Work Less, Earn More

Creating a solid strategic plan for your business doesn’t have to be a long arduous process.Four years ago, I created the Easiest Business Plan Ever and it’s since been downloaded by literally thousands of people.But up until this point, I've never gone very deep with any one section of the plan, so starting today, that’s going to change.I’ll be breaking down the business plan, section by section, step by step over the next three episodes to answer your questions about how to use the template to easily create a business plan and strategy that works for you.We’re starting today with your business overview and all of the pieces you’ll need to have worked out from your business’s name to something called the chart of accountability.Listen to the full episode to hear:Four things to keep in mind when naming your businessWhy your business might need multiple addressesKey considerations when choosing a legal structureQuestions to help you write a clear, concise description of your business and its missionWhy you should create your chart of accountability even if you’re a sole proprietorLearn more about Gillian: Startup SocietyGet on the waitlist for VALIDATEProfit Planning ChallengeGet in touch!the Easiest Business Plan Ever

When you’re thinking about creating a digital product, there are a lot of decisions to make.Should you create a course or a membership site?Write a book or provide one-on-one coaching?There are so many options, and each one has its own nuances, benefits and challenges.Whatever product you decide to create, you’ll have to make choices about structure, pricing, marketing and more.In this episode, I’m talking to Julie Solomon, CEO of EmpowerYou Inc, host of the Influencer Podcast and creator of SHINE.Julie is an expert in digital marketing, PR, and personal branding and I wanted to talk to her about SHINE because it is so different from a lot of what we see online. I wanted to learn more about how she structured the program and what led her to some of the choices she made.We’ll also dig into how she markets a premium program with a matching price tag, growth challenges and the pros and cons of running high-ticket programs.Listen to the full episode to hear:The market challenges Julie designed her program to addressWhy she pivoted away from a monthly membership model to a six-month commitmentHow Julie attracts organic leads to her program with her podcast and social mediaWhy Julie settled on her price point, and why she hasn’t changed it even as she’s iterated other parts of the programLearn more about Julie:JulieSolomon.netInstagram: @julssolomonThe Influencer PodcastSHINELearn more about Gillian: Startup SocietyGet on the waitlist for VALIDATEProfit Planning ChallengeGet in touch!

When you set up email marketing for your business, it can completely change the way you market your business overall. Being in someone’s inbox is a totally different game than showing up in their social media feed.There are so many tools that email marketing opens up to you that allow you to get more personal and responsive with your email list than you could ever be with social media ads.If you’ve been hesitating learning how to use email marketing for your business, today’s episode is for you.We’ll cover everything from choosing the best software platform to setting up your opt-in forms and how to build your list.Listen to the full episode to hear:The pros and cons of three free email marketing platforms you can use while you build your listWhy you might want to use a thank you page instead of a pop-up for new subscribersHow to create an enticing and valuable freebie for new sign-upsHow to promote your freebie to build your listLearn more about Gillian:Startup SocietyGet on the waitlist for VALIDATEProfit Planning ChallengeGet in touch!Resources: MailerLiteSenderConvertKit

So you’re thinking about starting a podcast.Maybe you want to expand your audience, or maybe you want to build an audience and create authority to support your online business. Both are great reasons to get into podcasting.So what’s holding you back?In today’s episode, Melissa Guller of Wit & Wire joins me to talk about strategies for starting and marketing a podcast, from the planning you need to do to marketing strategies. And we’ll break down misconceptions about the charts, market saturation and why you don’t need a ton of equipment or technical know-how to hit record.Melissa Guller is a course creator, podcast producer, and the CEO of Wit & Wire, where she helps online business owners build their authority and reach a wider audience through podcasting. Bigger picture, Melissa loves to teach entrepreneurs. She’s a top-rated instructor on Skillshare and in person at General Assembly, and she previously worked full-time for Ramit Sethi and Teachable. She’s helped over 2,000 podcasting students through her Wit & Wire online courses, and she's on a mission to help more diverse business owners earn money online doing work they love.Listen to the full episode to hear:Three reasons to start a podcast even if you don’t have a large followingHow to use seasons as part of your marketing, to test content, or to give yourself a breakWhy you need to be strategic about choosing your category and what charting means for your podcastThe difference between owned media and earned media and which one you should focus on for growthHow to pitch yourself as a guest on someone else’s podcast and invite guests to your ownLearn more about Melissa:Wit & WireInstagram: @WitAndWireWit & Wire on Pinterest Wit & Wire PodcastLearn more about Gillian:Startup SocietyGet on the waitlist for VALIDATEProfit Planning ChallengeGet in touch!Resources:The Best Podcast Microphones for Any BudgetFREE How to Launch a Podcast in 60 Days Without Feeling Overwhelmed

Email is not dead.When you’re selling products online, you always need a few different tools in your marketing kit.You’ll use advertising so people hear about your products in the first place. Then you’ll need some way to move those leads from lukewarm to interested in buying to paying customers.And most businesses, from small local retailers to big-name brands, are still using email as a key part of their sales process.And that's why I find it, especially ridiculous when people say that email is dead.We’re all still using email. It’s a primary method of communication in general and it’s still a primary sales channel for most businesses.Which is why today, we’re going to discuss how to launch a product with email.We’ll get into the details on conversion rates, how to incorporate webinars and options for setting up your email sequence. Because no matter what your advertising strategy is to move people into your funnel, you’re going to need emails to convert those leads.Listen to the full episode to hear:Why webinars are especially helpful for smaller brands to boost conversionsPros and cons of short and long launch sequencesThe importance of the pre-launch period10 emails that will increase your sales by 500%Learn more about Gillian:Startup SocietyGet on the waitlist for VALIDATEProfit Planning ChallengeGet in touch!Resources: Work Less, Earn More Ep 78: The Beginner’s Guide to Webinars Part OneWork Less, Earn More Ep 79: The Beginner’s Guide to Webinars Part Two

If you’re running an online business, at some point you’re going to have to build a funnel. And of course, you don’t want to spend your time and effort creating a funnel that doesn’t work.Today, to get into the nitty-gritty, full-nerd details of building funnels that actually make you money, I’m joined by Christie Mims, founder of Coach Pony.Christie has channeled the power of her niche into a million-dollar funnel and she is going to break down for us how she did it.From boosting traffic to her website without spending a fortune on ads or the whole day on social media to the data you need to look at every day, Christie walks us through the process of how she got to her million-dollar funnel.Christie Mims is the founder of Coach Pony, a community for new life coaches who want to build their business and client lists. She’s also a Forbes Top 100 Career Coach and the founder of The Revolutionary Club, a career coaching business that serves smart people who want to find their passion.Listen to the full episode to hear:Common sense strategies to boost your visibility without chasing social media followsHow to use behavioral cues to create a “gentle” funnelWhy Christie uses a “less stick, more carrot” approach in her funnelsWhy you should have a secondary sales cycle for folks who didn’t buy immediatelyChristie’s top two tips for building a successful funnelLearn more about Christie:Coach PonyInstagram: @christiecoachponyConnect with Christie on LinkedInCoach Pony PodcastLearn more about Gillian: Startup SocietyGet on the waitlist for VALIDATEProfit Planning ChallengeGet in touch!

