The REAL Truth About Business: Business Strategy for Service Based Entrepreneurs

Today we're diving into a crucial topic: confusing your audience. We’ll explore how to streamline your offers to avoid overwhelming your potential clients and ensure clarity in your messaging.

Action Steps:

1. Evaluate your current offers. Are they too similar or too spread out?

2. Get feedback from clients and prospects to identify points of confusion.

3. Consider simplifying your offers to two or three distinct ones.

4. Focus on the results each offer delivers and ensure they align with your expertise.

5. Keep room for customization but don't make it public-facing; use it on a case-by-case basis.

Links:

- Summer no-commitment offers

- For a deeper dive into offer creation and client attraction, check out our previous episodes on building an offer suite and understanding your ideal client.

Keywords:

business growth, sustainable business, profitable business, business strategy, business coaching, ideal client, client results, VIP day, group coaching program, mastermind, rapid fire program, DIY offers, high ticket offers, business ownership, offer suite, client feedback.

Tina shares her insights on her latest venture—an online course focused on virtual appreciation gifts. We dive into her promotional strategies, relationship-building techniques, and how to make the most out of a warm audience. We also discuss the power of using custom graphics and templates, and Tina's unique approach to creating engaging content for her private Facebook group.

Key Takeaways:

• Tina's social media strategy: primarily active on Facebook, followed by Instagram, and exploring TikTok. Discussing the importance of community engagement and using custom graphics to build a warm audience.
• Tina's plan to offer a 50% discount on her current membership for a new course launch. The strategy of creating waitlists, offering early access, and discounted prices to warm audiences.
• Exploring the value in done-for-you templates and how teaching clients to use them adds significant value.
• Discussing terms like "mini training" or "training and toolkit" to avoid devaluing the course.
• The importance of referral partners and affiliate programs for promoting new courses.
• Tina's strategy to involve leading brokers and visits to other brokerages for expanding her reach.

Action Steps:

• If you're planning to launch a new course, consider pre-selling to your warm audience and creating a waitlist.
• Engage your community with custom graphics and interactive content such as surveys.
• Explore using referral and affiliate programs to expand your reach.
• Focus on building strong relationships with a small, loyal audience who can help you grow your business.
• Stay within your niche for the initial launch and consider expanding afterward based on audience feedback.

Connect with Tina Divita

Visit Tina's website

Follow Tina on social media:

Facebook

relationship marketing, effective launch strategy, online course launch, referral program, affiliate program, marketing strategy, digital marketing, community engagement, referral partners, virtual course, membership promotion

If you've been struggling with email marketing or have been thinking about incorporating it into your business but feel overwhelmed by the idea, this episode is for you. In this episode, I share my own email marketing journey, including the mindset shifts that helped me stay consistent, and offer practical tips and insights to help you find success with your email marketing efforts.

Key Takeaways:

• Mindset Shift: Overcoming the fear and intimidation of email marketing by modeling after newsletters you love.
• Consistency: Why it's important and how to maintain it.
• Personal Touch: The importance of honesty, vulnerability, and storytelling in your emails.
• Segmentation: How effective segmentation respects your audience and enhances engagement.
• Content Structure: The benefits of having consistent sections in your newsletter.
• Nurturing vs. Selling: Using email marketing more as a nurturing tool rather than just for sales.
• Small Lists: Embracing the value and potential of a small but engaged email list.
• Experimentation: Don't be afraid to play by your own rules and test new email marketing strategies.

Action Steps:

1. Identify Your Favorite Emails: Think about the newsletters you always open and analyze what you love about them.

2. Segment Your List: Implement segmentation to cater to different audience needs and respectfully manage uninterested subscribers.

3. Create Consistent Sections: Develop a newsletter structure that your audience can rely on.

4. Nurturing Mindset: Focus on building relationships and providing value rather than just selling.

5. Monitor and Revise: Track your email marketing results and make necessary adjustments for better engagement.

6. Avoid Perfectionism: Don't let the fear of being perfect prevent you from starting or continuing your email marketing efforts.

