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How to Start Building Your Community

There are people out there right now that need your skills and your advice. They want to learn from you and they’d be happy to join your community, if only it existed. Don’t let your fears keep you from creating a community. Here’s how to get started right now:

Decide on the goal of your community.

The first thing you want to do when building a community is deciding what the goal will be. It’s a good idea to look at the end result your ideal client wants. For example, if your ideal client wants to run a marathon, then that could be the goal for your community.  Other communities could focus on losing weight by following the principles of clean eating or earning $1000 a month from online marketing.

Consider the culture.

Every community has its own culture that’s shaped by the creator and members. When you’re thinking about culture, you might want to consider your personal values. For example, if you’re building a community around clean eating, then you may stress the importance of healthy foods over calorie counting. That means that one of the values of the community would be eating foods that are nutritious instead of focusing energy on calorie counting, like other groups do.

Walk alongside your members.

Some solopreneurs and small business owners think that in order to build a community they have to be experts first. For example, don’t wait until you’ve lost 100 pounds to start a weight loss community. Start your community right now and share that your goal is to lose 100 pounds. Then invite others to follow along and share their own weight loss journey with your community.

It can actually be more helpful if you walk alongside your members and let them see your journey. Don’t be afraid to share where you are right now in this moment. Your members won’t be upset. They’ll be delighted to find someone else that understands their struggles.

Find a co-host.

If you’re nervous about building a community, look for a co-host. This is someone that runs a business or brand that complements your skills. For example, if you’re a nutritionist then team up with a yoga teacher or personal trainer.

This set up benefits you by cutting your responsibilities in half and it benefits your group by allowing them to receive support from two hosts, instead of one. Keep in mind that you’ll want to build your community with a co-host that you already know and like. You should also have a plan in place for what happens if one of you becomes too busy to participate or if one of you wants out of the community.

4 Problems to Watch for When Building Your Community

When it comes to creating your community, don’t get hung up on which platforms to use or which software you should buy. Your community doesn’t care about that. They just need your time and your support.

Many solopreneurs and small business owners have started excitedly growing communities. They work on it for a few weeks or several months then they find it falls apart. They’re left wondering what they did wrong and why their community flopped.

It wasn’t because the solopreneur didn’t genuinely care about their community. It’s because that they ignored small problems that eventually developed into big problems. You can keep your community healthy and strong by being vigilant and watching for these problems:

Problem #1: Negativity has taken over.

A flower cannot grow without the sun and a community can’t thrive when the spirit behind it turns into negativity. Once members are focusing solely on negative people and events, bickering takes root. Then arguments begin breaking out and pretty soon, your thriving community begins to shrivel and die.

Not everything can be sunshine and roses all the time. But positivity is essential for the long term health of your community. Combat negativity by starting positive discussions. Encourage your members to look for the good in each situation. Challenge each other to random acts of kindness. Have a thread specifically for sharing positive personal news.

Problem #2: Members start moving on.

People go through seasons in their life and sometimes, they outgrow a community. It might be that your community served its purpose. For example if you run a weight loss group, you might have members leave that have successfully lost their excess weight. It might be that your community helps marriages heal after infidelity and once the marriage is healed, members leave.

There are two ways to handle this problem. First, you should be promoting your community regularly. Talk about it on your podcast. Link to it on your blog. Share about it on social media. This kind of continuous promotion attracts new members and that keeps your group from becoming inactive.

Second, you should regularly reach out to older members. Follow up with them and see how they’re doing. Then ask them to participate in a particular thread or invite them to share what they’ve learned with the rest of the community. Make it clear that older members are welcome to stay and stress how much value they can add.

Problem #3: You’ve outgrown your community.

Just like members can outgrow a community, so can the creator. This doesn’t have to mean the end of your community. It might just be that’s time to rebrand your community. For example, if you built a community of single moms because you were a single mom but you’ve recently remarried then you may find yourself re-focusing your community. You might choose to focus on families of all shapes and sizes instead of just single moms.

Keep in mind that if you’ve built a strong community, your members will likely follow you during a re-brand. Just be open and honest about this change with your existing community and let them know what the new community will be like.

If you don’t feel a re-brand is right for your community, you can also entrust it to someone else. It might be that you know a mentor or coach that already loves the community and would be perfect to lead it. You may also find that one or several members are willing to step up and keep the community running.

Most community problems can be fixed if you recognize them in time. If you see a community problem and you don’t know how to resolve it, reach out to a trusted mentor or coach for advice on keeping your community healthy.

4 Signs that Your Community is Thriving

Numbers don’t always tell the full story when you’re building a community. You may be tempted to judge the success of your community based on numbers like how many members you have or how many posts are made each week. While these numbers can be helpful, there are other signs that help you see if your community is thriving.

Sign #1: Community members feel safe.

When community members feel safe, they’re willing to give you honest feedback. They’re willing to do this because they care about you and want to see your brand succeed. That means you need to be prepared to hear feedback you may not always like. Your community members might tell you that your latest product offering isn’t what they need or that you glossed over a section where they needed more information.

It’s important that you handle feedback gracefully. If you don’t, members will stop being honest for fear of upsetting you. This doesn’t mean you have to act on every single suggestion.