Have you ever wanted to get a look at the nitty gritty details of a successful product launch? Plenty of people will tell you how much money they made or an average of their open rate or the kinds of emails they sent to their leads, but today, we’re diving deep into the numbers on the recent launch of the Creator Fast Track. The Creator Fast Track launch was one of our most successful launches to date, so we’re breaking it down for you, from warm leads to money in the bank, with what worked, what we wouldn’t do again, and the real numbers underneath it all. To help me remember how it went down, I’m joined by my operations manager, Cortni Loveridge. Listen to the full episode to hear: Why “Sell with a Story” emails work How scripting the entire webinar made a massive difference in sales and helped us set up an evergreen funnel How back to back launches netted 50% more sales Why you shouldn’t be afraid to align your webinar result with your product result The email subject lines we used and tips for boosting your open rate Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Get on the waitlist for VALIDATE Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

We all know that video is a powerful tool to grow your brand and using video to effectively grow your sales is a specialty in and of itself, especially if you’re trying to bring in leads with organic video content. Where should you post? How do you know your videos are being shown to people who would be interested in your business? What should your videos be about? If you’re brand new to the idea of selling through a short video post, or if the very thought makes you uncomfortable, it can be tough to know where to start. Kate Hore-Lacy is a master at using video as a tool in your business to make more sales. Like a lot of business owners, Kate had to make a big pivot in her sales strategies when COVID cancelled the live events where she would typically find many of her leads. Thinking outside of her comfort zone and pushing past her resistance to doing video has paid off big in her business and today, she’ll share some of her strategies and tips for success with video as a sales tool. Kate Hore-Lacy is a client attraction strategist and sales and mindset mentor. Values-driven service providers who struggle with sales hire her to claim their impact, get clients, get praised and get paid! She has addressed worldwide audiences through summits, videos and workshops to rave reviews and with over 33,000 followers of her daily videos, has recently been named a LinkedIn sales star. Listen to the full episode to hear:How pivoting to video on a platform with less saturation helped Kate bring in sales when COVID caused her live events to be cancelledEasy strategies for selecting video topicsWhy your video description needs a hook tooHow to catch and keep your audience’s attentionWhy you don’t need to spend a ton of money on equipment to do video, and one relatively inexpensive thing that’s totally worth it Learn more about Kate:KateHoreLacy.comConnect with Kate on LinkedIn Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore)Get on the waitlist for VALIDATEProfit Planning ChallengeGet in touch!

Whenever you’re pursuing a goal, at some point you’ll want to give up. Making the distinction between frustration, boredom or distraction and it really being time to move on is hard and it can get emotional. There are times when you’re frustrated and discouraged and things aren’t working, but you can change course and use a different strategy rather than giving up on the goal altogether. There are times when you’re bored or unmotivated and a shiny new idea seems like a better path. And there are times when you’ll realize that, for one reason or another, the goal you’ve been pursuing truly isn’t serving you. So how do you make an informed, solid decision with all those feelings swirling around? In the final episode of our series on perseverance, we are going to help you answer that question. I’m joined again by Startup Success coach Gabe Cox. Gabe is a marathon runner, author of Mind Over Marathon, success coach, and homeschooling mom. She helps women use their passions to enhance their productivity and spiritual growth so they can go after their God-given goals. Listen to the full episode to hear: Why you can be working without doing the work How validating your ideas can help you decide to change course or give up How to tell if you’ve truly lost your passion What to do with roadblocks, detours and other obstacles When it really is just too hard to keep going Learn more about Gabe: Red Hot Mindset Instagram: @gabecox_redhotmindset Red Hot Mindset Podcast Red Hot Mindset on YouTube Mind Over Marathon: Overcoming Mental Barriers in the Race of Life Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Get on the waitlist for VALIDATE Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! Resources: Work Less, Earn More Ep 80: How to Stick with Your Plan Until You Succeed with Gabe Cox Work Less, Earn More Ep 81: Setting Yourself Up For Success From The Start with Gabe Cox Work Less, Earn More Ep 82: Motivating Yourself When You’re Not Motivated with Gabe Cox Work Less, Earn More Ep 83: 5 Things That Will DERAIL You From Achieving Your Goals with Gabe Cox

Far too often, we make the plans, we get started full of enthusiasm and excitement, but before long, we either lose motivation or something else actually gets in our way and we fall off the wagon. This week, we’re focusing on the things that can derail you. So often when we are thinking about achieving our goals, we think about tips for planning, for staying on track and staying motivated. But sometimes things literally get in your way. And they can be the reason why you don’t achieve your goals. It’s not that you didn’t have a good enough strategy or good enough plans, but maybe you didn’t think about–or didn’t even know about–potential obstacles that could derail you. I’m joined again by Startup Success coach Gabe Cox. Gabe is a marathon runner, author of Mind Over Marathon, success coach, and homeschooling mom. She helps women use their passions to enhance their productivity and spiritual growth so they can go after their God-given goals. Listen to the full episode to hear: Strategies for tackling fear of criticism and ways to help you remember positive feedback How community and mentorship help you with the unknown and unforeseen obstacles The mindset shifts you need to make around failure The subtle ways fear of success can derail you How the 80/20 rule can help you beat shiny object syndrome How to handle distractions from social media to binge watching Learn more about Gabe: Red Hot Mindset Instagram: @gabecox_redhotmindset Red Hot Mindset Podcast Red Hot Mindset on YouTube Mind Over Marathon: Overcoming Mental Barriers in the Race of Life Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Get on the waitlist for VALIDATE Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! Resources: Work Less, Earn More Ep 80: How to Stick with Your Plan Until You Succeed with Gabe Cox Work Less, Earn More Ep 81: Setting Yourself Up For Success From The Start with Gabe Cox Work Less, Earn More Ep 82: Motivating Yourself When You’re Not Motivated

How do you stay motivated? Staying motivated is one of the things people think about the most when they think about achieving a goal. How do you keep going when you’re having an off day or the hard work is taking the shine off your excitement? Maybe you’ve lost some of the fire you had when you set the goal. Maybe there’s an unforeseen obstacle in your way. In the third part of our series on perseverance, we're going to be talking about how to stay motivated. People ask me about staying motivated all the time. But it’s more complicated than simple hacks. They're not going to be enough to have perseverance and to get the results, but motivation is an important piece of the puzzle. I’m joined again by Startup Success coach Gabe Cox. Gabe is a marathon runner, author of Mind Over Marathon, success coach, and homeschooling mom. Gabe is a powerhouse woman and someone who has really become an expert on persevering through and achieving your goals. Listen to the full episode to hear: Ways to keep your “why” visually in front of you to help you keep going Why you should ask yourself if “not feeling it” is a warranted feeling How to effectively use rewards for hitting milestones, large or small Why having an accountability partner can be about more than hitting deadlines Learn more about Gabe: Red Hot Mindset Instagram: @gabecox_redhotmindset Red Hot Mindset Podcast Red Hot Mindset on YouTube Mind Over Marathon: Overcoming Mental Barriers in the Race of Life Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Get on the waitlist for VALIDATE Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! Resources: Work Less, Earn More Ep 80: How to Stick with Your Plan Until You Succeed with Gabe Cox Work Less, Earn More Ep 81: Setting Yourself Up For Success From The Start with Gabe Cox YouTube: the SCIENCE of Manifestation and the Law of Attraction One Small Step Can Change Your Life: The Kaizen Way, Robert Maurer

You know what your goal is. You know it will take perseverance to get there. Now what? What strategies can you put in place for when you want to give up? What small wins can you put in your path? Today we’re going to talk about how to set yourself up for success from the start. We’ll share strategies to put into place before you even get into the work of the tasks that will lead you to your goal. When you’re inspired and excited about your goal and in the planning phases is the perfect time to put these strategies into play, before you get bogged down in the day to day and long before you wonder if you should quit. I’m joined again by Startup Success coach Gabe Cox. Gabe is a marathon runner, author of Mind Over Marathon, success coach, and homeschooling mom. She has so much to share with us on the topic of perseverance. Listen to the full episode to hear: How to find the why that will keep you going through the last six miles of your marathon Why you need to have a long-term vision, but give yourself smaller goals with more predictable outcomes along the way How to use your vision to craft and support your short-term projects Why smaller goals can help you course correct faster when things aren’t going as planned How to write an action plan that works for you Learn more about Gabe: Red Hot Mindset Instagram: @gabecox_redhotmindset Red Hot Mindset Podcast Red Hot Mindset on YouTube Mind Over Marathon: Overcoming Mental Barriers in the Race of Life Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Get on the waitlist for VALIDATE Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! Resources: Work Less, Earn More Ep 80: How to Persevere and Stick with Your Plans Until You're Successful with Gabe Cox Work Less, Earn More Ep 57: A 7-Figure Course Business...And the Surprising Strategy that Built It with Chandler Bolt

