If you’re like I was a few years ago, for as long as you can remember you’ve dreamt about having a profitable business, making a sustainable income, and maybe even quitting your job.
So how do you get there and make it happen?
There’s this myth that successful entrepreneurs turn in their notice, go all-in on their business, and somehow pull through against all odds. I’m sure that happens, but I believe it’s one of the most stressful things you can do to yourself and it’s not what I’ve done.
So how did I get to 6-figures in my business? In this episode, I’m sharing exactly what I did, what I see as the pillars to build a profitable online business.
To give you some context of where I started with my career and business, I was earning brilliantly as a freelancer and working in advertising for a few months each year, totaling 6-figures by the end of the year. As great as this was, it wasn’t my dream.
I wanted more out of my career and my life, and I knew there had to be something better than working at a 9-5 I wasn’t passionate about. So I started working on my own business, but the feelings of doubt started creeping in.
I didn‘t know anyone else who has done it. Would I be better off focusing on my job? Am I just wasting my time? Is this a pipedream? Will I burn out? Are there really enough clients? Will they be able to find ME out of all the people in the world?
I had to push past these thoughts because deep inside I knew I wanted more from my life and that I was made for bigger things. The fact I was making good money freelancing and there was no pressure made me comfortable, and this started holding me back.
One day when I was looking for another freelancing gig after getting back from a trip to Bali, I couldn’t get one. Three job offers in a row fell through, and that had never happened before!
Normally I would get back from a trip and have a job lined up for the following months within a few weeks or already lined up – but not this time.
I believe it was the universe telling me to finally focus on my business, to just sit down, do it, and make it a success. It put me in a situation where I needed to earn money and I couldn’t rely on freelancing jobs anymore.
So I had a good look at my business, at what was working and what wasn’t, and I created the offers and systems that got me to 6 figures in less than 12 months.
So let’s look at what I did, and what I see as the pillars to building a profitable online business.
1. Your Brand
Your brand is the combination of what you do, who you help, what your offers are, and how others see you.
If you don’t have clarity on this, I don’t think you can build a sustainable business. You might be able to sell one single course but for real growth, you need a strong brand.
This means having a clear and profitable niche.
You need to know who you want to work with, and what problem you are solving for them. This will allow you to have a clear brand message that tells your potential customers in one sentence what you do and how you can help them.
It’s also about visually presenting your brand too so that it reflects your value. For example, having a professional website, and a consistent appearance online by using the same brand colors and fonts for your social media/promotional materials. Also consider your tone of voice, how you speak to people, what kind of topics you talk about, and so on.
2. Your Offers
The biggest mistake I made (and I know I’m not alone with this) was creating too many different offers.
If you’re selling multiple offers and are working around the clock without seeing the financial results you’re hoping for, it’s time to cut back on your offers and do less, by putting all your focus into a single, signature offer.
You should have 1 signature offer that generates $10K per month before creating something else, plus maybe 1 to 2 other core offers that supplement your signature offer. For example, you can offer Zoom classes, 1:1 coaching or private sessions, and one group coaching program, all within one niche.
A mistake I made was that I solely focused on selling online courses at a low price point when I started my business. Because I didn’t have a big audience, it was impossible to sell the number of spots I would have needed to replace my freelancing income.
At the same time, I was scared to offer coaching because I knew I wouldn’t have the time in the months I was freelancing.
When you are in that situation, and you can make it work timewise, I would always recommend that you start by offering some kind of 1:1 service, for example, private yoga or coaching packages or VIP days.
This will allow you to earn more money with a small number of clients, so you don’t need to have a huge audience to reach your goals.
3. Sales
This is where a lot of people get lost. Selling our offers/services can be so deeply uncomfortable and it’s really normal to shy away from that – but there’s really nothing to be afraid of.
Selling doesn’t have to be ‘icky’, and you don’t have to use any shady marketing techniques. It’s all about making contact with your ideal customer as frequently as possible. Educating yourself on sales psychology and how people make buying decisions is crucial.
People buy from people they like and trust.
Having a clear brand is the first step because it will help you build trust. After that you’ll need to start showing up, giving people a chance to get to know you and build a connection with you.
Remember, you can’t just put up a website with your offer and call it a day, hoping that people will find you. If you want to build a successful business but you don’t want to be visible and you don’t like being on camera, it may not be the right thing to do.
If you want to have a successful business, you need to show up and sell your offers. If you follow what I recommended in pillar 2, it’s going to be really simple and make your life a lot easier.
When I say show up and build a connection, I mean doing things like going live once per week on Instagram/Facebook or creating 2 reels per week where you share a 1-minute long video where you talk about something that’s related to what you do.
You could also blog, but video is the fastest way to build a connection with your potential clients. So, if you’re afraid to do this, I recommend you work on this as soon as you can. Remember, you’re not alone with this and a lot of people (including myself) struggle with showing up on camera, but it needs to be done.
So, here you have the 3 pillars to build a 6-figure online business. Your brand, your offers, and your sales.