A member might suggest tweaking your product in a way that will hurt your branding. You can thank the member for the suggestion and say you don’t think it’s a good fit for you right now. This way, your member feels heard and you’ve kept the door open for more honest feedback in the future.

Sign #2: Community members help each other.

As you build your community, try to make members feel valued and respected. When members feel valued, they’re more than willing to turn around and help other members. So a chain reaction begins to happen. One member helps another who helps another and before you know it, your community has earned a reputation as a genuinely kind and supportive place.

Sign #3: Community members pitch in.

When members love your community, they pitch in and offer to help you without asking for anything in return. It might be that one member offers technical support when your community experiences problems or that another member volunteers to help with the weekly newsletter.

If you’re use to managing your community on your own, this can be difficult at first. But try to accept the help that’s offered. When your community handles routine tasks, then you have more time to invest in the community. As a result, your community grows even more.

Sign #4: Community members are accountable to each other.

As your community grows and bonds are formed, you’ll notice that your members begin looking out for each other. They’ll hold each other accountable and gently nudge other members who need motivation. This is the point when you’ll know that you’ve built a community that’s special.

Community building isn’t easy so don’t get discouraged if it takes you a while to see the signs of progress mentioned above. Just keep cultivating and valuing your members and watch as your community begins to thrive.

Do you want to build & grow a Faebook group community? If so, check out Create More Community.  

The Down Side of Focusing on Numbers

You’ve probably heard the expression, “the money is in the list”. This is common marketing knowledge. It’s a smart idea to build your mailing list, but you have to build it the right way or you may struggle to grow your brand.

Amanda runs an online business designing WordPress themes. She has a mailing list of over nine thousand people and she emails them regularly. But she complains that she gets no feedback from her list and they rarely message her looking for tips on how to create and manage WordPress websites. She’s making some money but not enough to launch the business fulltime. She’s frustrated and stressed because she’s not able to level up her business.

Monica also runs an online business designing WordPress themes. She has a mailing list of just over a thousand subscribers. Like Amanda, she emails her list regularly. She gets plenty of feedback from her list and she’s always answering emails and messages about WordPress. She’s making money and next year she’ll be able to turn her side hustle into a fulltime business.

You may be wondering what the difference is between Amanda and Monica. Why is one solopreneur seeing so much success that she can afford to quit her job while Amanda continues to struggle with her profits?

Are Your Subscribers Engaging with Your Content?

The answer is simple Monica built her list differently than Amanda did. Instead of focusing only on numbers, Monica looked for subscribers that matched her ideal client profile. She carefully monitored the health of her list and removed subscribers that weren’t engaging with her content. The result is that she has a much smaller list than Amanda but that list is far more engaged than Amanda’s.

If you only measure the size of your email list and you’re not taking the engagement of your reach into account, then you’re making a big mistake. Low engagement can be a sign that you’re not connecting with your community.

Are Your Subscribers Buying Your Products?

After looking at your engagement level, you want to start looking at what types of content your list is taking action on. Of the subscribers who are opening your email messages and reading them, how many are taking action? How often do they go on to purchase your product or a product your promoted? If you offer a service like coaching or content creation, are they hiring you?

If you have a new list or a tiny list, then you may not see a lot of activity at first. But as your list grows into the hundreds, you should start seeing some of your subscribers taking action. If you don’t, it might be a sign that you’re promoting the wrong products or that your community isn’t connecting with your messages.

Are You Asking for Engagement?

Some solopreneurs send out plenty of emails but they never include a call to action. A call to action is the point in your content where you ask your reader to do something. For example, if you run a blog on adult coloring, then email your list with a review of your favorite coloring pencils and ask them to try out the pencils, too.

Remember that if you want engagement, you have to ask for it. It doesn’t always have to be in the form of asking subscribers to buy something. You might ask them to fill out a survey that will help you create your next blog challenge or you could ask them to leave a comment on your latest blog post.

When it comes to building your email list, make sure you’re filling it with subscribers that are genuinely interested in your content. This helps you grow a thriving community that loves your brand and engages with it regularly.

Do you want to build & grow a Faebook group community? If so, check out Create More Community.  

When you’re an introvert, in person networking can feel scary. But it’s also exciting and can help you grow your business in new ways. Here are some tips to help you network like a pro.

Do I Really Have To Network In Person?

Rachel had always been an introvert. She enjoyed running her online business and participating in virtual conferences and video chats. When she decided to give networking in person a try, she was nervous.

For her first event, Rachel attended a small conference and found she really loved it. Not only did her business grow as a result of participating in the conference, she also discovered the benefits of networking in person.

Magic Happens in Person

If you only do online marketing, you’re often left to guess many things, including the chemistry you have with another person. But in person events give you a chance to discover who you click with.

Often, you’ll discover more common ground at one event than you will in fifty online messages. That’s because messages can be carefully worded and edited repeatedly. While networking in person, you don’t have that luxury. As a result, you’re more likely to make genuine connections based on who you really are.

Partnership Happens in Person

Maybe you’ve had an idea for a new course that you’d like to create that’s been in your head for months. Maybe you’re listening to one of the event speakers while you dream up a new project idea. Maybe you’re participating in a mastermind session and another participant is so passionate about what they’re doing that you know you want to partner up with them in the future.

