I don’t think I need to tell you there’s a lot that goes into building an online business, especially if you’re taking the solopreneur journey.
You have to decide on a product or service to sell.
Then there’s deciding how much time you can devote to working on your business, especially if you’re also working a 9-5.
And you have to learn as much as you can about your target market and how best to communicate to them so they’ll see why your products and services are right for them.
It’s enough to make you want to say, “Ready, Set, Run.”
But here’s the thing:
When you really nail it, being a solopreneur presents an incredible opportunity to have more control over your lifestyle. And I’m going to give you a blueprint for success.
But first, let me share what a solopreneur is. In short, it is someone who is an entrepreneur but decides to work their business solo.
In this solopreneur guide, I’ll be answering 8 business growth questions people ask me. And I’ll give you the real scoop – based on years of trial and error – so you can rest assured you’re getting answers from an expert.
I’ve been in the online marketing industry for over eight years. During that time I’ve learned what works in my business, what doesn’t work, and which processes and strategies have helped me best understand my customers and clients, in a way that gets them results.
These are the answers I wish I had in the early days of building my business, and my hope is that they will clear up any confusion you have around building your business so you can have more freedom.
Let’s get started.
#1. What’s the best way to approach marketing on social media?
There are loads of different ways to approach growing your business using social media, and the key is to find one that resonates with you. At the end of the day, the best approach is the one you can stick with and be consistent.
That said, here are some approaches I recommend:
- Start with one social media platform first. Get results on the one before you move on to adding another platform.
- Understand your goals for using that one particular platform. For example, is it to increase your brand awareness, increase your engagement, or maybe you want to establish authority in your community? Be clear on whatever your goals are because this will drive the actions you take.
- Develop a strategy that works for you on that particular platform.
- Pay attention to your metrics on that platform and adjust where necessary.
#2. What should I be doing every day?
The best way to work less in your business is to set daily goals and activities, and review your progress each week on a set day/time. Then adjust your plans every month based on your progress.
Here are some specific focus areas that will help you work less in your business:
- Daily: Decide on one main action item you can take that will help you reach one of your weekly goals.
- Weekly: Review your goals on the day/time you set to figure out what went well, what didn’t, and where you can adjust.
- Monthly: Review every area of your business and set goals for each area. For example, some areas you may want to review are cash flow, social media engagement, website analytics, or email list growth, to name a few.
#3. How long will it take to have total control of my lifestyle?
I know you’re pumped about having more freedom and want to get there as fast as you can, but you can’t cut corners when it comes to growing your business. You’ll only end up stressed and overworked, which will cause you to feel out of control and helpless.
You’ll have much better results if you focus on one or two small goals each week. For example, commit to posting at least 3 times on social media, or share your business with at least one new person per day.
Before you know it, you’ll look back and the rest will be history.
As Bill Gates said, “Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.”
Here’s how you’ll know when you’ve gotten more control over your lifestyle:
- You are able to do the things you had been putting off because you now have the means to do it. For example, travel to somewhere you didn’t see possible before.
- You’re able to eliminate debt because you’re making more money.
- You can stop trading your time for dollars.
#4. Is there a faster way to grow my email list?
I get it. Online marketing as a solopreneur can take a long time. You have to have the right products & services your market wants or needs, learn the best way to market those products & services, and continuously grow your community.
It’s hard to stay focused and motivated, especially if you have a 9-5 job and a family to care for.
Here’s what you can do:
Start by sending an email to everyone in your current contact list telling them about your business and how you may be able to help them.
Even if your product or service isn’t for them, ask them to share your email with people in their network that can use your help.
Next, in your email signature, include a link for people to join your email list.
Finally, create a signup link on your social media page to make it easy for people to sign up.
#5. How do I know what to focus on next?
Sometimes it’s hard to know if THIS strategy or THAT strategy will work best for your business. Should you try posting every day on social media instead of just a few times every week? Or should you be going live more often?
It all depends on where you’re at in your solopreneur journey:
- If you’re a newbie solopreneur, your focus should be on narrowing down your niche and who your product or service is for. At this stage, you need to learn how best to communicate with them.
- If you’re a middle-stage solopreneur, and have been in business for a few years, but are still not seeing the type of growth you want, you should focus on how to amplify your messaging to your audience. This is where you will also figure out which tasks you can automate or eliminate altogether.
- If you’re an advanced-stage solopreneur, now may be the time for you to invest in a coach that will help you take your business and money to the next level. You’ve been doing it so long by yourself, however you still haven’t quite grown like you wanted to.
Remember more than anything else what should steer the course of your business is what your customers need.
#6. What tools or resources should I use to keep all my projects together?
If you’re ready to level up your online marketing game, you’ll need to invest in the right tools for the job. Tools that help you grow your business faster and easier so you can save time and have more fun in the process.
The best online marketing tools will help you manage all the tasks in your business without feeling overwhelmed.
Here are three of my favorites and how I use them:
- Trello – I use this project management tool to keep track of all my tasks. For example, my blog posting schedule and topics, my email content schedule and topics, tracking my goals, and more.
- Aweber – I use this email marketing program to create a personal connection with my email community. They are the first to learn about my online marketing tips, as well as my course offerings and promos.
- Planoly – I use this to schedule my social media posts, specifically Instagram and Facebook. Each week I sit down and plan out my posts for every day of the week, then I schedule them to auto post using planoly.
There are others out there, too. Just remember when you’re searching for tools, make sure they have automation capabilities and a plus would be that they have a free trial available for you to use and test the waters. That way, you’ll be able to grow your business faster by working less.
#7. What am I doing wrong with my social media posts?
If you’ve been on social media for a while but not getting results, don’t worry. It’s one of the biggest things many solopreneurs struggle with, so take a deep breath. It’s not you.
What’s likely at fault here is you haven’t spent enough time zeroing in on your target audience and how to communicate to them with the right content.
The way to fix it is to make sure that you are creating valuable content each time you post. Posting just to be posting will not help you get the results you want. You must have the right strategy behind each post you make.
#8. How do I avoid burnout?
You may be feeling like, “Every time I try to stay focused in my business, I wind up having too much chaos around me and a lack of follow-through with my tasks. When that happens, sometimes I do “nothing” and become stagnant.”
It’s important to have systems and processes in your business. Remember, earlier in this post I talked about having a day/time that you set aside to review your goals and progress. Blocking this time out on your calendar will help you stick to it. Use this same energy for every task in your business. Block out the time to get them done.
Have a morning routine that you commit to before you start working for the day. This will help you get in a healthy mental state before working. Some things you can include in your routine may be:
- Reading
- Exercising
- Affirmations
- Drinking a cup of coffee or green tea
- Listening to a podcast episode
The key is to engage in activities that will help you feel your best at the beginning of your day. When this becomes a regular part of your daily routine, not only will you feel better, you will be more productive as a result.
Wrapping it Up
Now you have the real scoop on building a business as a solopreneur, how using the right tools will help you grow your business, and the effects of having certain processes in place.
If you stay consistent and keep your eye on the end game, you’ll see results faster than ever.
Did I answer all your questions? Let me know in the comments.
Take a first step at putting this into action by downloading my FREE Top 10 Tools To Grow Your Online Business As A Solopreneur guide.
WRITTEN BY
Demet Nicole
Online Marketing Entrepreneur & Business Coach
As an online marketing entrepreneur and coach, Demet Nicole helps entrepreneurs create, organize, and brand online businesses, beyond the 9-5.
