Staying Solo | Business Strategy for Service Providers, Creatives and Consultants

If you've worked in the online biz world for more than a hot minute, you've probably noticed something —Nothing is quite like it seems. You buy a template, a course, mastermind or hire a coach, and once you've handed over your hard earned money you quickly realize you are definitely NOT getting what you thought you paid for.

Turns out you've fallen prey to the old "bait and switch". And trust us when we say, so have we.

It was with these sorts of questionable tactics in mind that we decided to do this limited series podcast as a way to explore some of the most pressing and concerning issues we see in online business. In our inaugural episode, we're tackling the massive bait and switch problem that's rampant in this industry and sharing ideas on how you can protect yourself.

More details at duped.online.

What's the worst business advice you've ever received?

For me, when I think back on the bad business advice, there's one thing that stands out — a whole lot of it came from people who didn't understand very much about running a service business. People who haven't done it themselves. People who don't get how creative businesses work.

Unfortunately, this bad advice can lead us to all sorts of places we don't need to go. It can waste so much time and energy….which is why in this episode we're looking at two very different types of services businesses and what's involved with each one. We're doing a deep dive into the differences between coaching and creative businesses.

Get the inside scoop right here:

https://smallbusinessboss.co/service-business-model

As a services business owner, have you ever felt overwhelmed trying to figure out what exactly to offer your clients?Part of that struggle often stems from the world of online business and the revolving door of what's trending. Some years flat-rate pricing is all the rage, other years it seems like everyone's preaching the benefits of the VIP day model. How do you wade through the trends and figure out what *really* makes the most sense for you AND your clients?

In this episode, we're exploring how to design your services so you provide the right offer for you and your clients.

Get the inside scoop right here: smallbusinessboss.co/client-offers

Hands up if you love a great story!

As an avid reader and a professional writer, I've always been fascinated by stories. And while storytelling hasn't been a topic that I've tackled in a while, it hasn't escaped my notice that the online business world continues to be besieged by an approach to storytelling that's a weird combination of super basic and ultra toxic.

What's the alternative? How do you tell your stories in a way that isn't the same old canned, repetitive trope, or worst yet serving up drama and trauma?

In this episode, I'm talking about how we need to think differently about how we use storytelling in our business and focus on an approach that's based on being respectful and responsible.

Get the inside scoop right here:

smallbusinessboss.co/storytelling-for-business

The business as usual of online business is broken. But what are the alternatives?

Breaking-Free of the Status Quo of Online Business will help you take a trust-driven approach to your marketing, sales and service as a coach, consultant, creative or creator. (That's right this isn't just for service businesses, but don't worry, you're still my fave!)

In this free training we'll explore:

- The current state of online business when it comes to sales, marketing, and service. (And why you need to run the other way!)

- An alternative approach where you bake trust into everything you do in your business.

- Specific examples of how to put this into action in your business.

Sign up now at: smallbusinessboss.co/trusted

You've got a strategy for marketing and sales — but do you have a strategy for what happens after someone actually becomes your client?

Let's face it: Clients are the lifeblood of your business. So ensuring their experience is outstanding is one of the best ways to create loyal, repeat customers who'll help bring more clients to your door.

In this episode we're looking at how to create a client experience based on trust, and all the things your clients wish you really knew.

Get the inside scoop right here:

smallbusinessboss.co/client-experience

When you hear the word "selling" what's your gut reaction?Unsure? Scared? Like you suck? Or that you could be doing much better?

The reality is that for many of us, the entire concept selling has a lot of baggage attached to it. But we can't get away from the fact that if we want a sustainable business, selling is part of the deal.How do we move past the nasty and negative style of sales in done in online business and do it in a way that doesn't feel sleazy or predatory?

In this episode we're breaking down how to sell your services without being sleazy, and digging into everything that's made you doubt or question your approach to sales.

Get the inside scoop right here:

https://smallbusinessboss.co/sell-your-services

Picture it: Somewhere in the world, March 2021.

You've gotten yet ANOTHER sleazy email from some bro marketer trying to sell you their newest product or service, and the email is hitting you hard in all your weak spots.

And in all the thoughts running through your head, at some point you think, "well at least I don't do anything like that with my marketing".

However, if you work online, you've very likely had bro marketing baked into what you're doing — even if that was never your intention.

So how do you know for sure? In this episode, I'm talking about how to de-bro your marketing, and you may be surprised at how simple this can really be.

Get the inside scoop right here: https://smallbusinessboss.co/marketing-basics/

Have you ever bought a product or service for your business that you didn't actually really want or need?

You started out browsing because something caught your attention and the next thing you know you're looking around wondering exactly what happened.I know because I've been there, and many times it was because I got played. I was motivated by fear and didn't even know what was happening.

In this episode we're exploring why that happens to us, along with why fear is a terrible strategy and, more importantly, what to do instead.

Get the inside scoop right here:

https://smallbusinessboss.co/fear-based-marketing/

Hands up if you've ever heard this common refrain in the online business world:

"You gotta spend money to make money!!"This "invest at all costs" message is designed to override logical thinking by urging you to take action and purchase, no matter what.

These fear-based tactics are exactly why I decided to conduct a survey regarding the good, the bad, and the ugly of business investments.

In this episode, I'm sharing the results of the survey and digging into what was really happening with people making these investments.

Get the inside scoop right here:

https://smallbusinessboss.co/investing-in-your-business