The Profit Loop With Alisa Conner

Why You're Not Selling (It's Probably Your Offer)

It's pretty hard to stay in business if your cash register isn't ringing!
It is so frustrating to put time and energy into your business and your marketing and still not see sales. More often than not, it can be something as simple as getting your offer right.  This is why in Episode 88 of the Feed U Podcast I am giving you the 7 areas that I have seen my clients struggle with. Once we've fixed these areas, the cash register starts ringing.
You may be saying, what the heck does my offer have to do with anything Alisa?
In most cases - EVERYTHING! You can't sell something that no one wants, and it's pretty darn hard to pay the bills if you aren't selling something.  Am I right?
So let's dive into the 7 areas that most people neglect or just plain miss when it comes to creating their offer.  Most of these are quick fixes that you can implement and start seeing results right away.  For examples and all the details, head on over and listen to the entire episode here.
Let's dive into the 7 areas most people get stuck when it comes to creating an offer that sells.
1. You have to solve a problem. 
People aren't on Google searching out your product.  They are trying to find an answer to this thorn in their side that keeps them up at night.  If you jump into your doohickies and all the facets of your product.  You've lost them.  They are off to find someone who cares about their problem.  In the episode, I give some specific examples of how this plays out in your customer's journey.  Give it a listen here.
2. Don't be a product pusher. 
Similar to point number one, you don't want to dive into pushing your product right out of the gate.  People buy from people who they know, like, and trust.  That requires building a relationship.  You have to court them, let them know you feel their pain, and that you just happen to have a solution that will help them out.  If you've never tuned in to one of my favorite Ted Talk speakers, give Simon Sinek's WOW video a watch.  I also give some great examples in this week's episode.
3. You can't sell to everyone. 
If you are trying to sell to everyone, you end up selling to no one.  We are a distracted society. Without some differentiation from all the other noise in the world, you are going to have a HUGE uphill climb to get your offer in front of people who will pay you to help them solve their problem.  It also makes creating content, writing messaging, and developing ads a huge pain in the behind.  When you are clear about who you help and how you help them, all of those struggles become easy.  In this week's episode, I share the story of one of my clients and the struggle he has had at trying to reach multiple audiences.  Give it a listen here to learn what we did to solve the issue. Luckily for you, I've also created a free download to help you map out your ideal client avatar.  You can grab it here.
4. You're not sure what you're selling. 
More than once I've taken on a new client who thinks they have their offer nailed. But when it comes down to it, there are some key things that are missing.  Number one being there is no clear offer presented. They do a mix of a lot of things, but people don't buy "all the things" that you do.  They buy results and forward motion.  Without a clear path (buyers journey) to your offer and through your offer, you will struggle to keep people in your funnel and making a decision to get out their credit card.  Tune in to hear some examples of what you can do to scale your offer and keep people in your funnel here.
5. You have given people too many options. 
This goes back to number one as well.  If you don't understand your ideal client (be sure to grab this free download if you need help with that) it makes it really hard to know where they are in their buying journey and how you can best help them (and get paid). You may have an overlap of services needed, but it becomes so much easier when you are the one who is directing the path.  I also give an example here of what happens when you don't have a clear path to follow. Simply, people again won't buy.  Which means you are now running a non-profit with no way to pay the bills. More often than not offering too many options will actually hinder you from success rather than propelling your sales forward.
6. It's never about the price - REALLY! 
If you're like me, you've heard more than once in your entrepreneurial life - "I can't afford it." Your prices are too high." "So and so will do it cheaper." The reality is that those are covert words to - you haven't built the trust needed or presented the value of what you offer clearly enough to help them move forward with their decision to invest in a working relationship with you. I share some specific examples here that will help you build your value and offer the assurance people need in order to invest in you and what you offer. Another key point that I forgot to add to the podcast is that your relationship investment time is directly correlated to your pricing model.  The lower the price, the easier it is to build the relationship and move them to your cart. The opposite is also true.
7. You haven't cleared all their objections, so they won't move forward. 
There are three big objections that happen in every sale.  I cover them all here. But here's the low down on the big 3 sale stickers (meaning they won't move forward if you haven't handled them all). Number one, you haven't built your authority and expertise in what you do.  If you haven't given them enough confidence in what you can do, you will need to fill in the gaps with case studies, testimonials, or reviews. The second big sticking point is proof.  The best proof comes from results which is why I work hard to get starting and ending numbers for my clients.  It isn't' always possible, but when you can track where they started (numbers, measurements, etc.) and where they end up after working with you - that my friend is proof for your future clients.  There is no time like the present to start tracking those metrics. Last but not least, you have to have some sort of guarantee. I talk a lot about online course guarantees in the episode.  You may have to get creative about how you offer your guarantee.  I also give you the low down on how I handled this in my business.  Give it a listen here.
That's a wrap for this week.  Is your sales funnel stuck? Which one of these tips will you implement first?
Come over and share your sales funnel frustration in the Facebook Group this week.  I'd love to be able to support you. In the meantime, 

