As a solopreneur or small service business owner, it’s natural to want to offer a broad range of services to appeal to a larger audience. However, this approach can actually hinder your growth and success. The secret to getting more clients and growing your business quickly is to niche down. By focusing on a specific area or niche, you can become the go-to person for that service and gain referrals easily. In this blog post, we’ll explore why niching down is so important and the benefits it can bring to your business.

Ways you will benefit:

Gain depth of understanding about a specific area: When you focus on a specific niche, you have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of that area. You can become an expert in your field, which will set you apart from your competitors. By honing your skills and knowledge in a particular area, you can offer your clients more value and become an authority in your industry. For example, if you’re a graphic designer who specializes in creating branding packages for small businesses, you can become well-versed in the unique challenges that small businesses face when developing their brand identity. This knowledge will allow you to create more effective branding solutions for your clients.

People know you are the go-to person: By niching down, you become known as the go-to person for that particular service. When someone needs help in your niche, they’ll think of you first. This can lead to more referrals and a steady stream of clients. For example, if you’re a coach who specializes in helping new mothers return to work, you’ll become known in your community as the expert in that area. When someone is looking for that type of support, they’ll come to you.

You get to know your clients’ networks and gain referrals easily: When you work with clients in a specific niche, you have the opportunity to get to know their networks. For example, if you’re a web designer who specializes in creating websites for yoga studios, you’ll work with multiple studios and get to know the owners and their clients. This can lead to more referrals as you become more embedded in the community. Additionally, if you do a great job for one client in a particular niche, they’re likely to refer you to others in their network who are also in that niche.
You come up with the same problems and can easily solve them – so whilst you offer the same values it takes you less time: When you work with clients in a specific niche, you tend to encounter the same problems and challenges repeatedly. This means that you can develop solutions quickly and efficiently. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel every time you work with a new client, which can save you time and effort. Additionally, because you’re an expert in your niche, you can offer solutions that are specifically tailored to that area, which can be more effective than a one-size-fits-all approach.

To get started, here are 3 things you can do today:

1. Identify your niche: Think about the areas where you have the most experience and passion. What type of clients do you enjoy working with the most? What services do you offer that you excel at? Focus on these areas and develop a plan to become the go-to person in your niche.
2. Develop your brand messaging: Once you’ve identified your niche, develop your brand messaging to reflect your expertise in that area. Make it clear who you work with and what success they will have from working with you – and how it will impact their lives/ business.
3. Define your ideal client
   The third thing you can do today to start narrowing down your niche is to define your ideal client. This means getting crystal clear on who your perfect customer is. Ask yourself questions like:
   • What are their pain points and challenges?
   • What are their values and beliefs?
   • What are their goals and aspirations?
   • What are their demographics (age, gender, location, income, etc.)?

By understanding your ideal client, you can tailor your messaging and offerings to appeal directly to them. This will help you attract the right kind of clients and repel the wrong ones. Remember, you can’t be everything to everyone. By defining your ideal client, you can focus your energy on serving the people who are most likely to benefit from your services.

Now that you know the importance of niching down and have some actionable steps to take, it’s time to get started. Need help to niche? If you’re a solopreneur or small service business, Beyond the Hourly Rate is a hybrid online coaching and training program that will help you turn your knowledge and skills into a profitable business with minimal overwhelm. Find out more and to be notified of the next intake HERE.

Starting a business is a dream for many, and it often stems from a desire for freedom and passion rather than just money. I too started my own business for the same reasons – I wanted to have more time with my children and be there for my elderly mother who has dementia. In the past, I owned a PR & Marketing agency which grew reactively rather than proactively, leaving me forever time poor as I struggled to juggle Mainly Music group with my preschoolers and implementing strategies for clients (some of whom had questionable expectations.)
An opportunity for my husband led to me selling the agency and our family having a three year stint overseas in Singapore.

When I returned, I was determined to create a business that I had always dreamed of – working with small businesses and solopreneurs to share my knowledge and help them make better decisions. And that’s how Sweet Spot Business Coaching was born.

1. Understanding the Importance of Being Proactive in Your Business

As a business owner, it’s important to be proactive rather than reactive. Being reactive means responding to situations as they arise, while being proactive involves planning ahead, seeking out opportunities and taking action before the situation arises. When you’re proactive, you can anticipate problems and make decisions that can help you avoid them altogether. This approach can save you time, money, and stress in the long run. As an example, this could be identify which clients you get the best results with and really enjoy working with then proactively approaching them or putting yourself where they can find you.

