There comes a point in every solopreneur’s business where they need to sit down and plan … and I mean, really plan! Not just write down a few ideas on the back of an envelope and hope for the best, but really map out a long-term strategic plan for their business.
Creating this kind of business plan is so important as, for one reason, it immediately eliminates a lot of the overwhelm and frustration that you’re probably feeling, but it also allows you to:
* See where you’re going;
* Know how you’re going to get there; and
* Lays out exactly what you need to do along the way to get from Point A to Point B
How do you know when you’ve reached this critical business planning point?
Well, there are a few indicators:
* You have LOTS of ideas swimming around in your head but don’t know how to pull them all together (lack of a Big Picture Vision)
* You offer several different programs/products, at different price points, but get very few or no sign-ups (lack of a strategic Marketing Action Plan MAP)
* You get feedback from your clients and/or customers letting you know that they’re confused and not sure which program is right for them (lack of a clear Product & Marketing Funnel)
Today I’d like to share with you three basic steps to business planning success so that you can start the year off on the right foot!
Step 1 – Create Your Big Picture Vision
This is the really fun part; it’s where you get to let your imagination run away with you. You want to sit down somewhere quiet with a pad and pen (writing is much better for this exercise as you can let your ideas flow) and start to write! Write about what you want your business to look like, the type of clients you want to serve, the sort of products and programs you want to offer – in fact write down anything and everything that pops into your head about what you want your business and life to look like.
Important: You want to write your Big Picture Vision in the present tense, as if you already have that business and lifestyle you’re writing about. Use terms such as, “I have, I own, I run”.
Remember that every part of your should say “YES” when you read your Big Picture Vision out loud!
Step 2 – Take Inventory
The next part is to take a look at where you are now and where you want to go. What needs to change in order to take you from where you are now to where you want to be? Is it:
* More/less clients
* More/less billable hours
* Offering more programs/products
And then create a timeline for making these changes. Put down dates of when you want the changes to have been made by, and set about implementing!
Step 3 – Plan Your Funnel
Now that you know what you want your business to look like and what you need to do to get there, start and map out your different income streams. The Product & Marketing Funnel is the perfect model for this exercise as it allows you to create different products/programs/services at different price points within your business. This way clients can move from free (your ezine and articles) to your paid info products, and eventually through to your high-end programs.
Follow these three simple steps above and you’ll instantly create a business plan that will guide your business to continued success this year … and beyond!
Online Business Manager & Virtual Assistant, Tracey Lawton, supports professional speakers, coaches, and authors to operate an efficient, organized, and profitable business. Learn how to create an efficient and organized office in 7 EASY steps, and receive free how-to articles at http://www.OfficeOrganizationSuccess.com.
Tag: simple steps
One of the best ways you can grow your list practically overnight and interact with your audience is to host your own Teleclass. After all they are a low-cost, yet simple, marketing strategy that you can implement on a regular basis to reach your target market, and they have the advantage of you being able to interact with your audience – they’ll be able to hear your voice and you will become more ‘personable’ to them.
Just some of the reasons why teleclasses are so popular are:
* They show off your expertise
* Easy to set up
* Fun to host
* You get to interact with your target market
* Build your list a.k.a. your online community
But a couple of the downsides, and probably why many solopreneurs don’t take advantage of this simple marketing strategy, is that:
* You need to spend some time preparing the material and organizing event.
* It can seem a bit daunting if you’ve never hosted a Teleclass on your own before.
So what I’d like to do today is share with you my 7 simple steps for organizing your own teleclass so that it’s fun, brings you a TON of new subscribers, and gets you interacting with your audience.
Step 1 – Decide on a topic. Take one of your most popular articles, or if you have written several articles around the same theme use those, and turn the content into a teleclass.
Step 2 – Decide on a format – will it be a teleclass or a webinar? How long will the event last for? If this is your first time at hosting an event – keep it simple – 25 minute presentation (which includes your introduction) and 20 minute open Question & Answer session (which also includes your offer and closing statement). Make it as easy for yourself as possible.
Step 3 – Decide on a date and time. Pick a date and time that is most convenient for you to host the teleclass. Just because a lot of teleclasses seem to be hosted in the evening, doesn’t mean this is when you have to host yours! Mine are usually hosted late morning because this fits my schedule best. Also consider the different time zones too.
Step 4 – Book the line. Create an account with your teleconference company and schedule the call. Make sure that your teleconference company has conference recording capabilities.
Step 5 – Prepare your marketing materials. Create your sales page, autoresponder sequence, and promotional emails. Make sure on your sales page you let the participants know that by signing up they’ll also receive a copy of your newsletter. In your autoresponder sequence be sure to include all the call-in details (and on any subsequent broadcasts you send out).
Step 6 – Announce it. Announce your Teleclass to your subscribers and post to the various Teleclass announcement sites and your networking groups. Create a list of places where you want to post to and use this as a checklist to ensure you get everywhere covered.
Step 7 – Record your Teleclass (this is essential). Not only will it encourage sign-ups – even if they can’t make the live event they’ll get the recording – but it also gives you the opportunity of repurposing your material. You can turn your recording into your ‘free taste’ on your website, a bonus product, or add a workbook to it and sell it as a for-fee product.
And on the day of the event:
* Ensure you send out a reminder on the day of your call.
* Dial in to your teleclass at least five minutes before it’s due to start. People do dial in early, and you want to be there to greet your participants as they turn up.
* Have your class notes all written out and in front of you, along with teleclass timings.
And most importantly, remember: you are the expert. You know something that your participants don’t, and they have come along to learn from you. That thought alone will stop the nerves… I promise.
That’s it! In just seven simple steps you can be on your way to hosting your very first teleclass.