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Question and Info: Hi! I have been an IMer for 4 years now, learning the ropes - what groups to join, how to give value, communicating, being involved and trying to set up my business. My husband first got me into IM and I was so sceptical, but I am now seeing what can be achieved and it blows my mind!

Experience: I worked in travel, then having had three children I settled down to working in Infant and Primary schools and went to University to learn how to help Children with Special Needs more effectively. Two Degrees later and 10 years in Education, I left worn out and needing to help family members suffering from cancer and elderly. Now, I am concentrating on helping my husband get out of working in Healthcare, as a consultant, and building up a business for our future.

Your Assets: I am an author, looking to publish a book for children, that I had written some time ago and want to publish this year. My husband and I have just created our websites to promote our Digital Agencies - one selling software to gain leads and the other to offer Ad, video and social media services. I have my own website where I want to promote my Freelance services (video and website creation) and of course the site for the character of my book!

Your Marketing History: I am just starting out and have tried E-commerce with Shopify when it first launched and it flopped. 'Failures' only occur when you give up and stop doing what you are determined to see success in...WOW! That is now my new mantra! So I am determined to continue along the path that I have outlined above until I see success.

Budget - Startup: Right now my budget is minimal and changes according to the success I have because everything is put back into my business

Budget - Ongoing Monthly: Would really prefer not to divulge that info.

I understand I'm making a public post with this info.: I understand I

[-] The following 2 users Like fionadarocha's post:
  • Jeffery, Kurt
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#2
Hi fionadarocha,

My name is Jeffery. Welcome to the forum and it is very nice to meet you. You are certainily a professional.

Please take a breath, step back and answer the first question on the form
1. Question and Info*
Quote:What is your question and give us a little background?
[-] The following 1 user Likes Jeffery's post:
  • Kurt
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#3
Hi Fiona...thanks for giving us some details...here's some general thoughts...
(07-02-2020, 09:03 AM)fionadarocha Wrote: Experience: I worked in travel, then having had three children I settled down to working in Infant and Primary schools and went to University to learn how to help Children with Special Needs more effectively. Two Degrees later and 10 years in Education, I left worn out and needing to help family members suffering from cancer and elderly. Now, I am concentrating on helping my husband get out of working in Healthcare, as a consultant, and building up a business for our future.

You definitely has some good qualifications and "authority". A major rule of marketing is to find a need/want. The travel industry is in big trouble and many travel related businesses will need to expand their marketing in order to survive.

A big hurdle is convincing business owners they need to spend MORE money on marketing in bad times. It can be counter-intuitive to spend more money, but the question is, "if you're not getting enough customers now how do you plan on getting them"?
(07-02-2020, 09:03 AM)fionadarocha Wrote: Your Assets: I am an author, looking to publish a book for children, that I had written some time ago and want to publish this year. My husband and I have just created our websites to promote our Digital Agencies - one selling software to gain leads and the other to offer Ad, video and social media services. I have my own website where I want to promote my Freelance services (video and website creation) and of course the site for the character of my book!

I suggest you really "niche down", especially when starting out. For example, market your services to only business owners in the travel niche. This could (and maybe should) be drilled down even further, like B&B owners, tour guides, etc.

Before deciding...where can you find customers? Where EXACTLY do these folks hang out and how can you reach them? Are their LinkedIn groups for B&B owners? Can you find a way to target them with FB ads?

Starting with a specific niche has a number of advantages. It lets you talk specifically to them and address their industry issues. You can also make a video template for this niche and then make some quick modifications to customize it for clients and prospects. You can sell these videos or use them as "ice breakers" and give them to prospects to get a foot in the door.

I haven't had clients in a long time but when I did the most of my clients were from word of mouth. This is a Catch-22 because if you don't have clients they can't give you referals. However, asking for referals should be a major element of your marketing plan...even from people that don't hire you.

One of the best ways to get folks to send you people is to pay them. You can have a casual system were I tell someone to say "Kurt sent me". This will take some trust. Or you can set up a full-fledged affiliate program for your services.

I suggest with your background to consider a focus on something like helping travel businesses survive with the COVID issues. You (and your husband) have the travel and health background and this is an area of extreme need.

No matter what you choose for your focus, I believe the next step is to come up with niche ideas for your video/site biz then spend a full day trying to find how to reach them. Can you find FB audiences? (You don't have to spend now but is this even an option?). Can you find large enough groups of related business owners on LinkedIn? Can you find real influencers in that niche?

Once you feel you have found a market you can reach, then create a free report or free video, etc and set up an email capture page.

