7 classes I learnt in 2022

2023 is quick approaching and on the finish of the yr, I wish to spend a while reflecting on the yr passed by and being attentive to the teachings I’ve learnt. I don’t have many traditions on the weblog however that is positively one I by accident began in 2020. You’ll be able to try my earlier end-of-year reflections for 2020 right here and 2021 right here. Carry on studying to search out out the 7 classes I learnt in 2022.

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Lesson 1: There are lots of methods to scale a enterprise and you have to actually take into consideration what’s best for you.

One in all my targets for 2022 was so as to add a scalable provide into my enterprise. Till 2022 my enterprise had been purely promoting one-to-one providers and the very fact is I like working one-to-one with small enterprise house owners. I actually consider within the energy of getting customised advertising and marketing methods and subsequently working one-to-one with enterprise house owners simply is sensible. Nevertheless, solely promoting one-to-one providers gave me two issues. Firstly, my revenue was restricted to an quantity I used to be not blissful to be capped at. Secondly, I used to be limiting the variety of enterprise house owners I might work with and the stage at which that enterprise proprietor needed to be at. My pricing meant I wasn’t capable of assist enterprise house owners who had been at an early stage of their enterprise or had a smaller income potential. I needed to have the ability to tackle each these points, which meant trying into scaling my enterprise. This could allow me to have the ability to earn more money in my enterprise, have the ability to assist extra enterprise house owners and have a suggestion at a worth level that might help an early-stage or “small”-revenue enterprise proprietor.

My aim didn’t state what my scalable provide was going to be and initially my thought was to scale in two methods: a bunch accelerator and a bodily planner. I first ran the group accelerator (Begin Sturdy) in January 2022. For years in my enterprise, I’ve labored in quarters and with all my mentoring shoppers we plan in 12-week cycles. As well as, I actually consider within the energy of a brand new yr and making certain that you’ve got a robust Q1 to place your self “on observe” for the remainder of the yr. With that in thoughts, I created Begin Sturdy with the aim of working with enterprise house owners over Q1 and serving to to create a plan for Q1 that supported their annual targets after which making certain they made the best strategic choices and took the best strategic actions with their advertising and marketing in order that they’d an impressive first quarter.

I liked working Begin Sturdy and the enterprise house owners inside acquired nice outcomes so I’m working Begin Sturdy once more in January 2023. If you’re studying this earlier than the seventh of January 2023 enrolment remains to be open and you could find out extra and join right here. 

 

WANT TO START 2023 STRONG AND TAKE YOUR CONTENT TO THE NEXT LEVEL?  Begin Sturdy is an intimate group accelerator for established on-line, service-based, enterprise house owners who’re able to take their content material advertising and marketing to the subsequent stage in 2023! Creating  high-quality content material, on a constant foundation, that leads to leads and gross sales is on the coronary heart of Begin Sturdy. So if you’re severe about utilizing your content material as a lead-generation or gross sales device then try Begin Sturdy. Discover out extra and be a part of by clicking right here.

My second thought was to have a bodily product – a planner. It’s no secret that I’m a planner and I like a bodily planner. Additionally, as I discussed earlier than I exploit a 12-week planning cycle with shoppers and am huge on quarterly planning as a enterprise. With that in thoughts, the concept was to create a quarterly planner and use a print-on-demand writer so it will be a passive revenue product. In Q1 of 2022, I had a template and would alter weekly and stick it into one other pocket book. Then for Q2, I had a prototype made and I used it for the entire quarter. Nevertheless, by the top of the quarter, I realised while having a planner made sense for my model it didn’t really feel like the best time to launch. It felt like a distraction and would take up beneficial time and power away from promoting my primary providers, and given the worth level, the quantity would should be huge to justify taking over beneficial advertising and marketing house that I might use for my different providers.

 

LESSON: As a solopreneur, I can’t do all the things. There are lots of methods to scale and some would technically work for my enterprise, however I can’t add all of them in, while the enterprise is simply me. For each new provide, I’ve within the enterprise I would like to make sure I’ve the power to efficiently market and promote the provide too.