Nobody Has It All Figured Out

Being an entrepreneur sets you up for self-growth for sure!
I don't know about you, but I feel like using my self-esteem as a punching bag has been a HUGE part of growing my business and getting to where I want to be. In this week's episode, I share with you an inside secret (ok maybe it's not so secret). But here's the thing - NOBODY has it all figured out. No matter how big their business is.  And, if they say they do, they are lying.
I've been fortunate enough to work with some of the best of the best
And what I found out, is even those with multi-million dollar companies are still literally and figuratively getting their poop into a group. Sometimes they just have different piles to push together.  If you are imagining that you will someday wake up to a business that is problem-free, I hate to burst your bubble, but it ain't never gonna happen. The good news is, there are some definite things you can do to prepare yourself for business growth, scalability, and also increased customer service.
Some of the team-building tools I recommend in the episode are determining a way that you want to handle onboarding.  I give several examples.  The first being super easy using Loom to record your process now so that when you ready to bring on someone to help you already have a process recorded.  You can take that a step further and send it to Temi for transcription and then just clean up the document, turn it into a written process. Or you can outsource the transcription clean up to your new virtual assistant.  (Great minds, I Know Right?) I've started documenting my processes this way and it's a REAL eye-opener to where I am spending my time.  
Then I recommend choosing a place to store those new processes that are easily accessible by your future team. Some recommendations are dropbox where you can change file permissions or Google Drive.  I also mention that if you are wanting an email address @yourdomainname.com that you sign up for GSuite. The awesome thing about GSuite is that it works with nearly every hosting platform and you also get access to some shmancy features in your Google Drive.  Like the ability to create templates for work that you do over and over again. The cost for GSuite per user is around $8 a month.  Not too shabby for all that you get. And you don't have to have multiple users to share documents.
 
Toward the end of the episode, I give you three suggestions for refining and tightening your process.  I also mention my favorite quote as a mantra to live by when setting up these processes (and running your business for that matter).
"Done is better than perfect."
First, get feedback from your team or your trusted friends/associates on your process so that you can refine what you are doing and ensure that it's easy to understand.  This includes documenting, recording, and reviewing each process that you regularly repeat in your business.  Make decisions based on the data you have now because you can always refine the process (and you will) down the road.  I think keeping general with the process is helpful.  This enables whomever you bring on to add their expertise and flair to the process.
Second, get feedback from your clients and previous clients.  I recommend setting up a quick exit interview to gather data or a survey for people.  It's great if you can have one on the front end and one on the back end because then you can measure where they were and where they have come.  This is an idea that I am going to be implementing during Q2. This is also a great time to gather testimonials and celebrate results.  When people recognize their results, they want to keep moving forward, meaning they want to keep working with you.  Which means (yep) you increase sales and make more money.  (see how I snuck sales funnels in here?)
Last, always review a project, work with a client, an event, or whatever you are doing with these two questions.  What did we do right? What could we do better? Take both lists and implement them in the next version.
That's a wrap for this week.  Have you documented your processes? Where do you keep getting stuck?
Come over and get some support in the Facebook Group this week.  I ran out of time to do a website review last week, so I am going to do them this week.  Have one you want to be reviewed? Come tell me in the Facebook Group.

Making Your Website Sales Funnel Friendly

Making your small business website customer-friendly is a MUST.
How many times have you gone to a website looking for a specific article, product, or answer only to get lost and wander aimlessly? Ultimately leaving you frustrated, walking away or worse spending hours searching out the very thing you CANNOT for the life of you find.  This week's podcast episode is all about the 3 things you absolutely must have on your website to be effective and get more customers.
I packed a few extra bonuses in this episode at the beginning, wrestled with some teens in the middle of recording and lost my train of thought . . .
But ultimately, I deliver a short and sweet episode covering the must-haves to make your website function as part of your sales funnel and also keep your customers and audience happy and returning regularly.
One of the things I mention in the beginning is the need to have an SSL on your website. One, because it makes your visitors feel secure. Two, because Google gets downright hostile with your search rankings if you don't have one. I mentioned my favorite hosting company SiteGround, which offers a free SSL with its hosting service. You can check them out here.
1 - Call to Action.
You may be saying to yourself, I have a Call To Action, Alisa. It's right there and says meekly, "Learn More". Let's have a come to Jesus meeting real quick.  NO ONE wants to learn MORE.  They want you to solve their problem, understand their problem, talk about their problem, and ultimately fix their dang problem.  I go into several examples here in the podcast episode of what not to do and ultimately what should be done instead.  But don't hide your next step from your customers.  They won't go looking for it, instead, they will go to your competitors. Ain't nobody got time for that, so let's buck up little campers and slap that Call To Action front and center.
2 - Connect with your audience -consistently.
Consistently is relative to you and your audience. Some people will connect daily, some people once a month. It will take some trial and error on both sides of the fence to get it right. But set the parameters, communicate, and show up.  Most importantly give value and build the relationship. I go into one of my not secret vices in episode 86 and share the story of one of the people I recently followed who is doing it right.  I also dive into how she is doing a great job with her consistency, her creation of content and how it meets the needs of her audience and last, how it leads to her sales funnel and people buying what she's shlepping.  I may have gone a bit of tangent here as well, but it's late in the day and I tend to do that when I am enjoying sharing the scoop with you all.
3 - Collect the "goods".
The last must-have piece of your website is a way to collect your visitors' names and email addresses.  There are about a million different ways and ideas to do this. But, it's critical because if you don't collect something, you have no way to engage with them, love on them and keep them moving through your sales funnel.  Meaning, your website is a lazy teenager who isn't doing their chores and you keep paying them anyway.  The point is, figure out a way to gather those email addresses and names so that you can add them and keep them moving through your sales funnel. So that ultimately they buy from you.
I will have a "Create your free download" challenge coming up in May (just a heads up for reading this far!)
That's a wrap for this week.  Short and sweet, the 3 BIG things you need to make your website sales funnel friendly. These are critical now and will be in the future.
Will you be doing a few upgrades to your website?  I'm doing 2 free website reviews over in the Facebook Group this week.  Look for the post and add your comment to have yours reviewed for free.