Links:

www.sundaymorningbrew.com

Liz Wilcox’s $9 Email Marketing Membership

Keywords:

email marketing, business, Sunday morning brew, nurture strategy, selling, lead magnets, freebies, small email list, marketing strategy

In today's episode, we're diving deep into one of my all-time favorite topics—confidently closing the sale. If the idea of closing makes you cringe, this episode is for you. I'll walk you through how to build the confidence you need to make those sales with ease and authenticity.

Key Takeaways:

• Confidence is key—if you don't believe in your offer, neither will your clients.
• Love your offer suite: Believe in the results you can provide.
• Practice your pitch with a business buddy.
• Learn from discovery calls—record them, listen back, and use client language in your responses.
• Let the client do most of the talking; understand their true needs and pain points.
• Tailor your response to their specific situation while maintaining integrity.
• Ask about their fears and hesitations openly and honestly.
• Take "no" as a learning opportunity.
• Ask for feedback to understand the real reasons behind a client's decision.
• Stay open to follow-up and potential new opportunities.

Action Steps:

• Practice: Find a biz bestie and practice your pitch and closing conversations.
• Record and Reflect: Record your discovery calls and listen to them to improve.
• Ask for Feedback: If a client says no, ask them why to gain valuable insights.
• Schedule a Coffee Chat: Need practice? Schedule a coffee chat with me to refine your closing skills.

**Links, Offers, and Previous Episodes Mentioned:**

Schedule a Coffee Chat with Michelle

Offer Suites

Keywords:

closing the sale, hate selling, overthinking sales, pressure in sales, sales assumptions, taking sales personally, building sales confidence, loving your offer suite, offer results, discovery calls, maximizing profit, handling sales resistance, sales feedback, overcoming sales objections, learning from sales rejection, sales follow-up, sales accountability, virtual sales strategy, business profitability, coaching offers, sales communication.

In today's Focused Action Coaching Episode, we are talking with Lori Stanley from Lori Stanley Nonprofit Consulting based in Canada. Lori found Michelle through a viral LinkedIn post and has since followed the podcast and joined her email list. In this episode, we delve into Lori’s challenges with lead generation for her consulting firm, specifically focusing on improving her content strategy on LinkedIn and fostering better inbound leads.

Key Takeaways:

• Background and Introduction: Lori found Michelle through a viral LinkedIn post and started following the podcast.
• Lori’s Consulting Focus: Lori specializes in strategy and strategic planning for nonprofits.
• Challenges with RFPs: The time-consuming nature of RFPs and the impersonal feel.
• Content Strategy on LinkedIn: Michelle discusses how Lori’s content may be too high-level and broad. Need to focus on immediate pain points and actionable advice.
• Personal Touch in Content: Emphasize personal stories and connections. Be more relatable in posts to foster genuine relationships.
• Using DMs for Engagement: Importance of using DMs to continue conversations and stay top-of-mind. Tips for non-salesy, authentic outreach.
• Hosting Masterclasses or Virtual Coffees: Offer small workshops to give potential clients a taste of Lori’s consulting style. Virtual coffees as a way to connect and build relationships.
• Feedback on “Try Before You Buy” Terminology: Avoiding language that implies a sales pitch immediately.

Action Steps

• Content Adjustment: Shift from broad, high-level posts to those addressing specific, immediate pain points. Incorporate personal stories and experiences to make content more relatable.
• Engage Through DMs: Use DMs to continue conversations started through content interaction. Offer value and ask for permission before sharing resources.
• Offer Interactive Opportunities: Host masterclasses or virtual coffees to provide value and connect on a personal level. Utilize existing content from webinars and podcasts to create new engagement opportunities.

Connect with Lori Stanley:

- LinkedIn: Lori Stanley

- Website

Keywords:

strategic planning, podcast, LinkedIn content, inbound leads,business coaching, pain point marketing, content creation, personal connection, DM outreach, lead magnet, masterclass, live event, webinar, virtual coffee chat

In this episode, I outlined the importance of having a well-structured offer suite and how it can cater to various stages of your client's journey. From DIY options to one-on-one services and everything in between, we discussed how to strategically design offer suites that not only meet the clients where they're at but also provide upsell, downsell, and cross-sell opportunities.

