Your MISSION ACCOMPLISHED Story
I did not want to produce a coaching course at all. I came into EPM hoping to find out how to simply create and sell a product. I teach during the day and like to do anything else after work. However, to "be a good student" of Marisa, I wanted to follow all of the rules, but I couldn't keep up with the facebook group posts every day. I let them slide while I created my last illustrations, and after about 2 weeks, I saw a facebook post called "Are you a best kept secret?" I made my own version of it and got some quick responses. Without that one post, I wouldn't have set up my free info session and launched my course. I was actually 4 days late in launching, based on my EPM planning document. Since launching, I have been motivated to create all the materials I had stuck in my head. I am not making much money now, but the reality of having something that could become much more is here. I needed to have that success, especially since the motivation from Marisa, Coach Kanu and the other EPM crew is ending soon, because my customer/friends will be my motivation for the next few weeks.
Your FIRST SALE Story
Nothing was going right for me with my chatterboxing. As an introvert who was being told to approach strangers in public--just before Christmas, with a lot of new snow making travel difficult--this didn't produce any sales. My audience for my coaching course would be parents with non-readers at home. When I went to the local science museum, I knew they were there, but that I did not want to interrupt their fun outing. Everybody was engaged in some kind of activity, and since I am not that bold to interrupt, I gave up on that approach. I made business cards with QR codes to hand to interested people, but only gave out 2 to local libraries... for their bulletin boards. At the local library, I hoped to meet parents who were bringing their children for story time, but nobody showed up. That was sad for many reasons. The local bookstore provided some hope, but since my product is only digital, those fizzled. My weak attempts at using Facebook and Linked in were not doing me any good yet. So, with all the snow that buried the Twin Cities, Holidays being here... I set out to simply finish creating my books. After finishing all the artwork, I started looking through the EPM Facebook page again and found a 2.5-week-old post from Emily Fontes called "Are You a Best Kept Secret?" I took her advice and posted it. Within two hours, I had 5 responses, and another two later on. Then, I followed up with them all, invited them to a virtual meeting about my course, and had to crash through the preparations for the virtual meeting. On the day of the meeting, I had yet to create any slides. Things were getting hairy, but I had four hours before the start time to get it done. I quickly made tweaks to my setup, tested zoom options, and customized a Canva slide deck for my own purposes (only leaving 2 rogue slides). Of the 7 people interested, 4 attended with me, and the others watched the replay. I got two sales from the live attendees, and one from the replay (so far). It doesn't feel like I am making any money yet, but the work I am putting into this course creation could be re-used with 100 clients or even 1000 at a time. I am making progress towards simply selling the books to the right audience... and creating freebies that can be used to get new customers.
What's been the biggest change in your business?
I didn't have a business, so having something that I can actually sell to a school district is a new thing. I haven't made any contact with them yet, but it's coming!
Now, I actually have to prepare teaching materials for parents... which are going to become freebies/lead magnets soon!
How's EPM and your success impacted your life?
When I signed up for EPM, I knew I was trading in my youtube-info-surfing habit for EPM. I was always looking for how to get business going, website stuff, taxes, branding, etc. from youtube, but nobody was able to help me write out the reasons why somebody would ever want to buy something from me. So far, it has been a lot of work and the goals are not totally realized yet. I feel that the mission accomplished beyond this 12-week course are coming, though.
It has made me deal with social aspects of marketing that I would have never been able to figure out on my own.
What's your biggest takeaway from EPM?
So far... ask questions and be interested in people when you talk to them... as early as you can. Not all of your close circle of friends are your customers, but they probably know somebody who is.
So far, the messaging. Even if my friends are my first customers, being able to speak to real people about the course materials and why they should care is helping me learn what to say next time.
What's now possible for you because of your Experience Product?
Now, I am (almost) able to call on any school district in the country and have a conversation about their reading success with their Kindergarteners, then offer them a freebie of my product and give them an offer they can't refuse.
I am nearing the ability to call any school district and offer them my product (NOT my course), which has the potential for higher ticket prices and no ongoing support.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I am glad to have the chance to be part of this course. It was more info than I could absorb in 3 months, but what I did learn has been worth it.