Part 2: 3 Ways to the Fastest Path To Income Virtually From Home

Part 2: 3 Ways to the Fastest Path To Income Virtually From Home

by | May 15, 2018 | Everyday, How She Quits Show, Virtual Professional

Welcome to the How She Quits Show – Episode 15

Today is Part 2 of a 3 part series on the How She Quits show…… we’re going to go rapidly through the most important advice for any mom running an online business today.

Part 1 Covered 3 ways to grow your 1-on-1 services business immediately. Watch Here

So what comes next? If you are maxed out with one-on-one work and want to elevate your income further…you are ready to move to Package pricing and 1-to-many programs such as online courses or memberships.

In this episode I’ll share the basics of package pricing, what questions to ask before starting an online membership or course and how to expand an already successful online course or membership program.

Part 1 in this series focused on the fastest path to cash, 1-on-1 services.

Bust you may be maxed out with that model. If you have raised your rates and have great clients, the next thing you need is efficiency. A way to make money that doesn’t require your 100% presence. Or maybe you have a dream to offer a group program in your specialty area. This lesson is for you.

Let’s talk about 2 paths to go beyond 1-on-1 services:

  1. Package Pricing
  2. 1-to-Many Programs (Online courses + Memberships)

Package Pricing

This is where you sell “service X” for $500 instead of charging hourly at $/hour.

Selling Packaged services requires 2 things:

  1. Value to the client in the package
  2. Specific measurable results

Your packaged services must make sense to your client…not simply be services you like to do at a fixed price.
(If prospects are asking you adjust packages, its’ a sign you don’t have the right packaged service.)

Because you aren’t measured by hours anymore, you must be clear and specific with your packaged services.

1-to-Many Programs

Starting an online course or membership requires:

  1. A clear or shared pain point that can be solved with your method
  2. Eyeballs. Traffic. Leads. (Meaning you need ways to drive lots of people thru your marketing channels who gain trust in YOU and your method)

Lightbulb Moment: Running an online program is building an entirely new and different business! Don’t be scared…get prepared.

Before starting your own online program, ask yourself:

Do I have the time and space to build a new audience?
New logos, new social posts, new groups to engage in, new channels to promote.

Am I prepared to wait?
Courses don’t sell instantly. Can you spend a few months without pay building an email list and social following?

Do I know how to do everything I need to on my website?
Collect leads, give them an amazing freebie and follow up with a compelling email sequence.

Do I have $$ to make this go faster with some ad spending?
This isn’t the viral growth era we experienced a few years ago.

Do I have proof my course is needed and wanted?
And are you confident your method will bring results?

And here’s your simple checklist to start selling online programs:

  1. Program name and logo
  2. Sales page and way to collect payments online
  3. Email list to market to
  4. Social Channel to market to
  5. Website/Tool to actually deliver the program itself (member area)

Most importantly…Does your program produce results for its’s participants? Focus here and all the rest is “marketing details” Bring results and the rest finds a way.

Are you ready to get started or feeling overwhelmed?

My own packaged services help people like you start, launch and grow online courses and memberships.

And I have courses available to help you move to clearly defined packaged pricing for your business.

My business is building yours.

Let’s talk about moving your business forward.
Fill out this simple form, I personally respond to each one.
LoriMercerCTO.com/talk

Then check out my small group program for action takers at HowSheQuitsCollective.com

3 Ways to the Fastest Path To Income Virtually From Home

3 Ways to the Fastest Path To Income Virtually From Home

by | May 8, 2018 | Everyday, How She Quits Show

Welcome to the How She Quits Show – Episode 14

On the next 3 episodes of the How She Quits show… we’re going to go rapidly through the most important advice for any mom running an online business today.

For VAs, Freelancers, Bloggers, Coaches, Consultants… I’m cutting right to the key facts to make you more profitable… because like me, you don’t have the luxury of extra time. Your family needs you NOW.

