Info

Build Your Online Audience

This podcast ended in April 2021. Follow my NEW PODCAST: the Courageous Content podcast on Apple podcasts here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/courageous-content-with-janet-murray/id1569783857 Or on your favourite podcast app here:  https://courageous-content.captivate.fm/
RSS Feed Subscribe in Apple Podcasts
Build Your Online Audience
2021
June
March
February
January


2020
December
November
October
September
August
July
June
May
April
March
February
January


2019
December
November
October
September
August
May
April
March
February
January


2018
December
November
October


Categories

All Episodes
Archives
Categories
Now displaying: Category: general
Nov 16, 2020

Are you thinking of selling your product or service at an online Christmas market?

Perhaps you’re wondering what to sell or how to put your offer together? And how do you make a gift voucher for a service look as attractive as an actual physical product?

Listen to this bonus podcast episode I’m sharing everything I’ve learnt from hosting my annual Facebook Live Christmas market.

Get my tips and techniques for selling your product or service at a Facebook Live without feeling selly or scammy.

Find out how to put your offer together and why it needs to be something that people want AND what could happen if you give people too much choice.

I’m sharing tech tips to make sure your Facebook Live is slick and professional and why you must look the part. And the essentials you need to hand - to make sure your Facebook Live runs smoothly.

Discover how to share your product or service with your Facebook Live audience and why you should show - but not tell people about your product or service. And why you need to think about the bigger picture - rather than how much money you make on the day.

PLUS tips on how to promote your Christmas market on social media and why it's much more powerful to promote your event as team effort.

 

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

 

**Scroll down to the shownotes and to see other podcast episodes .**

 

1. Plan 

Create your offer 

Avoid being random

Don’t overwhelm people with choice. Create a focused collection rather than going to broad and confusing people with too much choice.

What would make a really great gift? What would people love to open on Christmas day?

If you’re a product-based business have a think about your products that go well together and focus on one part of your business. Or perhaps look at your highest selling products.

You can still do this with a  service-based business but you just need to think what would make it a really great gift. How can you make a voucher more of an exciting gift. What could you include with it?

If you’re a service-based business - it needs to be something people REALLY want.

E.g.

  • Bread-making classes - swag to go with it
  • Career coaching - book to go with it?
  • Singing lessons - practise recordings/lead sheets etc

Create a dedicated URL or voucher code so you can track sales 

One of my clients Beth was able to tell me she’d made £750 on my Christmas market sale last year. Memorise the URL - use bitly to create a memorable link.

2. Prepare 

Think about how you can ‘show not tell’. Source any products/props that might be helpful for the broadcast. Even if you’re selling a service rather than a product, showing some of the things you use in your work - or even dressing in your work clothes (if you’re a therapist, baker or personal trainer for example) will help you tell the story of your business in a visual way.

Devise and practice your ‘ten-word top line’ for your product/service e.g. ‘pre-picked and gifts for Christmas stockings for two to ten-year-olds’  or ‘style consultations for men who hate shopping’. The more specific you can be about what your product/service is and how it helps people...the more you’ll sell.

Make a list of frequently asked questions. Write down every single question you’ve ever been asked about your product/service - or think you might get asked. That way, you’re unlikely to get ‘caught out’ on your Facebook Live.

Decide where you’re going to do your broadcast. Things to consider include: lighting (position yourself where you’re facing a window if you don’t have lighting), sound (if you have a lapel mic consider using it. If not, just make sure you’re in a quiet space), make sure you have a good internet connection.

Create a backup video - just in case you have a problem with your tech. I’m asking my Christmas market people to do this.

3. Promote 

Promote the Christmas market to your followers. Don’t just post about it on social media (if you do, you’re likely to get very little engagement). Instead, think about how you can get your followers involved in the process.

For example, you could ask them which product/service you should be selling at the market, what you should wear on the live broadcast, how you might style your backdrop.

Make it as easy for people to engage as possible. As a general rule, closed questions generally work better than open. So instead of asking your followers what you should be selling (open question), give them a small number of options to choose from (closed).

Instead of asking them what you should wear (open), post a pic of yourself in two possible outfits (seen that somewhere before?!) and ask them which they prefer (closed). Instead of asking for advice on styling your backdrop (closed), ask them if they prefer location A or location B (with pics).

Other ways to promote your Christmas market to your social media followers:

  • Instagram stories is great for this kind of content (particularly with the polls/questions option)....so get on there and have some fun!
  • Instagram Reels 30-second video clips
  • Email your list (if you have one)
  • Do a Facebook Live previewing the market - share with your followers what you’ll be doing and when
  • Encourage your followers to accept the join the Facebook event (that way they’ll get reminders nearer the time).
  • Create an Instagram story showing you preparing for the market - people love behind-the-scenes content

    Remember that your success is not just about what YOU do as an individual - promote others and make it a team effort.

Join my Christmas market as a seller here

Podcast shownotes

 

  • About my online virtual Christmas market (01:41)
  • How the format works for my Facebook Live virtual Christmas market (04:40)
  • Why I’m charging people to sell at my online Christmas market (05:20)
  • How to create the right offer to sell for an online virtual market (08:07)
  • Why you shouldn’t overwhelm people with too many products and offers (09:40)
  • Why your product has to be something that people want to receive as a gift (10:08)
  • How to sell a service-based offer at an online Christmas market (11:55)
  • Why you should create a trackable link/voucher code for your offer (13:28)
  • Why it’s more than just what you sell on the Facebook Live (14:30)
  • Why you need to show people your product and not just tell them (15:17)
  • What you need to consider for your tech for a Facebook Live sale (16:31)
  • How to introduce yourself and tips for selling on a Facebook Live (20:11)
  • How to keep your intro simple and tell people what you do (23:35)
  • Why you should have a list of your frequently asked questions (25:02)
  • Why you should have a backup plan in case there's a tech problem (26:01)
  • How to promote your online sale (and why you need to get involved) (27:01)
  • How to get your audience involved in your Christmas market (28:50)
  • How to promote your online Christmas market to your audience (29:47)
  • Why it’s not selly or scammy selling on a Facebook Live sale (30:55)

Resources

Join my Christmas market as a seller here

Buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner
Join my Build Your Online Audience programme Build Your Online Audience programme

Other useful podcasts

[Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)
[Bonus] Should you buy my 2021 Social media Diary & Planner? (podcast)

[385 ] How to sell on Instagram Stories without feeling sleazy (podcast)
[320] How to host a Christmas sale on Facebook Live (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram Facebook and LinkedIn

Nov 13, 2020

Are you fed up with staring at a blank page and wondering what to write your social media posts about?

Would you love to make your content creation easy and fast?

Listen to this podcast episode I share three social media content strategies for creating quick social media posts that your audience will love.

Discover how to batch 30 days of social media posts in just 30 minutes - and how anyone can learn to create content fast - with my practical tips and techniques.

Learn how to stop overthinking your content and just get it done. And why you should NEVER just talk about business in your social media posts.

Find out why some of the best social media posts are so simple - and be amazed at how much time they save you.

PLUS you can get 12 instant social media posts that you can use for January awareness days.

I’d love to know if this helps you.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

I really suggest that you listen to the other podcast episodes below the shownotes if you want to explore different types of content creation.

Podcast shownotes

  • About this podcast episode (01:44)
  • Why you need to be social on social media and not just post about your biz (3:01)
  • How to use awareness days to create content for your business (4:42)
  • How to reuse the same social media posts on all platforms (5:59)
  • Ideas for January awareness day posts that you can use (7:14)
  • How to make great social media posts by just about asking questions (10:01)
  • How to curate content and share other people’s content on Instagram (12:57)
  • How to research other people’s content and what to consider (15:50)
  • The three types of caption you can use on your social media posts (17:20)
  • How to create quick niche listicle posts for social media (20:14)
  • Some ideas for creating listicle social media posts (22:36)
  • How to think about creating topics for listicles (23:24)
  • How to create social media posts fast and stop overthinking (24:26)
  • How you can learn to create content quickly (26:30)
  • What to do when you have posts that bomb (27:47)
  • Why you can’t just post and go on your platforms (28:37)
  • Why some engagement is better than no engagement (30:32)
  • What to do if you’re not getting engagement on your posts (31:21)
  • About my Social Media Diary & Planner (32:30)

Resources

Find out about my Batch like a boss masterclass Buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner
Join my Build Your Online Audience programme Build Your Online Audience programme

Other useful podcasts

[Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)
[Bonus] Should you buy my 2021 Social media Diary & Planner? (podcast)
[Bonus] How to get the most out of my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner (podcast)

[343] The three audiences that you must build to create a profitable online business (podcast)
[374] How to create a year’s worth of content in one morning (podcast)
[381] How to use awareness days to create engaging content about your business (podcast)
[386] The four types of content to create that will help you make more sales in 2020 (podcast)
[390] How to stop overthinking your content (podcast)
[392] How to get more engagement on Instagram (podcast)
[405] The secret to creating bingeworthy content (podcast)
[407] How to turn boring topics into engaging content (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram Facebook and LinkedIn

Nov 6, 2020

Are you thinking of planning and running an online virtual event? Maybe you’d love to know how much it really costs and if it’s worthwhile doing?

Listen to this podcast episode and find out everything I learnt from planning and running a sellout online virtual event 2021Sorted.

Discover how I moved my annual LIVE in-person content planning event to a LIVE online virtual event. I share the costs involved and what you need to consider - from event insurance and contingency planning to entertaining people and making sure your event isn't one long dreary Zoom call.

I explain the tech that was used to host and run my online virtual event - the essential things you need to have in place and what your team needs to do.

Find out how I created a buzz about an online virtual event, sold tickets and why it was worth investing in Facebook Ads.

PLUS how I made sure that everyone had the same networking opportunities that they would have at an in-person event.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

 

Scroll down for more useful podcast episodes.

Podcast shownotes

 

  • About this podcast episode (00:49)
  • About my annual content planning event 2021 Sorted (02:04)
  • How we told the delegates that it was moving online (04:18)
  • Why I decided to move the event online rather than cancel (06:29)
  • How I hired a virtual event producer and planned the event (07:29)
  • How I created networking opportunities for delegates (08:38)
  • How we used Zoom Rooms for networking (09:50)
  • About the Level Up Sessions and the topics I chose (10:50)
  • About the Keynote Speakers and topics (13:10)
  • How much it cost me to run my live online virtual event (14:39)
  • How we did our tech contingency planning for an online virtual event (16:23)
  • How to get virtual online event insurance (18:59)
  • How we kept people entertained at a virtual event (19:50)
  • Other virtual online event and tech costs (21:09)
  • How much I spent on Facebook Ads to promote a virtual event (22:26)
  • Why you need to look beyond the cost of hosting a virtual online event (23:06)
  • The tech that we used to stream the online virtual event live (24:08)
  • How we made sure the speakers were in the right place (25:01)
  • How we warmed everyone up for the individual sessions (26:11)
  • Why we created lots of artwork for the event (27:34)
  • How I sold tickets for my online virtual event 2021Sorted (27:53)
  • How we created engagement and a buzz about the event (29:24)
  • Why I’m creating  a podcast stream for the event (29:50)
  • How to join 2021 Sorted after the event (31:38)

Resources

Ecamm Live

Join my 2021 Sorted Club
Buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner
Join my Build Your Online Audience programme Build Your Online Audience programme

Other useful podcasts

[Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)
[Bonus] Should you buy my 2021 Social media Diary & Planner? (podcast)
[Bonus] How to get the most out of attending my 2021 Sorted virtual event (podcast)
[Bonus] How to get the most out of my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner (podcast)

[250] How to use email marketing to promote live events (podcast)
[343] The three audiences that you must build to create a profitable online business (podcast)
[421] Seven signs you're ready to run Facebook Ads (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram Facebook and LinkedIn

Oct 30, 2020

Do you struggle to create content and stick to a content plan?

Would you love to show up online regularly and create great content - but you just can't ever make the time?

Perhaps you start with good intentions and you struggle with being consistent or you can't think what to post and it becomes days or weeks before you post anything again.

Maybe creating social media content has become just another thing on your to-do list? Or perhaps you spend ages creating BRILLIANT pieces of content and it goes out and NO ONE responds and you just feel like giving up?

If any of that sounds familiar you'll love this podcast episode.

I explain the seven problems that people have with creating regular content and how to overcome them.

Find out what type of content creator you are and what you need to think about BEFORE you create your content. Plus the ONE thing your content must-do if you're going to get people engaging with you.

Listen and find out what could be holding you back in your content creation and why you can't rely on your will power alone to make you do something if you're NOTfeeling the love for it.

Discover how to make content creation your thing and what to do if you really don't enjoy it.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

 

Scroll down for more useful podcast episodes.

 

Podcast shownotes

 

  • About my content planning event 2021 Sorted (01:30)
  • How to catch up with 2021 Sorted  if you missed it live (02:45)
  • Some background to this podcast episode (04:09)
  • Why you can’t force yourself to stick to a content plan (14:50)
  • Why people find it hard to stick to a content plan (16:23)
  • Why it’s hard to create content if you haven’t got a business plan (17:05)
  • Why you need to figure out your audience before you plan your content (18:05)
  • Why your content isn’t getting any engagement (19:10)
  • Why you have to understand your audiences emotional needs (19:50)
  • What to think about if you don’t know what sort of content to create (20:30)
  • Why you should create content according to the buying journey of your audience (24:08)
  • The three different types of content that you can create (30:06)
  • Why you have to make the time to create content (31:29)
  • How to get accountability to make sure you create content (32:40)
  • Why your social media platform might be holding you back (35:06)
  • Why batching content might work for you (37:45)
  • The three type of content creator (38:40)
  • Why you should delegate the parts of content creation you don’t like (40:54)
  • Why you shouldn’t let other people’s content hold you back (42:42)
  • Why your self-beliefs could be holding you back from creating content (44:35)
  • Why you have to find your thing (47:41)

Resources

Join my live online event 2021 Sorted
Buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner
Join my Build Your Online Audience programme Build Your Online Audience programme

Other useful podcasts

[Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)
[Bonus] Should you buy my 2021 Social media Diary & Planner? (podcast)
[Bonus] How to get the most out of attending my 2021 Sorted virtual event (podcast)
[Bonus] How to get the most out of my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner (podcast)

 

[343] The three audiences that you must build to create a profitable online business (podcast)
[374] How to create a year’s worth of content in one morning (podcast)
[381] How to use awareness days to create engaging content about your business (podcast)
[386] The four types of content to create that will help you make more sales in 2020 (podcast)
[390] How to stop overthinking your content (podcast)
[405] The secret to creating bingeworthy content (podcast)
[407] How to turn boring topics into engaging content (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram Facebook and LinkedIn

Oct 28, 2020

Have you bought my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner and you’re wondering how best to use it?

Perhaps you struggle to create content about your business and you’d love some inspiration about how to think creatively and plan your content? If that sounds familiar then this special bonus podcast episode is for you.

Discover how to use my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner to plan an entire year’s worth of content around your business by creating yearly/quarterly/monthly/weekly content plans.

I share practical tips about how to get the most out of your diary and how to use your diary to inspire creative sparks that will help you plan and create content - that is REALLY engaging and starts conversations with your ideal clients and customers.

You’ll find out the ONE thing that you need to do BEFORE you start planning and creating your content.