While it’s true that you can find partners online to share in a project, it can be fun and rewarding to partner with someone that you’ve had a chance to meet in person. You know their personality, their energy, and their style from spending time together at events.

Branding Happens in Person

It’s easy to think that your brand is simply the colors you use on your website or the logo that’s on your social media accounts. But branding is so much more than that. Branding is your personality and the way you communicate it.

When you attend in person networking events, you get the chance to see your brand through fresh eyes. You might discover that you need to tweak your brand’s story so that it resonates with your customers. You might learn that you need to let more of your quirky personality shine in your content.

Choosing Events That Stress You The Least

Networking when you’re an introvert doesn’t have to feel like you’ve just stepped into a horror movie. Networking can actually be fun and enjoyable if you familiarize yourself with the different types of events and know how to pick the ones that will work best for you.

Know the Difference: Single Track or Multi-Track

Single track events have one thing happening at a time. You might listen to one speaker, have lunch, then listen to another speaker. Everyone is following the same schedule, so there’s a good chance you’ll be able to connect with other attendees.

But multi-track events may have several speakers presenting at once so you have to choose between which sessions to attend and which ones to miss. Multi-track events can be overwhelming and make it harder to find time to interact with other attendees.

Whether you choose a single track event or a multi-track comes down to your goals. If you’re looking for a relaxed pace and a chance to connect with others, then opt for a single track. If you’re trying to absorb a lot of information on a particular topic, then a multi-track event might be a better match for you.

Size Matters: Small Events vs Big Events

Networking events come in all shapes and sizes. Some conferences boast thousands of attendees while a beach retreat, like Beachpreneurs, may only have a few guests. Smaller events like the retreat allow for more intimacy and more one-on-one interaction. Since you aren’t trying to memorize dozens of names and faces, you can relax and focus on getting to know other attendees on a more personal level.

Larger events may allow you to meet dozens of people but you’ll have to work extra hard to remember who’s who. This can make it hard to bond with other attendees and form deep relationships. If you’ll be attending a big event, try to choose one with plenty of down time included in the schedule so you can spend time with other attendees and really get to know them.

When it comes to selecting an event, be choosy. Look for one that excites you and makes you feel energized when you think about attending.

Watch The Vibes You’re Sending

Most introverts feel uncomfortable when they’re networking in person. You may feel nervous and hesitant, too. Sometimes, your discomfort can make you seem unapproachable and causes other attendees feel like you aren’t interested in talking or interacting with them. That’s why it can be helpful to keep the B’s in mind when you’re networking.

Be aware of your body language.

Your body language often communicates louder than anything you could say. If you keep your arms crossed during most events, people will assume you’re unfriendly. If you spend the entire event wrapped up in your phone, other attendees will think you’re bored or unapproachable.

Take a few seconds during each event to observe your own body language. If your shoulders are hunched, relax them. If you’re looking at the flooring or ceiling, stop and look up. Meet the eyes of other attendees and give them a brief smile. Adjusting your body language may seem simple but you’d be surprised at how approachable it makes you look.

Be the first to say ‘Hello’.

Don’t wait around for someone else to start a conversation with you. Even extroverts can be nervous in social situations so take the lead. You can start by introducing yourself and asking a simple question. Ask what upcoming projects the attendee is excited about or ask how they got into their profession.

Be fashionable.

You’re not attending this networking event to impress everyone with your runway skills. When you’re uncomfortable with how you look, it’s hard to feel good about yourself. That’s why you should wear clothes that make you feel confident.

Be chatty.

You may feel awkward and nervous when you’re in a conversation with someone you don’t know. It can be tempting to use one word answers or just nod along as the other person does all the talking.

But a big part of the reason you’re at a networking event to socialize. That means opening up and participating in conversations, even if you feel uncomfortable at first. Instead of answering questions with just a word or two, try to provide a bit more detail. For example, if someone asks what you do, don’t answer, “I’m a marketer.” Instead try something like, “I’m a video marketer. I help small companies learn how to use livestreaming and vlogging to get more customers.”

It’s normal to feel a bit uncomfortable at a networking event, especially if you’re an introvert. But don’t let that stop you from socializing and having a good time. Stay approachable and if you see someone alone, don’t be afraid to start a conversation with them.

Create Situations that Suit You

If you’re introvert, you may find networking in person uncomfortable. To grow your business and reach the next level of success, you’ll have to network at some point. But that doesn’t mean you have to drop everything and attend the biggest conferences in your niche right now.

You wouldn’t try to learn how to swim in the middle of the ocean. No, you’d start in a smaller environment, like a community pool. If you’re afraid of the water, you may even start by simply putting your feet in a wading pool. It’s the same concept with networking in person. Start with a small pool and it won’t seem as scary.

Make plans for your meals.

Making a plan to eat a meal with other attendees in advance is one way to slowly wade into the networking waters. Before the event or on the first day, make lunch or dinner plans for the rest of the event, prioritizing the people you really want to have a personal chat with.

These meals don’t have to include a lot of people. If you’re happiest at dinner with two or three other people, make that happen. You don’t have to accept invites to big group meals if the thought makes you uncomfortable.

Don’t hide in your hotel room.