2. Creating a Phased Approach to Building a Successful Business

One of the ways to be proactive in your business is to create a phased approach to building a successful business. A phased approach involves breaking down your goals into smaller, achievable steps. This approach helps to minimize overwhelm and allows you to focus on one step at a time. By taking things one step at a time, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and stay motivated. It’s important you know what to do in what order so that you use your time effectively and don’t hit roadblocks. This is one of the strategies I teach my clients to ensure that they don’t get burned out.

3. Create messaging and offers that resonate

If you’re a creative, coach or consultant, I’ll bet you have a wealth of knowledge and skills that you can turn into a profitable business. But, you may be struggling to know where to start or you may have started but know you have gaps in your foundations. In my experience there are two types of people within your pool of ideal clients. Those who know the outcome they want and know the problem – they just need an expert to give them the solution. Then there are those who know the outcome they want, but they are not sure where the problem lies. To successfully attract the clients you want to work with your messaging needs to be crystal clear and your service offering has to meet their needs and resonate with then. This is where working with a coach or strategist is worth it’s weight in gold. Working with someone who has a deep understanding of successful service businesses can help you to make the changes you need to, so you can turn your knowledge and skills into a profitable business.

4. How to make a Profit

The sweet spot in business is where passion and profit meet. It’s where you’re doing work that you love, and that aligns with your values, while also earning a profit and there’s a big enough pool of clients to sustain your business. To be earning a profit, you need to be able to deliver your service at a price that is attractive to your clients, whilst also being financially viable for you. It’s an area I see a lot of people trip up, especially when they are transitioning from being an employee to running their own business. You need to get a handle how many non chargeable hours you’ll need to be putting in, what your costs are and how much you can charge for your service.

5. Overcoming Overwhelm

One of the biggest challenges for small businesses and solopreneurs is overwhelm. There are so many things to do, and it can be challenging to know where to start and which tasks to tackle in which order. By breaking down your goals into smaller, achievable steps and by taking things one step at a time, you can avoid feeling overwhelmed and stay motivated. We all know that big long lists are never completed and that in itself can make you procrastinate. One of the biggest tools that my clients find helpful is to start a daily morning mindset routine and just choose three key tasks each day to complete, so you start having the feeling of achievement.

6. Taking Action

Working with a phased approach that minimises overwhelm and being supported with the expertise, accountability and a training vault might be just what you need to get traction. Want to find out more? My Program Beyond the Hourly Rate may be the game changer you’re looking for. Book a chat and find out more and see if it’s right for you.

Retaining current clients is essential for sustainable business growth. As a service-based business or solopreneur, you have a unique advantage in providing personalized service and building relationships with your clients. However, it’s essential to be proactive and continually identify your clients’ needs. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of client retention, explore actionable strategies for retaining clients, and provide three tips to help you unlock business growth.

The Importance of Being Proactive in Your Business

To retain clients, you must be continually proactive in identifying their needs. Sales calls provide an excellent opportunity to use assessment tools that help identify your clients’ pain points and tailor your services to meet their needs. These calls enable you demonstrate your expertise and that you are invested in your client’s success.

Identifying Client Needs Through Assessment Tools

Assessment tools can help identify client needs and pain points. They range from simple questionnaires to more complex assessments, depending on your industry. If you’re a business coach, for example, you can use questionnaires to assess your client’s strengths and weaknesses in their business. By identifying your client’s needs and pain points you can tailor your coaching to address those needs and provide value to your client. Personally, I like to use a visual assessment tool that a prospect colours in before we meet. I find they really enjoy the experience and I can ascertain their biggest roadblocks in 3 seconds flat. Seriously.

Benefits of Strategic Partnerships

Collaborating with other businesses or professionals can help you offer a unique service that sets you apart from the competition. Strategic partnerships can help you retain clients who are looking for something unique and valuable. For instance, partnering with a videographer as a brand photographer can create a service where clients can get both branding photos and videos in one day.

The Role of Communication in Client Retention

Effective communication is crucial to maintaining long-term relationships with your clients. It’s important to start out with clear expectations so you’re not dealing with 11pm text messages and on the other hand the client is not having to chase you. You could have a shared Trello or Asana board or regular meetings. To improve communication, set clear expectations upfront regarding deliverables, timelines, and communication channels.

Ask Your Clients What They Need

Sometimes, the simplest way to retain your existing clients is by asking them what they need. By sending out surveys or feedback forms, you can gain valuable insights into your clients’ needs and requirements. This information can help you provide them with better services, leading to long-term client relationships and repeat business- or it might just be as simple as having a chat with them.

