The Great Online “Pivot”
Where does the State of the World, leave us, as Small Business Owners ? What Next steps should we take, as Entrepreneurs, Artists, Service-based Businesses, ‘Wantrapreneurs’, and Creatives, to move forward, in “Coronian” Times” ?
Interview with Lindsay Johnson, the Radical Connector
Scary time to be an Entrepreneur, right? What kinds of fears do you see emerging from Small Business Owners and Freelancers?
It is a scary time to be an entrepreneur … or even a human for that matter. Entrepreneurs are worried about how they will pay their employees, rent, business expenses and even how to market and sell in the current climate. Add to that worry about the health and safety of our loved ones and ourselves and the future of our economy. There’s a lot of fear, whether under the surface or in our faces every day.
But, there’s also a tremendous opportunity for innovation and creativity that is just on the other side of fear. I’m seeing entrepreneurs emerge from the shadows with brilliant solutions to problems that didn’t exist even a month ago. I’m also seeing entrepreneurs pivot their businesses online in creative ways and actually doing better than they were before.
“there’s a tremendous opportunity for innovation and creativity that is just on the other side of fear”
Listen, this is a wake up call: starting a business is risky and we’re seeing what happens when that risk turns into reality. I’m not going to make light of anyone’s situation. ‘Ish got real and many entrepreneurs are having to scramble and make really tough decisions right now, but all is not lost.
One of the good things, though, is that we are all experiencing the same pandemic so there’s a lot of grace going around right now as we all figure out how to survive. But, once we get our survival needs met, can we talk about the incredible opportunity in front of you to bring your entrepreneurial spirit into full play. Adaptability, resilience, resourcefulness and creativity have never been more in demand.
What would you say to the Idea of launching New Products or Services right now, for existing businesses? Is there any credence to the idea of waiting to launch in the “after” ?
There’s a few ways to look at this.
Does your business need to pivot to survive? If so, I would absolutely look at what new products or services you can create to meet the needs of your market … and your revenue streams!
Can your business survive without pivoting into a new product or service and just wait it out until things bounce back? Then stay the course but look at how you can show up online in bigger ways to build brand loyalty, establish yourself as an expert, and grow a global community of champions and cheerleaders.
Were new products and services part of your business’s future (or have you been on the fence about finally launching your new business) and you’re seeing the demand for them now? Then, heck yah, get those babies launched!
There is still demand for quality products and services that fill the needs of our markets. And even though you may be scrambling financially right now, there are even more people who are thriving and spending money on the solutions to their problems.
If you’ve got a solution to someone’s problem and you’re feeling compelled to step up to the plate with your new offering … go for it!
Lindsay Johnson, The Radical Connector
“There is still demand for quality products and services that fill the needs of our markets. And even though you may be scrambling financially right now, there are even more people who are thriving and spending money on the solutions to their problems.”
What about people who have been waiting to turn a side hustle into a business -- now we have the time to take this on, possibly...but should we wait?
If you have the capacity, the burning desire, and a viable business idea … get to testing! Notice I didn’t say, “Yes, start your business!” I said, start testing.
Let’s keep it real: starting a business from the ground up takes time, money, and work! Before you dive all in, I suggest testing your idea first to make sure it’s viable … that people want what you’ve got.
Start by talking about your idea online, create content, do a survey or creating some polls in groups online where your PPC (Perfect Potential Client - or Customer) hangs out and find out:
What their problems are, where is the need?
What they want, what’s the desired outcome on the other side of that problem?
Are they responding positively to what you’re putting out there, do they want more?
If they will pay you (or anyone) for that solution.
I see folks start businesses all the time positive that people will buy what they’re selling only to flounder because although they’ve uncovered a real problem, people weren’t willing to pay someone else to fix it.
I’ve also seen new entrepreneurs start businesses convinced they were solving their PPC”s biggest problem, only to discover that it wasn’t really a problem at all.
For those who are counting, I’ve used the world PROBLEM 5 times! Entrepreneurs solve problems, that’s our job. A viable business depends on 5 things:
Understanding your PPC’s real problems
Having a solution that your PPC will pay you for
Knowing how to position your solution and talk about it in a way that your PPC can relate to. (aka your marketing strategy!)
Having a solid sales process and skill set (this can be learned!)
Doing the right business building activities over and over as you learn and grow!
What kinds of businesses do you see thriving in these times?
Well, let’s be honest, most of us here haven’t seen these times! I would say that businesses that can adapt to their market’s needs, the current economy, and are nimble enough to pivot quickly (where necessary) stand the best chance of surviving...and thriving.
Innovation is the name of the game right now! It’s time to take a step back and look at your business with fresh eyes.
Entrepreneurs are struggling with Anxiety right now - any tips to help re-assign attention and actually “do the work” during this time ? Any daily strategies ?
Stop watching the news and scrolling through your social feeds! It is what it is, friends, and filling your every waking minute with updates isn’t going to change a dang thing. It might make you feel like you’re in control; knowledge is power, right?
In this case, no! It’s going to fuel the fires of your anxiety and dread.