I share examples of the types of content that you can create - so that you can get maximum results and engagement and why you don’t always have to talk about your business.

Find out how to use the awareness days in the diary to create sales points in your business (especially if you sell the same product or service all year round)

Haven’t got your 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner yet? Then scroll to the link below.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

 

Buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner
Join my live online event 2021 Sorted
Find out about my 2021 Sorted Club and upgrade your diary here
Join my Build Your Online Audience programme Build Your Online Audience programme

Find out more about my Janet Murray affiliate scheme

Podcast show notes

 

  • About my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner (02:08)
  • What you need to think about before using your planner (04:03)
  • Why you need to think about your ideal customer clients need from you (05:30)
  • The three different types of audience you need to create content for (07:09)
  • Why you need to create content about objections to your product/service (09:40)
  • What is awareness content and why you should create it (11:31)
  • Why you need to make time to work on your content plan (13:24)
  • Why there’s no right or wrong way to use your 2021 Social Media Diary (15:01)
  • How to start creating your annual plan with a yearly overview (16:32)
  • Why you might need a business plan before you create your content plan (17:53)
  • Why you can’t sell the same product/service the same way all year (19:26)
  • How to plan your year and where you can create peak points (20:07)
  • How to create your own peak points with awareness days (23:40)
  • How to plan your quarterly content (25:45)
  • How to plan a regular piece of content every week (27:35)
  • Why you should time your content with what you’re selling (30:01)
  • Why every piece of content doesn't have to be about your business (32:09)
  • How to create your monthly and weekly content plans (34:20)
  • How to repurpose your core piece of content (35:34)
  • About my 2021 Sorted Club (38:20)

Other useful podcasts

 

[Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)
[Bonus] Should you buy my 2021 Social media Diary & Planner (podcast)
[Bonus] Should you attend my 2021 Sorted content planning event  (podcast)

[343] The three audiences that you must build to create a profitable online business (podcast)
[381] How to use awareness days to create engaging content about your business (podcast)
[407] How to turn boring topics into engaging content (podcast)
[422] Behind the scenes of my launch how I sold £10K of planners in 24 hours (podcast)

Oct 23, 2020

Want to become a better online teacher? And create online classes, that people can’t stop talking about and really make people sit up and listen?

Perhaps you've taught a few online classes but you’re worried that people get bored or you worry that you're doing it all WRONG?

Maybe you’re thinking of launching some online training or creating a webinar or masterclass? But you're not sure how to plan your lesson and how to engage people? If any of this sounds familiar then this podcast episode is a must-listen.

You’ll learn how to create lessons that people can’t get enough of and how to really stand out in the online teaching world.

I share the three questions that you need to ask yourself when planning an online class or training session - so that you can give people the BEST learning experience.

Find out how to bring your training to life and keep people interested and the most powerful thing that your online teaching can do for someone.

I’m sharing practical tips and quick wins that you can use to transform your online classes - which will help you generate MORE online income.

PLUS why you must take online training seriously if you're using it to build your authority in your industry.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

Scroll down for more podcast episodes and resources that you can use.

Podcast shownotes

  • About my annual content planning event 2021 Sorted (01:20)
  • About this podcast episode and why I recorded it (8:09)
  • Why most people need to learn how to be a good teacher (10:09)
  • About my masterclass teacher training for online course creators (12:05)
  • The 3 important questions I ask myself before teaching online (13:04)
  • Why stories can help people relate and bring your training to life (15:20)
  • Why you should use closed and open-ended questions (16:32)
  • How to use closed questions at the beginning/end of a training session (18:24)
  • How to use polls and quizzes to break up the flow of the training session (21:23)
  • Why questions are so important in the learning process (23:01)
  • Why showing and not telling helps people remember things (24:10)
  • Why you need to mix up your teaching for the different learning styles (27:01)
  • How to use groups online or pair work to encourage learning (28:28)
  • Why a transformation in the training session is really important (30:22)
  • Why giving live feedback can change the pace of a class (32:44)
  • Why you should encourage people to share relatable stories (34:50)
  • My biggest fear about guests teachers (39:51)
  • Why you need to take online teaching seriously if you’re building your authority (40:28)
  • How you can see me in action teaching (40:55)

Resources

Find out more about my masterclass: Teacher training for online course creators
Find out more about by masterclass: How To Plan And Create Awesome Teaching Resources For An Online Course
Join my live online event 2021 Sorted
Buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner
Join my Build Your Online Audience programme Build Your Online Audience programme
Find out more about my Janet Murray affiliate scheme

Other useful podcasts

[Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)
[Bonus] Should you buy my 2021 Social media Diary & Planner? (podcast)
[Bonus] How to get the most out of attending my 2021 Sorted virtual event (podcast)

[339] How to build an audience for an online course or membership (podcast)
[418] How long does it take to create an online course (podcast)
[419] How to share client testimonials without looking like a show-off (podcast)
[423] How to deal with freeloaders by creating a Power Hour (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram Facebook and LinkedIn

Oct 16, 2020

Are you planning to launch a course or membership...but feel overwhelmed by the idea of all the content you might have to create?

If so, you’ll love this podcast episode: The ultimate course launch checklist: how to plan and create content for a course/membership launch  

Here’s what I’ll cover:

✔️ The two different types of content you need to create (and why it’s better to create one before the other)

✔️ My launch checklist (i.e. the essential content I think you need to create for a launch)

✔️ The three different launch phases (and what you should be publishing in each).

Discover how you can save time by repurposing content that you create and how much time you'll really need for your launch.

PLUS I have a free download where you can get a copy of my launch checklist (scroll to the end for the link)

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

 

Scroll down for more podcast episodes and resources that you can use

Podcast shownotes

  • About my launch content intensive one to one (03:46)
  • The different types of content that you need to create for a launch (5:31)
  • What functional content is and why you need to create it (6:14)
  • Why you should write a project overview (and how to do it) (8:23)
  • Why you need to nail your offer or your sell in your sales page (10:30)
  • How to map out sales page content and information you need (14:15)
  • Why you need to spend time getting your testimonials right (16:09)
  • Why you need to have an FAQ section and use this for content creation (20:41)
  • What you need to consider for onboarding emails (24:07)
  • How to repurpose functional content into marketing content (27:01)
  • The types of email needed for a launch and how to save time (30:19)
  • How to repurpose your sales page into social media posts (32:28)
  • How to plan core content strategically around what you’re selling (33:22)
  • Why you need to consider the type of content in relation to the sale you want (34:57)
  • Why you need to give yourself enough time to launch (37:35)
  • How to build authority with content (and why you need to do this) (40:07)
  • How to create content that makes a buzz about a launch (45:25)
  • Why you need to create content about objections (48:16)
  • How to repurpose functional content into consideration content (49:20)
  • How long should you allow for a launch time (51:03)

Resources

Get a copy of  The ultimate course launch checklist
Join my live online event 2021 Sorted
Buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner
Join my Build Your Online Audience programme Build Your Online Audience programme
Find out more about my Janet Murray affiliate scheme

Scheduling tools Calendly or Acuity Scheduling

Other useful podcasts

 

[Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)

[Bonus] Should you buy my 2021 Social media Diary & Planner? (podcast)
[Bonus] How to get the most out of attending my 2021 Sorted virtual event (podcast)

[386] The four types of content that will make you more sales in your business (podcast)
[414] How much does it cost to launch your own planner (podcast)
[418] How long does it take to create an online course (podcast)
[419] How to share client testimonials without looking like a show-off (podcast)
[422] How I sold £10K of planners in 24 hours behind the scenes of my latest launch (podcast)[423] How to deal with freeloaders by creating a Power Hour (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram Facebook and LinkedIn

Oct 13, 2020

Attending my 2021 Sorted virtual event and wondering how to get the most out of the experience?

Perhaps you haven’t attended a virtual event before and you’re wondering how to get the most out of the experience.

Here’s everything you need to know to get the most out of my 2021 Sorted content planning event.

If you're not attending my 2021Sorted virtual event and you'd like to know more about it then head to the links at the end.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

1. Block out Nov 3 and 4 in your diary.

Having a couple of days to work on your business rather (than in it) is a gift. So make sure you've got those days blocked out in the diary and have organised childcare. If you can, book a hotel... although make sure you have decent wifi.

Timings: 9:30am - 4:00pm both days
Virtual bar: 7-10pm

2. Add other key dates to your diary

Event briefing: Tuesday October 27 @2pm GMT (30 mins)
Content planning masterclass: Nov 26
Coaching calls: Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4

3. Connect with other delegates social media before the event.

Join the event Facebook group if you haven't already (and go introduce yourself).

Follow our Twitter lists for speakers and delegates. Make lists of others attending the event you'd like to connect with. What are you going to sell?

Create your own shareable #2021Sorted images with our Canva templates...and start telling people about the event. We also have generic images here.

4. Research the speakers/sessions and connect on social media

Day 1 Keynote sessions

  • How to plan, create and launch a podcast in 2021 with Colin Gray aka The Podcast Host
  • Launch a profitable online course in 2021 with Janet Murray
  • Self-publish a book in 2021 with Sacha Black
  • How to launch a membership site in 2021 with Membership Guys founder Mike Morrison
  • Launch or revive your Youtube channel in 2021 with Steve Dotto
  • How to launch a live video show with Ian Anderson Gray

Day 1 Level Up sessions

Level Up sessions are guide discussions that focus on a range of issues that impact entrepreneurs - but dont always get the attention they need/deserve e. g. mental health, dealing with copycats/trolls, running your business around a family & more.

You'll hear from a panel of expert speakers, then break into groups (in Zoom rooms) and talk with other delegates.

  • How to be more inclusive in your marketing
  • Copycats, trolls and other troublemakers: dealing with the dark side of online business
  • How to run a business around your kids
  • How to look after your mental health as an entrepreneur
  • How to set healthy boundaries with customers/clients
  • How to stay focused and get things done
  • Women in podcasting
  • Women in tech

Day 2 Keynote sessions

  • How to create consistently good content in uncertain times with Janet Murray
  • How to be brilliant on video (even if you're camera shy) with Janine Cummings
  • How to write super engaging content about your business with Jo Watson
  • Advertainment: How to create entertaining content that drives engagement & sales with Dan Knowlton

Day 2 Level Up sessions

  • Women in tech
  • Women in podcasting

5. Research ideas for a blog post/Youtube/podcast

Try to find an event angle:

For example:
Stylist - how to dress for a virtual event
Nutritionist - what to eat at a virtual event
Social media manager - how to create content for a virtual event

Take advantage of event SEO.

6. Update your website

You are going to get more people visiting your website, your social media channels - so why not take advantage of the opportunity? Sort broken links, update offers, take down old offers.

7. Plan your social media strategy

Most conferences and events have a dedicated Twitter hashtag you can use before, during and after the event (#2021 Sorted) which can be a great way to find and stay in touch with other delegates.

Hashtags can get pretty busy during events though, so using an app like Hootsuite or Tweetdeck can help you stay on top of things.

Some may also have dedicated geofilters for Snapchat and/or Instagram, so if you're active on those platforms, do ask the event organiser about it.

Blogging and/or creating social media content before, during and after the event is a great way to stay top of mind with speakers - and other delegates.

8. Stock up on essentials

E. g. snacks, stationery

9. Test your tech

Check your Speed

  • If possible, please use a wired internet connection (i. e. plug directly into your router). This can greatly improve the speed and stability of your internet.
  • Check Devices - If possible, check what other devices you have connected to your internet. iPads, games consoles and other computers can use up your internet bandwidth in the background and downgrade the quality of your connection. And tell the kids to stay off Netflix.
  • Reboot your computer - not always needed, but sometimes a reboot makes sure your computer plays nicely
  • Close down apps - Close down as many apps running in the background. If you have apps running in the background, such as Dropbox, Google Drive etc. These can use up bandwidth and slow down your computer
  • Test your microphone

Noise

  • Phones/Alarms - Make sure you silence any phones or devices so you don't get interrupted
  • Interruptions - I know this sounds obvious, but if there is anyone else around, make sure you tell them not to disturb you while were recording!
  • Background noise - If possible, switch off fans or any noisy things in the background (and put children and animals in another room! They're cute but distracting! )

Arrive 10 mins before sessions - make a note of all the links you need etc.

10. Schedule in time for follow up

It's easy to leave a conference full of brilliant ideas - that's what events are all about. Sadly, it's just as easy to get bogged down the minute you get back to your desk, forget everything you've learned and not follow up on the opportunities you've created. Make sure this doesnt happen to you by blocking out a few hours (ideally as soon as you get back to your desk) to reflect on what you've learned and follow up on the connections you've made.

11. Don't be a wallflower

Come to the virtual bar - the socialising is where the best conversations happen.
Ask for help if you need it.... we can't help if we don't know.
Level Up sessions - perfect for introverts...

BONUS: sign up as an affiliate and make back the cost of your ticket!

Join my live online event 2021 Sorted 

Buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner
Join my Build Your Online Audience programme Build Your Online Audience programme

Find out more about my Janet Murray affiliate scheme

Other useful podcasts

 

[Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)
[Bonus] Should you buy my 2021 Social media Diary & Planner (podcast)
[Bonus] Should you attend my 2021 Sorted content planning event  (podcast)

[372] How to build an engaged online audience (podcast)
[400] How to build a large audience for a blog, vlog or podcast (podcast)|
[407] How to turn boring topics into engaging content (podcast)
[422] Behind the scenes of my launch how I sold £10K of planners in 24 hours (podcast)

Oct 8, 2020

Wondering whether you should attend my 2021 Sorted content planning event on Nov 3 & 4? 

In this podcast episode (which you can also read as a blog post) I’ll tell you more about the event to help and the kind of results you can expect if you attend. By the time you’ve listened to this podcast episode (or read this blog post), you should be able to make a decision whether to buy a ticket.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

 

While it’s tempting to start with the features of the event, I know what you’re really interested in is the potential transformation i.e. what kind of results can you expect if you attend.  So first off, I’ll give you a quick overview of the event. Then I’ll share some success stories of people who attended the event last year.

About the event

2021 Sorted is my annual content planning event for coaches, creatives and entrepreneurs. The event is taking place on November 3 & 4. The aim of the event is to take the pain out of content planning - by giving you the accountability and support to create your 2021 content plan, live at the event. 

It’s also about getting inspired. Which is why the event also features talks/workshops from some of the world’s leading content creators on how to plan and create engaging content that will help you generate sales for your business. 

The event - which usually takes place in person - is now in its fifth year. And while it has moved online this year, due to government restrictions on large gatherings, it’s meant we can host more speakers and more sessions (more on that later). 

With over £800 of content...investing in a 2021 Sorted ticket offers insane value - and support for the WHOLE of 2021 - and not just at the event.

What kind of results can you expect from attending the event?

The number 1 reason people keep coming back to my content planning masterclass,  year after year, is because they save tons of time - by getting their content plan created for the year, in just a couple of days.

Your 2021 Sorted ticket includes both a physical and digital version of my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner. Which is not just a pretty-looking diary. It’s a content planning tool that includes step-by-step instructions on how to create your annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily content plans...and includes templates and checklists to help you stay on track, throughout the year. PLUS hundreds of awareness days and key dates you can use to generate content ideas.  


This is what hospitality expert Mark Simpson has to say about the content planning strategies I teach at 2021 Sorted and how they have helped him. 