Three Actionable Steps to Retain Your Clients and Grow Your Business

1. Prioritize proactive client communication and take the initiative to reach out to them regularly.
2. Use assessment tools to gain insights into your clients’ needs and pain points, and tailor your services to meet those needs.
3. Build strategic partnerships to offer unique services and retain clients looking for something unique and valuable.

Retaining current clients is essential to unlocking business growth. By leveraging personal connections, assessment tools, and strategic partnerships, you can retain clients and provide them with the value they need to stay loyal. Interested in learning more? This is one of the key areas covered in my program Beyond the Hourly Rate.

Click the HERE to be notified of the next intake date.

And then, he said the words that stung.

I was in my early 20’s & had been in a relationship with this guy for a few months. He was finishing with me & I was gutted (in hindsight I dodged a bullet).

‘I don’t want to lose you’ I said,
‘You never had me’ he replied!!!

OUCH!

I think of this story every time I hear someone upset about people unsubscribing from their email list.

We’ve all been there, feeling rejected and hurt when someone we like decides they don’t want to be with us anymore. But what if I told you that same feeling can be applied to unsubscribes from your email list? The truth is, unsubscribes don’t matter as much as you think they do.

Yes, Yes, I get it. It’s natural to feel a bit stung and rejected, but the truth is, like that guy who dumped me, they’ve moved on. The chances are, they were likely no longer opening your emails, the timing is not right, they can’t afford you, or maybe they have other priorities and therefore, right now, not interested in what you have to say. Like this guy, at some point they decided the fit wasn’t right – but it doesn’t mean it’s a no forever (although it was with that guy the %^^&*).

You never know, one day they might come back, but for now you need to focus on the people who are interested, right now. When you think of it like this, what does it matter if they hit the button & unsubscribe?

In fact, it’s more important to focus on nurturing the prospects who do want to hear from you and building like, know, and trust with them.

So how exactly does nurturing fit into Marketing?

Here’s a quick rundown. As a small service business owner, whether you’re a creative, coach or consultant, understanding the role of nurturing in marketing is crucial to building a successful business.

The marketing process can be broken down into five stages.

The first stage is gaining Attention – making potential customers aware of your business and what you offer.

The second stage is Nurturing – building a relationship with your audience and demonstrating your expertise and value. This is where you build like, know, and trust with your audience by providing valuable information, social proof, and solutions that meet their needs.

The third stage is Converting or sales – when a prospect becomes a paying client.

The fourth stage is Retaining – keeping your clients engaged and satisfied by consistently providing solutions to their problems.

And finally

The fifth stage is Raving fan – when your clients are so happy with your services that they become your most effective marketing tool, recommending your business to others.

Ok, now we’ve got that clear, let’s go back to nurturing. It is crucial to building like, know, and trust with your audience. This is where you provide value, educate, and build a relationship with potential clients. It’s important to remember that not everyone is ready to buy from you right away, in fact 97% are not ready, but by nurturing them, you’re increasing the chances they will buy from you in the future.

So, how do you nurture your prospects?

In order to nurture your prospects, it is important to start by offering them value and education. You should also consider the most appealing way to engage with your prospects. Would they prefer to receive a value-packed email once a week? Or, perhaps they would like to schedule a 1:1 chat on Zoom, or have access to a free downloadable resource. Some prospects may simply want to consume the content you share on social media for now. It’s important to keep in mind that everyone is different and you should tailor your approach accordingly. The ultimate goal is to guide your prospects onto your email list, which enables you to communicate with them directly. This is important because social media posts can easily be missed and accounts can be hacked or shut down. During the nurturing process, it’s essential to demonstrate your expertise and offer solutions to their problems. Use social proof to build trust with potential clients, and make sure to consistently show up and engage with them. By following these strategies, you increase the likelihood that they will eventually become a client.

Nurturing your customers is an essential part of the customer journey and can help turn potential clients into raving fans. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure of how to get started, download my free resource, “Get Booked“. This resource will help simplify marketing and help you find the unique strategy that will work for you. Get the “Get Booked” resource HERE.

Have you ever found yourself answering calls or emails from clients on the weekends? Or chasing down overdue invoices that should have been paid weeks ago? Or realising that what started as a small project has turned into a never-ending nightmare of scope creep? If so, you’re not alone. These are common issues that many service-based businesses face. But the good news is that you can take proactive steps to avoid these problems by setting clear boundaries with your clients.

