16 creators who have been successful share their tips for making
Do you want to start your own online business? Learn how to make your first sale from entrepreneurs who have had to go through this and are now sharing their secrets.
The advice they offer has been compiled into six simple, digestible suggestions, so if you're having trouble selling your first product or are an experienced creator seeking an inspiration boost, here's what people who've been there and done that had to say.
1. Get to know your customers
"Sales are easier when you know exactly who you're selling to.
When I launched my ebook, The Swap , I had the urge to address the cleaning needs of each person with a closet, however, the terminology was vague, muddy, and for nobody.
When that customer became specific -- someone who conceptually loved KonMari but couldn't practically get on board -- I was able to surpass my secret, it'll-probably-never-happen goal.
What is the important thing to Know. Your. Customer."
- Kendra Adachi, The Lazy Genius Collective
To make your first sale first, you must know what your audience wants.
And to learn the needs of your target audience, you need to learn more about them..
Seventy-six percent of customers think that businesses are aware of their requirements and desires However, more than half think that the companies don't are keeping their best interests in mind.
Many businesses are not hitting their standard, showing your customers that you understand and care about them makes you stand out from the other businesses.
That's where customer research can help.
The process of conducting customer research is to gather the most information possible about your target market, so you can create the perfect customer experience to make customers feel valued and appreciated.
One of our favorite customer research techniques is review mining. Use a search engine or Amazon to discover different products targeted at the people you want to target, and then read the reviews. Reviews of products provide insights into your customers' requirements and wants.
Imagine that you are selling an online course in songwriting to beginners. You can search "songwriting for beginners" on Amazon Then, you could read reviews of books like "The Art of Songwriting :
Based on these reviews, you can tell that students are drawn to useful, practical tips to music writing, with an emphasis on music and lyrics. Use these tips when building and marketing your courses to ensure that it is geared towards the needs of your target audience.
If you want to learn from your audience directly surveying is another great customer research tool. Here's why:
Surveys show your audience that you value their opinions.
These research methods provide direct insights cannot be found in any other research method could.
Surveys can help you determine the demand for your product.
Businesses that are investing in getting feedback from their customers have greater customer retention rates .
Gathering feedback directly from potential clients can assist in avoiding the most common reason why startups are unsuccessful : Their products or services don't bring anything new or valuable to the market.
It's easy to assume that we know the needs of our customers. It was the case for John D Saunders when he first launched his course. Being a novice entrepreneur and course designer He assumed that he knew what his customers wanted.
Be sure to ask your clients what they would like to see. Tiffany Williams, the founder of Rich Girl Collective was able to determine what types of customers and products they desired to hear by contacting questions directly to them -- and listening to them.
"I simply ask my students about their needs, and the things they would like to know, and if it matches something that I have accomplished, and am successful in the subject, I then teach it to them," she explains.
One more thing before we move on to our next tip getting familiar with your clients shouldn't be stopped after making their first purchase.
Also, you need to show your customers that you value your customers long after spending the first cent when they shop with you. This can make a huge impact on your profits:
52% of customers make it a point to go the extra mile to buy from brands they're loyal to.
Customers who have been customers for a long time have 9 times greater likely be converted than a first-time shopper.
It may cost up to seven times more to acquire new customers than to keep the one you already have.
If you are able to treat them with respect the first customers you serve will be your best advocates as well as, more importantly, will be willing to share their experiences with others.
Naturally, word-of mouth (WOM) can't be the only tool you need to get your first sales. It's important to clean up other tools in your arsenal, too.
2. Make the best use of your advertising
"Having the largest social network followers? Sure, that's cool.
Do you have a large number of YouTube subscribers? Great.
The platform that I focus on when it comes to marketing is the email channel. Through email funnels and emails, I think there's huge worth because it's just one step away from to tell me they're really interested in the stuff that I have to sell or provide."
- Sef Chang, House of Royalties
Small-business owners is responsible for 4.2 positions , and when you're just beginning out, "marketer" is definitely one of them.
From the Google AdWords to Search engine optimization (SEO) There are a ton of different ways to promote your business. For Sef (and nearly every creator we talk to, email marketing is one of the most efficient ways to connect with your customers and increase sales.
The statistics are in agreement -email marketing can generate the potential to earn 42 dollars for every dollar that is spent .