Sales Funnels Equal Small Business Survival

Creating an optimized sales funnel = survival for your small business.
It breaks my heart seeing so many small businesses closing their doors or laying off employees because of the Covid19 pandemic.  This is why in this week's podcast episode I am sharing the power that a simple sales funnel can have to help you not only overcome unforeseen obstacles in your business now but also in the future.  There are 9 things to consider when setting up a sales funnel that works, in this week's episode I dive into each one.
A few weeks ago, I got chosen as a coach for the 1st StoryBrand Livestream event . . .
Donald Miller, the creator, and author of StoryBrand opened a session by saying sales funnels = survival. This is why I am passionate about sharing with you the lessons, observations and what works in this week's episode. I want you thriving, not just surviving.  So let's dive in!
1 - Create a strategy.
Now let's be clear, strategy is a big word for plan. Just like you wouldn't hike Mount Kilimanjaro without a plan and the right equipment, you don't want to jump into marketing with no plan. This eats up your time, energy and money and in the end, you have no idea what's working and what's not. (more on how to fix that later) Throwing out marketing because you had the last minute idea will lead to frustration, overwhelm and ultimately you giving up on marketing altogether. How do I know? (raising hand) Because I've been there. I get it! So figure out a plan and for some tips, tune into this week's episode here.
2 - Solve a problem.
I see SO many examples of people throwing together a business because they love to do something. For example, opening up a pottery shop because they love to make pottery. That's all fine and good, but if you don't have an audience who wants to paint pottery and will come and pay to do so, you won't make it in business very long. (Hence the 85%+ failure rate of so many small businesses.) In episode 85 I give you three reasons that solving a problem will help you thrive as a small business.  As well as three reasons not solving a problem will not only keep you from growing an audience but will have them looking elsewhere to do business. Be sure to head on over and give it a listen.
3 - Don't ghost your audience.
The fastest way to lose and disappoint your audience is by sending them one email and then disappear.  The goal of a sales funnel is to attract and connect (nurture) with your audience so much that they can't wait to buy from you. When you disappear and then reappear after six months, they don't remember who you are, let alone what you do and then the big unsubscribe surge happens.   Don't treat your audience like a transaction, treat them like people, because they ARE people. This is the FASTEST way to grow engaged fans and followers.
4 - Track what you are doing.
This is the #1 thing that nearly every business owner struggles with. If you are investing in marketing, time or money, track it. Because if you don't have a way to track whether or not your emails are being opened, a coupon code is being used by whom, a purchase was made, then you will NEVER know which piece of your marketing is working. The good news, it doesn't have to be that hard to track your marketing efforts. Give this week's episode a listen for a ton of ideas on how to track what you are doing so that you know whether or not to keep doing it or let it go. Because there is NO sense in continuing to invest in marketing that isn't growing your audience or bringing you customers.
5- Get focused.
When you start throwing marketing together and slinging posts up on Instagram or going live on Facebook without a strategy or funnel you look unfocused. Your audience doesn't know what you want them to do and you come across as scattered.  Giving you nearly zero possibility of gaining traction with your audience or moving them toward the end goal of purchasing from you. Clarity = cash. When you are clear your audience will follow the breadcrumbs of your sales funnel. (need some clarity on the breadcrumb analogy, listen in I explain it in depth). The next cash killer is lack of consistency.  If I could give you only two pieces of marketing advice they would be #1 clarity and #2 consistency. When you show up, your audience pays attention (even if they are just lurking). When you disappear and then reappear people have stopped paying attention. It can be hard to be consistent without a plan (read strategy) and easy to lose track of what you're working toward. So in order to be clear and consistent, create a plan and then follow it.
6- A free download is NOT a sales funnel.
Somewhere along the way, marketers sold the idea that If you had a free download that the sales would come pouring in. Like there were some magical funnel fairy that would sprinkle new customers into your world just because you put that new download out onto the interwebs. Unfortunately, you've been lied to. If you don't have a connection between your download, you and your products and services, you will be waiting A LONG time for your cash register to ring. So ensure that you have a plan that includes that new freebie you are proud of that leads your people to where you want them to go next. Ending of course with them either purchasing or moving out of the funnel. (the latter is ok as well because when they leave they make room for someone else.)
7- Don't try to sell too soon.
We have all had or heard about the experience of the used car salesman stalking you as soon as you drive into the parking lot. It feels icky. But, have you thought about how your audience could be living that same experience going through your marketing system? When we provide something of value to our audience free of charge and then try to sell them into something quickly - like within the same transaction or the next email, we haven't earned the right to have their business yet. Meaning we are being slimy even if we don't mean to be. It's important to take into consideration your customer experience and also how long your sales funnel (warm-up) should be. Typically lower-priced products have a shorter sales funnel. But if you are going from a free video series into a $2000 course with no one buying - you're asking too much too soon! This is all determined by knowing your audience and your product suite.
8- Don't forget to sell.
The opposite scenario from the above is those who give everything away for free and never present an offer. Or, they make it impossible for their customers to know how to buy from them. (Guilty as charged - but I'm getting better!) Giving away everything for free is not only detrimental to paying your bills, but it is also a sure way that you are robbing your audience from results.  They don't have any skin in the game when they don't invest. It's an energetic transaction to exchange money. They are invested both monetarily and emotionally when they pay you money just as you are more invested because they have paid you than you would be if you were helping them for free.  Sell your stuff, stand up confidently in what you can do and change the lives of those that are waiting on you to do so. In the meantime, build a sales funnel so that you have a plan when you start to falter.
9- Build your sales funnel first.
Before you start that YouTube channel, have the Facebook Live, build your audience, invest in a marketing agency or spend tons of time and energy figuring out the best way to grow an Instagram following - figure out where you want them to ultimately end up.  What will they buy? Why will they buy it? And how can you make their journey to get there so easy that they can't think of saying anything besides YES YES YES all along their journey to get there? When you start with the funnel, it becomes easy to know how to promote, where to promote and what your next steps are. So start with your endpoint and work backward.
There you have it, 9 specific things you need to build an optimized sales funnel that works.  Sales funnels assure success even in times of uncertainty and crisis.  There are definitely specific components in your funnel that you can be and should be building right now.
Which will you be focusing on next?  Head on over to the Facebook Group and tell us what piece of this episode resonated most with you.
Listen to the entire episode here:

