Question of the week: What could you use some help with?

[JoeSorge]

After a wildly successful similar thread in the main forum recently, we realized that it's impossible for others to know that you need help, let alone someone to offer it to you if you don't let it be known that you could use a bit of it.

So in what we're discovering is the true meaning of our Kitchen Table Companies community, we're asking (all of us): What do you need help with?

[MarkM]

I'd like to know what aspect of their distribution systems (the movement of goods; funds, and information) small businesses find most challenging.

[elyssat@gmail.com]

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[jimeverett]

I would like to talk with members who are consultants, coaches, speakers, authors, and other 'helping experts' to understand what your particular successes and challenges are in growing your businesses. In one way, it's market research for me through conversation and at the same time together we'll probably generate a couple of great ideas you haven't come up with on your own.

Feel free to send me a direct email.

Thanks,
Jim

[jimeverett]

By the way, the conversations I want to have aren't with members only. If you have someone you'd like to refer to me for this conversation, that would be great too.

Jim

[chrissie]

For me it is the launching of online courses and ebooks. It is a new area for me and am on a steep learning curve. :)

[atelford]

For me, it's how to get accurate market research data - how to get people to respond if they're not a current customer, or even if they are for that matter. I haven't marketed well, I'm just now defining a pretty narrower market for both lines but want to research those markets instead of just making assumptions.

[cbrogan]

@Elyssat - First off, what's a HOA?

This book is really good. I was sent an advanced copy a few months back. (Not an affiliate link) - http://www.amazon.com/Self-Publishers-Companion-Joel-Friedlander/dp/0936385111/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1306234009&sr=8-9

[cbrogan]

Hi Jim - I've consulted a bit. My successes came from learning how best to offer my customers serving suggestions so that they didn't have to start with a blank sheet of paper from which to choose what they needed. It was always easier to customize an existing offering than it was to sit and listen and ask them what they wanted, which is how people told me consultants usually offer services. My challenges were scale. There are so many hours in a day and only so many deliverables you can help with. After a while, you have to make one-to-many products like online courses.

[cbrogan]

Chrissie - The best thing I know of out there for these kinds of launches is Product Launch Formula. www.productlaunchformula.com . I swung by the URL and the course is closed to new members right now, but you might read the blog www.productlaunchformula.com/blog and see if that helps a bit. There are also many blog posts about product launches that might help you see what's what. I also added some thoughts and opinions to an ebook by Nick Reese about affiliate marketing called Traffic and Trust, which isn't exactly about ebook launches, but is definitely about trust and drawing attention to new projects. - http://trafficandtrust.com

[cbrogan]

Amanda- I don't have any market research information. I've never used any. I launch and then if no one buys, I ask people what I can do better, and things like that. Market research, to me, is hedging and time wasting. I've really got to stress that that's my PERSONAL take on it. Market research is alive and well in the world. And I think the opposite of market research isn't putting your head in the ground and just doing things without paying attention to how they work. I prefer a third ground: testing by execution. Get the product out there and iterate.

Best book for it (not an affiliate link) - http://www.amazon.com/Rework-Jason-Fried/dp/0307463745/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1306234577&sr=8-1 . Even if you're not selling software.

[raulcolon]

I need help with simplifying the list of services to a point where everyone understands what I am offering win few details.

Similar to one of the subjects spoken about in What on Your Menu? Months ago on KTT

[JoeSorge]

Mark, in distribution, for me it's the end deliver-ability that's my challenge. Because my product is prepared it's much more difficult to achieve consistency.

[rickcaffeinated]

My problems lately have been of an educational variety: how to explain that something is what it is, and is not what the other thinks it might be. Trying to consult in good faith, it's hard to help folks see the forest for the trees - too many people think they already "know Facebook" and therefore don't need help/training on best practices, other tools/platforms, monitoring, etc.

[cbrogan]

Raul: So what do you offer? Start with what you've written down now.

[JoeSorge]

elyssat - also http://createspace.com does a great job as a self pub tool. Helps you prep for publish to amazon as well :)

[cbrogan]

Rick - how are you selling it to them now? What's your basic "story" of a sale? If you wrote it out as if you were selling us, what would you say?

