Where to Start when Starting a Business
Where to start when starting a business is the fourth and final post in a series of 4 blogs centred on creating a business you love. First, we looked at Understanding the 5 Stages of Business, then we took a dive into the Less is More of Marketing when you’re starting out, and from there we covered the importance of Choosing the Right Business Model for YOU.
Hopefully by now you’ve had some valuable insights that are helping you to see that your business could be so much easier than you’ve been making it so far.
By now you might be thinking “well, this is all very useful, but on a practical level where do I actually start?”
If that’s you then this blog is for you. This is what I recommend most people do:
Start with your Message!
One of the first activities I have my clients doing is to get really clear on the message that will help them stand out, and to create what I call a Captivating Introduction to use when people come across you for the very first time (whether online or offline).
This is different to just a description of what you do – with a description people can “place” you, but they are less likely to see how what you do is relevant to them or the people they know and have that “oh my gosh, that’s me!” feeling.
Your Captivating Introduction
For example, if I went networking and told the people I met for the first time:
“I teach sales to small business owners”
Those people would feel they “know” what I do but probably wouldn’t relate that to themselves and the difference I can actually make to them – especially since my typical clients usually hate the idea of sales so might even run a mile!
But if I say:
“I work with heart-centred business owners who are struggling to get clients because they feel so uncomfortable about sales, and I help them enrol clients in a way that feels totally in integrity for them so they can finally make the difference they’re here to make,”
– chances are they’ll say (or at least think to themselves)….
“OMG that’s me/my friend/my partner/my sister! How can I find out more?”
And if it’s not for them, then they’ll instantly know that too. And no-one wastes their time.
The language you use should reflect the type of language your ideal client would use, but here’s a formula that you can start to use:
I work with [target market] who have [problem/pain] and I help them to [result] in order that [higher emotional benefit]
You’ll know it’s working for you by the response you get when you introduce yourself to someone new, so I strongly recommend testing it offline to begin with, even if you plan to grow your business online.
Here are the key takeaways I’d love you to get from reading this series of blogs:
One of the key reasons I see small business owners struggle is that they are wearing themselves out with too much marketing activity without first being “Velcro” to their clients. And you get to be velcro by getting crystal clear about your ideal client, their struggles, challenges, desires and aspirations. And designing a marketing message designed to speak directly to their heart.
But once you’ve got that marketing message and “Captivating Introduction” nailed, I’ve got good news for you:
The Good News is that it ALL WORKS!
All those marketing strategies you see people teaching, and all the different business models you come across? They all work!
And also none of them work… if your message isn’t velcro like
And also none of them work…. if they are not right for YOU.
Business is just like any area of life – you won’t ever be happy or fulfilled, or find easy success by squishing a star shaped peg into oblong shaped hole
So once you know where you’re going (your business model and financial goals), and know where you are now (your stage of business), and you understand your own strengths and weaknesses and your personality type, you can start creating a business around marketing strategies, sales and delivery that really work for who YOU are.
And that, my friend, is how you create a business you can fall in love with – and STAY in love with not just for the next 18 months until you burn out, but for many years to come.
How to Get Clients when Marketing is Making you Miserable
If you love your business but your marketing is getting you down, and you’d like to find ways to love your marketing as much as you love working with your clients – OR if you’d like to grow your business without social media like I’ve done, then this will give you a valuable shift in perspective:
