Think solutions, not products

A Note From Colleen

Hi, Friend.

Have you ever heard the phrase, “Sell what you know”?  It literally means to package up your know-how and sell it to people who need it.

It’s the best way to think about how you can make money online.

The greatest thing about the online space is we can reach the entire universe so even if you have an uncommon (or quite common) know-how there are plenty of people you can reach who don’t have this experience or know-how.

So often, we make this process of ‘starting an online business’ way harder than it needs to be.

I hope this week’s edition will help simplify the process.

Thanks for being here.

Cheers,

Colleen Kochannek, Publisher

*This publication may include affiliate links and links to products I sell. If you click and buy, I may earn revenue and/or commission. 

Think In Terms of Solutions, Not Products

Most people who buy online digital products, whether it’s a downloadable resource or  e-Course, need to know how to do something, need to fix something or need something made easier.

Often, however, when we online entrepreneurs ‘start an online business’ we immediately begin to think about WHAT we can sell, WHAT product we should create?

This is backwards. We need to understand first what we’re solving and for who. 

We need to understand the solution we offer.

Teaching someone who has never cracked an egg or measured flour how to bake cookies vs teaching an advanced baker a new cookie-decorating technique are vastly different ‘products’ because each person needs a different solution.

In the case of the beginner, you’re solving beginner problems. You’re teaching the absolute basics: Types of flour, the importance of precise measuring in baking, the need to make the butter cold (or room temperature) before mixing it in.

The beginner needs a beginning solution with lots of basic explanations and how-to’s and, potentially, a slower paced learning experience.

The advanced baker is looking for an advanced solution and does not need to be taught the difference between flours or how to measure it. 

Start with WHAT you’re solving and WHO needs it solved. The solution you provide, and knowing who wants it solved, instantly makes the product easy to identify.

LIFE REIMAGINED

It’s Summer Cleaning around here.

After moving 3 times in the past 4 years, and being through the process of packing, organizing, and unpacking, I have committed to keeping my life lean and mean.

Today, I filled 5 large heavy-duty garbage bags of clothing I’m no longer able to wear or interested in wearing. 

I pulled the dog stroller (that I used for my elderly dachshund, Stella) out of the hall closet. 

My girlfriend suggested I keep it for my dog Trixie, but she’s young and healthy and doesn’t need a stroller. If I need to get her a stroller in 6 or 7 years I’ll replace the one I am giving away now. It’s not worth having to move it every time I want to vacuum the dust bunnies from the back of the closet.

I’m doing the same with my business. 

After 7 years I have found myself with an assortment of fancy and complicated tools that are costing me too much time and money (to outsource support), and brain effort.

I’m in the process of simplifying and getting more lean in my online business.

If you’ve been in my world for a bit you’ll know I am now running much of my business from Stan.Store these days. It’s a wonderful ‘storefront’ app that enables me to sell any type of digital product I want: digital downloads, eCourse, memberships and more. It does payment processing and email automations, too.

I’m also teaching my Pilot to Profit students to use Stan.Store. 

Stan isn’t super fancy, but he gets the job done and is simple to use.

My next big move: I’ve been publishing The Gumption Gazette in a fancy newsletter tool called Beehiiv. It’s a wonderful tool, but it’s more than I need at this time.

I’m moving The Gumption Gazette back to my email service provider (I use FloDesk).

You don’t need to do anything and you likely won’t even know when I have made the official move.

I simply want you to know it’s okay to use simple tools.

In fact, I think simple allows you to succeed more quickly because you’re focused on creating and selling your solutions, not on learning how to navigate a fancy, smancy tools.

QUICK WINS

For the past few months anytime I put a piece of clothing on (or decided I didn’t want to wear it and haven’t wanted to wear it in ages) I put it in a corner of my closet.

Today, when I decided to do my Summer Clean it was easy to grab the clothes from ‘the corner’ and package them up for donation. I didn’t have to go through every item. The decision had already been made. The process was fast and painless. 

It’s easier making small decisions over time rather than having to ‘tackle an entire closet’ of clothes.

Just an idea…

Digging Thru The Decades is almost ready for re-release. You’ll be the first to know. It’s my program that helps you uncover all of the solutions you can provide (and sell) based on all of your life experiences. 

Stay tuned…

Want some inspiration about the solutions you can offer (aka sell) I have two items for you to check out::

1. 109 Simple And Inspiring Ideas You Can Make Money With (A Free Guide)

2. The Go-Getter’s Guide: A Simple Quick-Start Online Business System  For Women Over 50 ($6 guide)

Questions and suggestions for admin or the Ask-Me-Anything section. Simple Hit REPLY to this email or email us at: [email protected]