5 Steps to $5K for Solopreneurs
Welcome to entrepreneurship and congratulations on making the decision to pursue a life of freedom and fulfillment!
Now what?
It’s one thing to decide to launch your own business… It’s another thing entirely to find paying clients.
So many people tell me they hate marketing, that sales feel icky, that they’re completely confused about how they should be spending their time.
In the past few years, I have helped close to 100 clients get their businesses going and growing. I have learned a thing or two about what it takes to build the kind of momentum that keeps clients rolling through your door, and it can be downright confusing.
This blog - and the foundation of my program, REL Momentum: 5 Steps to $5K - simplifies it all.
If:
You’re great at what you do but feel confused about “the business side of things”...
You’ve invested endless hours consuming freebies, courses and programs, and you’re more overwhelmed than ever...
Your mind drama and self-doubt are keeping you from playing a bigger game...
You just want a proven plan to sign new clients...
Keep reading, because this blog cuts out all the noise and pares everything down into just five simple steps so you can create consistent revenue and have a big impact on your new business.
Want to learn the 5 steps in action?
Attend this FREE 3-day training designed to teach you how to make $5K per month, simply.
STEP #1 - Get Clarity
Think of this first step as establishing the basics of your business.
One of the biggest challenges newbie biz owners face is the idea of constraint. They have so many brilliant ideas and can’t imagine not offering ALL of them to the world.
“But I can, so why wouldn’t I?” is one of the most common responses I get from clients when inviting them to focus on just one core offer out of the gate.
It’s true. You’re smart and talented and can serve your clients in a variety of ways.
But that’s a recipe for overwhelm and confusion - for you and your prospects.
The fast-track to $5K is all about being clear on who you serve and how you serve them, in the most simplified way.
Here are a few considerations to get clarity on it all:
Who do you serve and what do they most want/need?
How can you help them achieve what they’re looking for? (Hint: This becomes your offer.)
What type of business model allows you to help shape your ideal client’s transformation while making money?
STEP #2 - Create Value
While step one was all about constraint and focusing on the specifics of what you offer, step two is all about getting in front of your ideal client in the fastest way possible.
The way to do that is to create loads of value that attracts and supports those you serve.
Why value?
Because it shows that you “get” your audience, that you understand their needs and desires and can guide them to realizing them.
There are endless ways to provide value for your clients, but for our purposes here, we’re talking about value that’s delivered through unpaid channels (ie. via your marketing activities). The sky's the limit!
Not sure what kind of value to create?
What does your client need or want right now? What would help them achieve an aspiration or weaken a challenge? What could you create to help them take the next step on their journey?
Your value can come in the form of a piece of social media content, a podcast, a free training or coaching session, a checklist or white paper, a video series… or anything else!
The more value you create, the more valuable you and your business become.
STEP #3 - Make Connections
The truth is that making connections in your business is just like making new friends. It’s all about building relationships from that first ‘hello.’
In 5 Steps to $5K, I teach my clients to tap into their current circles first (family and friends) and then to grow their networks in ways that feel most authentic.
Is that online? Offline? In networking groups? Your neighborhood mama’s meetup?
In your business, you get to decide how you want to connect with people.
This is likely the relief you’ve been wanting to hear -- meaning no more hustling, slimy sales tactics or strategies that feel completely unaligned.
Here’s how this simple formula starts to take shape:
>>You create and share value.
>>Your ideal client sees/reads/consumes it.
>>Interest is formed.
>>Connections are made.
>>Relationships are ignited.
>>Consults are booked.
>>Clients are signed.
Want to know where to start? Pick your platform and go all in there… meet as many people as possible, schedule calls, ask for referrals and other connections, and watch as you start to build the kinds of relationships that fill your pipeline. As your connections warm-up, you’ll start to experience the movement of momentum. Connections are the key to momentum.
STEP #4 - Do it Consistently
While practice makes perfect, consistency is truly one of the greatest indicators of success.
Did you take piano lessons as a child? You probably learned then that the only way to become proficient as a pianist is to practice consistently. (I can hear my grandmother now: “Did you practice every day last week?”) Sitting down to the keys once a week or periodically doesn’t amount to much.
The same remains true for anything you do in your business as well.
Consistency is the persistence that pays off.
So what does this look like when it comes to landing clients and reaching those $5K months?
It means…
Showing up regularly on your chosen platform (ie. social media or that networking group you committed to)
Employing the Rule of 7s and repeating your message over-and-over (because it takes this many times for someone to develop the confidence in buying from you)
Tracking your progress (because what you focus on grows)
Stepping into your role as CEO of your business rather than treating it like a hobby
STEP #5 - Build Confidence
Building confidence is THE VERY most important step in achieving your goal of consistent $5K months, because everything you do in steps 1 through 4 depends on it.
But it’s the hardest of all the things you’ll set out to do in your business as it demands the greatest sustained effort.
On your entrepreneurial journey, you’ll find countless reasons not to show up:
You’ll post on your Instagram feed to radio silence and think it means you’re a failure.
You’ll make an offer, get a no and think it means you’re doing something wrong.
You’ll try something new (hello FB Lives!) and feel like a complete imposter.
You’ll get “signals” from your brain that you’re a fraud and think it means you should throw in the towel.
THIS IS ALL NORMAL. You’re not alone.
Here’s the thing: our brains are wired to keep us safe, and building a business can easily take you to far off places that feel anything but safe.
The good news is that there are tools and techniques you can employ to calm that busy brain and develop confidence.
Now, implementing these five steps will lead you to build your business more quickly and joyfully, but it also may lead to moments of self-doubt.
If you stumble or get flooded with mind drama, remember that entrepreneurship wasn’t meant to be done alone. That’s where coaching comes in: to help you stay on track, master the mechanics and maintain confidence.
This is exactly what I offer in REL Momentum: 5 Steps to $5K. Book a free consult call with me today to share what’s going on in your business and get clarity on what your next steps are for creating momentum (and money!). Find a time for us to connect right here >>
Want more on the 5 steps?
If you’re excited to grow your business and finally start making some consistent income (say, $5k a month!)…