Socializing with other attendees is an important part of networking events. If you don’t know anyone, it can be tempting to hide out in your hotel room. But don’t be a hermit. At the end of the day, invite one or two people to join you for a glass of wine or a snack. This gives you some uninterrupted time to really connect with other attendees.

Ask for what you want.

Don’t be shy if there’s someone at your networking event that you’d like to get to know. Introduce yourself and ask if they have time later to meet up. If the other person agrees, don’t stop there.

Now, you want to nail down the specifics. Try to arrange a meeting in a quiet place where you can both talk. For example, you might say, “I’m excited you want to meet up. Do you think we could get together tomorrow afternoon about three in the lobby?”

If you don’t get down to the specifics, you and the other attendee won’t make the meeting. You’ll go home wishing that you had taken the time to connect, even if it was only for a few minutes.

Don’t let the thought of networking intimidate you. Just focus on dipping your toes in the water for now. Later when you’re ready, you can try bigger pools and eventually, you’ll find yourself swimming in the ocean.

Have a Plan for Retreat and Recovery

Introverts often find prolonged social interaction and busy events draining. If you’re an introvert, you may have noticed that after networking events you feel tired and lack energy. This may not be much of a problem if you attend a short networking event in the afternoon and spend your evening relaxing and regrouping.

But when a networking event is stretched over several days like a conference or seminar, you risk returning home and feeling drained for the next week. But this can be avoided when you have a plan for retreat and recovery during a networking event.

Build in periods of time for rest.

Before you leave for any event, you should check the schedule and see what’s on the agenda for each day. This will give you an idea of when you can plan for some rest and relaxation. For example, you may notice an empty time slot in the afternoon that you could use to decompress.

You can use your decompression time however you like. You might want to go for a massage, read a book, or watch an episode of your favorite sitcom. Doing something that makes you feel good will help you return to your networking event later with more energy and enthusiasm.

Know your limits.

It can be helpful when you’re attending a conference or other networking event to know your limits. For example, attending four sessions back to back might be too much for you. Instead, you can pick the two sessions that appeal the most to you and show up only for those two. In between sessions, you can decompress or if you’re still feeling good, socialize with other attendees that aren’t at the session.

Prioritize what matters most.

Before a networking event, take the time to think about what you’re hoping to accomplish by attending. If you hope to build a network of affiliates that will promote your latest offering, then you know that socializing with others is your top priority. If you hope to find a new joint venture partner, then you know to look around for someone that you click with.

You may simply want to attend a networking event to help you learn something new, like how to do video marketing or how to re-target your advertisements. If that’s the case, then you’ll want to focus on attending sessions that give you the information you need.

Keep in mind that conferences always seem to go by much faster than you think they will. That’s why it can be helpful to have a game plan in mind ahead of time. This lets you build in plenty of time to relax and enjoy your time there.

If you’re looking for a small intimate event to attend, Exposure & Profit 6 is coming up October 11-13th, 2019 in Atlanta, GA.

You have a hard drive filled with projects you haven’t launched. You’re an awesome dreamer, creator, and doer. But you’re still not putting yourself out there.

Sound familiar?

If so, you’re hiding your best work from the world and it’s time for a change. Although launching feels like a scary concept, this is what you’re here for. It’s why you created your business – so you could share your work with a community that’s eager to see it.

So, get over yourself and launch already!

Use Simple and Free Tools to Launch

In a perfect world, you’d have only the best tools to work with. But most solopreneurs and small business owners don’t have huge budgets to buy the latest software. That doesn’t mean that you can’t release a great product though. There are plenty of free and cheap tools you can use when creating your product.

Graphic Design Tools

Your graphics can still look professional and beautiful even if you opt for free tools. The two most popular tools for graphic design are PicMonkey and Canva. Both websites allow you to make graphics for free.

But they do have a few elements that you have to be a paying member to access. However, for most of your graphic needs, the free version will work just as well.

Video & Audio Tools

Jing is free video capturing software from TechSmith. You can use Jing to record short videos up to five minutes in length. If you need longer videos, then consider Screencast-O-Matic. The premium version of this website is cheap and allows you to record screenshot videos that are up to fifteen minutes long.

For audio, you can opt for software like Audacity. Audacity is a free open-source software you can use to record podcasts and other audio files.

WordPress Themes & Plugins

WordPress is free software that many solopreneurs and small business owners use to power their websites. You can find free WordPress themes to change the look of your website in the WordPress Theme Directory.

If you have a website with WordPress, you can use plugins to turn into a shopping cart. This allows you to sell your product quickly and easily, right from your website. Two popular shopping cart plugins are WooCommerce and Easy Digital Downloads. Both have a mix of free and premium features but the free versions will be enough to get you started selling.

Remember if your budget can’t cover it, don’t be afraid to use something simple and free. You can implement better tools later.

How to Stop Over Tweaking Your Product

You’ve created a product. You love it and you think your community will, too…as soon as you tweak it one more time. The problem is one tweak turns into two then three. Before you know it, weeks have passed and you haven’t launched.

Instead, you’ve wasted time going over and over the same project. Don’t keep falling into this trap. Instead, follow these tips to stop over thinking your project and actually get it launched:

Get Clear on the Scope

A project that’s too general can sometimes be the cause of over tweaking. For example, you wrote a course on puppy training. But there’s too much to cover so you keep coming back to your project and adding more content.

