You only ever need 4 steps to succeed in any kind of online business — whether service-based or product-based:
- Offer (be it service-based, product-based, or anything of value)
2. Client (people who see value in what you offer and are willing to pay for it because their perceived value is higher than the price they pay)
3. a way to bring the people to the offer
4. a way to convert the people into client
Assume that we already have come up with an offer.
And clients should already exist but we just need to find them.
Now, no. 3 and 4 ( i.e. a way to bring the people to the offer and a way to convert the people into the client) would be the focus of this article today.
So with these 4 steps, you can see — it is never about another client.
You may be able to try 100 hacks and create lots of freebies and funnels to get that client, but if we do it this way, it is NOT Sustainable.
This is because then, we would be looking for yet another hack and having to find another new, magic strategy to get the client after that.
And what next? Probably yet another strategy and new hack.
Truth moment: Is this what we want to operate our business? Can we grow our business consistently and sustainably this way?
I seriously doubt it.
Even if the passion and excitement can sustain for a few months or a year or so, you will experience burnout, overwhelm, confusion and get stuck sooner or later.
What we need, instead, is having a replicable sales process which we know if we repeat the process consistently it will continuously bring in client after client.
A replicable sales process is what gives us the confidence, security and peace of mind. That is how process and system is more important in business than the next client because if we have the replicable system and process, even if we do not convert ‘this client’, there would be a next one coming sooner or later. We are not depending the survival of our business on the next client, but the process that we build. We are more empowered in this position rather than doing anything we come across (a new hack, a new funnel, a new software, a new style of writing ads or emails) just to get the next client.
I have shared about the “Sustainable, Simplified, Soulful” framework which I practice every day here: https://medium.com/@unicornconnie/three-s-traits-you-need-to-have-in-any-business-to-succeed-2b1b4cbca358
And here is how having a replicable and sustainable sales process fits into the “Sustainable, Simplified, Soulful” framework:
Sustainable
Sustainable means in terms of resources, your time and energy, the way of operating the business, income for you and your team, client pipeline, and supporting systems, is it sustainable?
If you are trying all kinds of strategies and overwhelmed, this is not sustainable
If you’re working 12–18 hours a day in your business, this is not sustainable
If you’re buying fake followers to like and comment on your posts, this is not sustainable.
If your business income is roller-coaster (1k, 0, 5k, 0), this is not sustainable
If you’re not finding one framework that you can stick to and find results, and just jumping from this coach to another course, that course to another freebie, and you’re trying to piece everything together to form a monster, this is not sustainable
Sustainable means solid income consistently. It means business built on a solid foundation, a business that is going to last the time, not just an overnight profit and a quick boom and bust.
You are building an asset that gives you the best opportunity to serve in the highest possible way in your client’s transformation and having that rich reward spiritually and financially.
Nature has a way of sustaining itself through cycles after cycles. And it never runs out — this is what our business should be as well.
We want our business to be sustainable with the efforts and time that we feel good and comfortable dedicating (that feels joy because we actually enjoy doing it rather than pressure).
When clients are not what make you successful or not, but a replicable process that is sustainable, you only have to focus on the process and the outcome would take care of itself.
And the outcome would not vary time after time (i.e. sometimes it works, sometimes it does not) which could happen if you are trying different strategies each time without one consistent approach.
Plus, we all know that it takes time to master anything. If we are not using a replicable process which we repeatedly undertake, we would be Jack of all trades and master of none. The only way we can master our sales to have that security and peace of mind knowing that we can to a certain extent control how much is the revenue going to be this month is by having a replicable sales process.
Just so we are clear, by the sales process, we mean the journey taking a stranger to become a paying client, which is also the “way to bring the people to the offer”. One of the most important 4 elements you need to have to succeed in any kind of online business.
Simplified
Many times, we are the one trapping ourselves and standing between where we are and where we want to go.
We overcomplicate things.
Online business is NOT rocket science, but why so many people get stuck?
The #1 reason for entrepreneurs giving up is overwhelming.
Overwhelming and pressure can comes from many aspects — technically-challenged, unable to generate consistent income, unable to convert followers into clients, fluctuations in sales, unable to be noticed on social media, mindset blocks, shiny object syndrome and easily distracted, jumping from courses to courses without actually moving the business forward, earning $0 or little income from the business etc.
There’s only one way to go to overcome this — focus on the simple essentials that move your business forward for long enough for you to get results and master the essentials before moving onto the next expanded level. (I will be sharing books that dive deeper into this idea, if you are interested you may join my behind-the-scene community at https://www.patreon.com/simplifiedbusinesscoach)
Truth time: are you putting steps between you and where you want to do?
In my own experience, I found myself telling the story that I need to have a Facebook group to cultivate and connect for at least a few months before I can have people enrolling in my coaching program — total BS!
Once I changed my mindset and put the plan into the“Sustainable, Simplified, Soulful” framework, I realized that I’m just telling myself this because I had resistance to the sales call so my subconscious mind was acting up trying to drag and lengthen the process.
When I started telling myself the truth that Facebook group is NOT a minimal essential in my case and I have provided so much value already, I hit $20k that month.
It went back to the point that often times, we are the one complicating the sales process and putting steps between where we are and where we want to go because we expect it to be difficult while it does not have to be.
We can put in 100 steps in building the perfect sales funnel and still end up with $0 or fluctuating income because we do not have a replicable, consistent sales process that brings people to the offer and converting them to paying clients.
Bottom line: consistent process creates consistent results and income.
Having the right framework really helps with the execution where the REAL challenge in business lies.
Soulful
Being ‘soulful’ really is coming together with being ‘sustainable’ and ‘simplified’.
Truth moment: do we feel comfortable and feel good about the way we are operating in the business?
Chances are if you are not, then you won’t show up every day for it and it is not sustainable nor simplified.
So to succeed, one must align the energy with effort, align the mindset with actions, and align values with the offer.
The replicable sales process should be in alignment with your underlying belief. For example, if you believe in providing value in attracting clients rather than going out cold messaging, then your sales process should include a content plan that creates valuable content that gives massive value to your audience so that they know that you know your stuff and see how they can benefit from you and would like to engage you.
Let’s face it, strategies, ideas, information are not valuable nowadays. You can google and found 100 strategies and hacks within 3 seconds, but if you’re not choosing the right one to base your execution on, it will take forever or never to get results. That is where my offer brings value and that is what aligns with my belief that execution is the hardest part of entrepreneurship and the reason why so many people keep stuck.
It is not enough to have a dream or passion, it’s what you do with it that counts.
Let’s think about it this way: what is the worst that can happen if you do something you enjoy and are passionate about?
Worst case scenario if you don’t get rich doing what you love, at least you will be happy.
The best chance to succeed in life is to do what you enjoy and give it everything you’ve got.
You have nothing to lose really in the grand scheme of things.
What I know for sure is that life is rich even if you’re not. It is a matter of deciding what you want to be part of.
People do get rich in online business, I said to myself (and perhaps it is a question for you too) “why can’t I be part of that?”
Your greatest challenge is not out there in the market, but yourself.
Are you focusing on getting the next client or are you building a replicable, sustainable sales process to bring people to your offer and converting them to paying clients? The former may get you a paying client but the latter will give you a client pipeline.
If you want to learn the secret to succeed in any business, this article should be able to provide some insight.
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P.S. If you want me to support you in executing and building a “sustainable, simplified, soulful” business (as I’m the founder of this framework and I practice it every single day in my business), you can find out the link to application form in my fb: @simplifiedbusinesscoach