Over these episodes I’ll cover:

  • What is the FASTEST path to income from home and 3 keys to making that happen
  • What is the ESSENTIAL thing to spend the most time on when selling an online course or membership
  • Why people aren’t opening your emails
  • 3 Essentials to closing your one-on-one offers
  • How you should be spending time on Facebook

Following even one of these gems of advice will elevate your business immediately today. (I’m confident of this. Message me if it doesn’t and we’ll find a gem for you.

You want to work from home.
You want consistent, reliable income from your online business.
You need flexibility in your schedule for your family.
You don’t want to be tied to meetings and phone calls.

This is all possible in today’s online marketplace.

Maybe you already have a great online business but you’re struggling with consistency, overwhelm or growth.

In part 1 of this 3 part series, I’m going to share some of my best advice for mom’s providing 1-on-1 services (or those wanting to!)

Online businesses progress through many phases.  And each requires a new strategy and tactics.  Over the next 3 Episodes, I’m going to share my best advice in these 3 phases of online business:

  1. All one-on-one services (the fastest path to cash)
  2. Moving from one-on-one to one-to-many services (introducing packages, group programs, online courses / memberships)
  3. Scaling your online business (growing revenue and profitability in your membership or online course)

The fastest path to income is one-on-one services.
VA work.  Professional freelancers (writers, designers, techies).  Or even coaching others.

Contracts aren’t scary!  They are your friends.

My Best Advice about Contracts:

  • Always have one for one-on-one work (it can be a simple Scope of Work – training in the Collective)
  • Keep it simple.  Your initial contract can be a 30 day trial period so you can readjust based on experience.
  • Set and review contracts every 3 months due to this fast changing environment

Increasing Rates is the fastest way to increase income and can happen every 3-6 months in this fast moving world.

I’m getting calls but I’m not getting business!

3 Essentials to closing your one-on-one offers

  • Give a deadline and clear next step “I’m booking up June.  Can you confirm with me by next Tuesday if You’d like me to reserve a space for you?”
  • Be clear about your offer and your rates.  If you can’t on the phone, follow up immediately in writing within 1 day.
  • Be professional AND personable.  Making a relational connection can be the deal winner in a market with a lot of choices.

My Best Advice About Rate Increases:

  • Quote all new work at the new rate
  • Set expectations for current clients when ready to shift rates
  • Wait until you have enough new clients at the new rate then offer existing clients to continue at the new rate or be ready to drop them.

On the next episode, we will take our one-on-one business to the next level —> moving to packaged pricing and 1-to-many programs such as online courses and memberships.

Watch Here

How To Prepare for the Future of Freelance and VA Work

How To Prepare for the Future of Freelance and VA Work

by | May 1, 2018 | Everyday, How She Quits Show

Finding Virtual Work (VA or freelance) won’t look the same in a few years.

In fact, it will be more difficult to work your way into the field. As with any new industry (and online virtual work is still quite a baby in terms of industry maturity), the market matures and changes and newcomers have a more difficult time entering the profession.

So how should you position yourself NOW to stay ahead of this curve?

How can you take advantage of the opportunities in front of you today and make them long term happy clients?

Listen to this episode and hear my take on:

  • Why professional agencies may take over
  • Why being a professional is the most important thing you can be doing right now
  • Why starting quickly even if you don’t feel 100% ready (you never do!) is the right way to do this

Show Notes

00:26 Defining Virtual Professional Work

01:35 The Industry Maturity Matrix –

The online business industry is quite immature in many spaces.

10:48 What does this state of maturity mean for you the virtual professional?

This is good! it means lots of room for growth and innovation.

You will likely run across clients that don’t know what they want/need and change their minds frequently.  That’s normal because we  are in an industry that isn’t mature.  There aren’t a lot of standards and proven processes.  So embrace it!  Because standards and proven processes sounds a lot like boring corporate work to me.

What is one thing you feel you have innovated in your work as a Virtual Professional? Maybe it’s a better way to deliver an email funnel, design a landing page, help an online business owner implement their membership product, etc. Others, your competitors will be innovating so it’s important for you to stay on top of your game.

“HEROIC EFFORT”  is what’s ultimately getting the job done by many solopreneurs these days. They are exhausted and need help. The right virtual professional on their team can move them into a place of repeatable success by helping to implement processes.