What Doing Everything Is REALLY Costing Your Small Business

Small business owners take pride in being able to figure everything out.
But at what cost? We are scrappy and we put our heads to the grindstone to get it done. In this week's podcast episode I encourage you to take a look at what is slowing down your growth and eating up your time and freedom along the way.  I give you five questions to ask yourself to identify where you should REALLY be spending your daily hours to get the most bang for your buck and reignite your passion in your business again.  I even created a free downloadable worksheet to help you out.  You can grab that at the bottom of this post or by going here.
The questions in the episode and on the worksheet will help you identify tasks that are keeping you stuck where you are as well as tools to move forward and accelerate your growth.  Let's jump into those burning questions (I know you can't wait!)
#1 - Where do you spend most of your time now?
Are you putting out fires? Jumping from one task to the next with no rhyme or reason only to end the day wondering what the shiitake steak did I get done today? I feel you, this can make you feel disheartened, burned out and unfulfilled in your business.  We need to get you out of that routine. In order to do that, we have to figure out where you are spending your time, how much time you are spending on those tasks and where you would rather be spending time.  In the episode, I give you some examples of tasks that eat up your time that you could eliminate or delegate.  Give it a listen here.
#2 - What repetitive tasks can you create processes for?
We all have those time-sucking tasks that MUST be done. But do they need to be done by us? In the episode, I give you the following tools and ideas to easily create processes for your business so that you can then delegate to a team member or contractor.  The first is Loom which enables you to record your screen as your going through a process and then you can share that recording with your new team member. I recommend using a learning portal like Kajabi to organize everything as well as ensure that your processes are private.
#3 - What is always on your to-do list?
If you're like most business owners, you have a never-ending to-do list.  In fact, I really don't understand the phrase "I'm bored!" I've not been bored since starting my business and probably before. Can you relate? But, it is easy to be overwhelmed by that list of tasks, especially when they never seem to reach completion. When you take a look at that list and choose 3 things that have to go, right now! As in today! How does it make you feel when you will get to let those go? Sit with that feeling and then find someone to do them. I know, I know, you can't afford it.  I'll be getting to that in a minute. But remember, to grow we have to let go.  And letting go means releasing the illusion that we are the only ones that can do it "right". Our pride and perfectionism keep us stuck.
#4 - Saving money is costing you time which is costing you money.  Is it worth it?
In episode 84 I walk you through a simple scenario that illustrates exactly how much it's costing you to keep doing everything yourself.  And not just monetarily - but your happiness, passion, and freedom as well.  I also go down a little bit of a rabbit hole when it comes to trading your services or not charging what you're worth.  You'll have to listen in to get the scoop on that, but it's SO worth it! I promise.
# 5- How will you cast a vision for your business and build the team to take you there?
First, you have to know where you are going. Hence the vision. Don't get caught up in the semantics. Make it a year, three years or even five years.  I don't think I would go much past that, because frankly, as we have seen recently, things can change quickly. Once you have that vision you have to come to the conclusion at your own pace that you can't get there alone. No one does. Which means you have to seriously consider who it's going to take in your corner to get you there. I recommend making a list (even if it's just a wish list right now) of those people and describe who they are, what they are like and why they would fit well with your team.  Last but not least, put up a job post on indeed.com, ZipRecruiter or even Craigslist.  Just because you post the job doesn't mean you have to hire someone. But getting into the practice gets you ready to put your plan into action.
 
These five questions will start you down the pathway to spending more time doing what you love in your business while building a support network to get you to your goals.  Don't forget to grab the free worksheet so you can answer these on your own.
Head on over to the Facebook Group and share your challenges, your hopes, your vision, and your next steps.