Instead of trying to beef up your product, you might want to think of simplifying it. You could take your puppy training course and center it around potty training a young pup. This makes your course specific and is likely to interest more buyers because your course is focused.

Let Go of Perfection

You’re not going to make your product perfect. There are always going to be areas where you’d like to go back and tweak. While this is understandable, over tweaking can kill your product. You can edit it so much that you edit the magic of your voice and teaching style out of it.

Instead of looking at your product and asking if it’s perfect, look at it and ask two simple questions. “Will this product help my customers? Did I do my best?”

If you can answer “yes” to both of those questions, then it’s time to stop listening to your inner perfectionist.

Create Your Sales Page

Nothing will give you clarity on your project like creating a sales page. Write or record your content and mention any bonuses you’d like to include. When you’re done, make a quick list of everything you’ve mentioned that buyers will receive. Now, go through this list and check each item off. If you’ve created all the items you’re selling, then it’s launch time!

Launch Version 1.0

An easy way to force yourself to stop tweaking your product is to launch a bare bones version. You can refer to this as version 1.0 to yourself. In a few months, you can look over your product and re-launch it with additional bonuses or material as you need.

This kind of launch keeps you from obsessing too much over details that don’t matter. Another advantage of doing this is that you’ll get early customer feedback. Your customers might point out that your product doesn’t explain something or that it needs to be organized differently. Store all the feedback you receive so you can review it when it’s time to make version 2.0 of your product.

Why A Tiny Launch Can Be Fun

You’ve probably heard the expression, “Go big or go home”. While there are many areas of life where this might be good advice, it’s not always true of a product launch. You don’t have to make a big splash with your project in order to make a lot of money. In fact, there are plenty of advantages when you opt for a tiny launch.

You Can Learn the Software

You might be using a WordPress plugin like Easy Digital Downloads to deliver your content or you may have opted for a software solution like aMember Pro. No matter what software you use, there are always bound to be a few hiccups.

Maybe your currency rate was set to the Euro instead of the dollar. Maybe the font on your sales letter is showing up as bright pink instead of black.

A tiny launch gives you time to get accustomed to your software and learn how to use it.

You Can Keep Costs Down

With a bigger launch, you might be tempted to spend a lot on social media advertising or paid search engine traffic. While there’s nothing wrong with using paid ads or traffic, it’s hard to estimate how much money you’ll make. If you spend seven hundred dollars on advertising only to sell two copies of your small e-course, you’re going to have a deficit.

Launching small gives you the chance to watch how all of your free marketing pays off. For example, you might launch a product on essential oils and discover that the majority of your buyers are coming from Instagram. This helps you to target more of your content toward Instagram during your next launch.

You Can Form Connections

With a big launch comes more responsibility and the need for a bigger affiliate army. That means you’ll spend the months leading up to your launch, recruiting for affiliates. When you have to find dozens of affiliates in a short amount of time, it’s easy to forget who’s who.

But with a smaller launch, you’ll be able to talk your affiliates and get to know them personally. You can learn more about their business and share more about yours, too. Some of these affiliate relationships may even blossom into beautiful friendships that you’ll treasure for years to come.

After the Launch: Keep Loving On Your Product

You did it! You launched your new product and you couldn’t feel prouder. Maybe you went with a big splashy launch or maybe you opted for a tiny launch. Regardless of which route you went, you’re now sitting back to catch your breath and evaluate your numbers.

Take the Long View

You may have had amazing sales or maybe you only had a few. If the launch wasn’t everything you hoped or if something went wrong, don’t beat yourself up over it. Some launches are terrific and some are ho-hum. That’s the thing about marketing – you can never fully predict how people will respond to your product.

But no matter what your numbers look like, don’t let frustration & disappointment set in. The launch is only the beginning. You’re going to be promoting this product for months or even years to come. So don’t sweat it if you don’t see amazing stats right away.

Don’t Compare Sales

You were feeling pretty good about your launch. You made some nice profits. But then you saw someone else’s sales figures. They were double or triple yours. Suddenly, you start doubting yourself. You wonder if you should have done something differently or if your product is even all that great.

The problem with comparing your business journey with another business owner’s journey is that each journey is unique. You have to accept that sales figures never tell the full story. They don’t account for the nights spent working late, the tears when software doesn’t work right, or the strain of not having support from friends who don’t understand what you do.

Get Back to Work

You’ve launched your product and that’s great. You deserve to take a day or two to celebrate. But as soon as your celebration has ended, it’s time to get right back to work. You owe it to yourself and to your community to keep producing new projects.

You can start your return by evaluating. Think of what you did right in your launch and what you wish you’d done differently. Maybe you wish you’d recruited more affiliates or hadn’t launched on a holiday weekend.  Whatever the lesson you’ve learned, write it down so you can implement during your next launch.

After you’ve finished your evaluation, look at what your customers are saying. Were they ho-hum about your product but crazy for your bonus? That’s a sign that you may need to change up your packaging in the future. Did your customers complain that you had too many upsells to get to their product download? It’s a sign you need to make it easier for your buyers to find your product.

