defeat the enemy, strongholds and spiritual warfare
Hey Friend!
This conversation is for those of you who maybe want to start a podcast, or are ready to start an online business but you’re still kind of confused. I get it. You have questions like what is my business actually supposed to be about? What am I supposed to teach?
Maybe you have so many things you can teach and talk about on a podcast that you’re overwhelmed and unsure of where to start. You need some business direction. So, I’ve got 9 clarity tips to help you know where to get started, and what the next step is. Ready? Let’s go.
3 Courses for Business Direction
Before I dive into today’s topic, if you already know you need someone to hold you by the hand and walk you through the process to give your business direction, let me invite you to check out my 3 courses.
If you want to get clear on what you’re called to do to start your business, I want you to leap into Clarify Your Calling. If you’re ready to start and launch a podcast, then let’s get it done with Podcast Pro University.
And finally, if you already have a podcast or will be starting one very soon, get your application in and register for Podcast to Profit. My six-month Group Coaching Mastermind program to help you:
Create an Offer
Get Your Podcast to Rank
Create a Sales Page
Learn Sales Psychology
Learn Podcast Pitching
And Every Single Thing in Between
This course is fully comprehensive and shows you every single thing I did to get to my first multi-six-figure business. Apply at Podcast to Profit Mastermind.
You can also check out all of my courses at the Stefanie Gass School. Happy shopping friends!
Business Direction Tips for Your Podcast or Online Business
Let’s dig into today’s topic. So you want to start a podcast. You’re ready to start your online business, but you’re still a little bit confused about the direction. First of all, go hop into my course, Clarify Your Calling because it literally gives you direction. That’s what the entire course is, four weeks of clarity.
But if you can’t do that or now is not a good time or for whatever reason, you’re not ready, let’s go through 9 tips that I have to help you get clarity on what your business direction should be.
Business Direction Tip #1: Brainstorm Topics
Tip number one is to brainstorm topics. Go ahead and get out a blank sheet of paper. I like to use MindMeister. It gives you three free maps. I also heard Canva has mind maps, which are really fun to brainstorm and get your ideas out. Go ahead and write anything down, any topic, any niche that interests you. Write it down.
Don’t filter yourself, regardless of whether it’s feasible or practical, or is this what I do today? It doesn’t matter. Just allow everything to come out. This initial brainstorming gives you the freedom to be creative in what the business could be.
I think sometimes we try to stifle ourselves and we end up pigeonholing into something we think we should do instead of something that we’re actually called to do. Brainstorm it all out and then take a step back and look at it. Circle the ones that are most exciting to you. I think we serve a God who wants us to live in joy, fullness, and purpose. Pay attention to what you love the most. That’s going to be a clue.
Tip #2: Explore Your Skills and Your Experiences
Tip number two is to explore your skills and your experiences. We do a deep dive into this inside Clarify Your Calling. But you need to look backward.
What have you done?
What are your trials?
What are the things you’ve overcome?
What are the experiences that you’ve walked through?
Take a look at all of those things and then look at the brainstorm you did. See if there are any overlapping niches or topics or themes because those clues are going to start to come together. Pay attention to your skills, your trials, and your experiences. Brain dump all of those out and then see what clues come through.
Tip #3: Look at Your Passions
Tip number three is to take a look at your passions. What are your favorite things to do, your hobbies, and things that light you up? The things you’re super passionate about are a driving force. Stay motivated and lean into the gifts God has for you. We’re often really passionate about the things we’re gifted in.
When you align your work with your passion, it’s going to be much easier for you to show up every day and pour in to help people. It’s like me saying, “Yeah, I have a Master’s in Finance and Accounting, so I’ll start a How to Save Money podcast.” I am passionate about sales, marketing, and business. These things light me up.
But I’m also passionate about mountain biking. I could have a mountain biking podcast. No, I’m just kidding! I’m not that good. But the business stuff I am good at and I’m very passionate about it. What have I failed at in my life? Well, I’ve had lots of business failures. You will start to see a theme or common thread woven between all these different areas.
Tip #4: Consider Your Target Audience
Tip number four is to consider your target audience. Who do you want or think you should serve? I want you to really think about this one person. Ask yourself these questions.
How old are they?
What are they doing?
What’s the demographic?
What’s happening in their relationships?
What do they do?
What are their interests?
Where are they challenged?
Try to understand who your ideal person could be because that’s going to paint a clearer picture for you of how you can help them.
Tip #5: Market Research
Tip number five is to do market research. What this might look like is sitting down with three to five people, Voxing with them, or even sending voice DM’s and asking some questions.
At this point, you’re thinking maybe I could help people with this. Maybe it could be this thing. But maybe you’re still torn between a few different directions. Get in Voxer and ask some questions to your ideal person. I know you may struggle with this. Can you tell me more about it or why or what hasn’t worked for you?
Try to have some conversations about what your person actually needs. This will help you when you refer back to your brainstorming list. Then think about some of the trials you’ve been through. Trials you could bring to the table that would help your ideal person get to where they want to go.