 

 

Lesson 2:  Spend money on know-how that allows you to work smarter

As a solopreneur investing in tech is crucial. The fitting know-how can permit a solopreneur to develop their enterprise with out rising their time. Nevertheless, I’ll be trustworthy and say I’ve traditionally been hesitant at investing in tech, particularly tech that entails a month-to-month subscription in {dollars} (I hate paying for issues in {dollars} the place every month I’ll get charged one thing completely different).

My huge piece of enterprise tech funding this yr was Kartra. I’ve been conscious of Kartra for some time now and I immediately fell in love with the concept of it being a one-stop-shop for working your on-line enterprise. I signed up as an affiliate and took all their trainings and preferred what I noticed. Then I joined a course that was ran on Kartra and preferred the expertise as a buyer. Then I discovered examples of different enterprise house owners who had multi-million-pound companies that had been being run by way of Kartra which confirmed that’s was software program that might have the ability to develop with my enterprise. The truth is, not solely might it develop alongside by enterprise, however as a result of performance to run memberships and promote programs it will permit my enterprise to scale.

Over the summer time I signed up and immediately began working my membership by way of it. Then over time, I began to make use of different components of the software program however the one factor I took too lengthy to type out was utilizing Kartra for e-mail advertising and marketing. I like e-mail advertising and marketing and was hesitant to lose the info I had constructed up through the years in Mailerlite. I shouldn’t have hesitated although as a result of inside a number of weeks of transferring my mailing listing over I used to be totally in love with Karta’s e-mail performance and analytics.

Upgrading only for the e-mail advertising and marketing performance has been a winner. There are such a lot of issues I like reminiscent of

• The flexibility for subscribers so as to add a hyperlink to certainly one of their social media accounts so now I can know extra about my subscribers
• Simply including tags so I can see precisely what weblog posts my subscribers have clicked to learn
• Permitting new customers to undergo a welcome e-mail sequence after which mechanically be added to my mailing listing in order that they don’t get too many emails directly
• Having all of my shoppers tagged with their purchases in order that they aren’t emailed about providers that they’ve already purchased/aren’t related

And a lot extra.

Transferring to Kartra has enabled me to work smarter than earlier than. Not solely does it have the aptitude for me to run memberships and programs so I can have scalable affords in my enterprise, however even with out that, it has enabled me to take my e-mail advertising and marketing to the subsequent stage.

Having all the things in a single place is nice from an information perspective. I can see when somebody has booked a name with me, clicked on a hyperlink in an e-mail and acquired one thing from me multi function place. That stage of knowledge is a game-changer for a small enterprise proprietor. On prime of that having all the things in a single place means I solely must be taught one piece of software program, and if I select to outsource sooner or later it will likely be simpler for another person to take over.

LESSON: When you’ve been eyeing up some software program for some time – purchase it! If you find yourself hating it you possibly can all the time cancel however on the entire, in the event you’ve acquired your eye on some software program for some time then there’s a good purpose. Shopping for the best software program is an funding, not a price, it is going to will let you generate more cash in your corporation so make the funding sooner fairly than later.

To find out more about Kartra and enjoy a 14-day trial for just $1 click here.

Lesson 3: Discovering the best neighborhood of enterprise house owners could be tough

I discover working my very own enterprise lonely. I’m naturally an extrovert and get my power from being round individuals so I positively didn’t begin my enterprise as a result of the considered being house alone all day and never having to work together with individuals sounded dreamy.

Working your corporation by your self could be lonely and I consider within the significance of discovering the best neighborhood. In April I left a neighborhood I had been in for 18 months. Modifications had been taking place contained in the neighborhood and with the brand new monetary yr it felt like the right time to maneuver on to one thing else, however the actuality is I haven’t discovered one thing else but that has given me the identical power and sense of neighborhood. I’m in two different on-line memberships: one for small enterprise house owners and one for feminine founders, however each haven’t fairly hit the spot. So the hunt to search out my individuals is unquestionably nonetheless on.