Creating Multiple Revenue Streams In Your Small Business

On average millionaires have 8 streams of revenue.
I'm sure that COVID 19 has you rethinking some things in your business, including how to move forward. In this week's podcast episode I wanted to give you some food for thought on how to diversify your business revenue.  I came up with 6 different options for you to consider now so that you can begin implementation before the lockdown is over and be miles ahead of your competitors, ready to serve and still meet (and hopefully exceed) those 2020 goals you set a few months ago.
Why create multiple revenue streams in the first place?
You may be saying to yourself, multiple revenue streams? That sounds complicated.  I assure you it's not.  This is why I break it down into simple terms in Episode 83 and give you the edge on not just surviving but thriving after we all get to leave our houses and dance in the street.  How many of you miss hugging? I'm not even a huge hugger, but I miss it for sure!
Here are some of the best reasons to create multiple revenue streams.  First - it will help you navigate and alleviate this very circumstance we have happening right now.  It will also give you the mad skills of thinking outside the box before things get out of hand, the bills pile up and you are wondering how the heck to fill out the paperwork for the small business administration.  You will have a plan in hand and be cool as a cucumber.  Diversification in your business will also help you avoid the recovery hump that most businesses will feel because you will be serving customers during any circumstance.  Lastly, having multiple streams of income will save you time, money and ultimately help you avoid the ups and downs between selling and delivering your products and services.
Who's ready for some diversification tips? 🙋‍♀️ (yep, me too!) If you're asking what can I do check out these ideas ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️
#1 - Develop affiliate partnerships.
What the heck are affiliate partnerships? They are the opportunity for you to make some dough on products and services you already use by referring them to other people. I give tons of examples here in the episode, specifically for restaurants and the affiliate partnerships I have created for my business.  But for your curious mind, here is an example.  Say you use a specific reservation company for your restaurant. They have an affiliate program (referral program). You sign up and start to refer that company to other restaurants and businesses (think salon, dentist, orthodontist, etc.). Every time one of your referrals becomes a customer, you make extra money from that reservation company. Bada-bing bada-boom it's in your account. Just like magic. This also works the opposite way. You can pay other businesses to refer you, new customers.
#2 - Add new products or services to your repertoire.
This is actually easier than you may be thinking it is. If you're saying to yourself, I don't have any extra products or services - stop right there - because this next idea will blow your mind 🤯. You can ask your customers to wave their magic wand when it comes to something you offer and get the answer of what to add.  Let me give you an example. If you are a restaurant and you have a special spice blend that you use with all of your beef dishes.  People constantly remark on that spice, wish they could have it at home or ask for the recipe.  That is a giant clue 🔎 that your customers would pay for that spice blend. That becomes a new product for your business.  I have lots of other ideas and examples in Episode 83. Be sure to head on over and give it a listen.
#3 - Create merchandise to sell.
This is a great way for your customers to promote you, your brand and keep you top of mind. One of the examples I give in the episode is a winery I visited recently with a friend. They had an etched glass with the winery name that they packaged with a tasting. You got to use your own glass and then take it home as a souvenir.  Now every time I use that glass I remember that outing with my friend, but all the winery. Because . . . wait for it . . . their name is on the glass.  What merchandise can you add to your product line up to diversify this income stream?  Come tell me in the Facebook Group.
#4 - Create additional services that you can sell.
This was my favorite part of episode 83 because I go on a little riff.  You never quite know what will come out when you are recording - but this part right here was gold. I used several examples of what restaurants could offer as additional services, but this is so applicable to any business.  Brainstorm how you can add more value to your audience through education or training.  Here is an example that wasn't even in the episode (I bet you're glad you read this aren't you?) if you own a carpet cleaning company. You could create a home maintenance video series. Packed with ideas on how to remove common stains correctly. What will happen to the carpet if you don't get to the stain quickly enough, what to do if stains reappear and how to vacuum properly. You could even partner with some stain removal companies and earn affiliate income on the stain removal products you recommend (review #1 if I lost you there.)
# 5- Can you change your business model to serve more people?
For example, would you be able to shift from just serving customers to also serving businesses (or vice versa)?  I gave a few examples over her in the episode, but I wanted to give you one more that's happening right now. American Giant typically sells apparel to consumers, but they have recently stepped up to partner with hospitals, emergency workers and the government to sew only masks.  This is stepping outside of their normal role and has a dual positive effect.  First, it is helping them establish their brand with new vendors and second their current customers (and even people who didn't know about them previously) now see them as heroes.  What can you do that is similiar?
# 6- Ask your customers what else they want to see.
Do they want your napkins to use at home? (affiliate partnership). Do they love your bathroom soap? Do they want your dishes? Do they want to make linguini alfredo just like you do? (trust me they will likely only do this once because it won't be quite right). You get the idea.  Asking your customers for their input is NEVER a bad idea and will likely wield a plethora of intel you couldn't have gathered any other way.
There you have it, six different ways to diversify your revenue both during and post-crisis mode.  Businesses who have the ability to spread their offerings across multiple avenues and think outside the box will be the businesses that thrive and survive.
Which of these will you be implementing first?  Head on over to the Facebook Group and share what you're excited about adding to your business's revenue menu.