We all know how volatile the economy has been in the last year or so. And it might get much worse before it gets better. With so much unpredictability, it can be easy to blame our circumstances when we don’t succeed. But one thing that I know for sure is that we are not victims of our circumstances. I firmly believe that we develop our character, expand our capacity and learn invaluable lessons by working through challenges rather than letting them stop us. Your business will inevitably encounter a crisis at some point, whether it’s a major market shift, a global pandemic or a personal crisis with your health or family. Today I'm looking forward to talking to John Meese about what he's discovered about what it takes to build a thriving business in any economy. John is an economist-turned-entrepreneur on a personal mission to eradicate generational poverty by helping entrepreneurs create thriving businesses which is why he wrote Survive and Thrive: How to Build a Profitable Business in Any Economy (Including This One). John is CEO of Cowork.Inc, Co-founder of Notable, and host of the Thrive School podcast. Listen to the full episode to hear: How the economy moves in cycles of stability and crisis, so you can look to the horizon Why having a thriving business is more than just being profitable Why you need to focus on the real people and the real problems you solve for them, not your ideal client avatar Five growth models for your business, and why you only need to focus on one of them The three core products your business needs Learn more about John: JohnMeese.com Survive and Thrive: How to Build a Profitable Business in Any Economy (Including This One) Connect with John on LinkedIn Thrive School Podcast Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Get on the waitlist for VALIDATE Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! Resources: Survive and Thrive Playbook Ray Edwards’ OPEN Buyer Awareness Scale

Results take time. We know that it takes perseverance to see our ideas and plans through. But when success still seems far off in the distance, or a newer, shinier idea pops into your head, what do you do? And how do you know when it really is time to throw in the towel? It’s rare that success happens on day one. Or even on day 50. By day 100 you might be seeing some real progress, but even then you probably won’t have made it to the finish line. So, what to do when new ideas come? Is the new idea really better or is it a distraction from the hard parts in between the idea and the finish line? Deciding when to stick it out and when it’s time to move on are questions of perseverance, commitment, and discernment. And it’s exactly what Startup Success coach Gabe Cox specializes in. Gabe is a marathon runner, author of Mind Over Marathon, success coach, and homeschooling mom. And she knows a thing or two about seeing plans through to completion. Listen to the full episode to hear: Two types of goals and the challenges they present to perseverance The benefits of perseverance, not just to your business but to your life and personal growth How perseverance and discipline are recurring choices, not immutable traits How knowing your “why” on a deep level helps you stay the course How to get honest with yourself about the real consequences of not persevering Learn more about Gabe: Red Hot Mindset Instagram: @gabecox_redhotmindset Red Hot Mindset Podcast Red Hot Mindset on YouTube Mind Over Marathon: Overcoming Mental Barriers in the Race of Life Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Get on the waitlist for VALIDATE Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

Webinars are an incredible sales tool. They let you build relationships with your audience and convert lots of sales in a way that is still aligned with you and your values. It doesn’t have to be sleazy or salesy to work. But you knew all that from last week’s episode. Or if you didn’t, definitely go check that out. Now that we know how effective webinars can be and the basics of setting up your first or next webinar, we’re going to talk about webinar content. What exactly should you say in your webinars? What should you teach? How can you organize the information that you're teaching? And most importantly, how can you wrap your webinar up with an effective sales pitch that will actually convert a large percentage of your attendees into buyers? Plus, we’ll cover some tips so you can avoid common beginners’ mistakes and start seeing success from your very first webinar, from how long it should be and how many slides you should have to the importance of rehearsing your presentation and whether or not you should have your camera on. Listen to the full episode to hear: The four main components of your webinar structure, plus three elements you can add on How to walk your audience through your process or product in a way that builds trust and leaves them wanting more Six components for a successful sales pitch Why your webinar should promise a result that is in alignment with your full offer Why you need to be clear on your goal for your webinar, and four goals you can use webinars to achieve Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Get on the waitlist for VALIDATE Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

Webinars consistently convert at a rate of 10 times the rate of email. What is it that makes them such a powerful sales tool? You’ve probably been to at least a few yourself, especially in this age of busy-ness and occasional quarantine. They can be amazing–full of awesome, helpful, free training! Or in the wrong hands, they can be terrible, super-sleazy sales pitches. Maybe you’ve seen some from both ends of that spectrum. Some business owners have even decided they want nothing to do with them because they’ve been tainted by sleaze. But there’s no reason to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Just because some people misuse webinars and do them badly doesn’t mean that webinars themselves are corrupt. And they are still incredibly effective sales tools. Done well, a webinar should be a positive experience for you and your audience. You can share a lot of value and strengthen your relationship with them. When you do get to the sales pitch, it’s a logical and welcome next step for your viewers because they want more of what you’re offering. In other words, you want to knock their socks off with your free content so that they’re eager to pay you for more! With the right balance of information, relationship-building and a taste of the paid product–no sleaze!–you can harness webinars to grow your business. Listen to the full episode to hear: Three key reasons why webinars work Questions to help you clarify your offer so you get the right people in your webinar Six steps to take your webinar from zero to follow-up emails Why you should focus on building your list ahead of a webinar instead of relying on ads Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Get on the waitlist for VALIDATE Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! Resources: Canva

As entrepreneurs, we’re in the business of creating value and trading it with others. Which is to say, the main business of running a business is selling products. That’s how you engage in trade, serve your customers, and earn a livelihood.. But the business of trading–that is, selling–can seem like a mystery. What should we sell? How can we market our products? And at the end of the day, how can we convince people to buy them? It turns out that making sales is much less about “convincing people to buy” and much more about explaining the benefits of your product and finding a mutually agreeable price. You have to find the point at which the price is equal to, or less than, the customer’s perceived value of the product. It’s an equation that takes the mystery out of the process, and makes it much less emotionally charged. So how do you apply it to your business? This month on the podcast, we’re looking at four different aspects of launching products online, one of the most common ways digital entrepreneurs, like you, sell their goods to the public. In today’s episode, we’ll be discussing launch math, the science of calculating the potential results of your launch long before you ever run your first ad, send your first email, or even, possibly, create your product. Listen to the full episode to hear: How launch math helps you set realistic expectations and can even save you from making a major investment of time or money on a product that you haven’t validated How to use launch math to create realistic goals for your launch, separate from expectations The variables you’ll need to know for each launch Conversion coefficients and where those numbers come from Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Get on the waitlist for VALIDATE Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! The math: Conversion coefficients: Email sales conversion: 0.1% - 2% (average: 0.5%) Free offers typically convert at 2-10X these rates Webinar showup rate: 30% Webinar conversion: 1% - 20% (average: 5%) Direct sales: 10% - 50%If you’re launching to <1,000 people, then prioritize direct selling over mass-selling tactics. Equations: [launch list] x 0.02 = webinar registrants [webinar registrants] x 0.30 = webinar attendees [launch list] x 0.005 = email sales [webinar attendees] x 0.05 = webinar sales [personally engaged leads] x 0.20 = direct sales [sales] x price = total revenue [sales] x cost = total cost [total revenue] - [total costs] = net profits

With the events of 2020 behind us, more people than ever before are taking the leap to work for themselves. There are a lot of potential upsides. A flexible schedule. Freedom of choice in who you work with and what you work on. Security. And of course, no limit on your potential earnings. But most people are also painfully aware of the challenges of getting started. Is your personality a good fit for freelance work? What business should you start? Will anyone even want to hire you? And how can you find your first client? To help you answer those questions and more, today on the podcast I’m bringing you Jay Clouse. Jay is the founder of Freelancing School and the Unreal Collective, and his speciality is helping people make that transition from creative-stuck-in-a-day-job to freelancer, then from freelancer to CEO. Listen to the full episode to hear: How Jay’s career evolved from startup cofounder to product management to freelance service provider and beyond A mindset shift around work, employment and compensation that will expand how you think about contract work The relationship of leadership, expectation setting, expertise and pricing Steps for building your freelance portfolio Learn more about Jay Clouse: JayClouse.com Freelancing School 20% Off! Instagram: @JayClouse Twitter: @JayClouse Creative Elements Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! Resources: Gillian Perkins on YouTube Business Plan Template

Most of us wouldn’t consider setting out on a trip without a map. Sure, if you start driving without a map, you might have a fun, interesting experience, but you’re probably not going to be able to get to a specific destination. If making it to your particular destination is important to you, you start your trip by pulling up Google maps and plugging in that address. But it is amazing how many people think that they can get to their destination without a map when it comes to starting a business. They have a general idea of what business they want to start or what product they want to sell, but they don't take the time to come up with a plan for how they're going to build a particular business. In fact, a lot of people don't even know exactly what they're trying to build. Building a business without a plan can still potentially be a fun and interesting experience, but it can also potentially be a big waste of time. Today, I’m going to talk you through exactly how to quickly and easily write a business plan to ensure that you have a solid road map for how you’re going to build your business and where you’re trying to take the company, so you can avoid wasting your time, energy and maybe a whole lot of money along the way. Listen to the full episode to hear: Six essential sections for your business plan The elements you need to consider for your messaging, marketing, products, and production and delivery How to plan and break down your financial goals, even before you’re made your first sale Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! Resources: Gillian Perkins on YouTube Business Plan Template

