7-STEP
Online Business
BLUEPRINT
3 rd Ed i t i o n
$
ULTIMATE GUIDE TO TURN YOUR PASSION
Into A Profitable Online Business
LEROY FORD.COM
Online Business Blueprint
1
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$
7-STEP
Online Business
BLUEPRINT
3 rd E ditio n
7-Step Guide To Turn Your Passion, Knowledge
Or Expertise Into A Profitable Online Business
LEROY FORD.COM
SUCCESS
MENTORS
ACADEMY
Rise By Lifting Others
you are looking for. This guide is not intended for use as a source of any legal,
financial or accounting advice. We do not assume any responsibility for what
you choose to do with this information. Your results may differ from ours.
Your results from the use of this information will depend on you, your skills
and effort, and other different unpredictable factors. Use this information
wisely and at your own risk. All rights reserved. This book is © copyright of
Leroy Ford. No part can be changed in any format, resold, or used in any
way without express written or verbal consent of Leroy Ford International.
COPYRIGHT & DISCLAIMER: Leroy Ford’s book may not be copied,
sold, used as content in any manner or your name put on it until you obtain
sufficient rights to sell it or distribute it as your own from Leroy Ford as the
authorized reseller/distributer. Every effort has been made to be accurate in
this publication. The publisher does not assume any responsibility for errors,
omissions or contrary interpretation. We do our best to provide the best
information on the subject, but just reading it does not guarantee success.
You will need to apply every step of the process in order to get the results
C R E AT I V E D I R E CT I O N & L AYO U T BY L E R OY F O R D
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FROM THE DESK OF LEROY FORD
Your The New Breed Of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs!
Entrepreneurs are experiencing a Golden Age right now, in this dot com era.
There are more opportunities to build and grow your own profitable online business more
quickly than ever before. I no longer sit in traffic jams trying to get to work in the morning and
I don’t need to agree to overtime, fearing my job would disapear if i said no. That’s because I’ve
built an online business which has given me the freedom to quit the 9-5 rat-race forever, and I
can work from anywhere in the world.
Starting an online business is soul enriching endenvour, it enpowers you to live your dreams and
follow your true passions, and with almost no overheads and very little training to get started.
All you need is an internet connection and some basic computer skills. This basic check-list below
will tell you if you can start your own online business and start making money quickly.
Do you have a computer or mobile device with a web browser?
Do you have an internet connection or way of accessing the internet daily?
Do you have social media accounts? (FB, TW, IG, YT)
If you have answered yes to the questions above then there’s nothing stopping you from starting
an online business, and earn income doing what you love, This Blueprint Will Show You How!
To Your Great Success!
DOWNLOAD
FREE
PREVIEW!
LEROY FORD.COM
7-Time Author, Speaker, Entrepreneur
Author, 7 Pillars Of A World Class Life
Creator, Passion To Profits 7-Step System
Founder, Success Mentors Academy™
P.S. If you want to achieve success, then you must decide you’re going
to be a success no matter what it takes. Without once doubting yourself,
you must believe deeply in your heart that you can achieve success.
[FREE DOWNLOAD] ~ CHECK OUT THIS FREE PREVIEW!
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C O N T E N T S
7-Step Blueprint To Turn Your Passion Into A Profitable Online Business
05 PREPARE
$
Meet Leroy Ford
Starting An Online Business
What Is An Internet Entrepreneur?
7 Reasons Why You Should Start Now!
3 Critical Factors To Consider
Core Components & Framework
Turn Your Blog Into A Cash Machine
4-Step Formula For Online Profits
Creating Multiple Income Streams
7-Step Blueprint Summary
15 Critical Mistakes To Avoid
Must-Have Tools For Online Income
225 PRODUCTS
030 PASSION
Creating Your Irresistible Offer
3 Hottest Selling Digital Products
10 Lucrative Products & Programs
More Online Income Streams
Finding Your Passion Topic
How I Found My Passions
Finding Your Big Idea
3 Ways To Find A Passion Idea
Passion Compass Finder
163 PROMOTE
047 PSYCHE
Generating High-Value Content
Social Media Marketing
7 Sources Of Free Traffic
The Big 5 Traffic & List Builders
List Building & Email Marketing
The Money’s In The List
10 List Building Mistakes
Sales Funnel & Landing Pages
Developing Entrepreneurs Mindset
Understanding Your Belief System
6 Steps To Manifesting
How To Start With No Money
The Iceberg Illusion
Rising Above The Fear
Moving The Target Closer
121 PERFORM
071 PLANS
Online Business ~ 11 Step Checklist
How To Find Your Strengths & Skills
Top 5 Mega-Niches
10 Ways To Discover Your Niche
Goals For Achieving Success!
Online Business Blueprint
236 PROFITS
Why You Need To Create A Blog Asap
4 Steps To Building A Flagship Website
Essential Online Business Platforms
How To Build Your Community
Mentors And How To Find Them
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HI, I’M LEROY FORD
I’m from England, UK.
I’m a 7-Time Author,
Entrepreneur & Founder of
Success Mentors Academy
I was obsessed with the idea of mentorship
from the age of 3 years of age. Growing up in
foster homes propelled me to seek out mentors
for myself from my earliest of years, and I’ve
been committed to improving lives and to
helping people ever since, inspiring people to
strive for success despite your circumstances.
others by sharing everything that has helped
I’ve been leading and coaching both Live
and Online Training for over 10 years in the
me to have the success and lifestyle that I enjoy
arena of Success, Personal Achievement and
today. Whether that be helping you build your
Entrepreneurship, with a personal focus on
own online business and achieve your own
helping disadvantaged youths from broken
financial freedom life’s dreams. My great hope
homes, and adults struggling with addiction
is that this guide will assist you in creating your
and healing. My motto is ‘Rise By Lifting Others’.
exciting new entrepreneurial journey and future.
Now Let’s Dive In...
My Signature Program, Passion To Profits
7-Step System, shows you how to turn your
knowledge, skills, and expertise into a profitable
and scaleable online business, allowing you to
eventually do what you love, full-time.
PS.... To learn more about my origin story, and
how I turned a crisis into a calling, click below!
My ultimate mission is inspiring and helping
LET ’S CONNECT
Private
Facebook Group
/TheLeroyFord
Online Business Blueprint
/TheLeroyFord
/TheLeroyFord
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Leroy’s
Origin Story
www.LeroyFord.com
Introduction
TO STARTING YOUR
ONLINE BUSINESS
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D I D Y O U K N O W. . .
$90 Billion
WA S S P E N T O N
ONLINE
LEARNING
LAST YEAR
(And How To Get Your Share!)
While the world gets more digitized,
passionate, perseverant and hardworking to earn
the number of Internet users keeps on growing
multiple income streams from the comfort of
daily. Back in 1995, less than 1% of the World’s
their homes. If you were born in this 21st century,
population was connected to the Web, today we
then you are amongst the lucky set of humanity
have 40%. That is your opportunity, to grab a
that has several options of achieving financial
slice of a $51 Billion industry. But are you up to
freedom, without working your life away.
building a profitable online business and scaling it
When you own an online business, you can
to an online empire?. Well I’m here to assist you.
work from anywhere, set your own hours and
Since the advent of the online business, it is
make a living. One of the attractions of starting
now much easier for entrepreneurs who are
an online business is the extremely low startup
costs—making it perfect for newbies to get
started without quitting they’re jobs. You can
One of the attractions
of starting an online
business is the extremely
low startup costs
Online Business Blueprint
identify a niche based around your passion,
create a product, and simply offer it to the world.
But, there are key aspects to running an online
business that would-be entrepreneurs duly need
to learn... Let the journey begin!
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NOW Is Your Time & Opportunity!
Let’s Look At The Numbers
$90 Billion
H
WT
GRO
D
TE
IMA
EST
Was Spent On Online
Learning Last Year
$120B
$90B
64%
Of People Use Their Mobile
Devices To Buy Online
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
According to Forbes, online learning is
a $100 Billion per year industry and is
showing no signs of slowing down.
Billions of people are searching
is finding credible, high-quality
for information daily, looking for
information organized into logical
answers to their questions, help
and sequential steps. This demand
solving a specific problem, or steps
for distinguished and hyper-specific
to achieve a result. But finding
information is so high that people
information about any given topic
are willing to pay for it.
is no longer the challenge. The trick
THAT’S WHERE YOU COME IN...
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Your
Passion
Market
Demand
Opportunity
By packaging your hard-earned knowledge & experience
into digital training products, you can provide answers to anyone in
the world who is searching about your area of expertise, while also
creating a profitable business in the process. And what if there was
a step-by-step roadmap
that showed you how to
package you knowledge
and expertise into digital
products and programs
people want to buy?
Good news! That’s exactly
what this guide is about.
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THERE ARE 4 TYPES OF EARNERS:
HERE’S A COMPARISON OF THEIR
TIME & FINANCIAL FREEDOM
WHICH ONE ARE YOU CURRENTLY?
WORKER
BUSINESS
OWNER
You make the least
money and have little
very time freedom.
You make a considerable
YOU have a job with
amount of money as
an average salary. If
you have built systems
this is you right now
and developed a team. YOU own a system, that
and you plan to be financially free you need to
is able to generate multiple income streams.
attend my Free Online Training Webinar.
By attending my Free Training you’ll have the
courage and tools to take a business into a higher
SELF
EMPLOYED
tax bracket AND move yourself to the next level...
INVESTOR
You make more money
but have almost no
You make the most
time freedom as you
money with the least on-
only make money
going physical effort. You
when you are working.
are often also a business
YOU own a Job. By
owner and have learnt to leverage time & money
attending one of my
by making their money work for you. During my
Free Online Training
Free Online Training Webinar you’ll discover
Webinar, you’ll learn the strategies to be able to
how to generate passive income and build an
move up to the next level, which is...
asset base to leverage off for years to come.
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5-Steps To Quit Your Job
& Do What You Love!
RULE #1: COME UP WITH AN
EXIT-STRATEGY & EXECUTE!
Generate Consistent Sales For 12 months Equal
To Your Current Salary, Then You Can QUIT!
Scale With Digital Marking & Offer
Your Audience A Product or Service
Grow Your Audience & Tribe,
Solve Problems, Create Value
Identify Your Big Idea!
(Passion Strength & Niche)
Don’t Quit Your Job
Tomorrow! Lower
Your Overheads for
A Startup Budget
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3
2
5
The
Most
Important
Thing Is To Do
Something Daily.
The Hardest Thing Is
To Start. Like The Gym.
1
The Hardest Thing Is Going.
Once Your There, You Just Do It!
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WHAT
IS AN
Internet
ENTREPRENEUR?
Today there are many
successful internet
entrepreneurs who
make a handsome living
creating an d selling digital
products online, but they
are just scratching the
surface of the opportunity
that’s available.
Online Business Blueprint
The Internet has been used by academia
since the 1980’s, but in the last fifteen years it
has become what we know today. Today, 2.5
billion people log onto the Internet every day,
and it’s estimated that the number will double in
the next five years. An “internet entrepreneur” is
an entrepreneur who makes their living online.
They don’t have a physical location or need
one to operate. All they need is a laptop and a
wifi connection. They are not tied down, which
allows them to operate their business all over the
world. They also earn passive income, if they offer
services, such as digital online training courses.
A few years back, I got the itch to become an
entrepreneur, I knew I wanted my own business.
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MAIN BENEFITS
TO HAVING AN
ONLINE BUSINESS:
The problem was, I had no idea where to start
or what I wanted my business to look like.
I could go one of two routes. I could take one
of my crazy ideas and go the startup path, try and
chase down funding, spend 80 hours a week to
found a company, and take years off my life while
1. THERE’S NO
LIMIT TO YOUR
MONTHLY INCOME
trying to make it happen. Or I could build an
internet business, where I was the only employee
and made just enough to support myself while
having more freedom to do the things I really
wanted to. I decided to give the latter a shot. A
few years later, I’m absolutely convinced that you
So someone gave you a decent paying job, cool,
too should start an internet business.
but that doesn’t allow you to be financially free,
with a salary, your income is always going to be
capped. When you work for yourself with an
internet business you can create multiple streams
of income.. I started my most recent business with
less than $500 and it took me three sales in 1
week to double my usual months salary!
2. YOU CAN WORK
FROM A BEACH
WITH A MAI TAI
You know that dream everyone had after reading
the 4-Hour Workweek where they’re chillin’ on
a beach with a cocktail, working from a laptop?
That’s really possible. Sure, those haven’t been the
most productive days of my life, but an internet
business lets you choose when and where you
work, generally, all you need is an Internet
connection. This year I’ve already worked from
places like Singapore, Bali, Malaysia, Sydney and
London, among others, all without skipping a
beat in my business.
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3. YOU’LL HAVE
MORE FLEXIBILITY
4. YOU’LL BECOME
A MODERN-DAY
RENAISSANCE
PERSON
You say you wanted to become an entrepreneur
for increased flexibility and control in your
life? Fat chance with a 9-5 job. As a lifestyle
Being a solopreneur has forced me to learn
entrepreneur, you truly have the flexibility to set
how to handle all aspects of business, marketing,
your own schedule. An internet business is one
accounting, sales, you name it, I do it. In this
that increases your chgances of earning multiple
position, you grow your expertise and become a
streams of income, affording you the lifestyle
more well-rounded business person, and that will
you want to live. For many, that’s more time
undoubtedly help you in any future endeavors.
with friends and family; for others, it’s travel and
The phrase “Jack of all trades, master of none”
adventure. You get to decide.
isn’t always a bad thing.
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ADVANTAGES OF
INTERNET
BUSINESSES:
DIFFERENCES
BETWEEN THE
TWO TYPES OF
ENTREPRENEUR
TIME FREEDOM
One of the main differences between an
Time Freedom is having the freedom to choose
entrepreneur and an internet entrepreneur is a
when to work or when not to work, without
focus on the passion, and running a business not
having to call in sick, or have your boss tell your
for the financial gain of investors, stock holders
what time to be at your desk or finish work.
and themselves, but for acheiving financial
freedom, so all living expenses are taken care
FINANCIAL
FREEDOM
of with automated income, allowing them to
focus on their true passions in life, fulfilling
their personal goals, instead of slaving away in a
Financial Freedom is having an income level
cubicle, building someone else’s dreams.
sufficient enough to support a desired lifestyle.
CONCLUSION...
Being able to pick up and go if you want.
LOCATION
FREEDOM
Are all cubicle jobs bad? Of course not. Are all
internet businesses beaches and daiquiris? Not a
chance. However, if you’re looking to maximize
Location Freedom is having ability of being able
your income by creating multiple streams of
to choose where to work. As long as you have
income, while having the freedom that comes
a laptop or a smartphone, you can run your
with knowing you have full control of your life,
business from home, from a beach, or on the go.
then an internet business is the way to go.
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7 REASONS
WHY YOU
SHOULD
Start
AN ONLINE
BUSINESS
NOW!
Too many people
view Internet business
through an extremely
narrow lens, either
you’re pawning off your
personal possessions
on eBay or you’re trying
to be Mark Zuckerberg
with the next big thing.
Online Business Blueprint
The reality is of course that there are as many
different ways to do business online as there are
people making this lifestyle work for them. For
example as an Internet business owner, you could:
Create and sell your own digital
information products (Recommended!)
Create and Sell your pyhsical handmade
arts and crafts products on Etsy
Run an informative site that generates
revenue through advertisements
Provide professional services to clients
around the world
Generate client leads for offline businesses
Sell other peoples’ products and earn
affiliate commissions
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But The“How”
of Internet business isn’t important – there
are enough different Internet business models
out there to suit any particular combination of
strengths and weaknesses. What really matters
is the “why” – that is, why you should consider
pursuing online business in the first place.
The following are just a few of the benefits
of owning your own Internet enterprise to
help encourage you to make the leap:
REASON #1
FIND THE ULTIMATE
JOB SECURITY
REASON #2
Ask a handful of people what they think about
WORK ON
the idea of pursuing Internet business, and you
PROJECTS YOU’RE
should hear at least one person respond with,
PASSIONATE
“It’s too risky!” I have to disagree. When you learn
how to do business online, you’re actually training ABOUT
yourself to create ultimate job security. If you
learn how to sell products online, chances are
As someone else’s employee, you aren’t working
you’ll be able to repeat this process – even if your
on the projects you’re passionate about – you’re
original idea doesn’t pan out.
completing tasks in order to increase somebody
The same goes for finding freelance service
else’s bottom line. And while this arrangement
clients, sending traffic to ad-based sites and
works for some people, most chronic employees
successfully re-launching every other Internet
don’t know what they’re missing when they trade
business model out there. Now, contrast the
the passion of working for yourself on projects you
ability to generate income online over and over
care about for the “security” of the daily grind.
again with a steady day job held at a single
If you aren’t personally satisfied by your
employer. Considering how many companies go
current day job, you owe it to yourself to at least
under these days, putting all your eggs in that
investigate the potential fulfillment that comes
single basket ultimately sounds much riskier to
from running your own online passion centric
me than learning how to make money online!
enterprise.
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REASON #3
ACCESS A WIDER
NETWORK OF
CLIENTS AND
BUYERS
If you already operate an offline business that
either sells products or takes on freelance clients
(for example, as a freelance writer, web designer,
programmer or accountant), transitioning your
business online will give you access to a much
REASON #5
EXPLORE YOUR
INTERESTS
wider pool of clients and buyers. No longer
are you competing against other agencies in
your local area for the same small network of
customers – instead, as an Internet business
owner, you’re free to think as big as you want.
One of the greatest advantages of running
This could mean accessing buyers a few towns
your own Internet business is the flexibility this
away from your own or even “going global” in
arrangement provides. When you work a day job,
order to dramatically expand your reach.
you’re tied in to a set schedule that in no way
corresponds to the amount of work you have
or the hours in which you’re most productive.
REASON #4
CUT YOUR CHILD
CARE EXPENSES
Unless you have a very understanding boss, you
aren’t able to drop everything for a two-hour hike
when the weather’s nice or start your day at noon
because you aren’t a morning person.
With childcare costs rising steadily and often
Running an online business gives you the
topping thousands of dollars a month for the full-
flexibility to set your own working arrangements
time care of infants and toddlers, y ou may find
based on your particular needs. It allows you to
that running an Internet business allows you to
travel more (as most Internet businesses can be
both cut your costs substantially and spend more
operated from anywhere in the world), to work
time at home with your children. For most dual-
when you’re most productive and to pursue the
income families working today, that’s a pretty big
hobbies and interests you care about alongside
win-win!
your business pursuits.
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REASON #6
LOW STARTUP
COSTS
If you’ve always had entrepreneurial aspirations,
know that business owners who choose to launch
their ventures online enjoy substantially lower
startup costs than those in the real world. Think
about it – the “real world” business owner must
pay for commercial space, physical inventory, staff
wages, printed stationery and more.
As an Internet business owner, your only real
REASON #7
INCREASE
YOUR EARNING
POTENTIAL
expenses will be a domain name and hosting
account. Even if you do decide to purchase
inventory outright or invest in tools that will make
running your Internet business easier, your overall
investment will be minuscule in comparison to
maintaining a physical presence offline.
If you’re employed in a full-time day job,
your earning power is limited by your field
and your experience. If you work as a teacher,
for instance, you can accrue all the experience
and certifications you want – you’re still never
going to hit the same million dollar salaries that
investment bankers or lawyers will. But with
online business, the sky’s the limit.
If you sell one product online, you can train
yourself to sell fifty. If you decide to expand your
service offerings significantly, you can always take
on additional employees to help manage the
workload. Instead of negotiating a pithy 3% raise
with your boss, you’re essentially creating this
increase (and much, much more) for yourself – a
truly empowering experience that makes all the
risk and uncertainty of Internet business worth it.
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3 Critical Factors
TO CONSIDER WHEN STARTING
AN ONLINE BUSINESS
It is no longer news that the
world is filled with online
business startup opportunities
but unfortunately; not everyone
can see such opportunities.
BILL GATES wisley said that:
The internet is the next big thing because
“If Your Business Is Not On
The Web, Then Your Business
Will Be Out Of Business”
How do you pick this business model that
Online Business Blueprint
of the massive leverage it offers the common
man. Youngsters and high school or college drop
outs like Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Larry Page,
Sergey Brin, Michael Dell, etc have gone on to
become billionaires starting from scratch.
There are lots of business opportunities online,
but the question is: which is the best for you.
suits you and still make you money? Well, the
three factors on the next page will help you
make that decision.
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TA L E N T I S N ’ T M U C H W I T H O U T
1
“Passion Is What Keeps You Going When The Going Gets Tough.”
– Warren Buffett
It’s quite good to go into a business that shows
high potential but it’s more advisable to go into
a business you are passionate about.
CONSIDER
A BUSINESS
IDEA YOU’RE
PASSIONATE
ABOUT
Online Business Blueprint
One of the reasons most people jump from one
business opportunity to another is because they
aren’t following their passion. Take a look at the
biggest and best businesses in the world; from
Microsoft, Apple, Oracle, McDonald’s, etc and you
notice that they were businesses built around the
passion of their founders. So consider starting
something that stems from your passion and
personal strengths.
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2
Knowledge is the foundation of every
business; not capital. And every business industry
has some inside secrets, strategies and tactics that
CONSIDER AN IDEA
THAT YOU’D BE
COMMITTED TOO
TO LEARN & MASTER
Online Business Blueprint
you will never find out except you are involved
in the industry. So when searching for the best
internet business ideas, seek opportunities and
ideas that you are willing to learn and stick to.
Success is not an overnight adventure; it’s the
result of continuous effort.
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3
CONSIDER A
BUSINESS IDEA
THAT WILL
YIELD PASSIVE
INCOME
Online Business Blueprint
I consider the best business opportunity
as one that will provide a valuable service, makes
you money and can run with minimal effort on
your part. I am talking about businesses that once
they stabilize, they can run on autopilot. Offering
services might not be the best because it would
require your efforts full time and to increase your
profits, you have to increase your work time or
hire more helping hands.
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FREE WEBINAR TRAINING!
7-STEPS TO TURN YOUR
PASSION, KNOWLEDGE
OR EXPERTISE
INTO YOUR DREAM
ONLINE BUSINESS
L E R O Y
TO
PROFITS
ONLINE BUSINESS
FREE 90-MIN
L FI VREE EW9E0B- IMNIANR
7-STEP SYSTEM
L I V E TO
W EREGISTER
BINAR
CLICK
Online Business Blueprint
F O R D
$
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ONLINE BUSINESS BLUEPRINT
Core
Components
4 STAGE FRAMEWORK
FOR ONLINE BUSINESS
7-STEP SYSTEM
FOR ONLINE BUSINESS
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4 STAGE FRAMEWORK
FOR ONLINE BUSINESS
Define It
1
I D E N T I F Y I N G Your Passion Niche And Area Of Expertise, Based On Your
Core Skills An Strengths. And Aquire The Entreprenurial Mindset For Success.
Design It
2
F O R M U L AT I N G Your Plan, Long-Range Goals, and Market Research For
Your Brand And It’s Financial Objecrtives, And Scaling Your Online Business.
Develop It
3
B U I L D I N G Your Platform, Brand And Flagship Website, Establishing And
Growing Your Community, and Finding Mentors For Your Long-Term Growth.
Deploy It
4
D E L I V E R I N G High Value Content, Creating Products & Programs, And
Utilizing Essential List Building & Marketing Strategies For Traffic Generation.
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7-STEP SYSTEM
FOR ONLINE BUSINESS
Follow The Colour Coded Section Bars At Top Of Each Page
To Guide You From Passion To Profit!
PASSION - STEP 1
Identifying Your Passion & Big Idea Based On Your Knowledge & Expertise
PSYCHE - STEP 2
Removing Any Negative Blocks & Acquiring The Entrepreneurial Mindset
PL ANNING - STEP 3
Identifying Your Target Audience & Niche & Outlining Long-Range Goals & Vision
PERFORM - STEP 4
Building A Flagship Website & Brand & Positioning Yourself As A ‘Go-To’’ Expert
PROMOTE - STEP 5
Traffic Generation & Social Media, Sales Funnels & Email List Building
PRODUCTS - STEP 6
Creating Digital Info Products That Solve Problems For Your Audience
PROFITS - STEP 7
Monetization & Automating Your Business To Generate Passive Income
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Let’s
Begin!
“A Great Deception Is Believing
There Will Always Be Enough Time
To Get Started On Your Dream”
- LEROY FORD
Online Business Blueprint
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IDENTIFYING
STAGE
Define It
Design It
Develop It
Deploy It
Online Business Blueprint
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ST EP 1
PA S S I O N
I D E N T I F Y I N G YO U R PA S S I O N
& BIG IDEA BASED ON YOUR
KNOWLEDGE & EXPERTISE
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Skills Are Cheap,
Passion Is
Priceless
-
G A R Y
Online Business Blueprint
VAY N E R C H U K
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PASSION - STEP 1
FINDING
YOUR
Passion
There is nothing on this
Welcome to the first step to starting an online
earth as pleasurable
why is passion the first step in achieving a world
business. PASSION. And you might do well ask
class life?, why is it even important at all?.
as living a life based on
Well as the great Friedrich Hegel once said,
passion. The person with
Accomplished Without Passion”.
“Nothing Great In The World Was Ever
It is the starting point of all great things to come.
If you’re still trying to figure out the answer to
true heart filled work can
that question, don’t worry – you’re not alone.
Over the years I’ve met countless people who are
fulfill their their entire life,
still searching for their life’s true purpose.
Here’s my simple definition: It’s the one thing
and is often unstoppable.
Online Business Blueprint
you love to do so much that you’d do it for free!
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PASSION - STEP 1
Investigating
your passions will reveal what’s effortless for
you. And if you could make money doing it,
you’d surely make it your life’s work. In most
cases, your core genius is directly tied to your
passions and life-purpose. For me, one of my
passions lies in the areas of teaching, training,
coaching, and inspiring. I schedule my time
around these activities, since they’re the things
I absolutely love, and the things that don’t feel
like “work” to me.
YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY
YOUR PASSION NICHE
I say wake up early in the morning and chase
your dream. Wake up and live for something, go
after something with all your heart, I’m telling
you, that is the true measure of success.
It’s true that many people don’t know what they
So if your goal is to have a profitable online
are passionate about. It’s simply because they
business, then your first step in that direction is
have never sat down and concentrated on writing
to acquire customers, and in the online business
down their passions. For starters we need to
world we call that “a list”. A list of loyal fans and
understand what passion is. Passion is what drives
followers of ours, that over time have come to
us. What interests us so intensely that we could
trust us because of the amount of free value/
spend copious amounts of time doing it and
content we provide. And the best way to provide
never grow tired of it?. People who are following
free value/content is with a blog. But then you
their passions in their life love getting up in the
may ask, “but what do I write about??”
morning. They love their work. With passion often
What ever it is your passionate about, cake
comes ambition. Following your passion can be a
baking, fashion, gaming, architecture, chess, list is
tough thing. But figuring out what that passion is
endless (pun intended!).
can be even more elusive.
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PASSION - STEP 1
I’m Lucky
I found my passion, and I’m living
it. I can testify that it’s the most
wonderful thing, to be able to
make a living doing what you
love, and to get up each day
And so, in this first section,
PASSION IS WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH.”
I’d like to help you get started
-- WA R R E N B U F F E T T
with a purpose and a goal.
figuring out what it is you love
doing, and how you can monetize and turn it
to my top three major passions, which when
into more than just a hobby. This turns out to
narrowed down were, Spirituality & metaphysics,
be one of the most common problems of many
secondly was Health & Fitness, and Thirdly,
of my readers and clients. Finding the thing that
Entrepreneurship & Personal development.
get’s you motivated enough to jump out of bed
To which I created two separate businesses based
in the morning and cry out, ‘I’m alive!!
on the last two.
Many people want to start an online business,
To keep this guide simple and concise I won’t
but they just can’t decide what to base it on. I
go into the ‘Passion Finder Process’ now, however
was in that camp. I just had so many interests,
you can learn this simple process in my FREE
and there are so many possible topics to focus
training series, available soon at LeroyFord.com,
on that it would be paralyzing picking one topic.
so make sure you subscribe to my mailing list to
So I created a simple formula for identifying
get the free training!
and narrowing down your passions, called the
There may be a rare person who knows exactly
‘Passion Finder Process’ . (The first step of my
what their focus will be from the get go, but for
Passion To Profits 7-Step System). After going
the rest of us out there, it can be a tough thing
through the 30 min process, I’d narrowed down
to figure out, so here are 3 simple ways to find
dozens of topics I was interested in, down
your true passions.
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PASSION - STEP 1
A turning point for identifying my passions
came one night as I was watching The Legend
of Baggar Vance. A movie about a down-on-hisluck golfer who enlists the help of an mysterious
mysical golf caddy (Baggar Vance). (The movie is
an adaptation of the novel by Steven Pressfield,
which is roughly based on the Indian Hindu
sacred text the Bhagavad Gita, where the Warrior/
Hero Arjuna (Juna, played by Matt Damon)
refuses to fight. The god Krishna appears as
Bhagavan (Bagger Vance, played by Will Smith) to
help him follow his path as the warrior (and hero)
that he was meant to be.
One key scene, Baggar teaches the golfer:
And I sat stunned for a second. Although
the movie went on, my mind was stuck on this
idea: your passion... your one true authentic
gift... It has to be remembered.
For so long, I had been searching, trying new
Inside each and every one of
us is one true authentic swing.
Something we were born with.
Something that’s ours and ours
alone. Something that can’t
be taught to you or learned.
Something that got to be
remembered.”
Online Business Blueprint
things, exploring jobs, careers and “attractive”
passions outside of myself, without ever trying
to remember what passions lay deep within
me all along. In a moment of instant clarity, I
remembered, that for my whole life, I’d been
passionate about, philosphy, powerful quotations,
inspiring speakers and personal development.
So thats where I placed my focus when it came
to my future, and my passion business.
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PASSION - STEP 1
Where Your Talents
And The Needs Of
The World Cross,
There Lies
Your Vocation
-
Online Business Blueprint
A R I S T O T L E
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PASSION - STEP 1
L E R O Y
F O R D
PASSION PROFIT
FINDER
PROFICIENCY
Your skilled at it
A PROFITABLE NICHE SIT S
AT THE INTERSECTION
OF YOUR PASSION,
EXPERTISE &
THE MARKET
DEMAND
PROBLEM
PROFIT
the World
needs it
you get paid
for it
PASSION
you love it
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PASSION - STEP 1
Man Is
Only Great
When He
Acts From
Passion
For today’s aspiring entrepreneur, exploring
avenues of creativity to find your passion is likely
Benjamin
Disraeli,
19th Century
British Prime
Minister
Online Business Blueprint
the quickest route to increase your chances of
launching a successful business. Where to start?
I would work hard at my job and come to terms
with the fact that the most people never have
careers that engage their passions—and maybe
that’s okay. After all, I could still have passions
outside my work.
But the drive to create a life and business based
around my passion never went away.
There may be a rare person who knows exactly
what their focus will be from the get go, but for
the rest of us out there, it can be a tough thing
to figure out, so here are 3 simple ways to find
your true passions.
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PASSION - STEP 1
3
WAYS
TO FIND
YOUR
Passion
1. REVISIT YOUR
CHILDHOOD.
WHAT DID YOU
LOVE TO DO?
enjoy that activity now? For example, Frank Lloyd
Wright, America’s greatest architect, played with
wooden blocks all through childhood and perhaps
well past it. Research shows that there is much to
be discovered in play, even as adults. What did
you love to do as a child. There in lies your talents.
Revisit some of the positive activities, foods and
It’s amazing how disconnected we become to
events of childhood. Ask yourself these questions
the things that brought us the most joy in favor
to get started: What can be added into your life
of what’s practica. Make a list of all the things
now? How can those past experiences shape your
you remember enjoying as a child. Would you
career choices now?
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PASSION - STEP 1
2. LOOK AT YOUR
PURCHASE
THEMES?
BOOK COLLECTION,
MAGAZINES,, BANK
STATEMENTS
What subjects are you constantly
gravitating toward? What are you already
spending your time, money and energy on?
What thread(s) have been recurring in your
life again and again?
As best as you can, check in with your
heart and physical body, not your head.
Anything “light you up” so to speak? Do
Our passions are often irrational and war with
you feel a sense of expansion in your body?
logic and reason. That’s why it’s important to shift
your attention into your heart and your physical
Do you feel excitement (or perhaps even
body when exploring these questions.
a little fear) when you imagine a certain topic
Your heart and physical body contain wisdom
or possibility? Those are all good signs.
far beyond the capacity of your mind.
Online Business Blueprint
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PASSION - STEP 1
3. WHAT
DO YOU
LOVE
TO TALK
ABOUT?
LEARN
ABOUT OR
TEACH TO
OTHERS
This is a really useful
question. Don’t edit
yourself here. With
nearly 7 billion people
on the planet, chances
are that there’s a market out there hungry
for information, products or resources on
your topic. Or there’s a company looking for
someone with your unique set of gifts and
interests to join their team.
If you’re having trouble coming up with ideas,
ask close friends and family (the honest ones)
what you never seem to shut up about.
Also, don’t underestimate the power of
incorporating your passion into your already
existing career or business.
You may not need a total overhaul in what
DON’T WORRY ABOUT
WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS.
ASK WHAT MAKES YOU
COME ALIVE AND DO THAT,
BECAUSE WHAT THE WORLD
NEEDS IS PEOPLE WHO
HAVE COME ALIVE.
--------
you’re doing. Maybe you simply need to inject
more of what you LOVE into your life right now.
Online Business Blueprint
H O WA R D T H U R M A N
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PASSION - STEP 1
THINK
TEST
T H R I LL
HERE’S FOUR
SIMPLE STEPS
TO IDENTIFYING
YOUR TRUE
PASSION AND
AN IDEAL
TOPIC NICHE
THEME
PASSION FINDER
COMPASS
This Method Will Help You Quickly Identify
Your Major Passions & Hobbies & Enable You
To Choose Which One To Focus On.
Online Business Blueprint
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PASSION - STEP 1
What Do you
Love To Do?
What would
You Do Even
If You Didn’t
Get Paid
To Do It?
THINK
Write Down Five Things
Online Business Blueprint
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PASSION - STEP 1
T H R I LL
What Brings You
The Most Joy,
Like Your In Living
Your Element?
What Do You
Find Easy?
Write Down Five Things
Online Business Blueprint
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PASSION - STEP 1
Look at your
Life, Books
Magazines,
Movies, Music
Collection,
& Credit Card
Statements.
Notice Any
Themes?
THEME
Write Down Five Things
Online Business Blueprint
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What
Could You
Explore As
A Voluteer
And Practice
In Your
Community?
TEST
PASSION - STEP 1
Write Down Five Things
Online Business Blueprint
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STEP 2
PSYCHE
R E M OV I N G A N Y N E G AT I V E B LO C K S
& ACQUIRING THE
ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET
Online Business Blueprint
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What We Achieve
Inwardly
Will Change
Our World
Outwardly
-
Online Business Blueprint
P L U TA R C H
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
Having a success
oriented psyche
is one of the most
important things
for you to aquire
in order to achieve
success. Nothing
that you learn will
Online Business Blueprint
propel your life or
business without
the right mindset
as your foundation.
As the saying goes,
80% of Success
Is Psychology, 20%
Are The Mechanics.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
DEVELOPING
YOUR
Entrepreneurial
MINDSET
Most business owners I know are like me.
possibly an office. They begin marketing their
They love what they do. That’s one of the main
services and after a while they have some
reasons many of us chose to go out on our own.
customers. After a while, they find themselves
We also like the flexibility, the opportunity to
working too many hours, constantly trying to fill
mskr sn impact on the world, and help people by
the pipeline with new prospects, and sometimes
solving their unique business problems.
wondering if they’ve bought themselves a
Business owners fall into two categories:
glorified j-o-b. They can’t take too much time off
SELF-EMPLOYED and ENTREPRENEUR.
because without them there is no business or
Many home based businesses, consultants,
The self employed are those who have a talent
coaches, and service providers end up on
or skill and they know there are people willing
this treadmill. We’re talking about talented
to pay them for their time, product or service.
professionals, people who, like you, work hard
So they employ themselves rather than work for
and deserve success! Unfortunately, a majority
someone else. They get business cards, stationary,
of business owners fall into this category.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
Entrepreneurs on the other hand, are the
business owners who seem to grow their
businesses effortlessly, and maintain steady
growth. You talk to them and although they work
hard, they’re off for a three day weekend at the
beach or a European vacation. They do charity
work and participate in activities with their kids.
What do they know that the self employed don’t?
They gained the Entrepreneurial Mind Set.
An entrepreneur is a great strategist and a master
at getting others excited about helping them
grow their business. They know they need to
develop multiple streams of income, not just one
or two, so they’re constantly looking for creative
opportunities to do so.
And some of those income streams need to be
Some of the following minsets, habits and
passive income, which is not dependent on their
beliefs often sabotage smart people from
time. In other words they’re not always selling
reaching their full potential:
time for money. In addition, the entrepreneur
knows how to make the most of ever opportunity
MONEY FEARS
to attract new prospects, convert them to paying
That prevent you from investing in your business,
customers, and get them to buy repeatedly.
that hold you back from charging what you’re
That means carefully planning, strategizing,
worth because you’re afraid people won’t pay it,
measuring results against expectations and re-
among others.
adjusting. It means taking calculated risks and
learning from the ideas that fail, and there are
PROCRASTINATION
always ideas that fail.
And lack of focus - this can cause you to work
Developing the Entrepreneurial mindset is an
hard but produce poor results.
essential strategy for your business success.. Who
you are, what you think, your personal habits
LACK OF PLANNING
and beliefs absolutely determine the results you
This random approach will have you shooting
get and challenging yourself to overcome and
darts at a dartboard blindfolded and hoping
change what’s not working is CRUCIAL.
to hit the target.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
ALL IT REQUIRES
IS FOR YOU
TO BE WILLING
TO E M B R AC E
FA I L U R E & L E A R N
AS YOU GO
LOW SELF CONFIDENCE
Begin to seriously address these issues and
This will affect everything you do in your business
it’s like breaking through a wall and seeing the
and how others perceive you. It will also make it
light on the other side. Business owners who are
difficult for you to ask people to buy from you.
willing to get outside their comfort zones are the
ones who achieve a big dreams in their lives.
SHINY OBJECT
SYNDROME:
If you find yourself thinking you don’t have
the time to work on your mindset and to get rid
Going after what seems like the newest, hottest
of the habits and beliefs that aren’t working, try
trend or strategy but never sticking with one and
thinking about where you’ll be a year or two from
following it through to the end
now if you don’t. I can tell you where you’ll be,
self-employed.
LACK OF ACTION:
All it requires is for you to be willing to embrace
Being a perfectionist, or someone who fears what
failure, learn as you go, and step far outside your
people think can prevent you from taking regular,
comfort zone. Because it’s only outside your
fast action in your business.
comfort zone where real entrepreneurs operate.
Online Business Blueprint
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
Online Business Blueprint
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
WHY YOUR
F
E
I
BEL
M
E
T
SYS
MAY BE
HOLDING
YOU BACK
1. PARENTS AND FAMILY
You may be asking, “Come on, Leroy, do my
beliefs really have that much power over my
success?” I would respond emphatically, “Yes!”
Remember the countless times as a child you
Your beliefs ARE the driving force behind your
heard: “You’re gonna fall!” “You’ll put your eye
success. Beliefs send powerful messages to your
out.” “Slow down!” ”I told you you’d get hurt!”
brain that affect your actions (and their outcome)
I know parents need to guide their children away
in either a positive or negative way. Your beliefs
from danger. But, most parents overemphasize
will cause you to do one of two things:
safety and demonize risk-taking by too often
BE FEARFUL AND RETREAT
inflicting the message of their own fears.
Wouldn’t it be great if parents warned kids of
OR BE EMPOWERED AND ACT
Your belief system was ‘taught” to you by society,
the danger by saying: “Be safe.” “You’ll be fine.”
peers, family, life experiences, and many other
“Be alert!” ”Notice things.” These statements
smaller influences. Just think back to what your
help build a positive, empowering belief system
family said repeatedly concerning success, and
about life and in children’s capability to handle
you’ll find the beginning of many of your beliefs.
whatever comes their way.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
NO AMOUNT OF POSITIVE
THINKING WILL HELP YOU
C R E AT E A N D AT TA I N
SUCCESS.
2. SOCIETY’S INFLUENCE 3. LIFE EXPERIENCES
Society has a huge impact on our belief system.
Minor setbacks and failures during our life can
Look at the movie Titanic. Its depiction of wealthy
accumulate into a recognizable patten, and that
and poor people helped create dangerous,
pattern becomes part of our belief system.
negative belief systems. Wealthy people were
Until your beliefs are identified and replaced
portrayed as rude, boring, wicked people who
with empowering beliefs, no amount of positive
would shoot each other to save their own lives.
thinking will help you create and attain success.
What makes negative beliefs so powerful and
The picture also reinforced a huge negative
belief about love and commitment, as the main
so insidious is that most of the time you don’t
character, Rose, planned to marry for money, not
even realize you have them. You will say you
for love. And her mother telling her that was
want something, you’ll write it down, you’ll back
what their situation required her to do. Another
it up with positive thinking, but then something
strong negative belief the movie put forth was
happens to keep you from the very thing you say
that poor people knew how to have a good time
you want. You’ll start misplacing important items.
and poverty was the answer to Kate’s happiness.
You’ll procrastinate on deadlines. You’ll forget
names. You’ll miss an opportunity... the list goes
F O U R N E G AT I V E B E L I E F S :
on and on.
People of wealth are Greedy & Selfish.
The good news is that you have control over
Money is evil.
your beliefs. You can change your belief system,
Poor people are kinder than rich people.
which will help you succeed long-term and
It’s “spiritual” to be poor
manifest all your business goals and dreams.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
6
Steps
To
MANIFESTING
1. VISION
4. INTENT
Visualize your goals already manifested.
You must have the intetnion to
manifest your desire.
2. DESIRE
Be intensely excited about what
5. ACTION
you’re visualizing.
Act and behave like your desire has
already manifested.
3. BELIEF
6. ALLOWANCE
Believe what you desire is possible
to manifest and accept your ability
Detach from the outcome, without any
expectation that it will manifest.
to manifest.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
80% PSYCHOLOGY, 20% MECHANICS
So many people know what to do,
anything Comes down to your
but they don’t follow through; they
psychology. Thus, the more you
don’t take the action needed to get
can understand about yourself, the
the results they’re seeking. This is
more you can master goals, sales,
because 80 percent of mastering
marketing and business overall.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
HOW TO
S TA R T
AN ONLINE
BUSINESS
!
y
e
n
o
M
o
N
h
t
i
W
Starting an online business
In short, it’s a a very worthwhile goal.
is the aspiration of every
online business is a big risk, or a waste of time
person who’s ever been
found that none of these are true. I’ve done it,
There’s some misconceptions that starting an
and effort, or that you need a lot of money, Ive
and so have many other successful entrepreneurs.
stuck in a 9-5 job and
What matters more than having a lot of money
when you start out is having a lot of ingenuity,
wants out of the daily grind,
passion and drive. It also comes down to the
of answering to a boss,
offering customers, plus the savvy with which you
market your product or service!
It represents freedom,
Starting a business with virtually no money is an
uphill climb, but so is simply starting a business
leadership, ingenuity
under any condition. In the end, it all comes
down to how much you really want it. With that
and determination.
Online Business Blueprint
strength of the product or service that you’re
in mind, here’s some helpful tips to get started.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
1. GET IN
THE RIGHT
MINDSET
A major step to starting an online
business is to get in the right frame of
mind and getting in the right mindset
begins with you determining why you
want to start an internet business?
This is a question you must answer
before even drawing up a plan for your
proposed online business.
The reason you must ask yourself this
question is because most people start
an internet business solely with the aim
of getting rich. Just like the California
gold rush, people are rushing online to
start a business with the hope of striking it rich.
This is why i emphasize you be in the right
Everyday I see ads screaming “Make $10,000 in
mind frame before starting any business, whether
24 hours.” The truth is that making $10,000 in
online or offline. The honest truth is that you
24 hours on the internet is highly possible but it
can never build a successful internet business
won’t happen overnight. You need to first build
overnight because building an internet business
the system that will generate such profit and
requires a process.
building such a business system takes years.
Just like every other business, you must pass
through the same entrepreneurial process;
regardless of the nature of the business you are
Just like every other
business, you must
pass through the same
entrepreneurial process
Online Business Blueprint
building, or the industry you are operating in.
The principles of running a business are the
same everywhere; regardless of your business
model or region of operation. Building a
successful internet business takes a lot of hard
work, so you must be prepared to commit.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
2. INCREASE
KNOWLEDGE
BASE
The next step to starting an
internet business is to increase
your knowledge base. Starting an
internet business might require
you learn new skills, new words
and new mode of operation.
My first internet business failed,
simply because i lacked the
Now for those aspiring to start an online
technical know how to get things done and
resolve arising problems. I also lost some money
business, I want you to know that running an
on some other online investment opportunities
internet business entails you will be operating on
i ventured into. The investment opportunities
a faster medium, where customer service, service
was not the problem. The major problem was
delivery and transactions happen in split seconds
that i never knew what i was doing, so i couldn’t
or minutes; so you need to be prepared for the
tell the difference between a sound investment
speed. Also, the kind of business you want to
company and a scam. This is why it is very
start online, your business model or industry you
important you gather adequate information
will be operating in will determine the type of
about your proposed business idea and the
specialize knowledge you will acquire.
If you want to run an online business, you will
industry you will be operating in.
need knowledge of its modus operandi because
The knowledge
required to start a
blog differs from that
of an online business.
Online Business Blueprint
the knowledge required to start a blog differs
from the knowledge required to start an online
business, or an affiliate site. So you need to decide
on the type of internet business you want to
start and get to work learning about its essential
intricacies and its operational requirements.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
3. THINK OF
A GREAT
IDEA
All successful online businesses
begin with a great idea because
you have to figure out if there’s
a market and demand for the
product or service that you want
to sell. When people realize that
your product or service alleviates
their pain point or problem,
they’ll flock to your brand in
droves, but before that happens,
a remarkable idea has to be born.
Take some inspiration from
famous businesses that are
already wildly successful. Apple’s
Steve Jobs understood the
genius in making complicated
and highly useful tech products
incredibly simply so that they’d
be accessible to anyone at any
time. Whole Foods’ founder
John Mackey understood the
attractiveness and demand for
healthy, natural foods that cater
Online Business Blueprint
to people’s food sensitivities,
Jobs and Mackey
were struggling
entrepreneurs
and had
basically next
to nothing when
they started their
ventures
61
special diets and all-around
wellbeing. Both businesses
even started out their corporate
lives in ultra humbleness: Jobs
and Mackey were struggling
entrepreneurs and had basically
next to nothing when they
started their ventures.
As you can see from their
examples, though, a stellar
business idea is the root of a
wildly successful brand.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
4. USE YOUR
SKILLSET &
WHAT YOU
ALREADY
KNOW
How to start a business with
no money rests on self-reliance.
When you have no support in
terms of wealthy backers to fund
your business idea, no partners to
help shoulder some of the load,
and no employees to whom to
delegate, you fall back on what
you already know. You already
have certain business skills built
up over the course of your working life,
now’s the perfect time to make them work for you!
The best way to make this happen is by starting
the business around what you already know, what
you love, your passion. This saves you a lot of time
and effort in learning something entirely new.
Besides, this saves you a lot of money, too, because
you won’t need any outside assistance or consultants
to support your operations.
When I started my personal development business,
I relied on myself as much as possible. The fact that I
already had a strong and longstanding media design
background from my earlier career life, made a world
of difference for me, since I didn’t need to hire anyone
to do my marketing, my graphic design, or even
writing-related activities like editing copy.
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This saves you
a lot of time and
effort in learning
something entirely
new. Besides, it
saves you a lot
of money too.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
5.
BOOTSTRAP
& INVEST IN
SWEAT EQUITY
Sweat equity (or bootstrapping) is
basically the hard work and labor you
put into starting and running your
own business. There’s absolutely no
substitute for it when you’re starting
a business with no money or a small
budget. Rely on yourself to do the
things that you’d possibly pay others
to do if you could afford to do so. Not
only does this teach you the value of
work ethic, but bootstrapping saves
you a load of money while still allowing
you to grow your online business.
Not only does
this teach you
the value of
work ethic, but
saves you a
load of money.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
6. PERFORM
ALL ROLES
This ties into the aforementioned
sweat equity, especially when you’re
just pushing to get your new business
off the ground. With little or no
money, you can’t yet hire people and
delegate them to run some executive
aspects of your business, leaving you
free to actually make more money
by working more diligently at selling
more of your product or service. You
have to be a one-person show as
much as you can be, at least in the
early days of your business.
When I first started my coaching
business, I couldn’t hire an assistant—
virtual or otherwise—to do the
CONCLUSION...
basics of administration for me, so I gladly did
everything from client task management and
going through emails, to marketing and product
Starting an online business with no money
development, all by myself. I didn’t have a choice,
is not some pipe dream you only see in the
and I wanted to be an independent entrepreneur,
movies. It’s a respectable ambition that you
so I did much of the heavy lifting myself.
can make a reality by following the steps in
this guide. It’ll take a lot of hard work and
Only eventually, as I started making money,
I could finally buy the tools I needed to organize
dedication, but, in the end, it’s worth it and
my operation better and hire people to do some
extremely rewarding to be your own boss.
of the more mundane elements of business such
When you start out with next to nothing,
as admin and marketing management.
the only thing you can rely on is you.
Together with determination, a strong
Early on in your business you may need to fill a
wide variety of roles, at least until your business
work ethic, and a solid business idea,
builds some cashflow and momentum.
you can make your aspiration come true.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
THE ICEBERG ILLUSION
by Sylvia Duckworth, perfectly
represents how most people
look at other people’s success.
Most are quick to label successful
people as simply lucky. But below
displays the real story behind
the “luck.” It’s the process and
Online Business Blueprint
journey to success that people
often never see. People only
see the end goal, the glory,
the monumental win. They
don’t see the dedication, hard
work, persistence, discipline,
disappointment, sacrifices, and
failures it takes to reach “success.”.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
ABOVE THE
Rise
FEAR
“I feel so stuck. I need to find a passion,
influenced by things that extend far beyond any
but I just can’t.” About half of my clients say this
puny human self. Finding it isn’t like bagging an
as soon as we meet. They talk as if their passion
expensive trinket; it’s like leaving comfortable,
were a lost item they could find by digging
familiar terrain behind us and throwing ourselves
around in their psyches, like beachcombers with
into the sea. Many of us avoid taking the plunge.
bad shorts and metal detectors searching for
We turn away from the ocean, ignoring the roar
coins in the sand.
of breakers, refusing to notice how our hair
Just for a moment, stop digging. Look at the
prickles when we smell the salt water. Then we
ocean. Can you sense its inconceivable power, its
spend years looking for our “lost” passion in the
vast, wild, dangerous fertility? Good. Now we’ve
sand of a grotesquely overpopulated place I call
got us a metaphor.
the “Isle of Yeah-but.”
Passion, including the manifestations of
The Island of “Yeah-but”. The “yeah” pushes us
passion we feel within ourselves and therefore
toward our passion; the “but” stops us dead in our
call “ours”—is not something we can grasp or
tracks. Yeah-but prefaces infinite justifications for
own but a force of nature, connected to and
avoiding the things our hearts find compelling.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
In the ancient classical
world when mariners
launched a ship in rough
weather, the captain
would shout to his crew,
“To Sail Is Necessary.
To Live Is Not.”
If you never leave the
Island of “yeah-but”,
and you don’t act in spite
Online Business Blueprint
of fear, this statement
will always be Greek to
you. But once you let go
of clinging to safety, and
begin your voyage, and
purposefully feel what
it is to ride that wild,
gorgeous ocean, the cry
of the seafarer will come
to make perfect sense.
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PSYCHE - STEP 2
MOVING
THE
TARGET
CLOSER
Coach & Author, Tony Robbins
close. They all shot bullseyes.
once revealed the concept of
Then he moved it further away.
“Moving The Target Closer.”
Then later, further away.
His class scored the best in
TONY HAD TO TEACH A
Marines history. Whatever
GROUP OF U.S. MARINES
you want to master, work
HOW TO SHOOT BETTER.
with a mentor. Repeat a lot.
He had never taught a class
Get feedback. Take small
about on shooting weapons.
consistent steps forward,
He brought the target really
move the target closer!