(That ROI could be higher when you use an all-in-one program for example .
In order to reap the benefits of email marketing, it is essential to build your email list.
In this instance, Sef offers subscribers an unrestricted list of inventor-friendly companies accepting the development of new products. Sef's target audience is those who are looking to find out more about licensing their products This list of companies is an invaluable resource.
"I had my first sale because people follow my work and have downloaded my animation software. My advice is to offer free assistance as well as advice to the people you're in, before you begin offering items to sell."
- Sander van Dijk, Regulus
Think of lead magnets as a free sample of your digital product or course content. Offer your readers an understanding of who you're and what they can gain from you.
Other tools and strategies that you could add to your toolbox are:
If you have an investment budget for marketing in influencer partnership and paid social media ads can broaden your reach.
Making yourself visible among your followers' most popular social media platforms helps you to build a following as well as showcase your skills.
The last part is about how Min Liu drives online course sales.
The first thing I did was create my own YouTube channel called The Art of Verbal War, in order to build an audience. I created short video clips on my topic (verbal capabilities) and then linked my YouTube channel on my website to collect subscriber email addresses.
Presently, I've got a substantial email list to create my courses at any time I want, but mostly simply to provide details and provide worth (which is more crucial than simply selling your customers). As of today, YouTube is my primary advertising channel for my course."
-- Min Liu, The Art of Verbal War
In the end, your marketing strategy will reflect what is most effective for your company, you, and your customers. It's possible that you don't succeed on your first attempt -- but it's never an issue, which is precisely what the next article will discuss.
3. Be open to exploring
"Experiment! It's difficult to figure out how to market online, and each group of possible customers is a bit different. You'll have to play around to determine what works (and the ones that aren't).
I've noticed that posting on my blog and seeing blog posts being repeated and shared by others as well as having an opt-in feature on my blog, is a fantastic way to go.
I've purchased advertising through Facebook, Quora, and Reddit however with little results. I've created an YouTube channel, and began posting content there with some good results.
In everything you do, consider, measure and modify your techniques to improve them. There isn't a single magical solution in this article!"
- Reuven Lerner, Reuven Lerner's Python Courses
There's no need to be able to do everything flawlessly the first time you launch a new product -, or at all.
However, trying out new ideas and allowing yourself to make mistakes and then learn from them is a vital part of the journey to becoming an entrepreneur.
In the Startup Curve , coined by Y Combinator founder Paul Graham , failure is a normal phase that occurs just before your company begins to grow towards growing and scaling.
"I think that all we have to do is look upon past failures and mistakes as wells of information that could be used to inform the current thing we're doing now."
For letting go of the perfectionist tendencies, you should try to embrace the psychology of Carol Dweck calls"a "growth mentality". A growth attitude helps you embrace the challenges, conquer them, and gain through challenges, focusing on continuous learning rather than achieving perfection.
Also, allow yourself to explore new avenues as your business grows -- just make sure to keep yourself accountable all the process.
#4: Hold yourself accountable
"To be accountable In order to be accountable, I promised my friends I would launch my product in the next 30 days. They also sent me each day an email including D-15, D-14 and D-15 in it.
Peer pressure worked great for me!"
Alexis Santini - Alexis Santin
A way to make yourself accountable is to pre-sell your digital products, as the marketing expert and creator Val Geisler recommends.
"Sell the building before you build it.!
If you are able to think of the outline, map out the content, and draw a rough sketch of what's to come it's likely that you'll be able to sell the course to your inner circle before even creating the course.
It's incredible motivation to actually make the course and there's a bit of money at the bank that will help the course you're creating."
- Val Geisler, Your Signature Experience
John's tweet explains how he uses the pre-sales method:
John invites the audience to fill in a landing page and be willing to pay $7 in enrolling in his new course. Those who invest the $7 receive 50-60% off the course on launch day, when John will charge the rest of the fee.
"I am beginning to think about the notion that we were building our own business prisons that we were setting up a framework in our lives. The only possible outcome was exhausted and failure due to the fact that we're not doing our best to take care of ourselves."