Despite my best intentions, the day-to-day operations of my business don’t always come naturally to me. Back when I was a solo-preneur, there were days when I was full of ideas and passionate about pursuing them. On those days, daily operations seemed less important than making big, important moves to grow my business. Then on the days when I wasn’t even feeling very motivated or excited about my big ideas, boring day-to-day tasks were the last thing I wanted to do. Long story short, the housekeeping just wasn’t getting done. While I was struggling with balancing the day-to-day with my big ideas, I read Rocket Fuel by Gino Wickman and Mark C Winters. They identify two kinds of leaders: Visionaries and Integrators. Visionaries are the big picture, big ideas people. Integrators are the ones who make sure it actually happens, holding projects and teams together through big projects. Realizing that I’m wired for the big picture and not so much the daily nitty-gritty also made me realize exactly the kind of person I needed to partner with to move my business forward. I got lucky and found the perfect person in Cortni Loveridge, and she’s enabled us to do so much. But how do you find the Integrator to your Visionary? Or if you’re an Integrator, how do you use those skills and find your Visionary partner? Today’s guest expert is Sarah Noked, certified Online Business Manager (OBM) trainer. Sarah teaches people how to become OBMs, who are essentially Integrators, trained to manage the operations of online businesses remotely. Sarah will be sharing with us all about how to decide whether you should become an OBM or hire an OBM to work for you. Listen to the full episode to hear: How to know when and if your business is ready for an OBM Why Virtual Assistant and OBM are not the same role Personality types and traits that make great OBMs What you need to get started as an OBM How to find and hire an OBM for your business, and what you need to do to prepare Learn more about Sarah Noked: SarahNoked.com Instagram: @sarahnoked Facebook: @sarahnoked Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! Resources: Rocket Fuel: The One Essential Combination That Will Get You More of What You Want from Your Business, Gino Wickman and Mark C Winters OBM Starter Kit Standard Operating Procedure Templates

This is the story of how I successfully launched a profitable product online. But this story was preceded by almost 3 years of trying unsuccessfully to launch an online business, and before that, about 7 years of trying to figure out what I even wanted to start. I was 6 months into my YouTube journey, and my channel had grown to about 15,000 subscribers. I was earning just enough from ad revenue and freelancing that I'd been able to finally quit my day-job. Though, to be honest, we were still barely scraping by and mostly living off of savings. The time had come to try to launch a digital product to — hopefully! — create a stream of passive income. The only problem? I'd already tried to launch three digital products, and none of them had been successful. In Episode 2, I talked about the mistakes I made trying to do a big launch of a project I didn’t know if people even wanted. So what did I do differently that finally moved the needle and started generating sales? Listen to the full episode to hear: Why choosing to offer the workshop at a low price eliminated a key variable, but why it’s a choice to be used strategically and sparingly How using the same format with different topics clarified what people were interested in learning about How those quick and dirty live workshops became valuable assets Why focusing on the process instead of a sales goal can be the mindset shift you need Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! Get on the waitlist for VALIDATE

Not. One. Single. Sale. After spending almost two months creating an online course, writing launch emails, and even putting together a webinar, I ended up making ZERO sales. So what happened? In episode two of $0 to $1M, I'll be sharing my mistakes so that YOU can avoid them with your next launch and get much better results than I did. It was 2016 and I was ready to launch my online business. I had finally discovered what I was most passionate about—what I really wanted to "be when I grew up"–and I was ready to step into this new career. Over the previous several months, I'd built a list of 1,000 subscribers for another business venture, and now that I'd started my digital marketing business list, that was quickly growing as well. I wanted to turn my knowledge into a source of income, and creating an online course about list-building seemed like a great way to do that. So, I planned, recorded and edited video lessons, created worksheets, wrote launch emails, planned a webinar. I was putting everything I'd learned over the past 2 years about digital marketing into practice! Problematic symptoms started showing up early, but I had a lot of faith in the process. I was holding out hope for the promised six-figure launch! 14 people signed up for my webinar. None of them showed up. Needless to say, I didn't make many sales. In fact, by the end of the whole "launch," not a single person had purchased What went wrong? Listen to the full episode to hear: Why you have to know that people want your product and why they want it–you have to validate it Three essential puzzle pieces you need to sell products and how to balance them The launch math you need to know on sales tactics and conversion rates Mindset adjustments and tips to take failure out of your launch Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! Get on the waitlist for VALIDATE

I expected that growing my business would be a lot of hard work, tough decisions, and at least a few late nights. But what has surprised me the most is what a journey of personal growth it's turned out to be. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that the lessons I've learned from my entrepreneurial failures have been as valuable as the rewards I've received from the successes. And in this new series, $0 to $1M, I'm sharing those lessons with YOU. This first season of three episodes focuses on lessons I learned while struggling to earn my first $1,000. It took me over three years to earn that first thousand dollars. Partly getting momentum from $0 is tough and partly, well, I did everything wrong. But, like I said, every mistake I made taught me something, and made me a better, more successful entrepreneur today. I'm what people like to call a "multi-passionate entrepreneur." Which is a cute way of saying: I have way too many ideas and I'm not very good at sticking to any of them. But entrepreneurship is a long game; building a business takes continued effort, consistency, and patience. So how did I find a way to settle down and focus on one thing? In this episode, I'm sharing the story of how I went from a wannabe with a bad case of "entrepreneurial ADD" to a successful, focused business owner. My hope is that, by sharing my story, you'll find some inspiration and ideas for how you might be able to overcome this challenge yourself — whether to make that initial decision to choose your niche and decide what business to start, OR to refine your business to focus more on one area of specialty. Listen to the full episode to hear: Why it is okay to quit when something is truly no longer working for you How the freedom to explore any topic, with the structure of committing to a regular posting schedule allowed her to find her focus naturally Why you should invest energy before money Concrete action steps for when you’re struggling with too many options or ideas Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

If you’re not playing the game, you’re not going to win the game. Experimenting with new platforms, new tools and new strategies is part of the game, but throwing content at a wall like spaghetti isn’t playing the game to win. A winning social sales strategy takes commitment and consistency. Approaching your social sales strategy like a science experiment might sound complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. You just have to know what your basic hypothesis is so you can analyze the metrics when you’re done. I am joined today by Jessica Stansberry. Jessica is a longtime friend and powerhouse content creator. Jessica is the owner and founder of Hey Jessica LLC. She helps rockstar entrepreneurs and content creators use video and content creation to grow their brand and show up as an expert. She throws down booty-kicking advice on her weekly podcast, Hey Jessica Radio, on her YouTube channel, and blog and shows up every day on Instagram to make sure the tips never stop coming. I'm super excited to have her on the show to share some of those tips with us and give us some behind the scenes, insider info on her social media strategy. Listen to the full episode to hear: How Jessica structures her various content platforms and social media in her funnel, and why Why you should repurpose topics, but not content across platforms Why Jessica committed to using Reels on Instagram as part of her discoverability strategy, and how she uses other Instagram tools to nurture new follows How she mixes planned content with off-the-cuff observations, and where those posts go Learn more about Jessica Stansberry: Hey Jessica Facebook: @heyjessicallc Instagram: @jessicastansberry Hey Jessica Podcast Jessica on YouTube Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