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FORMUL ATION STAGE
Define It
Design It
Develop It
Deploy It
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STEP 3
PLANS
I D E N T I F Y I N G Y O U R TA R G E T A U D I E N C E
& NICHE & OUTLINING YOUR
LONG-R ANGE GOALS & VISION
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Good Fortune
Is What Happens
When Opportunity
Meets With
Planning
-
T H O M A S
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E D I S O N
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PLANNING - STEP 3
IDEAS WITHOUT PLANS
Are No
Plans
At
All
Your first step is to
actually create your
own ‘starting an online
business checklist’. If
you don’t have a list of
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priorities and tasks you
can get lost. You are
working frantically in all
directions without a plan,
and you’ll get nowhere fast.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
MAPPING OUT IDEAS
One thing an Internet Entrepreneur needs
Now, here’s what seperates an entrepreneurs
to do is map out what their short term and long
mindset from employee’s mindset. Employees
range business objectives are. Some people call
would normally ask themselves: “How fast can
this as setting your goals. I prefer to call it a plan.
I make money and how much”. Whereas as
One example would be figuring out, how many
entrepreneurs would ask themselves: “How can
months can you survive paying with the current
I setup my business so my living expenses are
expenses if you lost your job tomorrow?. So your
covered my automated income, creating financial
objective should be to scale back on luxuries and
freedom”. Did you see the difference? A real
map out how much income do you need to to
entrepreneur worries about the system first,
earn to cover your basic living costs.
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then the money comes second.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
Some people swear by formal business plans.
After trying many of them, my to-do list software
I can tell you from launching many businesses
of choice is a great app called Evernote, which
over the years, the quickest, most efficient way,
allows you to sync your notes between both
is a simple list.
desktop and mobile platforms.
There are a lot of different online tools
I have on average no more than 6 to 10 notes
that you can use to make your lists and stay
on my computer desktop, which are collapsable
organized. Evernote is an option that people
to tabs for easy navigation and storage. I have
love that allows you to group and organize your
organised my lists into categories, and positioned
to-dos and ideas. Other people use a simple
on my desktop in order of priority. There is a small
to-do list offered in Gmail or Outlook. These will
sense of accomplishment from deleting projects
work. There are many to-do applications online.
off lists. I can see and feel progress, and this is
what keeps me moving forward.
There is a sense of
accomplishment from
deleting projects off my
lists. I can feel progress,
and this is what keeps
me moving forward.
Online Business Blueprint
Regardless of what you decide on, staying
organized with a list is crucial when starting an
online business. There are a ton of things to do
and thinking about them all can be overwhelming.
Don’t think about the big project, focus on your
list and systematically address each of the items.
Approaching each little task individually
allows you move towards the ultimate goal.
Avoid feeling overwhelmed and make small
accomplishments towards the final outcome.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
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PLANNING - STEP 3
START WITH THE
END GOAL IN MIND
planning question 1:
This may seem to sound
counterintuitive, but you
need to start your website
project by brainstorming
about your end goal right
from the beginning.
WHO IS YOUR
TARGET AUDIENCE?
Think about who will get the most benefit
HOW WILL YOUR SITE HELP YOUR
TARGET CUSTOMER SOLVE THEIR
PROBLEMS?
out of your new site
Will you feature content (articles/videos/etc.)
BRAND AWARENESS?
or products to help your target audience
WHAT OBSTACLES/PROBLEMS/
STRUGGLES ARE THEY CURRENTLY
FACING?
When they land on your site, what is the biggest
WHAT FEATURES COULD YOU ADD TO
YOUR SITE TO ACHEIVE YOUR GOAL
WHILE ALSO HELPING YOUR TA?
problem they’re looking to solve?
Ex: Free training courses/Giveaways/Toolkits
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PLANNING - STEP 3
START WITH THE
END GOAL IN MIND
planning question 2:
WHAT IS THE
END GOAL FOR
YOUR WEBSITE?
BRAND AWARENESS?
Are you an existing brand on social media
and you’re looking to plant your roots and
grow? This is your goal.
LEAD GENERATION?
Are you a consultant/freelancer/solopreneur
or business looking to convert potential
customers into buyers? Here’s your goal.
BUILD AUTHORITY?
Are you trying to establish you’re a trusted
authority in your niche and your content-
I know it can be tempting to
want all of these goals but it’s
important to choose the one that’s
going to make the biggest impact in
getting you closer to your end goal.
You can work on the rest later.
heavy site is going to prove it? This one’s for you.
DRIVE TRAFFIC TO YOUR PRODUCTS:
Are you an up and coming ecommerce store
looking to drive shoppers to your site and your
products? Start with this goal.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
I Will Prepare,
And Someday
My Chance
Will Come
- ABRAHAM LINCOLN
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PLANNING - STEP 3
SET MILESTONE DATES
Once you’ve nailed down your goals,
it’s time to set milestone dates.
Website Launch Coming Soon!
Sure, you could create and launch a website in a
few days if you’re on a caffeine bender and don’t
care about seeing sunlight, but be forewarned
Days
that it’s a lot to tackle all at once.
Hours
Minutes
Seconds
I don’t recommend this strategy, so I prefer to
set milestone dates to keep myself on track.
A 30-day target launch date should be doable.
Depending on how much time you’re devoting
This gives you enough time to fine tune your
to this, space out and set deadlines for when
work before actually going live, but it also keeps
certain aspects of your website should be
the pressure on to get it done ASAP.
completed. This keeps your project on schedule
Once you decide on a date, start the promotion
and gives you accountability to work with.
train to get the ball rolling. Share your site on
Choose a target date to complete each step in
social media or in personalized messages to your
this guide to start. Keep in mind, some steps will
closest friends, family, or colleagues (depending
take you longer than others, so your milestones
on the niche of your site). Let them know what
shouldn’t be evenly plotted on your calendar.
you’re up to with this new project.
They should be directed to the Landing Page
Setting an exact date is critical. If you don’t do
this, you’ll find yourself stuck in the stage of I just
that let’s your audience know your launch
need to tweak a few things before launching,
date displaying a live countdown clock.
which is a fancy way of saying you’ll procrastinate
By showing a countdown date of when you’re
and take forever to actually launch.
going live as a means of holding yourself
That’s because things are never perfect; if you
accountable. When you drum up excitement for
wait for perfection, you’ll never go live.
a specific day, there’s more pressure to actually
Instead of succumbing to perfectionism, vow
get it done by then. And be sure to hide the
to launch by a certain date and consider your
navigation and only choose one goal (such as
website a work in progress. As long as you get
collecting emails) for the landing page.
something out that looks professional, you’re in
Otherwise, you’ll overwhelm your new visitors
good shape. The rest can be updated later on.
which leads to them avoiding taking any action.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
T
T
S
S
I
I
LL
CREATE A
The first step to
creating your own
‘starting an online
business checklist’
is to start with a list
of all the imaginable
things you are going
to have to do.
This should be a comprehensive list.
It should include everything from
deciding on a name to sourcing your
products and images.
perfect. Write them down and continue to put
Start with a blank piece of paper and write
them on your list. The list is a living creature and
down every item that you can think of. It doesn’t
will continue to change during your journey of
have to be in order and it doesn’t have to be
starting an online business. So to give you an easy
organized at first. Write them down as they come
jump start, on the next page I’ve provided my
to you. You can clean them up later. Just write.
‘ONLINE BUSINESS 11-STEP CHECKLIST’
Once you have a long list of items you can
that I personally used when starting my online
start to reorganize them or group them by order.
business. With my checklist you will have a nice
With a new piece of paper or on the computer,
starting point. Each business is a little different
start putting them in the order that you believe
and therefore will have a different list.
The 11-Step Checklist should give you an idea
they will be completed. Once they are down and
ordered, you need to go through the list and read
of the types of things to put on your own list.
it sequentially. You most certainly, at this point,
So don’t get overwhelmed when starting your
will have an additional half a dozen items. That’s
online business, simply make a checklist.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
ONLINE BUSINESS BLUEPRINT
11 STEP CHECKLIST
ENTREPRENEURIAL
MINDSET
BUILD FLAGSHIP
WEBSITE & BRANDING
MONETIZED
PRODUCTS
2
6
PSYCHE
PERFORM
10
PRODUCTS
3
5
7
9
PASSION
PLANNING
PROMOTE
PROFITS
I
4
8
II
SOLVE A
PLAN
CREATE
FUNNEL
PROBLEM FLAGSHIP SOCIAL TRAFFIC &
& DECIDE WEBSITE
MEDIA
CONVERT
NICHE
& BRAND PRESENCE
LEADS
CHOOSE
OPTIMIZE
YOUR
SALES &
CHOOSE
CREATE
PASSION
AUTOMATE
ONLINE
& DELIVER
TOPIC
EMAILS
BUSINESS
HIGH VALUE
MODEL
CONTENT
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PLANNING - STEP 3
The
PA S S I O N
PROFIT
Finder
Many people want to start
an online business, but how
to choose a topic you can
actually make money from?
down your passions. After going through the
30 min process, I’d narrowed down hundreds
of topics I was interested in, down to my top
three major passions, which turned out to be
Spirituality & Metaphysics, secondly
was Health & Fitness, and Thirdly was
Entrepreneurship & Personal Development.
I just had so many interests, and there are so
To which I created two separate online
many possible topics to focus on that it would be
businesses for the last two.
paralyzing picking one topic. And then how to
(To keep this guide concise, I won’t go into
choose a topic I can make money from?. There
the Passion Finder Process now, but you will
may be a rare person who knows exactly which
learn more in my FREE video training series,
topic to choose, but for the rest of us it can be a
available soon on my website, so make sure
tough thing to figure out.
your subscribed to my free newsletter to get
So I created Passion To Profits 7-Step System
my free video training!.
and the first step is the Passion Finder Process,
In the meantime, here is a simple formula
an effective process for identifying and narrowing
Online Business Blueprint
to get you thinking in the right direction.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
MOST POPULAR TOPIC IDEAS
(IN THE ORDER OF POPULARITY)
VERY
POPULAR!
SOMEWHAT
POPULAR
LITTLE BIT
POPULAR
DATING & R’SHIPS
EDUCATION
HEALTH & FITNESS
WEB / GRAPHIC DESIGN CULTURE
MUSIC
MONEY & FINANCE
LEADERSHIP
MANAGEMENT
SOCIAL ENTERPRISE
ONLINE BUSINESS
PARENTING
FAITH
SUSTAINABILITY
ENTREPRENEURSHIP
TRAVEL
FINANCE
SCIENCE
MARKETING
FOOD & BEVERAGE
HOME IMPROVEMENT
SPORTS
PERSONAL DEV’T
STARTUPS
OUTDOOR RECREATION
NEWS
SMALL BUSINESS
FASHION & LIFESTYLE
PHOTOGRAPHY
NONPROFITS
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
WEB DEVELOPMENT
INTERIOR DESIGN
CELEBRITIES
PRODUCTIVITY
DIY
TECHNOLOGY
REAL ESTATE
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CRAFTS
TINY BIT
POPULAR
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WRITING
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PLANNING - STEP 3
F I N D I NG
YOU R
NICHE
WHAT IS A NICHE?
If you were to survey 100 aspiring entrepreneurs
A niche is a targeted market. For example, the
interested in starting an online business, what do
topic of “travel” can be broken down into specific
you think would be their #1 burning question?
countries, or types of travel, like skiing, historical
Well, there might be a few that come to mind.
cities, tropical islandsetc, or specific target
But from my experience, one of the most common
audiences like backpackers, retirees, luxury travel.
questions I get is:
NICHE EXAMPLES
“How Do I Pick The Right Niche
For My Online Business?”
CARS: Porches or BMWs
HEALTH: Fat Loss For Bodybuilders
DATING: Online Dating For The Over 50s
Next I will share with you five proven profitable
FINANCE: Real Estate or Internet Marketing
niches to consider for your online business.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
TOP 5 MEGA-NICHES
Most successful online
businesses selling digital
product fall into one of
these Five “Mega-Niches”.
If you can help people solve
one of the problems below,
you can make money online.
1. HEALTH
& WELLNESS
3. DATING
& R’SHIPS
4. HOBBIES
& INTERESTS
CURES & PREVENTION
DATING
GOLF OR TENNIS COACHING
ANTI-AGING
MARRIAGE
GUITAR OR INSTRUMENTS
HEALTHY EATING
PARENTING
SCUBA DIVING
STRESS REDUCTION
FAMILY
MOUNTAIN BIKING
WEIGHT LOSS
INTIMACY
DOGS
WEIGHT GAIN
CONFLICT RESOLUTION
(THE LIST HERE IS ENDLESS!)
DIABETES CURE
HOW TO GET A GIRLFRIEND
TEETH WHITENING
HOW TO GET A BOYFRIEND
HOLISTIC HEALTH
HOW TO GET YOUR EX BACK
HAIR LOSS
HOW TO BOOST SEX LIFE
2. MONEY
& FINANCE
5. PERSONAL
DEVL’T
HOW TO BOOST LOVE LIFE
DATING ADVICE FOR MEN
SUCCESS & ACHIEVEMENT
DATING ADVICE FOR WOMEN
SELF ESTEEM
HOW TO SAVE YOUR
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
INVESTING
RELATIONSHIP
MOTIVATION
REAL ESTATE
HOW TO SAVE YOUR
CAREER DEVELOPMENT
MAKING MONEY ONLINE
MARRIAGE
LIFE COACHING
INTERNET MARKETING
ONLINE DATING
SPIRITUALITY
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PLANNING - STEP 3
HOW TO START A BUSINESS BASED
ON YOUR STRENGTHS &
Now I will explain
how to start an online
business based on
your strengths, talent
or skills, and still make
money from it. You
can build a successful
business on the internet
around your personal
life, hobby, talent, skill
or anything else. It is
very possible to turn
any hobby, talent or
skill you possess into
a profitable internet
business. But I think it’s worthwhile you know that
not all niches are inherently profitable because
the niche you choose, often determines the future
size and profitability of your internet business.
Entrepreneurship
Fitness & Wellness
Holistic Nutrition & Healing
Spirituality & Metaphysics
When going this route, it is important to pick a
niche that is naturally aligned with your strengths.
Entrepreneurship and helping people was my
Having a natural talent for the niche, sustains
major passion, which is why I created Success
the content creation process and will actually
Mentors Academy. When building a business
make the whole chore of running an internet
online around your passion, its important to
business enjoyable. So the first thing you would
also check the search volume and see the traffic
do is create a list of topics that interest you. So
potential so you won’t waste time building a
my own list would be something like this:
business in a niche that doesn’t make money.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
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PLANNING - STEP 3
1 0 WAY S TO D I S C OV E R
YO U R P E R F E C T
Niche
I just had so many interests, and there are so
online businesses for the last two.
many possible topics to focus on that it would be
To keep this guide simple and concise I won’t
paralyzing picking one topic.
go into the ‘Passion Finder Process’ herein this
So I created a simple formula for identifying
book, but you will learn it during my FREE video
and narrowing down your passions, called the
training series, available soon on my website, so
‘Passion Profits Formula’ . (The first step of my
make sure your subscribed to my mailing list to
Passion To Profits 7-Step System). After going
get the free training! There may be a rare person
through the 30 min process, I’d narrowed down
who knows exactly what their focus will be from
hundreds of topics I was interested in, down
the get go, but for the rest of us out there, it can
to my top three major passions, which were
be a tough thing to figure out! I may not be able
Spirituality & metaphysics, secondly was Health &
to tell you what you should blog about, but I can
Fitness, and Thirdly, Entrepreneurship & Personal
give you some considerations to think through as
development. To which I created two separate
you make your decision.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
1. CONSIDER
YOUR INTERESTS
This is the easiest place to start. Think
about what you are interested in — maybe
now, or what you were interested in years
ago. I’ve heard of some online business
owners “reviving” old passions they had
forgotten about and starting successful
businesses around those passions.
If you’re fortunate enough to have one
overarching passion in your life, most likely
that’s what you should build you business
around. Do you spend your spare time
baking pretty cup cakes?, do you spend all
of your time watching British TV dramas?
Consider incorporating that passion into an
online blog and business.
3. THINK ABOUT
WHAT’S MISSING
FROM YOUR
FAVORITE BLOGS
2. CONSIDER THE
BLOGS YOU READ
A lot of people spend hours reading online.
If you are one of them then ask yourself what
As you read your favorite blogs, is there a
things you like to read about most. Include a list
noticeable gap in the content? Is the blog author
of as many topics as you can think of. What type
missing a major point about the given subject?
of blog do you spend the most time on?
Maybe you have a favorite blog but you’ve
What type of blog do you enjoy reading the
noticed that all of their articles are missing a key
most? Consider blogging on a similar topic.
area. You could start a blog with the intent of
Make a blog that you would enjoy reading.
filling in the missing content.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
4. TEACH
WHAT YOU
KNOW
Are you knowledgeable about
a particular topic? Do friends
and family come to you for
advice about a particular
topic? The best way to build an
audience is to teach. You may
not feel like you’re an expert on
a particular topic, but chances
are that you know more than
some other people. If your
friends and family are always
asking you for decorating or
fashion advice or photography,
consider writing about that.
Teach what you know!
5. WHAT ARE YOUR 6. WHAT MAKES
SKILLS & TALENTS? YOU EXCITED?
We all have aptitudes, things we’ve always been
Some people are especially excited about a
good at. Some of us are great singers and writers,
certain part of their job but it could also be
while others have talents in teaching and being a
things besides working. This doesn’t have to
good friend. Take at least half an hour and make
be something you have done recently. So take
a list of the things you are good at. Examine prior
about the same amount of time as the last
jobs, projects, and hobbies to find a list of things
question and really think about the things that
you may be passionate about.
have brought you excitement in life.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
7. FOCUS ON
PROVIDING
SOLUTIONS
TO PROBLEMS
It’s been said that a business at its
core is just a solution to a problem.
What problems or pain points do
people have? Write a blog with the
9. WRITE AS A
LEADING LEARNER
goal of helping others solve that
problem. If enough people have the problem,
you have a successful blog on your hands.
Unfortunately many people think they have to
8. WHAT DO YOU
DREAM OF IN
SECRET?
be an expert in a given field in order to create a
successful blog around the topic. This isn’t true
at all, and in fact, being an expert while trying to
teach others can make you feel unapproachable,
Write it down no matter how farfetched a
with a large disconnect with your readers in your
dream it may be. Often times the only reason a
writing. When starting a blog, it’s helpful to think
dream becomes impossible is because of some
of yourself as a leading learner — what are you
fear, doubt or lack of determination on our part.
learning about currently? Teach that. You’ll always
There could be several things to add to this list.
be a step or two ahead of others, and they’ll
Remember it doesn’t matter how unrealistic the
appreciate your perspective. Think of an area
dream is. It could give you ideas of where your
where you could be a leading learner for your
passions lie.
readers and consider blogging about that.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
10. FREE ONLINE
VIDEO TRAINING!
LEROY
Probably none of the previous five topic ideas
FORD
TO
PROFITS
are a sufficient and accurate solution for deciding
what to base your online business around.
When all is said and done, you need a more
comprehensive approach to narrowing down an
ideal niche, based upon what your passionate
Online Business Startup
about. So I highly recommend taking our,
FREE ONLINE VIDEO TRAINING SERIES:
7-STEP SYSTEM
Passion To Profits: 7-Step System
Turning Your Hobby Into an Online Business.
So don’t miss out, SUBSCRIBE NOW to stay in
the loop, my video training will be availabe soon!
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PLANNING - STEP 3
CHOOSING AN ONLINE
BUSINESS MODEL
How are you going to serve
business, you have to choose
your niche while still profiting
an internet business model.
from it? This is where the task
Are you going to build an
of determining your internet
internet business on the Google
business model comes in. When
model or the Amazon model?
it comes to starting an online
That’s for you to decide.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
There are five types of
Internet Business Models
you can use as a model to
set up yours. You can run
an online business based
on any of the following:
PRODUCT MODEL
SUBSCRIPTION MODEL
This is a model where your customers pay
This is a model where your customers pay
you a one time fee for your products.
you daily, weekly, monthly or yearly to use
This si the most popular method for online
your product or services. Example of such
business owners. Including my own.
model is Aweber, Inc.com, etc
SERVICE MODEL
ADVERTISING MODEL
This is a model where your customers pay
This business model requires you to
you for the services rendered. Example
provide something of value to a massive
of such services may include Website
amount of people for free. While you
designing, SEO services, etc.
make money from the backend either by
selling advertising space or other people’s
AFFILIATE MODEL
product. Examples of companies using this
This is a model where you generate profits
model include Google, Facebook, LinkedIn,
by selling other people’s products. The
and WhatsApp.
affiliate business model may also involve
the recruitment of affiliates to sell either
your products or other people’s product
Now regardless of the internet business
while you earn a commission. Examples
model you choose, just make sure
of companies running this model include
you understand its intricacies and
Amazon.com, Clickbank.com, CJ.com, etc.
fundamentals.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
“I Find It Fascinating
That Most People Plan Their
Vacations With Better Care
Than They Plan Their Lives.
Perhaps Because It’s Easier
To Escape Than To Change.”
-
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J I M
R O H N
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goal
Setting
FOR LIFE
& BUSINESS
SUCCESS
What’s your goal? Where do you want to be
business aligns with your goals and passions.
in the next five years? When it comes to starting
When deciding what type of online business
an online business; you need to create a grand
venture you would like to pursue, or how to
vision, something that will force you out of your
restructure a existing business. Ask yourself some
comfort zone. Goals serve as a benchmark on
important questions:
which you can gauge your progress and growth.
How much time freedom would you like?
What income would support your lifestyle?
How much do you want to earn per month ?
How much to save & invest per month ?
Who do you want to be / role in this world ?
How can you make an impact the world
and maintain focus and boost your productivity.
Whether your goals are to get out of debt or
change the world, you must write them down.
They can change as you go, so don’t put too
much emphasis on finding perfect goals. When
you create the new venture make sure the
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EFFECTIVE GOAL SETTING
All good things in life
are upstream, but the
natural flow of life is that
downward, negative pull.
To combat that downward
pull, you need a plan, a
system to help you acheive
your goals. Here are some
helpful steps for effective
goal setting.
PUT IT IN
WRITING!
Goals committed to paper
are more effective than goals held only in your
requires you to think them through thoroughly
QUIET TIME FOR
CONTEMPLATION
and to articulate them clearly. It also provides a
Setting goals for your life is largely an
record of the goal, when it was made, and when
introspective process. A regular period of
you want to achieve it. And putting it in writing is
quiet time or contemplation will help you set
a commitment to complete it.
meaningful goals that will enable you to achieve
mind. The process of writing your goals down
your dreams. Take time to think about what you
DO YOUR RESEARCH
really want in your life—without all the noise and
Whatever you want to achieve, find out as much
influence of the outside world.
as possible about it! Before committing to a goal,
When is the best time for you to focus on your
make sure you know what is involved. Get all the
goals? Is there a particular time of day or location
information you need to make informed choices.
that is most conducive to reflecting on your goals
What will achieving this goal require? Will you
and dreams?. The process of visualizing your
need to learn new skills? Get a degree? Invest
goals and the action steps required for those
money? How much time will it take? Etc.
goals is essential to being realized in your life.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
EFFECTIVE GOAL SETTING
POSITIVE
SELF-TALK
Similar to affirmations, positive
self-talk involves speaking aloud
to yourself—and talking to
yourself within your mind—in a
positive, uplifting, encouraging
way. Telling yourself that you
can and will achieve your goals
boosts your self-confidence
and increases your level of
self-motivation—the two
driving forces that will propel
you forward and lead you to
complete the actions necessary
to achieve your goals.
DREAM BOARDS
Whenever possible, create something visual that
every time you work out. Dreaming of writing a
will stimulate your desire to achieve your goals
book? Create a mock-up of the potential cover
and realize your dreams. Help to “picture” your
and post it by your computer where you can
dreams fulfilled. Want to vacation on a cruise
see it while you work. It will make the whole
ship? Get some of those travel brochures, cut out
thing seem more real to you and help you stay
the cruise ship, cut out a photo of yourself from
motivated!. Actor Jim Carey used this technique
your last vacation, and paste it on the deck of the
when he was a struggling actor in the early
ship! If you can scan photos and manipulate them
1990’s. He wrote himself a check for $10 million
with your computer, go all out and put yourself
for “services rendered” and dated it November
in the action. Trying to get down to a size 10?
1995. Just days before that actual date, he
Buy a pair of size 10 jeans and hang them on the
signed a $10 million contract for the movie,
wall of your exercise room where you’ll see them
‘The Mask Part II.’
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PLANNING - STEP 3
GOALS VS DREAMS
Dreaming and visualizing so clearly that you
move a muscle to do it. You can dream while lying
could see it in your mind’s eye is critical to goal
in a hammock in the sun drinking coconut juice.
setting because dreams are the foundation that
Goals, on the other hand, are active. They require
goals are built on. In other words, dreams are
initiative, action and effort. If your dreams are
what keep you going when the going gets tough.
heaven, then goals are the stairway to heaven.
Dreams give you hope, and a peek into your
The steps that can take you to the realization of
future self. But dreams are not goals. Dreams
your dreams. Learn the essential steps to creating
are essentially passive. It doesn’t take much to
a grand vision and achieving big picture goals.
dream. Anyone can do it, and you don’t have to
FREE PREVIEW: 7 PILLARS OF A WORLD CLASS LIFE
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Dream It. Plan It. Live It.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
PA S S I O N
PSYCHE
PLANNING
PERFORM
STEP 5
STEP 6
PERSERVERANCE PROSPERITY
STEP 7
PURPOSE
7-STEPS TO MAKING YOUR GRAND VISION & DREAMS COME TRUE!
DOWNLOAD FREE PREVIEW!
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The Greater Danger
For Most Of Us Lives Not In
Setting Our Aim Too High
And Falling Short;
But In Setting
Our Aim Too Low,
And Achieving Our Mark.
-
M I C H E L A N G E L O
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PLANNING - STEP 3
WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS?
By now you’re undoubtedly itching to set some actual goals, after all,
that’s a critical part of the planning stage. So without further ado, let’s get
started. We’re going to start things off simply by leaving everything wide
open. No rules, no holds barred. It’s time to put some goals down!
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PLANNING - STEP 3
4 POWERFUL STEPS
TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS
TOP 30 ~ ONE YEAR GOALS
Create Your Business & Life Bucket List
TOP 10 ~ ONE YEAR GOALS
List Shortened To Most Important
TOP 3 ~ ONE YEAR GOALS
List Shortened By Priority + Details
ACTION STEPS
To Take Towards Your Top 3 Goals
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PLANNING - STEP 3
TOP 30 ~ ONE YEAR GOALS
Create Your Business & Life Bucket List
EXAMPLES: Speak at a TED conference... Grow my brand to be internationally recognized. Gain 100,000 Instagram followers...
