Gill Moakes 0:00
Welcome, welcome to the heads together podcast. Thanks for joining me again this week. So this week, I'm going to talk about something in response to a lot of questions I had following a previous episode. So you know, a few weeks ago I spoke about rewilding your business? Well, I kind of got quite a few questions about how to go about simplifying your business model, which was one of the things I talked about in that episode, and how you pick the right one or two offers for your business. So that's what we're going to be diving into today. You know, what does the simple boys business model look like? And why does it matter? Okay, let's go.
Gill Moakes 0:49
Welcome, welcome to the heads together podcast, I'm Gill Moakes. And I am obsessed with cutting through the noise when it comes to growing your business each week via intimate coaching conversations and inspirational stories, I share what it really takes to get the results you want, in a way that feels right to you.
Gill Moakes 1:12
I am all about attracting higher ticket opportunities, building authentic relationships, and creating the abundant full fat version of your dream business. I mean, how many of us have even away creating a light version of what we really want? The thing is, I honestly believe, when you're outstanding at what you do, there is no limit to what you can achieve. So are you ready to put our heads together and make it happen? Let's go.
Gill Moakes 1:51
So, hands up, if you're the kind of person who finds it really hard to do like your best work, if you've got a messy desk, my hand is up. Or if you're the kind of person who just can't really curl up with a good book and relax, if the house around you to tip, my hand is up.
Gill Moakes 2:14
Well, here's the thing. The same applies to growing and sustaining your business. Right? When your business model is simple, and it's uncluttered, then you feel calm, you feel focused, feel empowered.
Gill Moakes 2:37
But conversely, when your business model is really complex, it feels chaotic. It's where the overwhelm sets in. And it's like a really stifling feeling, right.
Gill Moakes 2:51
So that's why it's really important actually, to simplify that business model. Because who doesn't want to feel that light airiness around having simple clear, offers one or two of them, that you promote? Consistently, because you're not hopping all over the place, trying to promote a tonne of different offers and a different strategies and different this, that and the other. Right? So when it comes to your business model, let's first of all start out by, and I'm so sorry if this sounds very, very basic. But let's just clarify what I mean, when I talk about your business model.
Gill Moakes 3:35
When I refer to a business model, what I'm talking about is three things. The market you serve your offers and your prices. That's the kind of trifecta of your business model in my eyes, other people have different takes on it. But when I talk about business model, it's those three things market offers prices. So how do you create a simple business model?
Gill Moakes 4:03
Well, first thing you do, and this is always the first thing you do in your business. And it's actually the thing that everything should come back to whether it's choosing a marketing strategy, a sales strategy, and operations strategy, whatever it is you're working on in your business, your target market, your ideal clients, your ICA, your customer avatar, you know, whatever you like to call it, and we all have these wonderful acronyms for it. But effectively, it's your target market. It's the people you want to serve.
Gill Moakes 4:38
Coming back to that is always going to be the most foundational thing in your business. It's going to be the one thing that really keeps you on track. It's when we lose sight of our ideal clients and what they want and need that we start to overcomplicate our business.
Gill Moakes 5:00
It's when we allow that shiny object syndrome, of which I'm pretty much a fan because I have it. But it's when we allow it to run rampant. And we start layering complexity on complexity into our business, without really tying it back to what our ideal clients want and need.
Gill Moakes 5:23
So step one, in simplifying your business model, is to get crystal clear on who your ideal client is, and what they want and need.
Gill Moakes 5:36
When you're thinking about that, I want you to think about how you can simplify this aspect of your business model. Because the truth is a simple business model serves one kind of client, one kind of client with a similar set of problems or desires. That is what will create for you the most simple sleek business model. Just because you can help more than one type of client, it doesn't necessarily mean that that's the right thing for you to do. Right.
Gill Moakes 6:11
I see this happens such a lot, where people have this very complex segmentation system, within their email list, for example, it can lead to overwhelmed so quickly, you are going to have to spend an awful lot of time on content creation, and on automations. And those kinds of processes. If you want to be serving a lot of different client avatars, with a lot of different problems, and you want to be serving up to them exactly what they want to need. Because you are going to have to be writing different content for each of those target clients. Because you and I, we know that our messaging needs to be on point to speak directly to our ideal clients. If you have lots of different ideal clients, you can forget sending a single email each week, and hoping that it's going to resonate with everyone because it won't.
Gill Moakes 7:17
So again, a simple business model. If that's your goal, don't forget, there's nothing prescriptive about this. The only thing I'm saying is that, for me, there is real joy in a simple business model. It feels like it feels airy, it feels easier, it feels liberating for me, okay. And if that's your goal, to feel that way, too, then I really recommend that you do simplify down to one kind of client with a similar set of problems or desires. That's your starting point. Okay.