But it’s not just about saving time. Showing up more consistently with your content - content that is well-thought out - rather than rushed out at the last minute - can make a huge difference to the bottom line of your business.

Attending last year’s Content Planning event inspired Amy Caiger to launch a podcast. She has now published 30 episodes and it’s helped her land speaking gigs, guest podcast interviews and more clients. This is what she has to say about how the event helped. 

Attending last year’s event helped journalist and publicity expert Rachel Spencer launch a membership site and generate recurring income for her business - she’s on target to reach over £20k. Here’s what she had to say about how attending the event has helped her.

What’s included in your 2021 Sorted ticket?

Your 2021 Sorted ticket includes two days of training. 

Day 1 (Nov 3) is all about Inspiration. You’ll hear from some of the world’s most inspiring content creators on how to create engaging content in 2021 and beyond. 

Day 2 (Nov 4) is all about Implementation. This is the day when you’ll sit down and create your content plan for the coming year (I’ll literally walk you through it, step by step). 

Day 1 keynote sessions

How to plan, create and launch a podcast in 2021 with Colin Gray aka The Podcast Host
Launch a profitable online course in 2021
with Janet Murray

Self-publish a book in 2021 with Sacha Black

How to launch a membership site in 2021 with Membership Guys founder Mike Morrison

Launch or revive your Youtube channel in 2021 with Steve Dotto

How to launch a live video show with Ian Anderson Gray

Day 1 Level Up sessions

Level Up sessions are guide discussions that focus on a range of issues that impact entrepreneurs - but don’t always get the attention they need/deserve e.g. mental health,  dealing with copycats/trolls, running your business around a family & more. You’ll hear from a panel of expert speakers, then break into groups (in Zoom rooms) and talk with other delegates.

  •  How to be more inclusive in your marketing:
  • Copycats, trolls and other troublemakers: dealing with the dark side of online business
  • How to run a business around your kids 
  • How to look after your mental health as an entrepreneur
  • How to set healthy boundaries with customers/clients
  • How to stay focused and get things done 
  • Women in podcasting 
  • Women in tech

Day 2 Keynote sessions

 

  • How to create consistently good content in uncertain times with Janet Murray
  • How to be brilliant on video (even if you're camera shy) with Janine Cummings
  • How to write super engaging content about your business with Jo Watson
  • Advertainment: How to create entertaining content that drives engagement & sales with Dan Knowlton
  •  
  • Day 2 Level Up sessions
  • Women in tech
  • Women in podcasting 

And the support doesn’t stop on the day.  This year, you also get FREE membership of my 2021Sorted Club - which means you get support with your content creation and planning - throughout 2021. This includes a weekly email from me with ideas on how to use the awareness dates in the diary, four quarterly coaching calls (which will give you the accountability to make sure your content plan is in place for the following quarter) and a digital version of the diary.   

What’s included in the 2021 Sorted Club?


✔️ Your 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner 

✔️ A ticket for my 2021 Sorted event on Nov 3 & 4 (plus all the recordings if you can’t make that date or buy after the live event)  

✔️ A digital version of the diary (both a pdf version and and file you can use to add the awareness days/key dates to your diary) 

✔️ A weekly email from me with ideas on how you can use the dates in the diary to generate social media posts, blogs, newsletters etc 

✔️ My Content Planning Masterclass on Thursday, November 26 

✔️ Four group coaching calls across the year, to keep you on track with your content creation/planning

✔️ Additional resources and templates to help with  your content planning

FAQs

I’m not sure if 2021 Sorted is right for my business


If you need to plan and create engaging content about your business in 2021 and beyond, 2021 Sorted can help (and yes that does include both product and service-based businesses).

There is a full list of the types of businesses it can help on the sales page for 2021 Sorted (and examples of the types of businesses who’ve attended in the past) but the bottom line is this.

If you need to create and plan content...it will work for you/your business. The only question you need to be asking about this...will you do the work to make it all happen? 

I don’t have time to attend 2021 Sorted 

Taking a couple of days out of your business to plan out your content will save hours of time in the long run. So the real question here is: do you really have time NOT to? 

I’m not in the UK and some of the sessions are a bit early/late for me

That’s no problem...as you’ll get all the recordings.  

I’ve tried content planning before and it didn’t work

Just because you tried something and it didn’t work, that doesn’t mean it will never work. I joined and left five gyms before I found one that suited me (and an exercise habit that stuck). And I’ve seen exactly the same thing happen with people who say that can’t do content planning.

 

Find out more about my 2021 Sorted  event

Buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner
Join my Build Your Online Audience programme Build Your Online Audience programme

Find out more about my Janet Murray affiliate scheme

Other useful podcasts

 

[Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)
[Bonus] Should you buy my 2021 Social media Diary & Planner (podcast)

[326] The one thing you need to generate a passive income in your business (podcast)
[348] How to write social media posts that sell (podcast)
[372] How to build an engaged online audience (podcast)

Oct 2, 2020

Want to generate additional income in your business?

Affiliate marketing can be a great way to generate additional income in your business - and leverage the audience you already have -  without creating new products/services.

But what’s the best way to get started as an affiliate? How do you generate a decent income as an affiliate? And are there any downsides to being an affiliate?

Read on and find out.

PLUS find out how much you might expect to earn as an affiliate and you can become an affiliate for Janet Murray products/services.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

 

Step 1: Make a list of products/services you already use and love

Start by making a list of products/services you already use and love  that - crucially - will also be relevant  to your audience.

For example, I am an affiliate for the transcription service Rev, the landing page tool Lead pages and the video editing tool Kapwing - all tools I use regularly in my work. Which makes it easy to create content about these tools for my audience.

While you can be an affiliate for any product/service you’ll find it much easier (and quicker) to create content about products you know and love.

And yes you will need to create content as an affiliate.

When it comes to making buying decisions, social proof is huge.

So it’s not enough to say you love a particular product/service. If you want to make decent money as an affiliate, you’ll need to show them how brilliant the products/services you recommend are. And how they could make a difference to their business/life

This doesn’t mean you have to create highly-produced trailers or demo videos.

Pictures, screenshots and/or simple videos shot on your mobile phone can be enough to show people it’s worth investing in the products/services you recommend.

For example, this blog post I created on how to add closed captions to your social media videos using Rev and Kapwing.

Step 2: Sign up to be an affiliate 

Once you’ve made your list of products/services you’d love to be head over to their websites. Many will have a dedicated affiliate page where you can sign up. If they don’t, shoot them an email to ask if they have an affiliate programme and take it from there.

Step 3: Gather resources for your affiliate content 

As with anything in business/life, the more you put in, the more you will get out. So putting aside some time to create affiliate content is vital.

Some affiliate scheme owners will have dedicated affiliate packs, which will include swipe copy (sample copy) and artwork you can use to create content.

If this is available, do use it. Not only will this help ensure you are sharing accurate information about the product/service you are promoting.

It will also save you tons of time.

If affiliate content is not available, you can create your own:

A good affiliate pack will include:

✔️ Email marketing copy

✔️ Social media posts (different word lengths for different platforms)

✔️ Images

If you want to increase your affiliate income, you can add:

✔️ Demo videos

✔️ Blog posts, podcast episodes, Youtube videos

While there is more effort involved in creating full-on blog posts, podcast episodes and Youtube videos

Consider adding bonus content you think might appeal to your audience. For example, I have seen affiliates for Marie Forleo’s B-School offering dedicated Facebook groups, training sessions and even a mastermind day in Paris. But do be careful with this one.

For example, last year I noticed someone was selling Power Hours teaching people how to use Janet Murray’s Social Media Diary & Planner. They weren’t even an affiliate. For me this was a big no no, as I don’t currently offer a licence for people to teach my content planning system. If people want to be taught my content planning system, they can purchase my 2021 Sorted Club.

So if you are going to offer a bonus, it’s better to offer a complimentary product/service i.e. a resource/class that might also be of interest.

If in doubt, run your idea past the business owner first.

Step 4: Create your affiliate content (focus on the benefits rather than the features

One of the biggest mistakes I see people making with affiliate schemes is focusing on the features rather than how the product/service can help people.

So before you start to create your affiliate content, start by making a list of the problems your product/services solves.

Let’s use my 2021 Sorted Club as an example.

The 2021 Sorted Club is for busy business owners who need help with content planning and creation. Their biggest problems are lack of time, ideas and struggling to stay consistent with their content (which stems from the first two problems).

So if I was an affiliate for my 2021 Sorted Club, rather than talk about the features of the product, I would share content that showed how the diary and resources helped me - and others - save time and money.

So my content list might include:

✔️ Videos of me showing the inside of the diary

✔️ Photos of how I use the diary to plan (some including me planning with my diary)

✔️ Screenshots of posts I’ve created using the diary/resources - particularly ones that saved me time, made me money and/or got more engagement than usual

✔️ Screenshot of the copy from the weekly Content Inspo email

✔️ Posts about me taking part in the group coaching

✔️ Social media and blog post(s) about how I used the diary  to create content (that saved me time and money)

✔️ Social media and blog post(s) about how I am getting ready for the 2021 Sorted event and what I’ve gained from attending previous events

✔️ Content that tackles peoples’ objections

Join my Build Your Online Audience programme Build Your Online Audience programme

Podcast shownotes

 

  • About 2021 Sorted my live online content planning event (01:01)
  • About this podcast episode (06:20)
  • What is an affiliate marketing scheme (6:52)
  • How do you get started with affiliate marketing (07:46)
  • Why your affiliate marketing has to be relevant to your business and your audience (08:02)
  • Why you need to create content if you want to make some serious money (9:14)
  • Why your need to create content that has social proof (10:35)
  • How to find out if a product or service has an affiliate scheme (11:54)
  • Why you will need to create some content for your affiliate marketing (12:43)
  • Why you should take time to create really good affiliate content (14:50)
  • How to encourage people to sign up with bonus content (16:28)
  • What your affiliate content needs to focus on (18:01)
  • Types of affiliate content that you can create for my 2021Sorted event (21:57)
  • How to create objection content and why you need to (23:06)
  • How much money can you make from affiliate marketing? (24:36)
  • Why you might need a big audience if you want to sell a big-ticket affiliate scheme (24:59)
  • Why you shouldn’t randomly post about affiliate marketing (26:30)
  • About my new affiliate scheme for my products (28:26)

 

 

Resources

Join my Janet Murray affiliate scheme
Rev
Kapwing

Buy a ticket for 2021 Sorted
Buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner
Join my Build Your Online Audience Programme

Other useful podcasts

[Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)
[Bonus] Should you buy my 2021 Social media Diary & Planner (podcast)

[324] How to stop talking about video and just do it with Dan Knowlton (podcast)
[346] How to look and feel more confident on live video with Ian Anderson Grey (podcast)
[347] How to create engaging social media videos (even if you hate being on camera) (podcast)
[372] How to build an engaged online audience (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram Facebook and LinkedIn

 

Sep 25, 2020

Are you mystified by YouTube? Would you love some clear practical strategies to get people to watch your videos and get more subscribers on your YouTube channel?

If so then you'll love this podcast episode with YouTube expert Justin Brown. Justin demystifies YouTube and explains what you really need to do if you want to grow an audience on YouTube and get your videos seen by MORE people.

Listen and discover how the YouTube algorithm works (and how you can help te algorithm show your YouTube videos to MORE people).

Find out if subscribers are really more important than views and why keywords should be your number one priority on YouTube.

If you're just starting on YouTube then listen as Justin explains why your thumbnails are so important (and how to get them right), why optimisation is crucial and the five things that you need to do to make sure people stop scrolling and watch your videos rather than someone else's.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

Join my Build Your Online Audience programme Build Your Online Audience programme

Podcast shownotes

 

  • About my 2021 Sorted Annual Content planning event (01:09)
  • What Justin does and how he became a YouTube expert (7:57)
  • Why you need a budget for marketing your videos (10:49)
  • Where people struggle with creating video (12:06)
  • Why you need to create content that people want to see (13:07)
  • Why you should start your keyword research before you create your video (13:38)
  • The three things your YouTube video has to do (15:20)
  • How to approach a YouTube video strategy based on search (20:40)
  • Why keyword research is important for your YouTube video title (24:30)
  • Why you shouldn’t avoid the popular search terms (26:27)
  • How the YouTube algorithm works (27:55)
  • Why YouTube subscriber numbers are a vanity metric (30:39)
  • Why thumbnails are so important to get views on your video (32:02)
  • The five-step video process that Justin uses to hook people in (33:40)
  • How to create a good video experience for people (36:44)
  • How long should your YouTube videos be (38:17)
  • How to make sure that people stick with your YouTube video to the end (39:40)
  • Why your video needs to be clear and concise (40:20)
  • What kit do you really need and why your audio is most important (41:38)
  • Why your first videos won’t be perfect (and how to make them better) (43:58)
  • Why consistency is important and what you need to remember (45:30)
  • How to use your competitor's YouTube videos to research (46:01)
  • Why the first 24 hours are really important for your YouTube videos (47:29)
  • Why you should have a re-optimising strategy for your older YouTube videos (49:40)

 

Resources

 

Justin's website
Justin's YouTube channel
Buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner
Join my Build Your Online Audience Programme

Other useful podcasts

 

[Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)
[Bonus] Should you buy my 2021 Social media Diary & Planner (podcast)

[324] How to stop talking about video and just do it with Dan Knowlton (podcast)
[346] How to look and feel more confident on live video with Ian Anderson Grey (podcast)
[347] How to create engaging social media videos (even if you hate being on camera) (podcast)
[372] How to build an engaged online audience (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram Facebook and LinkedIn

Sep 18, 2020

Do people ever ask if they can pick your brain….but don’t seem to want to pay for it?

If that sounds familiar you need to create a Power Hour - an online consultancy session where you give specific advice/guidance...and actually get paid for it.

The great thing about a Power Hour is that you can ‘productise’ i.e. turn it into a rinse/repeat process that you go through with every customer who books one (saving you tons of time).

You can use a Power Hour as a paid ‘discovery call’ where you deliver value and - if your client seems like a good fit - upsell them another product/service afterwards. And to research ideas for bigger projects e.g. coaching/consulting packages, courses and events.

But how do you choose a topic for your Power Hour? What tech will you need to deliver it? And how much should you charge?

That’s exactly what I’ll cover in this podcast episode - along with tips on how to promote your Power Hour.

And yes, you can create one regardless of whether you have a product/service-based business

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

What is a Power Hour?

A Power Hour is an online consultancy session where you give specific advice/guidance...and actually get paid for it.

Contrary to the name - a Power Hour doesn’t actually have to be an hour long. It can be as short/long as you need it to be.  You can call it a Power Session if you like (or something else entirely). The important thing is that you get paid for your advice/experience.

Why I love Power Hours

There are so many reasons why I love Power Hours. Here's just a few:

✔️  They’re a great way to deal with people who ask to pick your brain for free (you can just simply say ‘I’d love to help you with that....here’s a link to my Power Hour’

✔️ You can use a Power Hour as a paid ‘discovery call’ where you deliver value and - if your client seems like a good fit - upsell them another product/service afterwards.

