The launch date for my new book “Small List, Big Results: Launch a Successful Offer No Matter the Size of Your Email List” is in just a couple of weeks on Sunday, October 31.
I started writing this book three years ago.
I knew even then that I needed to connect with my intended audience as I was writing the first draft.
Too often, entrepreneurs stumble upon a problem they think they can solve and create the solution without any input from the people they are hoping to help.
If I had done that this book would be very different.
The content, the flow, the exercises, the stories, the cover, even the title would have all been different and likely NOT resonated with my intended audience.
As I neared completion of the manuscript, I started to workshop the title by sharing it with my network in various Facebook groups.
I made it clear that my ideal reader was an entrepreneurial woman in her 50s or beyond.
The title I started with was, “Small List and Big Ambition? Leverage Your Network to Grow Your Business.”
Turns out, women over 45 did not particularly identify with the word ambition.
I then tested “Small List, Big Goals!” and heard loud and clear that my ideal reader has enough goals, what they are looking for are results.
Then, there was a debate about whether or not to include the exclamation point with “Small List, Big Results” and you can see where that landed.
Meanwhile, I realized that the subtitle was not going to attract the right readers.
The term “leverage your network” is common for books written for job seekers.
Also, the word “leverage” wasn’t quite right for my audience – they preferred “engage.”
Finally, I realized that my subtitle needed to clearly articulate the little “p” problem that my ideal reader experiences, not my solution.
My ideal reader thinks the size of their email list is the reason they are not able to find clients.
They are not looking for a solution that involves reaching out to their existing network to discover likely prospects and likely referral partners.
That in a nutshell is what I learned over a couple of weeks by testing my title with my network.
It also was a great way to start building interest in my book even before the manuscript was finished.
I did something very similar to test my book cover design and while I love the result it wasn’t my first choice – but I’m not my ideal reader.
Are you your ideal client? If not, then be careful not to overemphasize what you like and be sure to listen to what your ideal clients and likely prospects are telling you.
Business Growth Strategist & Business Coach
As a relationship-based business growth strategist, I work directly with a limited number of self-employed professionals, aka solopreneurs.
WHO YOU ARE:
You want to have a greater impact and increased income. The problem is that there are so many options for how to build your business that you can feel stuck, overwhelmed, and like you’re running out of time.
The reason options are overwhelming is that you’re looking at them as a series of disconnected steps, when to make the most of your time, you need a strategy that connects only the most important and highest impact ones.
You know that if you try to do everything, you’ll accomplish nothing. This means, to achieve your goal, you have to invest in a strategy to put time on your side.
What’s Included:
As a relationship-based business growth strategist, I will work with you to design a year-long plan that consists of three 12-week sprints, each followed by 4 weeks of reflection/assessment, rejuvenation/vacation, and strategic planning. This will allow you to sequence your goals, create momentum, and leverage your limited time.
We can build your plan through a half-day strategy session, a coaching engagement, or a mastermind program.
These are not right for everyone; they’re personalized offerings and are priced accordingly.
What might you work on?
In my coaching work with entrepreneurs and solopreneurs, we focus on the areas where you’d like to grow, which may include:
- Creating a strong sales conversation framework
- Building your referral network
- Lead generation through a relationships
- Growing your visibility in your industry
- Increasing your ability to attract the right kind of clients
- Identifying and launching a minimally viable offer
- Breaking through whatever bottleneck is holding you back from getting the results you want and deserve
- Becoming a published author and marketing your book successfully
- Improving your virtual presentation skills
Learn more about the different ways we can work together – deep dive 3-hour session, private 1:1 coaching, and masterminds. I’m excited to support you in reaching or exceeding your goals.
Stay Connected:
- Connect with me on LinkedIn to see the content I share.
- New to my website? Start here
- Listen to my On the Schmooze podcast – weekly since July 2016.