Key Takeaways:

1. Definition of an Offer Suite: A suite of offers that serve different client needs and preferences at various stages.
2. Types of Offer Suites: DIY, done with you, done for you, group programs, one-off projects, retainers, and more.
3. Serving Different Stages: How offer suites can cater to clients at different points in their business journey.
4. Upsell, Downsell, and Cross-Sell Opportunities: Creating paths for clients to stay engaged with your services.
5. Creating Lifetime Value: Increasing the lifetime value of clients by having a clear next step.

Action Steps:

1. Review Your Buyer Journey: Identify where you might be losing clients and look for gaps in your current offers.
2. Determine Your Offer Preferences: Decide which types of offers you enjoy providing and which ones you don't.
3. Strategically Create or Revise Your Offer Suite: Develop offers that are interlinked and provide a clear path for clients to progress.
4. Implement and Promote Your Offer Suite: Even if you have preferences, keep a variety of entry points to cater to different client needs.
5. Focus on Client Needs: Determine what your clients frequently ask for or struggle with and tailor your offers to meet those needs.

Links and Mentions:

VIP Days: If you need help creating your offer suite, I have spots available for VIP days. Use this dedicated time to work on your offers, positioning, marketing, and sales.

Money Mondays: Join "Money Mondays" for just $9 a month. It's a focused, co-working hour every Monday to help you commit to your money-making activities. Exclusive to podcast listeners and my email list.

Episode on Creating a Client Journey: Revisit our previous episode on creating a client journey for more insights on how to incorporate that into your offer suite design.

Keywords:

offer suites, client journey, DIY offer, done with me, done for you, group program, one-on-one consulting, VIP day, offer positioning, marketing, sales, upsells, downsells, cross sells, freelancing, lead nurturing, accountability, implementation, strategic planning

In today's episode, we're diving deep into planning for summer—how to handle the season, whether you’re ramping up or winding down. As summer approaches, it's crucial to strategize effectively to make the most of these warmer months, regardless of your business pace.

Key Talking Points:

• Summer Business Myths: Debunking the myth that summer has to be slow and discussing how you can define your summer pace.
• Planning Ahead: Importance of planning early for summer, especially if you intend to take time off.
• Recurring Revenue and Client Management: Strategies for managing cash flow and client engagements during the summer months.
• Business Cycles: Understanding your business seasonality and planning marketing and business activities that align with your busiest or slowest seasons.
• Behind-the-Scenes Work: Using potential downtime to strategize for the upcoming busy periods like Q4 or even the next year.

Actionable Points:

• Define Your Summer: Decide if you want a busy summer or a relaxed one, and plan accordingly
• Financial Planning: If taking time off, ensure you have a strategy for maintaining income through passive means or by front-loading work.
• Schedule Adjustments: Review and adjust your work schedule to accommodate changes like no school drop-offs which might free up some time.
• Preparation for Post-Summer: Plan for getting back into full swing after summer ensuring you aren’t playing catch-up come September.
• Utilize Slow Periods: If expecting a slower season, use it to get ahead on content creation, client outreaching, or administrative tasks.

Schedule a free Rapid Fire Strategy Session with Michelle

Join the Sunday Morning Brew for additional resources

business planning, seasonal business strategies, reoccurring revenue, business strategy, online business, passive income, planning for entrepreneurs, business coaching, quarterly planning, revenue planning, business consultation

Lead magnets are essential tools in marketing, effectively drawing prospects into your business space. However, their success heavily relies on the follow-up strategies implemented once these prospects opt in. In this episode I cover the importance of having a solid plan for your lead magnets, understanding the purpose of each, and ensuring they provide genuine value to your audience.

Key Takeaways:

• Effectiveness of Lead Magnets: The real value of a lead magnet lies in what happens after someone opts in—how you engage them determines the magnet's success.
• Quality over Quantity: High-value, compelling lead magnets tailored to user needs are critical. It’s not just about creating numerous lead magnets but about crafting ones that resonate and address specific audience challenges.
• Promotion Strategies: Having a lead magnet is just the start; promoting it consistently across different platforms ensures it reaches your target audience.
• Paid vs. Free Lead Magnets: Consider paid options as they tend to attract more genuinely interested prospects.
• Feedback and Adjustment: Regularly seek feedback and adjust your strategies based on how well your lead magnets are performing.