Don’t abandon your product after the initial launch buzz has faded. You should keep loving on your product by continuing to promote it when you get the chance. Mention it on podcasts when you’re being interviewed. Include a link to in your email signature. Put up a Facebook banner that mentions where new customers can find it. Small steps like these can give you a steady stream of sales well after your launch is over.

If you need a nudge to get things moving, check out Momentum Coaching Mastermind! 

You’ve Gotten This Far on Free or Low Cost Solutions

One of the advantages of starting an online business is it doesn’t require a lot of capital up front. Website software like WordPress is free and open-source. Hosting only requires you spend a few dollars each month. There are even free and low cost shopping carts making inexpensive to start selling your own products.

How Have You Kept Your Costs Low?

You may have started your business on a shoestring budget, too. You did it because you were a struggling single parent who couldn’t afford to invest in your business. Maybe you just wanted to prove that your business could be built on a tiny budget.

If you didn’t know how to do something, you looked up tutorials on YouTube or you bartered with another entrepreneur. You became a master at DIY for just about everything. From your website to your graphics and social media content, you’ve handled all of it.

Is It Time to Invest in Your Development?

The problem with this approach is that it can make you hesitant to invest any of your money back into your business. You probably have money set aside for necessary expenses like taxes or domain names. But you may believe you don’t have enough money to invest in developing yourself as a business leader.

Kelly McCausey of Love People + Make Money (and owner of Mom Webs) started her home-based business when she was broke and in debt. After Kelly paid off her debts, she decided to take the money she was sending to bill collectors and invest 25% of her earnings back in her business.

She used that money for things like attending conferences, hiring a coach, and starting her own podcast. Eleven years later, she now re-invests closer to 10% of her earnings. She makes it a priority to regularly invest in her self-development.

How Much Should You Set Aside?

Now, Kelly advises online business owners to set aside a percentage of their income to invest. She says, “As your income grows, the amount grows with it.”

Understand that the amount you put into savings is going to change depending what season you’re in. If you’re a struggling single parent just trying to keep food on the table, it may not be realistic to set aside a goal of saving back twenty thousand dollars.

But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t save something. Even if all you can set back is $5 right now, go ahead and do it. Put that money in your savings account. In the coming months, you can slowly add a few more dollars here and there. It might not seem like much right now but it will grow over time.

Creating an online business using only free or low cost solutions is admirable. But if you notice you’ve stopped leveling up, it’s a sign that you need to start investing in your development. The more you invest, the more you’ll experience growth, both personally and professionally.

What Money Blocks Are Keeping You From Investing in Your Business?

Tiffany had been running a successful online business for several years. She had good clients who respected her and her customers enjoyed her products. But for some reason, she couldn’t seem to take her business to the six figure mark.

So, she booked a session with a coach she’d always wanted to work with. During their time together, Tiffany discovered she had several money blocks that were keeping her business stuck.

It took a few months and several phone calls with her coach, but Tiffany began to see big increases in her earnings. By the end of the year, she’d successfully crossed into the six figure level she’d dreamed of.

Can you relate? You want your business to go to the next level but you can’t seem to do it. You feel frustrated and overwhelmed. Like Tiffany, you may be dealing with a money block. There are some common money blocks that all entrepreneurs encounter. See if you recognize one of these thoughts:

Money Block #1: I Don’t Deserve Money

Feeling unworthy of money is a common complaint. Maybe you don’t feel worthy because you grew up with parents who were neglectful. Perhaps you had a significant other who used money to control you. You felt like a burden then and you still do now.

What you have to understand is that you’re already worthy. You deserve the money you’ve earned. You deserve to be paid for your services and treated respectfully by your clients. You deserve the income you make from the products you’ve created.

Money Block #2: I Can’t Be Wealthy

You tell yourself you can’t be wealthy because you didn’t come from money. You say that you don’t make enough because you never got a college education. You think that you can’t earn more money because everyone in your family is poor.

These money blocks keep you trapped where you are. In order to be wealthy, you have to first believe it’s possible. Believing it’s possible doesn’t mean that you’re going to suddenly become a millionaire. It just means that you’re open to the possibility of wealth.

Money Block #3: I Would Settle for $[XX]

You see business owners making high six figures and tell yourself you’d be happy with just a fraction of that. You say things like, “If I could just make $30K a year from my business, I’d be good.”

The problem with this kind of thinking is that you’re so focused on a certain number that you don’t aim any higher. You set the bar so low that you’re never disappointed. But what would happen if you did? What if you challenged yourself to double that number?

It’s true that you may not make $60K this year. But how will you know if you don’t try? What if you did try and made it to $45K instead? Imagine how motivated you’d feel to make $60K next year. Don’t be afraid to raise the bar and expect more from yourself.

Money blocks can be tricky to overcome by yourself. That’s why many business owners looking to overcome the reach out to a coach for guidance. A smart business coach can help you work on your mindset and open yourself up to bigger profits.

Smart Investment Steps You Can Take Right Now

You’re ready to get over your money blocks and create a new mindset. But that doesn’t happen overnight. For most of uss, it’s a gradual process of learning how to invest in their business. Begin by making small purchases to better your brand. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

Buy a Book

Non-fiction books are tiny investments in your money and your time. Reach for a book about a business or money topic. If you’re not sure which one to choose go for a book like You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero or The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey.