Boundaries in business are essential for maintaining a healthy and productive relationship with your clients. When you set boundaries, you communicate your expectations and establish guidelines for how you want to work together. By doing so, you can avoid common issues that can arise when expectations are unclear.

Boundaries in business was the topic for one of my group coaching program workshops recently. Weekend calls, overdue invoices and creep scope were the biggest culprits. But here’s the thing. We educate those around us how to treat us. And if we don’t proactively tell clients how we work and our expectations, they make their own assumptions and play by their rules. There’s actually 5 areas of boundaries that you need to be aware of – with clients, with family and friends, with yourself, with strategic partnerships and with your team. Today we’re just focusing on clients.

If you’re working with you’re ideal clients, they don’t generally want to break the rules or be seen as taking advantage.

Here are some intentional ways to communicate your boundaries in an assertive yet friendly manner:

1. Welcome Video: When onboarding new clients, consider sending a welcome video that explains how you work and what clients can expect from you. This is an opportunity to set the tone for your relationship and ensure that everyone is on the same page from the start.
2. Welcome Pack: Consider creating a welcome pack or handbook in Canva that outlines your business policies, procedures, and expectations. This can be a helpful resource for clients to refer to throughout your work together.
3. Simple Welcome Email: Sometimes, a simple email is all it takes to communicate your boundaries. Consider sending a friendly message that explains how you work and what clients can expect from you. This can be a great way to establish expectations without coming across as too formal or rigid.

Eradicate payment issues with the following ideas:

1. Talk About a Plan: When you first start working with a client, be upfront about your payment terms and talk about a plan that will work for both of you. This can help ensure that everyone is on the same page from the start and that there are no surprises down the road.
2. Be Clear on Payment Terms: Don’t be afraid to be clear about your payment terms. Whether it’s payment upon completion of a project or payment in installments, make sure your clients know when and how they are expected to pay.
3. Follow Up on Bounced Subscriptions: If a client’s payment bounces, follow up with them promptly. Don’t let overdue invoices pile up – address payment issues as soon as they arise.
4. Take a Deposit or Payment Upfront: Consider taking a deposit or payment upfront to ensure that you are compensated for your work. This can also help weed out clients who may not be serious about working with you.

Don’t let creep scope become an issue with these ideas:

1. Clearly State the Agreed Scope: When you first start working with a client, clearly state in writing what the agreed scope of the project is. This can help ensure that everyone is on the same page and that there are no misunderstandings down the road.
2. Include a Discovery and Troubleshooting Phase: If there are unknowns that are hard to put a time to, include a discovery and troubleshooting phase of the project. This can help ensure that everyone is on the same page and that unexpected issues are addressed.
3. Have One Point of Contact: Make sure that you have one point of contact for each project so that you don’t have different people asking you to do different things. This can help avoid confusion and ensure that everyone is on the same page.
4. Plan Regular Check-In Periods: Plan regular check-in

Boundaries in business is just one of the many areas covered in my group program – Beyond the Hourly Rate®️. This program is designed to help small service businesses and solopreneurs turn their knowledge and skills into a profitable business with minimal overwhelm. Whether you’re just starting out or you’re an established business with gaps in your foundations, this program can help you take your business to the next level.

Setting boundaries with clients is essential for any small business owner. By proactively communicating your expectations, you can avoid being overwhelmed and ensure that everyone is on the same page. Use the tips and strategies outlined in this blog to establish clear boundaries with your clients and take your business to the next level. Remember, you have the power to educate those around you on how to treat you.

If you’re GST registered you can get up to 50% off for the first 6 months through the RPBN scheme making it a ridiculous $200+GST per month! As you’d expect, there are a few other criteria required to be eligible for the funding which I can run through with you.

Interested to know more ? Click HERE & Book a time to chat.

As a service-based business owner, one of the toughest decisions you’ll have to make is how to price your services. But even before that, you have to decide whether or not to display your fees on your website. It’s a conundrum that many solopreneurs, coaches, and consultants face. On one hand, you want to be transparent and avoid the dreaded “how much do you charge?” question that can make potential clients hesitant to work with you. On the other hand, you don’t want to scare off potential clients with prices that seem too high or too low. By displaying your prices without being able to have a conversation, you may also feel that the prospect doesn’t have full appreciation of the value you offer or work that will go into the service you provide.

As a business coach, I work with many service-based businesses, and I’m often asked about the best way to price their services. The truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. Your pricing strategy will depend on a variety of factors, including your industry, target market, and competition. However, there are some general rules of thumb that can help you determine the best way to price your services.