Generate multiple income streams of 10K (pm)... Own a 5,000 sq. ft Italian-style home... Have dinner with Tony Robbins and receive
personal mentory/guidance from him... Write an international best-selling book... Take golf lessons from a professional golfer.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Online Business Blueprint
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
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TOP 10 ~ ONE YEAR GOALS
List Shortened To Most Important
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
TOP 3 ~ ONE YEAR GOALS
List Shortened By Priority + Details
EXAMPLE: Own a 5,000 sq. ft Italian-style home, nestled in the hills of Tuscany with an infinity pool,
tennis courts, horse stables, and a three-car garage. It will have beautiful renaissance paintings hanging
on the walls, and a perfectly landscaped exterior with a jasmine garden and exotic flowers.
1.
2.
3.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
ACTION STEPS
To Take Towards Your Top 3 Goals!
1.
2.
3.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
Speed Is Effective
Only If You’re
Headed In The Right
Direction.
-
Online Business Blueprint
L E R O Y
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PLANNING - STEP 3
3 POWERFUL TIPS
TO ACHIEVING GOALS
Simple Steps You Can You Start To Accomplish Your Goals
Chunk it down. Figure out what series of small, achievable tasks will ultimately
lead to your goal. To determine these action steps, you can do several things:
1
Ask Someone Who’s Done It!
Ask someone who’s already done what you want to do, and ask what steps
they took. Remember it’s okay to not know how to do something.
2
Jump To The Future!
Start from the end and look backward. Close your eyes and imagine you’re in the
future and you’ve achieved your goal. What was the last thing you did? And the
thing before that?. Write these down until you arrive at the first action.
3
Use Mind-Mapping!
This will allow you to determine what information you’ll need to gather,
who you’ll need to talk to, what small steps you’ll need to take.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
Here’s A Simple Mind Map To Get Started
(Write down notes, ideas, resources you’ll need to achieve your goals).
GOAL(S)
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PLANNING - STEP 3
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PLANNING - STEP 3
THE POWER OF PART-TIME
The late, great Jim Rohn wisley said...
The power of part-time allows you to slowly
“Profits are better than wages”. And boy was
devlop something meaningful, without jumping
he right. But how do you make the switch from
off the deep end and quiting your job.
wages to profits?. So let’s talk to you about the
I meet a lot of people that tell me they are
power of part-time. One of the reservations or
passionate about something and I’ll ask them,
excuses most people have about starting an
“What are you doing to pursue that dream?”
online business, is they say I don’t have the time, I
They will tell me about every excuse that they
have a full-time job.
believe prevents them from making steps towards
Let’s clarify, starting an online business full-time
is faster than part-time. If I could have afforded
that dream and I realize they have not learned to
utilize the power of part-time.
to quit my job and focus on my passion business
This way, although your business will not
full-time, I would have had quicker results. But
take off overnight, you do not have to risk you
quiting my job was not an option at that time.
livehood, and current lifestyle.
When I Started Out I Had Two Goals...
MY 1ST GOAL:
To EARN AS MUCH Money Part-Time
As I DId In My Full-Time Job
MY 2ND GOAL:
To EARN TWICE AS MUCH Money Part-Time
as I Did In My Full-Time Job
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PLANNING - STEP 3
THE POWER OF PART-TIME
MY 1ST GOAL:
Was To Earn As Much Money Part-Time
As I DId In My Full-Time Job
SALARY
PROFIT
1ST GOAL ACHIEVED
F/T
P/T
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PLANNING - STEP 3
MY 2ND GOAL:
SALARY
To Earn Twice As Much Part-Time
As I Did In My Full-Time Job.
Then I Quit My 9-5 Job & Went
F/T Growing My Online Business
PROFIT
THE POWER OF PART-TIME
F/T
Online Business Blueprint
P/T
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PLANNING - STEP 3
People With Goals
Succeed Because
They Know Where
They’re Going.
It’s That Simple.
-
Online Business Blueprint
L E R O Y
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PLANNING - STEP 3
Goal Setting Formula For Success
PLANNING LIKE A P.R.O.
P = PRIORITIES
1. DECIDE WHAT YOU WANT
Only 3% of people really know
what they want. These are the
people with the big houses and
great lifestyles.
2. WRITE IT DOWN
Reaches your goal 10x faster
You will fly like an arrow once
you write it down
Not writing goals down is like
puffs of smoke.
But writing puts it deep into
your subconcious.
Online Business Blueprint
3. MAKE A LIST OF WHAT YOU
CAN DO TO ACHIVE THE GOAL
Send that email, make the call etc.
4. ORGANISE A LIST
Prioritized a sequence of ToDo’a
1st, 2nd, 3rd etc
Now you have a goal acheiving
Blueprint
5. TAKE ACTION
Be action oriented
Do something small everyday
towards your goal.
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PLANNING - STEP 3
Goal Setting Formula For Success
PLANNING LIKE A P.R.O.
R = REVERSE ENGINEER
REPLICATE A PROVEN FORMULA
Research best in class, look at who’s
doing what you want to do and
reverse engineer their model.
Find Mentors, Find people who
have done what you want to do,
and replicate the market leaders
“Most Everything I’ve Done I’ve Copied
From Somebody Else” - Sam Walton
According to Sam Walton’s book “Made in America,”
Wal-Mart was built almost entirely off of other retailers’
good ideas. “We had a part of our DNA that was interested
in learning from others, Copying good ideas. Don’t be so
proud that you can’t implement a good idea.”
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PLANNING - STEP 3
Goal Setting Formula For Success
PLANNING LIKE A P.R.O.
O = OBSERVE
MY #1 FORMULA FOR SALES HAS BEEN TO SIMPLY OBSERVE
market demands. Find out what people want (and willing to pay for),
and create a better version, and deliver it to the marketplace.
F.O.W.O.W.
G.I.F.T.
Find Out What Others Want.
Generate It For Them.
Look at market trends, see what
works now and what is coming
down the line. Think Big!, Elon
Musk has his electric cars, and
Space tourism, think of the spin
off businesses from those two
mega industries alone.
What products could you
improve upon by 10% to give
you a market edge. What apps,
or online services can you
produce, aligned with your
talents, or could piggy back on
Elon’s futuristic oppurtunities.
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BUILDING STAGE
Define It
Design It
Develop It
Deploy It
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STEP 4
PERFORM
BUILDING A FL AGSHIP WEBSITE
& BR AND & POSITIONING YOURSELF
A S T H E ‘ G O -T O ’ ’ E X P E R T
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I Can Give You A
Six-Word Formula
For Success:
Think Things Through,
Then Follow Through
- E D D I E
R I C K E N B A C K E R
A M E R I C A N WO R L D WA R I F I G H T E R P I L O T
& MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT
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PERFORM - STEP 4
Blog
WHY YOU NEED
TO CREATE A
ASAP!
One of the best ways to grow your
online business is to create an audience.
If you create an audience of people who
like you and your content, you have a
terrific asset at your disposal.
After all, that audience translates into a base of
One way you can create an audience of raving
customers for your products. It’s also a base of
fans is to create a value providing blog. Just in
customers you can offer other digital publishers
case you’ve never heard of a blog before, they are
to promote their products and entice them
basically online magazines witha certain theme or
to promote your products in return. All in all,
topic, which is open to the public.
building up an audience of raving fans is an
essential strategy for online growth.
Blogs are meant to be casual and full of
personality, not stiff academic papers. This takes
a lot of the pressure off with writing. You can be
sloppy. You can play around with ideas. It’s OK.
Blogs are meant to
be casual and full of
personality, not stiff
academic papers.
Online Business Blueprint
It should be no surprise that blogs are all over
the place. You can find blogs in just about every
category, from personal development to the news
of the day. They also happen to be a perfect
complement to your digital product business. Not
only will they help you build your audience, but
will also get you in the habit of producing quality
content on a regular basis.
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PERFORM - STEP 4
One of the best things about blogs is
that they are easy to create. You can go
on a website like WordPress.com and
get a FREE blog up and running in just
a few minutes. THAT’S RIGHT, FREE!
All you have to do is create the content
and post it on your blog. The key to having
a successful blog is to consistently update
it with new posts. That’s it. You should have
at least three new posts each and every
week. If you can put up a new post every
day, it’s even better. This might sound a
little intimidating. That’s a lot of writing!
Actually, it doesn’t have to be. You don’t
have to write giant 1,000 word blog posts every
blog, your blog post can link to that. You can
single day. All you have to do is create valuable
even post up a bunch of quotes. If you don’t even
content. In most cases, your audience doesn’t
want to do that, you can always outsource. Check
even want long-winded blog posts!
out websites like guru.com, elance.com, fiverr.
Your blog post scan be short. Many of them
com, and others. All of them feature writers who
can even link to other people’s content. This is
will write blog posts for you inexpensively.
called content curating. If you find a great video
Once you have a blog up and running, all
on YouTube, you can create a blog post featuring
you need to do is keep creating new content
that video. If you find a useful article on another
and drive traffic to your blog. You’ll find traffic
generation strategies coming up in section called
Promote (Step 5).
Over time, your audience will grow, which
You should have at least
three posts each week,
or one new post every
day is even better.
Online Business Blueprint
means that when you create a new digital
product, you’ll have a built-in audience to
promote your product to. It doesn’t matter if
you’re a terrible writer and know nothing about
building websites. You can still create a blog with
the tools in the next section, the 4 key steps to
building a flagship website!
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PERFORM - STEP 4
Live Facebook Q&A
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PERFORM - STEP 4
Building Your
Flagship
CHO OSIN G YOUR
D O MAIN & WEB SI T E
& CRE AT IN G AN
INTERNAT ION AL B R A ND
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PERFORM - STEP 4
4
STEPS
TO
BUILD
A
Flagship
WEBSITE
STEP 1: CHOOSE YOUR PLATFORM
STEP 2: CHOOSE YOUR DOMAIN
STEP 3: CHOOSE YOUR HOSTING
STEP 4: CHOOSE YOUR BRANDING
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PERFORM - STEP 4
STEP 1:
CHOOSE YOUR PLATFORM
To start a blog you’ll need
to select a blogging
platform – or a tool that
helps you to get your
content up onto the web.
There are many blogging platforms
available but for me the choice is simple.
I would set up straight away on a WordPress.
com, as it is by far the most popular
blogging platform and for good reason.
Keep in mind that WordPress offer two tools:
Its free to use (although you do need to
WORDPRESS.COM – where they host your
make a small investment in a domain and
blog, look after the back end, and give you access
a server – more on that below)
to have it on their own domain. It’s free to start
It is easy to set up
but, you pay to upgrade different elements of it.
It has been around for many years and is
WORDPRESS.ORG – where you have
a robust and secure system (although you
complete control and host the blog and domain
do need to keep it up-to-date to maintain
on your own server, and have complete control
security)
over how it looks, operates and how you can
It has a whole industry of tool providers,
monetise it. It is completely free to use but you
designers and developers around it that
need to arrange your own hosting, domain etc.
will help you to customise your blog in
many ways
Online Business Blueprint
My recommendation is to go with WordPress.
org as its easier to set up for beginners.
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PERFORM - STEP 4
STEP 2:
CHOOSE
YOUR
DOMAIN
NAME
Every online business needs its
own domain, but it can be easier
said than done to find one that isn’t
taken!. We need to discuss how to
technically get your domain – but
there are a few other factors to
consider including:
The Human perspective
There are things to consider when choosing
Readability of your domain, the ease of it to say
your domain name, so next you’ll find a section
and remember, etc
called “Tips for choosing your domain name”.
The Brand perspective
Uniqueness, what the domain says about you
The SEO perspective
Choosing a domain with good keywords can
Depending upon where you get your domain
and which domain you choose, a domain isn’t a
super-expensive thing to secure – but it will cost
you approx $10-30 per year.
help your site rank higher in Google
The Legal perspective
Copyright and trademark factors
Online Business Blueprint
Note: I recommend purchasing your domain
along with your host provider as a package, so
mnake it easier for setup and integration.
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CHOOSING YOUR
DOMAIN NAME
WHAT IS A DOMAIN NAME?
A domain name is how your website will be
A domain name is more than an address.
known online, no matter what type of website
It is your flagship, your business and your very
you’ll have. It is the unique address of your site
online identity. Make it recognizable, easy to
on the internet and it will be yours as long as
remember, and a proud representation of you
you continue paying the annual fee ($10 – $15
and your brand. A good domain name is one
for .com domain). Users who know your domain,
of the many important factors of running a
technically referred to as a URL (uniform resource
successful website. So, how do you know what
locator) can simply type it in their browser’s
domain name to choose? This stage is about
address bar, and be taken there. Others will
choosing the best possible domain name for
be able to discover your blog through search
your blog even before you get started blogging.
engines such as Google and Bing.
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TIPS FOR
CHOOSING
YOUR
DOMAIN
NAME
1. CHOOSE A
UNIQUE NAME
2. USE A “.COM”
NAME IF AVAILABLE
If you are marketing yourself, ideally you’ll be
Think of any popular website out there. They
able to use your first and last names ( johnsmith.
use the .com domain name extension, correct?
com or janesmith.com). Even if you aren’t
Although there are many different domain name
marketing yourself, it’s not a bad idea to register
extensions out there – not all of them are the
your name as a domain now, in case you want
best. More often than not, anybody trying to
to use it in the future. If you are marketing your
reach you will use your name and then add a
business, you should see if your business name
.com at the end of it.
(yourbusiness.com) is available.
Using a search engine like Google, search for
75% of all websites are “.com” domains. It is
still the preferred method and the easiest to
your proposed blog or website name. Does
remember. If your number one name choice isn’t
your search show any sites with similar domain
available, then try your second choice before
names? If it does, try a different name. Giving
accepting other TLDs. Remember that some
your website a name that’s similar to other
browsers accept address-only entries in their
existing sites is the first step to failure. Also,
address bar. If you type just the domain name
don’t choose names that are plural or misspelled
(and many of your users will just do that) they
versions of existing sites.
will return, by default, to the “.com” site.
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3. KEEP IT
SIMPLE &
EASY TO TYPE
If you have to spell out your domain
name more than once for it to be
understood, then it won’t work.
Keep the name simple to remember and easy to
enter in an address bar or search field.
You don’t want your future visitors to
4. SHORTER IS
ALWAYS BETTER
incorrectly type in your name and be directed to
As I’ve been saying, shorter is better. If you
a different site. An example is the social media
can’t get your domain name down to one
site, Flickr.com, lauched in 2005. Four years later,
memorable word (almost impossible to come
the company had to acquire Flicker.com for a
by these days), then consider adding one or
large sum of money in order to redirect the
maximum two more words. Combinations of
many visitors who misspelled their name.
two words work great for the memorable names
If you insist on an oddly spelled name, make
like LifeHacker.com. Also, don’t use an acronym.
sure common misspellings are also available so
People will never remember the letters unless
you can register them and redirect visitors.
it’s a highly catchy name.
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5. USE KEYWORDS
IF POSSIBLE
You might not always be able to to work a
keyword into your domain name – but if you
can, then do it. Not only does it help explain
Trends
what your website is about, it also helps when it
comes to search engine optimization. Here is an
example situation. You lock yourself out of your
car, pull out your phone and see two results for
people willing to help you out. One of these is
lockedoutofcar.com and the other is johnsmith.
com. The first one sounds a lot more appealing
to your current situation, correct? Keywords
not only help for search engine optimization
reasons – they also help people use common
sense to see you should be the best source of
information they are looking for.
7. BEWARE OF
TRENDS
Anything that deals with something trendy will,
like the trend, fade away. Stick with a classic
6. AVOID HYPHENS
& NUMBERS IN
YOUR DOMAIN
name that will span the generations and not be
Numbers and hyphens (especially hyphens)
to registering a domain name. Do not wait a
cause confusion. Stay away from them at
week or even a few days to pick it up, especially
all costs. Even something as clever as the
if it is a good one. Chances are it might be gone
number1website.com will cause confusion.
soon. I hope these domain name tips help you
Make the name speak for itself.
when you go out searching for your next one.
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tied down to a trend or fad. Deciding whether
something is a trend or here to stay, is a matter
of personal judgment, but it’s usually not too
hard to tell. You have to act fast when it comes
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STEP 3:
CHOOSE
HOSTING
& SETUP
WEBSITE
Setting up a WordPress
website is super simple
and intuitive, it literally
takes a few clicks.
Web hosting is basically connecting your
do lower monthly prices. You can pay as little
as $4 a month for web hosting. All these have
excellent customer service as well. So if you need
a bit of extra support then they’ll be on hand to
help you out.
The web-hosters will point you in the right
direction for installing your site. If you’ve opted
for WordPress this will be really straight forward.
domain name to the internet. You’re effectively
If you’ve gone with Hostgator or Bluehost as
renting space on the internet, allowing people to
your hosting provider, installing WordPress is
gain access to your website.
super simple. However if you have any trouble
If you haven’t opted for a contained domain
during this process, they have a live chat support
name and hosting package then there are a lot
system which enables you to ask questions of
of web-hosting sites to choose from. The top
their support team.
three are DreamHost, HostGator and BlueHost
Once you’ve completed this process, you now
etc. Among them BlueHost is particularly
have a WordPress blog installed! You started a
recommended for WordPress sites and regularly
blog! Congratulations – you’re almost there!
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STEP 4:
CHOOSE YOUR BRANDING
&
POSITIONING
YOURSELF
AS AN
Expert
Once you’ve decided on your topic,
The starting point to
it’s time to start building your brand!.
and unique brand is
creating a compelling
Don’t immediatley jump to getting your
making a conscious
logo and business cards designed. Those
you want to be
decision about how
things do play a role in representing your
positioned in your
brand, but they are not the starting point.
is about positioning.
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STEP 4:
CHOOSE YOUR BRANDING
Your brand should position you as the
POSITIONING YOURSELF
AS AN Expert
go-to expert on your topic. Unless you’re
positioned as an expert and a trusted
authority on your topic, it will be hard to
convince someone to buy a course (or any
product or service) from you.
Even though we’re told not to, we do
judge a book by its cover. Think of your
brand as the “book cover” for your business.
BE STRATEGIC WITH
YOUR POSITIONING
HERE ARE SOME QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
The biggest mistake that people (company’s)
make with their branding is trying to appeal to
everyone. Don’t do that. Be strategic with your
HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE POSITIONED
positioning.
AND PERCEIVED IN YOUR MARKETPLACE?
Build a brand that appeals to your specific
target audience. Don’t try to appeal to everyone,
WHAT DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO THINK
because everyone is not your ideal customer/
OF WHEN THEY THINK OF YOU?
client.
WHO DO YOU WANT TO ATTRACT?
When your target audience is searching for
information about your topic, you want them
WHAT DO YOU STAND FOR?
to find you and immediately feel like they’ve
come to the right place. They should feel like
they’ve found the exact person (or company) that
WHAT DO YOU STAND AGAINST?
can help them overcome a specific problem or
WHY DO YOU DO WHAT YOU DO?
achieve a specific outcome.
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STEP 4:
CHOOSE YOUR BRANDING
Next you want
to think about
your website’s
look. Creating
a unique style
and brand is
important, as first
impressions count!
Notice actions like what happens when
you scroll?
Before you fall deep down the rabbit hole of
website themes, there’s homework to be done.
While you may not be able to include all
the features you want initially, it helps you sift
through the thousands of themes out there when
Where does the menu go as you move
down the page?
you know which features are high on your priority
How do your competitors websites look?
list, and which ones to focus on.
As you browse your favorite websites, start
Compare themes that are the closest in
goal-type to yours.
paying attention to elements and features you
like or are drawn to.
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STEP 4:
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SPEAKING OF THEMES…
CAN YOU AFFORD TO
HIRE A DESIGNER?
If you’re super serious you may want to
consider hiring a designer to do a custom
job for you. Though this is likely to cost
you quite a bit more, so a ready-made
template theme is probably the best way to
start for most people, but if tou cana fford
a designer, then keep reading. If not, skip
ahead to the ‘Choosing Your Theme’ page.
High quality sites don’t come cheap. If they
did, bad websites wouldn’t exist… but they do.
One way to combat this: Hire an expert. You can
Plan to bring both your goals and the websites
find a local graphic designer or outsource one
and features you’re looking to include to your
overseas specializing in the type of website you’re
initial meetings with your website designer.
looking to create.
By having a clear plan, you can communicate
Yes, anyone can design a general website, but
precisely what you’re looking for, which helps you
you want someone with experience to help you
get closer to your vision.
optimize your design and help achieve your goal.
You also want to set realistic milestone dates
These experts will give you advice for placing
with your designer to keep your project on track
(and changing the color of) elements like buttons
and moving forward.
and calls to action so you’ll always catch your
Website projects can quickly spiral several weeks
visitor’s attention and increase conversions
past their target launch dates, so it’s an important
without looking like a hot mess.
area that shouldn’t be overlooked.
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STEP 4:
CHOOSE YOUR BRANDING
SOMETHINGS
TO CONSIDER
IF HIRING:
Think about whether or not to
use a local designer or one that’s
outsourced from somewhere else.
Local designers may be more
expensive than outsourced
ones from other areas. Overseas
designers can be a fraction of
the cost.
Next, reach out to potential designers.
But, you should consider how easy/difficult
it is to work with someone locally vs someone
Review their portfolio to make sure they have
outside of your area, or even outside of your
experience in the type of site you want to create.
country/language.
Confirm that the timeline works for them.
Create a mutual agreement that spells out the
Before you reach out to potential designers,
project scope clearly.
nail down the following:
Set milestone dates to keep on track.
How much are you willing to spend?
Be prepared to shell out extra capital for this
How soon does this project need to be
completed? (Is there a target launch date in mind
investment; high-quality designers come with a
already?) This will affect the price.
higher price tag.
Be sure to outline: your goals for the site,
The ol’ you get what you pay for mentality
your target audience, and any branding elements
holds true here. If now is not a good time to lay
that you want to include so the designer has a
out the cash for the right designer, get out your
good game plan to start with.
notebook because this next section is for you.
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STEP 4:
CHOOSE YOUR BRANDING
DON’T SWEAT
IT IF YOU
CAN’T AFFORD
TO HIRE A
PROFESSIONAL
DESIGNER.
CHOOSING
YOUR THEME:
Nowadays, there are
millions of high-quality
themes that are super easy
to set up and look just as
professional as one designed
by hand.
Just please don’t waste hours of your time
out there, this is an area that it can be well worth
searching for “The One”. Browsing all these
investing in.
options only makes your decision harder.
Which will cost to purchase (on average $50-80
You’ll want a theme that says something about
for a good quality theme), if you get one from a
the type of brand you’re trying to create and that
reputable source they’ll be secure, fast, have great
helps you stand out from the crowd and have
search engine optimisation, will be designed for
some personality.
mobile as well as desktop, and be easy to install
Firstly I strongly advise you invest in a ‘premium
and customise.
You might want to check out Elegant Themes
theme’ for your website, rather than going for a
free theme.
While there are many thousands of free themes
Online Business Blueprint
or ThemeForest which have thousands of
WordPress themes from many different designers.
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STEP 4:
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To save you from
indecision, check out
these next two tips first.
#1: GRAB YOUR
GOAL & KEEP IT
HANDY
The idea here is to start
weeding out the themes
that don’t work so your
ideal theme sticks out as the obvious choice.
To do this, set your filters by the type of site you
#2: CONSIDER HOW MUCH
FLEXIBILITY YOU NEED/WANT
plan to create.
If you’re not building an ecommerce store,
An often overlooked area when it comes to using
there’s no point in settling for an eye-catching
themes is how much flexibility you’ll be given.
ecommerce theme you’ll need to spend countless
hours trying to manipulate and crack.
In some cases, what you see is what you get.
This type of theme is a template where you only
Stick to your intended site categories or find an
get to plug in your info and run.
all-in-one theme instead (more on this shortly).
It’s great for brands that don’t have hours to
Grab your end goals from Step #1 to see if each
spend getting their website launched.
theme supports what you’re looking to create.
The downside?
As hard as it may be to toss out your fave
These designs can be so rigid that you lose
design, impractical ones will only distract you
the ability to make your website as unique and
from your goal and eat up your time.
memorable as your brand.
Your site should look good and be functional.
Once you have a handful of options to sift
through, let’s find the one that fits best.
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On the other end of the spectrum, fully
customizable themes will help you create and
customize almost anything.
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STEP 4:
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TIPS: IF YOU’RE GOING
TO DO THIS ON YOUR
OWN, CONSIDER:
Do you need a theme that can be used as a
template (beginner experience level) or do you
want one that’s more customizable (for more
advanced users)?
How much are you willing to pay for a theme?
How much support do you need from the
development team? Some themes are hands off
while others come with 6 months of development
support.
Consider your navigation, how many items do
you need on the main menu? Does this theme
support that or will it look too cluttered?
Use filters to weed out sites that aren’t aligned
with your original goal
Don’t stress too much in the early days – we
all start with a design that we later look back
Check out the portfolio of examples: Do
on and cringe a little at. The main thing is
they all look the same or are they completely
to get set up and evolve from there. My key
different? This shows you how customizable the
tip is to first look at some of your peers and
theme is.
compeditors for insiration, see what the pros
are using, then choose a simple, clean design
Pay attention to features. Is the theme mobile
that you can add a simple logo to to make it
responsive? Can you change the logo size? What
a bit more individual and then get on with
happens to the menu on mobile?
making it look like an awesome flagship!
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STEP 4:
CHOOSE YOUR BRANDING
CREATING A LOGO
Logos are one of the toughest areas to
get right when it comes to branding
your business. And there’s no way I
could give the topic justice here in this
guide about launching your first website.
SO, INSTEAD, HERE ARE
A FEW BASIC RULES TO
FOLLOW:
If you can’t get a professional logo done,
stick with using the name of your site in a
font that matches the colors of your brand
and is easily readable.
Sites like Fiverr can be hit or miss. I’ve
seen some logos turn out great while others are
The point is to not get hung up on this stage of
completely unusable. For that price tag, it could
the process. Get something up and keep moving.
be worth a shot. But I wouldn’t use one that you
You can always rework it.
don’t really like just because you paid for it. The
sunk cost of $5 isn’t worth compromising.