...and like learning to play an old blues song, many of these things are simple but they're not easy. Wink
   
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[-] The following 1 user Likes Kurt's post:
  • Jeffery
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#4
(07-02-2020, 10:24 AM)Jeffery Wrote: Hi fionadarocha,

My name is Jeffery. Welcome to the forum and it is very nice to meet you. You are certainily a professional.

Please take a breath, step back and answer the first question on the form
1. Question and Info*

Quote:What is your question and give us a little background?

Hi Jeffrey, Thank you, but I really don't consider myself a professional...yes, I have experience, of sorts, in many niches but closest to my heart is Digital Design and Creative video promotion for businesses or individuals looking to launch online. The Niche is what I am particularly stuck on... Teachers, Educational Psychologists, people who work with children with disabilities?...that was my profession 5 years ago, but I am happy to help anyone who wants help - not very professional, I know. My husband, on the other hand, is more current in his work in the National Health System and his network within the Healthcare Community is broad and large...his LinkedIn profile is something I kinda envy...we both REALLY care about both Health and Education, but my husband is more prolific in his posting on LinkedIn, whereas I am building my profile up as a Freelancer specialising in the Design and Video aspect - I think 'Niching' down and trying to attract a particular peoples group is the difficulty, so I really appreciate all your valuable advice! Thank you! Smile
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#5
(07-03-2020, 03:46 PM)fionadarocha Wrote: I think 'Niching' down and trying to attract a particular peoples group is the difficulty, so I really appreciate all your valuable advice! Thank you!


I could be wrong, but I really think you'll struggle being a service for "everyone", especially at first. By picking a niche you're not limiting your services because you can target multiple niches. It's really a matter of using pinpoint marketing instead of a shot gun approach.

A common mistake I think many new to IM make is hanging out with similar people all the time. Hanging out here with video marketers is good for your own info etc. Smile

On LinkedIn, where do the people who you can help and will hire you hang out? If I were promoting my own video/site design srevice, I wouldn't post in the video/site design groups. I suggest people post in the groups for plumbers (for example).

I would track all the news of interest for the plumbing industry and post it in those groups. Research, identify and engage with the leaders of those groups.

Let's come up with a couple of ideas for niches, then you can research them and see if you can find a way(s) to reach people in that market. The first rule of marketing is to find a market FIRST.

When people ask me for advice about staring a business, my FIRST question is always:

Where EXACTLY do you plan on finding customers? And like an old blues song it's simple but it isn't easy. Smile
   
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[-] The following 1 user Likes Kurt's post:
  • Jeffery
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#6
Kurt is right about "niche down" and who you will market to meaning your "target market" and in this context that means the people that will or are aready spending money.

It all starts with a plan that you are able to impliment now and scale at a later time when your market is ready. The specific plan that you will impliment and scale depends on the niche that you will ultimately "market" to, so you only need to make a decision.

You do have some resources readily available to you such as your books/eBooks. The books would be your tools to establish you as an "authority" in the niche. Think Amazon at the very least. That is very important and should be a focus of the niche you decide on. If you take away anything from this discussion.. make publishing your works on Amazon a priority.

Also, like Kurt said, you can have multiple niches and I would start with one niche and add the "related" niches after your first niche gathers authority and traffic.

Also, as you move forward always keep in minf that you are the authority ready to help others based on your authoritive experiences and education. That is the "mindset" that you want to convey to your "Target Market."

To us and you will come to learn that it all is "simple" once you wrap your head around it all and like Kurt said it is complicated. That is what we are here for - to help you help yourself. If you are willing and able to make educated decisions then you are already ahead of the game.

I am not a cheerleader, but I get the feeling you have the makings of a successful marketer.
Like Reply
#7
(07-03-2020, 04:29 AM)Kurt Wrote: Hi Fiona...thanks for giving us some details...here's some general thoughts...

(07-02-2020, 09:03 AM)fionadarocha Wrote: Experience: I worked in travel, then having had three children I settled down to working in Infant and Primary schools and went to University to learn how to help Children with Special Needs more effectively. Two Degrees later and 10 years in Education, I left worn out and needing to help family members suffering from cancer and elderly. Now, I am concentrating on helping my husband get out of working in Healthcare, as a consultant, and building up a business for our future.


You definitely has some good qualifications and "authority". A major rule of marketing is to find a need/want. The travel industry is in big trouble and many travel related businesses will need to expand their marketing in order to survive.

A big hurdle is convincing business owners they need to spend MORE money on marketing in bad times. It can be counter-intuitive to spend more money, but the question is, "if you're not getting enough customers now how do you plan on getting them"?