✔️  You can use a Power Hour to research ideas for bigger projects e.g. coaching/consulting packages, courses and events. For example, when I was launching my Instagram Success Academy course, I did a number of Power Hours so I could understand what I should cover in my course

✔️  You can use a Power Hour as a  downsell people for people who don’t have the budget for your high-end offer but still need your help

✔️  You can use a Power Hour to ‘top-up’ coaching programmes/memberships/courses. For example, if a member is being particularly demanding of your time in a Facebook community, you can invite them to book in a 1-2-1/additional call

✔️  You can turn your Power Hour into a rinse/repeat process that you go through with every customer who books one (saving you tons of time)

✔️  You can book clients in for multiple Power Hours for problems that take longer to solve

How to choose a topic for your Power Hour 

The important thing is that you get paid for your advice/experience.

As with anything in your business, the more specific/niche you can be the better. So while you can offer a general Power Hour (where anyone can ask you anything about your expert topic) you’ll almost certainly get more take up if you hone in on a specific type of customer/client and/or a common problem your customers/clients experience.

If you have two or three areas, you can offer a few choices (but not too many).

Here are some examples of effective Power Hours, created by my current/former clients:

Amy Caiger has a Power Hour that focuses on helping business owners find their niche.

Architectural technologist Jon Clayton has a Power Hour for people who are interested in renovating their house. He started charging £195 for an hour on Zoom or £295 for a local home visit. This resulted in £600 of sales immediately.

Diversity consultant Leyla Okhai offers a number of different options including diversity, worklife balance and wellbeing.


Can you create a Power Hour if you have a product-based business?

If you have a product-based business, you can still create a Power Hour. You can either offer something that relates to the problem you solve. For example, I sell a Social Media Diary & Planner. Although I don’t currently do this, I could offer a content planning Power Hour for people who want help creating their content plan. I could offer these sessions to existing diary owners as an upsell. 

Or I could open them up to anyone who needs help with content planning and offer the diary as an upsell at the end of a consultancy session.

Or you could offer a Power Hour to other product-based businesses on how to do something specific that you are already doing successfully but they might be struggling with e.g. creating a marketing plan, setting up a shop on their website.

How to deliver your Power Hour

You can use video-conferencing software like Zoom which allows you to share your screen and participants share theirs with you. You can also share documents and chat ‘live’ with participants. And you can send them the recording afterwards in case they want to go over anything again. Zoom starts from £11.99 a month.

Alternatives to Zoom: Go To Meeting, Team Viewer, Join.me, Google Hangouts, Meet.me & BlueJeans.

If you’re worried your clients will be overwhelmed by the tech, it’s a good idea to send them written instructions and/or a video using a free tool like Loom showing them how to use it (including how to join).

How to ensure your Power Hour is productive

To ensure the session is productive, I’d recommend you do the following:

  • Create a dedicated page on your website for you Power Hour that includes information about the session and a link to book
  • Use a tool like Calendly or Acuity Scheduling so clients can book straight into your diary
  • Send a pre-call email on how to prepare for the session (including any information they might need to bring to the session) and an outline of how the call will be structured. PLUS  instructions on how to use the video conferencing software from their phone/desktop. I’d recommend sending this information immediately after booking, then at least one reminder email before the call
  • Send a follow-up email within 24 hours of the session, with a link to the recording, a short follow-up report with details of what was discussed and up to three key action points (one side of A4 should be plenty).

These emails can be re-used and adapted - saving you hours of time in the long run. In fact, the whole process can be automated so people can book straight into your diary, are delivered the link to join the call and reminders before the call.

I include template/swipe files for these types of emails in my online masterclass: how to create and sell a Power Hour for your business.

If you’re worried that what you teach/coach can’t be delivered online, I’ve personally worked with a pilates instructor, bread making teacher, psychologist, personal trainer and jewellery- making teacher - all of whom deliver their training/consultancy online. And if they can do it, so can you.

How to price your Power Hour

Your pricing should reflect the transformation you can create for your client - not how long it takes you to prepare and deliver the session.

That’s said, you do need social proof. You can’t charge £500 + VAT an hour for a Power Hour if you haven’t achieved results - or helped others achieve results - that support that.

Many of my clients start with £99 to £149 and, as they get more experienced - and get more tangible results - put their prices up.

So start by thinking about the transformation you can create for someone and the impact that could have on their life/business.

It can help to spell out the return on investment for your clients. So for example, if I could give you some advice on your sales copy that would help 5x your investment, would you think £500 +VAT was expensive? Probably not. It’s all about how you frame it.

But you do need to have the experience to match your pricing. You can’t charge £500 + VAT for your Power Hour just because someone else in your industry is doing it (well you can, but you may not make any sales).

So if you haven’t yet delivered any Power Hours it can be worth offering a number of discounted sessions so you can gather testimonials. I wouldn’t recommend offering them for free. People generally don’t value what they get for free. Which means they’re more likely to cancel/show up late to the session and less likely to implement your advice. Even a modest fee will ensure they have some skin in the game.

How to promote your Power Hour

If you already have an email list - great.  Simply email your list, tell them about your Power Hour and (providing you’ve created the right offer for the right audience) you should get bookings. I’d also recommend doing some social media promotion too. If you have a blog/podcast/Youtube channel, it’s also worth sharing information about it there.

If you don’t have an email list (or only have a small list) you’ll need to use proactive outreach. That means making a list of people you know (e.g. current/former clients) who might be interested in your offer. PLUS asking for recommendations/referrals from friends/colleagues. If you’re not sure how to get started with proactive outreach, the first module in my Build Your Online Audience programme focuses on exactly that topic (and includes email/message templates you can adapt for proactive outreach).

Need help building your email list? Check out: 39 Surprisingly easy ways to increase your email subscribers 

I also have an email list building programme inside my Build Your Online Audience programme

Podcast shownotes

 

  • What is a power hour and why I love them (4:22)
  • Why a power hour stops you feeling like you have to give stuff away (6:08)
  • How a power hour helps you decide if you want to work with someone (7:42)
  • How to use power hours to research ideas for bigger projects (08:03)
  • Why power hours are great if someone hasn’t enough budget for you (09:38)
  • How you can make more money using power hours in a coaching programme (10:31)
  • How to use power hours for a specific project (11:34)
  • How to prep and manage people’s expectations (12:50)
  • How to choose a topic for your power hour (14:12)
  • Why a power hour will save you time (17:31)
  • How to create a power hour for a product-based business (18:28)
  • Video conferencing software for your power hour (21:39)
  • How to map out and plan your power hour (22:40)
  • How to make sure your power hour has a good outcome (24:58)
  • Why you should choose a few specific topics for your power hour (26:15)
  • How to price a power hour and what you should remember (27:09)
  • How to use your testimonials to sell your power hour (29:10)
  • How to promote your power hour (31:03)

Resources

 

Buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner

Join my Build Your Online Audience Programme
Find out about my How to create and sell a power hour masterclass 

 

Other useful podcasts

 

[Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)

[339] How to build an audience for an online course or membership (podcast)
[386] The four types of content that will help you make more sales in 2020 podcast)
[372] How to build an engaged online audience (podcast)
[414] How much does it cost to launch your own planner (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram Facebook and LinkedIn

Sep 11, 2020

Are you looking to launch a new product or service in your business?

Or maybe you’ve tried to launch something in the past and it’s flopped?

Find out the secrets of a successful launch in this podcast episode - I’m sharing behind the scenes of my recent launch of my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner and how I made 10K of sales in 24 hours.

Discover the five-step process that I've used for the past five years to successfully launch and presell my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner. Discover how I build excitement and desire about my Social Media Diary & Planner and how you can use this process in your business.

PLUS why building authority is so important if you want to launch a new product or service and why it really does come back to your content.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

Podcast shownotes

 

  • About this podcast episode and why I recorded it (05:01)
  • Why people have to want to buy your product (07:08)
  • Why launching a test offer will help you find out if your product is viable (08:25)
  • What you need to ask yourself if you’ve launched a product that’s flopped (10:41)
  • Why you need to build an audience before you launch a product (11:12)
  • Why it takes time to build an audience (14:10)
  • Why your conversion rate will be higher if your leads are warm (15:29)
  • Why you need to build authority with your content (16:40)
  • Why my podcast makes people realise that my paid-for content is worth investing in (18:03)
  • Why people have to know who you are before they’ll invest in you (18:58)
  • Why a launch is a long term thing and you can’t just rock up online (20:00)
  • Why your launch might have flopped in the past  (20:30)
  • Why you have to think long term with a launch (22:35)
  • How I built awareness for my social media diary & planner (23:48)
  • How I got people excited about my Social Media Diary & Planner (28:01)
  • Why you need a really great product to help build social proof (30:44)
  • How to use scarcity to sell more of your product (especially if you’re preselling)(32:58)
  • How I used Facebook ads to create leads (37:18)
  • Why everything comes back to your content  (38:18)

Resources

Buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner 

Find out more about my Getting started with Facebook ads course with Emma Van Heusen

 Join my Build Your Online Audience programme here. 

Other useful podcasts

[Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)
[Bonus] Should you buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner (podcast)

[337] The tools I am using to build my online audience (podcast)
[339] How to build an audience for an online course or membership (podcast)
[386] The four types of content that will help you make more sales in 2020  (podcast)
[372] How to build an engaged online audience (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Sep 7, 2020

Are you wondering whether you should buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner?

Perhaps you already have a favourite planner and are wondering whether you’d actually use it? 

Or maybe you’re a fan of digital diaries and are not sure how you’d get on with a paper planner? 

It could be that you’ve bought diaries/planners in the past and haven’t used them as much as you hoped (if at all). Maybe you even bought my Social Media Diary & Planner last year and didn’t use it as much as you hoped.

Or maybe you’ve heard about my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner and 2020 sorted

In this podcast episode (which you can also read as a blog post) I’ll help you decide whether to buy my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner. 

I’ll explain what kind of results you can expect if you invest in my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner.

PLUS the difference between my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner and my 2021 Sorted Club. And whether you should invest in the Full On Janet Murray Experience (2021 Sorted PLUS my signature programme Build Your Online Audience programme).

By the time you’ve listened to this podcast episode (or read this blog post), you should be able to make a decision whether to purchase.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

 

Podcast shownotes

  • About this podcast episode and why you might be listening
  • About this special bonus podcast episode  (01:01)
  • About my diary and my other products that you can buy (3:42)
  • How I came up with my social media diary & planner (8:35)
  • How my social media diary & planner can help you (13:17)
  • Examples of social media posts from awareness day (15:12)
  • Why you should be posting personal stories and not business (18:02)
  • How the awareness days will help you create great content quickly (19:21)
  • How the diary can help you think seasonally and plan your content ahead (24:03)
  • How the diary will help you make more money (24:58)
  • Why you have to remember that people want to do business with people (30:01)
  • The specification of the diary (and what it looks like inside) (31:20)
  • About my diary community (and how it can help you with content creation) (35:21)
  • Why you should buy 2021Sorted (34:50)
  • About my special bonus gift (36:22)
  • About my annual content planning masterclass 2021 Sorted (39:01
  • How much does it cost to invest in my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner (43:03)
  • Why there is no right or wrong way to use a diary or planner (44:50)
  • Why writing things down will help you take action (47:08)
  • Why my Social Media Diary & Planner is suitable for any industry (49:44)
  • Why my Social Media Diary & Planner suitable for product and service-based businesses (51:20)

Resources

Not a member of my Build Your Online Audience programme but want to join? Join my Build Your Online Audience programme here

Thinking about joining my Build Your Online Audience programme? Listen to this podcast

[BONUS] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme (podcast)

Other podcast episodes

[339] How To Build An Audience for an Online Course or membership (podcast)
[343] The three audiences you must build to create a successful online business (podcast
[381] How to use awareness day to create engaging content for your business (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

 

Sep 4, 2020

Are you wondering whether you should be using Facebook ads in your business?

Perhaps you’re worried it’s too early on in your business. Or you’re not sure what kind of budget you need to get started. It could be that you’ve tried using Facebook ads in your business...but didn’t get the results you hoped for.

If any of this sounds familiar, you’ll love this podcast episode (also available to read as a blog).

In it, I share seven signs you’re ready to run Facebook ads (and what to do if you’re not).

PLUS I also answer some of your burning questions about Facebook ads including - how much do I need to spend on ads to turn a profit and is it worth running a Facebook ‘likes’ campaign.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}


1. You have a product/service to sell 

It sounds obvious, but paying for Facebook ads is no guarantee of sales.

If you want to make sales from Facebook ads, you need a great product that people actually want to buy. 

Which leads me into point 2...

 

2. You have actually successfully sold that product/service

Have you successfully sold the product/service you want to run ads to? If not, what makes you think people will buy it?

Remember that when you pay for Facebook ads, you’re paying for traffic - not sales.

So just chucking money at ads, is no guarantee of sales. If it’s a poor product and/or you don’t understand how to sell it to your ideal customers/clients, no amount of Facebook ads will help you sell it.

 

3. You need to understand basic marketing and sales funnels

Most people need seven or eight touch points with you before they buy.

Which means it’s unlikely they’ll buy from the first ad of yours they see. They’ll need to get to know you first.

This means you’ll need to build a sales funnel i.e. you need to map out the steps a new prospect might need to take from not knowing about you to becoming a customer/client.

Which might mean running ads to an email lead magnet (a free resource you create to encourage people to join your email list) or hosting a webinar or live challenge in order to help your ideal customers/clients get to know you...then retargeting people who engaged with those ads with your paid offer.

This will almost certainly mean split-testing multiple types of ad copy and creative - because you won’t know exactly what will resonate with your audience until you try.

It will also mean knowing how to install Pixels (tracking code) on your website so you can track your results.

 

4. You know how much it costs you to acquire a customer/client 

One of the most common questions I get asked about Facebook ads is this: how much will I need to spend to make a profit. 

The rather unsatisfactory answer is: it depends. 


There are many factors that influence the cost of your Facebook ads - from the price of your product/service to the audience you’re targeting to your geographical location.

So if you haven’t done Facebook advertising before, it can be difficult to predict how much you will need to spend to achieve your target sales.

Knowing how much it costs you to acquire one customer/client can at least give you a starting point.

Knowing how much you’re currently spending to acquire one customer/client can at least give you a starting point on budget.

Think you’re not currently spending anything on marketing?

Think again.

  • If you’re spending time prospecting leads, reaching out to potential customers/clients and/or hosting discovery calls
  • If you’re spending time creating social media or other content
  • If you’re investing in tools, apps - or even other peoples’ services - to promote your business…

...you ARE investing in sales/marketing

Working out how much you’re currently spending to acquire a new customer/client can be tough - because you’re probably using multiple marketing strategies and not paying specifically for each lead.

But calculating how many hours you’re spending on acquiring new business and/or your total monthly marketing spend (including tools, apps and outsourced services) can give you a starting point.

Dividing these costs by the number of clients/customers you’ve acquired in a specific period can give you an idea of how much it costs you to acquire a single customer/client. And how much you might be willing to spend to acquire similar customers/clients.

Don’t forget to include your time (because time is money).

 

5. You know your ideal customers/clients (and are able to convert them) 

If you want your Facebook ads to work, you have to make sure you’re targeting the right people.

When I hired a new Facebook ad agency recently, I had to fill out a long questionnaire about my audience - not an ideal customer avatar (i.e. fantasy) but information about the customers/clients who buy from me.