Consider skipping it altogether. If the logo is
Use a naked header or one that only includes
the navigation menu until you decide on a better
one to use.
going to slow you down and you have no idea
One thing that will quickly outdate your
what to create, skip this step for now and come
site, even if it’s newly published, is a crowded
back to it later.
navigation menu.
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STEP 4:
CHOOSE YOUR BRANDING
THEME
NAVIGATION
Before you start adding
pages to your menu, map
out your site’s navigation.
You want to approach this
as if you were a brand new
visitor to your site. What
would a brand new visitor
be looking for?
Include the most
important pages up front
and only a small handful of
items in your main header.
It can be tricky narrowing things down, but it’s
that looks more like a friendly button someone
essential. Simple menus pique your reader’s
can’t wait to click. This is an easy way to guide
interest; crowded ones paralyze them with
new visitors through your funnel naturally.
indecision.
Organize the rest of your pages and group
If you don’t take this section to heart, your new
reader may get overwhelmed with the amount
similar ones together. You can use drop down
of options staring back at them, or they’ll get lost
menus to branch out your additional pages from
in a disorganized mess. When either one of these
the main header pages.
happen, your new visitor won’t stay long enough
Help your new visitors move in the right
direction by adding a “Start Here” header item
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to see what you have to offer. And you may lose a
new subscriber.
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ON L I N E BU S INESS WE B S I T E
11-Step Checklist
SIMPLE NAVIGATION OF
SECTIONS & MENU
SOCIAL MEDIA INTEGRATION
FOR AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT
CONTACT INFO FOR
ACCESSABILITY
2
6
10
NAVIGATION
SOCIAL MEDIA
CONTACT
3
5
7
9
DESIGN
EMAIL LIST
CONTENT
SALES
I
4
8
II
CLEAN
WEBSITE
DESIGN
& MOBILE
RESPONSIVE
STRONG
OPT-IN
OFFER TO
COLLECT
EMAILS
LAUNCH A
SIDEBAR
PODCAST OR CONTENT
YOUTUBE TO SHOWING
GROW YOUR
YOUR
AUDIENCE BEST STUFF!
EMAIL AUTORESPONDER SERVICE
FOR NURTURING SUBSCRIBERS
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POST BLOG
ARTICLES TO PRODUCTS/
HELP DRIVE PROGRAMS
TARGETED
OFFERING
TRAFFIC
PREMIUM
CONTENT
ONLINE VIDEO TO SHOW
AUTHENTICTY & GAIN TRUST
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FINE-TUNE
BEFORE GOING LIVE!
Now it’s time to perform a
final website audit before
going live.
Here, you’ll meticulously
comb through every page as if
you were a new visitor with a
menacing, digital red pen.
Pay attention to every little
detail and make sure they align
with your goal for your site.
If something doesn’t work,
toss it out and add it to a list of
items to work on post-launch.
Once you complete this
audit, you should have a
decent-sized list to work with.
Instead of getting bogged
down here, pull out the items
Work on the former items all the way up to your
that must be tackled now pre-launch. Add the
launch to make sure your site’s ready to go live
rest to your post-launch to-do list.
by your target date. Only stall if there are major
issues that could crash your site.
Otherwise, launch as is and work on the latter
While this may seem like
the time to bask in your
post-launch bliss, there’s
still more work to be done.
Online Business Blueprint
items afterwards. While this may seem like the
time to bask in your post-launch bliss, there’s still
more work to be done. So before you grab your
piña colada and kick back to celebrate, there’s
one final section of this guide you’ll need to have
under your belt.
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POST-LAUNCH BLISS
AND WHAT TO DO NEXT!
As fantastic as a set-it-andforget it approach sounds,
you’re not there yet my friend.
New sites garner more
attention and traffic.
There’s no better time to
capitalize on this, and you can
do this via the following ideas
once your site is live:
Publish new content weekly
or bi-weekly (ideally). If this
is too much, shoot for a new
article at least once a month.
Drive your social media
followers to your new site.
Mention your new website in posts,
Launching a new website
isn’t as hard or complicated as
it sounds. With this blueprint in
your corner, you can fake your
coding experience and stand
behind a new website you can be
proud to call your own (especially
when it starts converting well).
but for a more subtle promotion, add your
new URL to each of your social profiles and
to your email signature.
Rinse and Repeat:
Create new content
Track your site’s performance
Make the necessary tweaks
Revisit your analytics, and Repeat.
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6 ESSENTIAL PLATFORMS
FOR ONLINE BUSINESS
ix Are
S
l
l
A
l For
a
i
t
n
e
E ss
c e ss !
c
u
S
e
Onlin
www.YourWebsite.com
1
WEBSITE
6
2
EMAIL LIST
PRODUCTS
ENTRY-LEVEL PRODUCTS
MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM
FLAGSHIP PROGRAM
5
3
LIVE EVENT
SALES FUNNEL
SOCIAL MEDIA
4
COMMUNITY
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FREE
GUIDE
F R E E D OW N LOA D
Must-Have Tools & Resources For Online Entrepreneurs
Download This FREE GUIDE & Learn The Essential Tools The Pro’s Use
To Start, Grow & Scale Your Profitable Online Business.
[FREE DOWNLOAD] www.LeroyFord.com/Tools
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Growing
Your Tribe
BUILDING A COMMUNITY,
GROWING FOLLOWERS
& FINDING MENTORS
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HOW TO CREATE & GROW
YOUR COMMUNITY
It’s Tribes that will
spread idea’s, change
our world, and create
a movement
~ SETH GODIN
Online Business Blueprint
Have you heard of the term “build your tribe”?
Well, in case you haven’t, let me quickly
summarize for you. Building your tribe is all about
finding like-minded people who will support you
in your business while you support them in theirs.
Your tribe is a loyal audience that turns to you as
a resource or inspiration; they read your content
regularly, purchase your services and products,
and promote your brand on their own social
media channels. They turn to you for leadership.
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Tribes can run the gamut of sharing each other’s
time. I’ve come to this conclusion because this is
content, to just hanging out (usually in Facebook
how I also read blogs. I don’t read blogs that do
groups) being there to ask each other questions
not provide me with any value.
or help solve a convoluted problem.
In order to determine what is valuable to your
Your tribe are those people that you can count
audience, you need to ask yourself the following
on. They help you brainstorm posts, collaborate
questions:
on projects, and help you promote your posts.
Who Is Your Blog’s Audience?
Why Do They Care About This Topic?
How Does This Topic Benefit My Readers?
Would I Read About This If I Wasn’t Writing It?
They are there for you and help you in so many
ways both personally and in the blogging world.
An engaged community of readers is a valuable
asset to an online business owner, to connect and
thrive. There is only one ingredient needed to
create a successful blog: a community. Strip away
It is imperative that you answer these questions
all the key tools we’re told we need, the hype
with detail and thoroughly. I’ve found that the
around what “experts” say works, and tricks that
bloggers who struggle to grow their blog have
make a blog go viral and you’re left with what has
not put enough thought into the core questions
worked forever: a tribe of people that help you
about their brand, its purpose, and its audience.
grow your blog.
Once you know your audience, it will be easier
So how do you create an incredible community
for your to provide support and value. You
who will encourage you and help you to grow?
understand the needs of your audience, and
What do you do once you’ve assembled?
brainstorming what tools or inspiration they
To build a community for your blog, you need
could benefit from comes like second nature.
to have two essential components – provide value
Value has many shapes and forms, and it is
and support to your readers and be an honest
important to diversify how you generate value
authority on the content you provide.
to your tribe. Consider both free and premium
1. PROVIDE VALUE + SUPPORT
resources. You want to offer opportunities to
be personal with individual members of your
tribe, whether this is answering questions in blog
I work under the assumption that people do not
post comments or offering people email you
have a lot of time in their day-to-day. If they
with more specific questions, there are tons of
are making time to read my blog, it needs to be
ways you can foster engagement. At the core is
helpful and valuable. Otherwise, I’m wasting their
valuable content.
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2. BE AN HONEST AUTHORITY
If you know what you are writing about and
provide thorough value, people are going to
comment that the content you provide is honest.
From my experience, people value honesty.
How are you an authority in x topic? Pretend
that a potential reader is asking you this question.
How would you answer it? How does your website
convey your level of expertise? Do you include
examples of your experience within blog posts?
So, now that you know that a community is
essential for your online business, how do you
create your tribe?
Action Steps
To Build Your Tribe
COMMENT
way to connect. When you read a blog post and
INTERACT ON
SOCIAL MEDIA
connect with it, leaving an authentic comment
I know when I find a blog I immediately connect
giving your opinion or letting them know that
with I’ll follow them on Twitter or Instagram or
it resonated with you, immediately gives you
both. Not only does this tell me more of what
an opportunity to have a discussion with that
they’re about, it also gives me a chance to talk
blogger. You are establishing a connection. Many
with them. Don’t just stop by following them.
times, when you comment on someone’s blog
Leave a comment on their latest insta pic, give
they will return the favor. Spend just a small
a shout out of their recent blog post on Twitter,
amount of time and see the difference it makes.
or just let them know you pick up what they’re
Not just in relationships, but also in pageviews.
putting down. AKA… you like them.
Commenting on other blogs is an incredible
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PERFORM - STEP 4
JOIN FB GROUPS
Joining active Facebook groups is a great way to
expand your blogging community, it allows you
to promote yourself and your blog. These are
already developed communities filled with
like-minded online entrepreneurs, that can help
you in many ways.
REACH OUT
Are you inspired by someone? Tell them!. I know
when I get those emails or messages that my
post or my course helped someone I am floored.
It makes me feel like all this is worth it. Don’t be
afraid to email someone and just let them know.
Tell them you included them in a recent post or
later on when you need a helping hand they will
SHARE
remember you for reaching out.
Share the posts you like. This helps establish your
that their work impressed you. It means a lot, and
blog because others will connect you with these
posts as well. You’re seen as an authority when
you share similar posts and articles. Chances are,
if you liked this post, your readers will too. They’ll
thank you for sharing it.
BE CONSISTENT
Consistency is key with everything. Keep sharing,
keep reaching out, and keep interacting. I
promise you, when you do this, you will help to
establish yourself online, grow your audience, and
create a community that matters.
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PERFORM - STEP 4
6-ACTION STEPS
TO PACKAGE & SELL
YOUR KNOWLEDGE
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
TARGET Understand Determine
Your
Buying
Key Value
Customer Behaviour
Levers
Who Do You
Want To
Help?
Who’s Your
Audience ?
Industry,
Niche ?
What
Products
& Programs
Do They
Usually Buy?
Which Of
Your
Compeditors
/ Peers Are
Selling
Similar
Products?
Online Business Blueprint
STEP 5
STEP 6
Build A What P&Ps Create
Relevant Should I Platforms
Brand
Create? To Operate
What Do
They Value
Most As A
Consumer?
Name, Logo?
What Makes
Them Say
“Omg Thats
What I Need
To Know!”
Who Do You
Help?
What Is Your
Niche?
How Do You
Help Them
That Is
Unique &
Distinct?
155
What Will
Serve Them ?
Flagship
Website
What Is Your
Preferred
Platform ?
Lead
Generating
Optin Box
Take Action:
Social Media
Plaforms
Create
Front End
Products &
Back End
Payment
Gateways
ie. PayPal
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PERFORM - STEP 4
6-ACTION STEPS
TO BUILDING YOUR
ONLINE EMPIRE!
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
STEP 6
BUILD A
Presence
& Partners
Create
PROMOS
FULFIL
With
Excellence
Reverse
Engineer
The Pros!
Sell
DEEPER
Sell
BROADER
You Must
Deliver
Quality
Content On
A Consistent
Basis.
Find Out
What Works
& What
Doesnt Work
For Your
Niche
Plan The Life
Time Value
Of Your
Customers
Actively
Campaigning
Building
Rlsps
Create
Value First!
Expecting
Nothing In
Return
(Free
Content)
Test The
Waters
Have Fun!
Dan
Kennedy’s
Rule #1 of
Marketing
DON’T BE
BORING!
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Fulfil Your
Promises
156
Create A
Vertically
Integrated
Product
Sales
Funnel.
$197 ~
$10,000
Multiple
Lifetsyle
Topics
Serve Other
Aspects Of
Their Lives.
Example:
Health
Wealth
Spirituality
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Out There In Some Garage
Is An Entrepreneur
Who’s Forging A Bullet
With Your Company’s
Name On It.
-
G A R Y
B U S I N E S S
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W R I T E R
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PERFORM - STEP 4
MENTORS
AND
HOW TO
FIND THEM
No Such Thing
As Bad Student,
Only Bad Teacher.
Teacher Say,
Student Do ~ MR MIYAGI
Online Business Blueprint
In Homer’s noble verse “The Odyssey,”
Odysseus had difficulty finding his way back home
to the palace after the Trojan War, there were too
many dangers threatened to disrupt his crossing.
However, Odysseus felt comforted knowing that
he had a wise and loyal friend named Mentor to
protect and teach his son, Telemachus, through
his absence. Despite the wave of change in our
culture, in some cases because of it, mentoring
is vital in every person’s life. Especially younger
people looking to learn from more experienced
individuals in their private and work lives.
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PERFORM - STEP 4
Today, there are self-help gurus, life coaches,
Let’s look at how you should approach a
TV personalities, motivational speakers, and the
mentor who’s become successful, how to
whole lot. There are a number of channels in
work with them, and what you could learn.
which these mentors can be contacted as well.
The Internet, videos, Skype, books, Facebook, just
CREATE VALUE FIRST
about anywhere today, someone can be contacted Successful people get hit up alot with questions
instantly to assist you with your life journey. Life
and requests for mentoring. Dominating their
is certainly complicated enough. If you want to
time is only going to make them think you’re
build a momentous life, you will need to meet
trying to get something for nothing. If you
individuals who can help guide you, and you must
happen to meet a potential mentor, to have any
be ready to be guided.
chance of them mentoring you, create value first.
Finding ways to become successful frequently
Here are my three rules for attracting a mentor,
has to do with lack of knowledge. No matter
or doing a joint venture with a millionaire.
how many books you might read from famous
not getting the complete picture on what steps
1. PAY A GENUINE
COMPLIMENT
to take. One reason is, everyone is going to have
As an example, rwad their book, and offer some
their own unique circumstances in life. While
positive feedback, or how their book helped you,
you can get basic tools toward getting rich, what
or what what you learned from it.
entrepreneurs or icons of success, you’re probably
worked for one might not for you.
Rather than soley relying on seminars or books,
2. THE 90/10 RULE
working with someone in the moment helps bring
10% of the conversation should be about you,
immediacy towards your success.
and 90% should be about them, and their
In other words, to become successful, seek out
business, show a keen interest in their needs and
successful mentors. Those who have already done
what it is your want to achieve. Doing so, you get
first-hand information from someone who’s been
in the trenches and knows the realities.
This differs from someone who knows little
issues. Let them talk, you just listen!.
3. CREATE VALUE & EXPECT
NOTHING IN RETURN
Offer 3 ways you can help them, offer ideas
about you or doesn’t understand your own life
suggestions how you can improve their business.
hurdles. Regardless, you still have to overcome
Ask what areas are they struggling with in their
how to find a mentor.
business, and try to offer your free help.
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PERFORM - STEP 4
This approach lets the leader know you’re
to one another, and you should pass on anything
CONNECTING
THROUGH SOCIAL
MEDIA
you know to your potential mentor in return.
Another good method to reach to a potential
For some mentors, merely helping others
mentor is to simply tweet or message them on
trustworthy and not out to get free knowledge.
A true mentoring relationship means giving back
succeed is enough for them to donate their time.
social media. Most of them have at least one
However, when you approach them, you have to
social media account, either on Twitter, Facebook,
send signals you want to give something back.
or maybe LinkedIn.
Even if it’s payment for valuable knowledge, the
Twitter is particularly good because you can
returns could become exponential.
connect your own content to the mentor you’re
seeking. Try writing a blog and tweeting it directly
ASKING A MENTOR
DIRECTLY
to the business leaders you most admire. When
you pose a question in your blog title, they may
Sometimes asking a mentor directly for help yields
surprising results. Don’t feel intimidated about
tweet back an answer that’s extremely helpful.
They frequently attend business events and take
WORKING WITH MORE
THAN ONE MENTOR
time to meet with people after giving a talk.
As Inc. pointed out last year, you’re doing things
talking with an influential in your chosen field.
Sometimes all it takes is one simple answer
wrong if you start a business with just one
you’ve overlooked to give you the push toward
mentor. It’s worth considering hiring different
making the right move.
mentors for each area of expertise you need
toward making your business or investment
successful.
By doing this, you get multiple opinions rather
than one-sided input. The more perspectives you
receive, the more insight you’ll have on what the
business realities are.
It’s a challenge to see your business venture
from an outsider’s perspective. Having multiple
mentors usually brings contradictions, which
might sound negative at first, yet brings various
insights you can combine.
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JOIN OUR ONLINE BUSINESS
FACEBOOK GROUP
The #1 thing holding most
people back from explosive
growth is the wrong network
– not anymore. Get instant
access to our exclusive
community, alive with
high-achieving ambitious
entrepreneurs and young
professionals. As part of
the family, you’ll finally
be surrounded with likeminded success-seekers who
ONLINE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY
FACEBOOK GROUP
JOIN A COMMUNITY OF LIKE MINDED PEOPLE & LEARN HOW TO:
MONETIZE YOUR PASSION ONLINE
LEARN HABITS OF TOP ENTREPRENEURS
BUILD A PROFITABLE ONLINE BUSINESS
CREATE MULTIPLE STREAMS OF INCOME
ESCAPE THE 9-5 RAT RACE FOREVER!
understand you, challenge
you, push you and inspire
you to raise your standards,
SUCCESS
MENTORS
ACADEMY
We Rise By
Lifting Others
d
Leroy For
income, and success.
Join Our FREE Facebook Group
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DELIVERY STAGE
Define It
Design It
Develop It
Deploy It
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STEP 5
PROMOTE
G E N E R AT I N G M A S S I V E T R A F F I C
& BUILDING YOUR AUDIENCE
SOCIAL MEDIA M ARKETING
GENER ATING HIGH-VALUE CONTENT
SALES FUNNEL & LANDING PAGES
LIST BUILDING & EMAIL MARKETING
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If You Get Bored
With Social Media,
It’s Because
You Are Trying To
Get More Value
Than You Create
-
Online Business Blueprint
F A S T
C O M PA N Y
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Creating
Value Content
D E L I V E R I N G VA L U E
TO T H E M A R K E T P L AC E
& G A I N I N G A L O YA L
FOLLOWING
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
HOW TO
G E N E R AT E
Awesome
CONTENT
To grow an audience
of loyal fans, you need
to generate and deliver
awesome free content.
process of creating content quickly, then you
Your content can take many forms such as
the world. That’s because you don’t have to be a
written, audio, or video. Creating content literally
very good writer to produce high-quality content!
makes or breaks your business. You must, I repeat
The same applies for video and audio content.
will be well on your way to a successful digital
publishing business because you will have more
stuff to offer your customers.
Many people who are successful with digital
publishing businesses are able to write the
equivalent of two or three books every month.
Many of these people are not the best writers in
MUST create as much content as possible. The
You simply need to be prolific, not necessarily
more content you create, the more opportunities
great. The more prolific you are, the better.
you have to make sales and generate revenue.
There is a simple, easy-to-follow process that
That means you need to become an expert at
will allow you to create quality content at this fast
content creation. Whatever form of content you
rate. It revolves around one thing: breaking things
create, the process is the same. If you master the
down into bite-size chunks.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
There is an old saying: how do you eat
an elephant? One bite at a time, of course!
The same applies to creating content for
your digital publishing business.
Even to a professional writer, it is
difficult to write a 100 page e-book. For a
nonprofessional writer, it could even seem
impossible. However, just about anyone
can write a one-page article 100 times.
Likewise, creating a seven part video
series is difficult. However, creating one
15-minute video seven times is not that
difficult at all.
Those are examples of breaking things down.
One approach you can take is to write down a
If you break the product down into bite-size
list of 15 topics. What are 15 things you want to
pieces, it becomes MUCH easier to create a lot
cover in your book?
of high quality content quickly. The smaller the
Next, write down three subtopics for each topic.
pieces you can break down your content to, the
That means you should have around 45 topics
easier they’ll be to tackle.
written down. Once they’re written down, arrange
Let’s use an example of writing an ebook.
them in some kind of logical order.
Let’s say you’re going to write a 50 page e-book.
All you have to do now is write a page about
How would you break this down?
each of those topics, plus an introduction and
conclusion. Boom! you now have a table of
contents.
All you have to do to write your book is go
All you have to do
to write your book
is write a one-page
article. 45 times
Online Business Blueprint
through each topic and write a one-page article.
45 times. As you tackle each topic one by one,
your book will come together.
The same applies to creating audio or video.
Just break it down. Once you get in the habit
of doing this, you’ll be able to churn out lots of
great content in no time at all, even if the idea of
writing an ebook terrifies you!
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
TIPS FOR
THINK ABOUT YOUR READER
Creating
It’s not all about you.
Your content should be focused on your
CONTENT
target audience and meeting their needs.
KEEP IT SHORT AND SIMPLE:
BRAINSTORM YOUR CALLS TO
ACTION
The question How can you help them?
should always be answered up front.
Big, chunky paragraphs can be overwhelming
for new readers. Keep your paragraphs between
2-3 sentences at most.
Your calls to action should be short too.
Whenever you need a call to action,
brainstorm a few options. This will help get the
creative juices flowing. You should test a few of
Trying to cram in two at once will cause your
your favorites out too to see which ones perform
website visitors to not take any action
better.
Don’t forget to use Bold and Italics to
Avoid using the generic terms like: Submit,
emphasize only the important items. But, it’s
Enter, Subscribe and get creative! Show your
a fine line here. Adding to much emphasis will
audience exactly what they’ll get and instruct
make things chaotic. Strike a balance.
them with the right action verbs.
CREATE GOAL-DRIVEN COPY
ADD A FEW ARTICLES TO YOUR
BLOG BEFORE LAUNCHING
Consider what you want your readers to get
out of each page. Make this your focus and only
choose one.
Be sure to stay on point too. If your content
Spend time creating a few blog articles
before you launch your site. This will help give
your new site a great first impression.
drifts away from your goal, toss it out and get
If you’re not a writer, you can always hire one.
back on track.
Think about the biggest problems your
Each piece of content you add to the site
customers are facing and write about those first.
should be well thought out, fluff-free, and
targeted. This will keep visitors engaged.
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Start with 3-5 topics and branch out from
there once your site is live.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
DIFFERENT
TYPES OF
Content
Let’s be clear, content is
common, then there’s
not just blog posts. There
Podcasting (Audio)
are many different types
and Video. So content is
of content you can create. not limited to the written
Which can be revered to
word. There are several
as the big three:
ways to create content
Blog Articles (Written),
that may work well within
which is the most
your particular niche.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
WHERE DO I POST
CONTENT?
KNOW YOUR
AUDIENCE
There’s two places to post, onsite and off.
When you’re writing a blog, you have to know
your target market – just as when you’re selling
ONSITE CONTENT (YOUR WEBSITE)
a product or service. Because when you’re
Reffers to the kind of information business
blogging, you are selling. Your blog articles
owners put on their own website generally used
shouldn’t necessarily sound like a sales pitch, but
to establish authority in your field and connect
they should be relevant to the audience you’re
with your readers in your own voice about topics
trying to reach. And your readers should leave
in your niche.
with a sense that they have gained knowledge
they might not otherwise have had.
OFFSITE CONTENT (OTHER SITES)
Dont just create “YourName.com” and put all of
your content there and nowhere else. Write on
POST WEEKLY
LinkedIn, Huffington Post etc, write to as many
There is no magic formula to determine exactly
external sites as possible. Go to where people are,
how frequently you should be blogging. In fact,
dont wait for people to come to your site.. This
a lot of it is dependent upon your industry. It’s
can be your own content, or curated content.
probably more dependent on your workload –
Curated content is “found” content, it’s not
you simply may not have the time to devote to
something you produced. Most commonly these
multiple blog posts per day. Obviously, blogging
are articles that others have written that will
more frequently is better – but only if you
interest your readers. Don’t worry about sending
actually have something to say. Whatever your
them to somebody elses site. Your readers are
determined frequency (I would strongly advise
more likely to trust you when they see that you’re
that you post AT LEAST one new blog entry per
more concerned about helping them find their
week), make sure you are consistent. You want
answers, than you are about peddling your wares.
your readers and followers to keep coming back
Also, The more you share from other bloggers,
to see what’s new. If they come back a few times
the more they’ll show interest in you, and share
to find only those posts they’ve already read, they
your content to their readers.
won’t come back much longer.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
REMEMBER
TO KEEP THE
CONTENT COMING
Whether you’re writing blogs, creating lists,
composing case studies, recording podcasts,
shooting videos, or reviewing products, books,
etc., the one thing you need to do is keep
consistently creating fresh content. Keeping
fresh, new information on your website and
social media channels is a great way to keep
customers and potential customers engaged and
BLOG MARKETING
coming back for more. So if you can only commit
to blogging for the foreseeable future, then
make sure you blog. If podcasts are more your
Blogging for your business isn’t as easy as just
speed; go for it. Just make sure your brand isn’t
creating a “blog” area on your website and
stagnating with content from months – or worse,
posting to it once in a while. You need to get
years – past.
your blog out in the world where your content
can be shared, and where you can interact with
your customers/readers. Twitter, Facebook,
LinkedIn, Pinterest, and even Instagram, can all
help you disseminate your content. And if your
followers share your content, you’re likely to get
new followers, and so on.
And don’t be ashamed to actively ask for new
followers. You never know when something you
post will resonate with someone who may not
have otherwise known about your blog. Mine
your business connections, and make sure your
website, Facebook page, Twitter feed, etc. are
properly named and easy to find.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Generating
Traffic
GAINING FREE TRAFFIC VIA:
BLOGGING
PODCASTING,
SOCIAL MEDIA
VIDEO & EMAIL MARKETING
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
TRAFFIC.
The single most
Having a website with no traffic to write home
important element to
stopping by. It doesn’t matter what you have in
growing a successful
not in the know. It can be frustrating and at times
online business is traffic.
which the world sees you. You choose if you have
It’s the lifeblood of your
potential future income.
Online Business Blueprint
about is akin to having a shop with no customers
stock or the best offers you have if people are
catastrophic. A website is like a window through
a big or small window for the world to see you.