Gill Moakes 7:55
And then the next part is your offers. Now, once you're really crystal clear on who your ideal client is, don't forget, and it's this one type of client with one set of problems or desires, then you are going to know it's going to be very easy for you to identify what they want from you, and how they want it delivered to them.
Gill Moakes 8:22
So your offer should be the solution to their problem or the delivery of the thing they want. And it should be in a vehicle. that's right for them. Now what I mean by a vehicle is whether that is a book, an online course, a workshop, a coaching programme, a package of deliverables, a consulting package, one on one consulting or coaching, whatever it is, that's not to be determined 100% by you, it should be determined by the clients you serve and the way they want to be served.
Gill Moakes 9:10
And my recommendation is that you pick two offers the two things that they want the most and that will meet their needs the best. If you can really get to a point in your business where you're serving one type of client, so all of your content is created for that client. Your messaging is absolutely on point. Because you're only serving that one type of client you know exactly where they hang out online and it isn't everywhere. So all of a sudden it's like okay, I don't need to be everywhere either.
Gill Moakes 9:46
Everything becomes more simple. And again your offers it becomes simple to identify whether it's a mastermind they want is it a retreat. Is it an in person experience.
Gill Moakes 10:01
Do they want really bespoke work done for them? Or do they want to buy a course off the shelf, or a book or, you know, whatever it is that you want and love to create, make sure that you're doing it in the, the way your ideal client wants to receive it. Okay. And then that third piece is the pricing.
Gill Moakes 10:31
And so again, knock on effect, because you've just got one or two offers, then you've got one or two prices, maybe maximum of four prices, if you offer instalments. But here's the thing, when you've only got this very simple charging scale, it rolls off your tongue easily, you're confident about telling people your prices, because there's no complexity to it, it's very simple. It's this price, or it's this price. Yeah. And suddenly, you've got more faith in your pricing. And you're being more consistent, there is nothing that will put the client off or prospective client off more than someone who sounds almost as if they doubt their own pricing. Or worse, they sound not confident around their pricing, which makes that prospect feel that they're not confident that they can deliver on what they're promising.
Gill Moakes 11:28
Confidence in your pricing Absolutely. gives your prospective clients confidence that you can deliver.
Gill Moakes 11:37
Right? And don't get me wrong. I've always said this, haven't I with pricing, you know, you've still got flexibility to work for less if you if you feel drawn to. But that should be the exception, not the norm. Right, you should be really confident.
Gill Moakes 11:54
And like I say it should trip off the tongue, you've got one or two prices depending on which of your offers that client wants to go for. And if you can do this, if you can master simplifying down your business model, in this way, I promise you, your business is going to feel so much more focused. And power, you're going to buy back time, your content creation becomes easier.
Gill Moakes 12:25
Yeah, I've been rereading Seth Godin book, this is marketing, where he talks about that smallest viable audience.
Gill Moakes 12:37
And there is really something to be said for that, you know, and I get it, it takes a lot of bravery, to accept that you can't serve everyone and that to really, really target in on the people you can and want to serve, you are going to have to alienate other people who potentially could be there offering you money, you know, but you bet you're not going to reach them. And I get it, that's, there is this part of us, that's but you know, I could definitely help that person, you know, so I don't want to alienate them by not including them in my marketing or in my messaging, or in my social media, you know, but I really want you to trust me on this, that the more focused you get on a smaller niche or a smaller group of perfect clients, the more powerful your messaging is going to be. Get this really, really right. And you can start forgetting about having to create oodles and oodles of content all the time. And in fact, you can start handpicking potential high ticket clients and just building those one on one relationships with them.
Gill Moakes 13:57
And suddenly, you are actually having conversations, having more conversations with the right people and enrolling them without having to you know, turn yourself into this massive client magnet, which can be quite stressful if you equate that with creating so much content and being on every platform and just overcomplicating your marketing so much. A simple business model doesn't need a complicated marketing strategy.
Gill Moakes 14:30
Starting with a simple business model, radiates simplicity into the rest of your business. It means your marketing doesn't have to be as complicated it means your operations don't need to be as complicated. It means you don't need a bigger team as people who have umpteen different offers and automations and upsells, cross cells down cells, trip wires, all of those things that I believe make business a headache right now.
Gill Moakes 15:00
I think people, to a large extent, have lost sight a little bit of what they're really trying to achieve with their business. People love to describe themselves as purpose driven. But if you're purpose driven, that means that you have a bigger, why than simply having them most profitable and most efficient business out there.
Gill Moakes 15:28
And it means, again, you know, coming back to who you're trying to serve, what is it they want, or need? How do they want it delivered to them, because it won't be every single way possible, it will be there will be a clear couple of front runners in terms of the offers that they are really interested in, and other best vehicle for delivering what they want need.