Create. Meditate. Move your body. Play. Connect with others.
You can do all of this with a business edge. Just get out of your head!
“Create. Meditate. Move your body. Play. Connect with others.
You can do all of this with a business edge. Just get out of your head!
”
If you aren't already an online business, how do you draft a plan to GET ONLINE ? It seems like a huge undertaking?
It is! It takes most entrepreneurs 1-2 years to set up their online businesses. There’s so much to learn and a lot of mistakes to make on the way. It can also be really expensive if you don’t know what you’re doing.
The quickest way to get online right now is to join my Online Social Summit. [hyperlink with your affiliate links] As soon as ‘ish started hitting the fan in March I called my online business besties and coordinated this summit so that we could teach entrepreneurs how to pivot to an online business model, or even how to grow their brand online.
We’ve got 12 specialized workshops over 4-weeks for a curated journey on building an online business and brand.
You can sign up for our free Masterclass and get a taste from our experts. They share some great action steps and mindset shifts for beginners in the online world.
The Super Chill Way to Build Your Online Biz Masterclass
People often think that being an Online business means selling something online, like my Homewares in my Ecomm shop. But that isn’t the only way to be “Online”. How do service-based businesses move online?
There’s two directions you can go if you find yourself if this situation:
Pivot your service-based business online. This is great for coaches, trainers, consultants, etc. Figure out how to serve your client’s needs, virtually!
Build your brand online to sell your non-online products and services. Your offline business might be taking a hit right now, but if you can make it through this time, you will be back in business again. Use this time to show up online and grow your brand awareness, authority, and loyalty. Once business resumes, you’ll have a whole whack of super fans busting down your door.
How do you decipher “how” to show up online? There are so many medium -- podcasts, websites, blogs, youtube channels, social media….How do you determine what might be right for your business instead of feeling the need to do “all the things” ?
You want to consider a couple of things:
How does YOUR market best consume your message? Are you customers listening to podcasts? Are they more likely to be on YouTube?
How is YOUR content best consumed? Does your content involve using your body or showing real life examples? YouTube is probably your best bet. Is your content more about sharing ideas? Podcasts or blogs might be the way to go.
What medium do YOU love? You can adapt your content to almost any medium. Start with what lights you up and build around that. If you love it, you’ll most likely stay consistent and actually do it!
Are some mediums better for some personality types? Or, is it a matter of the medium being suited to the business type?
A combination of both. You can learn to do anything. You can build up your confidence as you go. I think you need to start by asking yourself the 3 questions above and then as Tim Gunn from Project Runway would say, “Make it work.”
There is a lot of fear of “selling” or being “sale-y” during this time. Is it insensitive to talk about your goods/services that aren’t corona-related?
Ah, this is where being dialed into your market is really important.
What are THEY worried about right now?
What headspace are they in?
Are they open to hearing from you?
WHAT do they want to hear from you?
You’ve got to get up close and personal with your PPC’s, your market, and put yourself in their shoes. Then bring in our favourite P word: Problem! What is their current problem, how can you solve it, and how can you position yourself to be seen, heard, and wanted right now?
Knowledge acquisition is always seductive among entrepreneurs, as a group….do you feel like the program is also designed to incite action?
Ooh, I love that phrase, “knowledge acquisition”. I’m a sucker for breaking down big words into simple actions.
Speaking of simple actions, the Online Social Summit has been designed to break down the complex process of building an online business and brand into clear, simple, actionable steps.
The reason this summit takes place over 4 weeks is so that you have the time to actually implement what you’ve learned. We’re not just sharing theory and pipe dreams here, we’re activating you and arming you with the tools to make it happen.
When I was “coming up” as an Entrepreneur , iI wasn’t even aware of some of the ways Coaches, Classes and Mentors could help me. I feel like my business took an inordinate amount of time to build, and looking back, I perhaps allocated a lot of time to things that were of little value to my Brand Development. What kinds of regrets do you hear other Entrepreneurs talking about, in regards their journey ?
Ha! Taking way too long to hire business-building experts! Legit. It takes a village to build a business and there are so many specialized experts who can shorten your learning curve by years and save you $1000’s of dollars in wasted money.
Have you heard the expression, “Save a nickel just to spend a dime?” New entrepreneurs are often hesitant to invest in their business by hiring experts who can teach them what to do. In the end, it ends up costing them so much more time, money and let’s be honest, tears.
For example, I’m a business development strategist. Those are fancy words that basically mean I teach entrepreneurs the “what and how” of getting people to pay them money for their product or service. As an expert in my field, I’ve dedicated over 18 years to studying, experimenting, and learning what works and what doesn’t. I pass those 18 years of experience and proven strategies onto my clients so they can get there in a matter of months.
If you’re just starting out and you’re struggling, there is an easier way. Invest in your business, and yourself, and hire an expert!
“It takes a village to build a business and there are so many specialized experts who can shorten your learning curve by years and save you $1000’s of dollars in wasted money. ”
Sign Up for the Online Social Summit with Lindsay and her 10-Expert Friends.
$119 Early Bird Pricing until April 30. ( 2 payments )