To run successful Facebook you need to (a) understand the problem your product/service solves and (b) understand your ideal customers/clients’ pain points.

But understanding your customers/clients is not enough.

You need to be able to create content that really resonates with them and really speaks to their pain points.

So when you’ve successfully attracted them into your funnel (via a lead magnet for example), you’ll be able to create follow up content that will convert them from browsers into buyers.

 

6. You are already creating engaging organic content 

People don’t engage with Facebook ads because someone has paid for them.

They engage because the content is ENGAGING.

So you can chuck as much money at ads as you like.  But if your content is boring…if you don’t know how to write a decent social media post, select/create engaging visuals and/or shoot a decent video on your smartphone - you may as well burn your cash.

And yes, if you have the budget, you can hire a Facebook ads strategist to do all that for you (and make sure you’re targeting the right people).

But if you don’t know how to nurture your audience. If you don’t understand about the buyers’ journey and how to turn leads into sales via your content…your ads will not convert.

So it’s only when you understand how to create engaging organic content - and make sales from it - that you’ll be able to get a return on investment on your ad spend.

So it’s only when you understand how to create engaging organic content - and make sales from it - that you’ll be able to get a return on investment on your ad spend.


7. You need to have a testing budget 

Most Facebook ads strategists recommend a ‘testing budget’ (i.e. a sum of money you’re willing to spend with no expectation you will get it back in sales).

Most Facebook ads strategists recommend a minimum of £300 as a testing budget.

So if you’ve got that budget and you’re willing to blow it on testing, that’s a sign you could be ready to start running ads.

 

What if you’re not ready to run ads?

What if you’ve read this list of signs and feel you’re not ready for ads?

You have two options.

  1. You can hire a Facebook ads strategist. If you have a good product that you’ve sold successfully...they can look after the rest
  2. If you don’t have the budget to hire a professional, invest your time in building an organic audience - particularly in learning how to create engaging content. Then, when the time is right, you’ll be able to invest in Facebook adverts to send more of that kind of traffic your way.

Are you ready to build your online audience? Join my Build Your Online Audience programme here. 

Podcast shownotes

  • About my Getting Started with Facebook ads course with Emma van Heusen (01:53)
  • Why you have to have a specific product or service to sell if you’re running Facebook ads (8:22)
  • Why you have to have sold your product organically before running Facebook ads (10:14)
  • Why audience interests are really powerful for running Facebook ads (12:10)
  • Why you need 7 or 8 touchpoints before people will buy from you (14:05)
  • Why you need to think about the sales journey when planning your Facebook ads (16:12)
  • Why you need to make sure your website is optimised before running Facebook Ads (18:32)
  • Why you should consider carefully the objectives of your Facebook ads  (20:09)
  • Why you need to understand how much it costs to acquire a lead (before you run ads) (22:06)
  • How to work out how much it costs to acquire a new customer or client (23:10)
  • Why you need to understand the cost of your conversions (29:31)
  • Why you need to know your ideal customer or client really well  (33:40)
  • Why your organic content needs to be really good before you run Facebook ads (37:45)
  • Why you need to feel comfortable with an initial testing budget (39:21)
  • What to do if you haven’t built your audience to run Facebook ads to yet (40:08)
  • Why understanding Facebook Ads will make it easier to outsource in the future (42:50)
  • About my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner and #2021sorted (05:00)

Resources

Find out more about my Getting started with Facebook ads course with Emma Van Heusen

Get on the waitlist for my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner

Other useful podcasts

[Bonus] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)

[358] 13 Ideas for engaging social media posts (podcast)
[366] What to post on your Facebook page to get more engagement (podcast)
[371] How to develop a Facebook page strategy (podcast)
[386] The four types of content that will help you make more sales in 2020

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Aug 28, 2020

Are you easily distracted?

Do you feel like you could get SO much more done if you just could settle down and focus ONE thing. 

And it’s not just about the little everyday distractions, like social media, email, and text messages. 

Sometimes you get distracted by the BIG things - like opportunities/projects that take you away from the core focus of your business.

If this sounds familiar, you’ll love this podcast episode with productivity expert Mike Vardy.

In it, he talks about how to deal with distractions in your business. He also shares his unique approach to productivity - time crafting - and how this can help you do more in less time. 

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

Podcast shownotes

 

  • About my 2021 Social Media Diary & Planner and #2021sorted (05:00) 
  • The difference between distractions, disruptions and diversions (and why it’s important)  (12:00)
  • Practical ways to prevent distractions (13:30)
  • How ‘theming’ your time and mode-based can help you avoid  - and deal with distractions (16:04) 
  • How long it takes to regain focus after you’re distracted (18:25)
  • Why awareness is the key to managing distractions (23:41) 
  • Why there is no one size fits all approach to productivity  (26:36)
  • Why you should add new productivity strategies all at the same time (30:48)
  • How time blocking can help you be more productive (35:10)
  • Why you should change up your productivity strategies from time to time (36:27)
  • The problem with being too rigid with your time management (40:25)
  • How external accountability can help you be more productive (41:27)
  • How themes and ‘modes’ can help you be more productive (41:18) 

Resources

Mike Vardy website

Mike Vardy’s $5 guarantee 

Other useful podcasts

[Bonus] How I discovered my ADHD superpower (podcast)

[406] Mindset problems that can slow your audience growth with Osmaan Sharif (podcast)

[413] How to get more done in less time and build your audience faster (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

 

Aug 22, 2020

Have you recently joined the Build Your Online Audience Programme and want to make sure you get the most out of the programme?

Or perhaps you’ve been in the Build Your Online Audience programme for a while and want to make sure you get the most out of your membership?

Maybe you’ve haven’t joined yet and just want to get a sense of what’s involved (all fine).

If so you probably have questions like:

  • What is the best way to use the resources to get the results I need?
  • How much time will I need to devote to the programme to get the results I need?
  • How will you communicate with me about upcoming events/classes?
  • What exactly is included in the programme and how does it work?
  • What should I do if I get ‘stuck’ or feel I’m not making progress

Find out why your mindset is important and the content that’s included in the programme and the differences between the two versions of the Build Your Online Audience Programme. Plus the support that you will get inside the membership from myself and my team.

If you're not a member - you might want to start this podcast - Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

While it’s tempting to start by listing out  features of the programme, I know what you’re really interested in is the potential transformation i.e. what kind of results can you expect if you join. Which is why I’m going to start with getting into the right mindset. 

Managing your mindset 

While the Build Your Online Audience programme includes some fantastic resources and support….what will really make the difference to your progress is the mindset with which you approach things.

With that in mind, here are a few things you need to bear in mind.

1. Being successful in a membership programme isn't about how much time you spend in it. 

People use membership communities in different ways. Some like to work through all the resources, show up to live calls and post in the Facebook group every day. Others prefer to dip in and out as and when they need help. Either is fine.

Getting a return on investment is NOT about how much you ‘use’ the membership i.e. how often you log into the membership area, how many live calls you attend, how many masterclasses you watch (in fact that can be a form of procrastination!).

For example:

✔️Leadership coach Blaire Palmer generated £42k in sales from one class (Science of Audience Building). Even if she never watched anything again, I think she’d say she got a return on investment.

✔️Canva expert Gemma Cormack took her income from £240 a month to £3950.00 per month. She has also added 2k new Instagram followers after completing my Instagram Success Academy course. Again, even if she never accessed another resource, I think she’d say she got a great return on investment.

✔️Camille recently launched a membership and generated 8k in sales - adding 100 new members (she’d predicted 50)

✔️Fashion consultant Trisha Sakhlecha, used our Get It Done accountability sessions to create a sequence of emails that helped her generate five coaching enquiries and three sales

✔️Victoria Rose launched a podcast (using the podcasting course), increased her Instagram following by 180% and generated almost £1800 in sales

✔️Claire Gleave launched her Activewear company Natal Active and generated £6.5k in her first month of business (she predicted £1.2k). Also added 2k Instagram followers

It’s about results. So while there’s tons of useful content in the membership, you may find that there’s just ONE thing that delivers the biggest investment for you. It could be one piece of advice (from me or something else in the group), one recommendation, one relationship, one conversation or one collaboration.

2. You will need to be patient

Forget about the ‘get rich quick’ stories. It takes most people a good year to build an engaged audience online.

At LEAST.

Which means you’ll need to keep showing up, consistently, and publish high-quality content. You’ll need to focus on building your email list - however frustrating it might feel. And you’ll need to keep tweaking and testing until you learn what works. And keep tweaking and testing some more. Because NO ONE gets it right first time. And doing it wrong (or even just ‘ok’) is how you learn how to do it right.

The good news is, you’ve got my support - and the support of the Build Your Online Audience community - to keep you going, even when it feels hard.

To ensure you have money coming in during that time you have the Science of Audience Building class.

3. You may need to be courageous 

If you’re not used to putting yourself/your business out there…you may need to be courageous and try things you haven’t done before. But just think what it will do for your confidence.

4. You will need to take responsibility 

The Build Your Audience Programme has all the resources and support you need to succeed including our fab Get It Done sessions - focused co-working sessions that will help you get things done.

Ultimately though, it’s up to you to take action. That’s the only bit I can’t help you with. If you don’t do the work, you won’t get the results. It’s that simple. 

You will need to prioritise

But make sure you reach out to Sam our Community Manager.

5. You will lose your mojo 

I can tell you right now...there will be times when you need to take time out from the membership programme: when your workload gets crazy, you have family issues to deal with or over the holiday period, for example. At times like this, you may feel like you’ve lost your mojo, and wonder how you’ll ever get it back.

If you’re feeling like this, rest assured this is perfectly normal. Life gets in the way for all of us from time to time. The key thing is to get back on track as soon as you can.

Whatever you do, don’t beat yourself up about it. We’ve all bought resources or signed up to online training programmes we haven’t used as much as we’d like to. Sometimes life or business (or both) just gets in the way. That doesn’t mean you can’t or won’t be able to. Remember, getting value out of a membership programme is NOT about how many classes you watch

If you’ve had to take a break from your membership community - or are struggling to keep up - you may experience a range of emotions: embarrassment, frustration or even anger, for example. You may feel annoyed at yourself that you’ve paid for something you’re not using or isn’t getting you the results you hoped for.

When you feel like this, it’s tempting to ‘hide’ and hope no one notices your absence, but the longer you leave it, the harder it will be to make a comeback. So be brave and let us and know how you’re feeling. Drop us a line on janet@janetmurray.co.uk and we’ll do our best to help.

Finally...people join membership communities for the content and stay for the community. So don’t underestimate the power of being part of a supportive business community.

The content in my Build Your Online Audience Programme

What is included in the Standard programme? 

The standard programme takes you through the exact steps you need to take to build your online audience - from getting clear on your niche (the all-important first step) to getting more followers on social media, building a loyal following for your blog/vlog, podcast (if you have one) and building your email list.

SESSION 1: Nail your niche 

Find the right niche for your business (or refine the one you have) so you can become the market leader.

SESSION 2: Developing your brand voice 

Create brand voice guidelines for your business so you never get stuck on what to say about your business (and how to say it).

SESSION 3: Creating your visual brand 

Create a visual style sheet for your business - or refresh the one you have - so people fall in love with your brand (over and over again)

SESSION 4: Choosing your platforms 

Choose the content platforms that are right for your business (i.e. blog, Youtube, podcast, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and/or Twitter).

SESSION 5: Creating bingeworthy content 

Learn how to create content that’s more addictive than your favourite Netflix series.

SESSION 6: Unforgettable social media 

Create irresistible social media content that attracts new followers and fans - every single day.

SESSION 7: Email marketing 101

Get started with email list building (even if you feel daunted by the tech).

SESSION 8: Email magnetism 

Create a compelling email lead magnet (and learn zillions of ways to get new email subscribers).

SESSION 9: Nurture and Grow 

Learn how to write compelling email marketing copy - including welcome sequences, nurture sequences and email newsletters people actually look forward to receiving.

😮  INCLUDES FIVE DONE-FOR-YOU EMAIL SEQUENCES YOU CAN ADAPT FOR YOU OWN BUSINESS 😮

Also included:

✔️Bonus classes on the key social media platforms:  Twitter, Instagram Facebook, LinkedIn and Canva

✔️A weekly group coaching call featuring guest experts who focus on the ‘mindset’ side of building your online audience (monthly themes include money mindset, productivity, motivation, goal-setting, planning and prioritisation and confidence)

✔️Facebook Community where you can get daily help/support from myself and other business owners who are committed to building their online audience

What is included in the Premium version of the programme?

All of the above PLUS: ACCESS TO MY ENTIRE ADVANCED MASTERCLASS LIBRARY

Includes the following classes (worth £792)

  • How to create a coaching/consultancy package
  • How to launch your first online course
  • How to write social media posts that sell
  • How to launch your own planner/journal
  • How to turn your offline services into online offerings
  • How to launch a webinar/masterclass
  • How to create an email nurture sequence
  • How to create passive income in your business
  • How to write delightful emails
  • How to write engaging copy for your business (Copy Fix)
  • How to get booked to speak on big stages
  • How to create a content plan for your business

PLUS additional courses/classes (worth £1782)

✔️ Getting started with Pinterest

✔️ Blogging Success Formula

✔️ Instagram Success Academy

✔️ Getting started with Facebook ads (coming later in the year)

✔️ Getting started with Youtube (coming soon)

✔️ Getting started with live video (coming later in the year)

✔️ Launching your own podcast

✔️ Blogging Success Formula

BONUS course: How to create awesome sales copy (worth £497)

🐝 GET IT DONE SESSIONS 🐝

The Premium version also includes my popular Get It Done sessions. These focused co-working sessions where you can work with other members on a specific task/set of tasks (related to your audience building).


What is the format of the classes?

Each class is typically around 90 minutes and includes a video tutorial and comprehensive workbook.

Many of the classes are taught live, but there is no need to worry if you can’t attend live as all the classes and resources are available in the membership area (usually within 24 hours of the class - often sooner).

Classes are delivered via Zoom video conferencing and are generally very interactive with plenty of opportunities to ask questions and get feedback.


Making the most of Office Hour 

Our weekly Office Hour takes place on Mondays  - alternating at 11am/4pm (GMT/BST).  If you want to check the time for your specific time zone, you can do that here.  It takes place online (we use the video conferencing software Zoom) and is a chance for members to ask questions about any aspect of their marketing and get feedback from myself and the rest of the group. At the start of the call, I also update the group about membership news e.g. upcoming events and/or challenges.

Occasionally the time of the Office Hour might change - for example, if I am speaking/travelling. If this is the case we will let you know via our member bot. We will attempt to give you plenty of notice, but please be aware this may not always be possible.

Attending the weekly Office Hour call is not only a chance for you to ask questions, but it’s also an opportunity for you to get to know other members, build your support network and create opportunities for collaboration.


How to prepare for Office Hour 

You don’t need to prepare anything for the call - apart from making a note of any questions you would like to raise.

However, when you join the call, you may be asked to introduce yourself to the rest of the group in ten words or less (on video), so it’s a good idea to craft your ‘ten-word top line’ before you get on the call e.g. ‘I sell gift boxes for new mums’ or ‘I’m a business coach, specialising in working with introverts’.

Due to time constraints this really does need to be a ten-word top line...and the more specific you can be the better. If people are confused about what you do, they’re far less likely to remember you/your business.

