Here we are again back to the old “ this sounds fab” routine. So what am I talking about this time? Well, this time it’s the same but different. The same as in it’s about the promise of one size fits all, different because it’s around an alternative albeit super important topic and on this occasion, I’m talking the business blueprint and its effectiveness or lack thereof!
So what is a business blueprint really about?
What does work is when these strategies are used as a jumping off point and then very quickly using expert help, tailored and adapted to meet your specific needs.
Allegedly it’s a specific set of steps or strategies that are guaranteed to make you a fortune in your business. I say allegedly because the claims are attractive but untrue and here’s why: Every woman and every business is unique. What works specifically for you will not and cannot work for anybody else because they are not you……. and your business is not their business! Granted there are some standard strategies (depending on what you’re looking for) that can be applied to different businesses but that alone won’t do anything for you except set you up to fail. What does work is when these strategies are used as a jumping off point and then very quickly using expert help, tailored and adapted to meet your specific needs. Now that might sound like a very subtle difference, believe me, it’s not so here is a scenario to clarify what I mean:
Let’s suppose we have 2 health and fitness coaches who want to set up a business and they both need a website and a social media marketing strategy.
At a glance, it appears straightforward. They both require the same set of basic business tools to begin with right? But very quickly you’ll discover they both need a completely different set of strategies and adaptations so that these tools can be applied and work specifically in their business.
I’ll call them coach 1 and coach 2
Coach 1 is a health and fitness coach that works with young professionals. She deals in HIIT Training (high-intensity interval training) which takes place in a gym using either personal training or group training programmes and for best results, she combines this with the Paleo Diet.
Coach 2 is also a health and fitness coach who works with women aged 50 and over. She teaches Yoga and Pilates to groups at her yoga retreats around the world and for best results, she promotes the “Food Combining” method for better digestion.
Can you see already how these 2 businesses are in the same category, both health and fitness coaches, however, they offer completely different services, therefore, their target audience or “ ideal client” is entirely different and as a result, their respective businesses will need to reflect this from the outset.
So what are the differences in terms of their business start-up needs? Let me show you this in the most basic form
Coach 1 website requirements.
- Clean, crisp, design using dynamic colours to reflect the pace and objectives of results-orientated HIIT
- Include a blog to share Paleo recipes and promote Paleo sponsored products
- Opt-in form to collect email addresses
- Testimonials to evidence success stories
Marketing: to a young professional audience with little time to spare.
- Youtube channel or similar to share HIIT videos
- FB page to share real-time updates and success stories
- Twitter for fast and effective information sharing
- Instagram feed for photo evidence and story sharing
Coach 2 Website requirements.
- Soft colour pallet to reflect the gentler pace of Yoga and Pilates and the journey this entails
- Spiritual and heart centred design format including visually stimulating details around the retreat locations
- Blog for updates and retreat success stories
- Newsletter sign up form
- Personal information about the business owner including her own journey both spiritually and professionally
Marketing to an over 50 female audience
- Private FB group: women over 50 are more inclined to share their struggles and stories in more intimate settings
- Those who have attended the retreats can maintain their relationships with global attendees in the FB group.
- Linked in: many senior female professionals more likely to use and invest in retreats can be found here
- Linked in prospects can come over and join your private FB group to find out more.
These micro examples are just the tip of the iceberg but you can see already how much the needs of each business even though they have the same title, differ considerably and that’s what it comes down to for you and every other business on the planet.
You have to get your head around your uniqueness, your individuality and what sets you apart from the competition that’s why a stand-alone business blueprint might as well be a shoeprint in terms of the overall impact it’s going to have on your business.
Be sure keep an open mind, know that a business blueprint, should you decide to use one, is merely a jumping off point and a very expensive one at that. It’s not a Magic Wand, it’s not the Holy Grail or the Master Key and if you follow this approach, as many people do, just know you’ll still have a long way to go in terms of adopting any kind of business blueprint to meet your specific needs.
If you do need help adapting your business blueprint or if after reading this you decide ( sensibly) a blueprint purchase is not for you then you’ll probably find what you’re looking for in The Fast Class. Misguidedly I used to follow blueprints too and I learned the hard way this just wasn’t working for me.
So I’ve taken years of trial and error and condensed this into a one-day prep class to cut through the online start-up maze, using tools and strategies that are specifically tailored on the day to meet your business start-up needs. How do I know it will meet your needs? It’s a 1 to 1 accelerated learning experience that’s all about you from start to finish. It’s not a blueprint and it’s definitely not a one size fits all!
From my heart to yours thank you for taking the time today Dee X