Pivoting Your Small Business During Covid 19 and Beyond

Instead of panicking, it's time to pivot.
Alright, we as Americans have gone into a bit of a panic over the past week with the COVID 19 virus forcing must of into a lockdown situation. If you aren't there yet, chances are, you will be relatively soon. I want to encourage you to think about how to pivot in your business, especially if you are service-based or you have a physical storefront so that you can not only survive but thrive through this change.
First, let's talk about focus.
If you've been a listener of this podcast for a while, you've heard me say where you focus is what you will experience. So if you are focusing on scarcity, fear, and hysteria - that WILL be your experience.  So get your brain to focus on what you want instead and you will have that experience.  Don't believe me? Give it a try and report back.  Turn off the news, change your thoughts, focus on abundance and what is possible for 24 hours and come tell me if things didn't change over in the Facebook Group.
In Episode 82 of the Feed U Podcast, I am sharing five MUST ask questions to keep you on track during the shutdown, and help you plan post-shutdown so that you can not only maintain but grow your small business. For a detailed account of what to do and examples of businesses that are killing it already, listen here.
Question #1 - What can you do now to quickly move your business (or part of it) online?
Can you provide your services through an online application like Zoom? Perhaps you can convert your products into an online store that offers pickup, curbside service or delivery so that you can keep employees working and product heading out the door.  Last week I created a video tutorial on how to set up an online store using Square. You can see it here on my brand new YouTube channel. Can you create online training that your ideal customers will pay for? Can you build a paid or free online community? I give a ton of examples for each of these here in the podcast.
Question #2 - How can your brand become or stay visible?
Do you need to become more active as an asset on social media? Spend more time nurturing your existing or building a new audience? Perhaps you can start sending direct mail again, handwritten notes are always a hit. Or you could physically show up in the community as a resource, authority and go-to person like one of the local businesses did here.  For all the details tune into Episode 82. This is a great time to build brand awareness by giving back.
Question #3 - What can you do now to prepare for re-opening?
We all have some time on our hands. Whether you are still working and have more time at home for weekends, evenings or lunch breaks. Or you are finding yourself at home because you can't be open. Regardless, let's use that time to create some wanderlust in our business.  Where do you want to go in the next 3, 9, or 12 months? What's your long-term vision? Do you need to buckle down and dig into some of those marketing projects you've been avoiding? Does your email list even remember who you are anymore? In this episode, I give you a ton of real-world examples of how to spend your time and the importance of getting clear on your goals, purpose, and vision so that you are prepared for re-opening and beyond.
Question #4 - What you can do now to bring in some revenue?
This piece of the podcast segment is packed full of examples for salons, realtors, food, and beverage industry companies and even alternative medicine providers like energy healers, chiropractors, yoga instructors and more.  I walk through several examples of companies that are doing it right, have already pivoted and are seeing massive success and it's only been a week.  To see how they are doing it and follow their example, listen to the entire episode here. In the meantime, here are so examples:
Food Industry: Offer food delivery and curbside service. Sell ingredients as a meal kit. Sell meal kits. Hand deliver wine, beer or other cocktails (if allowed). Switch from wholesale to retail. Provide hard to attain ingredients like milk, sugar, flour, eggs, etc.
Salons: Create a product & service bundle sell now with a discount. Upload products you recommend or sell and create how-to videos to go with the product to grow your email list. Sell the products on your website or by creating an Amazon store where you can earn affiliate income. Offer gift certificates.
Realtors: Host virtual video tours, a watch party or live open house. Take questions from viewers. Become a resource to potential clients now and follow up when things settle down. Follow up with previous and current clients. 
Alternative Medicine Healers: Pre-sell service packages for post lockdown when everyone will need a reboot. Offer online options for energy work. a Teledoc opportunity to get professional advice or online classes. Complete current and previous patient follow up and create an offer to get them excited about coming in again.
Questions # 5- Ask the following questions:
What does your ideal client need now?
What will they need after the lockdown is lifted?
How can you offer a solution to both?
 
What are you doing to pivot your business during this unprecedented time and how will you run your business differently in the future?  Head on over to the Facebook Group and share what you're doing to thrive through the coronavirus.
Listen to the entire episode here:

Simplifying Facebook Ads With Sam Pilling of BiteMe Marketing

This week I bring on a small business Facebook Ads expert.
Facebook advertising is still the biggest bang for your buck when it comes to promoting your small business.  It enables you to get in front of your ideal client and target your ads so that you can save money, frustration and time. Join me in this special interview episode with Samantha Pilling of BiteMe Marketing.
Facebook ads to bring in sales.
Facebook advertising is a great way to grow and engage your audience, bring attention to your brand and bring in more sales. In Episode 81 of the podcast, my guest Samantha Pilling provides answers to fear around getting started with Facebook Advertising, how to get started quickly and easily and why you should consider Facebook ads to grow your small business.
If you're ready to give Facebook ads a try and want to learn more about how to get started, listen here.
What are the advantages of using Facebook over other types of advertising?
First, answer these questions (they should be familiar if you listen regularly):
Who are your customers?
Where are your customers hanging out?
What can I invest in time and money?
Facebook is still a big player in the market as far as social media platforms.  69% of American adults are using Facebook for over 37 minutes a day.  It's a regular part of their day, meaning your customers are going to be there.  If you're not there, your competitors are, so you should take a look at being there as well.  Facebook also has very sophisticated audience targeting, meaning you can more easily find your customers based on the information that Facebook collects. They have the reach and the targeting and has leveled the playing field for smaller businesses to advertise as far as cost.
How can you use Facebook to research and find out more about your audience?
Using Facebook Insights is a great way to research your audience more thoroughly. But, Facebook is also striving to make it even easier to get in front of your audience. Previously, you had to do a lot of research and know a lot about your audience. But if you give Facebook some leniency in finding your audience, they will do the research for you. They will go and find your customers for you.  In Episode 81 Sam talks more specifically about why it works better to give Facebook some space to go and find your audience, give it a listen.
What if I'm afraid to or don't know how to create an ad?
In this episode, Sam gives you the inside scoop on getting over the fear and trepidation of creating your first or next Facebook Ad.  As in most sales funnels, Sam recommends setting your objective first.  Pick one and then move in that direction. Understanding what your objective is and then tell Facebook that's the direction you want to go and then they will help you accomplish that goal.  You can actually set up an ad, not spend a dime and just try it out and release some of the fear.  For more details, listen to Sam's excellent examples of objectives here. This helps eliminate some of the fear and makes it less complicated because Facebook really does want your ads to work. They aren't trying to trick you or make you fail.
What are some things I can avoid so that my Facebook ads don't get rejected?
Avoid using negativity in your ads.  Facebook users do not want to have a negative experience. They will always do whatever enables their users to have the best experience possible.  If they deem your ad to be more negative it will either cost you more money or they will reject it.
Don't make claims you can't guarantee. Facebook will say that you can't guarantee that everyone will get those results so they will reject your ad
Too much text on your ad. Facebook wants users to have a good experience, overcrowded ads are not eye-appealing and so often will get rejected.  There are text requirements for ads that you can review here. In general, the rule is no more than 20% of your ad should be text.
Certain industries will have a harder time with Facebook ads. You can find more details on those industries and how to create successful ads in this week's episode.
As a new advertiser, you may get rejected just because you're new.  Don't be afraid to ask for a review.  Usually, they will get approved so don't be afraid to ask for a review.
How can you analyze if your ad is working or not?
Depending on your industry, it will be easier to track your return on investment. For example, if you are an e-commerce store, you will know whether or not an ad is working if people are purchasing after seeing your ad.  This is done with the Facebook pixel (more on that below).  
Secondly, don't give up too soon.  Running one ad that didn't work, doesn't mean that Facebook ads don't work.  Sam gives a really good example here, give it a listen.
What is the FB pixel and what does it do?
The Facebook pixel is a tiny piece of code that lives on your website that tracks visitors that come to your website.  It enables you to track who is showing up on your website based on your ad.  But the real power comes from retargeting (we will get to that in just a minute.) I'll be adding a FB pixel tutorial to the Facebook Group this week so you know how to add the pixel to your website.  Stay tuned for that tutorial.  Not in the group? This is a great time to join us.  You can do that here.
What is FB retargeting and why does it matter?
Retargeting is a powerful way for you to keep showing up in front of your ideal customers to remind them of who you are and what you offer. If someone watches a video, comes to your website or sees a post - retargeting ensures that you can get in front of them again with new content or an offer. Keeping you in front of them will put you top of mind so that when they are ready to buy, they will see you and will be more likely to purchase from you.
What are the mistakes you can avoid when using FB Ads?
Knowing your objective and thinking about what the next step is for them on your customer journey will help you succeed dramatically with your Facebook ads.  How will you follow up? Start a conversation? Download your free offer? The good news is, if you prepare and take action, you are already ahead of your competitors. Most companies never think through a strategy, they jump in and start showing ads with no plan of tracking or objective and then have an unsuccessful experience.  Listen to a few specific examples here on how to be successful and to give you a place to launch your own creativity.
Now it's your turn. Are you going to give FB ads a try? Head on over to the Facebook Group and tell us about the first ad you are going to run, or get some insight on your current ad copy or ideas.
If you want to connect with Sam Pilling, you can do that here:
Website
Facebook
LinkedIn

