The 4 Things I Did to Grow My Business From My Garage

These are the steps I took over the past few years to grow my business into what it is today.  It has taken multiple trial and error on my part, but I am excited to share with you what works, to save you the effort and money I wasted on failed attempts.  

So first...

1) ESTABLISH A BRAND. Know who you are.  And who you can best help.  What type of people do you feel most relate to you?  Who are you most passionate in serving?  What colors depict your style? Make a business logo.  Establish a cover photo that will match all of your social media presence and personal presence. Set yourself up as a professional, and instantly separate yourself from other poser's by coming on strong with a logo, business name, and consistent professional looking image to depict your brand.  Come up with a mission statement surrounding your passion and purpose.

2) SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE.  But more than just that. Be consistent. And have a strategy. My first advice is to establish a presence on social media via Facebook, Instagram, Snap Chat--whatever format you feel most confident and have the most influence on.  And plan to post 3-5 times a day. Most people see 1/5 posts you make in a day...and our goal is to get your content in front of the most people possible.  Therefore posting 3-5 times insures the most following but not annoyance.  Prime posting times are Sunday afternoon's, Monday's all day, and most week nights after 8:30 pm.  Keep in mind some of this social media post timing depends on your audience and when they are most present.  Check out auto-posting apps to help you stay on top of these posts without having to remember.  (buffer, hootesuite, etc)

--> I have a guide we use to follow for your first 30 days to grow your business that says exactly what to post, when, and what type of picture to include.

3) BUILD VALUE*ESTABLISH AUTHORITY.  Our goal for you is to establish yourself as a fitness authority in home fitness.  Therefore your conversations with people, your social media presence, your interactions with groups need to be FILLED with value.  Get out and volunteer at local races, events.  Speak at charity events. Offer to share or set up booths are health fair's.  And while you are there--Tell us what you know. But moreso from YOUR EXPERIENCE.  How did you build your home gym? What did you purchase first? Why?  How do you stay motivated to workout on your own at home?  How long have you been training in your garage? Do you have client testimonials? Your own personal testimonial? Teach us.  Share your best practices, tips.

--> I have fitness and nutrition program templates already designed that we have tested and proven for YOUR home fitness clients to use and get amazing results from--> WHICH helps you get greater and faster testimonials to promote and grow your business quicker.

4) TRACK YOUR BUSINESS. If you aren't tracking your business, you aren't growing a business.  Keep track of every person you talk too on social media.  Document what they said and where you spoke to them.  Date it.  Keep track of your social media posts.  What posts got the most involvement and response?  What format?  What hashtags are working better for you?  Videos? Or picture posts?  How many people are you talking too a day about your business? 

--> I have a tracker sheet I already designed to help you keep track of all of these items and more you should be tracking to grow your business most efficiently.

When You Don't Feel You Compare

The end of the year for entrepreneurs involves a lot auditing, figuring, organizing and preparing for the next year's taxes. As I've scrolled through our finances it is sometimes hard not to see the fruits of my efforts with my fitness businesses...especially with the hopes and goals I have and where I'm at right now. Seems like you work so hard and don't have anything to show for it.

Because according to all my other entrepreneur friends...

I wasn't able to buy a new vehicle.

We didn't go on a lavish vacation.

I wasn't able to spoil my kids with memorable trips.

We didn't remodel the bathroom.

And that's what I see and have fallen into a trap of comparing with.

Because what I have forgotten is:

We have a son with extra physical needs meaning I had to write checks for his dental sedation appointments at a hospital instead of a regular dentist.

I had to pay for a cardiology appointment just to get approval for the dentist. 

I had to pay for lab work for the cardiologist because insurance is saying Down Syndrome isn't a medical condition. 

We had to restart some therapies for some unspoken struggles. 

We have to drive to Kansas City (3+ hours away) for appointments every few months. 

And we were able to pay for it all. Out of our monthly income. On time.

So while it isn't glamorous or noteworthy...it's the truth that is our lives. And I'm grateful to say we signed each check with confidence to provide for our family. 

This is our life. And we chose it. And I'm choosing to be INCREDIBLY grateful I have a job that allows the freedom of time and money. Even if it isn't a beach-setting! Ha!

The #1 Thing You Are NOT Doing to Grow Your Online Business

I have been in the fitness industry for 13 plus year's.

I have been the CEO of my fitness business for 9 year's.  I have run my own studio, I have trained clients face to face, I have coached people online, I have helped open a CrossFit gym and coached, I have worked as a trainer at our local Y, I have taught classes at our local retirement community and day service provider's for adults with special needs.

I have had some experience with being a business owner and entrepreneur.

And there seems to be 1 thing new entrepreneur's, new network marketing business owner's, new pop up shop CEO's...

ARE ALL MISSING.

And this is it.  They are missing the people.  The true, meaningful, relationship-building aspect of human connection.

We are joining these network marketing companies with passion and excitement, we get scripts, we get video's, we get transformation stories to share...AND yet we DON'T do the 1 thing that is required to be successful.

TRULY connecting with people.

1) We would rather send a script that the company gives us with the "Hey! How are you? I have started this new business.....and I would love to sell you this ......it is on sale for ...............and here are results from the last woman's experience ..............Thanks! -Signed, a person we haven't spoken to in 20 year's

Because if we take time to really get to know people.  To reconnect. Meet up for coffee. Or set up a phone call face to face.  It takes time.  And it might be uncomfortable.  And it might lead to more conversations, instead of a quick sale.  WHAT?!

2) We would rather splash our Facebook feeds with SPAM and Infomercial's of our products and fancy lettering and graphics...than to actually have to use the products for 6-months to a year and show proof of the product and fall in love with the product enough to "show" people how it works and why we love it...instead we want to skip the work and instead "sell" our product as a quick fix--one we aren't even 100% sure of us ourselves yet because we have only been using it 2 weeks. Or don't use it at all but hope to make a quick dollar, like was promised in our recruitment call when I signed up.

We make it about a quick sell, fast dollar, and what "he or she" says is the way, and we become desperate for a sale. Instead of falling in love with the product ourselves first.

3) We don't want to take the time to truly understand people's needs.  We don't ask questions about them.  We don't interview them to see if our product is even something they need or want.  Instead we shove our product in their face for a solution of a problem this person may not have or EVEN know they have.  

Again, this takes time.  This takes removing yourself from the picture and your desperation for a quick sale, and actually "going there" with people.  Learning their true fears, anxieties, motivations, needs.  AND it also means realizing your product may not be good for them, and respecting their needs/desires by referring them on.

4) We don't want to personally invite people to our private social media groups.  It is uncomfortable, it is scary, and we all FEAR rejection, so we avoid it.  Instead we add everyone we know to a private group for a product we are selling or may win a prize for AND disrespect people's social media time and use.  

Instead, we should be inviting them to learn more and let THEM make the decision to join our private group.  SHOW respect people.  Again, don't provide a solution for a problem people don't have.

5) DO your research. Is this product you plan to promote or has changed your life one that is sustainable?  Is it one that the market will become saturated quickly with?  Is it something people will truly benefit from in a genuine, long-term, lifestyle changing way?  Has it been proven?  Is is safe?

Once again, and lastly, ask people before you sell.  Is this something you would use?  Is this something my doctor would recommend or encourage?

IT ALL COMES DOWN TO PEOPLE.  Connecting. Serving. Asking the questions.  Respecting.  Hearing out.  Supporting.  

We miss the boat when we miss this key step.  And THAT is probably why you have not been able to sustain your current business or online marketing company....

BECAUSE you aren't including the people and relationships.  Plain and simple.