LESSON: Discovering the best neighborhood could be laborious. If you’re additionally feeling lonely in enterprise please know you aren’t alone. And in the event you haven’t discovered your individuals but carry on trying they are going to be on the market.

Lesson 4: Watch out what you experiment with – The “30 day” TikTok problem

In January I launched into what I believed was going to be a 30-day TikTok experiment. Almost a yr later I’m nonetheless on the platform and have posted over 700 movies throughout the yr.

I like TikTok. It has a very completely different really feel from different social media platforms, which I like, and I’ve learnt quite a bit about creating short-form movies, which has helped with creating content material on different platforms. Nevertheless, it’s by far essentially the most addictive social media platform I’ve ever been on and I’ve wasted extra hours than I’d wish to admit.

After I launched into the experiment I used to be primarily considering it will be good to study TikTok as I felt it wouldn’t be lengthy earlier than I wanted to create advertising and marketing methods that concerned TikTok. Nevertheless, that hasn’t occurred. I nonetheless don’t have a shopper that’s on TikTok. And while I’ve had some heat leads which can be nonetheless in my gross sales pipeline I’ve not made a sale from somebody who has solely engaged with me on TikTok.

Will I proceed utilizing TikTok in 2023? Completely! However I will probably be posting much less usually, having a extra sturdy repurposing technique and being a lot stricter concerning the time I spend “researching”.

LESSON: Experimenting in enterprise is nice. You’ll be able to’t keep nonetheless and particularly with on-line advertising and marketing there are all the time going to be new issues to attempt. Set clear parameters for experiments and remember to commonly examine in with the social media platforms you utilize to make sure it nonetheless is sensible so that you can use them.

If you’re on TikTok and aren’t already following me then you could find me at @charellegriffith

Lesson 5: Studying about ‘The Creator Economic system while being part of the LinkedIn Creator Accelerator Programme 

The sudden spotlight of 2022 was being chosen for LinkedIn UK’s first Creator Accelerator Programme. In the beginning of this yr, I didn’t even know the programme existed and truthfully, I knew little or no about what it meant to be a creator on any social media platform. While I’ve been concerned in creating content material on social media platforms for over 7 years now I’ve strictly targeted on creating content material to extend model consciousness and generate gross sales. I’d by no means been fascinated with being an influencer or content material creator, and so had paid a lot consideration to the way it all labored.

For years I’d been conscious of LinkedIn Prime Voices, however once more hadn’t paid a lot consideration. After which in the summertime of 2020, I noticed somebody posting about being within the LinkedIn Creator Accelerator Programme overseas and checked out the programme. Being within the programme allowed creators to be a part of an incubator-style programme to deliver a artistic idea to life by way of trainings with trade and enterprise leaders, entry to the LinkedIn Group Administration group, monetary help and being a part of an engaged neighborhood of creators.

By being within the programme I acquired to be taught extra about what it meant to be a Linkedin Creator and a LinkedIn Prime Voice. I additionally acquired to fulfill with creators who created for different platforms and actually begin to perceive how the Creator Economic system works. While I’m not about to pack my enterprise in right this moment and change into a full-time content material creator my eyes have positively been opened to methods to how I can use my abilities to create extra income streams.

LESSON: Each social media platform desires the perfect creators to be creating content material on their platform and there will probably be programmes and monetary incentives to encourage creators to maintain creating there. Exterior of platforms there are more and more extra manufacturers that want high-quality content material and can rent creators to make that content material for them.

