Do you have a dream of starting a service-based business? Or have you started your business, but unsure of how to drive growth? I’ve been there, mama, and I can promise you that you’ve got this!
I’m switching things up this week with a BONUS EPISODE!! I wanted to share with you mamas what worked for me when I wanted to grow my business. This episode is all about breaking down those walls, plugging into your creativity, and leaning on your community.
Growing your business can seem like an almost impossible mountain to climb, but when you break it down and use your resources, you’ll be able to take your business to heights you never even imagined. You’ll be surprised by not only how much your business will grow, but how much you will grow as well!
The reason for this bonus episode is to help other mamas that are in the same spot I’ve been of not knowing what tactics actually lead to growth for a business. I discuss the impact that authenticity, risk-taking, and transparency have on business growth and share tips that I’ve used, and that worked well for me when growing my business.
For my READERS out there, here is the podcast transcript.
Hello, happy Friday this week. Monday was a holiday of course, so I did not drop a new episode that day. I decided to not stress about it and just enjoy the long weekend with my family. So I thought I’d pop on today to do a little short bonus episode because this was just on my mind in my heart. So I wanted to talk about the number one driver for my service based business today and many years ago. I guess it’s been, we’re going to go with eight years. I’ve kind of lost track. I did not have really any plans for a business of my own. Little did I know this is what I needed to do, but I actually was still working my full-time position with the local CPA firm here in town. And a family member came to me and said, Hey, I know you’re a new mama and I know you are wanting to work a little less or at least flexible time on your terms and I know this person who needs a bookkeeper, would you be interested? So that is how my journey as a small service-based business started was because somebody reached out to me and said, would you consider this?
So, you know, I took the time and I met with that business owner and obviously things worked out. I started working for him and I still am to this day. So the number one driver for my business is WORD OF MOUTH. In fact, I have every single client today because someone referred me or I knew this person and any client that I’ve had in the past is also because of that, so the power of community and the power of networking is real.
It is the only thing that has driven my business forward. And I’ve mentioned community already a lot in the short time that I’ve been doing this and it’s powerful. So I just wanted to take the time today to tell you if you’re wanting to start a business or wanting to grow your current business, why not just put it out there to the people you already know? Have you already taken the time to say, Hey, guess what I’m working on? Guess what I’m doing? Guess what I want to do? I think you’ll be surprised that you might find one person that knows somebody who might need your services. And from there it kind of just spins. Once you have one and you do a great job, that person may know somebody else or they may talk to someone else in a random conversation. And that may, you know, get you a new client because that person knows someone.
It’s amazing how word of mouth works and it spreads. So what’s holding you back from telling the people that are closest to you, what you are doing? I know what it is. It’s fear. I still am afraid today. It’s still scary to share. And honestly, let’s take for example, this podcast. I still haven’t really shared on my personal page that I’m doing this. Do I plan to? Yes, but I still have fear and that’s what’s holding me back. But why? Why do you allow that? Why do you care? And guess what guys? I am talking to myself right now too. Just put it out there. If you want to grow your business, if you want to have a business, let the people that are closest to you now. So now that you’ve told the closest people, your friends and your family what you’re doing, the next step I would take would be to maybe go to social media.
Social media is a great place to connect with others and really do not expect to get business right away from social media. I think there’s a process there. It’s going to take time. Don’t let that frustrate you. I did get a client from social media, but it took me a year, year and a half, and that’s okay. I think you can just use Facebook and Instagram and other outlets to just allow yourself to connect with people, put yourself out there, spread your truth, spread your work, spread what you’re doing and if it brings you business right away, that’s awesome. But if it takes time, that’s okay too. Building your community shouldn’t be quick. You don’t want it to be, you want to nurture those relationships. You want them to grow. You really want them to become something and your community should trust you and they shouldn’t necessarily trust you right away.
The other thing that’s amazing to do is to find local events or local gatherings, meetings, networking events, any sort of education workshops, whatever makes sense for you and what you’re trying to do. Go to those things, you’re going to meet so many people and that’s going to bring you business quicker than social media. Honestly, in my opinion, like I said, it depends on what you’re doing, but allow yourself to go meet people face to face. I’ve met so many good friends and acquaintances through these events and I’ve grown from it as a person and as a business, so even if you know I haven’t gotten a ton of clients from it, I’ve grown from it. So look into things like that and your community. Really just put yourself out there. That’s my, that would be the biggest takeaway I want you to have from this conversation is don’t allow yourself to be afraid.
Put what you are doing out into the world. That’s where you’re going to see your growth. And honestly, the biggest thing for me is just try, just connect. Do not necessarily have getting the next client in the forefront, that shouldn’t be your purpose. I think the purpose of doing these things should be to grow your community and grow relationships. And once you have that, I think you’ll see that business will just come, the clients will come. So I’m going to challenge you today. If you’ve been fearful to put yourself out there, I challenge you to either make a post on your personal social media account of what you are doing or what you plan to do or go register for that local event or workshop that’s going to connect you with people. I too will join in with this today and I will make that podcast announcement on my personal page.
Don’t let fear takeover if this is something you’re truly passionate about, you’ve got to take this step and it is so scary at first, but once it’s done, you’re not even going to think about it seriously. It is always the lead up to this big event, this big announcement that is the scariest. But once it’s done, it’s such a relief. So I challenge you today to do something, something to start building your community. I’ve given you a few options. It doesn’t matter which one. Pick one, do it today and when you do come, tell me about it. Come find me on Instagram or come join our Facebook group. Tell me, I want to know. I want to know what you’re doing. I want to know that you are building your community, that you are building your business, that you are investing in yourself and your dreams. And with that that’s all I have for you this week. I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend and I will be back here next week with more information for you off.
XO,
Stephanie
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