Once you have taken care of the technical aspect
of your website, it’s about time you focus your
energy on how you can increase traffic to your
website and achieve your objectives.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
7
SOURC ES O F
FREE
Traffic
When you start out no
doubt you’ll be starting
with a tight budget or
non-existant. So here’s
There are two types of traffic. PAID traffic, such
as Facebook and Google ads. And FREE traffic.
The upside of paid traffic is that you can get fast
results. You pay some money, traffic comes your
way almost instantaneously. With free traffic, you
have to invest time instead of money. It usually
takes longer to see results. Which should you use?
Both, of course.
In this section, we’re going to focus on free
7 free sources to get
traffic. While all of these are great ways to drive
you started!
and time. But if your just startring out, and have a
Online Business Blueprint
prospects to your website, they do require effort
tight budget, here’s 7 free sources to get started
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
7 SOURCES OF FREE TRAFFIC
SOCIAL MEDIA
The most popular method for driving traffic
to your products is social media. Platforms like
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube are
places where people come together to make
connections and share content. If you create
shareable content and create compelling profiles
on these sites, then social media can be a great
tool to build your audience.
YOUR BLOG
If you create your own blog and feed it with
content, then you can start attracting an
PEER REVIEW
audience, which can translate into customers.
Get a respected person in your niche to review
For this reason, creating your own blog is another
your site or product. One positive review can
great way to generate free traffic.
open up a flood of traffic to your site
GUEST BLOG
AMAZON
The most important thing is you put in effort to
Millions of people browse the Amazon
produce amazing content for others to publish
marketplace for ebooks. If you offer an
and you are strategic about which publications
inexpensive ebook with great content, this is a
you target.
great way to drive free traffic to your website.
BLOG COMMENTING
LIST SWAPPING
Commenting on other people’s blogs can help
If you have an email list, you can swap emails
bring people to your content. If you are able to
or blog posts with another person with a large
provide useful feedback on a popular post that
following. Basically saying, “I’ll promote your
generates thousands of hits, then you will have
stuff if you promote mine.” Making this an
lots of eyeballs on you and the site you link to
effective way to bring people to your products.
on your profile
(List Building is coming up in the next section!).
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
THE BIG 5
Traffic & List
BUILDERS
5 WAYS TO GROW YOUR EM AIL LIST
(Eve n If You’r e S t a rt i n g Fro m S cra t ch ! )
1.
BLOGGING
2.
PODCASTING
3.
SOCIAL MEDIA
4.
VIDEO MARKETING
5.
EMAIL MARKETING
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
THE BIG 5
Traffic & List
BUILDERS
1.
Blogging
HOW TO GENERATE FREE TRAFFIC
VIA ARTICLE MARKETING
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Blogging
Yes, you can write, even if you think you can’t
approximately 400. No, that doesn’t mean once
right now. And, better yet, you can blog.
you’ve reached 400 posts you’ll become an
Did you know that 77% of the 2.6 billion people
internet blogging star. But that seems to be the
online today read and scan several blog posts a
general tipping point when your content will start
day? It’s true, and you are missing out on that
to gain traction in search engines for key phrases
much potential traffic right now.
and within your industry.
Blogging is one of the most important aspects
of building a successful online business.
And while it’s not a magic number, it’s a good
statistic to measure your efforts and results
It takes about 400 blog posts to reach success
against. Essentially, if you write four posts per
I don’t recall where I read the figure – but
week, it’ll take you about two years to reach that
apparently the magic number of blog posts is
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number. So get get blogging!
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
THE BIG 5
Traffic & List
BUILDERS
2.
Podcasting
HOW TO GENERATE MASSIVE FREE TRAFFIC
VIA AUDIO MARKETING.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Podcasting
WHAT IS
PODCASTING?
Podcasting has quickly become a great technology
for creatively publishing information. So what is
podcasting, anyway? Podcasting is themed online
audio content that is delivered via an RSS feed.
The beauty of podcasting is that your intended
audience can consume the information when and
where they want. Through various podcasting
services (iTunes, etc.) people will download the
podcast and they can listen at home, at the office,
in their car, or through their iPod or mp3 player
while exercising or doing other activities.
The beauty of podcasting is that your
intended audience can consume the
information when and where they want
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Podcasting
GUESTING
ON PODCASTS
Guesting on podcasts is like presenting a room
full of your ideal buyers, where you can reach
an audience of 50, 500, or 5,000+ of your ideal
market. Let’s take an example. you’re marketing
a new fitness product, you can go on fitnesss
podcasts to talk about the problems you solve
related to weightloss and your area of expertise.
Through this, your demonstrate your value to the
However, there are a lot of elements that
audience. You have an opportunity to leverage
go into appearing on a podcast:
those podcasts to reach buyers who are looking
for products and services like what you’re selling.
Researching your audience, to identify the
best types of podcasts to focus on
When you’re a guest on a podcast, you borrow
the ‘star power’ of the host. You’re being invited
Crafting your unique story to appeal to your
audience and demonstrate your expertise
‘on stage’ to speak to their audience. For the
Email Outreach, to build a relationship with
duration of the episode, you are the star of
the host of the podcast
the show. On top of that, like an article in a
Preparing for the Interview to make sure you
magazine, it becomes something that you can
have your unique story dialed in for this audience
share with your audience, cementing your status
Crafting a ‘Sticky’ Call to Action to provide
as an expert in their mind. Most importantly,
visitors with a compelling reason to visit your
podcasting gives you considerable reach.
site and become a member of your audience.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Podcasting
HOSTING
STEPS TO STARTING
YOUR OWN PODCAST YOUR OWN PODCAST
Being a podcast host can be used as an extremely
Here are some basic steps to starting and
affordable marketing tool, connecting you to
having success with your first Podcast:
clients, customers and others in your network.
Podcasts can be produced very quickly allowing
Develop an interesting theme so that people will
you to capitalize on timely events with rapid,
want to listen and subscribe for future Podcasts
flexible information distribution. Podcasting can
also used to extend the use of already produced
Create 3-6 Podcast episodes
content and increase traffic to your website.
Inform your email subscribers and social media
Create an RSS Feed to distribute your Podcast
Optimize your website so Podcast is easy to find
Submit Podcast to Podcast Directories
Gain feedback from your listeners/followers
Create a schedule for regular and consistent
Podcast (i.e. daily, weekly, monthly)
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Podcasting
So distributing audio or video files over the
PROVIDE CONTENT OF VALUE:
Internet has taken hold. It actually has done more
Value can come in the form of education,
than taken hold, it’s taken off! Podcasting allows
information, inspiration, motivation and
for the distribution of information in the form of
entertainment. Don’t just broadcast commercials.
audio and video to an audience when they want
CONVERSATIONS WORK:
it, where they want it and how they want it.
Podcasting can be described essentially as
This can be accomplished by having someone
downloaded audio files intended for listening on
interview you or by participating in a panel
the move. All you need is an your smartphone or
discussion. One-person podcasts are less dynamic
an MP3 player of any kind for listening.
by definition. Dynamic content sells.
It was considered revolutionary when listeners
were able to take their music to the beach or
3 PS OF PODCASTING:
the park or in their car, but that typically meant
Promote, promote, promote. Encourage
listening to whatever the radio stations were
subscribers with automatic and periodic updates.
playing. Now, with podcasting, listeners can
Post your podcast availability on your website
choose the programs they want to download
(with a live link), mention it in your email
from the Internet and listen whenever they want.
signature and enlist in podcast directories,
Just like written communication of any type, or
including iTunes and podcast.net. Podcasting
even electronic communication, content is king in
is another tool in your marketing arsenal. And
podcasts. Value is what the audience will listen to,
remember, if you’re doing a podcast, it’s helpful
re-listen to and listen to with a desire for more or
to not only share it on your website, but to also
the next program (podcast).
provide a transcript of the podcast on your site.
Here are a few podcasting pointers:
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This will give you extra SEO bang for your buck.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
THE BIG 5
Traffic & List
BUILDERS
3.
Social Media
BUILDING YOUR TRIBE
& A COMMUNITY OF
RAVING FANS
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Social Media
Social Media is the new “word of mouth”
of mouth now spreads like never before.
It’s been said that the best kind of advertising
More connections equals more influencers.
is “word of mouth.” If a trusted friend, family
Facebook alone has approximately one billion
member or acquaintance raves about a product
users. A billion users! And the average Facebook
or service, you’re probably more likely to take
user is connected to 229 “friends.” When you take
that positive critique into consideration. And, of
into consideration Twitter, Foursquare, LinkedIn,
course, a bad review will have even more impact.
Instagram, Path, etc.(the list goes on and on),
Today, advertising is everywhere, but word of
mouth still has tremendous impact. In fact, word
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the number of people we are connected to can
increase exponentially.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Social Media
IF YOU’VE GOT THE BUDGET,
THEN ADVERTISE
There’s no shame in using advertising to
acquire Likes and Followers to quickly grow
your social audience. Be clever, be truthful, or
offer some promotion in exchange for their
social doff of the cap. A few dollars spent wisely
can help acquire a fair amount of followers.
DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT
PAY TO ACQUIRE DRONE
FOLLOWERS
As soon as you pop online you’ll be hounded by
offers for cheap ways to acquire a 1000 Twitter
followers or Facebook Likes for your page. Don’t
do it. It really won’t help you and might harm
your overall reach. Most of these offers are
scams that offer drone or dummy accounts or
“worthless” followers from overseas. Not that
foreign accounts aren’t valuable, but they’re
probably not legitimate accounts or are simply
not relevant to your business. And they’ll likely
not engage with your posts - and therefore
throw off your organic reach ratios.
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Most of these
offers are scams
that offer drone or
dummy accounts or
“worthless” followers
from overseas
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Social Media
SO WHAT DO YOU DO IF YOU
HAVE NO MONEY TO SPEND
First, let me state that in the beginning you’ll
be focusing on increasing your numbers. This
isn’t for vanity’s sake. It’s simple a means to
an end – you need to build an audience. So
keep focused on increasing your numbers of
Followers, page Likes, connections, circles, etc.
So the budget is small or non-existent…
not a problem. You’ll simply have to invest
have more followers than you’re following.
something else, and that’s time. You’ll need to
Facebook is a little different, since you’re
work a bit harder to post regularly and to interact
promoting a page most likely, there’s not a
with others frequently to build out your social
direct comparison to following and followers.
network. Start posting and scheduling posts,
But you can have your page engage with those
Follow people, Like pages, and then engage
that Like your page. And continue to engage
with others. Try to keep your Likes and Follows
with individuals or their pages to improve your
relatively close to your own stats. That is, don’t
engagement metrics. This will tend to improve
jump onto Twitter and follow thousands - instead
your Edgerank which helps your page’s posts
work to keep your Follower to Following accounts
appear within the timelines of those that Liked
relatively close. Initially, we like to keep our
your page. Pages have notoriously low organic
numbers only a few hundred apart - so if we’re
reach without a really good Edgerank - so
following 400 people we’d want to have around
you’ll need to work hard to get your page posts
200 followers. Later, as you grow, you’ll start to
seen. Or you’ll need to advertise… but we have
unfollow accounts that don’t follow back to keep
no monies… so you’ll be spending the time to
your ratio tight - and eventually the goal is to
engage with folks.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Social Media
SOCIAL MEDIA IS
VEERING HEAVILY
TOWARDS VISUALS
Skipping over Pinterest and
Instagram which are essentially built
to be visual, even Facebook and
Twitter are now gravitating towards
more visually compelling posts.
Twitter posts with images or video
have much higher engagements
than text / link only posts. So don’t
skimp on creating a good visual
for your witty Tweet. Facebook also favors visual
content. Fortunately, if you’re not Annie Leibovitz
or Andy Warhol, there are abundant resources
online that can help you create or acquire
If you’re not
Annie Leibovitz or
Andy Warhol, there
are abundant
resources online
that can help you.
stunning visuals such as Canva and Visually.
HOW DO I MANAGE ALL MY
CONTENT AND SCHEDULING?
As you can tell, as you get into this, you’ll quickly
need a way to collect and schedule your content
and possibly manage your engagement across
platforms. Again, there are plenty of choices
that can handle all the major social platforms.
Hootsuite, Sproutsocial, S.endible, and my
personal favorite, Buffer, can all get the job done.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Social Media
DO WHAT IT
TAKES TO KEEP
YOUR NUMBERS
CLIMBING
2B
MONTHLY USERS
1.5 B
You started with nil or next to
it so the main objective for the
foreseeable future will be to keep
1B
acquiring Followers and Likes
(or Circle friends on google+).
Contact and connect with friends,
500 M
family members, old school pals,
and even the uber driver who
took you to the airport. Friend
them, follow them, etc. to gain
their reciprocal follow or like. You
so pathetic when attracting others. An account
WHEN IT’S TIME TO TAKE OUT
THE GARBAGE
with a 1000 followers looks more impressive
Once you’ve grown your numbers or when your
than one with 10. Don’t worry too much early
ratio gets out of kilter… you’ll want to clean up
on about the quality of your followers provided
your audience. There are lots of tools to help here
they’re real followers. You’ll clean it all up later.
as well. For Twitter you can sign-up for Tweepi or
Eventually, you’ll start to see a core audience
ManageFilter and clean out the garbage. Other
that’s relevant to you, and you’ll engage with
networks such as Facebook and Pinterest don’t
them. Then their followers will see you, and
give as much weight to your ratio of followers to
hopefully follow you too. So you will build good
followed… so it’s not as important to clean these
audience members along with the garbage.
profiles up - but sometimes it’s just nice to do it.
need to get your numbers up so you don’t look
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Social Media
SO WHICH NETWORK
SHOULD YOU FOCUS ON?
Here’s where we’ll disagree with some others
on what networks to start with… we generally
tell clients to start with them all. Even if it’s
simply setting up your profile on all the major
social networks so you can capture your brand
name for that profile. Create your profile on
each, fill it in as completely as possible, then
post to it as best you can. Of course, if you’re
not a visually exciting brand or will have trouble
DON’T BE A SALES-BOT
creating visual content, then after you setup
Social media is meant to be social. To share
Pinterest or Instagram to capture your brand
knowledge, thoughts, and experiences. Don’t
name - you might opt to let them simply sit for
laster your social media with sales ads and self
use in the future.
promotions or people will simply tune out – or
After a short while you’ll also gain insight
worse, unfollow you. Be interesting and drop
into which social networks are favored by your
an occasional self-promo but don’t over do it.
customers or audience. If you’re growing a B2B
I tell people to imagine they’re at a party - you
brand you might gravitate towards Linkedin
don’t walk over to people and try to sell them
more or find that Twitter has a larger audience
something when you first meet them. You talk
than Facebook. There’s simply no one-size-fits-all
with them. Get to know them and let them learn
answer here; you’ll have to setup and add content
about you. And, you don’t yell or insult people
to all the major social platforms initially to see
(well you shouldn’t). You want to be the life of the
where you need to focus your time and efforts.
party everyone remembers, not the louse who
It generally doesn’t take long and then you can
got in a fight, insulted the host, knocked over
hone in on the networks the offer the best return.
grandma’s urn, and threw up in the ficus plant.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Social Media
STATS & F I G U R E S
FACEBOOK
CONTENT
MARKETING
2
( AS OF JA N UA RY 2 01 7 )
TWITTER
CONTENT
MARKETING
INSTAGRAM
IMAGE
MARKETING
LINKEDIN
ARTICLE
MARKETING
GOOGLE +
CONTENT
MARKETING
330
700
450
470
AS OF JA N UA RY 20 17
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Social Media
SPECIFIC TIPS FOR EACH NETWORK:
How to get more traffic from Twitter, Instagram,
Google+ and Facebook. Here are some key ways
to generate traffic from each of the main networks.
TWITTER
Repeat your tweets. Twitter is fastmoving. When a tweet is more than an
hour or two old, it’s pretty much off the radar and
not likely to get you any more traffic. Given that,
there’s no harm in repeating tweets at different
times of the day, to catch followers with different
working times. One of the easiest ways to do that
is with Hoot Suite which lets you schedule your
tweets in advance (major time-saver).
Connect your Twitter account to your Facebook
profile. Once connected, tweets and links you
publish will also appear on your Facebook page.
To activate, go to Settings > Profile in Twitter.
INSTAGRAM
Especially if your website has a strong
visual aspect to it, ie photography,
interior design fashion etc, Instagram can be a
major traffic generator and prospect source pool.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Social Media
SPECIFIC TIPS FOR EACH NETWORK:
How to get more traffic from Twitter, Instagram,
Google+ and Facebook. Here are some key ways
to generate traffic from each of the main networks.
GOOGLE+
Two core concepts of Google+, Circles
(followers) and the +1 Button (Google’s
“like” button) have a direct effect on your Google
search results ranking. Show the +1 button
prominently on your site. The more people
+1 your content the higher it will be shown in
relevant Google search results. Get more people
in your Circles. Content created by people that
are in a searcher’s Circles is shown higher in
Google search results. That means the more
Circles you’re in, the better.
FACEBOOK
Post updates with pictures. Studies show
that updates with pictures, get clicked on
more than updates with no pictures. Investigate
using Facebook Apps and Custom Tabs. Many
apps are free and they’ll help you promote your
content and links back to your site.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Social Media
SPECIFIC TIPS FOR EACH NETWORK:
How to get more traffic from Twitter, Instagram,
Google+ and Facebook. Here are some key ways
to generate traffic from each of the main networks.
LINKEDIN
Establish your LinkedIn profile and begin posting daily updates, and giving value right away.
LinkedIn posts tend to reach a greater percentage of your audience. When you tweet, you
might reach a handful of people. But, when you post a status update to LinkedIn, you will reach an
average of 20% of your network. Plus, LinkedIn sends 4x as many people to your website as Facebook
or Twitter does, according to Econsultancy.
SOCIAL MEDIA REACH
OTHER
4%
Visits to corporate websites from social media
SLIDESHARE 0.1%
100%
80%
GOOGLE+
0.1%
YOUTUBE
0.1%
FLICKR
0.2%
60%
40%
LinkedIn sends 4x as many people to your
website as Facebook or Twitter does
20%
0%
Aug 11
TWITTER
14%
FACEBOOK
17%
LINKEDIN
Nov 11
Feb 11
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Aug 12
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May 13
64%
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
THE BIG 5
Traffic & List
BUILDERS
4.
Video
Marketing
HOW TO GENERATE MASSIVE FREE TRAFFIC
VIA ONLINE VIDEO MARKETING
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Video Marketing
Did you know that even 6 years ago Youtube
second biggest search engine. What’s even more
had a consistent viewership of about 950 million
amazing is most of us are still largely ignoring
views a month?, Today, that same channel 6 years
video. So what does this mean to you? It means
later has over 3 billion views a DAY!
opportunity. Big opportunity.
It’s hard to overstate the influence of online
Just to give you a way to start thinking about
video. More than a third of Internet traffic is
how to use video, consider harnessing it to
video right now. By 2019, it will be 75%
build your list. There are more ways to do this
That’s just scratching the surface. The statistics
than you’d think. They don’t take the skillset of
on video use, growth and effectiveness are
a Hollywood producer, or the looks of an Oscar
amazing. 52% of marketers name video as their
winner. You can reach a far larger audience and
most effective marketing channel. YouTube is the
attract them more effectively with video.
More than a
third of Internet
traffic is video
right now.
By 2019,
it will be 75%
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Video Marketing
Added to a blog post or, stand alone, a video
in today’s mobile friendly world is as important
as blogging. Through channels like Youtube,
Vimeo and Dailymotion, you have the chance
to let your opportunity shine, you have a
chance to personally connect then, convince
and convert those who will. Video can also be
used to run webinars that help to build trust
and authority. Here you can use such platforms
as Google Hangouts to build your reputation
as the go-to voice in your part of the work at
home world online. The deal is, video is huge
right now, and it’s only going to get bigger.
EMAIL + VIDEO STATS:
The word “video” in subject line increases
HERE’S THE FACTS:
open rate by 19% (source)
A video inside email increases click-through
Snapchat (an app for making and consuming
rate by 60% (source)
video) is only 5 years old and valued at $20B
Video can increases web conversion rates
by 100% (lots of examples here)
Instagram (owned by Facebook) recently
copied Snapchat video features almost
You might be wondering ….
one-to-one
If you’re not tapping into the millions of people
on YouTube, you’re missing out on hundreds,
Facebook VP Nicola Mendelsohn said in
if not thousands, of customers, partnerships,
5 years, our Facebook feeds will be “all video”
opportunities.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Video Marketing
YouTube is a free marketing machine that
There are a few reasons why using Youtube
everyone should be using to drive traffic to
to get traffic is so beneficial.
their websites. But you’re probably thinking that
3 REASONS WHY:
getting views will be hard, or that you need
to have a huge list of subscribers to send your
If Youtube was a search engine it would
videos to. Right?
Just like Search Engine Optimization (SEO) helps
account for over 12% of all internet searches by
you rank webpages higher in Google. There are
itself. So there is a lot of potential traffic hanging
small changes you can make to your YouTube
out on Youtube.
videos that will rank it higher, get more views,
Just about everyone who is competing
and drive traffic to your website.
Because YouTube is now owned by Google,
for search engine position and traffic on the web
having quality, high ranking YouTube videos
knows how to create an article but only a fraction
is a great way to get targeted visitors to check
of those people know how to create video. So
out your site. You’ve probably seen at least one
you’re narrowing down the competition.
or two YouTube videos pop up on your Google
Google likes to list Youtube results
search for a particularly competitive keyword.
An official YouTube channel for your blog is
amongst it’s normal search results and will give
kind of like a video page for your site. Not only
you credit for a backlink if you put a link in the
can you customize it according to the look and
description of your video. Both of these things
feel of your site, but you drive insane amounts of
will help you get better search engine ranking on
traffic from a global audience.
Google and therefore more traffic.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
THE BIG 5
Traffic & List
BUILDERS
5.
Email
Marketing
TURNING SUBSCRIBERS
I N TO LOYA L R AV I N G FA N S
& LO N G -T E R M C U S T O M E R S
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Email Marketing
Email marketing is imperative to the success
should have an email list (You know this now,
of most businesses. While building a brand on
right?) but most aren’t sending anything. It’s a
platforms like YouTube, Facebook, Instagram
shame because if someone took the time to join
and Twitter are important, you’re limited to
your list chances are they want to hear from you.
the constraints of those channels. This makes it
Don’t disappoint your subscribers by not emailing
particularly difficult to move consumers through
them. It’s a missed opportunity if you don’t.
a funnel and provides you with little control.
They say nearly 86% of the conversion rate into
However, email provides a more intimate
new customers happens via email. I believe those
interaction between brand and consumer by
statistics. Via the personal inbox I believe we have
offering you the tools you need to control
the best chance to share our valuable content.
effectively nurture leads. Email marketing is the
The kind of content that brands your message to
small business unicorn. Everyone knows that they
what is most unique, YOU, and, your subscriber.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Email Marketing
WHAT IS EMAIL
MARKETING?
(EM) comes in many shapes and forms.
It’s basically this, every email you send to your
subscribers list is an attempt to strengthen your
relationship with your subscribers to turn them
into loyal raving fans and long-term customers
of your products and services.
Engaging them on a daily/weekly/monthly
basis by delivering high value free content that
serves your readers/followers needs and solves
a problem in your particular niche.
So email is a great marketing tool. It keeps
your brand on the minds of your (potential)
customers. On top of that, it makes sure your
new product launches won’t go unnoticed.
HOW TO GET THEM
TO SUBSCRIBE?
HOW TO DO EMAIL
MARKETING?
Attractive in the sense of what’s in it for them.
The first and foremost step is to build your
as anebook that lays out simple solutions to their
email list, and you start by making it as easy and
needs or problems. Or a free instructional video.
attractive as possible to subscribe with a simple
By providing a low barrier offer this positions
email optin form. (I’ll go more into mthis in the
you as an authority and takes off pressure from
next section, ‘List Building’)
the prospect of being sold to.
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Essentially, you must provide your potential
subscriber with a free high-value incentive, such
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Email Marketing
KEEP IT SIMPLE!
It helps to show a sign-up form to people
when they’re engaged on your website. I’ve
done this at LeroyFord.com tactics such
as landing pages, pop-ups and little box’s
that slide up as the user scrolls past a certain
threshold. If you’re using WordPress, there’s
awesome free plugins that will do just this.
But if you’re serious about growing your brand
and are willing to invest a little in your site and
capturing leads, I recommend Sumo.
THINK ABOUT
DELIVERABILITY
Once your email list starts growing, you should
really start thinking about deliverability. What
a service such as MailChimp it’s easy enough
I mean by this is the percentage of emails that
to increase your deliverability. MailChimp has a
are actually getting to the people in your email
simple checkbox to authenticate your campaign.
list. Simply sending your newsletter from your
There are four types of authentication and
WordPress admin won’t cut it, most of the time.
checking this box in MailChimp will enable all
You have a good chance your emails are actually
four of them by default. So my advice is to really
ending up in people’s spam folders. And that’s
start using an email service such as this. It doesn’t
a real shame, because people won’t even know
have to be MailChimp, as long as you’re sure to
you sent an email in the first place!If you’re using
check for such deliverability options.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Email Marketing
KEEP YOUR EMAIL
CONTENT ENGAGING
One of the most important things to do is to
keep your email’s content engaging. People
should want to read your newsletters or
other emails. This comes down to keeping a
healthy balance between promotional and
informational content. This can be a fine line
Let me give you some tips how you can
3. MAKE
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
keep your readers engaged:
Whether this is about a new product or service,
to walk, but it’s well worth the effort.
1. BE PERSONAL:
or about something noteworthy within your line
of work, keeping your following up to date and
Keeping a personal tone tends to resonate more
sharing news worthy items really helps increase
with your following and seems to increase click
their engagement.
ratios as well. So be authentic, and people are
more likley to become a raving fans.
2. INTERACT WITH
YOUR FOLLOWING:
4. SHARE YOUR
KNOWLEDGE:
This is probably the most important one. Sharing
your knowledge makes for worthwhile emails for
You can do this by asking for feedback, giving
your following, but it also shows them you know
special discounts or saying thanks (which can
what you’re doing. So not only do they get more
be combined with discounts).
informed, their trust in your brand will increase.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Email Marketing
FOUR TYPES OF EMAILS
There are four different types of email strategies
you can emply to communicate with your
subscribers email list. Here’s a breakdown of
the different email approaches, to promote
engagement and strengthen your relationship:
2. NEWSLETTER/ DIGEST
1. RSS TO EMAIL
Sending a digest is an excellent approach for
driving traffic to different parts of your website.