Good Marketing Has Little To Do With Luck

If you're leaving your marketing success to luck, you will find it's run out.
Obviously I'm having a little fun with the play on words this week, but the reality is that successful marketing requires planning. A 5-step plan in fact (I'll get to that in a minute). Regardless if you have a local small business or are a global entrepreneur, planned marketing reaps greater rewards, costs you less money and saves you a whole lot of headaches.
Advertising costs are expensive, online and offline.
Which is why it's even more critical that you plan and manage your spending. Throwing money into advertising and praying that it will lead to new clients is literally "Living on a Prayer". There is a better way and we are going to dig in deep this week in Episode 80 of the podcast.
If you're ready to set up a marketing system that will work, then this is the episode for you, check it out here.
For now, let's dive into that 5-step action plan.
#1 - Define your goal, set your objective.
I'm sure you have heard the quote from Antoine De Saint-Exupery "A goal without a plan is just a wish." The same can be said for your marketing. Without a goal, it's impossible to measure success or know which direction to sail your ship. Goals and objectives are the same things in this case. What is it you are trying to accomplish with this marketing campaign? Keep in mind there can be campaigns within campaigns as well, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. Objectives can be things like:
Increasing your authority
Building your email list by ___ number of subscribers
Warming up your email list
Watching a video
Reading a blog post
and more
#2 - Who is your audience, ideal client?
In case you missed it, I do have a freebie you can grab to help you out on this one.  You can snag it here. In Episode 80 this week, I dive even deeper into some ideal client specifics. I spell out some examples but also cover a new component of audiences, where they are in your funnel.  Leads can be cold, warm or hot. Given that information, you will need to set an objective and plan of action for each sector of your ideal clients. For more details tune in here. I also cover some specifics about local vs. global marketing and how to target your specific business and client type.
#3 - What do your people need?
You all know by now how important it is to be creating content. In this episode, I give you some ideas on how to cater your content to your audience so that they are eating it up. Eliminating the guesswork and the time and energy spent creating something no one wants. Lastly, I caution you to show up where your people are and don't just start a podcast because everyone else is. If your audience isn't listening to podcasts, Houston, we have a problem. Create what they need and they will come. Put it where they already are and you'll get their attention.
#4 - Create a followup system.
I have to confess, I went a little deep here when talking about follow up. The reality is, you can create a follow-up system that is as intricate or simple as you can manage. If you have a team of sales reps, then yeah, your follow-up system will have more moving parts.  More people, more steps.  Capiche?  Regardless, the fortune is in the follow-up. So you MUST have a system to continue the relationship with your new leads. Whether that is an email sequence, phone calls, personalized videos using a tool like Loom, messenger messaging or a combination of all of these, that's entirely up to you. But, put something in place and keep in mind these three factors for your audience temperatures:
Cold--->>> educate and add value ---->>> segment by interest
Warm --->>> present offer --->>> convert to purchase or opt-in
Hot --->>> retarget --->>> send to next offer 
#5 - Analyze your tactics to measure success.
This is the most important step of your strategy because if you aren't measuring success, you will be spinning your wheels. Examining which opt-ins are working, where they are leading as well as emails, phone calls, sales, etc. Don't leave one piece of your funnel unmeasured. It will keep you from continuing with pieces that aren't working or giving you a heads up that something is amok and needs to be fixed. It will save you a ton of time, frustration and money.
Now it's your turn.  If you want all the details for these five steps, head over here and listen to the entire episode.
Which of these steps were you missing? Head on over to the Facebook Group and share what's working, not working and what you still need to do.

