Lesson Category: Small Business

7. Launch a successful pilot program

With the:

7. Pilot Invitation Templates

You will learn how to successfully invite clients to a pilot program, as opposed to "selling before you create" an unproven program.

Instead of selling your product before you've created it (worst business advice ever), run a trial version with a select group of your ideal customers. Get fast, effective feedback, without having to create a fully fledged professional version before you KNOW whether they're going to hit the mark for your clients.   Not convinced you need to run a pilot before your official launch? Learn from the mistakes of my clients. I'm talking bankruptcy, divorce, the whole shebang. Engage with the Pre-Reading Task.

Not sure whether you need this lesson?

READ: Why selling before you create is a recipe for disaster

Get the Low Down

on how to create a successful pilot, including various options for approaching clients, structuring the exchange and making sure you get the right feedback.

PILOT INVITATION TEMPLATE

2. Create your Small Business Support Network

With the:

2. Create your Small Business Support Network Worksheet.

You will learn how to set yourself up for success, when working for yourself.

Running a small business can be a very challenging personal development experience -the first three years for me were pretty rough, thanks to not having a proper support network.

Don't make the same mistakes I did!

Not sure whether you need one?

This article gives you 3 of my Top Tips for Starting a Small Business, and explains how I learnt the hard way!

TOP 3 TIPS FOR STARTING A SMALL BUSINESS

CREATE YOUR SMALL BUSINESS SUPPORT NETWORK WORKSHEET

1. Ways to pay it forward

With the:

1. Ways to Pay it Forward Interview & Worksheet

You will learn how to use your small business to pay it forward.

There are lots of ways you can give back to a community who can benefit from your skills, expertise and experience. Plan out how you can start Paying it Forward with this simple, practical worksheet. Be inspired with a piece of music written by the late Clare Grieg, and her interview with Robyn Patton on what it means to work in a business where you're on purpose, and giving back. Unfortunately the interview Clare did with me on The Joy of Giving Back, is no longer available; many thanks to Robyn for allowing me to use her interview with Clare so that her legacy can live on in The Library. The piece of music 'Be the Change', backed all the interviews Clare did in her 'Be the Change' series.

Not sure about whether you want to Pay it Forward in your business?

Have a read of  this article to see how simple and rewarding it can be.

GIVING BACK - MARIADOYLE.COM

LISTEN TO THE INTERVIEW: 27 MIN

WAYS TO PAY IT FORWARD

Listen here, to the music that Clare created for her podcast series 'Be the Change'. The words, and the music, strike a special place in my heart. Long live Clare's legacy. 'Be the change. Be the change you want to see in the world. Be the change. It takes just you. It takes just one little step. All it means is you have to take control and believe in yourself. It just takes one step from you. You can do it all by yourself. Be the change. Be the change you want to see in the world.' 

3. Hire the right professionals

With the:

3. Hire the Right Professional Worksheet.

You will learn how to invest in professionals, courses and programs that are the right fit for your business, without wasting time or money.  

There is a myriad of people out there who can help you succeed in the small business world, but how to choose the right one? How to know you're not wasting your money and time on someone who can't deliver the goods?  Have you asked enough questions to know that you're hiring someone who has dependable references, demonstrated experience in industries similar to yours, and fair terms and conditions of service?

Think you've got all your bases covered? Read my Top 4 Tips for Hiring a Professional before you jump in! Don't get burnt the way I did!

4 THINGS TO LOOK FOR WHEN HIRING A PROFESSIONAL

HIRE THE RIGHT PROFESSIONAL

5. Choose between SEO, SEM and SMO

With the:

5. Interviews with Kate Toon and Lauren Hotson

You will learn how to differentiate between the search engine and social media strategies, and choose the best solution for you and your business.

No idea what you need? I didn't either - until I worked with Lauren and then recently did Kate Toon's Recipe for SEO Success Course.

Kate has given us a quick outline on what we need to know as small business owners wanting to get the most out of our SEO, and Lauren gave us a longer interview which explained the differences between SEO, SEM and SMO.

Read about how I went from being completely in denial, to confident and reassured I knew exactly what I needed, with the Pre-Reading Task.    All Lauren's notes we talk about in the interview, are summarised on her website in the 'SMO EXPLAINED CLEARLY' Extra Reading article.