Does your brand express your point of view? Or does it just tell people what you do? If you want to position yourself as the go-to person in your industry–to become a brand people look up to, that they know, like and trust–you have to know what makes you different from everyone else doing the exact same thing you do. Your personality, your skills, your history, your world view, those are the things that no one else has that will make you the person everyone suggests when someone needs to hire in your industry. Today, I’m talking to Hillary Weiss about what it takes to go from thinking there’s not much special about how you do things, to building your brand on your unique approach. Hillary Weiss is the creative director, positioning coach, and founder of Statement Piece Studios. She's also the cohost of the cult favorite YouTube marketing talk show Hillary and Margo Yell at Websites (#HAMYAW). Hillary has had her work featured on Business Insider, The Next Web, The Observer, and more. Since 2011, she’s helped thousands of brands all over the world get seen and heard (and make serious cash) through her 1-1 client work, writing, coaching, and videos. Nowadays, she’s on a mission to help more small businesses define their “statement piece”, a.k.a. the bold point of view that makes them radically relevant to their perfect people. Listen to the full episode to hear: Why your business and your brand are not the same thing Why starting with “nah” can unleash creative energy that refines your point of view and leads to perfect fit clients How getting vulnerable will make your positioning stronger Five practical steps to begin refining and building your unique position Learn more about Hillary Weiss: HillaryWeiss.com Instagram: @hcweiss Twitter: @hcweiss Hillary and Margo Yell at Websites Statement Piece Framework Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

Set them up once and let them work for you. To be able to work less and earn more, you have to figure out how to leverage your time–how to do things once that have an ongoing impact. Sounds like passive income, right? It is. A work-less, earn-more business is one that creates not only ACTIVE income, but passive income as well. With an online business, without the demands of brick and mortar, you can set up systems to increase your income without having to increase your hours. How? Making more money and scaling your company largely depend on your marketing efforts. Those are the systems designed to attract leads and convert them into paying customers. Those are the systems that generate sales. While marketing platforms and strategies are as diverse as the businesses that use them, email can be one of the most effective ways of taking people from not knowing your company to becoming full-fledged, enthusiastic customers. In today's episode, we'll be discussing five of the most powerful email marketing sequences to use to increase sales for your online business. Listen to the full episode to hear: The five functions an automated email sequence can accomplish for your business Using sequence triggers effectively to reach leads at different points in the sales process Why you should clean your list, when to do it, and how to use tidying up to re-engage subscribers Why you should keep segments simple, if you use them at all Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! Resources: Work Less, Earn More Episode 67: How to Write and Email Welcome Sequence Work Less, Earn More Episode 69: STOP! Don't Automate Another Thing Until You Listen To This ConvertKit

How much time do you spend on Instagram? How much work does it take to really get results? I see the appeal of Instagram. And I see when I do get involved and spend time on, how much engagement I can create. I love how it allows me to talk to my audience and really start to create conversations, but it’s hard to fit into my limited schedule. Today, I’m asking Jasmine Star how much time she really spends on Instagram and other social media platforms, why it’s worth it to her, and what are her secrets for making the biggest impact in a relatively limited amount of time. Jasmine Star is a photographer and business strategist who dropped out of law school and became an internationally recognized creative entrepreneur. She is the founder and CEO of Social Curator and host of the Jasmine Star Show. Jasmine empowers entrepreneurs to build their brand, market on social media and use it to create a life that they love. She’s been featured in Forbes Entrepreneur and Inc. Magazine. Listen to the full episode to hear: How batching content helps Jasmine use multiple social platforms effectively to spread brand awareness Why you should treat your social posts like a physical storefront and greet your customers Where she sees the future of monetization for creators on social platforms Why the most important thing is still to do what you can, how you can Learn more about Jasmine Star: JasmineStar.com Social Curator The Jasmine Star Show Instagram: @jasminestar @socialcurator Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

Automation saves time, and can help you earn more, but it can also cost you money. In this amazing digital age we live in, most of us are aware that we can have machines, computers, and software programs do a lot of work for us. And for entrepreneurs, who are trying to build successful businesses, that “free” labor is pretty appealing. So, we automate. We look for things that can be done the same way each and every time, and we set up a machine system to do those tasks for us. But sometimes, the soul of the process is lost when we attempt to create an automated process. What happens when we lose the human touch? What gets missed when we trade intentional, strategic decision-making and communication for automated processes? Today, I’ll be talking about the pitfalls of automating too soon and of automating too many of your processes. You’ll hear about the mistakes I made early on in my business and about processes that seem ripe for automation, and what can go wrong when you do it too soon. Listen to the full episode to hear: Conversion statistics that will make you think twice about automating your sales process Why content creation, audience interaction and customer service are key to supporting your dedicated sales process What tasks you should automate before you even think about sales automation How thoughtful delegation can be automation with a human touch Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

Confession: Lately, I’ve been feeling BUSY. Not exactly on-brand, right? After all, I’ve built my business on the platform of working LESS -- 20 hours per week or less, to be exact. Now, don’t get me wrong… I’m still on that track. Not that I can really take credit for that; between 4 kids, homeschooling, housekeeping, a little (tiny) bit of exercise, and just trying to keep everyone fed… I never have more than about 4 hours a day to work. But that doesn’t stop me from writing a longer to-do list. And then having an anxiety attack because I’m feeling overwhelmed and behind. #yesimhumantoo I’ve been taking steps to improve this situation -- starting with just getting real with myself about how much time I actually have available to work each day, and ruthlessly chopping down my to-do list to fit. But with a marketing-centric, digital content business like I run, there’s only so much I can delegate, outsource, and automate. At the end of the day, it’s my face on everything and I have to show up to talk to the camera, record the courses, and write the words. So, when Andréa Jones was suggested as a potential guest on the show, I jumped at the chance to talk to her! Andréa is a social media strategist who specializes in how to get results with less effort – girl after my own heart! – and the host of the Savvy Social Podcast. I invited her onto the show because, not only is she an expert at using social media strategies to grow online business and impact the world, but she does so with a focus on simple strategies that give the biggest results with the least effort She has some really counter-intuitive strategies… including posting LESS for more impact. Listen to the full episode to hear: What's the first thing an online business owner should consider when it comes to creating a simple, yet effective social media strategy The best tips for creating a social media strategy that gets the biggest "bang for your buck" Some common roadblocks to creating share-worthy social media content And what to do if you truly don't enjoy creating content for social media (but you know you need to in order to grow your business). Learn more about Andréa Jones: OnlineDrea Savvy Social Podcast Instagram @onlinedrea Facebook @onlinedrea Twitter @onlinedrea Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

I don't think I was 5 minutes into learning about online business before I started hearing how important it was to "grow your list." It seemed like everyone was talking about how important it was to collect email addresses, and how valuable of an asset a big list is. So, naturally, I got to work. Only to find out how difficult it is to "grow your list." After I'd signed up my husband, school friends, and a few random people I'd met in FB groups, I hit a wall. It was literal years before I started seeing real progress. And you know what made this even more frustrating? The people who DID join my list didn't buy anything. So there I was, working my tail off to try to "grow my list," spending real money on my email marketing software, and not seeing any real returns. What was I doing wrong?? Almost everything, it turned out. And, starting with the very first thing: the first impression people got after signing up for my newsletter. In today's episode, I'll be explaining how YOU can write an email welcome sequence that will make a great first impression, start building a strong relationship with your new subscribers, and lead them to purchase your product. Listen to the full episode to hear: How to create an email welcome sequence — a series of emails that gets sent to each new subscriber right after they sign up The basic schedule to use for these emails What to say in each of these emails And answers to some common questions about email welcome sequences Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

Do you follow anyone online who seems to be 100% unashamedly THEMSELF and everyone seems to love them? It kinda makes you wonder (or at least, it makes me wonder): is this person just unusually charismatic -- and they know it -- or can anyone be that attractive if they’re that confident? Margo Aaron falls into this category for me. I stumbled upon her work about a year ago and felt like everything she wrote hit a chord with my soul. Needless to say, I subscribed immediately. And have read nearly everything she’s sent me since. Now, I’ve got some questions for Margo. Like… Does she somehow know that what she’s writing will hit home? Is she really as “authentic” as she seems? …or is it all a carefully planned marketing effort? What’s her best advice for being “yourself” and also writing words that other people will love? (And for all of us entrepreneurs… words that sell our products?) Basically, what I want to know is: how can we both be ourselves AND be popular? If that’s possible, then today we’re going to find out, because I convinced Margo to come on the podcast and let me interrogate interview her. Listen to the full episode to hear: Why the best copy doesn't come from your imagination, it comes from talking to people How Margo uses boundaries to show up authentically as herself in EVERYTHING she does Why marketing and selling is simply the art and science of getting people to care How Margo uses data to draw conclusions about what she should create Margo’s best advice if you don't have an audience to listen to Learn more about Margo Aaron: www.margocarroll.com Follow Margo on Instagram Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! Episode Mentions David Ogilvy