Action Steps:

• Audit Your Existing Lead Magnets: Review any you’ve created in the past. Could they be improved or repromoted?
• Plan Your Promotion: Develop a clear, consistent strategy for how and where you will promote your lead magnets.
• Monitor and Adapt: Track the performance of your lead magnets over a set period and make necessary adjustments.

Links:

Subscribe to the Sunday Morning Brew Newsletter

Schedule a free Rapid Fire Strategy Session

Keywords:

lead magnets, email marketing, marketing strategy, lead conversion, attracting leads, low ticket offers, high-value lead magnets, ideal client, marketing tools, SEO optimization, lead tracking, sales strategy

If you’ve been looking for a structured approach to scale your offers and create repeatable systems in your business, this episode is for you! We’ll explore what frameworks are, why they are crucial for scalability, and how they differ from other systems.

Key Talking Points:

• Understanding Frameworks: Learn what a framework is and how it serves as a structured approach to achieving specific business goals.
• The Importance of Sequential Steps: Discover why the steps in a framework need to be followed in a specific order to ensure effectiveness.
• Scalability and Repeatability: Explore how frameworks can be applied consistently across various scenarios and industries, making them an ideal option for business expansion.
• Different Ways to Implement Frameworks: Whether you're in the education space or dog training, frameworks can be tailored to different industries.
• Creating a Framework for Your Business: Tips on how you can create your own framework by reflecting on the common methodologies you use with clients.

Action Steps:

• Reflect on Your Business Process: Review your client interactions and identify if there’s a consistent series of steps you follow. This could be the foundation for your own unique framework.
• Consider Scalability: Think about how a framework could not only optimize your current business processes but also open up opportunities for scaling your operations.

Mentioned in this episode:

VIP Day: Interested in creating compelling offers and frameworks with me? Check out the VIP day option this summer tailored specifically for your business needs.

Connect with Michelle on LinkedIn

Subscribe to the Sunday Morning Brew

Keywords:

marketing, execution plan, business growth, strategic planning, business coaching, VIP days, consulting services, business frameworks, business scalability, coaching programs, offer creation, business strategies, strategic growth, methodologies, business positioning

Today's episode is another Focused Action Coaching sessions. I'm thrilled to share a vibrant discussion with Heather Wyatt of Goddess Getaway Waves, who's courageously navigating the retreat planning business from the lush landscapes of Costa Rica. Heather's confronting a common snag: potential clients love the idea of hosting retreats until they realize the upfront investment involved. We dissect this dilemma and strategize ways to reposition her offerings for better client alignment and commitment.

Key Points:

• Heather's innovative three-tier pricing strategy for retreat planning services.
• The psychological barriers potential clients face in committing to upfront payments.
• How Heather's recent adjustment to a payment schedule may ease the financial hesitance of her clients.
• Identifying an ideal client profile who not only has the need for retreat planning but also the ready audience and financial ability to commit.
• The importance of having a pre-sold or at least a primed audience before planning a retreat to ensure success and justify the investment.
• The valuable insights gained from distinguishing between potential clients who are just interested in the idea of a retreat and those who are serious about executing one.

Take Action:

• If you're considering hosting a retreat, ensure you have a solid audience foundation willing to invest before seeking professional planning services.
• For retreat planners, qualifying clients by their commitment level and program pricing can save time and better allocate resources to serious customers.
• Explore breaking down your offerings into transparent package options to reduce client overwhelm and ease the decision-making process.

Links:

• To learn about retreat planning with Heather Wyatt and unpack her various options tailored to fit your vision, visit https://goddessgetawaves.com
• Interested in the live coaching sessions like the one you've just listened to? Click the link in the show notes to schedule your own focused action session.

Keywords:

coaching, consulting services, online business, high-ticket offers, business coaching, in-person masterminds.