DO YOU REALLY NEED SEO, SEM & SMO? MARIADOYLE.COM

WATCH THE INTERVIEW: 10 MINS

Kate's Free SEO Nibbles Course - the perfect place to start!

LISTEN TO PODCAST: 10 MINS

READ: TRANSCRIPT

LISTEN TO PODCAST: 50 MINS

SMO EXPLAINED CLEARLY DIGITALPOLLINATORS.COM

6. Communicate using effective copy

With the:

6. Interview with copy-editor Kris Emery

You will learn how to powerfully communicate your message to attract and engage your ideal clients.  

Is your message really being heard? Kris explains to us the nuts and bolts behind writing copy for your learning experiences, or websites, that really speaks to your clients in language they can relate to. What does that result in? Clients taking action, creating real change, and serious kicking goals.

Want the brief overview before you launch into the interview? Engage with the Pre-Reading Task where you'll get a very brief summary of what we discussed.

Not sure whether you need this lesson?

READ: 4 Ways to effectively communicate your copy here.

WATCH INTERVIEW: 75 MINS

BUSY? LISTEN INSTEAD

READ: TRANSCRIPT

ARE YOU REALLY BEING HEARD?

4. Legal Webinar Series

With the:

4. Legal Webinar Series with Katie Richards

You will ensure you've got the legal basics covered.  

No idea what you should be including in your Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policies, or Joint Venture agreements? You don't know what you don't know until you realise you don't know it - and legally, that can land you in a LOT of hot water!  Join us for two webinars where Katie Richards covers the basics, including live questions from the audience.  Download the cheat sheet with all her recommendations, so that you're prepared.

Don't think you need Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policies or Joint Venture agreements? Read through all the questions below, which outlines all the content Katie covers. Then engage with the Pre-Reading Tasks as you'll find out fairly swiftly how I learnt these lessons the hard way (and how you can avoid the same traps!)

Webinar 1: Legal Basics for Educators and Trainers

3 THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT TERMS AND CONDITIONS

WATCH WEBINAR 1: 37 MINS

(please note intro slide says Legal 2)

BUSY? LISTEN INSTEAD

READ: SUMMARY NOTES

(covering both webinars)

Webinar 2: Privacy Policies and Joint Venture Agreements

WHAT SHOULD YOU PAY YOUR GUEST SPEAKERS AND COLLABORATORS?

WATCH WEBINAR 2: 37 MINS

(please note intro slide says Legal 1)

BUSY? LISTEN INSTEAD

USE: JV AGREEMENT TEMPLATE

(COMING SOON)

Want to book in for a session with Virtual Legal?

Contact Katie directly for a free 15 minute chat by completing the Contact Us form at www.virtuallegal.com.au or via email team@virtuallegal.com.au

Summary of Questions

  • Terms and Conditions
    • what should be included for online products and services?
    • is there a one size fits all model?
    • do the terms and conditions have to be on the page where they buy? should they have to tick a box before buying to say they’ve read them?
  • Products
    • do we need terms around refunds?
    • do we need to provide evidence they have accessed the product or just that they have logged into a membership site where the product is downloadable?
  • Services
    • what happens when a client purchases a service then doesn’t want to use it?
    • can we charge admin fee if service hasn’t been provided?
  • International clients
    • what law do we operate under? Theirs or ours?
    • can they sue us from abroad?
  • Do we fight or cave in when a client makes a refund request difficult?
    • are we simply giving away our IP or is it better not to make waves and upset the wrong people?
  • Privacy Policies 
    • what needs to be included?
    • how do we know whether we’re up to date?
    • how long do we need to keep people’s information?
    • does it need to be secure?
    • do all small businesses need a privacy policy or only those collecting information online?
    • should all websites have a privacy policy?
    • does a client’s email address constitute “personal information”?
    • what else is considered “personal information” and what are appropriate security measures for protecting this?
  • Joint Ventures and Partnership Agreements
    • what do I need to know about working with other professionals when I'm creating content or communities?
    • do I need a legal document if we're creating something together?
    • what do I need to make sure is clear with my Joint Venture Partner before we start working together?