What’s the best thing for you to work on right now to move your business forward? Well, to answer that question, start with this one: What stage of growth is your business in? Confused? You’re not alone. Quite possibly, you don’t know, because… nobody told you what your options are. Nobody broke down the stages of growth and gave you the big-picture for building a successful business. Not your fault at all, but worth changing! Understanding where your business is in its growth makes it easy to know what your top priority (AKA the work that will actually move the needle) should be. This week, on the podcast, I interviewed business designer Michelle Warner. Michelle has an MBA from a top business school, and years of practical experience working with small business owners to strategically grow their companies. In the episode, Michelle walks us through the 5 stages of small business growth (don’t worry, they’re easily understandable!), how to know which one YOU are in right now, and what that means you should focus on to GROW fast and strong. She also shares exactly what you need to do to move forward to the next stage from where you’re at right now. If you want to get clarity on exactly what you should be working on right now to build your business, then this episode is a must-listen. This interview is an eye-opener for sure. Don’t miss it! Listen to the full episode to hear: How to figure out what you should work on next that will make the biggest impact on your business The five stages of growth in business and how to define them What stage the most significant part of initial product development happens How to know when you’re ready to move out of one stage and into the next When you might need to go back a stage (and what to look for) Learn more about Michelle Warner: themichellewarner.com Instagram @michelle.warner Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch! <!-- --> <!-- --> <!-- -->

It's tough to explain something if you don't really understand it yourself. I'm sure you wouldn't try to teach someone how to rewire their computer, bake the perfect soufflé, or correctly identify a genuine Picasso... unless you happen to have the necessary knowledge. :) But that doesn't seem to stop anyone from trying to explain why someone should purchase a particular product... even if they have no idea why. Who are these people? Entrepreneurs like us! We have great ideas and products that we want to share with the world. So... we ask people to buy them and try to explain reasons they should. But, too often, those reasons seriously miss the mark. How can we solve this problem? How can we explain our product in a way that makes sense and helps people understand what it can do for them? That’s what you’ll learn from today’s podcast! My guest this week is Dallin Nead, a visionary marketer, brand builder, and messaging expert who has taught thousands how to grow their businesses using the Content Supply™ method. And now, he's sharing that method with us. In the episode, you'll learn how to create a simple brand story that helps people understand exactly WHY they should buy your product. And that's the #1 thing that will increase your sales. Listen to the full episode to hear: What exactly a brand story is and why we need one How a brand story helps us market our businesses A simple way to create a brand message that you can use no matter who you’re talking to (and why starting with the end in mind is key) Learn more about Dallin Nead: contentsupply.com Follow Dallin on Instagram Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

“This is it. I’ve figured it out. I know exactly what I need to do now,” I told my husband one day in the fall of 2016. I’d just returned from a women’s business conference in San Diego. It was the first “big” event I’d attended, and I’d learned a lot. Including, as it happened, the “missing piece” I needed to finally start making money with my online business. My puzzle seemed so complete, in fact, that for the next few weeks I struggled to feel motivated to work on my business at all. There was no more mystery to it. No more curiosity driving me forward. Once I got over that, though, I took my business from earning $0 to over $10K/month in just 18 months. Sometimes there really are secrets to success… In this week’s podcast episode, I teach YOU this missing puzzle piece: what it was, why it mattered so much, and how I found and fitted it into my business puzzle to get the results I did. If you’re wondering why you’re struggling to grow and get the results you’re looking for, this episode is for you. Hope this lesson has as much impact on YOU as it did on me a few years ago. <3 Listen to the full episode to hear: How I started working 20 hours a week and making next to money at all to making $10K every MONTH Why getting visible to your target audience will dictate where and what platforms you should show up on Why YouTube was my key to getting visible—BUT there are plenty of other ways for YOU to get visible with your audience like using Pinterest Why Pinterest is one of the ways you can get visibility that has the least barriers to entry How podcasts play a huge role in visibility and growing your audience Resources mentioned in this episode: EP 47: Demystifying SEO with Kim Herrington Learn more about Gillian: YouTube Growth Workshop Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

If you’re trying to grow your audience on social media, then you KNOW that there’s one thing that matters more than just about anything else… Engagement. It doesn’t matter what platform you’re on, the algorithm cares about the same thing: how much people engage -- or don’t -- with your content. More engagement means people are paying more attention to your posts (good!) and the algorithm rewards that with more reach (good as well!). And that then results in more followers. The GOOD news is that more people see your “best” posts. The BAD news is… even if you’re sharing something valuable, important, and potentially impactful… if people don’t actively engage then your results will be lackluster (to put it gently). Engagement. It’s the name of the game. The big question is… how do you get more of it?? Well, that’s where my friend Kat Gaskin comes in. She’s known around the internet as “The Content Planner,” because that’s what she helps entrepreneurs do: plan their social media content. But when I reached out to her about coming on the podcast, there was something a little different I wanted to talk to her about: HOW has she built such an incredibly engaged community of raving fans?? ‘Cause Kat doesn’t just have followers on Instagram. Nope. Her audience is full of the hard-core, ride-or-die type. And I wanted to know how she’d done it. You’re welcome. ;) Listen to the full episode to hear: How Kat developed an irresistible physical product and personal brand on Instagram—with 52K followers and counting Why Kat recommends picking only two social media platforms and her hashtag strategy for getting content in front of different audiences The struggles Kat went through with content planning—and why she developed the Content Planner to make it 100% easier to create content Why focusing on who her customer is becoming rather than focusing just on solving a problem creates an amazingly engaged fan base The four recurring content pillars that Kat uses to engage her Instagram followers (and teaches to all her students) Learn more about Kat Gaskin: thecontentplanner.com @katgaskin on Instagram @katgaskin on Twitter the salty pineapple shop Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

First off, isn’t it so cool that we live at a time when information is so readily available? The answer is out there to any question you might have… and it’s probably even just a Google search away! But with more content created every day than you could ever possibly consume, this abundance of information can also be… overwhelming. Information overload is real. And it can really hold you back. You’re trying to build your business, but there are millions of articles, podcasts, and courses all giving you different [conflicting!] advice. How can you possibly decide which advice to take or what’s your best next step? If you’ve ever struggled with this, I can relate. And… I can also help. Turns out, there’s a framework for exactly this. A simple, 2-step process for figuring exactly which aspect of your business you should work on next in order to reach the next level of growth… and I’m going to walk you through everything in this episode. Listen to the full episode to hear: I walk you through the exact process of this helpful process so that you can figure out exactly what’s the weakest area of your business and decide what your next step should be How to use what you learned from the framework to be able to use your time and use your resources as efficiently as possible and make the biggest progress and reach the biggest results with your business Identifying where you’re struggling the most—or your weakest link—and what to do about it Learn more about Gillian: Free Validate Checklist Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

One of the toughest parts about being “young and broke” is not having the money to do some of the responsible things you know you should be doing. Stuff like: buying (and eating) healthy food regular maintenance on your car extra insurance regular dental exams hiring a bookkeeper for your business I hope you’re in a place right now where you can afford most of these things... because I know how tough it is to do without them. Both because they’re helpful basics, but also because you know you should be doing them, and it’s stressful to be “letting things slide” -- even when you don’t have much choice. But if your business is still in its infancy, you might still be cutting a few corners, sticking to a tight budget, and DIY’ing, well… everything. Kudos to you. Seriously. The early stages of building a business are tough, but if you can stick them out (and I know you can!!) they will eventually be worth it. But what’s to be done in the meantime?? Especially when it comes to managing your finances, you can’t just ignore that aspect of your biz until you’re earning enough to hire a pro. Because let’s face it… if you do that, you might never get to that point at all. Fortunately, you have options. On this week’s podcast episode, I interview Mark Butler, CPA and the founder of Let’s Do the Books, a bookkeeping service for brand new companies. In the episode, Mark shares exactly how to DIY your bookkeeping -- and how to do it right. So that when you eventually are ready to work with a pro, you’ll be PROUD to show them your books and there won’t be any awkward conversations. [email protected] The biggest mistake new business owners make with their business finances Mark’s advice for opening your FIRST business checking account How to set up a SUPER simple spreadsheet to track income and expenses in your business The basics of bookkeeping and accounting that EVERY entrepreneur should understand—especially when you’re in a growth phase The difference between the business profit and the money you take from the business to pay yourself (and how it impacts your books) Learn more about Mark Butler: letsdothebooks.com @letsdothebooks Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

