Build an Online Business with Allison Conway
What we’re going to cover today:
Identifying Your Ideal Client Avatar
It’s imperative we get clear on exactly who we’re talking to and what they need from us.
Creating a website
Design a one-page website with Squarespace so your new clients can find you. A website is an important credibility check.
Marketing and Sales
You don’t have to be an expert to start selling your services. Start before your ready. Landing your first client isn’t easy, but once you get the hang of it your business will grow faster than you thought possible.
Creating Sales Funnels and Digital Products
Diversifying your revenue is extremely important to building location independence with a sustainable income.
Mindset Shifts and Trusting Yourself
Business acumen is important, but an even bigger impact on your business is mindset. Trusting yourself even when others don’t and remembering why you’re starting this in the first place, will help you push past mental road blocks.
Identifying your ICA
Identifying Your Ideal Client Avatar
Who are they? Focus on a single person
Who is the person that you’re trying to serve? What are they currently struggling with? What are their hopes and fears?
Getting clear on this person is the crucial first step to having a successful online business.
What does he/she need to hear from you?
They need some real advice, but they also need to feel seen and heard.
What do they need to hear from you to feel seen and heard? What do they need to feel to connect with you?
Where does he/she already hang out?
Depending on who this person is, they might spend most of their time on Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, listening to podcasts, etc.
Identify these places and figure what you need to do to put yourself there.
Creating a Website
Create a small website on Squarespace so clients can find you.
Why to use Squarespace over another platform.
Wordpress has a crazy high learning curve, Wix isn’t automatically responsive, and Squarespace helps you accidentally land on decent design without realizing it. It’s highly intuitive and easy to use. No code necessary.
A website is an important credibility check.
When people go looking for you, it’s important they have somewhere to go. It’s an important credibility check for your business. People want to have somewhere to look that shows them you can be trusted.
Get your site to “good enough”, then hire a designer.
Hiring a web designer is an important step. You don’t need to do it right away, but having professionals take care of the jobs you’re not great at is important for the stability of your business and your mind. Getting your site to “good enough” is perfectly adequate for now. But when it’s time to take your business more seriously, hire professionals.
Marketing and Sales
How to call in the big bucks
“Digital Handshaking”
Engagement on social media is a great way to grow. It’s like walking into a physical room and introducing yourself to the people there.
On social media, this translate to commenting on someone’s posts, liking a few others, and following them. Engage with the people who follow you by DMing them and asking what they’re up to in their own lives/businesses.
You don’t need to be everywhere.
Choose the avenues that your ICA are already hanging out. You don’t need to be on Tiktok if you’re ideal client is in their 40s. You don’t need to be on LinkedIn if your ideal client is in their 20s.
Identify the places your person is hanging out and determine the best way to put yourself there actively.
Podcasting & Guesting
Find podcasts that your ideal clients are listening to and pitch yourself to be a guest. Offer unique value that the hosts’ audience would learn from.
“C” level podcasts often have better conversions to sales because they’re most engaged, and “A” level podcasts often require their guests have large audiences. Find a spot that works for you and your audience and pitch yourself. There’s no harm in pitching. Starting your own podcast could also be a great way to grow.
Show your face on video
As much as you might resist it, it’s imperative you show your face on video. Your audience craves that kind of intimacy, and unfortunately there’s no way around it.
On whatever social media platform and other avenues you choose, you must show up on video.
Tell people you’re starting a business and need the work
Don’t be shy about asking for help and being honest about the fact that you’re starting out and need some work. People are most likely to help when they feel invested in the outcome. Asking for advice and guidance makes people feel like they’re along for the ride and makes it more likely that they’ll pass work and referrals along to you when you need it.
Join masterminds and networking groups, and hire a coach and other professionals.
Join groups with other business owners or individuals who can help you grow.
My business started making 6-figures when I hired a coach and other professionals that could help me grow.
Doing it alone will keep you struggling and making pennies.
Creating Sales Funnels and Digital Products
Create products that fill or create a need.
Online Courses
A great way to diversify your income and grow your business for scalability.
Write an ebook
Ebooks are great because they can be divided up into months, if not years, of even more content.
Create more physical and digital products over time.
Add more products, both physical and digital, over time so your business can naturally scale and bring in more income.
Image Credit: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/296526
Exercise:
Find examples of sales funnels leading to a final paid product. Identify the inverted pyramid.
Mindset Shifts and Trusting Yourself
When others doubt you, trust yourself.
Ask for help.
Having someone in your corner is the best and fastest way to grow. It’s not a huge following on social media, it’s not a big email list or complicated sales funnels. It’s guidance and real world expertise that will help you grow in the person and business you deserve to have.
Think like a CEO: the cost might be high but what’s the return?
Passion is a good place to start, but it’s not enough.
“Love what you do and the money will come.” Isn’t true. “If you build it they will come.” Isn’t true. You’ll need more mental toughness and grit than you know what to do with to get through the times you feel like quitting.
Just don’t quit.
You control when you let go. To be clear: getting a part-time job to pay your bills isn’t quitting; keeping your job to pay your bills isn’t quitting. Quitting is letting your dream wait for “someday”. Quitting is letting the nay-sayers win.
Exercise:
Write down your why. What’s the point? Why are you showing up for your dream in the first place? What makes it worth it?
Resources
Products and Software I Use in my Own Business:
For blogging and video courses
Get Contracts for Cheaper than Lawyer Fees
For creating Online Courses
Articles of Organization for your LLC filing in NC
For online courses, membership sites, and email marketing
Apply for an Employer ID
Remember to do this after you files your Articles of Organization!
My favorite system for online payments, invoicing, contracts, and client management.
Skyroam Hotspot for Connection anywhere