Using RSS to email is probably the easiest way
However, if your strategy relies heavily on
to send email messages to your list. RSS to email
sending out regular digests, your article curation
allows you to automatically send new blog
has to be strong. If you’re sharing articles not
posts directly to your subscribers via email. You
written by your company, make sure that they are
can schedule your emails to go out at specific
still on brand. The articles should make sense for
times and days. Using merge tags in MailChimp
your niche and appear as if they could have been
automates most of the process.
written for your brand.
PROS: It’s a good way to get started sending
PRO: You get to share a variety of content types
content regularly to your subscribers. It doesn’t
with your subscribers. Can be a time saver since
take much time because most of the process is
you don’t have to write unique content. Great
automated.
way to drive traffic.
CONS: It isn’t exclusive content. Some subscribers
CON: This approach requires excellent content
may be reluctant to join your list because they
curation. If you are using content from other
can get the same information on your blog or via
brands, you are sending subscribers away from
an RSS reader.
your brand. It’s not exclusive content.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Email Marketing
3. RELATIONSHIP
BUILDING MESSAGES
to aim for 80% value-packed content and only
20% sales/ promotional messages. Less really
is more. There are more subtle ways to sell to
Sending relationship building messages offers
your subscribers without screaming you have
you the greatest flexibility and creativity. You can
something for sale.
send your subscribers sneak peeks, a glimpse
PRO: Sales!
behind the scenes, short lessons you’ve learned
CON: Messages that are too salesy will encourage
or a little bit of inspiration. This is where you pack
unsubscribes.
in the value. Relationship building messages are
Email marketing is just another way to let
great for telling your brand’s story. Make your
customers know that you have solutions to their
subscribers care about your brand and feel like
problems. Before you start sending campaigns
they are apart of your story.
to subscribers make sure you have an email
PRO: As the name implies this approach is great
marketing strategy in place.
for building your relationships with subscribers.
A WORD OF CAUTION!
You have the opportunity to show your expertise
and position yourself as an expert.
CON: It can be time-consuming to produce
Once you start the process of attracting, nurturing
high-quality messages. You’ll need to commit to a
and converting your subscribers, all three phases
schedule and have a steady stream of ideas.
are going to be happening simultaneously. Your
4. SALES/PROMOTIONAL
subscribers will be at different points in the cycle.
It’s important to make sure your business is ready
for marketing, especially in the attracting phase.
Sales messages should be used sporadically.
Potential customers will be visiting the platforms
Subscribers do not want to be sold to constantly.
you’re creating content for and will form opinions
Also, you don’t want to train your customers
based on what they see. Make sure that you have
only to buy from you when there is a sale. Try
a content plan in place and your offers ready.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Email Marketing
One of the most effective ways of marketing
your website and products to your list of
subscribers is having strong (EM) campaigns.
Here are the four fundamentals to having an
effective email marketing campaign.
1. LIST BUILDING
2. AUTORESPONDERS
I will go into more depth on list building in the
Apart from automatically responding to emails,
next chapter, but before we go on I want to
auto-responders are great for follow-up messages
define what list building means.
which can be tailored to suit your needs.
A list is a term that Internet Marketers use to
For example you could program an auto-
refer to the collection of email addresses which
responder to deliver a series of say 10 emails
have been voluntarily obtained from subscribers.
in weekly installments which may be a 10 week
“List building” refers to the process of collecting
e-course. The beauty of this is that the auto-
email addresses from people visiting your blog.
responder will send each email in correct order
depending on when somebody joined your list.
Auto-responders also allow you to look after
your subscribers when you’re away or on holiday.
You should choose an auto-responder service
which is reputable and has a good relationship
with the major email services and is fairly easy to
use and reliable. Also always use a service that is
robust and flexible and which will allow you to
send at least 10 auto-responder messages.
There are several options when choosing an
autoresponder but three of the best available are:
Mailchimp, GetResponse and AWeber.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Email Marketing
3 P HAS ES OF EM AI L M A R K E TI N G:
AT T R AC T
NURTURE
CONVERT
CAPTURE
CUSTOMER
EMAIL
ADDRESSES
CREATE
HIGH VALUE
CONTENT
TO SEND
SOFT SELL
RELATED
PRODUCTS
& SERVICES
Your focus during the first
This phase is all about
The final phase of this
phase is creating content
delivering value to your
process is the money
that attracts your target
subscribers. You should be
maker. Get your offers
subscribers and capturing
focusing on sending high-
ready and ask for the sale.
their email addresses.
quality content to your
If you’ve taken the time
Content is everything that
list on a consistent basis.
to build enough rapport,
you are putting out on the
You want them to expect
interest and likability, you
internet. Blog posts, social
it. This is also a good time
should expect a few sales.
media updates, and opt-in
to start training your
incentives are all pieces of
subscribers to not only
content that can attract or
open your emails but also
repel potential subscribers.
to click the links inside.
Your goal is to use your
content to get the right
people on your list.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Email List
Building
THE MUST-DO STEPS TO
GROWING AN EMAIL LIST
(& TOP 10 MISTAKES TO AVOID!)
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
The
MONEY
Is In The
LI$T!
RULE #1.
ALWAYS GROW YOUR LIST
RULE #2.
NEVER FORGET RULE #1
HOW TO BUILD A LIST?
You attract subscribers to your list by
highlighting the benefits of joining, Do not trick
them to join. Do this by offering an incentive that
solvfes their problems. Such a s a free ebook,
Anyone who has ever heard anything about
video training, or other form of exclusive content.
Online Marketing has heard the proverb,
“The Money Is In The List!.” The list refers to
You must make it valuable, and the way you do
this is by solving a small problem in your market.
the number of email subscribers you have. If you
don’t have a list, then you will struggle to make
The good news is that you don’t have to write a
huge 200+ ebook like this and give it away.
an income online. Its that simple.
Your list is one of the most important and most
You could just give away a short 5-page report
on the biggest mistakes people make.
valuable tools in your business building arsenal.
If you help moms get fit after pregnacy, you
Getting people to opt in your list means they are
could list the top 10 pitfalls they fall into that
interested in the service you are offering.
stops them from losing the weight.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
DRIVE TRAFFIC TO
YOUR WEBSITE
Even the most cutting edge design and amazing
new product is worthless if it’s buried under
millions of other websites. In order to generate
sales online you have to drive massive amounts of
traffic to your site. Consider these basic methods
of promoting your new site:
While there are several ways to drive traffic to
your website, you don’t want to get overwhelmed
by all the choices. Focus on just a few methods
initially, maximize these sources of traffic, then
LIST BUILDING STRATEGY
continually add more sources to your website.
When building your lists its important to view
EMAIL MARKETING
& NEWSLETTERS
them as a long term business assets rather than
a method to make a quick buck. By building a
With a regular email newsletter, your visitors
relationship and trust with your subscribers, and
won’t have to remember to come back - you can
nurturing it over time you create a resource that
keep in touch directly.
is packed with potential.
Capturing the email addresses of your website
So you need to continuously maintain your
visitors is critical to the growth of every online
relationship with your mailing list and provide
business. However, a large and growing list is only
them with valuable free content. The more value
valuable when useful and relevant information
you give to your subscribers, the more responsive
is sent on a regular basis to these individuals.
they’ll become, and likley customers. This will
The goal of an email list is to turn prospects into
translate into buyers for the future launch of your
clients and clients into repeat customers and loyal
products or services. As an online business owner,
fans of your website that keep them coming back.
you make most of your money from your email
Try to keep in regular contact with your email
list of subscribers.
Money will come with time, first provide value
list, emailing them at least once a week with an
update, information, or some type of offer.
to your subscribers, then find targeted situations
To start, a great email marketing service
that will benefit your subscribers. The worst thing
provider is MailChimp, and its free.
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to do is spam a new list with affiliate offers.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
WHEN TO SELL
PRODUCTS TO YOUR LIST
So when is the right time to offer your products
to your subscribers?
Well if you’re cool about it you can do it from
the first message if you wish. For example, you
might deliver some very useful free content
to your subscribers via email such as a free
e-course, and at the very end of each lesson
you could offer a paid service or product which
PRODUCT LAUNCHES
complements what they’ve already received or
provides further value. This keeps it low key and
doesn’t force anything upon people.
The email is the traditional campaign launch
Another good method which helps create an
tool. There’s something about the immediacy of
even more targeted audience from your email list
the inbox which makes a launch of a product or
is to offer an early-bird opt-in for a course which
service or any campaign so much more effective
you will do in the future.
than other methods.
This means that the people who are signing up
To make your launch effective, you ideally want
to your future course will most likely be receptive
to create a compressed series or sequence of
to what you have to offer them. It is also a good
email messages which begins to educate your
way to gauge whether there is enough interest to
subscribers about why it is they want what you
make it worth your while on development.
have to offer them.
For instance you could highlight the benefits of
the service you’re offering in the lead up or give
them case studies etc. This helps make people
more receptive to your product.
You can also use the sense of urgency to whip
up interest and action, eg, “act now, we have only
50 spots”, OR, “we’re closing this offer next week
after which the price will go back up to $299”.
So get investigate which email platform you’re
comfortable with and rool out a simple campaign.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
BASIC SEGMENTATION
FOR YOUR EMAIL LIST
TWO ESSENTIAL TIPS TO
GROWING YOUR LIST:
SPLIT INTO 2 LEAD LISTS:
PROVIDE VALUE.
COLD LEADS
Thos that have subsribed to your email list, but
If they are not benefiting from your messages,
they will opt-out quickly.
have yet to become a customer by buyig your
BE CONSISTENT
products or services.
Broadcast consistency is important, if you wait a
Email them and downsell them to a low-barrier
few months to send messages, your subscribers
offer, to re-engage, but add extra incentives
might have forgotten they voluntarily joined and
ie Make it time sensitive of say 24-hrs
mark your email as spam. Send out mailings daily
Then when they buy, transfer them to the hot
or weekly, bi-weekly and monthly are stretching it
leads list
too far apart.
Your list will become the bloodline of your
HOT LEADS
business growth and profits. If you have not
Those who have purchased your products.
started building a list of targeted subscribers,
Contiue to upsell them, to more inclusive, more
Stop what you’re doing and begin now, the
more valuable products.
money is in the list!
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
10List
Building
MISTAKES
List building is some
of the most important
marketing work you’ll
ever do for your
business. The trouble is,
there are a lot of ways
to screw it up. Check
this list to avoid making
any of these classic list
building mistakes.
Online Business Blueprint
1. YOUR OPT-IN FORM BUTTON
SAYS “SUBSCRIBE”.
Unless you’ve actually tested this, the odds are
you’re losing subscribers because of lame opt-in
button copy. What’s the best opt-in button copy
to use? It depends on your site. But most of the
time, “Sign me up” or “Get weekly updates” or any
other call to action that complements your opt-in
headline are all good choices.
2. YOUR OPT-IN FORM IS
CONFUSING OR CLUTTERED.
Your opt-in form has to look easy to fill out and
easy to understand. People will not spend a
moment trying to figure out your form. They’ll
just ignore it. The easier your opt-in box looks to
fill out, the more subscribers you’ll get.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
3. YOU’RE NOT USING A LEAD
MAGNET OR SOME OTHER KIND
OF SIGNUP INCENTIVE.
Whether it’s a free ebook or video training, you’ve
got to give people a compelling reason to sign up
for your list. Remember – it’s not 1997 anymore.
Nobody gets excited about getting another
email. You have to offer your visitors a reason to
sign up for your list that is stronger than their
resistance to getting yet another email sent to
their already overflowing inbox. A lead magnet
can increase your site’s opt-in rate by 30 to 100%.
4. YOU’RE NOT USING A POP-UP.
settings of your pop-up to make it less invasive.
6. YOU’RE USING A WORDPRESS
PLUGIN TO MANAGE & MAIL TO
YOUR LIST INSTEAD OF QUALITY
EMAIL SERVICE PROVIDER.
Set it to show only after someone’s been on your
Don’t do this. WordPress plugins are no match
site for at least a minute, and set the pop-up to
for what a good email service provider can do
show only once per visit. And, of course, include
for you. Besides, if you’ve got a list that’s less
an incentive to signup in your pop-up, just as you
than 100 people, MadMimi will give you a free
would with any other opt-in form.
account. If your list is less than 2,000 people,
Pop-ups can increase opt-in rates by more than
1000%. If you’re still resisting pop-ups because
you think they’re annoying, then adjust the
MailChimp also has a free option.
5. YOU BUILT YOUR EMAIL LIST,
THEN NEVER MAILED TO IT.
This is one of the most common mistakes I see.
7. YOUR SITE LOOKS
UNTRUSTWORTHY.
It’s OK – I’ve done this too. But you don’t have to.
Maybe it’s the eight different typefaces. Or the
Just set up RSS to email in your email marketing
black background. Or how 70% of your page
service and every time you publish a blog post,
space is ads. Or that you’ve got articles about
your subscribers will get an email. It’s not as good
everything from weight loss to relationships to
as designing a weekly email combining a bunch
“Clickbank riches”. Whatever your offense, the
of content, but it’s a good start.
result is a site that puts visitors on alert.
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8. YOU BOUGHT AN EMAIL LIST.
9. YOUR OPT-IN FORM IS HIDDEN.
It certainly is a fast way to build a list, but it’s also
Add opt-in forms near the top and bottom of
one of the worst ways ever to build a list. There
every page on your site. The worst version of
are many reasons why bought lists are a bad idea.
this mistake has only one opt-in form on the
The first is you may not be able to even use your
entire site. If you’re doing that, and your list isn’t
bought list: Respectable email service providers
growing, it’s not hard to see why.
don’t allow their customers to mail to bought lists
email addresses certain anti-spam entities release
10. AND THE WORST LIST
BUILDING MISTAKE IS…
specifically to catch spammers. Mail to one of
Never getting started. This trumps any other
those addresses, and you’re branded a spammer
mistake you could possibly make.
because they often contain spam traps – bogus
and your deliverability rates tank. No good email
service provider will risk this.
Bought lists are also bad because they tend to
be brutally overmailed. You’ll get a ton of spam
complaints (another reason good email providers
don’t let you mail to these lists). Finally, you’ll just
get rotten results. You can send a good offer to a
list of 50,000 bought names and not get one sale.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Sales
Funnel
OPTIN INCENTIVES,
P R O S P E C T S TAG I N G
& CONVERSION
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
The Sales
FUN NEL
T H AT C O N V E RTS
BLOG VISITORS
INTO CUSTOMERS
All successful internet
client who is open to receiving information from
businesses rely on a
then begins to book your services repeatedly over
you, who then becomes a first time client, who
a period of time, and then eventually becomes a
marketing tool called a
very satisfied client and a big fan of who you are
and what you do.
sales funnel, to achieve their
When you implement a Funnel into your
business, you have an organised way of knowing
income and overall success.
exactly what stage each of your email list
prospects and clients are at.
If you fail to do that, you will hardly make any
The Sales and Marketing Funnel is the
money. Your primary goal with your sales funnel
recommended system for helping you to track
is to move people from one stage to another
your future sales and profits. It lets you know
until they are ready to purchase.
what stages your prospective clients are at,
A Sales and Marketing Funnel is a system that
what information they’ve received from your
moves a cold lead (ie, someone who stumbles
business and can also forecast the probability
across your website), into a warm prospective
of a sale, based on their curren stage.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
WHAT IS A SALES FUNNEL?
In order to fully explain what a sales funnel is
we will put it in the context of the various stages
of the online marketing phases a lot of successful
VISITORS
business employ when selling products.
The sales funnel concept begins at the very
NURTURING
start of a marketing phase where you are trying
to capture the interest of as many visitors and
prospective customers as you can via techniques
SALES
such as, Writing quality and targeted blog
content to bring “organic” visitors to your site via
REPEAT SALES
search engines.
Building a list via email signups through
your blog by offering incentives such as free
downloads or gifts that are solutions to their
And there are many other techniques you can
problems. Using a landing page and optin
use to generate more traffic and interest to your
popups to get people to take a specified call
website, but hopefully you get the general idea.
to action – ie, subscribe, signup, buy etc.
Now from the aggregated group of visitors
you receive via the techniques just mentioned,
there will be a smaller group who will eventually
become customers.
That is, at the very beginning of your marketing
3-5%, which doesn’t
sound like much but,
it can add up to a
significant revenue
Online Business Blueprint
efforts you will usually start with a larger group of
visitors, and then a smaller number of these will
become subscribers or regular readers of your
blog, and then an even smaller number of these
will become customers, on avegarge 3-5%, which
doesn’t sound like much but once your grow your
list, it can add up to a significant revenue.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
In other words during each stage of the
marketing process people will drop off until
you have a small minority who become your
In essence, the sales
customers. In essence, the sales funnel concept
involves the filtering out of disinterested
prospects by focusing on and further engaging
funnel concept
your most responsive customers because of their
demonstrable willingness to purchase from you.
involves the filtering
Hence why we use the term “sales funnel”,
because you are starting with a broad set
out of disinterested
of techniques and visitors and progressively
narrowing this down as the process continues
by tightening your marketing with laser-like focus
to a select group of very targeted customers.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
UNDERSTANDING THE
SALES FUNNEL STAGES
ATTENTION
ACTION
This stage, the prospect learns about your
This stage, the prospect is becoming a
website by a google search, or a post shared on
customer by clicking the purchase button.
social media or another traffic source. They may
Then the money is transferred to your
also become aware of his problem that he needs
merchant account. This is where you can
to solve and you have the content solutions.
upsell them to higher ticket items, further
down your funnel. Your new customer may
INTEREST
become a brand advocate loyal fan, and
This stage, the prospect is actively looking
repeat long-term customer.
for solutions to their problems and
ways to achieve his goals. They search
google for solutions. This is when
you can attract them with your blog
content. Now is the time when they
express interest in your product or
a service. They follow you on social
media and subscribe to your list.
DECISION
This stage, the prospect is making
the decision that he wants to take
advantage of your solution.
They pay more attention to what your
products to make the final decision
to purchase. This is when sales offers
are made by using sales pages,
webinars, call to actions, etc.
Online Business Blueprint
P R O S P E CT STAG E S
1
DOESNT KNOW YOU EXIST
TRAFFIC
2
3
4
HAS HEARD OF YOU
BUT DOESNT CARE
ABOUT YOU YET
ATTENTION
HAS HEARD OF YOU
& IS INTERESTED IN
LEARNING MORE
INTEREST
COMPARES
YOU TO
PEERS
DECISION
5
BECOMES
A BUYER
220
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
WHY ARE SALES
FUNNELS NECESSARY?
VISITORS
Marketers who have studied consumer behavior
and psychology will tell you that people who
NURTURING
have already shown an interest in your products
(ie, existing customers) will by far be the most
SALES
likely group to buy from you again.
BUILDING YOUR
SALES FUNNEL
REPEAT SALES
In order to convert marketing campaign into an
optimized sales funnel there are a few essential
FRONT AND BACK END
OF A SALES FUNNEL
things you will need to do. You will need to have
a product or service which you can sell
Before even considering the construction your
The front door is the initial capture point and
sales funnel, you will need a product or service to
the widest part, which serves the purpose of
offer to sell to your visitors.
attracting visitors by offering incentives of free
Items which you can sell online can range from
ebooks or cheaply priced products (low barrier
physical products to digital creations such as
offers). These incentives are the best way to get
ebooks, videos or audio training programs and
the visitors feet into your funnel’s front door.
also things such as membership programs.
Eventually some of your prospects will work
If you don’t think you can create your own
their way into the more narrower parts of the
product you can sell through affiliate programs
funnel we call the back end, where you upselll
such Clickbank, Amazon or other affiliate
them on a range of escalating priced products.
programs available which you can use in
One of the main purposes of the back end is to
conjunction with blogging from your website.
lead your customer on a journey of mastery via
Ultimately it is very important that before
a vertical ladder of educational products. (I’ll talk
choosing a product to sell that you try to identify
more about this in Stage 6 ‘Products’).
a niche which people out there are demanding
Very specific email campaigns and product
and then supply this need to them. Focusing on
launches are a good way to keep engaged with
solving the problems and reaching the needs of
these people, the consistent engagement is the
your subscribers.
key to the success of your sales funnel.
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
’S
Y
O
ER
T
E
R
C
S E I L E S LEROY FORD’S
F
L
Feel Fr
ee
To Swip
e
My Sal
es
Funnel
!
Online Business
SALES FUNNEL
F RONT END FREE OPT IN OFFERS
BUILDING A TRIBE
& RELATIONSHIPS
GET PROSPECTS TO
SUBSCRIBE TO LIST
EMAIL MARKETING, BLOG & SOCIAL MEDIA CONTENT
FREE
EBOOKS, VIDEOS, WEBINARS, LIVE WORKSHOPS
FREE
B AC K E N D P R O D U C TS
LOW BARRIER HIGH
QUALITY PRODUCTS
ENTRY-LEVEL PRODUCTS
PRICED: $19 - $97
COMMUNITY FOR EXCLUSIVE
CONTACT WITH COACH
MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM
PRICED: $47 - $297
COMPREHENSIVE STEP-BY-STEP
PREMIUM TRAINING PROGRAMS
FLAGSHIP PROGRAM
PRICED: $297 - $1,997
LIVE COACHING FOR YOUR ACTIVE
CUSTOMERS IN LIVE ENVIROMENT
LIVE EVENT
PRICED: $497 - $3,997
SMALL GROUP OF ELITE CLIENTS WHO
WANT MASTERMIND & 1-1 COACHING
PRIVATE
COACHING
PRICED: $497 - $10,000+
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PROMOTE - STEP 5
Online Business
3-Step Model
1
BUILD YOUR LIST.
2
SEND “EDUTAINING”
FREQUENT EMAILS.
3
HAVE A SOFT-SELL
OFFER FOR PEOPLE
WHO WANT MORE.
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So How Do I
Make Money
Online ?
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STEP 6
PRODUCTS
C R E AT I N G A P L AT F O R M O F
D I G I TA L I N F O R M AT I O N P R O D U C T S
T H AT S O LV E P R O B L E M S
FOR YOUR AUDIENCE
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If You Focus Only On Profit,
You’re Going To Skimp
On The Product.
But If You Focus On Making
Really Great Products,
Then The Profits Will Follow
-
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S T E V E
226
J O B S
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3
PRODUCTS - STEP 6
HOTTEST
SELLING
DIGITAL
Products
Creating and selling digital
them solve a problem in their lives, or improve
their skills in a certain area. You can create digital
products is one of the best
products around almost any niche topic you can
business models on earth, and
think of, with literally thousands to choose from.
easily one of the most profitable
making their money by creating and selling their
ways to build your business.
The most successful online marketers are all
own digital products.
Every single day, literally hundreds of millions
are being spent, all around the world, on digital
Digital products allow you to stop trading
products – making it a multi-billion dollar
your time for money. Instead, you can invest
industry. Fortunately, there is still more than
some time to create something once and then
enough room for you to join us in this ever-
sell it over and over again. We’re talking about
growing game and take a slice of the profits for
any kind of product which people can purchase
yourself. Imagine if you were to create a simple
online and download to their computer to help
digital product, which sells for $27.
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PRODUCTS - STEP 6
1. EBOOKS
Written ebooks are the
original digital product
Then you build a process that sells an average
which started this entire
of 10 copies per day – on autopilot, regardless of
industry. This is the easiest
whether you are working, or not.
type of content to create, but it is still highly
That means that you would make $270 per day,
valuable. Ebook sales continue to climb each year,
which is $98,550 per year… with ONE product.
and there is no sign they are slowing down any
No inventory to hold, no expensive premises,
time soon.
no staff and no postal materials, because there is
It’s very easy to take the system or concepts
nothing to ship. It’s no more difficult or expensive
that you want to teach and break it down into
to sell 1000 copies of your product than to sell 1!
sections. Each section becomes a “chapter” in
And there’s nothing to stop you making another
your ebook. Once your work is complete, you can
5, 10 or even 100 products and doing the same
have it proof-read and save it as a PDF document,
thing. Digital products are the pinnacle of passive
which your customers can open and read on
income. Ready to start selling digital products?
almost any device.
It’s easy to create written content on word
THEN LET’S DIVE IN…
processing platforms like Microsoft Word, Apple
There are 3 primary leading selling digital
Or it can easily be outsourced to a ghostwriter
products that you can create, and they are:
who can create the content for you.
iPages, Scrivner, Google Docs, and Open Office.
EBOOKS
VIDEO SERIES
AUDIO PRODUCTS
You can format your ebooks to make them look
attractive and professional with different fonts,
styles or colours, and you can include diagrams,
links, etc.
When you have finished your ebook, you can
either sell it as a straightforward PDF or you
There are others, but these are the ones which
could format a version for Kindle, iPad or other
are most popular and generate the vast majority
e-readers., or they make fantastic free giveaways
of online income. In this post, we’re going to look
for building your list.
at each of them in a little more detail, to help you
decide which you’re going to create.
Online Business Blueprint
An eBook would also be a great starting point
when you’re making your first digital product.
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PRODUCTS - STEP 6
2. VIDEO
TRAINING
Video products are
becoming easier to make
as technology becomes
more accessible and affordable. They are the
most popular digital products, right now.
Creating video training is a little more difficult
Video is very flexible and can consist of on-
than an eBook. You’ll need to put in some
camera videos, screencast videos (recording the
practise to become comfortable delivering
actions that you’re taking on your computer
your content and to make it look and sound
screen) or slideshow style videos (like PowerPoint
professional.
presentations).
There are two approaches with video. One is to
Interestingly, video courses typically have a very
videotape yourself.
high perceived value. You could take the same
You can create awesome video content using a
amount of content from an eBook or an audio
camera you can buy for under $1,000. In fact, you
program, package it into a video course and sell it
don’t even need to buy a video camera. Some
for a significantly higher price.
of the newer smartphones produce better video
If you’re looking to teach technical information,
quality than cameras that used to cost tens of
then video programs are a great way to go. It’s
thousands of dollars.
easy to demonstrate the content that you want
Another approach is to create what’s called a
to teach and your customers can just watch what
“kinetic video.” These are videos that use text to
you do, and then copy it for themselves.
express ideas. Basically you create a Power Point
Presentation, then record yourself narrating that
presentation.
You can create high quality kinetic videos with
Some of the newer
smartphones produce
better video quality
than cameras
Online Business Blueprint
one of two fantastic programs: Camtasia and
ScreenFlow. These are screen capture programs
that allow you to record yourself narrating
whatever is on your screen.
