Part 3 of 7 Day Startup for Solopreneur Service-Providers
Channel: Our Highest Work
Date: 2014-11-14

For my full book notes go to http://j.mp/1zpxlF7

Here are some brief notes:

Step 3: Business Name

Some tools to check out: www.wordoid.com and http://www.namemesh.com
 
Do you like it?  You could grow into liking it but at least don’t dislike it.

Broader is better -- rather than being specific about your service, broader allows you to pivot down the road if you need to.

Check whether it’s taken: 
Google it.
http://knowem.com to check whether you could get the name on places like Facebook, Youtube, Twitter
...but know that even if it’s being used, it doesn’t mean you absolutely shouldn’t use it, except for Trademark search http://www.uspto.gov/trademarks/

Service Providers: you can just use YOUR NAME for now.  Or if you’re creating a service package, just call it what it is.  I called mine Sustainable Productivity Coaching.    Simple Social Media.  The Webinar Method.  True Livelihood Coaching.

Expect to change the name later.  

Don’t make it a big deal.  Just make sure you like it, and try to make one that easy to spell and say!



Step 4: Build a simple website.

I suggest using Hover -- since I don’t like Godaddy’s ethics -- see http://j.mp/1xp7Q90
and instead of Wordpress I recommend Weebly for its ease of use.

For your launch, you really only need three things:  

System for emailing people: www.Mailchimp.com
A webpage that collects email addresses.  Weebly + Mailchimp. 
Say you are launching a service about _____.  If you are someone who wants to overcome [problem] or achieve [this goal] enter your email to be informed when the service is ready.  You’ll also receive free tips and advice from me.
A webpage for selling your service.  I will give you a Template for writing a Sales Page.  
use Paypal to take payment!

Ways to improve the site for more sales and opt-ins:

Copywriting -- the words on the website -- can make or break your launch.  Dan Norris suggests Dane Maxwell’s copywriting checklist: http://goo.gl/nm1yNf  ...however I find the techniques to be objectionable, too manipulative and hyped up.  So what do we do instead?  Write honestly, clearly, inspirationally, with the intention to filter out only the clients you really can most help.  Gather and tell stories of transformation and sprinkle them throughout your copy. You might find it helpful to simply open up your email software, start composing an email to your ideal client, an individual, filling out the various sections in this sales page template: https://medium.com/@georgekao/4589cf2ddb4c
If you need help with writing, try out some writers from oDesk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ep5Dnhm9jsQ 
Images: professional looking layout -- weebly makes this easy. Relevant, inspirational images sprinkled throughout any page that has a lot of text on it.  To find images you can use for free: http://search.creativecommons.org  or hire someone on oDesk or Fiverr to help you with finding / creating images.
Google Analytics -- I’m just getting started with this, so google this for now.  I’ll do an episode in the future about it, if there’s interest.


Day 5: 10 ways to market your business.
I WILL COVER THIS IN ANOTHER VIDEO.

Day 6: Set the ONE METRIC THAT MATTERS (OMTM)

“Make it a financial metric, not a vanity metric like website visits or Facebook likes. Pay particular attention to who is signing up. If it’s just your friends, then that’s very different from the general public. Save your excitement until you land people you don’t know as customers.”

Day 7: LAUNCH.

“If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late.” Reid Hoffman

Some ideas: 
Put up your live website with the payment button. Include as many options as you can for people to contact you. You want to talk to customers and potential customers as much as possible from today onwards. 
For Live Chat check out www.LiveChat.com and www.Zopim.com 
Post an update to social networks and any forums or groups that allow you to do so. If you are a member of any forums that allow you to have a signature that mentions your business, update those signatures with a specific call to action. 
Tell your friends and press contacts and ask them to share the news. Thank people who have helped you get to launch day. 
Publish a blog post about your launch. Thank the people who have helped you, and include a call to action for people to purchase.
Ask your entrepreneurial friends to share the news. If you help people out 90% of the time and only ask for help 10% of the time, the launch day is a good day to ask for help. 
Dan would love to know if you’ve launched a business using this method, so give him a shout out on social media @thedannorris or #7daystartup. He’ll help spread the word if he thinks his audience would be interested.

 The most important thing is… don’t stress! A launch will very rarely make or break a successful sustainable business, which is what you are trying to build.