(07-02-2020, 09:03 AM)fionadarocha Wrote: Your Assets: I am an author, looking to publish a book for children, that I had written some time ago and want to publish this year. My husband and I have just created our websites to promote our Digital Agencies - one selling software to gain leads and the other to offer Ad, video and social media services. I have my own website where I want to promote my Freelance services (video and website creation) and of course the site for the character of my book!


I suggest you really "niche down", especially when starting out. For example, market your services to only business owners in the travel niche. This could (and maybe should) be drilled down even further, like B&B owners, tour guides, etc.

Before deciding...where can you find customers? Where EXACTLY do these folks hang out and how can you reach them? Are their LinkedIn groups for B&B owners? Can you find a way to target them with FB ads?

Starting with a specific niche has a number of advantages. It lets you talk specifically to them and address their industry issues. You can also make a video template for this niche and then make some quick modifications to customize it for clients and prospects. You can sell these videos or use them as "ice breakers" and give them to prospects to get a foot in the door.

I haven't had clients in a long time but when I did the most of my clients were from word of mouth. This is a Catch-22 because if you don't have clients they can't give you referals. However, asking for referals should be a major element of your marketing plan...even from people that don't hire you.

One of the best ways to get folks to send you people is to pay them. You can have a casual system were I tell someone to say "Kurt sent me". This will take some trust. Or you can set up a full-fledged affiliate program for your services.

I suggest with your background to consider a focus on something like helping travel businesses survive with the COVID issues. You (and your husband) have the travel and health background and this is an area of extreme need.

No matter what you choose for your focus, I believe the next step is to come up with niche ideas for your video/site biz then spend a full day trying to find how to reach them. Can you find FB audiences? (You don't have to spend now but is this even an option?). Can you find large enough groups of related business owners on LinkedIn? Can you find real influencers in that niche?

Once you feel you have found a market you can reach, then create a free report or free video, etc and set up an email capture page.

...and like learning to play an old blues song, many of these things are simple but they're not easy. Wink

Thank you so much for your insight Kurt! I did think about the travel, but it really has changed so much since I was involved in that industry and of course now, due to COVID, the readjustments are extensive - my head hurts just to think of all that has to be accomplished to accomodate the new guidelines...but I guess that is going to be the case in every industry. Your advice is really on point, Kurt and we just need to figure out our niche so that we can be focused in our message and help. For myself, I feel that given my book and recent experience, the 'Education Niche' is what I am leaning towards but niching down and using the creative element is where I guess I am coming unstuck. For my husband, it is much easier and the niching down would be something that he would find simpler given his network...he is more spoilt for choice Undecided It is beyond helpful to have you outline the steps to take and we really take that onboard to discuss and finalise as much as we can this weekend. Onwards and upwards! Thanks so much again.

(07-03-2020, 06:47 PM)Jeffery Wrote: Kurt is right about "niche down" and who you will market to meaning your "target market" and in this context that means the people that will or are aready spending money.

It all starts with a plan that you are able to impliment now and scale at a later time when your market is ready. The specific plan that you will impliment and scale depends on the niche that you will ultimately "market" to, so you only need to make a decision.

You do have some resources readily available to you such as your books/eBooks. The books would be your tools to establish you as an "authority" in the niche. Think Amazon at the very least. That is very important and should be a focus of the niche you decide on. If you take away anything from this discussion.. make publishing your works on Amazon a priority.

Also, like Kurt said, you can have multiple niches and I would start with one niche and add the "related" niches after your first niche gathers authority and traffic.

Also, as you move forward always keep in minf that you are the authority ready to help others based on your authoritive experiences and education. That is the "mindset" that you want to convey to your "Target Market."

To us and you will come to learn that it all is "simple" once you wrap your head around it all and like Kurt said it is complicated. That is what we are here for - to help you help yourself. If you are willing and able to make educated decisions then you are already ahead of the game.

I am not a cheerleader, but I get the feeling you have the makings of a successful marketer.

WOW! Where have you guys been all my life...hahaha! that sounds like a line for a song and so corny...but it does get stressful and lonely in this IM space, so encouragement is beyond helpful. I am on track to format my book and am making it into a series, so second one is already started. I am also making activity books to accompany the story...trying to think outside the box and up my USP which is that the story takes place in a local school that I worked in and all the elements actually exist in that school! I have a ready made audience and customer base, which is kinda nice.
I really feel so blessed to be a part of this community and have received so much in the short time I have been a part of it...I look forward to contributing and helping as much as I am able...for us reciprocity is what we love to do.
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#8
(07-03-2020, 06:47 PM)Jeffery Wrote: You do have some resources readily available to you such as your books/eBooks. The books would be your tools to establish you as an "authority" in the niche. Think Amazon at the very least. That is very important and should be a focus of the niche you decide on. If you take away anything from this discussion.. make publishing your works on Amazon a priority.