A replay of the call, along with summary notes (which are time-stamped so you know what has been discussed) will be available in the membership area and Facebook group afterwards. This should be uploaded within 24 hours - often much sooner - but you may need to bear with us at busy times.


What's
not included in the Build Your Online Audience programme

1-2-1 calls with me

Personal responses to your questions via social media messaging (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter) or phone

Personal responses to your questions via email (please use the Facebook group to ask questions)

If you feel like you need more personalised attention, drop us a line on janet@janetmurray.co.uk to find out about upgrading your membership to one of our coaching programmes


The support you get in the Build Your Online Audience programme

About Team JM 

As you can imagine, I have hundreds of clients and there’s only one of me...so I rely on these guys to look after you so I can focus on the content/teaching.

But I’m lucky enough to be supported by a fab team and here’s what they can help you with.

Sam Hill, Community Manager

Sam helps look after the Build Your Online Audience Community. This includes: creating the show notes for our weekly Office Hour, supporting me on online classes and events. She also helps with moderation in the Facebook group (including directing you to relevant resources and connecting members’ with common interests). She can also help if you can’t log into your account (just tag her into a post in the Facebook group).

Julie Williams, Tech Support 

Julie manages the Janet Murray inbox and provides technical support. So if you’re locked out of your account, have ordered something from the website that hasn’t come through or are struggling to access the learning resources on the members’ site, Julie is your first port of contact.

Lisa Crossland, Events Manager

Lisa handles the financial side of the business and looks after the fulfilment of all of the physical products (books, diaries etc), She is the person to speak to if you have a query about a payment, are looking for a VAT invoice…anything money related really.

Lisa also deals with all my event logistics - from booking the venue, to managing the speakers (including booking their hotels/travel) to arranging the printing of the workbooks. So if you have any logistical questions e.g. ‘where’s the special lunch I ordered?’ ‘what time is the group dinner this evening?’ or ‘can I have an invoice/receipt?’ she’s the person to talk to.

Tracey Tester, Design & Creative

Tracey is the creative brain behind the Janet Murray brand. She is responsible for all the on and offline visual branding, including my popular Social Media Diary & Planner. Tracey also works closely with me on the development of content ideas, including online courses, publications and live events.

Kim Willis, Social Media

Kim helps me with social media management - primarily relating to the promotion of my podcast.

Sarah Mulcare, Messenger Bot

Sarah builds and manages our member messenger bot which is the main communication tool we use in the Build Your Online Audience programme. The bot will remind you about all our upcoming classes/coaching sessions. If you think you don’t like messenger bots...I’d urge you to give ours a try. It really is the most convenient - and least intrusive way - to keep you up to speed with everything that’s going on.

We’re all mums combining our roles with bringing up school-aged children, which means we sometimes keep slightly unusual hours (e..g evenings and weekends) and tend to work less during school holiday periods. Occasionally this can mean we take a little bit longer to get back to you…but we do surprisingly well, considering.

If at any time you have a question - or need some help or advice, please do tag myself, or Sam into your Facebook posts or send an email to janet@janetmurray.co.uk which will be picked up by someone in the team.


Key Information 

WORKING HOURS

1. My working hours are 9-5pm (BST/GMT) Mon-Fri although this may vary when/if I am travelling. This means if you email/post a question relating to the programme during those hours, you can expect to receive a reply within 24 hours if it’s a working day (longer if it’s the weekend). You may receive a reply from myself or from one of my team members.

2. My team members keep the same hours…so please respect their right to have an evening/weekend. This includes private messaging them on their personal Facebook accounts. If you do want to contact the team via Facebook please go via my page but we really do prefer email. If you send your message to janet@janetmurray.co.uk one of the team can pick it up there.

RESPONSE TIMES

1. Due to the high numbers of students enrolled in my online programmes, I am not able to answer individual questions via email. If you would like to book a 1-2-1 consultation with me please email janet@janetmurray.co.uk for fees and availability.

2. If you have a question, please tag me in and I will reply within 24 hours if it’s a working day (working hours listed above). Please appreciate I get a LOT of notifications so if I miss your post, it is not intentional - so just re-tag me and or nag one of my team members starting with your community manager Sam Hill.

YOUR PARTICIPATION

This Build Your Audience Programme contains all the information you need to build your online audience. If anything is unclear you can also ask me questions in our dedicated Facebook community. 

But ultimately the only person who can do the work is YOU.

So if you don’t use the membership materials and/or use the Facebook community to get support, the only person you can blame if you’re not successful is YOU.

To that end, you must take personal responsibility for your own learning. Which includes asking for help if you need it.

Not a member of my Build Your Online Audience programme but want to join? Join my Build Your Online Audience programme here

Thinking about joining my Build Your Online Audience programme? Listen to this podcast 

 

Podcast shownotes

  • About this podcast episode and why you might be listening (01:45)
  • Why you don’t have to spend hours in the membership to be successful (4:35)
  • Different member success stories and why everyone is different (06:10)
  • Why everyone’s outcomes are different as they have different objectives (10:22)
  • Why you’ll get a return on investment (as long as you do the work) (12:15)
  • Where to start in the Build Your Online Audience programme ( 12:48)
  • Why you shouldn’t worry if you don’t do everything in the programme (14:31)
  • Why you have to be patient (and why it takes time to build an online audience) (15:29)
  • About the science of audience building class (and why you do it first) (17:16)
  • Why you’ll have to push yourself out of your comfort zone (19:02)
  • Where to start in the programme if you feel overwhelmed (22:56)
  • What to do when you lose your mojo or you get  stuck (24:14)
  • The different modules and what’s included in the standard version (27:40)
  • About our weekly group coaching call office hour (32:30)
  • What’s included in the premium version of Build Your Online Audience (32:56)
  • About the Get It done Sessions in the premium version  (34:18)
  • About our weekly office hour coaching calls and the guest experts (35:34)
  • What’s not included in Build Your Online Audience (36:20)
  • About the Build Your Online Audience team behind the scenes (36:50)
  • About my messenger bot and why it’ll help you stay organised (38:26)
  • Working hours that the membership team are available (38:30)

 

Resources

[BONUS] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme (podcast)

Other Podcast episodes

[339] How To Build An Audience for an Online Course or membership (podcast)
[343] The three audiences you must build to create a successful online business (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Aug 21, 2020

Do you ever struggle promoting your business success and telling everyone how great you are?

Perhaps you'd love to be one of those people that tells everyone how amazing they are - but you don't want to come across as an arrogant braggy show-off - so you just keep quiet and hope everyone will just notice you?

If that sounds familiar then this podcast is for you. I explain why you must shout about your success and how to show potential clients how fabulous you are - without using contrived website testimonials.

Find out how to use your client success stories to showcase your highlight reel and why you need to think carefully about the problem you solve - before you rush off to pitch to a client.

I explain the steps you need to take to make sure you get a great testimonial from a client that has clarity and impact  - rather than just a load of meaningless wimpy words.

Plus how to make sure your testimonials show how brilliant you are - rather than just tell.

And why testimonials aren't just for potential clients or customers but why you current clients and customers need to hear how great you are too.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

 

Podcast shownotes

  • About this podcast episode (10:10)
  • How to sell more by explaining how you help people (13:27)
  • Why your clients (and potential clients) need to hear how good you are (15:28)
  • What makes a great testimonial and why it's not just words (17:39)
  • Why your transformation doesn’t have to be big (19:01)
  • How to use your stories to share your transformations (20:01)
  • Why you must think about the problem you solve for your clients (22:30)
  • Why your client success stories will make potential clients want to work with you (23:44)
  • Why original raw testimonials are better than fancy images (25:30)
  • Why you should get specific numbers from clients (26:35)
  • Why you should share testimonials with existing clients/customers (28:13)
  • Why it’s not just about the money when you write in a testimonial (30:40)
  • Why impact is really powerful when talking about transformations (31:15)
  • Why pictures of people using your product are really powerful (34:01)
  • Why you have to ask clients to promote your product or service (36:18)
  • How to use a case study as a testimonial (and why it’s valuable) (37:01)
  • How to get testimonials from your clients by asking them to share their knowledge (38:20)

Resources

 

Join my Build Your Online Audience Programme

 

Other useful podcasts

[337] The tools I use to build an online audience (podcast)
[339] How to build an audience for an online course or membership (podcast)
[343] The three audiences you must build to create a successful online business (podcast)
[372] How to build an engaged online audience (podcast)

[BONUS] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Aug 14, 2020

Would you love to launch an online course - but you're not sure how long it will take or you may be wondering how long it will take you to create the resources and get it online?

There are so many factors to consider. For example:

  • How well do you know your subject? (and do you already have content you can repurpose?) 
  • How long will your course be? (i.e. how many modules/lessons)
  • Are you are planning to do everything yourself (or outsource some tasks)
  • Will your classes be live or pre-recorded?
  • Have you created an online course before? 
  • Do you have previous teaching experience? 

This podcast episode (which you can also read as a blog post) will take you through the key things you need to consider to estimate how long it will take you to create your course.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

1. How well do you know your subject?

The first and most important decision you need to make about your course is the topic.

Choose a topic you know well and/or have already created content on as this can vastly reduce the amount of time needed to create your course - and get it to market.

For example, my first course, Soulful PR for Starters was a beginners course on how to do your own PR. I had already created a cluster of blog posts on this topic. For example:

  • What kind of ideas are journalists interested in?
  • How to write a press release for a journalist
  • How to write an effective pitch for a journalist
  • How to find journalists’ contact details
  • What to do if a journalist says ‘no’ to your pitch

So I was able to use the blog posts I had already created (which were tried and tested ideas) to quickly create an outline for my course.

Had I been starting from scratch it could have taken HOURS of research.

 

2. How long will your online course be?

This will have the biggest impact on your time as the longer your course, the longer it will take you to create the materials.

According to Teachable, a starter course might be just five – 20 lessons and cover a smaller aspect of a wider topic e.g. How to create a high-converting lead magnet or it may cover it at a beginner’s level of detail e.g. Soulful PR for Starters.

A typical price to sell a starter course might be $50 – $200.

A flagship course like Build Your Online Audience might be 20 – 100 lessons and cover all aspects of a topic in lots of depth with plenty of additional resources and maybe a community aspect to the programme too. It could sell for $200 – $2000+.

Bonus tip If it’s your first course, try a starter course as part of a funnel. A tripwire. Then you can measure how long things take you.

 

3. Are you are planning to do everything yourself (or outsource some tasks)

As a minimum, most online courses contain:

  • Video tutorials
  • Workbooks/printables (e.g. templates, checklists, cheat sheets, swipe files)
  • Slides

Some course creators also provide audio versions of their courses (which is a great idea for accessibility) and transcripts.

This means that at a very minimum you will need to:

  • Plan the lessons
  • Record/edit video tutorials
  • Create slides and printables

If you are planning to do it all yourself, you may need to factor in time to learn about video editing, design. However, I really recommend using a professional designer and perhaps even an audio editor. I’d recommend outsourcing if you can.

Bonus tip: Don’t forget to factor in time learning new skills or costs for outsourcing.

 

4. Will your classes be live or pre-recorded?

It’s typically quicker to create live content (as you have to do it all in one ‘take’) but depending on how perfect you want your content to be - you may want to edit your content afterwards and cut out any unnecessary bits. But see point 6 - it can be quite nerve-wracking teaching online (or teaching at all if you haven’t done it before).

For a masterclass that’s 90 mins - 2 hours long it takes me:

  • 6 hours to prepare for a class.
  • Plus a day to create a workbook with help from my designer.

If you’re a confident, competent online teacher, go for it live.

 

5. Have you created an online course before?

As with anything in life, you tend to get quicker. When I first started creating online courses, it could sometimes take me up to three hours to create an online class. Now I do it all in one take. I don’t even edit out mistakes unless they are REALLY big.

While I don’t advocate creating your course upfront before knowing if anyone will buy your course. Creating one session to see how long it takes you might be an idea. OR try a masterclass or webinar first before you launch a course to see how long it will take you.

Bonus tip: Start with a masterclass or webinar first before you launch a course. Make sure you presell before you create.

 

6. Are you experienced in teaching?

I am - so it takes less time but what about you? If you’ve never taught anything before it will take you longer than someone who is experienced in teaching.

Make sure you research the different learning styles that people have - some people learn visually others from listening or reading.

It’s important to mix up your styles so that you reach different people at different times.

Bonus tip: Do some research on different learning styles on how people learn etc. Think about the accessibility of your course.

 

7. How to sell your course (without outlaying too much cost)

Make sure you presell your course before you create it. This way you'll know if it's got legs. The worse that can happen is that you have to refund people as you haven't had enough interest.

If you haven't got a big online audience to sell to - you might consider starting small with a webinar or masterclass to build interest from and then build your online audience.

Ready to know more?

Join my How To Plan And Create Awesome Teaching Resources For An Online Course

Podcast shownotes

  • About my How to plan and launch online masterclasses (01:47)
  • About this podcast episode (07:32)
  • Why I can’t give you the exact amount of time it will take  to create a course (08:21)
  • Why knowing your subject really well will help you create your course quickly (11:25)
  • How to save time if you already have some popular content to turn into a course (13:12)
  • Why creating a niche mini-course is a good place to start (15:02)
  • Why you need to test your concept before building a flagship course (16:28)
  • The three main resources that you might need to create for your course (19:25)
  • What you need to think about when creating your resources for your online course (20:47
  • Why you need to remember that everyone has different learning styles (21:34)
  • How to make your classes interactive (and why you should) (23:40)
  • What you need to consider when you create your resources (25:10)
  • Why you might want to consider outsourcing and why design is so important (28:40)
  • Why your course materials need to look professional (30:10)
  • Why live classes can save you time rather than prerecording(31:40)
  • When you might prerecord your classes (33:20)
  • Why you should start with a masterclass or webinar and build from there (35:02)
  • Why you should presell your course before you create it (36:50)
  • How to find out if people will buy your course (38:39)
  • What to do if you don’t have time to build a big online audience to sell to (40:01)
  • How to get an idea of how long it will take you to create your course (43:20)

Resources

Join my How To Plan And Create Awesome Teaching Resources For An Online Course

Join my Build Your Online Audience Programme

Teachable

Rev.com Affiliate link with $10 off for new customers

 

Other useful podcasts

[337] The tools I use to build an online audience (podcast)
[339] How to build an audience for an online course or membership (podcast)
[343] The three audiences you must build to create a successful online business (podcast)
[372] How to build an engaged online audience (podcast)

[BONUS] Should you join my Build Your Online Audience Programme? (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Aug 12, 2020

Are you considering joining my Build Your Online Audience programme but aren’t sure whether it’s right for you? 

If so you probably have questions like:  

  • What kind of results can I expect if I join the programme (and how quickly?)
  • What exactly is included in the programme and how does it work?
  • Is the programme suitable for a business brand//like mine? 

Maybe you’re wondering how much time you will need to devote to the Build Your Online Audience programme, whether it’s suitable for your type (or stage) of business and the difference between the Standard/Premium versions of the programme.  

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

While it’s tempting to start with the features of the programme, I know what you’re really interested in is the potential transformation i.e. what kind of results can you expect if you join. 

1. What kind of results can you expect if you join the Build Your Online Audience programme? 

As with anything in life you get out what you put in but here’s what some members have achieved: 

✔️ Leadership coach Blaire Palmer generated £42k in sales from one class (Science of Audience Building) Achieved within 90 days. 

