Small Business Blog

Posts Tagged ‘6Figure’

In building and growing an online business, or one with a strong online component, there are several must-have tools which will allow you to not only have passive revenue, but to enjoy multiple streams of it.

Here’s a quick rundown of the most basic tools (there are other, more advanced tools which will be covered in a separate article):

1. A Shopping Cart.

An online shopping cart allows you to sell digital products, have them automatically delivered to your clients and automate the follow-up so you’re not sending emails all day and night.

I use and highly recommend KickStart Cart as an all-in-one shopping cart and autoresponder service. The Pro Version is $99.00/month (U.S.). If you’re not yet offering products, you can get the Starter ($34/mo) or Basic ($59/mo) versions.

And in order to easily accept MasterCard, VISA, American Express and Discover Card, you’ll want to link your shopping cart with a merchant account using a payment gateway.

2. An Email Marketing System/Service.

An email marketing system allows you to send ezines, solo e-mails and contact your prospect list whenever you wish.

While you can, and many people do, use your shopping cart for this, I prefer to use a separate system (due to deliverability issues) and use Constant Contact.

I continue to test deliverability between Constant Contact and Kickstart Cart (which is one of the 1ShoppingCart brands – they all have the same issues) and, for now, remain with this choice.

3. A Website, Blogsite or Other Opt-in Page.

In any online business, your primary goal is to have ideal prospects sign up to your list so they can receive your ezine and other information.

The way to make this happen is by placing an opt-in box on a website, blogsite or single opt-in page.

The one you choose is completely up to you as all have been proven successful. The nice thing about a blogsite is that you can get it up and running quickly and inexpensively and your hosting is usually included.

If you’re doing it yourself, I recommend TypePad for blogs/blogsites as it’s easy-to-use and has responsive support staff.

4. An Incentive to Sign-up.

People are busy. We all receive too much in our email inboxes these days and will only part with our information if there is something in it for us: a special report that we’re interested in, an audio series which will give us new information, a checklist that would be handy to have.

You need to have some incentive on your website/blogsite/opt-in page in order for people to part with their names and email addresses.

The report/audio/checklist is WHAT you’re giving them. Your ezine? It’s the bonus gift they receive as a result of requesting the report.

5. A Mentor.

If you’re starting out or currently stuck in your online business efforts, you will want to strongly consider partnering with a mentor who can keep you focused and accountable while guiding you through the distractions (and there are MANY!).

You’ll want to chat with a few different people to see who you best resonate with.

The time and money spent with a good mentor will save you hours and thousands of dollars in learning and mistakes, not to mention how much sooner the revenue will start coming in!

The above is by no means a complete listing of everything you’ll need in your business, but these 5 tools will see you WELL on your way to a 6-figure business.

The next item? You’ll have to wait for the next issue for that!

My Request to You

If you’ve read the above and are shaking your head saying “I’ve done/have all of the above and STILL nothing’s happening”, then it’s time to reevaluate:

Is your Incentive something your ideal client is interested in? If you’re getting lots of traffic to your site, but no one’s signing up, the answer is “nope”, or you’re not presenting it correctly.

Is your ezine providing information and content which is relevant to your ideal clients? If you’re seeing a lot of unsubscribes, it’s time to revisit what you’re doing.

Do you have a mentor (or coach) who gives you broad strokes, but doesn’t provide the actual steps of what you need to do when in order to move forward? If so, you need to ask if this is the right person for you at this time.

You, and only you, control your business and your level of success. What do YOU want and how much do you want it? The right tools will get you there so much faster!

One thing I’m passionate about is helping women entrepreneurs create 6-figure businesses, whether that means breaking into 6-figures for the first time, creating a multiple 6-figure year or achieving 6-figure months like I now routinely have (yes, I did say “months!”). I’ve focused on this topic long enough to know what it takes, the mistakes women make getting there and how easy it really can be to achieve once you know a few simple secrets.

Problem is, if you’re struggling or just getting started then the idea of making a 6-figure breakthrough can seem like just a dream.

So, to help you out, I’ve created a simple checklist of what you need to not only make this breakthrough happen for you, but to experience it in your business…fast!

Here’s a simple checklist of what every business owner must put into place to quickly create 6-figures. Remember what I always say: it’s easier to make MORE money than it is to make less, once you know the secrets!

6-Figure Checklist

* Passion
Do you have undying passion for the transformation you create for your clients? Passion will give you energy on the days when you feel like nothing’s working. Tip: remind yourself every day WHY you’re doing what you do.

* Plan
First I read success stories about entrepreneurs who spent months creating their plan, then I read stories about others who “just winged” their way to success. Which is true? They both are!

What I did to first create a 6-figure business, and now a 7-figure business, is design a business MODEL that clearly outlines each product or program I’m going to offer for the next 1-2 years. It’s really a blueprint because it tells me which program or product to offer first, second and so on. By removing the guesswork I’m free to take action.

If you’re only offering 1-on-1 services, or you’re offering a hodgepodge of different programs or products without clearly knowing how each one leads to the next, then you’re likely working too hard and most definitely missing out on opportunities to make more money.

This is why re-designing their business model is one of the first things I do with my Platinum clients. They love it because it transforms chaos and confusion into clarity and simplicity.

* Clarity
Most entrepreneurs have a billion ideas but struggle with creating enough focus to actually implement even a small fraction of them. My recommendation? Get crystal clear on WHO you help, then get just as clear on the situation they find themselves in that you can help transform for them.

For example: while I’m interested in many aspects of marketing, it wasn’t until I focused my passion, energy and attention on the topic of money and pricing that my business took off. Interviews, JV opportunities, speaking offers and clients flowed in.

The same can happen for you. If you need help getting this clear I recommend seeking out a coach who can help you discover your niche. Good news is that the more topic specific you are, the faster and easier your business is likely to grow.

* Courage
If you want a leap in your income then you need to take a leap somewhere else in your business (maybe even in your life, too!). Most women hang back, wanting to know “how it’s all going to work out” before they leap. Sorry, ladies, that’s cheating and it doesn’t work.

But take heart! The more frequently you make a leap such as joining a coaching program, attending an event, learning something new or hiring more team, the more you strengthen your courage muscle. Remember, courage doesn’t mean being fearless. Far from it! What it DOES mean is acting from your heart, even in the face of fear.

Isn’t There More To Creating 6-Figures Than This?

Sure, there are the specific action steps you’ll need to take. But truthfully, if you focus on these four critical steps FIRST, the specific action steps will practically take care of themselves.