcast&amp;utm_medium=shownotes&amp;utm_content=episode-241&amp;utm_campaign=resources-mentioned"> https://www.creation.co</a> (note: creation is spelled with an 8)</li>
<li aria-level="1">Free guide:<a href="https://www.creation.co/netflix"> https://www.creation.co/netflix</a> &mdash; &ldquo;<a href="https://www.cre8tion.co/netflix?utm_source=OnlineBusinessLiftoff-podcast&amp;utm_medium=shownotes&amp;utm_content=episode-241&amp;utm_campaign=resources-mentioned">10 Next Level Strategies to Make Your Program as Binge-Worthy as Netflix</a>&rdquo;</li>
<li aria-level="1">Tools mentioned:&nbsp;</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="2"><a href="https://chatgpt.com/">ChatGPT</a> - AI tool,&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="2"><a href="https://claude.ai">Claude</a> - AI tool&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="2"><a href="https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/Descript">Descript</a> (affiliate link) - audio and video editor, transcript maker and AI tool</li>
<li aria-level="2"><a href="https://senja.io/?utm_source=OnlineBusinessLiftoff-podcast&amp;utm_medium=shownotes&amp;utm_content=episode-241&amp;utm_campaign=resources-mentioned">Senja</a> - Collect, manage and share testimonials</li>
</ul>
</ul>
My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families: 👉<a href="https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/"> https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter</a>

What Makes a Course Feel Binge-Worthy (Like Netflix) with Expert Jasmine Jonte

“When New Zealand won the America's Cup, it wasn’t the biggest budget that won, it was one key question: Will it make the boat go faster?”

That same philosophy drives Colin Clapp’s content strategy in a world now ruled by AI-driven search. If you’ve been told that SEO is dead, buckle up because Colin is here to explain why that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Colin Clapp has been in the content trenches for years, helping creators and businesses grow visibility through smart, structured content strategies. From traditional SEO to adapting to the rise of AI search, he brings experience, clarity, and actionable frameworks, like his One Click Content Optimization approach, that get results.

WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT
Why SEO is not dead—and what small business owners need to understand instead
The “table stakes” every piece of content needs (hint: meta titles and descriptions still matter)
How structure helps AI and traditional search engines find and rank your content
Why internal linking is crucial—and how to avoid content cannibalization
What schema is, and how it quietly powers discoverability (even if you're not a developer)
Colin’s “F1 car” analogy that makes optimization strategies finally make sense
The rise of AI search—and what it means for your content's future visibility
Practical ways non-techies can improve their site's structure and speed

CALL TO ACTION

Tune in to this episode and find out what still works—and what’s changed—when it comes to being found online.

👉 “Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business”
https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

RESOURCES MENTIONED
Colin’s Website: Online Marketing Done 4 You
Colin’s YouTube Video:The 5 Pillars Framework - How to Optimize Content for Traditional SEO & AI Search (AEO & GEO):
Colin’s framework: One Click Content Optimization

My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families: https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/

&ldquo;When New Zealand won the America's Cup, it wasn&rsquo;t the biggest budget that won, it was one key question: Will it make the boat go faster?&rdquo;
That same philosophy drives Colin Clapp&rsquo;s content strategy in a world now ruled by AI-driven search. If you&rsquo;ve been told that SEO is dead, buckle up because Colin is here to explain why that couldn&rsquo;t be further from the truth.
Colin Clapp has been in the content trenches for years, helping creators and businesses grow visibility through smart, structured content strategies. From traditional SEO to adapting to the rise of AI search, he brings experience, clarity, and actionable frameworks, like his One Click Content Optimization approach, that get results.
WE ALSO TALKED ABOUT
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Why SEO is not dead&mdash;and what small business owners need to understand instead</li>
<li aria-level="1">The &ldquo;table stakes&rdquo; every piece of content needs (hint: meta titles and descriptions still matter)</li>
<li aria-level="1">How structure helps AI and traditional search engines find and rank your content</li>
<li aria-level="1">Why internal linking is crucial&mdash;and how to avoid content cannibalization</li>
<li aria-level="1">What schema is, and how it quietly powers discoverability (even if you're not a developer)</li>
<li aria-level="1">Colin&rsquo;s &ldquo;F1 car&rdquo; analogy that makes optimization strategies finally make sense</li>
<li aria-level="1">The rise of AI search&mdash;and what it means for your content's future visibility</li>
<li aria-level="1">Practical ways non-techies can improve their site's structure and speed</li>
</ul>
CALL TO ACTION
Tune in to this episode and find out what still works&mdash;and what&rsquo;s changed&mdash;when it comes to being found online.
👉 &ldquo;Get regular access to tips, techniques and advice from experts about growing your business&rdquo; <a href="https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/">https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/</a>
RESOURCES MENTIONED
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Colin&rsquo;s Website:<a href="https://onlinemarketingdone4you.com"> </a>&nbsp;<a href="https://onlinemarketingdone4you.com/?utm_source=Online-Business-Laundpad-Podcast&amp;utm_medium=Shownotes&amp;utm_content=Resources-Mentioned&amp;utm_campaign=Episode-240">Online Marketing Done 4 You</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Colin&rsquo;s YouTube Video:<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVq3BZ3Tf2Q&amp;utm_source=Online-Business-Laundpad-Podcast&amp;utm_medium=Shownotes&amp;utm_content=Resources-Mentioned&amp;utm_campaign=Episode-240"> The 5 Pillars Framework - How to Optimize Content for Traditional SEO &amp; AI Search (AEO &amp; GEO):</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Colin&rsquo;s framework: <a href="https://onlinemarketingdone4you.com/about-one-click-seo-content-optimization/?utm_source=Online-Business-Laundpad-Podcast&amp;utm_medium=Shownotes&amp;utm_content=Resources-Mentioned&amp;utm_campaign=Episode-240">One Click Content Optimization</a></li>
</ul>
My newsletter is for people who need a way to make money from home so they can build a better life for themselves and their families:<a href="https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/"> https://onlinebusinessliftoff.com/newsletter/</a>

Scared by a Copyright Troll Letter? Here’s What To Do

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