After looking at your website …
This week's question from my portal “The Neagle Code: Directions for Life” comes from Kim Peterson. You can find her on the web at http://commonsensehealth.org/
Question:
Hi David,
I am passionate about helping people take their lives to the next level by changing paradigms about Health, Wellness & Success. I have spent the past two years building a following (500 group members, 2,100 + FB fans, & close to 11,000 Twitter followers), credibility and community…what I have not been doing is generating the financial reward I'd hoped. I am still having a challenge with what the actual business model is.
I love to help, generate a buzz and get people pumped but I need help with how that turns into cash. Please help!
Answer:
Hi Kim!
I understand why you're having problems with a business model…you're not clear on your target market.
After looking at your website, it's clear that you're passionate about health and wellness, but it's NOT clear what exactly you do.
Your blog is great. It's full of really helpful information about recipes, health and tips. It seems to me that it speaks to anyone who is interested in improving their health.
However, when I clicked your “How Can We Help” tab, the services you describe speak directly to the fellow health practitioner. You wrote about your passion and ability to help them build their business.
To me, this is really confusing.
Ask yourself, who you most enjoy working with. Do you like helping individuals improve their own health, or do you like helping other wellness professionals build their business?
Once you've made that decision, dig even deeper.
Who is this ideal client EXACTLY? Describe them in as much detail as if they were standing in front of you telling you all about themselves.
Then get very clear on what “symptoms” are showing up in this person's life or business.
This will lead you in creating a program or package that can help them and be of great service to them.
“Just Believe”,®
P.S: The Neagle Code: DIRECTIONS for LIFE is a weekly no-cost program that is open to everyone! Each week, I'll select and personally respond to one question received via the above “The Neagle Code” page that I feel in my heart will help the most people. (You may choose to remain anonymous if you wish, with our full support.) It is my deep, heartfelt intention that ~ in answering your questions ~ I may provide you with the Universal Truths that in committed application, will set you free. Simply submit YOUR burning question at: www.TheNeagleCode.com to participate.
P.P.S.: May I ask you to help me spread the word about this program? Is there someone you care for who is stuck, or struggling, or lost, or unhappy? Because if so, I would very much like to help. No matter their question, no matter their predicament, no matter if they've never heard of me before … if they would like to ask for help via www.TheNeagleCode.com, my Team and I will do our very best to provide that help.
16 comments
Kim, that “What can we do for you?” banner at the top right looks to me *exactly* like the kind of big banner image I automatically tune out as 3rd party advertising when I visit a site… in fact despite its prominence, I had to actually LOOK for the link David mentioned, because at first my eyes went to your menu.
This is just a personal perception, but it hit me right away, so offering it fwiw.
Thanks for the post Miss C. This is a good piece of constructive feedback for Kim to take with her as she continues to work and identify her target market. The last thing you want is to confuse those who are visiting your site.
Thank you so much for the feedback. I agree my messaging has been all over the place and confusing. The opportunity to get an outside opinion is greatly appreciated, thank you!
Hello David,
Thank you for this program, I have been following you for a number of years now and you have always stood out as a consumate professional who is dedicated to really shifting people. This week’s Q&A came at a great time for me, as I am digging deep aboout my target market. My website is under construction at the moment. I am the yogamat manager. I assist women in business who are interested in spirituality, wellbeing and mindfulness techniques at work and home to increase their effectiveness and impact in the world. Looking forward to meeting you one day. I live in Australia, when are you coming over?
Thanks for the comment Jan. I’d love to come to Australia as there are many great people we work with who come from that part of the world. I’m hoping that is happens very soon… Continue the drill-down efforts on your target market and do let us know how we can be of service to you.
Hello David,
I just have some questions in mind.
Do you define your target market for your products or services, based on “who you
most enjoy working with”? What do you do if you are not very sure about who you would like to work with, then how can you define your target audience?
Is there ever a need to do market research analysis and consider the demographics in terms of income, age, race, geographic location, gender and other social categories to help define your target market?
Is the key word “enjoy,” given your answer? Should I determine my marketing and sales effort based on what brings me the most amount of joy, because if you don’t enjoy all that you do and the people you spend your time with, then your business will fail?
Please clarify. Thank you.
Jacklin Gharibian
Thanks for the questions Jacklin. For me to answer all of these for you would be doing you a disservice; since you know your market better than anyone else. However, I will say that in defining your target market you will begin to see exactly the people you want to work with. If you are not sure who those people are, or who you would like to work with, then that is where you must start. This is a crucial component for moving forward.
You have to enjoy doing what you were doing; otherwise why are you doing it in the first place? For me. I work with the exact people I choose because it does bring me that joy you speak of. Just remember, If you are not in alignment with that then you are not staying true to the Laws (Question #1…Is this something I want to be, do or have?)
I appreciate the post and look forward to hearing back from you regarding how you are moving forward in this process.
Mr. Neagle, Thank you! Thank you! You really inspire me to make a better life for myself. I can relate with your life story, given your traumatic accident on the Illinois River back in 1989. A tragic incident happened to me on the San Joaquin River in May of 1994 in Fresno, California; however, it was not at all as traumatic as your story, because my life was not in any immediate danger. The challenges that developed over time after the incident forced me to make wiser decisions in life. Above all, the challenges allowed me to develop a closer relationship with God. In order to make better choices, I read, I research, and I ask people to help answer my questions. Your answer makes perfect sense to me now. I am able to better define who I would enjoy working with, given my core values, beliefs, and passions. You have been such a great source for help. May God bless you and your family!
Hi David,
Great, great answer to a great, great question. Very helpful to hear for my business as well.
Thank you,
Diane
Excellent Diane! This is exactly why my team and I continue to get questions every week at this space because we all learn from one another. Thanks for the support and I greatly appreciate the post.
Thanks so much for answering my question David. I greatly appreciate your insight and input. I have a passion for Health & Wellness but in particular for those that have an amazing product or service in that arena to share. Those are the people that I love to help. Over 90% of the members on the site came from various Health & Wellness Professionals groups via Linkedin. Now its time to get to work and clarify. Thank you again for your time David!
You are very welcome Kim; and thank you. The one thing to remember is that you cannot get suggestions/feedback if you don’t ask the question. I have a feeling you helped more than you may know just by taking the initiative to ask it. That is wonderful! Keep us posted and stay clear on what you know you want.
I heard you, David, on Healing With the Masters for the first time. I have been in a holding pattern of late with regard to my counseling business. You have already given me so much helpful and positive input toward getting things going again. I have not ever lost faith that it would come, but was feeling weary from waiting for answers. I feel the universe sending me messages now, loud and clear. Thanks so much! I intend to listen to your beginner’s cd’s and begin the process of getting more clear. Love this blog, too!
Excellent Debbi! Happy you found me here and appreciate your post. Do keep me posted on your insights and breakthroughs as you go through my Art of Success program. I am very proud of it and the power it holds.
Hi David:
As a follow up, we’ve made some changes that have pulled things together as a result of your feedback. I believe we are never finished improving, developing and being mindful of better ways of doing things. Your influence is one of the things that keeps me moving in the right direction. Thanks again for all you do!
For sure Kim, the journey never ends. I say repeatedly that if you are not growing you are dying. There is no need to stop…ever. Thanks for the post.