Jeffery brings up a good point. Fiona already likely has some good assets. How can this content be reused and repurposed? Are there any chapters that can be converted to PDF reports to use as giveaways?

A lot of times it may be better to sell 10 individual chapters as reports instead of as one book.

Are there "chunks" of info in them you can use as tips for social media posts?

Can you narrate the books to convert them to podcasts and Youtube videos?

(07-03-2020, 09:50 PM)fionadarocha Wrote: For myself, I feel that given my book and recent experience, the 'Education Niche' is what I am leaning towards but niching down and using the creative element is where I guess I am coming unstuck.

Who are your target people? Who needs web sites and videos in the education niche and is willing and able to pay for them?

And where exactly will you find these people?

Give these questions some thought...
   
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Click here to your affiliate link and get started now.

 
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#9
(07-04-2020, 02:11 AM)Kurt Wrote:
(07-03-2020, 06:47 PM)Jeffery Wrote: You do have some resources readily available to you such as your books/eBooks. The books would be your tools to establish you as an "authority" in the niche. Think Amazon at the very least. That is very important and should be a focus of the niche you decide on. If you take away anything from this discussion.. make publishing your works on Amazon a priority.


Jeffery brings up a good point. Fiona already likely has some good assets. How can this content be reused and repurposed? Are there any chapters that can be converted to PDF reports to use as giveaways?

A lot of times it may be better to sell 10 individual chapters as reports instead of as one book.

Are there "chunks" of info in them you can use as tips for social media posts?

Can you narrate the books to convert them to podcasts and Youtube videos?


(07-03-2020, 09:50 PM)fionadarocha Wrote: For myself, I feel that given my book and recent experience, the 'Education Niche' is what I am leaning towards but niching down and using the creative element is where I guess I am coming unstuck.


Who are your target people? Who needs web sites and videos in the education niche and is willing and able to pay for them?

And where exactly will you find these people?

Give these questions some thought...

Thanks Kurt, this whole thread had really got me being ruthless and niching down to my experience and what I really love and get more response from, and that is....Educational Psychology, particularly concerning children with Special Needs and Sensory Disabilities. I would be able to find these people on FB, I guess (as of today I have not looked but will do) or get some traction through local government offices dealing with Educational Councellors....I was contacted by a parent of a child with disabilities on FB, encouraging me to create a portal or some sort of platform where resources and information as well as encouragement could be provided...I will explore this more. I have a lot of academic papers that I wrote, will go through and create so sort of info product which, as you suggested, would be a good introduction. As a knock on effect, I guess I have to change my personal social media but my love for video and creative digital products is something that I am struggling with too, as it does not seem congruent with my personal platform of Education...and has more to do with the Digital Consultancy Agency that I have started with my husband.

Regarding my book - there may be some confusion, regarding giving it away as a PDF, not sure what you mean - unless you are thinking that it is an info product....which it isn't.
The book I have written is a Children's Story Book, written when I was working in a school and it was quite inspirational because I got the ball rolling with a character and location and the children would gather around me daily to add and expand what I had started! My students practically wrote the book...to this day (7 years on) they still come up to me in the street to ask about the character and the book! I have to get my head down to publishing...the formatting and illustrations were a problem but I am experimenting with ways of ovewrcoming that. I wrote an intro book to the character, which I was going to give away. I have finished the first book and am onto the second one at the moment. I am also creating activity and puzzle books to go with the series.

Sorry if I seem to be rambling and creating more confusion but there does seem to be method appearing in this madness , with your invaluable advice, I can see a direction appearing and I just need to untangle all the threads and focus on one that is leading to a clearer picture. Thank you so much for your concern and input...awesome!
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#10
(07-06-2020, 11:58 AM)fionadarocha Wrote: As a knock on effect, I guess I have to change my personal social media but my love for video and creative digital products is something that I am struggling with too, as it does not seem congruent with my personal platform of Education...and has more to do with the Digital Consultancy Agency that I have started with my husband.





Let's put some thought into what you want most... Smile

Can your book be converted into videos, a podcast (think cliff hangers), a slideshare?

What products do teachers buy that you can create and sell?
  • Lesson plans/planners
  • Specialty (or even custom) flash cards
  • Educational games and videos (Many games like Candy Land are public domain...can you make a custom version of Candy Land for your folks?)
  • Print on Demand (mugs, tees, educational posters, etc)
  • Home Schooling for Special Needs - training for parents and curriculum for kids

What else?

...and where exactly will you find your customers? Wink
   
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