13:26 What will this market look like in the future? 

The Virtual Work world is in an early growth and innovation stage.  VA work WILL become commoditized.  And Virtual PROFESSIONALS will soar into the higher paying, long lasting businesses.

Virtual Assistant Placement Agencies will rise and lower the pay for “general VA services”.   Specializing will keep you highly marketable and highly paid.

Those who are building a VA client base now will be solid for the long term business.  Breaking into the VA world at higher dollars will get more and more difficult as the industry matures.   (So START NOW)

16:10 What won’t change.

It will never be a bad business move to be a professional.  “Play Pro Ball” as I like to say.  Your quality results and your network will keep you in business for years to come.

17:40 Moving up the ladder to higher dollar work

Virtual Professional specialists climb the industry maturity curve faster and better than generalist admin VAs.

This is pretty different than other online marketing training, right?

I believe in this boring strategy stuff because it builds YOU.
This training has been about using your skills, talents and network to build sustainable future in virtual work and in online business.
The business world will change but your talents will never go away. You need to continue to focus in on the right places.

2 Ways to build YOU and a sustainable business strategy

How She Quits Collective Monthly Membership – The most affordable way to get access to this type of strategy training for your business.

6 Weeks to Clients 6 Month Mentorship – This is where we go deep. We’ll help you build your website, your package that you’ll offer and your sustainable business plan; moving you up the ladder to higher rates and business growth.

There is an incredible opportunity for growth in the online marketing and services industries. Now is the time to get in there and I’m looking forward to helping you navigate that journey and build a sustainable, profitable business that you can work on your terms.

What should I do to leave corporate? What’s best for me?

What should I do to leave corporate? What’s best for me?

by | Apr 27, 2018 | Everyday, How She Quits Show

You can stop being overwhelmed by all the noise, coaches wanting to “help” and online training programs.

This episode is going to show you how to discover the best path for you in virtual online businesses. Whether you haven’t yet started, or you are deep in the weeds and wondering…. is this right for me? I’m going to walk through that decision making process and simple options.

What should you REALLY do to leave that corporate job and work from home?

This is one common question I’m going to answer that shows up so often in our email:

“I am overwhelmed by the amount of people who want to “help” you on your journey with their training programs. It is hard to know which one is “the” one that will get you where you want to go. I wish I could just wave a wand and have someone tell me what I would be best at! Can you do that?? 🙂 Along those lines, when you did quit, how did you know what you wanted to start doing? Did you do self exploration or was it an easy decision?”

 

Watch Episode 12:

<div style="padding:75% 0 0 0;position:relative;"><iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/266919898" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->

How to Prospect for Virtual Work Using Flexjobs

How to Prospect for Virtual Work Using Flexjobs

by | Apr 18, 2018 | Everyday, How She Quits Show

Welcome to the How She Quits Show – Episode 11

Where can I find quality virtual work I can do from home? How do I effectively use the online job sites to prospect for new clients?

These are common questions for new and seasoned Virtual Professionals. On Episode 11 of the How She Quits Show I’m going to demystify this topic by giving you a live tour of Flexjobs, a job site for freelancers, but more importantly exactly HOW I filter and search to find the exact right opportunities for many different specialties – VA work, Project Managers, writers, finance gurus, marketers and more.

We’ll look at hot jobs available now and I’ll show you how to identify the jobs worth bidding for.

<iframe src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/265860344" width="640" height="480" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen allowfullscreen></iframe><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->

Show Notes

In this episode:

  • The different types of work you can find on Flexjobs and how to find the best fit for you.
  • How to maximize the search filters
  • Specific job search examples
  • What to review on a job post to know if it’s “the one”
  • When to use Flexjobs vs other search sites
  • Tools you need when applying for any virtual work opportunity

What Criteria to Use When Reviewing Job Posts

  • Is it the business or a 3rd party hiring for the position?
  • What does it say about travel?
  • What other positions do they have open? On Flexjobs or their website.
  • Can you see yourself loving their mission/products?
  • Do they seem new to virtual work or happily exploding in this space?
  • Is it regimented times or can work be done on a flexible schedule?
  • Do the pay expectations match the requirements?