[JoeSorge]

Rick, what Chris just wrote is precisely what helped us get to the story of KTC. also, one golden rule that helped us along. Try to explain it in terms of "what's in it for me". Or as Chris posted today at chrisbrogan.com - Sell Benefits.

[davebenjamin]

With so much free content online, what qualifies being able to charge for content? Is it the content or the proven success of the person behind the content?

[JoeSorge]

Dave,
GREAT question, and it's one that we figured out after our KTC launch.
It's a mix, the person behind the content can certainly be the draw, but in the end it boils down to the content in our experience.

[greg]

A roadmap of moving from my current position, working within a political party, to running a profitable political strategy/consulting firm.

My biggest issue is this: as an employee of the party, I'm not allowed to work for individual candidates as that wouldn't be fair. If I want to go off on my own (and I very much do) I'd have to leave my current position.

[JoeSorge]

Greg, there has to be others that have paved this road before, yes? Would it be out of bounds to reach out to them?

[greg]

Not at all. I'll do that.

[JoeSorge]

Greg, I'm sure that they could help you draw a much better map than you could draw yourself. Avoiding many of the pitfalls that hampered their progress.
Best of success with it Sir.

[angelwingsweb]

I could use some help with copy writing.

I am a very good writer, but English is not my native language, and even in my native language, I am completely paralysed when I need to write copy.

(and obviously I can't chose to hire someone to do it for me).

[cvpdotcom]

My business provides technology services to small and rural businesses. Does anyone have any ideas how to generate exposure for my small business? Small business owners typically aren't at the forefront of social media or technological advancements. I've thought about reaching out to local Chambers of Commerce and other business organizations.

Does anybody have any experience in dealing with organizations such as the community chamber of commerce or other business/trade associations?

[lucy2337]

cvpdotcom - this audience is a target for me too, with lots of possibility I think. Generally, if you go to the meetings, build relationships and continue to be a consistent member in the group, then they will use you. If you give good service to one person, then you will get more referrals.
Rotary groups are good, as well as women's business groups. I supply brochures and cards too, since these are people that don't spend a lot of time online.
Hope this helps. Good luck!

[cvpdotcom]

@Steve: Try this link: http://www.openforum.com/articles/how-to-set-up-a-facebook-page. It walks you through a 10-step process to setting up a Facebook page.

@lucy2337: Joining the local chamber is a possibility. However, I want to target markets that aren't local to me, but I'm familiar with them. Not sure if I can join a chamber of commerce without having residence there.

[cbrogan]

@Dave - I charge when it's of value and/or can make business value for someone else. I do free if it's just thoughts and ideas. 93% of what I do is free.

[cbrogan]

Greg - You're asking how to make the jump, right? To me, have 3 months of money ready to go, better 6. Start by putting out free information that builds your brand as someone who knows about this space. Give away TONS of free info. Then, offer yourself for business when you can afford to do the quitting.

[geekbabe]

I'm new, have begun working with some great brands & need to know what are the best & most affordable SM analytic programs ? I'd like to be able to do things like track & analyze twitter hashtags in order to produce reports.

thank you in advance for your help, looking forward to learning here! :o

[cathryn]

I have a similar question to Raul when he asked:
'I need help with simplifying the list of services' and would add that I need help with figuring out the best pathways to getting the word out about our services in the Boston area.

I'll take a shot at describing what we do as consultants and would welcome your comments.

We help companies engage and communicate with their audiences.
We provide a mix of expert speakers, nationally known entertainers and interactive multimedia ranging from Social Media programs to satellite broadcasting.

If it's ok I'll put my website here if anyone wants to comment on it.
www.expcafe360.com www.exp-partners.com Thanks for any tips!

[greg]

...have 3 months of money ready to go, better 6.

Yeah, that's another hurdle. I super appreciate the advice, Chris.

[JimRaffel]

@angelwingsweb - honestly, english is my native language and I suck at it. Just keep writing from the heart. People hear (read) and believe real. Fake shows through. Authentic - that works.


I could use some help with copy writing.

I am a very good writer, but English is not my native language, and even in my native language, I am completely paralysed when I need to write copy.