✔️ Canva expert Gemma Cormack took her income from £240 a month to £3950.00 per month. She has also added 2k new Instagram followers after completing my Instagram Success Academy course. Achieved within 90 days.

✔️ Fashion consultant Trisha Sakhlecha, used our Get It Done accountability sessions to create a sequence of emails that helped her generate five coaching enquiries and three sales. Achieved within 90 days. 

✔️ Victoria Rose launched a podcast (using the podcasting course), increased her Instagram following by 180% and generated almost £1800 in sales 

Achieved within 90 days 

✔️ Claire Gleave launched her Activewear company Natal Active and generated £6.5k in her first month of business (she predicted £1.2k). Also added 2k Instagram followers 

2. Why do you need to build an online audience?

You don’t NEED to build an online audience. If you’re getting enough leads/sales online - and/or you only need a small number of clients each year and you can get them via your existing contacts - you don’t need to do anything. 

But if you want to sell one-to-many i.e. you want to sell your products/services in the hundreds and thousands. And you don’t want to have to do personal outreach for every sale,  you need an online audience. 

To put this into context, the average conversion rate for online sales is just 1-2%. Which means for every hundred people in your audience, only a handful will buy. So if you’re looking to sell at scale i.e. products, online courses, membership...you need a much bigger audience than you think you do.  

3. How much does it cost to join the Build Your Online Audience programme? 

There are two levels to the programme: Standard and Premium.

Standard: is £240/£36 pcm

Premium: is £440/£66 pcm 

As a monthly member - no minimum numbers of months. 

4. What exactly IS the Build Your Online Audience programme? 

The Build Your Online Audience programme is the only dedicated membership programme aimed at helping you build an online audience i.e. more fans, followers and subscribers. 

Because the more of the right kind of people you have in the audience, the easier it will be for you to make online sales. 

Key topics covered in the Standard programme are: 

✔️ Social media marketing: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram

✔️ Content planning and creation

✔️ Content strategy (blogging, podcasting, video marketing)

✔️ Email marketing (including how to create a lead magnet and build your email list). 

We also focus on the mindset part of building your audience, with weekly group coaching sessions on relevant topics including: money mindset, productivity, motivation, goal-setting, planning and prioritisation and self-confidence.

5. What is included in the Standard version of the Build Your Online Audience programme? 

The standard version of the Build Your Online programme takes you through the exact steps you need to take to build your online audience - from getting clear on your niche (the all-important first step) to getting more followers on social media, building a loyal following for your blog/vlog, podcast (if you have one) and building your email list. 

SESSION 1: Nail your niche 

Find the right niche for your business (or refine the one you have) so you can become the market leader. 

SESSION 2: Developing your brand voice 

Create brand voice guidelines for your business so you never get stuck on what to say about your business (and how to say it).

SESSION 3: Creating your visual brand 

Create a visual style sheet for your business - or refresh the one you have - so people fall in love with your brand (over and over again) 

SESSION 4: Choosing your platforms 

Choose the content platforms that are right for your business (i.e. blog, Youtube, podcast, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and/or Twitter). 

SESSION 5: Creating binge worthy content 

Learn how to create content that’s more addictive than your favourite Netflix series.

SESSION 6: Unforgettable social media 

Create irresistible social media content that attracts new followers and fans - every single day. 

SESSION 7: Email marketing 101  

Get started with email list building (even if you feel daunted by the tech). 

SESSION 8: Email magnetism 

Create a compelling email lead magnet (and learn zillions of ways to get new email subscribers).

SESSION 9: Nurture and Grow 

Learn how to write compelling email marketing copy - including welcome sequences, nurture sequences and email newsletters people actually look forward to receiving. 

😮  INCLUDES FIVE DONE-FOR-YOU EMAIL SEQUENCES YOU CAN ADAPT FOR YOU OWN BUSINESS 😮 

Also included:

✔️ Bonus classes on the key social media platforms:  Twitter, Instagram Facebook, LinkedIn. PLUS a Canva masterclass. 

✔️ A weekly group coaching call featuring guest experts who focus on the ‘mindset’ side of building your online audience (monthly themes include money mindset, productivity, motivation, goal-setting, planning and prioritisation and confidence)

✔️ Facebook Community where you can get daily help/support from myself and other business owners who are committed to building their online audience 

6. What is included in the Premium version of the Build Your Online Audience programme?

The Premium version of the Build Your Online Audience programme includes:

All of the above PLUS: ACCESS TO MY ENTIRE ADVANCED MASTERCLASS LIBRARY

Includes the following classes (worth £792)  

  • How to create a coaching/consultancy package
  • How to launch your first online course
  • How to write social media posts that sell
  • How to launch your own planner/journal
  • How to turn your offline services into online offerings
  • How to launch a webinar/masterclass
  • How to create an email nurture sequence
  • How to create passive income in your business
  • How to write delightful emails 
  • How to write engaging copy for your business (Copy Fix)
  • How to get booked to speak on big stages 
  • How to create a content plan for your business 

PLUS additional courses/classes (worth £1782) 

✔️ Getting started with Pinterest

✔️ Blogging Success Formula

✔️ Instagram Success Academy 

✔️ Getting started with Facebook ads (coming later in the year)

✔️ Getting started with Youtube (coming soon) 

✔️ Getting started with live video (coming later in the year)

✔️ Launching your own podcast 

✔️ Blogging Success Formula

BONUS course: How to create awesome sales copy (worth £497)

🐝 GET IT DONE SESSIONS 🐝

The Premium version of the Build Your Online Audience programme also includes my popular Get It Done sessions. These focused co-working sessions where you can work with other members on a specific task/set of tasks (related to your audience building).  

Who is the Build Your Online Audience for?

The Build Your Online Audience programme is suitable for anyone who wants to build an online audience i.e. more followers, fans and subscribers. 

It’s suitable for: 

✔️ Service-based based businesses (including hospitality)

✔️ Product-based businesses

✔️ Online business

✔️ Offline businesses

✔️ New businesses

✔️ Established businesses​ 

✔️ Freelancers/sole traders

✔️ Solopreneurs/entrepreneurs

✔️ Small/Medium-sized businesses

✔️ Colleges/universities

✔️ Charities

And if you need more reassurance, here’s a list of some of the types of business owners I’ve helped with audience building: 

Glamping site owners, genealogists, costume designers, social media managers, accountants, psychologists, personal trainers, coaches/consultants, holiday cottage owners, estate agents, wedding planners, website designers, jewellery designers, artists, writers, vocal coaches, nutritionists, business coaches, universities, cake makers, hairstylists, jewellery designers.

7. Is the Build Your Online Audience programme suitable for product-based business owners?

 Absolutely yes. The audience-building strategies you use to build an audience for a product-based business are exactly the same as those you’d use for a service-based. Because a service IS a product, right? To put that into context, I use exactly the same strategies to sell a digital product like my Build Your Online Audience programme as I do a physical product like my Social Media Diary & Planner

Here is a list of some of the product-based business owners I work with: 

✔️ Hand-made jewellery

✔️ Evening dresses and gowns

✔️ Dance costumes

✔️ Face masks

✔️ Vegan handbags

✔️ Subscription boxes

✔️ Personalised baby/toddler gifts

✔️ Recipe kits

✔️ Skincare and makeup

✔️ Books/planners

✔️ Yoga wear and accessories 

✔️ Children’s clothes

✔️ Activewear for mums and mums-to-be 

8. Is the Build Your Online Audience programme just for beginners?

Not at all. Whether you’re new in business - or you’re looking to pivot/or create an audience for something new, the Build Your Online Audience programme can help. 

Is the Build Your Online Audience programme suitable for new business owners? 

Definitely. Whether you’re completely new in business - or you’re looking to pivot/or create an audience for something new, the Build Your Online Audience programme can help. 

9. What is the format of the classes?

Each class is typically around 90 minutes and includes a video tutorial and comprehensive workbook.

Many of the classes are taught live, but there is no need to worry if you can’t attend live as all the classes and resources are available in the membership area (usually within 24 hours of the class - often sooner). 

Classes are delivered via Zoom video conferencing and are generally very interactive with plenty of opportunities to ask questions and get feedback. 

 10. When is the right time to join the Build Your Online Audience programme...before I launch my new product/service or afterwards?

It’s never too early to start building your audience. And I would recommend joining BEFORE you launch your new product/service. Otherwise, who are you going to sell it to? 

11.  How quickly should you expect to see results from the Build Your Online Audience programme? 

 As with anything in your business you get out what you put in? 

You get out what you put in. Shared success stories of 90 days 

12. Can men join the Build Your Online Audience programme?

Absolutely yes. Paul Couchman (great growth in his Instagram 1500 new followers) historic food, Mahmood Reza accountant (helped launch an awareness day) Jon Clayton architectural technologist (£600 of sales from Science of Audience Building). 

13. How much time do I need to spend?

Minimum of two hours a week.

You don’t have to do everything

Resources

Join my Build Your Online Audience programme here

Other Podcast episodes

[339] How To Build An Audience for an Online Course or membership (podcast)
[343] The three audiences you must build to create a successful online business (podcast)
[380] How to set goals for audience growth in 2020 and why you should (podcast)
[386] The four types of content that will help you make more sales in 2020 (podcast)
[417] How much does it cost to launch your own planner (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

 

Aug 7, 2020

Would you love to make more sales from your website? Maybe you'd love to know the type of content to create to attract more people to your website?

Find out how to attract more website visitors and increase your sales in this podcast with online marketing consultant and website optimisation expert Vicki Jakes.

Vicki explains the key things that your website must-do if you’d like to sell more of your product or service. Including the four main website pages that any website should have and why your call to action needs to be really obvious.

Find out why your website content and the language you use is more important than using fancy pants keywords - and how to make Google really fall in love with you and show your content to a bigger audience.

Vicki shares simple, practical tips to get your website do the hard work for you. And the key things to consider when optimising your website to make it rank higher in search.

Discover the three main Google Analytic metrics that you must monitor and how to keep people on your website longer.

PLUS why knowing your best performing content will help you save time creating new content.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

Podcast shownotes

  • About my Build Your Online Audience programme (01:25)
  • About Vicki and how her business has evolved (4:09)
  • Why it's important to have a website and not just rely on social media (08:11)
  • Why you need a website to create a predictable revenue stream (11:30)
  • The four key pages you need to have on your website (13:34)
  • Why you should have a blog page on your website (and why it’s not a diary) (15:44)
  • Why you have to write as people think to get your content found on Google (18:43)
  • Why you have to start with your content and not with keywords (22:16)
  • The key things Google is looking for on your page (23:08)
  • How to find out what your customers are searching for (24:50)
  • Why you need to be realistic about being on the front page of Google (25:30)
  • Why you have to have a clear Call to Action on your website homepage (26:47)
  • Why your website needs to get to the heart of what you do (29:26)
  • How to make the most of your meta description and your word count (32:50)
  • Key things you can do to make sure your website is optimised (38:04)
  • Why you should know the best-performing pages on your website (41:40)
  • Key Google Analytics to track and why this will improve your marketing (42:14)
  • Why you should rewrite your best performing website content (46:38)
  • How to show Google that you’re an expert and the ideal length of a blog post (50:05)
  • Why you should create a blog post to go with your podcast or YouTube video (51:25)
  • Why you shouldn’t be afraid of creating link posts (52:25)
  • Why you don’t have to reinvent the wheel with every piece of content (53:35)
  • About my Blogging Success Formula course with Vicki Jakes (54:58)

Resources

Vicki Jakes website

Find out more about my Build Your Audience Programme

Keywords everywhere website

How to write a blog post every day 21 tips to get you started (blog post)

Why you need

Other useful podcasts

[236] Why you need a blog for your business (podcast)
[330] How to write awesome sales copy for your business (podcast)
[336] How to make sales from your business blog (podcast)
[343] The three audiences you must build to create a successful online business (podcast)
[380] How to set goals for audience growth in 2020 and why you should (podcast)
[386] The four types of content that will help you make more sales in 2020 (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Jul 31, 2020

Does your relationship with money hold you back in business?

Perhaps you struggle with pricing your goods or services or you’re too quick to discount. Or you always undercharge because you feel guilty charging the full price?

If this resonates with you then you’ll love this podcast episode with financial coach and planner and host of the podcast 'In her Financial Shoes' Catherine Morgan.

It’s a deep dive into how money mindset issues can really hold you back from growing your audience and building your business.

Find out how those little phrases from your childhood like ‘money doesn’t grow on trees’ and deep-rooted beliefs and preconceptions that have been passed down the generations (even if they're not true!) can really affect your relationship with money.

Catherine reveals the three most common types of relationship people have with money. Find out what type you are and how this impacts how you show up in business.

Discover why people get so addicted to taking courses and why over-giving is really common in online entrepreneurs. And what prevents some people from spending ANY money in their business. PLUS what this means for the content that you create in your business.

Catherine shares two steps that you can take right now - to start understanding your relationship with money - and how you can take your mindset from scarcity to abundance.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

Podcast shownotes

  • About my BYA programme and Money Mindset month (01:24)
  • How Catherine helps people improve their emotional relationship with money (06:30)
  • How your beliefs and thoughts about money come from messages when younger (07:16)
  • How your mindset can trigger scarcity messages in your brain (10:26)
  • How a scarcity money mindset can drive your business forward (11:00)
  • How social influences and beliefs can influence our thoughts about money (13:00)
  • Why you need to think of the emotion that you attach to money (14:48)
  • The three most common types of relationship people have with money (16:02)
  • How a giving relationship with money can affect your business (16:43)
  • Why you need boundaries in your business to stop yourself over giving (18:29)
  • Why setting up a treat fund will help you get into an abundance mindset (19:40)
  • How to get into the mindset of spending money on outsourcing (21:21)
  • How over planning and overthinking can stop you taking action  in your biz (22:03)
  • How a personal development pot of money can help you grab opportunities (25:07)
  • Types of content you can create for spontaneous spenders (27:20)
  • Why you need to understand the emotional trigger of spending (28:42)
  • How to get financially naked and why you need to stop burying head in the sand (34:27)
  • Why you have to avoid comparing your business with someone else's (36:56)

Resources

Catherine Morgan website

Catherine Morgan Money Personality Quiz

Catherine Morgan podcast In her Financial Shoes

Find out more about my Build Your Audience Programme

Other useful podcasts

[Bonus] How I discovered my ADHD superpower (podcast)
[217] How to find your entrepreneurial superpower with Osmaan Sharif (podcast)
[390] How to stop overthinking your content (podcast)
[406] Mindset problems that can slow your audience growth with Osmaan Sharif (podcast)
[413] How to get more done in less time and build your audience faster (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Jul 24, 2020

Wondering if TikTok is right for your business? But not really sure if it’s your ‘thing’? Perhaps you think it’s just for teens and you’ve got no idea where to start?

If that sounds familiar then this podcast episode with marketing expert Sam Bearfoot is a must-listen. Sam explains exactly how you can use TikTok to build your online audience and promote your business.

Find out the best type of content to create on TikTok and why being authentically 'you' - will help you create content for TikTok and help you stand out amongst the crowds.

Discover how you can use TikTok to get people into your messages and grow your other social media platforms like Instagram.