"Even even if you're not aware of that, there's a good chance you've got many limiting belief systems that have caused yourself to do self-defeating and remain at home in your own familiar zone. Put your money into yourself(and your confidence in yourself) and things will change. "
Highly successful entrepreneurs such as Becky and Minessa are able to offer these tips to share because they've been in your shoes. This experience is what makes them an excellent resource for novice creators to take lessons from. This is also which is what the next piece of advice on.
#5 5: Take lessons from one another
"Whatever it is that you wish to accomplish -- whether blogging, creating items, or creating a list begin by imitating those who have done it effectively. All you have to do was done by numerous individuals before, and you can find out how they did it by visiting their websites.
That might sound really simple, but try to emulate those who are successful. It seems that a lot of us spend a lot of time reinventing the wheel and thinking that we need to do everything in a unique, epic method.
The great thing about the internet is that there are a lot of instances of all the things you require to get it right are available."
- David Cain, Camp Calm
No matter what you're seeking do, do,"learn from the top" is a great method to begin. This is what makes platforms such as MasterClass that are an online collection of classes given by"the world's best minds," that range from Neil DeGrasse Tyson to Margaret Atwoodthat they're so well-known.
If you're considering starting and running a enterprise, there's an abundance of advice and resources out in the world. But the best information comes from people with years that have experience -- the ones who've been there, done that, and know they can help you as well.
There are many groups available for young creators and entrepreneurs to meet one another, from free Facebook groups to mastermind-only groups.
Brit Kolo, the creator of Marketing Personalities , said that being part of a mastermind group is one of the greatest decisions she's ever made in her business.
"Business growth is just the first of many amazing impact ... I've also developed as a person as a leader as well as a CEO. Other business owners from my mastermind group have turned into lifelong friends, and I don't say that lightly."
A study on remote work from Buffer confirms that the top two issues that people who work from home face are communication and collaboration as well as loneliness. Both are obstacles which joining the appropriate online community could help over.
MegaMaker is a community for developers and designers with a desire to " want more than a regular work schedule ". It connects people with the same goals so that they can make partnerships, share advice, and share knowledge as David Cain recommends.
To get the best value from these communities of members You must be fully present at the table, and also be honest about the challenges and experiences you've faced. If you want to succeed in making your first (and third, and even 100th) sales, you have to be the same for the customers you serve.
#6: Be who you are.
"Be yourself. People can spot a fake.
Find your niche and your unique voice within the context of. There is no one who can articulate the things that need to be stated exactly like you do."
- Katie Orr, Bible Study Hub Shop
They don't want or.
They are looking for authenticity and worth. 86% of the people believe that authenticity is an important element when they decide on which companies they trust and like.
The bulk of the value you bring to society lies in your personal experience and perspective.
Nobody knows that more than Minessa Konecky.
"Stop trying to to be who you think that your clients want you to be.
We are drawn to authenticity so when we purchase from a boutique business owner We're not just purchasing a product, we're buying an opinion.
If your prospects don't know about who you are and what you stand for No amount of photoshop photographs and beautifully designed posts will make them convert. It gives you the freedom to show your true self, warts and all. They'll love you for it."
- Minessa Konecky, Director to Success
By bringing her full self for her work Minessa has created a profitable business that assists others.
This is a win-win.
At the final analysis, your personal perspective and experience are what will help to connect with your clients and not just a flashy website or perfectly-crafted text.
Just show up as yourself -- that's it.
Make your first sale and build your business to be successful
If you're brand new to the world of online business or just launching a new product, the journey from an idea of a product the first sale is filled with bumps and valleys.
In the spirit of real-world advice from 16 creators who have made it big Six tips to assist you on this bumpy road
Discover all you possibly can regarding your clients. Conduct customer research and talk with them in person -- chances are, they'll be happy to give you feedback.
Discover the marketing channels that work for you and follow them. The email marketing channel is a good way to begin as lead magnets are an effective way to grow your list.
Be open to experimentation, iteration and failure. You don't have to do everything perfect the first time -- in fact, it's part the learning process.
Be accountable to yourself, both internally and externally. Pre-selling your products ensures you are on the right the right track for completing your plan by preventing self-sabotaging behaviors. sets you up for success.
Get inspired by the top professionals as well as your colleagues in your industry. Find communities that not only impart knowledge but offer a support system as well.
You are who you are. Customers want to know you, too and your experience will add value and perspective to the work you do.
So, go out and get that deal. We're here to support you.