How many partially completed products, books, and group coaching programs do you have sitting on a bookshelf or in a folder on your computer that you haven’t looked at in eons?
If you’re like me – and most entrepreneurs – the answer is a resounding “far too many!”
And frankly, the reason you haven’t completed them isn’t because you don’t know your subject, or because you’re a poor writer, or even because you don’t have time.
The real reason is because following the step-by-step process that’s super effective for the author or creator and that gives them terrific results, doesn’t mean it will do the same for you. Why? Because it isn’t your process or your style and isn’t in your natural flow.
It’s a trap I’ve fallen into many times and would like to save you from making the same mistakes again and again as I did.
You’re buying into the belief that you must:
- Create something from scratch
- Create something that looks just like every other program in your niche
- Create something so comprehensive and massive that it encompasses every aspect of your subject, from soup to nuts.
And every one of these beliefs is holding you back from creating the exact program your market/ It so happens that you can put together, in an afternoon (or less), utilizing the content you already have on hand.
Step 1: Know your niche
We delved into this in last week’s post so I won’t spend time on this other than to say it’s essential for you to be an expert on your niche – to know how they’re challenges and problems. Check out last week’s post for specifics of how to become an expert on your niche.
Step 2: Identify a consistent challenge, problem or obstacle your niche is struggling with
This doesn’t have to be a huge, overreaching problem such as “how do I build a mailing list” – we’re not creating your signature program. Rather, identify and focus on a single problem that has a single solution. So rather than trying to solve the massive problem of list building, try solving one single aspect of that challenge. For example, how to find the best email service provider.
It’s a single problem that you very likely have the solution for right in your business documentation because you solved it for yourself.
Step 3: Define Your Process
Using the example of setting up a mailing list, chances are you have worksheets and checklists for your VA (or you) to follow. It’s a step-by-step plan that walks you or your team through the process of setting up a new mailing list.
For someone who’s struggling with getting their first autoresponder set up, this simple documentation can be a real lifesaver.
For example, let’s say your niche is emerging entrepreneurs:
When considering an email service provider, you’ll want to make sure you can:
- Build a database of subscribers
- Send emails to several people at the same time
- Setup automated follow-up sequences
- Place signup forms on your website and landing pages
- Tag or segment your users
Then add content to each of these 5 steps and you’re set. The format could be in a checklist, blueprint, or paragraph form using the format and platform that you know your niche will find easily digestible.
Step 4: Share What Works
That’s it! Package it up, give it a “no brainer” price tag and you have a new product you can get up for sale in a single afternoon.
Be going these simple 4 steps, you are able to have a program in an afternoon that meets the needs of your clients, so they can have instant success and immediate fulfillment.
Does this trigger some ideas for products you can create in an afternoon? Would love to see your comments below.