Gill Moakes 15:54
And, you know, go back and check out previous episodes. Oh, I'll put in the show notes. Because I know I talked about this in a previous episode, just don't know which one. But go back and check out when we talked about interviewing your ideal clients.
Gill Moakes 16:09
Because this is going to be a really, really good way of narrowing down your offers into the one or two packages or events or courses or whatever it is that you want to do. The best way to do that is start having conversations with people who fall under your ideal client category, right? start reaching out to them and asking them if you can ask them a really quick couple of questions about their preferences when it comes to how they like to consume. Whatever it is that you do, what are they looking for, is the best way of doing this.
Gill Moakes 16:50
I know everyone says everyone like kind of shiz away from actually having those conversations, which just kind of befuddles me, haven't used the word befuddle for a long time making a mental note to use it more often. It does befuddled me, though, it could because I think how, how else would you really understand what people want, if you're not willing to talk to them?
Gill Moakes 17:15
And how are you going to serve a client to the absolute best of your ability, if you don't get to the real neat route down into the niche of what they want. They're really nuanced, the little bits that go into making the perfect offer for them.
Gill Moakes 17:34
Because believe me, when you do that, it's another way you know, that you're gonna stand out. The first obviously, is you being authentically you doing things your way. The second is really finding out what they want, and making your offers as irresistible as you can possibly make them by really understanding what your target market wants.
Gill Moakes 17:57
Right? So let's wrap all that up. Again, simple business model, the question was that I had from a couple of different people was okay, but how do we simplify? How do we create a simple business model? Was that actually looked like? And the answer is, it's looking at the trifecta of your target market, simplify that down. One type of client one similar set of problems or desires.
Gill Moakes 18:26
And commit to serving that one kind of client.
Gill Moakes 18:31
Simplify your offers. Now that you're clear on who that ideal client is, what do they want and need, talk to them, find out and then choose the one or two best ways that they, you know, the ways they want the most, and that will meet their needs the best.
Gill Moakes 18:48
And then your pricing, get slick, clean, clear. Two offers two prices maximum for if you're going to offer instalments. Let it trip off your tongue very easily, very confidently.
Gill Moakes 19:03
No more. There are 1000 ways you can work with me. And here's my pricing matrix. You know, keep it simple. It will be way more effective. And I absolutely promise you that.
Gill Moakes 19:19
I hope that has been helpful. So a bit of a shorter episode today. But I think it's important to keep this one quite clear. I mean, the whole point is, it's the joy of simplifying your business model. I'm not going to rant on about it for ages. I want you to just think about those three things. So maybe at the end of this, how about whipping out that piece of paper and just writing those three headings?
Gill Moakes 19:46
Client at the top offers in the middle of pricing at the bottom and restrict yourself in this way. One kind of client described them in detail just one client if you find yourself putting on or even that sentence, we're going to cross that out, we're going to pick one kind offers, we're going to pick just two, and then pricing, just do it, put down those prices on that sheet of paper.
Gill Moakes 20:15
This could not take you not long at all, you know, 2030 minutes, and you could have a one pager, that is going to be that's going to form the basis of your note new way more simple business model is going to feel very liberating, whew, light and airy, you're going to buy back time by doing this as well.
Gill Moakes 20:35
So that will be an interesting exercise. If you do it, I want to know about it, take a screenshot and send it to me, or DM me with it on LinkedIn, or, you know, whatever you want to do email it to me, Joe, Mike's dot com, whatever you want to do, do send it to me. And if you want some help to do this, this is something that we could actually do together in a breakthrough session. Okay.
Gill Moakes 21:03
So you know, if you haven't already spoken to me before, you know, I offer a 60 minute breakthrough session, there'll be a link in the show notes to book one you apply, basically, you have to fill out an application form because obviously, I only make a certain number of slots available. So if you can fill out the application form, you can apply for it, you'll get a link to book the actual call once you've done that, but this is absolutely something that we could go through in a breakthrough session together, you will get so much value just out of doing this exercise.
Gill Moakes 21:38
Okay, I hope that's been helpful. And I look forward to hearing from you. And in the meantime, have a bloody brilliant week. It's nice and sunny here I'm going camping this weekend which is really exciting if you haven't checked out yes tribe Google that say yes, more is I think is the name of the website but I'm meeting up with some of those guys and we're doing a talking circle. So I will let you know how that goes. I'm really looking forward to it. A bit of wild camping on on Saturday. So Okay, everyone, bye for now.
Gill Moakes 22:16
I hope you enjoyed this episode, and that getting our heads together this week has filled your mind with what's possible. If you love the show, would you do me a massive favour please? Would you leave a five star rating on Apple podcasts? It would really help you put more heads together, which will ears and expand more minds. Until next week. Bye for now
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