One of the toughest parts of building a successful YouTube channel is just getting your first 1,000 subscribers. Once you hit that coveted 4-figure mark, the algorithm takes over and (as long as you keep posting consistently...) practically grows your channel for you. But how can you get those first thousand?? Everyone does it slightly differently, but hearing their stories can help you figure out the best path for YOU. On today's podcast episode, I'm interviewing YouTube creator Marissa Romero, who's successfully grown a channel of 120,000+ subscribers in a competitive niche. We'll talk a little about the strategies she's using to grow it these days... but we're going to focus mostly on how she got started. After you listen, I'm sure Marissa would appreciate hearing what you got out of the episode! You can reach out to her @marissaeromero on Instagram. Listen to the full episode to hear: What Marissa did to get her FIRST 1,000 subs The mistakes Marissa made when she was first getting started with YouTube The role really good keywords and affiliate links were to getting consistent traffic in the beginning-and what she's focusing on now with over 150K subscribers Why using the algorithm to your advantage right away is ESSENTIAL to growth Why Marissa has prioritized her thumbnail strategy (and how overall channel branding makes a HUGE difference) Learn more about Marissa Romero: marissaromero.com Connect with Marissa on Instagram Marissa's YouTube channel Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

As you’re likely aware, we’re currently in the process of guiding a group of 130 students through the VALIDATE accelerator program, helping them figure out whether or not there’s demand for their business ideas. I shared a lot last month about why this process is so essential--including the fact that it protects you from possibly wasting countless hours (even years) of your life on an idea that never pans out. I’ve seen one (or 100…) too many entrepreneurs wind up feeling like failures because they can’t turn their business idea into a success -- when, in reality, they aren’t the problem at all -- they’re just trying to build the wrong business. What makes it even worse is that this problem is 100% avoidable. I know not everyone was able to participate as a student in VALIDATE, so today on the podcast I’m doing something very special: offering a crash course on how to do the validation process for yourself! If you’re a DIY’er then you’ll love this episode. Not only is it the “do it yourself” guide to testing your biz idea, but it’s also going to ensure that all your future business DIY projects have much greater chances of being successful! Listen to the full episode to hear: The biggest mistake most people who want to become entrepreneurs make The 6 steps to validate your business idea Why you need to figure out if people actually WANT what you’re trying to sell… and why you need PROOF The difference between a business and a business idea Learn more about Gillian: Free Validate Checklist Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

What's more profitable, online courses or self-published books? A lot of people who are interested in making money by selling information (either as a course creator or author) consider these two options. To some, the choice is obvious. Of course it's online courses! After all, everyone knows that "authors don't make anything." And we've all heard plenty of stories of course creators who are killing it online. Here's the thing -- while it's true that courses tend to be more profitable than self-published books, this question ("What's more profitable?") kind of creates a false dichotomy. In other words: it makes it sound like you have to pick one or the other. But, in reality, these two strategies can work together to create far better results than either typically does on its own. (It's like asking, "What's better: YouTube or email marketing?" And the answer is, "Neither, they're just different. They serve different purposes in your marketing.") This week, on the podcast, I interviewed my friend Chandler Bolt, founder and CEO of Self-Publishing School, a $15M Inc 5000 company. Self-Publishing School primarily sells online courses -- and it's one of the biggest and most successful such companies out there! So, how'd Chandler do it? Well... by practicing what he preaches: self-publishing books on Amazon! Chandler's been a friend of mine for the past three years (I first met him in San Diego at Hal Elrod's "Best Year Ever" event) and it's been so cool to watch him scale his company so incredibly fast. If you don't already know Chandler, I'm honored to introduce you. But, either way, I know there's a LOT we can all learn from his story. Listen to the full episode to hear: The whole story of how he built his company from the ground up (starting with no connections, no credentials, and no capital) How he used self-published BOOKS as a big part of his growth strategy Exactly how you can copy his approach (even if you think you "don't have time" to write a book) to grow your own business Learn more about Chandler Bolt: Receive a free copy of Chandler Bolt's bestselling book, Published self-publishingschool.com Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

Behind every successful entrepreneur… there is a team supporting them. In my first few years of business, it was just me – wearing all the hats, doing all the things, and responsible for everything. But, as my business grew, I knew that I needed help; both so that I could keep my sanity and to be able to continue to grow. After several failed attempts to hire help (mostly VA’s that I didn’t know what to do with), I finally found a few contractors who supported me by editing my videos, taking care of tech work, writing content, and other small projects. Then, in 2019, I knew it was time to get a new kind of help: management help. Otherwise, I was going to find myself working more than ever before, managing the people who were supposed to be reducing my work load. Enter Cortni Loveridge. I hired Cortni to be my project manager and “integrator” (a concept I explain in this episode) -- but she turned out to be so much more than I’d anticipated. She stepped into my business and immediately started organizing everything from top to bottom -- making it SO much easier to run things in far less time and take on more profitable projects than ever before. In fact, the year that followed – 2020 – was our best year to date. Today on the podcast, I’ve invited Cortni herself to join me in sharing exactly what we did in 2020 that had the biggest impact on the company’s bottom line. I hope you find the episode very insightful and that you’re able to use these strategies to turn 2021 into your BEST year yet. Listen to the full episode to hear: What projects we took on that produced the most revenue Which marketing strategies we saw the most success with How we were able to increase efficiency, so that we could work less -- and (of course) earn more! The exact strategies that led to our half-million dollar year Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

One of the biggest changes we’re making in 2021 is how we run the podcast. Instead of pre-recording and editing all the episodes before we release them, we’re now recording the show LIVE each week inside Startup Society, so that the members can listen in and participate by asking questions. As I write this, I’ve just finished recording the first of these live sessions, and what a great interview it was! In today’s episode, I sat down with Keina Newell, financial coach and founder of Wealth Over Now. Keina works with professional women and solopreneurs to create new possibilities with their money so they can save more, pay off debt, invest in themselves and stress less about money. Keina is passionate about her work and finds no greater satisfaction than helping her clients start managing their money with joy because they’ve learned to feel possibility where they once felt shame, guilt, overwhelm, and anxiety. We had a great discussion about how she’s built her coaching practice to $10K months -- while maintaining her full-time corporate job. Keina shared a lot of great insights into how to market yourself as a coach (or freelancer) and how to balance a side-hustle with a full-time job. Listen to the full episode to hear: How Keina’s grown her coaching business from 0 to where she is today The systems Keina has in place so she can operate her coaching practice while working full-time How she's maximizing profits with a 1:1 business model Learn more about Keina Newell: wealthovernow.com Wealth Over Now on Instagram Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

Will 2021 be any different? Who’s to say… Personally, as much as I’d love to think that 2021 will fix everything, what I really believe is that “a day is a day.” It doesn’t matter the label we put on it, it’s just a 24 hour period in which anything can happen; 24 hours we’re given to make the most of. Or, in the words of Master Oogway: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present.” Anyway, 2020 is one for the books, and to wrap it up, I’m opening up my books to show you how we fared. I’d like to wrap this up by sharing that my hope for 2021 is that it is truly our best year yet. We learned SO much in 2020, and I know that if we apply those lessons this year then we’ll be in good shape. Listen to the full episode to hear: How much my business earned How much we spent How many hours my team and I worked to earn that money Plus a few of my biggest 2021 goals (including our income projection) Links: gillianperkins.com/validate Instagram: @gillianzperkins Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Startup Society Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