One of the biggest decisions you’ll have to make is whether or not to display your prices on your website. Some businesses choose to list their prices online, while others prefer to keep their fees hidden until after a consultation or discovery call.

There are pros and cons to both strategies, so let’s take a closer look at each one.

Pros of Displaying Your Prices Online:

1. Transparency: By displaying your prices online, you’re being transparent with potential clients about what they can expect to pay for your services. This can
   help build trust and establish a sense of credibility with your audience.
2. Efficiency: Displaying your prices online can help you save time by weeding out potential clients who aren’t a good fit for your business. If someone can’t afford your services or isn’t willing to pay your fees, they’re less likely to waste your time with an inquiry or consultation call.
3. Competitive Advantage: If your prices are competitive or lower than your competition, displaying them online can give you a competitive advantage. Potential clients may be more likely to choose you over a competitor if they can easily compare prices.

Cons of Displaying Your Prices Online:

1. Limited Flexibility: By displaying your prices online, you may be limiting your flexibility when it comes to negotiating fees. If a potential client sees your prices online and wants to negotiate, you may have less room to manoeuvre than if you hadn’t displayed your fees upfront.
2. Sticker Shock: If your prices are higher than your competition or are considered “premium”, potential clients may be scared off by the price tag. They may assume that your services are out of their budget, even if that’s not the case.
3. Undervaluing Your Services: If you’re new to the business or don’t have a lot of experience, you may not have the confidence to charge what your services are worth. Displaying
   your prices online can force you to set a price that’s too low, which can undervalue your expertise and experience.

Not Sure What to Do from Here? Start Taking Action by Doing the Following 3 Steps:

1. Evaluate your current approach to displaying prices on your website. Are you currently displaying prices? If not, why?
2. Consider the benefits of displaying prices on your website, as outlined in this blog post. Do these benefits align with your business goals and values?
3. If you decide to display prices on your website, take the time to ensure they are accurate, clear, and easy to find. Make sure they are presented in a professional manner that reflects the quality of your services.

If you’re in the early stages of building your service business – or know you have gaps in your foundations, my group program may be the support you’re looking for. You can check out Beyond the Hourly Rate HERE.

As a small service business or solopreneur, one of your biggest challenges is how to get more clients. Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in business for a while, you know that finding and attracting the right clients is key to your success. In this article, we’ll show you how to use a phased approach to turn your knowledge and skills into a profitable business with minimal overwhelm. We’ll explore how to understand your ideal client, create clear messaging that resonates with them, and how to use the marketing circle to attract, nurture, convert, and retain your ideal clients. By following these proven strategies, you can get more clients and grow your business.

Understand Your Ideal Client

The first step to getting more clients is to understand who your ideal client is. This is someone who values what you do and is willing to pay for it. To do this, you need to identify their needs, wants, and pain points. What are the problems they’re facing that you can solve? What are their goals and aspirations? Where do they hang out online and offline? By answering these questions, you can create a client persona that will guide your marketing efforts.

Create Clear Messaging

Once you know who your ideal client is, you need to create clear messaging that resonates with them. Your messaging should communicate the benefits of working with you and how your solution can solve their problem. It’s important to talk about your solution because you have two audiences to consider. Firstly, those who know what their problem is and are looking for the solution and secondly, those who know the solution they want but they don’t understand what the problem is. You messaging should be communicated on your website, social media, and other marketing materials. Use language that speaks directly to your ideal client and don’t be tempted to get clever, just be clear.

Understand the Marketing Circle

The marketing circle is a framework for attracting, nurturing, converting, and retaining your ideal clients. Let’s break it down:

1. Attract: This is the first stage of the marketing circle. Here, you want to attract the attention of your ideal client.
2. Nurture: Once you’ve attracted the attention of your ideal client, you want to nurture the relationship. This means providing value to build like, know and trust.
3. Convert: The next stage is to convert your leads into paying clients. This means making an offer that they can’t refuse. You need to clearly communicate the benefits of working with you and success they will experience.
4. Retain: You want to retain your clients so they work with you for longer. Most people value building relationships and having a loyal team- this applies whether your client is a consumer or another business.
5. Raving Fan: Lastly you want your clients to become raving fans. This means delivering on your promises and providing exceptional customer service so that they then refer your next client to you.

If you’d like some examples of marketing tactics you can use to get more clients, we can help. We’ve simplified marketing so it’s easy to understand. Download my free resource GET BOOKED to find out more.