Why Your Email List Isn't Growing

Email Marketing has the highest ROI percentage. 
According to Oberlo businesses can expect on average a $42 return for every $1 spent on email marketing.  That's insane.  Compared to paid advertising which is around $1 for every $2 spent according to Browser Media. Needless to say, email is here to stay and if your list is half-baked or not engaged, we need to fix that dude ASAP. (channeling a dad-ism there!)
If you just said, holy shiitake Alisa, my email is broken.
Then don't panic my friend, because I've got you covered with 10 tips to get your email strategy back on track so that you are cha-ching 💵 ringing in more sales in no time.  This week in Episode 79 I am giving you the inside scoop on how to clean up your email act and start gaining conversions. You can listen to the entire scoop over here.
In the meantime, let's jump into that list:
#1 - No one wants your super cute download.
But you spent so much time on it and it's pretty and branded. But, as I often tell my clients, pretty doesn't pay the bills, useful does. We get stuck in the mode of design - thinking so much about our colors and fonts - that we don't realize we aren't solving a problem and so no one is listening. If no one is paying attention, no one is giving you their email address and your list isn't growing. The other pitfalls of clever downloads are that they are copycat material of other downloads out there and don't cater to an audience.  They are too broad. Narrow that sucker down like a chocolate cake on Weight Watchers points. Lastly, your opt-in could be suffering if it's not relevant or outdated. People want what's happening here, now and driving them to crazy town to be fixed pronto!
#2 - Nobody know you have an opt-in.
Oh dear, do I know about this one first hand. Beautiful opt-in, check. Packed with value, check. Solves a problem, check. Promoted to all my ideal customers - crickets.  Oh, shoot! Forgot to promote the darn thing.
Here's the thing - if you don't tell people about your opt-in there isn't a magical internet fairy that will tell them about it. I go into more detail during Episode 79 this week. Give it a listen here. But in the meantime, get out there and start spreading the news so you can test that baby.
#3 - Your email is B-O-R-I-N-G
Think back to when you picked up your phone today. It was probably sometime this morning and if you are one of the OCD people (raising hand) who clears out their notifications each day, then you know exactly how many emails came in overnight and early this morning. On a typical day, my number is between 35-60. And that's just before 9 am. Meaning, if you don't get your reader's attention and stat, they are going to swipe you over to the big green garbage can and all that work was for naught. Ain't nobody got time for that. It's time to break out your 11th-grade Creative Writing skills and get that email read and clicked on and moving onto the next step in your funnel.
#4 - You have left your list in limbo.
You've hooked 'em with your amazing download and then crickets. They don't hear from you for weeks, months or even years. By the time you draft another email, they have forgotten who you are, how you got on their list and they hit that dreaded unsubscribe button.  You work to dang hard for those email addresses, don't let this be your story. Stay consistent, stay engaged and build the relationship. I give you some specific examples of what not to do here, check it out.
#5 - You want too much info on your forms.
Ok, here's the real dealio. People do NOT want to give out their information, they are protective like a mama bear to her cub. If you are asking for anything beyond their name (I recommend just first name) and their email address, it's TOO much! Keep it simple, play it smart and make your opt-in form easy to fill out and move on so they can get your juicy goods.  You can ask for more later, once you've gone on a few professional dates and they know and like you more.
#6 - No one knows who you are. 
I'm still shocked and surprised at the people who start businesses, throw up a website and then wait for the phone to ring. I know starting your business is a BIG deal, but if you don't go out and tell people you are in business, they aren't going to come. You have to be a lead horn tooter for your mad skills, products, and services if you want clients.  So get on out there and network, go to trade shows, get a booth, attend a conference, speak or set up some ads.  Get the word out and then get your people on your email list.
#7 - You're giving away the farm.
Okay, I know you're generous and kind-hearted, but it's also a bad idea to give away everything you've got for free.  This is a REALLY quick way to go broke or worse, confuse your audience and have them go to your competitors. So, keep it simple, share good stuff, but stick to the why.  It's okay to share part of a process and then stick the rest behind a gate that your audience has to pay for with cold hard cash or their email address.  You get to decide because in case no one has told you, this is your business. For a few more tips on what and how to stick to your guns, listen to the episode here.
#8 - Stop making it so dang hard to share your free content.
Holy moly this is an easy one. Add some sharing options to your website and ensure that your social sharing settings are on all lights green so that people can hit that share button from wherever they are and send it to their friends and family.  The more eyeballs on your content the better.  I recommended this plugin suite by Elegant Themes, specifically Monarch, as a sharing plugin for WordPress. When you get lifetime access it also includes Bloom and Divi. It never hurts to add the link to your videos, podcast notes (see what I did there) and on social media so that it's easy peasy for people to get to what you've created.
#9 - You're adding people to your list without permission.
For the love of all things holy, please do NOT add people to your email list without consent. Specific permission. Asking the question, "Can I add you to my email list?" If they say no, then don't! First, it's rude. Second, it will make them curse at you. Third, it's illegal in LOTS of places and could be in your neck of the woods sooner than later.  So practice good habits. If you want to know more about GDPR percussions of adding names to your list without permission, check out this episode with my guest Attorney Aiden Durham. 
#10 - Stop procrastinating already!
If I had a dollar for every time I heard, "I know I need to start emailing my list but . . ." I'd have a whole lot higher profit margin. I get it, you're busy. We all are. But this is critical stuff! I wouldn't keep harping about it if it didn't work. Carve out the time so that you can start building a relationship with your potential customers and stay in front of your current clients. It is the most preferred method of communication for US adults (72%) according to Marketing Sherpa statistics. Meet your audience where they are, in their inbox.
What are you waiting for - that's the end of the list.  Go open your email service provider and get cracking!  If you need a little bit of love between your ears, put on your favorite headphones and head over here so we can have an intimate chat about your email.
Which of these tips will you implement today so you can start reaping part of that 400% ROI? Head on over to the Facebook Group and tell us after you've sent your email.  We can't wait to cheer you on!