(and obviously I can't chose to hire someone to do it for me).

[angelwingsweb]

Jim, thanks for replying to me! I appreciate it.

I will definitely follow the advice and keep writing from the heart.
I need to overcome the fear... and also harness the lack of discipline which is my weakness when I chose to make excuses for myself! :-)

[bigredtomato]

I am a consultant and I show businesses how to move to the next level by improving strategy, improving business processes and improving finances. I work mainly with large companies, but I'm looking to provide these services to small/solopreneur businesses. My challenge is finding more people to do business with, which I generally do over the phone. Often times for small businesses an 1hr's help, moves them on, and regular coaching transforms them.

Maybe my "sales page" doesn't work ... any ideas more than welcome;

http://bigredtomatocompany.co.uk/one-hour-brainstorm/

[jinfo]

@bigredtomato: I looked at your sales page and I am a solopreneur. I'm no marketing expert, but here is my opinion on it:

It looks like you are selling a 60-minute coaching session, but actually it's a larger package:
1-customer fills in questionare in about 60 minutes
2-you review the answers
3-the 60 minute call to discuss things further
4-you make a personalized mindmap with an actionplan.

The price of this 60-minute consulting package is $350 (You only see this after you click on "Add to cart")
The $350 for the 1 hour consult alone would be quite high, but seeing as the actual package is bigger, it might not be a bad price.

First tip for me that comes to mind is: Have a sample case on there! As a potential customer, I'd like to know what I am getting. What does the personalized mindmap look like, what kind of actionplan would I be getting? Would be great if you could somehow share a success story on there.

Another more rigorous alternative:

Perhaps it would be an idea to split the package up a bit to slowly bring the new customers in, instead of jumping into the deep area of the pool right away. For instance, you could put the questionnaire on the site for free? If a potential customer takes 60 minutes to fill it all out, you know they are serious. Then you could either quickly glance over the questionnaire, pick 2-3 really obvious points to you and send them an email saying: we could discuss this further in a 1 hour phone call? Then the one hour phone call could be $100. In this mail you could also mention the option of getting a personalized mindmap and action plan. At the end of the phone call, you could bring the mindmap and action plan up again and sell that for maybe $250?

In my opinion, you are gaining trust with the customer in each part of the step, having them feel more comfortable to spend more on the final product instead of paying it all in one go and not really knowing what they are going to get?

[cbrogan]

@geekbabe - check out trackur.com . Might be the least expensive.

[cbrogan]

@cathryn - the problem with "we help companies engage and communicate with their audiences" is that it doesn't sound like "we help companies make money." Companies, when evaluating what they need, tend to look at ways to increase revenue, ways to reduce expense, and ways to grow. You might reconsider how you provide those services to help companies grow their business.

[meredithbead]

I could use some help with copy writing.

I am a very good writer, but English is not my native language, and even in my native language, I am completely paralysed when I need to write copy.

(and obviously I can't chose to hire someone to do it for me).

angelwingsweb, Jim Raffel's comment about writing from the heart is good as far as it goes. Honest writing is exponentially better than a stilted attempt at paint-by-numbers prose. However, it doesn't address your discomfort with writing copy, especially in your non-native language.

As a professional writer who has both participated in and facilitated writing critique groups, I'd like to recommend that you join a group (or groups) in your area if any are available. Often they're offered through adult education classes or libraries. Your local newspaper may list critique groups under Arts or Events. All the groups I've been in have been free.

IMO, the best groups are moderated with guidelines (as opposed to a free-for-all.) Good groups offer constructive criticism; bad groups devolve into petty squabbles and ego trips. You may have to shop around.

I'm lucky to have found two very good local critique groups, one for poetry and one for everything-but-poetry. I looked briefly for a group online but never found a good match.

[angelwingsweb]

Meredith, thank you for chiming in and giving a very good advice. I am very likely to follow it as I like taking classes very much and will definitely look for one in my remote part of the woods. It will probably have to wait though, as my priority list of to do's is growing by the day, and nothing ends up being done...

But it was really worth it asking the question and writing down what I needed help with, as now I can write a plan in front of the frustation and feel more relaxed about it!