Start an Online Business from Scratch by Doing Less, Investing Less, and Building Less

As an entrepreneur, the allure of starting an online business can be both exciting and overwhelming. You're bombarded with promises of overnight success, "get-rich-quick" schemes, and the constant pressure to be present on every social media platform. However, as Kellie-Ann Briand, a coach for midlife women looking to launch their first online business, reveals, the path to sustainable success often lies in a counterintuitive approach: doing less, investing less, and building less.

In a recent interview with Arfan Husain, founder of Grow Automate Scale, Kellie-Ann shared her invaluable insights on how to start an online business from scratch without falling into the trap of overcomplicating things or succumbing to shiny object syndrome.

The Foundational Work: Crafting Your Signature Offer

Before diving into the world of online marketing, social media, and paid advertising, Kellie-Ann emphasizes the importance of laying a solid foundation: crafting your signature offer. This involves identifying your target audience, understanding their pain points, and creating a compelling solution that addresses their specific needs.

"You have to create an offer to make an offer," Kellie-Ann explains. "Stop concentrating on what you're selling and figure out what people really want to buy." This process requires deep introspection, market research, and a willingness to iterate until you have an offer that resonates with your ideal clients.

Focus on One Offer, One Platform, One Avatar

Once you've developed your signature offer, Kellie-Ann advises keeping things simple by focusing on one offer, one platform, and one target audience (or avatar). This approach allows you to concentrate your efforts, streamline your messaging, and avoid the pitfalls of trying to be everything to everyone.

"I position it as you have to create an offer to make an offer, and stop concentrating on what you're selling and figure out what people really want to buy," Kellie-Ann says. "So that experiential factor of what is this offer that we're going to create, what is that signature front-end offer that you're going to be known for, that's what we're going to be selling."

Price Based on the Result, Not Your Time

One of the common struggles entrepreneurs face is pricing their offer appropriately. Kellie-Ann's advice is to shift your mindset from charging by the hour to pricing based on the result you're delivering. Your clients are paying for your expertise, experience, and the transformation your offer provides, not just the time you invest.

"Start from what is the result," Kellie-Ann advises. "Then you've got to price out your superpower and your ability to do it. I can't stand charging by the hour."

By following Kellie-Ann's strategies of doing less, investing less, and building less, you can avoid the distractions and focus on the foundational elements that will set your online business up for long-term success. However, starting an online business is a journey, and having the right guidance can make all the difference.