With the help of this software, you can create
high-quality video content for your customers
fast and inexpensively.
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PRODUCTS - STEP 6
3. AUDIO
PRODUCT
Another type of information
product is in audio form.
These include podcasts,
audio training lessons, guided meditations, and
BONUS IDEA
more. Audio courses are an older form of digital
product, but they are making quite a comeback
and have become pretty fashionable again.
The 3 product ideas that I have outlined in this
Customers like audio programs because it’s easy
for them to listen to the training in the car, on a
section are not mutually exclusive, and it’s never
an “either/or” situation.
plane or… anywhere!
There’s nothing to stop you from packaging
In the past, producing high quality audio was
several different types of product together into a
expensive and time-consuming. Today with a
multimedia product.
microphone you can buy for under $200 and with
Of course, certain topics and and niches are
a free application like Audacity, you can produce
more suited to a particular type of product, but
high quality audio content that matches or is
you can often “multi-purpose” your content.
even better than something that used to cost
For example, let’s say that you were to…
thousands of dollars before.
There isn’t a great difference between the
STEP 1: Create a video training product
STEP 2: Strip the audio from the videos to
process of creating an audio course and a video
create an audio version
program. It’s up to you whether you want to:
STEP 3: Transcribe the audio into an ebook
Write out a script & read word-for-word
Create a list of highlighted bullet points,
You’ve now produced a 3-part training series
from the same core idea and the same topic.
which you can elaborate on as you talk
Your training is now MUCH bigger and it will be
That really depends on how well you know your
perceived by your customers as a more valuable
content and how comfortable you feel “winging”
product (which they will pay more money for).
it. There are no rights or wrongs here. You can
always edit out any mistakes that you make.
If you don’t feel confident enough to record
Why have 1 profitable product when you could
have 5, 10 or 100? The more products you have,
the more money you stand to make.
your own voice then you can always outsource it
to a professional voiceover artist.
Online Business Blueprint
The primary thing, of course, is to take action
and start turning your ideas into a reality.
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PRODUCTS - STEP 6
10 LUCRATIVE PRODUCTS & PROGRAMS
1. EBOOKS &
6. MEMBERSHIP &
2. AUDIO/VIDEO PROG.
7. LIVE EVENTS
3. ONLINE VIDEO
8. LIVE SPEAKING
4. ONLINE WEBINAR
9. ONE-TO-ONE
5. AFFILIATE MARKETING
10. MASTERMINDS
INSTRUCTOR GUIDES
$10-47
(6HRS 6CDS)
$197-497
TRAINING
$497-997
TRAINING
(UPSELL PRODUCTS)
(INCOME BASED
ON PRODUCTS)
Online Business Blueprint
CONTINUITY PROGRAM
$47-97
& RETREATS
$497-3997
(KEYNOTE)
$1000-5K
COACHING
$1000-2OK
& COACHING
$1000-1OK PA
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PRODUCTS - STEP 6
PLATFORM TO CREATE YOUR OWN
ONLINE COURSE (FOR FREE!)
I recently just came
across this great
product & course
creation platform.
Thinkific.com
(PS. I’m non affiliated)
And you can get
started for free
to try it yourself &
build you own course
with no credit card.
www.thinkific.com
Thinkific is an
all-in-one platform
that allows you to
Create & Sell Your
Courses, Programs
and membership
sites.. for Free!
(No CC Required)
Online Business Blueprint
thinkific
The #1 Platform For
Creating & Selling
Online Courses
START FOR FREE
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PRODUCTS - STEP 6
Create V.I.P
Platform
V = VERTICALLY
I = INTEGRATED
P = PRODUCTS
Online Business Blueprint
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PRODUCTS - STEP 6
VERTICALLY
INTEGRATED
Products
PRODUCT 4
TURNING SUBSCRIBERS
PRODUCT 2
I N T O L O N G -T E R M
PRODUCT 1
CUSTOMERS
Apple is a classic example of
Creating a platform of
“Vertically Integrated
Products” is a great way of
turning your subscribers into
PRODUCT 3
“Vertically Intergrated Products”
from the iPod right upto the iMac
long-term customers, and
keeping them engaged. By
providing them with a ladder
of educational products, that
takes them on a journey of
mastery and and long-term
growth, continually ascending
from one level to the next.
Online Business Blueprint
iMac
MacBook
iPad
iPhone
iPod
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PRODUCTS - STEP 6
A SIMPLE EXAMPLE OF
V E R T I C A L LY I N T E R G R AT E D P R O D U C T S
F.E.
FREE OPTIN INCENTIVE
FREE BOOKS
OR
TRAINING VIDEOS
FREE
Optin
Offer
(FRONT END)
M’sp
$67
B.E.
(BACK END)
Audio
Program
$197
MID TICKET
PRODUCTS
Live
Video
Program Events
$497
$497
Live
Events
$497-$1997
Online Business Blueprint
L.B.O. (LOW BARRIER OFFERS)
M’SHIP
INSTRUCTOR GUIWDES
EBOOKS
Tiered
Coaching
$997-#9,997
235
HIGH TICKET
PRODUCTS
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STEP 7
$
PROFIT
M O N E T I Z AT I O N & AU TO M AT I N G
YO U R B U S I N E S S TO G E N E R AT E
PAS S I V E I N C O M E
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Focus On Creating
MULTIPLE
Income Streams.
The Average
Millionaire Has 7
-
Online Business Blueprint
L E R O Y
237
F O R D
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PROFITS - STEP 7
INCO ME STRE AM
IDE AS
C R E AT I N G
Multiple
EBOOKS
IN C O M E
Streams
F R O M
LIVE EVENTS
Y O U R
W E B S I T E
DIGITAL PROGRAMS
Most successful business owners make money
AMAZON BOOKS
today by creating a “Products Parthenon”,
which leads to multiple income streams.
Diversifying your income in this way not only
is smart and helps you spread the risk from
having all your eggs in one basket but it also
1 - 1 C OAC H I N G
speeds up the journey to going full time.
I learned this lesson the hard way after having
most of my income coming from one source in
the early days but after a bit of a bad experience
began to diversify my income streams, it was
A F F I L I AT E S
one of the best things I ever did! Today I make
money from 6 different income streams.
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PROFITS - STEP 7
Products PARTHENON
you have quit your job and are depending
& establish multiple income streams.
on that income to live, Diversifying your
This helps protect and sustain your income,
business makes your income more secure.
Online Business Blueprint
239
MEMBERSHIP SITE
create your own PRODUCTS PARTHENON
MASTERMIND GROUPS
So too protect your income, especially if
PHYSICAL PRODUCTS
rely on just one income stream. You must
AFFILIATE PRODUCTS
ie kindle, or Google changes its algorithm.
LIVE EVENTS
and income streams. You don’t want to
DIGITAL PROGRAMS
in case a platform suddenly goes away,
AMAZON & KINDLE
You must diversify your online business
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PROFITS - STEP 7
MORE INCOME STREAM IDEAS
Sponsored Articles
Masterminds Groups
Website
Sponsorships
1-1 Coaching
Newsletter
Sponsorships
Keynote Speaking
Consulting
Video Advertising
Smartphone Apps
Podcast Advertising
Physical Books
Affiliate Products
Book Advertising
Webinar Product
Launches
Physical Products
(Home Study Course)
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If Your Business Is
Not On The Internet,
Then Your Business
Will Be
Out Of Business
-
Online Business Blueprint
B I L L
G AT E S
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PROFITS - STEP 7
7 STEP S TO TURN YOU R
B LOG INTO A N ONLINE
Cash
MACHINE
So you want to turn your online business into
That’s it. Seven steps. Looks easy doesn’t it?
a passive income machine?, well here’s how...
JUST ONE PROBLEM...
1. Set Up Your Website/Blog
It’s not as easy as it looks, so if you’re looking
to make a quick buck, or a fast get rich quick
2. Find A Niche/A Problem You Can Solve
scheme, then this is the wrong place to look.
The process is simple on the surface, but it’ll
3. Produce Value Content That Gets Traffic
take you much longer than you’d expect. But do it
anyway, it’ll be worth it if you can stay the course,
4. Convert Visitors Into Email Subscribers
and not afraid of rolling up your sleeves, then it
will definatley pay off, big time!.
5. Send Subscribers Content That Builds Trust
So whether you have an established website
you want to monetize or you plan to build a new
6. Offer Products/Services Your Audience Wants
website to create an additional stream of income,
here are 6 popular ways to create multiple
7. Optimise & Automate Sales Funnels.
Online Business Blueprint
income streams from your online business.
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PROFITS - STEP 7
1. ADVERTISING
INCOME
This is where many start. In
many ways this model of
making money from blogs is not
dissimilar to how a magazine
or newspaper sells ads. As your
traffic and brand grows you’ll
find advertisers will be willing
to pay to get exposure to your
audience. While you need decent
traffic to do a direct deal with
advertisers there are ad networks
(like Google AdSense) that act as
a middleman and enable smaller
publishers to run ads on their
blogs. This is where many start (I did too).
3. RECURRING
INCOME
2. AFFILIATE INCOME
Another growing category of income that I’m
If you’re not familiar with the term, it’s a
streams (sometimes called continuity programs or
business model where you endorse other
membership programs).
seeing more and more is recurring income
people’s products or services in exchange for
This is where readers pay a regular recurring
a commission. On software and information
amount (usually on a monthly or annual basis)
products, affiliates typically earn a 50%
for access to either premium content, a private
commission or sometimes even more, so it can
community area, some kind of service, tools,
be quite lucrative.
coaching (or some combination).
Online Business Blueprint
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PROFITS - STEP 7
4. EVENTS
While not something most bloggers
do I have noticed an increase in the
number of coaches making money
by running events. These range from
retreats and 2-day seminars like our
my Passion To Profits 2-Day Intensive
Training, which hosts hundreds of
attendees every year right down to
smaller meet-up events, where money is
made either through charging readers
to attend or by finding a sponsor for
the event. Alternatively online events or
webinars are also getting more popular.
5. PRODUCTS
My #1 source of income is through
selling digital products and online
coaching events. These ‘virtual products’
take work to create but they can be
very lucrative. Products can of course
take many forms and income virtual information
6. SERVICES
products like eBooks or courses but also other
virtual products like software, reports etc. The
other type of product some bloggers sell is
A common way that many people make money
physical products. This is most common when
is through offering services to their subscribers.
the coach has a business but sometimes they also
These might be anything from coaching and
create merchandise (T-shirts etc) or other physical
consulting, to writing or copywriting, to design,
products to sell, like DVD home study courses
training or other freelance services.
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PROFITS - STEP 7
a
l
u
m
r
o
F
4 - S tep
TO TURNING WEBSITE VISITORS
INTO LOYAL CUSTOMERS
ATTRACT
VISITORS TO
YOUR WEBSITE
WITH FREE
CONTENT
OFFER A
FREEBIE IN
EXCHANGE FOR
THEIR EMAIL
ADDRESS
BUILD TRUST BY
PROVIDING A
STEADY STREAM
OF HIGH VALUE
FREE CONTENT
OFFER A
PRODUCT OR
SERVICE THAT
SOLVES THEIR
PROBLEM
Blog + Email List + Digital Products = Online Business
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PROFITS - STEP 7
ITS NOT THE
MONEY
IM AFTER,
ITS THE
Freedom
MY GOAL
IS TO LIVE
LIFE ON MY
TERMS.
SUCCESS
MENTORS
ACADEMY
S u c c e s s M e n t or s
A c a d e my
Online Business Blueprint
TM
246
LEROY FORD
ENTREPRENEUR
& SPEAKER
www.LeroyFord.com
ONLINE BUSINESS BLUEPRINT
7-Step Summary
Removing Any
Negative Blocks
& Acquiring The
Entrepreneurial Mindset
Building A Flagship
Website & Brand &
Positioning Yourself As
The ‘Go-To’’ Expert
Creating Digital
Information Products
That Solve Problems
For Your Audience
$
dentifying Your
Passion & Big
Idea Based On
Your Knowledge
& Expertise
Identifying Your
Target Audience &
Niche & Outlining
Your Long-Range
Goals & Vision
Online Business Blueprint
Traffic Generation
& Social Media,
Sales Funnels
& Email List
Building
247
Monetization
& Automating
Your Business
To Generate
Passive Income
www.LeroyFord.com
ONLINE BUSINESS BLUEPRINT
7-Step Summary
This Is Not Rocket Science!
But you may still feel a bit overwhelmed.
If you do, focus on taking the next
smallest step. If you’re starting out, focus
on discovering what you want to do
and how you can help people.
Then move forward from there.
Here’s a summary of what we covered:
STEP #1: IDENTIFY
A PASSION TOPIC
It all starts by figuring our what you love
doing. I’m not here to create a business
around something I hate, and neither
are you. Look at what you’re passionate
about, but if you don’t know what that is,
don’t let it stop you. The most important thing
is to take action and get moving.
STEP #2:
SOLVE A PROBLEM
STEP #3:
WHO, WHAT & WHY
Look at who you can help, what you help them
with, and why they should listen to you.
This sounds more serious than it is.
You don’t have to be crystal clear on this right
The next step is to find the intersection between
now, but you do have to know the general
what you love to do and what people are willing
direction you’re heading in.
to pay for. Find the money trail. What problems
are people spending money on?
Online Business Blueprint
Do what you can for now, and keep coming
back to these three core “W” questions.
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ONLINE BUSINESS BLUEPRINT
7-Step Summary
STEP #4: BUILD
YOUR PLATFORM
Next, build your platform by
leveraging the power of blogging.
But don’t stop there, remember to
build an email list, because that is
what will make the difference between a hobby
and a real business. And remember to check
STEP #6: PRODUCTS
out the free training tutorials at my site, www.
Just having an audience does not equal cash.
LeroyFord.com, on these topics.
You have to create products and services that
your audience wants. Ask them what they are
STEP #5: BUILD
YOUR AUDIENCE
having trouble with, and then create the solution.
To attract an audience, you need three things.
Finally, you have to sell. So start creating products
1. FREE HIGH-VALUE CONTENT
that solve problems for your audience. Then
2. PROMOTION VIA SOCIAL MEDIA
build out a sales funnel, that leads them from
3. REGULAR INTERACTION
being cold website visitor to a lead that know’s,
Start by filling up your blog with great content,
likes and trusts you, to then becoming a long-
then deliver it across multiple social media
term loyal customer. Then focus on automation
platforms to drive traffic to your site.
strategies to generate passive income.
Online Business Blueprint
STEP #7: SELL & SCALE
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ONLINE BUSINESS BLUEPRINT
4-Step Overview
4
FRUITS
DELIVER VALUE
PRODUCTS & PROGRAMS
MONETIZE & SCALE
AUTOMATION
3
T RUNK
PROMOTE VALUE
BUILD YOUR AUDIENCE
SOCIAL MEDIA TRAFFIC
BUILD A SALES FUNNEL
2
ROOTS
CREATE VALUE!
1
START WITH SEED
YOUR BIG IDEA / PASSION STRENGTHS
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250
SOLVE A PROBLEM
DELIVER SOLUTIONS
PROVIDE FREE CONTENT
www.LeroyFord.com
ONLINE BUSINESS BLUEPRINT
5
?
15 CRITICAL
MISTAKES
~ That May ~
KILL!
YOUR ONLINE BLOG
BUSINESS
Today, anyone can setup anonline business
in a matter of hours and at little or no cost at all.
The practical and financial barriers to starting a
business online are low. Unfortunately most new
Only A Fool Learns
From His Own
Mistakes.
The Wise Man
Learns From The
Mistakes Of Others.
Online Business Blueprint
online startups still fail, in fact few last more than
6 months. Why?, knowing what NOT to do is as
important as knowing what to do.
The trouble is ‘we don’t know what we don’t
know. The truth is that building a successful online
business is ‘no walk in the park’. And can be the
real sucker punch that any budding entrepreneurs
don’t recover from. The good news is, by avoiding
these critical mistakes you will improve your
chances of success tenfold.
Here are 15 mistakes most new online
businesses make and how to avoid them.
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15 CRITICAL MISTAKES
X 1. FOCUSING ON
GROWING YOUR
SOCIAL MEDIA MORE
THAN YOUR EMAIL LIST
Every online marketer
recommends you start an email
list the day you launch your
business. Many people ignore
this advice, and those who follow
it soon forget they even have an
email list of people who want
updates on your business. Email
marketing is powerful and it
works; statistics show that $1 spent on marketing
equals an average return of $44.25, which means
X 2. NOT CREATING A FREEBIE
TO BUILD YOUR EMAIL LIST
that your subscribers are your best customers.
This is by far the biggest mistake I ever made.
Once I finally started building my list, I figured
Social media changes all the time. Just look at
out pretty quickly that people don’t just give
MySpace – it is GONE now! And yes, Facebook is
away their email address for vague promises like
still around, but it is completely different than it
“tips.” You have to have a really awesome freebie
used to be. If you have a Facebook page, chances
that people will want to download. For my online
are that only a very small percentage of people
business, for example, I created multiple free
are seeing every post.
ebooks to help entrepreaurs build a profitable
Email marketing is where it is at. When you
online business.
send someone an email, you are reaching into
Think about what
their lives by putting yourself in their inbox.
your customers might
When I started building an email list, my profits
want to download,
sky-rocketed. Email marketing is paramount
and give that away
because you have the control. You own the email
for free in exchange
addresses and you decide how many of your
for an email address.
viewers get to see your emails (I’m sure most of
Your list will start
the time the answer is, all of them!).
growing like wildfire.
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15 CRITICAL MISTAKES
X 3. WANTING
EVERYTHING TO BE
PERFECT BEFORE YOUR
START PROMOTING
YOUR NEW BUSINESS
This is major. Too many would-be
entrepreneurs get stuck in “analysis
paralysis” – in other worlds, they
never actually launch because
they are too worried that things
aren’t perfect. Things will never
be perfect. Start NOW and make
changes as you go. Get the basics
set up, and fine-tune it later, as
your business grows.
X 4. NOT SECURING
YOUR DOMAIN NAME
If possible do this before you finally decide on the
name of your new business. Firstly, decide which
X 5. NOT MAKING A LIST OF
CONTENT IDEAS AND POTENTIAL
PRODUCT IDEAS
domain variable is critical to your business for
example does it need to be (.com) or should it be
Before you start, you need to make sure that you
country specific (.co.uk)?
have content ideas for your blog and potential
The day I came across Namechk was a good
product ideas that you’re going to be supporting
day. It has saved me countless hours when
through this content. Your blog is a marketing
it came to checking domains and whether or
tool, and if you aren’t selling something, you’re
not they are available on different social media
going to find it really hard to make any money
channels like Facebook and Instagram etc.
online. Start off by brainstorming a list of content
All you do is type in your chosen name and
ideas, to make sure that your business idea is
it instantly lists what social media channels it is
viable. You don’t want to run out of content ideas
available on.
after a few weeks and watch your business fizzle.
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15 CRITICAL MISTAKES
X 6. NOT BEING
DIFFERENT
Many businesses are not
different enough to get
any traction in their chosen
area. Chances are that you’re
going to have competition.
Focus on the reasons why
potential customers will
select you, as opposed to
copying others. In short,
you won’t be able to gain
an audience if you’re only
offering an inferior version
of a well-known site or
product. While you certainly
want to provide a quality
good or service, you also
have to be different and
X 8. NOT DEFINING YOUR TARGET
AUDIENCE
stand apart from the competition.
X 7. SPREADING YOURSELF TOO
THIN ON SOCIAL MEDIA
Who is your ideal customer? The answer may
be “everyone,” but that is not true. Not every
When you’re starting off with marketing and
business is going to fill the need of every
building your brand, test out one or two main
consumer, and that is okay. The object is to find
social audiences where you know your audience
who can best use your online business, and see
is and can build a customized audience with a
how you can meet their needs. By not defining
small budget. Don’t blow your advertising budget
your target audience, you miss the opportunity to
at the start. As a general rule, social media giants
find ways to market directly to them. Your online
such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram tend to
business will perform better if you find a way to
be better for product sales.
target a niche audience.
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15 CRITICAL MISTAKES
X 9. NOT OPTIMIZING YOUR
WEBSITE
X 11. EXPECTING TO WORK
4 HOURS A WEEK
Many first-time online business owners don’t
One of the best
optimize their websites for consumers, which
things about
costs them sales. Consumers want a website to
running your
load fast, 47% of consumers expect a website to
own business
load in two seconds or less. If your website is too
online is that
slow to load, no matter how good your service or
you can work
product may be, your customers will click away.
at times that
Your business website also needs a call to action
suit you and the
(CTA) on every page. A CTA is a message to the
rest of your life.
consumer to take action immediately, such as
With some nifty
“Call now” or “Find out more.” If your website
time planning,
doesn’t include a CTA, you will miss opportunities
you can run
for a sale.
a website inbetween looking
X 10. LOOKING FOR A MAGIC
BUTTON TO PRESS
after the kids or a full-time job.
But some people confuse not working 9-5 with
just not working. At LeroyFord.com I try to show
There is no shortage of self-titled gurus who
you the shortcuts to getting results quicker by
can tell you the secret of instant internet
working smarter – but you still have to put the
millionairedom, and all it costs is $47.
hours in. Remember the 4-Hour Workweek is just
But those who do buy these overlook three
the eye-catching title of a great book – don’t take
things. 1. There is no single secret to success, so
it too literally.
no one can sell it to you. 2. If it sounds too good
Note: If you’re working full-time and can’t
to be true it is. 3. These gurus are not people.
spend more than a few hours a week on your
They are fine-tuned robo-selling machines who
new web business, that’s fine. I’m only talking
make a living by selling $47 ebooks to folks
about the misconception that if you had all the
looking for an easy way to make money that in
time you wanted, you’d still only work four hours
reality doesn’t exist. Save your money, learn from
and spend the rest of time watching Curb Your
the free resources at LeroyFord.com, and put your
Enthusiasm reruns or trying to get your laptop to
new knowledge into action.
work on the beach.
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15 CRITICAL MISTAKES
X 12. NOT OUTSOURCING OR
MICROMANAGING
X 14. BUYING EVERY “SHINY
OBJECT’’ THROWN AT YOU
One fact about any type of business is that no
Let’s face it. Shiny objects distract and are proven
one can handle all the tasks and expect great
to hinder many small online entrepreneurs from
results, unless they are superhuman. In the world
succeeding. We all must keep up with technology
of online business, you will need to outsource
and, always check out possibly good software or
certain tasks of your business to record faster
other products we think can be of great benefit
progress. For example; if you can’t design a logo
to our businesses. However, buying everything
personally, get someone to do it for you, or if
thrown at you hoping to get results faster without
you’re technically incapable of managing your
real hard work on your side can be disastrous.
website, hire an expert to do it.
Always know what you are buying, be selective
The beauty of online business is that you can
and add to your tool box only tools you really
easily hire a range of services from programmers,
need to make your work easy.
advertisers, virtual assistants, writers to web
X 15. NOT STARTING AT ALL.
developers at an affordable cost. As your
business grows, the more tasks, you will have at
hand, making outsourcing a necessity. Don’t be
We all have that
afraid to delegate certain tasks to better your
friend who’s
business which in turn frees your time letting you
talked and talked
concentrate on improving value for your clients.
about doing
something… but
X 13. STARTING WITHOUT A PLAN
who never has
done it. Sooner or
Success means getting to a certain point – but if
later it’s time to
you don’t know where you’re going, how will you
stop reading and
know when you get there?. That’s why you need
get going. If you wait until you “know everything”
a plan. It’s ok to change your mind along the way
you’ll never start. Success is a marathon not
as you will see what needs refining, but starting
a sprint, so keep putting one foot in front of
without a plan and waiting to see what happens
another. The truth is, you don’t need to know
is just a waste of time. Before you begin, have a
everything – you only need to know enough to
good idea of what your website will be about and
start. “One day you’ll be 80”, and you wont have
how you want to generate an income from it.
the time nor the energy. Now’s your time!
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ONLINE BUSINESS BLUEPRINT
Nice One! You Did It!
Now you know the 7 essential steps
But you’re not alone, Im right here
required to build a life-changing, and
with you, every step of the way. So
lucrative online business.
do get in touch if I can support you in
These are the 7 skill sets you must
any other way. And I look forward to
develop if you want to start an online
meeting you in-person someday.
business, create multiple streams of
So Until Then!...
income and a life of freedom & inpact.
So i in closing, I’d like to congratulate
you, not only for finishing this book,
but also for stepping up to share your
vision with the world.
I thank you for your dedication
and your commitment to creating
an inspiring life, based around your
passions and true strengths.
You are the reason our planet, and its
citizens, have hope. I applaud you for
your courage!
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Thank
You
FOR READING MY
ONLINE BUSINESS
BLUEPRINT
I hope you found it useful,
and if you did, I’d love for you to
share this guide with your friends.
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ONLINE BUSINESS BLUEPRINT
So What’s Next?
Thousands of people have read this guide.
If you’re not subscribed, you should be, because
I give away stuff that most people charge for.
Some have taken action, most have not.
At least that’s what I’ve been told.
Everyone has a reason for why they can’t move
And I’ll keep producing more and more both
forward. However, the difference between those
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luck. It’s the determination to take action despite
forward, because that’s why I’m here. That’s what
all the perceived obstacles.
I’m passionate about.
If you want to build a thriving online business,
you have to be willing to put in the work and face
your inner fears.
Yes, it’s going to be overwhelming and
I WOULD REALLY
APPRECIATE IT IF…
confusing at times. But you have to focus on
Now before we wrap this up, I’d really appreciate
taking the next smallest step, and when you do
it if you shared this guide with your friends.
You are free to distribute it in whatever way
that, you’ll eventually reach your goals.
you want, such as Facebook, Twitter, or good old
You will make plenty of mistakes, and your
fashioned email.
first few ideas may fail gloriously, just like mine
The best would be if you sent people to my
did, but as long as you’re pointed in the right
direction, commited to living your dream life and
website LeroyFord.com to subscribe to my free
keep moving forward, you’ll make it.
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blueprint, but they’ll also get all the goodies and
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tips that the free newsletter provides.
If you’ve subscribed to my newsletter at
I could try and spread the word about this
LeroyFord.com, you’ll receive free training and
alone, but we can’t change the world overnight,
tips from me on a weekly basis, aswell as access
and this will help you make an impact, so I’d really
to lots of Free Resources and downloads
appreciate your help on this. So spread this free
to keep you on track, so this is just the beginning.
guide to anyone you think could benefit from it!.
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