Join a Content Membership

If you struggle with keeping your blog up to date or don’t know what to say in your emails to your mailing list, consider joining a content membership like White Label Perks. These memberships provide you with monthly content in exchange for a small fee.

The important thing is to choose a membership that has content you’ll actually use. If you join a membership for fitness content and you blog in the survival niche, then a lot of the content isn’t going to be relevant to your audience.

Take a Class to Better Your Skills

Every business owner has an area or two where their skills are weak. Maybe you struggle to make graphics or perhaps you can’t master the software that would make your business so much easier to run. Don’t just acknowledge your weaknesses—act on them.

Look around for a class or workshop where you can learn how to improve your skills. For example, if graphics trip you up, take a class on how to use PhotoShop. For other ideas, reach out to your business groups. Ask for a recommendation and see who your community has enjoyed learning from.

Grab Some Image Credits

There are plenty of free photo sites online. But it can be time-consuming to find the exact image you want to post and have to research the usage rights. It’s easier to pop a search term into a stock site and browse a huge collection of images. That’s why paying for image credits like the ones on Deposit Photos is a smart idea. You save time and money when you opt for a royalty-free stock photo.

Upgrade to a Quality WordPress Theme

When you first started out, you may have opted for a free WordPress theme. There’s nothing wrong with using a free theme. But after a few months, you may find a free theme no longer suits your needs.

Now, you could use a landing page to get visitors to sign up for your opt-in gift. You want a theme that’s responsive and doesn’t rely on using an old plugin. You’d like to easily customize your website with just a few clicks.

Go ahead and splurge on a new theme. Not only will your site look great, but you’ll feel more confident and professional with a premium theme, too.

Recommendations:

• Studiopress/Genesis Platform & Child Themes
• Thrive Architect for Page Builder

Pay for Premium Plugins

Most WordPress plugins are free and easy to use. But some plugins are premium and worth investing in. For example, Backup Buddy makes a backup copy of your entire website. If your site is ever targeted by hackers or goes down unexpectedly, you can easily restore it within a few minutes.

Many plugin creators release free versions of their plugins. This gives you the chance to try before you buy. If you like what you see, don’t be afraid to upgrade to the premium option.

Big, Bold Investments that Grow Your Business

You’ve been investing in your business in small increments. You bought a premium WordPress theme. You took classes to sharpen your skills. You subscribe to a content membership or you’ve invested in other ways.

Now, you’ve come across a big, exciting opportunity to level up your business. A coach you’ve always wanted to work with started accepting new clients again. The conference you’ve dreamed of attending is offering a payment plan that would fit your budget.

The offer is time-sensitive. You know you have to make a decision but you’re terrified you’ll make the wrong one. Find a quiet space and ask yourself these three questions:

Can I Afford It?

It’s good to stretch financially from time to time. It helps you test your limits and can give you confidence to take other risks. But there are some expenses you should never gamble on like paying rent or keeping your utilities on. You want to invest in your business, not spend the next three months living in your car.

If you really want this opportunity but don’t have the cash, come up with a plan. Look at how you could generate the extra income quickly. You could do this by running a sale, taking on a new client, or pre-selling a product to your mailing list.

Am I Ready?

Before you sign up for this new opportunity, consider if it’s right for you. If you’re just starting your online business then attending a conference that’s geared toward advanced marketers may discourage or confuse you.

Like nature, your business goes through seasons. You might be in a season where you’re hustling to launch a new membership site. If that’s the case, then it may not be the wisest move to join a challenge where participants publish an eBook each week. You won’t be able to give either area your full focus and you’ll feel stressed out trying to do it all.

Can I Make the Time?

You’ll pay for your investment in two key ways—one is with money and the other is with time. That’s why it’s important you consider how much time you’ll need to invest in this new opportunity before you jump in.

Joining a mastermind group might sound fun and you may be able to afford it financially. But how much time will you have to commit to it? If there are long meetings several times a week, will you be able to show up? Will there be homework assignments to complete?

If you’re willing, you can make the time to do almost anything. But you need to sit down and consider what a typical week looks like for you. Ask yourself what you’ll have to give up or move around in order to fully embrace this new adventure.

Try taking a bold step and investing in your business. Then follow through by showing up. Attend the conference. Schedule that coaching call. Watch that video course. Keep taking action and pretty soon, you’ll be unstoppable.

How Do You Measure Returns on Your Investment?

It’s not enough to simply make an investment in your business and hope it turns out well. You need to analyze that investment and make sure you’re getting the most out of it.

But evaluating a coaching service or conference can be challenging. How do you know if you got your money’s worth? Did this opportunity really help you grow? Are you happy with the outcome? If you’re asking these questions, here are four quick ways to measure the return on your latest investment:

You Developed New Skills

You sucked at graphics so you took a class on how to make social-friendly graphics. Now, you know the best sizes for images on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Thanks to the instructor, you also have templates you can easily use to create beautiful graphics again and again.

Learning new skills is fun and keeps you sharp. It also adds value to your business and helps you save time. The more time you save, the more time you can spend working on income-building activities.

You Formed New Relationships

Sometimes, investing in your business is about learning a new skill. But it can also be about forming new relationships, too. A connection you made at a conference may become your best affiliate. A new friend at a seminar could go onto become a beloved mentor. It’s a great feeling when you make an authentic connection as the result of your investment!

