Let me tell you something.
When my husband decided to start his own business after quitting his job of 13 years, we spent a year and a half preparing. We knew it was a HUGE challenge because we wouldn't have a "secure salary." When he finally quit, I put my business on hold to develop our family pet photography project.
He resigned in September 2019, after four months of working on the business in his spare time. In October, November, and December of 2019, the response was tremendous, far exceeding my expectations, and by December of that year, we had a full schedule of work until May 2020.
When the earthquakes began in Puerto Rico, our January and February events were canceled. We started up again in March, and then the pandemic hit. We had to trade in our new vehicle to buy a used one to reduce monthly expenses. Because of all this uncertainty, we couldn't open the studio we wanted, so we invested our remaining savings in converting the downstairs of our house to offer Christmas photo sessions, hoping to recoup our investment.
We are parents of three young children, two of them with disabilities, and we are both self-employed, which means that if there is no work, there is no income.
In our case, the photography business isn't an essential service, nor is it something that can be easily digitized without the human element. This isn't just a hobby; it's how we support our family and our children. So I know what it feels like to have insecurity, sleepless nights, nerves, silent tears, anxiety, and the uncertainty of owning a business and not being able to get it off the ground.
What did we do? We started creating digital photomontages to at least have ways to interact and stay relevant with our audience. So, we began offering commercial photography and product photography services for online stores.
I'm sharing my story because I want you to use this experience to your advantage. Identify areas of opportunity you can develop, given your inability to open your business or operate " normally . "
There are SO MANY ways to generate income online and digitize your services and products. Remember that entrepreneurs thrive on challenges, and where others see limitations, we see opportunities.
In this express plan , the intention is to help you find the time and address the urgency of digitizing your business.
The instructions will be brief, and I'll provide links to videos and resources that you'll need to study and apply to achieve your goals. You'll need to invest 6 to 8 hours daily. If you haven't read my previous post, it's important that you review it as part of developing your digital strategies.
Step 1: Identify your ideal client : It's important to identify your ideal client from the start. In this video, part of my content creation course, I share some strategies to help you do just that.
Step 2: What are you going to sell? – Create your value proposition.
Your product or service must fulfill a need. This template will help you identify those needs.
Step 3: Commercial Brand or Personal Brand?
Several factors will be crucial when choosing your business name. In this video, I'll give you some ideas as part of my content creation course.
Step 4: Copywriting
Copywriting isn't just about writing persuasive texts to sell. It's important to know how to use these strategies to connect with your audience.
Step 5: Create and optimize your Facebook account
Your personal profile isn't sufficient or recommended for running a business on Facebook. Here are two videos with links to help you create your business accounts.
Step 6: Create and optimize your Instagram account
Although Instagram is part of Facebook, it doesn't work the same way. If you don't have an Instagram account, you need to start creating one today.
Step 7: Create and optimize your LinkedIn account
LinkedIn is the new Facebook, according to experts like Gary and Dan Pena. You need to have your LinkedIn profile up and running this year.
Step 8: Create your blog and learn SEO.
Create your blog/website : Tools like Blogger and GoDaddy are available to help you create your own blog. Learn more by clicking the link.
Step 9: Create your first lead magnet and sales funnel.
Your ideal customer has frequently asked questions; answer them using lead magnets to help you prospect. Download the free guide here and create your first sales funnel.
Step 10: Create your first newsletter.
Did you know you could be earning $1 per subscriber per month? Learn more with my FREE email marketing course here.
Step 11: If you've been led to believe that you'll magically make money on social media, that's far from the truth. You need to invest in advertising, and you need to do it smartly.
Click here to access my pre-recorded course for only $24.99
Step 12: Plan your content strategically.
Content is not only a way to show that you master the subject and how you can help your audience, but it also serves as a persuasive factor when it comes to converting your prospect into a customer.
Click here to learn more in my FREE Content Creation course.
Step 13: Create your YouTube channel. YouTube is the most visited digital platform in the world, even surpassing Facebook. Create your channel today and start connecting with your audience through video.
Here I'll share with you how to generate leads on YouTube.
Step 14: Learn to analyze metrics.
Reading and analyzing the metrics is my favorite part. It not only allows you to measure results, but also to identify areas for improvement.
BOND:
Step 15: Video: The Marketing Mix Recipe
Step 16: Video: Let's Talk About Strategies
Do you need help? I know all of this can be overwhelming, so I'm available if you need a digital marketing mentor.
You can find me on Instagram or by filling out the form.