Patience is a virtue, but that doesn't mean you can't be TOO patient. And you know what? A lot of people are. A lot of people waste a lot of time (+ energy and money) because they're patient. And dedicated. And committed. And motivated. ALL GOOD THINGS. But also potentially problematic. My dad said it this way: "Don't be afraid of being a quitter. Be willing to quit when you realize you're in the wrong place." You know who I see make the mistake of being "too patient" more than just about anyone else? Entrepreneurs. And it makes sense when you think about it. Not only do entrepreneurs tend to be extremely passionate, committed, and motivated, but there's also this idea out there that success has to take a long time. ...which I don't entirely disagree with. It definitely takes a while to build a big, successful company. And if you want to build anything meaningful, you need to be committed and in it for the long game. But too many entrepreneurs hear that and think it means that it will take years to make even their first dollar. So, what do they do? They work for years... for nothing. And I don't mean they invest years for an eventual payout. I mean they waste years working on something that never pans out. Please don't make this mistake. Please take the time to figure out if your business idea is valid. Research the market. Determine the demand for what you're interested in selling. And don't just stop there... get proof. Share your product (with the right people) and see how they respond. Prioritize generating your first sales before you spend years trying to "build" your business. Listen to the full episode to hear: 3 questions to ask to figure out if your business idea is valid Why market research is essential to building a successful business How to tell if your business idea is valid and worth pursuing Why it might not take a long time to build a substantial, successful business Learn more about Gillian: Predict Your Profits Workshop Attract Paying Customers Action Plan Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Startup Society Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

How much do you want to earn in 2021? I used to really dislike that ☝ question... because I had no idea how to answer it. “What do you mean, ‘how much do I want to earn’? As much as I can, of course!” It’s a lot like when you’re shopping for something expensive and the sales rep asks you, “So, what’s your budget?” Of course, sometimes we DO have a budget, but a lot of the time I just want to spend as little as I can to get the thing I need. (I’m sure I can’t be the only one…) Any answer to the “how much do you want to earn” question just felt… arbitrary. I’d say a smaller number, trying to be “realistic” -- but it wasn’t [at all] what I really wanted. Or I’d say a BIG number, but it felt pointless because it seemed impossible. If you can relate to this struggle between modest “realistic” goals and ambitious inspiring goals, then today’s podcast episode is for you. Because here’s the truth: there CAN be a balance between those two extremes. And not just a compromise… you can actually set goals that are both realistic and inspiring. Listen to the full episode to hear: Two ways to set goals based on math My recommendation for setting your first growth goal What can get in the way of you growth What to do if your growth goals feel overwhelming How to set goals when you’re just starting out Learn more about Gillian Predict Your Profits Workshop Attract Paying Customers Action Plan Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Startup Society Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

Several years ago, when I ran a digital marketing agency, I met an incredible woman named Margo Carroll. At first, I didn't realize how incredible she was -- she was just another client who was hiring us to run her Facebook ads. But the more I got to know Margo, see her work, and learn from her, the more impressed I became. Not only does Margo do everything she takes on with integrity and serious commitment, but I also discovered she has an area of unique expertise: sales psychology. Margo understands the human mind and persuasion in a deep way, but, more than that, she's able to strategically apply that knowledge to connect with people and create highly effective marketing campaigns. And, while Margo originally hired my company to help her advertise her business, over the years the tables have turned, and I've become the client. Margo has helped us conduct thorough market research, write sales campaigns, launch webinars, and strategize our funnels. Listen to the full episode to hear: How to use market research to learn more about your customers and more effectively sell to them Why market research is incredibly valuable to do when you're in the planning stages (deciding what to sell) to improve your copy and maximize your sales How asking a potential member questions before they join your Facebook group is a type of market research (and how you can use it in your future copy) The first steps Margo recommends if you haven’t done research in your business before Learn more about Margo Carroll: margocarroll.com Follow Margo on Instagram Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

Are you more “left-brained” or “right-brained”? We all have some balance between the more analytical and the more creative/emotional sides, but most of us lean more one way or the other. A lot of entrepreneurs -- especially visionary, founder sorts -- are extremely creative, always coming up with new ideas and solutions. Many even refer to themselves as “creative entrepreneurs.” Those right-brain skills are KEY for entrepreneurial success… but they still have to be balanced out. Because while creativity can get you started and keep you inspired… it’s analyzing the numbers that will allow you to stay in business long term. Maybe “analyzing the numbers” sounds fun to you! (Where my nerdy friends at??) But, on the other hand, if it sounds scary, hard, or boring… well, I just want to let you know right now that it doesn’t have to be any of those things. Understanding your business’s numbers -- and making strategic decisions based off of them -- is an essential skill as an entrepreneur, and it can actually be quite interesting and easy! To show you exactly how to do this for yourself, I asked Rita Barry to come on the podcast this week. Rita specializes in metric-driven marketing for online businesses, and she shared some really practical advice on how to get started making more strategic, numbers-based decisions in our businesses. Listen to the full episode to hear: How to keep your metric-driven marketing plan super simple The questions to ask when making your plan The best way to spot bottlenecks in your business and what to do about them How to find what’s working in your marketing and the best way to pull and read reports Learn more about Rita Barry: ritabarry.co Follow Rita on Instagram Connect with Rita on LinkedIn Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

Every month, I’m peeling back the curtain and sharing the ins & outs of my monthly revenue. These income reports are an in-depth and honest look at how much my business earned, what it cost, and how many hours it took me to do it. This is the very last income report of 2020. I’m glad I committed to doing monthly income reports -- it gave me accountability to really look at the numbers regularly and see exactly how things were going. Every month, I’ve felt like we didn’t do very well: like we didn’t earn very much, like we spent too much, and like we worked too much. But when the month finally wrapped and I looked at the numbers… we’d done awesome! That’s what I like about numbers: they tell us the truth. Unlike our subjective perspective, which is highly distorted by emotion. So let’s dive into the numbers. In every income report, I share which tasks and projects really ended up paying me best so that you can see how I’m optimizing my business so that I can work less and earn more over time. Plus, you’ll get a time report, breaking down the time I spend on each activity and how that created a financial result (or not). Listen to the full episode to hear: How we earned $37,530.08 in November What we learned from last year’s Black Friday promotion and what we did differently this year Why our income month-to-month isn’t always tied to that month’s activities Why we spent most of this month planning for 2021 Links: Instagram: @gillianzperkins Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Startup Society Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

We all do it. We judge books by their covers… and also by their size. Somehow we think that if a book has more pages then we’re going to get MORE out of it. We do the same thing if we buy an online course: we think that if it was more expensive it’s going to be more valuable and that if we open it and it has more modules than we thought that we’re going to get A LOT more out of it. We assume, therefore, that it will be more useful. I’m guilty of this thinking, too. Sometimes I find myself doing this with podcast episodes (like this one, for example!) “Oh, that episode’s only eight minutes long—it probably won’t even be worth my time.” But we all know that sometimes the best gifts come in the smallest packages: the check for $100K, the engagement ring, the simple (yet powerful) advice of a mentor. In the spirit of keeping it simple, today’s episode is only 8 minutes long. If you have that time to spare, give it a listen. In just a few minutes, I share some advice I got last year from one of my mentors that’s allowed me to work significantly LESS while increasing our revenue by over 80%. Who knows, maybe it’s exactly what you need to hear to work less and earn more in your business, too! Listen to the full episode to hear: Why you should ALWAYS ask yourself: what would this look like if it were simple? Why more complicated strategies WON’T necessarily get us bigger and better results Sometimes more complex ideas are addictive—we feel like once we’ve identified them that we can’t live without them—but is that really true? Learn more about Gillian: Attract Paying Customers Action Plan Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Startup Society Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!

Two words: MIND. BLOWN. I used to believe a LOT of myths about SEO, including: Google ranks websites higher if they’re frequently updated More content means your site has more chances of ranking well Adding target keywords to articles is the best way to tell Google what it’s about And by “used to” I don’t mean years ago. Nope… these are all myths I believed as recently as last week. That is until I talked to Kim Herrington. Kim’s an expert in SEO, search engine marketing, and digital marketing—and she’s the founder of a digital marketing agency where she helps businesses, entrepreneurs, and influencers harness the power of search engines while maintaining high ethical standards and simplifying the process. On today’s episode, Kim shed a LOT of light on an often mysterious subject: how to get your website to rank well on Google. Honestly, she shared a lot of things that surprised me! So… if your website is one of the main ways your business attracts customers, this is a can’t-miss episode. Listen to the full episode to hear: Can SEO tactics create predictable results? How complex is SEO? Is it something anyone can do or is professional help necessary? What SEO tactics create the biggest results? What are the first steps to getting a website to rank on the first page of Google? Learn more about Kimberley Herrington: Transform Your Business with Strategic SEO Guide to Get More Website Traffic Instagram Learn more about Gillian: Join Startup Society (promo code: earnmore) Profit Planning Challenge Get in touch!