Starting out? – The 3 most important things for your biz

Postcards from Rethink Central

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3 things that are super important.

Frankly, if all of my newer clients were concentrating on this, they’d all be getting – as a group – much better results.

So first of all, if you’re just starting out, if you’re in your first year of business,

don’t spend a lot of money on your website. Because you’re going to pivot quite a bit in the next couple of years.

Maybe what you start doing isn’t going to be what you end up doing. Maybe the pain points of your clients aren’t quite right. Don’t spend $5k, $6k, even $10 grand on a new website. Get something that is basic and simple and really together. Maybe spend $1000 on it.

Maybe just have a Home page and a Contact me and Work with me page. And of course, an About page – you always need one of those. That’s it. Don’t spend much money. You’ll regret it because within 2 years, pretty much everything on that page is going to need to be redone.

So don’t spend a lot of money on your website. Please, don’t. I’ve seen it so many times. Save your cash for 2, maybe 3 years in before you do it. You can sell your product without a fancy website, but people do need a place to be able to get in touch with you.

Second, all that stuff about

you have to build your list and the sooner you do it, the better.

It’s all true. It’s annoying. But it’s all true.

Your email list is the heart of your business. I don’t care if all of your business comes from referrals or all of it comes from LinkedIn. You must be building your list.

I know, it’s painful. I know it’s boring. I know it’s also kind of embarrassing having a small list but just do it.

Every single person who gives you their email address has made a little present of their attention to you. Honor that. Look after that. Grow it.

Also, you don’t have to have a super huge list to do well. If you have a hundred of the right people listening, you can make a living from it. A thousand, you can definitely make a living from it.

Many people that I always thought would have huge lists actually have lists of about two or three thousand people. And even if your list is much smaller than that – tend it. That’s where people have already said they’re interested. They’ve already opted in with their attention.

So, don’t spend a lot of money on your website. Do spend a lot of time and attention on your email list and getting more subscribers.

And third – and most important:

concentrate on getting sales.

All of your marketing must lead to a point where you’re on a call, whether it’s a zoom call or an in-person coffee or even a phone call – Luddite that you are – make sure you’re in a position where you’re asking people live to buy from you. Because that’s what makes your business a business and not a super expensive hobby.

Sales are the key to everything. All of the marketing, all of the email lists, all of that stuff is leading towards a point where you ask people to buy from you.

And you do it in the most simple way. This is your problem. We’ve talked about it. I can help with that. It doesn’t have to be big, doesn’t have to be pushy. But if you’re not asking people to buy from you, you haven’t got a business.

And the more people you ask, the more your business will grow. If you look at your business and think ‘God, I’m not getting as many sales as possible, or even as I want’, it’ll be because you’re not doing enough calls.

I know, none of these things are good. You want to have a lovely website. You want to ignore the whole list building because.. who doesn’t? And yeah sales, well, it’s hard.

But if you get these 3 things under your belt in the first couple of years, it will make all the difference.

If you have a question about your business, come to one of my Q&As. There’s a box below. I’d love to see you there.

Next live call is October 10, 2023 - Noon Eastern / 5pm UK.
Come along to ask your questions about launches, strategies for marketing, Masterminds or whatever you're stuck on in your business.

Add your email below and I'll send you the zoom info for the calls. See you there!

Or come say hello on Instagram here.  I microblog daily.