64: What to Focus On When Just Getting Started In Your Business
Heather addresses a common mistake that many new online business owners make – the mismanagement of their time. They end up running in circles, trying to do all of the things they don’t even need to be doing yet.
Don’t let this be you!
In this episode, Heather outlines a step-by-step strategy for effectively managing time in the early stages of business (and it’s not on social media!). From creating a product and setting up a sales page to gradually growing an email list, she breaks down EXACTLY what to focus on to set yourself up for success.
Tune in, put your blinders on, and focus on your next best move!
Key Takeaways:
- (02:20) Core decisions: laying the foundation of your business
- (03:45) Creating your first product
- (07:30) Building a sales page
- (11:10) Growing your email list
- (14:30) Combining organic and paid strategies for growth
Mentioned in this episode:
- Episode 4: 3 Reasons to Sell Your Products on Your Own Website (not TPT!)
- Episode 17: How to Start Building Your Email List TODAY
- Episode 28: Lessons Learned from a Failed Business
- Episode 36: Creating Effective Sales Pages Using Leadpages with Bob Sparkins
- Episode 47: How to Show Up Consistently in Your Business
Listen on:
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Focus on These Core Tasks When Starting Your Teacher Biz
If you’re a teacher looking to venture into the world of online business, it’s crucial to know how to spend your time effectively.
One of the biggest mistakes is trying to do everything at once, which often leads to running in circles and eventual burnout.
Let’s break down the essential steps to building a successful teacher biz by focusing on what truly matters.
Gain Clarity: Defining Your Business Foundation
Identify Your Business Focus
Spend time understanding and determining what your business will be about. Reflect on your existing skills, passions, and the kind of help you want to provide. Heather advises blocking a specific amount of time—no more than a week—to nail down these decisions, avoiding endless second-guessing.
Target Your Audience
Determining who you will serve is just as important. Identify your future customer and understand their needs, challenges, and desires. Who will benefit the most from what you have to offer? Defining your target audience early on will inform nearly every business decision you’ll make thereafter.
Create Your First Product: The Keystone of Your Business
With a clear understanding of your business foundation, the next step is to focus on creating your first product. It is very important to focus your time on this task right away.
Simplify Your First Offering
Your initial product doesn’t need to be extravagant. It could be a guide, workbook, journal, mini course, or even a collection of activity centers. Heather’s first product, for instance, was the Teacher Biz Basics Mini Course—a straightforward series of five videos packed with valuable insights.
Focus Exclusively on the Product
Avoid the urge to multitask with social media posts, email lists, or other content. Concentrate all your efforts on creating a valuable product. Heather’s method involved spending two weeks thoroughly dedicated to creating her product, ensuring high quality and thoughtful execution.
Build a Strategic Sales Page: Your Selling Powerhouse
Once your product is complete, the next step is creating a strategic sales page designed to convert visitors into customers.
Develop a Compelling Sales Page
A standalone sales page can serve as your entire website initially. Heather recommends using tools like Leadpages to design effective, conversion-driven pages. This sales page should clearly convey the value of your product and compel visitors to make a purchase.
Avoid Technology Overload
Sign up for necessary tools like Leadpages or ThriveCart only when you’re ready to use them. Since these services often involve recurring payments, waiting until you have a product to sell can save you unnecessary costs.
Soft Grow Your Business: Building the Foundation
After setting up your sales page, you can start laying the groundwork for future marketing efforts.
Secure Your Business Presence
Secure your business name across major social media platforms to establish a consistent presence. Create an initial post to introduce your business and link your sales page in your profiles. This initial setup helps to soft-grow your presence without consuming too much time.
Start Soft Promotion
You might share your sales page within relevant communities without being spammy, run small-scale ads if you have previous experience, or begin forming strategic collaborations.
Growing Your Email List: The Lifeblood of Your Business
An email list is very important for long-term success. The email list will be your most valuable asset, nurturing customer relationships and driving sales.
Create a Signature Freebie
Develop a high-value freebie that attracts your target audience. This could be a mini-guide, resource list, or worksheet. Exchange this freebie for email addresses to start growing your list.
Set Up Email Automation
Use an email service provider like ConvertKit to manage your email marketing efforts. Create automation for delivering the freebie efficiently and follow up with valuable, relevant content.
Implement a Tripwire Offer
A tripwire is a one-time offer at a discount, shown immediately after someone signs up for your freebie. This setup helps you monetize your email list from the start, balancing list growth with initial income generation.
Scaling Up: Content and Paid Strategies
Finally, invest your time in growth strategies to expand your reach and continue building your email list.
Organic Content Creation
Consider developing a content strategy tied to your business objectives. Whether it’s a blog, podcast, or YouTube channel, organic content helps drive free traffic to your email list.
Paid Advertising
When budget allows, invest in paid ads to grow your list more rapidly. Running ads to your freebie with a tripwire offer can help offset costs and grow your business faster.
By breaking down each step and focusing on what truly matters, you can build a successful and fulfilling teacher biz. Follow this guided approach to master your time, create valuable products, and strategically grow your audience.