Lesson 6: Profitable an award gained’t mechanically change your corporation

In October 2022 I gained Content material Marketer of the 12 months on the DigitalWomen Awards. I used to be shocked to win the award however actually honoured. As talked about earlier I’ve been creating content material for 7 years and with out it, I wouldn’t have the enterprise or life I’ve right this moment. I delight myself on being in step with my content material whether or not that be right here on my weblog, sending out emails (you possibly can be a part of my mailing listing right here) or on social media (I’m at present on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok). Content material advertising and marketing permits me to do two issues on the identical time: entice new shoppers for my enterprise and assist extra enterprise house owners than I might ever bodily have the ability to work with.

After the awards, I stayed in contact with most of the winners and it has been attention-grabbing to see the impression the awards has had on their enterprise. When you win an award, put an announcement publish on social media after which assume it’s going to change your corporation eternally then you’re unsuitable.

There are an increasing number of awards to be gained than ever earlier than and inside a number of days of successful that award, everybody else has been forgotten. It’s your job to make sure that you’ve got sprinkled details about you being an award-winning X within the acceptable locations whether or not that be in your biography for press, your intro on LinkedIn, the signature in your e-mail, or the footer in your web site.

LESSON: Profitable an award could really feel nice, however if you’d like it to really change the way forward for your corporation then you have to be certain that you benefit from it. Whether it is an award your potential shoppers would care about be sure you have details about you successful the award in the best locations.

Lesson 7:  I like assembly enterprise house owners and entrepreneurs in-person

2022 was the yr I acquired again into in-person networking and I liked it! I completely love getting the chance to talk to different entrepreneurs and enterprise house owners in particular person, and after lots of time at house, I used to be excited to get out of the home and begin mingling with individuals once more..

Among the highlights included:

• The Marketing Meetup (Nottingham version) hosted on the beautiful Impression places of work
• The Imperfect Life Leaders Expertise – run by Kerry Lyons
• The Psychology of Getting Wealthy – run by Niyc Pidgeon

For me, the perfect occasions are these the place I’ve the chance to be taught and the chance to fulfill individuals and all three of those occasions did simply that.

One of many causes for doing 2022 reflections is to be able to guarantee the teachings you’ve learnt transfer ahead with you. After actually having fun with getting again into in-person occasions this yr I’ve already booked 2 conferences for 2023.

I’ll be going to:

• Professional Empires in March,  the place I’m trying ahead to seeing Denise Duffield-Thomas converse
• Atomicon in June, the place I’m trying ahead to seeing Rachel Rodgers converse

When you’ll be attending both drop me a message upfront so I can maintain an eye fixed out for you. 

LESSON: I like assembly individuals in-person and sure going to in-person occasions could be pricey (journey, lodging and the ticket), and imply having to clear your diary, However it all the time finally ends up being value it. So clear your diary, e-book the ticket and go!

There you’ve got it! You now know the 7 classes I learnt in 2022.

The query is what did you be taught in 2022? I hope by sharing these classes with you you’ve been impressed to do your individual end-of-year evaluate. You’ll be able to be taught a lot from taking a second to look again. And keep in mind classes are learnt from the highs and from the lows. Writing down the teachings will assist be certain that you keep in mind what you learnt this yr and may carry if ahead into future years.

When you do resolve to take a seat down and do an end-of-year reflection I might love so that you can share within the feedback one lesson you learnt this yr.

HAVEN’T REFLECTED ON 2022 YET? HAVEN’T GOT A PLAN IN PLACE FOR 2023?

It isn’t too late! I run 2023 Technique Days in January as a result of some enterprise house owners have a loopy busy finish of the yr so discover it higher to plan in January after they have a full understanding of how the final yr went.

If you e-book a  2023 Technique Day and also you’ll get my questionnaire to assist information you thru the reflection course of upfront of the day. Then on the day, we’ll use your reflection and my evaluate to place collectively a plan for the yr. You’ll go away assured about your targets after which a transparent map of how you can obtain these targets by way of your choices, costs and advertising and marketing technique.

You will discover out extra and e-book a 2023 Technique Day right here.

Need ongoing coaching, help and accountability to develop your corporation in 2023? Discover out the opposite methods you possibly can work with me right here.