You Took on New Opportunities

You joined a six-month challenge where each participant tackled a self-limiting belief. You chose to work on your belief that you couldn’t be a speaker. You started reaching out to people to let them know you were available for speaking opportunities.

As a result, two or three event coordinators asked you to speak at their events. You rocked those speeches and you now have a few testimonials so you can apply to speak at conferences or seminars.

A sure sign that you’re seeing a return on your investment is that you’re leaving your comfort zone to embrace new adventures. Doing new things grows your confidence and inspires you to reach for even bigger goals.

You’ve Grown Your Income

You worked with a great coach and gained a lot of clarity. You hired a specialist in Facebook ads so you could build a big buzz for your product launch. Now, your income is increasing while you’re spending more time on the projects and tasks that light you up.

If You’re Not Seeing a Return…

When you’re not getting a return, it’s time to change courses. Don’t just give up if you’re not seeing results. Instead, look for a different way to invest in your business. Maybe what you really need is a mastermind group so you have more accountability. Perhaps you could benefit more from a specialized consultant instead of a coach.

Business investments can be fun and profitable. But remember to step back and evaluate them afterwards. Take a hard look at what you got out of your investment and what you’d do differently next time around.

And if you’re ready to make a small, but very important and extremely wise investment, I invite you to join me for the I Dare You To Email challenge.

What Will You Embrace This Year?

At the end of each year, Jenna always made lengthy lists of New Year’s resolutions. She wanted to improve her life but come February, she would abandon her list and promise that she would get around to her resolutions later. This created a cycle of guilt and shame that followed her year after year.

Finally, Jenna shared her frustrations with her neighbor, Renee. That’s when Renee shared that she doesn’t use resolutions because they can be exhausting and overwhelming. “Instead I pick a theme for each year,” Renee explained, “A theme is all about embracing joy and being more intentional with each year of your life.”

Renee isn’t the only one that prefers to choose a theme for the upcoming year. So do these smart women…

The Year of Creativity

Rebecca had a good job that she enjoyed. But she wasn’t feeling fulfilled and she didn’t know why. She was thinking of switching careers when she went to stay with one of her girlfriends for a weekend. While there, she helped her girlfriend, a single mom, with some quick and creative renovations.

That’s when she realized her life had been missing creativity. It wasn’t that she wanted a different job—she just wanted more imagination in her life. Each month, she picked a hobby that allowed her the space to create.

The Year of Yes

Shonda Rhimes didn’t realize she’d been stuck in her ways until a relative asked her to do something fun. When she declined, she was told that she spent most of her time saying ‘no’ to opportunities.

The conversation opened her eyes and she decided to open herself to more possibilities. This sparked what she now calls her “Year of Yes”. She even wrote a book about the experience and you can find it here.

The Year of Self-Care

Delaney had spent years putting herself on the back burner. It took a serious health scare in December to make her take a hard look at her priorities. She knew she had to make a change.

So, she decided that her theme for the upcoming year would be self-care. She hired a counselor to help her tackle her emotional eating. With the help of a friend, she updated her wardrobe so she felt confident about her appearance.

There are so many different ways to set a theme for the New Year. Your theme could be about what you want to add (like creativity) or what you want to remove (like stress or emotional eating). Remember, there’s no right or wrong theme. Pick one that speaks to you and lean into it!

A great way to come up with a theme for the year? Pick a word…

Pick A Word

So you’re trying to choose a new word for the upcoming year. You want something that captures all of your hopes, dreams, and inspirations for the New Year. If you’re struggling to choose a theme, it can be helpful to think of one word or phrase. Here are three reasons you might want to consider this method:

One word or phrase invites simplicity.

There’s something about a brand new year that encourages you to become an overachiever. You plan to start a fitness regimen, get a new job, find love, get out of debt, eat healthy, spend more time with loved ones, go back to school, or any number of other goals.

But having just one word or phrase to guide you can simplify your resolutions. Not only does this decrease stress, it also makes it easier to focus. You’re more likely to achieve big things when you’re not feeling pressured to do it all.

One word or phrase challenges you to be intentional.

It’s easy to think of resolutions like a dessert bar filled with cakes, candy, cookies, ice cream, and other goodies. You want one of everything, so it’s easy to load up on the things you think you’re supposed to want.

But what if you flipped the script? What if instead of trying to take a bit of everything, you just picked up one decadent dessert like a creamy cheesecake topped with a sweet cherry glaze or a slice of melt-in-your-mouth peach cobbler? What if you embraced the sweetness of now with a simple choice?

One word or phrase shifts your focus.

It’s easy to fixate on what you don’t like about yourself or your life. For example, if you’re in a bad situation that you can’t change, you may keep throwing around the word “stuck”.

But choosing one word to embrace can shift your focus. What if you used the word “purpose” to remind yourself that there’s a purpose for the situation you’re in? Or what if you chose the phrase “this too shall pass”?

A lot of creative people enjoy choosing a single word to act as focal point. Elizabeth Rider has a blog post with a list of words you might want to consider. Gretchen Rubin shares the words she and loved ones have used in the past few years on her blog.

Regardless of what word/theme you pick, just have fun and enjoy doing it!