Even if you’ve never used TikTok before - Sam explains how to get started with TikTok and how you can get inspired and begin creating content for TikTok (and why it doesn’t have to just be dancing!).

Plus how you can save time by repurposing the content you create on TikTok on your other social media platforms.

Sam shares so much value in this episode - I’d love to know if you’re inspired to start.

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

Podcast shownotes

  • About my Build Your Audience programme and my Get It Done sessions (1:36)
  • About Sam and how she helps businesses grow (4:38)
  • How Sam has shifted her business from just being the ‘Instagram girl’ (6:52)
  • Why it’s harder to work with people if you don’t show up authentically (8:22)
  • Why you’ll stand out more if you are authentically you (12:54)
  • How TikTok compares other social media platforms like Instagram (15:15)
  • How to create your Tok Tok videos and decide on your content (16:29)
  • How TikTok has grown  and why it isn’t just for teenagers anymore (18:08)
  • How to make sure you have the right audience on TikTok (19:20)
  • How to get inspiration on TikTok and why you need to use music (20:43)
  • Why you need to curate TikTok so that see what you want 21:27
  • Why it doesn’t have to be music that you use on TikTok (22:02)
  • How Sam approaches content creation on TikTok (23:10)
  • Why TikTok is great for video editing (25:41)
  • How to use hashtags on TikTok (and how it’s similar to Instagram) (28:10)
  • Why you should repurpose your TikTok videos on other platforms (29:58)
  • Why TikTok will take you out of your comfort zone (but you should just do it) (31:31)
  • How to get inspiration from TikTok and how to start on TikTok (33:45)
  • How to use TikTok to talk to people - even if they don’t follow you  (36:11)
  • Why being yourself online really works (39:45)

Resources

Find out more about my Build Your Audience Programme

Sam Bearfoot Instagram

Sam Bearfoot Website

Sam Bearfoot TikTok

TikTok accounts recommended by Sam

Jerabean

It's Lauren Edge

The Matthew Hussey

Other useful podcasts

[347] How to create engaging social media posts even if you hate being on camera (podcast)

[377] How to write super engaging copy about your business with Jo Watson (podcast)

[343] The three audiences you must build to create a successful online business (podcast) 

[373] How to get more followers on any social media platform (podcast)

[384] How to be more yourself in your social media content with Natalie Lue (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Jul 17, 2020

With sales of planners and organisers topping $386 million last year, we're clearly a generation obsessed with planning. 

And since I launched my Social Media Diary & Planner, back in 2017, I get asked tons of questions from people who want to launch their own. 

So in this podcast episode, I answer your burning questions, including the number one question: how much does it cost to launch a planner? 

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode.}

  1. How much does it cost to launch your own planner?

The rather unsatisfactory answer to this is: it depends on a number of things, including 

  •  How many pages you want
  •  The size (e.g. A4, A1) 
  •  Type of printing 
  •  Weight and type of paper 
  •  Finish (e.g. gloss/matt) 
  •  Type of binding e.g. spiral or perfect bound 

If you don’t have all of this information to hand, you won’t even be able to get a quote from a printer.

So if you want to launch your own planner, one of the first things you need to do is sit down and plan out exactly what you will include on every page of your planner - even down to how many pages you want for each month of the year. This is generally known as a flatplan. I include flatplan templates in my online masterclass: How to launch your own planner.

This is important because you can only print a perfect bound book (and, essentially, your planner is a book)  in multiples of four pages. This means that if you decide to add or take away content at a later stage, it could have a big impact on your project (and your budget). If you go for spiral bound, you can add or take away pages in multiples of two, but if you don’t plan out your content thoroughly beforehand, you could still create problems for yourself further down the line. 

it’s difficult to estimate how many pages you will need without knowing how your planner will be laid out.  Sites like Canva and Creative Market have planner templates you can browse for inspiration. Pinterest is also a great place to look for inspiration. 

At this stage, you also need to do some research on the correct paper weight for your planner and best method of binding. If you want to create a product people can use (and possibly carry around with them) for a full year it needs to be hardy. The last thing you want is people complaining/asking for refunds because the pages are ripped and/or the ink is seeping through.

So the best thing you can do at this stage - is to create a flatplan of your planner, then contact a number of printers for a quotation. 

Most printers will be happy to advise you and/or send through paper samples. It’s important to touch/feel the paper yourself before you get anything printed. I’d also suggest buying some different planners so you can compare size, binding and layout plus how easy they are to use. 

There are instructions on how to create a flatplan for your planner (and flatplan templates), a checklist of information you need to supply a printer with in order to get a quote and a list of all the printing terminology you need to know in my online masterclass on how to launch your own planner. 

  1. How do I price my planner? 

Once you’ve got quotes from printers (I’d suggest getting a minimum of three).While it may be tempting to outsource your printing overseas this may not be the best practical solution. While it can be cheaper, if there is a problem with the printing, it’s much more difficult to fix if your printer is in China. This is definitely something to bear in mind if you want to launch a seasonal planner i.e. one that runs from January to January.  Not only will you need to allow additional time for the initial print and delivery, if you are unhappy with any aspect of the printing, it could take weeks (or even months) to fix. This is not to say it is a bad idea, but for your first planner, it may be best to stay local.

Once you have some printing quotes, you can estimate how much it will cost you to produce each copy of your planner. Then, based on how much profit you want to make (and research on similar products on the market) you can decide on the price of your planner.  

When costing out your planner, remember you also need to include things like:

  • Packaging (and postage, although you may want to add this on to each order)
  • Fulfilment i.e. getting the planner packaged up and sent out 
  • Stripe/PayPal fees
  • Design 
  • Proofreading and editing 
  • Marketing 
  • Your own time 

There is a checklist of all the costs you need to consider in my online masterclass on how to launch your own planner. 

If you don’t want the hassle of organising your own printing, there is the option of using a print-on-demand service like Createspace, Lulu or Ingram Spark. With this option, you upload your artwork file for your planner to their website and, every time someone orders a copy, it is printed and sent to them. This cuts down on packaging and fulfilment costs, but you will still need to pay for design, editing and proofreading. 

While print-on-demand is often less expensive per copy, you also have less control over the process.  So if something goes wrong, it can be much more difficult to fix. Many people mistakenly think that using a large, established platform means you have a ready-made audience to buy their planner. This couldn’t be further from the truth. You will still need to work really hard to market your planner. 

There is a detailed comparison of DIY printing versus print-on-demand in my online masterclass on how to launch a planner for your industry. 

  1. Do I need to build an audience before I launch my planner?

Ideally yes...otherwise who are you going to sell your planner to? 

Most online sales convert at just 1-2%, so if you’re hoping to sell hundreds or thousands of copies of your planner, you will need a large enough audience to sell to. You can use my audience calculator to see if you have enough people in your audience right now to make your target sales. 

If you don’t have a big enough audience, you have two choices. You can either focus on building your online audience to the size you need to launch a planner. This may take at least a year but could save you a lot of time and money in the long run. Here’s how to build an audience. 

Or you can explore the idea of doing a short print run to test your idea. This will almost certainly reduce your profit, as shorter print runs are generally more expensive. But it will also reduce the risk of you making a loss on your planner (and ending up with a stack of planners gathering dust in your loft/garage).

At this stage, you should also ask yourself some tough questions about whether you have the authority to launch a planner on your chosen topic. For example, if you want to launch a planner for yoga teachers, but you’re currently working in banking, you may find you don’t have the credibility to make enough sales. In this case, it would be better to spend some time building your audience before launching a planner. 

  1. Can I presell my planner before I launch it?

Absolutely yes. In fact, if you don’t want a stack of planners you can’t sell (and a hefty printing bill) I would absolutely recommend it. 

The reality is, you can carry out tons of research, but won’t know for sure if anyone wants to buy your planner until you ask people to pay you money for it. 

This is why I believe you shouldn’t print your planner until you have made enough sales to at least break even. 

This is why I recommend creating a test offer. This is where you get a designer to create an image of your diary, create a simple landing page (a web page where people can only do one thing i.e. order your diary) and invite people to pre-order their planner at a reduced cost on the understanding that they may need to wait a bit longer for their planner. 

I share my test offer strategy (including a checklist of the steps you need to take and the resources you need) in my how to launch a planner masterclass.

  1. Do I need to hire a designer? Or can I do it myself? 

Unless you are a designer yourself, I really wouldn’t recommend it. 

If you want your planner to look professional, I believe you need to use a professional - ideally someone who has a background in book/magazine publishing. 

Not only will this ensure your planner has a professional look and feel, they should also be able to advise you on any potential problems with the design. For example, a professional designer will be able to advise on font size/type, what type of content is best on right and left-hand pages, potential problems with user experiences (e.g. left-handers). You only know that stuff if you’ve worked in publishing.

Sites like Canva and Creative Market have planner templates you can browse for inspiration. Pinterest is also great for inspiration. But, unless you are a designer, I would use it just for that - inspiration.

  1. How do you decide on a topic for your planner 

This isn’t actually on my list of frequently asked questions, but I’ve included it because it’s something people generally don’t give enough thought i.e. they create a planner they want to create - rather than something people actually want to buy. 

Remember, nice-looking stationery is all very well, but if your planner doesn’t solve a problem for people, you’ll struggle to sell it. 

Let’s take my media diary as an example. It’s an A4 desk diary that features key dates and awareness days that can help you plan out your content for the coming year. It also has planning templates that help you create annual, quarterly, monthly, weekly and daily content plans. So the media diary solves two key problems for the people who buy it: not being able to think of any/enough content ideas and not having a clear content plan to follow. Not publishing regular content can decrease your visibility, authority and credibility - which can have an impact on the bottom line of your business. 

Remember that your planner doesn’t necessarily have to solve a practical problem e.g. not being able to think of ideas. It can also solve an emotional problem/need, such as wanting to look stylish around your peers. 

But it does need to solve a problem...otherwise it won’t sell. 

I have a planner viability test in my how to launch a planner masterclass.

Podcast shownotes

  • The top questions I get asked about launching a planner (01:37)
  • About my new masterclass how to launch your own planner (02:55)
  • Why I’m recording my podcast during my ‘Get it Done’ session (04:27)
  • Why I can’t tell you exactly how much it will cost to print your planner (6:09)
  • What you need to know before going to the printers for a quote (06:45)
  • Why you need to know what you want before you go to the printers  (10:20)
  • What costs you need to consider when pricing out your planner  (11:45)
  • Why you should have your diary printed locally (and not in China) (12:38)
  • Other costs you need to work out before pricing your diary (14:08)
  • Why you should do some market research before pricing your planner (17:10)
  • Why you need to build an audience if you want to sell a lot of copies (17:23)
  • Why you need to have authority in your space if you want to sell (20:04)
  • Why you should presell your planner before you print (21:49)
  • What you should do if people don’t buy your planner on your presale (23:39)
  • Why you should use a professional designer to design your planner (25:22)
  • How to decide on a topic for your planner (27:13)
  • Why your planner has to solve a problem for someone (30:20)

Resources

Audience Calculator: Work out the audience size you need that you need with my audience calculator

Graphic design with Canva

Self publish with Amazon Create Space

Self publish with Lulu 

Self publish with IngramSpark

[326]  The one thing you need to do to generate passive income for your business (podcast)

[339] How To Build An Audience for an Online Course or membership (podcast)

[343] The three audiences you must build to create a successful online business (podcast) 

[355] How to create and launch a planner for your industry (podcast)

[374] How to create a year's worth of content in one morning (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

Jul 10, 2020

Hands up...I’m not the most organised person in the world.

But I AM insanely productive - publishing hundreds of podcasts, blogs and social media posts every year - and rarely missing a deadline. 

My recent ADHD diagnosis made me question how I’d managed to stay so productive - despite being disorganised. 

If you haven’t heard of it before, that stands of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - a disorder that affects the functioning of the brain and includes symptoms such as inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. Problems with memory, forgetfulness, organisation. 

And it made me realise I’d actually developed coping strategies to stay productive - which I share with you in this episode. 

They’re actually really good strategies that can help anyone who struggles to get things done (which we all do at times).

{Click on the player above to listen to the podcast episode and/or read on for a detailed overview. Scroll down to the bottom to read the show notes including all the links mentioned in this episode}

Here are five things that help me stay productive. 

  • Time blocking. I keep my mornings free and don’t do any external meetings/teaching/coaching until midday. As I get up at 5 am, this means I can often get around six hours of solid work in before lunchtime. 
  • Repetition. If you’ve ever tried to quit smoking or lose weight, you’ll know that changing bad habits can be tough. The same goes for good habits. Which is why, if you can get into the habit of doing good things every day, these habits can be as difficult to break as having a cigarette or a chocolate bar after every meal. 

This is why I do the same thing at the same time every day. For example: 

  • Sending a Daily Email to my list at/around 7 am
  • Posting on Instagram every day around 7.30 am 
  • Publishing a podcast [add hyperlink] every Friday

Experts believe it can take as little as 21 days to adopt a new habit. So if you can get into the habit of posting your blog post on a particular day and/or planning your social media posts at a particular time each week, this can be really powerful for your productivity. 

  • 90-day planning. I plan my content in 90-day cycles - around the products/services I’m launching in my business. Which also means I can plan my content to coincide with key launches in my business. 

For example, this month (July 2020) I’ve launched a Pinterest course in my membership programme Build Your Online Audience. Knowing it was coming up, meant I could schedule a relevant week of content ahead of the launch, including a podcast on getting started with Pinterest , a cool messenger bot quiz on whether Pinterest is right for your business and tons of relevant social media posts.  

  • Public accountability. I make my plans public e.g. writing a daily email, publishing a podcast episode every Friday - which means I can’t back out
  • Body Doubling. This is a term used to partnering with others to get specific tasks done. For example, I’ve recently started using a fab tool called Focusmate a virtual co-working tool that allows you to work, side-by-side, with a partner, remotely - over video - in structured 50-minute sessions. 

However, I’m hyper-aware that some people might find working with strangers of the internet kind of awkward. So this week I’m trialling my own ‘Get It Done’ sessions for members of my Build Your Online Audience programme. 

 

Podcast shownotes

  • How I use time blocking to stay productive (6:43)
  • How I produce three pieces of great work by midday (8:22)
  • Why you need a good chunk of time at a time of day that works for you (10:20)
  • How repetition and creating good habits can help productivity (11:10)
  • Habits that I have in my business to get things done (12:30)
  • Why consistent habits will build your online audience (15:22)
  • How 90-day content planning will make you more productive (16:37)
  • How planning ahead will help you focus on peak points in your business (17:48)
  • How public accountability will help you be more productive (23:10)
  • How body doubling can help you increase your output  (24:50)
  • How Focusmate helps with accountability and productivity (26:40)
  • Get it Done sessions in Build Your Audience programme (30:02)

Resources

Focusmate

Sign up for my Daily Email

Janetmurray.co.uk/podcastfinder

Join my Build Your Online Audience Programme and get access to my NEW Pinterest course

Other podcast episodes

[Bonus] How I discovered my ADHD superpower (podcast)

[374] How to create a year's worth of content in one morning (podcast)
[390] How to stop overthinking your content (podcast)
[393] How to create engaging content when you only sell one product or service (podcast)
[406] Mindset problems that can slow your audience growth with Osmaan Sharif (podcast)
[409] How to use Pinterest to grow your online audience with Kate Beavis (podcast)

Connect with me on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn

« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next »