As entrepreneurs, our main priority is to grow our businesses… however, sometimes it can feel like a struggle. There’s so much to do, we’re not sure what we should be focusing on and then we end up feeling like we’re going in circles!
I’ve been there, got the t-shirt!
One of the things that’s really helped me to move past this and make progress is having a business blueprint, so I know what I need to focus on in order to actually grow my business! It’s been amazing to have – we all need one :)
So in this week’s 10 Minute Masterclass the amazing Natasha Vorompiova, founder of SystemsRock will show you exactly how you can create your business blueprint in 4 simple steps.
Have a watch below…
Also, she’s doing a free workshop where she’s going to be diving into more detail on creating a blueprint, check it out here >>
Build Your Business Blueprint
Your business blueprint layer 1:
Defining the journey or evolution of your ideal customer
To build the first layer of your business blueprint describe the journey or evolution of your ideal customer. No, don’t create another customer avatar. The problem with avatars is that they don’t show how people change over time. They show only the “before” stage, but not the after.
In reality, your ideal customers are NOT the same before and after working with you. They are different! They are always changing as they learn new skills, change beliefs, and acquire new identities.
Acknowledging that allows you to:
- Capitalize on opportunities to bring in and serve new people by demonstrating that you know the challenges your customers face on their journey and explaining how your products/services help them overcome those challenges.
- Create new ways to serve your existing customers who already find value in the products or services you offer by ensuring that the “after” of every product or service you offer is the “before” of another one.
Ask yourself: what’s that starting point when my ideal customers begin working with me (e.g., skills, desires, beliefs)? What’s the shared vision we work towards with them?
FEA Example:
Your business blueprint layer 2:
Arranging your products or services on your customer journey line.
To build the second layer of your blueprint, bring together your customer journey and your offers.
Most of us think of our businesses as a collection of different products and services we offer. But let’s remember what we said earlier: our customers are always changing. Every product or service we offer is a mini-journey, a transformation that moves them forward on the overall journey. The “after” of every product or service we offer is, ideally, the “before” of another one.
So, go back to your offerings and define how your clients change when they invest in each one of them.
Ask yourself: When would those transformations have to happen in relation to one another? How could I map out those transformations on the customer journey timeline?
FEA Example:
Your business blueprint layer 3:
Optimizing your marketing
The third level of your business blueprint is about selecting the key marketing channels for your offerings.
By a marketing channel I mean the route you take when you want to sell more of something: for example, are you going to social media, paid advertising, email marketing, blogging, introductions, or referrals?
I suspect that right now you might be thinking to yourself, I do all of the above. Whether that’s the case or you’ve focused on just a few, there are probably some that have worked better for you than others. Do you know which marketing channel has been the most successful for you to date? Those are the ones I want to add to your business blueprint under the respective products/services.
Ask yourself: What are the sales am I making? What do I actually do to cause those sales? Hence, what are the top marketing channel for each of my offerings?
FEA Example:
Your business blueprint layer 4:
Creating systems to bring it all together
Now it’s time to look at how your top marketing channels and your offers work together to create a system that’s authentic for you.
The bottom layer of your business blueprint is about putting together a puzzle with all the pieces of information that you’ve outlined earlier. And that’s the key: you already have the pieces! You know whom you serve and how your offerings help your ideal customer; you know how to talk about your offerings because you know the transformations your offerings are causing; and you also know what brings you sales.
So, all you need to do to make a greater impact with your work and meet your
financial goals is to start bringing your ideal customers in and serving them
in a systematic way.
Ask yourself: What systems do I have (to have) in place for the marketing strategies I’ve identified in the last step to produce best results?
FEA Business Blueprint:
There you have it! Now you know how to build your very own business blueprint. Make sure to consult it next time you’re trying to decide what new offering to introduce, new marketing tactic to test, new course to invest in, or new system to create.
If you need a bit more guidance, check out the Business Blueprint training.
the giveaway
Comment to WIN a FREE 6 Month Members’ Club Pass
One lucky winner will win a FREE 6 Month FEA Membership! This offer is open to current members too :)
To Be Entered to Win: Leave a comment below and let us know whether you have a business blueprint you follow or what helps you to sty focused on growth?
See you next week!
Carrie xx