Necessary Tools for Your Virtual Work Prospecting

  1. Website + Portfolio (don’t over-complicate here!) to share with prospects
  2. Contracts, Templates, Prospecting Emails to negotiate and formalize your agreement
  3. Service Packages + Pricing to match your talent and skill level to the exact services and price for the client.

Want to move fast?

Join 6 Weeks To Clients

You’ll have the steps lined out and the support you need to start or grow your business more rapidly

JOIN NOW
Taxes, Insurance, Legalities: Basic Steps to Start Your Virtual Professional Business

Taxes, Insurance, Legalities: Basic Steps to Start Your Virtual Professional Business

by | Mar 13, 2018 | Everyday, How She Quits Show, Virtual Professional

Welcome to the How She Quits Show – Episode 10: Taxes – Insurance – Legalities

These can seem like big scary topics that end up being mental blocks to moving forward in your Virtual Professional Business.

Listen, there are simple black and white answers to all of this. We’ll push the noise out of your head so you can move forward to more important steps…. like landing that client who’s going to give you the money

[thrive_leads id='38303']

Show Notes: Taxes, Insurance, Legalities

This video is for you if: 

  • You are considering starting an online business of any kind and aren’t sure of the legal and tax implications
  • You are a VA or Virtual Professional still operating as a sole proprietor or without contracts or insurance

The Simple Steps You Need to Start Your Online Virtual Professional Business Off Right

6:07 Determine your legal entity (sole proprietor, llc) – You can start today as a sole proprietor without any heavy legal process.

10:50 Register your legal entity officially in your state/county as required

17:27 Have a simple contract in place for clients – A simple contract can cover many freelance / VA client-service work agreements. Don’t let that hold you back from applying.

Track your income and expenses

11:45 Understand your tax laws and file your taxes

18:25 Protect yourself with the right insurance – Some clients may want you to have your own liability insurance. Don’t worry. It’s affordable.

25:45 Your business name does not have to be your website name (and probably shouldn’t be).

Resources Shared:

Note that we can google anything and it will put us in a ballpark of answers. But for complete answers in the legal and tax space, you should consult a local professional in small business. Here are a few examples of resources from around the web:

First Time Freelancer’s Guide to Taxes

Example state sales tax resource (from consulting service, check your local resources)

While you probably want this to be all steps 1-2-3, and much of it is, the most important aspect is setting yourself up right for financial gain and the right level of risk for you. the best book on this topic currently is called “Profit First”. http://amzn.to/2DykgAs

 

 

Here’s a description of the Profit First methodology:

Conventional accounting uses the logical (albeit, flawed) formula: Sales – Expenses = Profit. The problem is, businesses are run by humans, and humans aren’t always logical. Serial entrepreneur Mike Michalowicz has developed a behavioral approach to accounting to flip the formula: Sales – Profit = Expenses. Just as the most effective weight loss strategy is to limit portions by using smaller plates, Michalowicz shows that by taking profit first and apportioning only what remains for expenses, entrepreneurs will transform their businesses from cash-eating monsters to profitable cash cows. Using Michalowicz’s Profit First system, readers will learn that:

  • Following 4 simple principles can simplify accounting and make it easier to manage a profitable business by looking at bank account balances.
  • A small, profitable business can be worth much more than a large business surviving on its top line.
  • Businesses that attain early and sustained profitability have a better shot at achieving long-term growth.

With dozens of case studies, practical, step-by-step advice, and his signature sense of humor, Michalowicz has the game-changing roadmap for any entrepreneur to make money they always dreamed of.

Next Steps:

I hope that wiped away some unknowns that have been holding you back. If you’re fuzzy, go back to the simple steps and knock them out one by one. If you still have questions specific to your online / virtual professional business, the How She Quits Collective is a great place to have them answered. (or if your husband has questions, you can ask them for him there too. We’re getting a lot of “My husband wanted to know…” questions lately!

[thrive_leads id=’36263′]