Tip #6: Focus On Solving a Problem
Tip number six is to focus on solving a problem. After you’ve talked to people and really looked at the things you’ve walked through, what are the most common problems, challenges, setbacks, and excuses that people are facing in this particular niche or category of the market?
You want to think about what your podcast or business could provide.
For now, just think of free solutions, tips, and advice.
What could some topic ideas be that would help these people overcome their challenges?
What are some problem-solving content or services you could offer?
Guys, those are in such high demand. The goal is to get people to trust you through your show. For example, someone needs help with weight training as a pregnant mom and they don’t know where to start. Their number one problem is, how to work out safely. Brainstorm and allow your creative ideas to flow around what that content could be. Create some episodes around three weight-training tips for pregnant moms. When you do this, you really have discovered who your person is.
Tip #7: Test Your Idea
Tip number seven is to test your idea. Basically, this means taking action. Once you have a few potential podcasts or business ideas and you’re starting to see a common theme, just go for it! Because starting is how we test something. It’s never going to be 100%.
When you start something new, you’re going to have to optimize. That’s why I take my Podcast Pro University students through Podcast to Profit. Because we have more work to do. Yes, you started your show. Congratulations, you’re now at the starting line of the race. Now you have to actually run the race.
Create amazing content that people are going to want to consume every single week.
Learn how to sell.
Know how to create an offer.
Discover what to do in order for somebody to become a paying student or client.
There are so many other pieces, but it all follows starting. So once you’re close, just start so you can test your ideas and then make optimizations.
Tip #8: Seek Advice From Trusted Mentors
Tip number eight is to seek feedback and advice from trusted mentors. Here are some questions to ask yourself to find business direction from the right people.
Who are some people that you trust?
Who is going to be in your corner?
Who are your encouragers?
When you think you have a direction for your business or podcast, these are the people you can go to and say.
Here’s what I’m thinking of doing.
Here’s who I’m thinking of helping.
Here are some ideas of content that I could create.
Do you see any ways this could be better or more clear?
Is this confusing?
One of the biggest things I see with new students is their brand is confusing. It’s clear to them because they are running the brand. But as somebody on the outside looking in, I don’t really know what you’re saying. It can often be confusing. These would be great questions to ask somebody that you trust. Be willing and open to receiving positive feedback.
Of course, if you don’t have anybody in your corner, you can come into one of our communities and ask. The free one is Online Business for Christian Women. Or of course, if you’re a student, utilize the Student Community. We have so many amazing people in there. We have the coaches to help you and give you feedback.
Tip #9: Start Slow
Tip number nine is to start slow. If you’re uncertain about your business direction, whether it is an online business or podcast, the worst thing you can do is start your podcast, course, coaching, or blog. And then realize this wasn’t exactly right.
That’s why I tell my PPU students, I actually don’t want them to do anything else but launch the podcast before they come into Podcast to Profit. Because we’re going to do all that stuff together. It’s better to do it right and do it slow and do it intentionally than to throw spaghetti at the wall and let it be messy and then have to redo stuff.
I’m notorious for taking messy action and having to take it down, burn it, and rebuild it. It’s a lot of wasted time. I’ve gotten so much better. If I were you, I would not follow in my footsteps. Take a deep breath and get the podcast going with as much clarity as you possibly can.
If you’re stuck, take CYC. I promise it’s worth every penny and it’s so affordable. It will bless you so big. But if you’re at that point and you have clarity, start small. Be willing to allow the podcast to become a reality. Breathe for a minute and allow it to bring some data in so you can see what’s working. What is your audience loving before moving to that next step?
Bonus Tip: This Takes Time
I have a bonus business direction tip for you. Understand this takes time. I have been at this full-time entrepreneurship game for almost 13 years. Just in the last three years, I have had, “overnight success.” It takes time and:
It takes failure in order for you to learn.
It takes a lot of action because, without action, you can’t refine and make it better.
It takes you getting out of your own way.
It takes a lot of faith and trust in God that He’s got the right path for you, the right next step, the right course, or the right clarity.
Whatever it is, He has the answer for you. So invite Him into your business, into the process, into the work, and watch what God can do when you’re partnered with Him on this journey. All right, loves. Go get to it. I don’t want you to be unsure or stuck for one more day. Head on over to the Stefanie Gass School and pick the course that’s right for you.
Still on the fence? I would like to invite you to my free workshop where I’ll teach you how to grow your online business in less than 2 hours a week using podcasting. You can watch it now at this link.
Before you go, be sure to watch the free workshop!
This free workshop is for you if you want to grow an online business in less time.
It will teach you how to explode your audience without the social media hustle, make consistent sales using a podcast, and plan, record, and launch a podcast with ease!
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Visit the free resources section and find out which software I personally use and recommend. Become an affiliate, or discover other trusted resources I have to help you succeed on your business and faith journey.
I can't wait to help you get clarity on your calling, grow your business, launch a podcast, build a course, or scale and get visible. Check out the Stefanie Gass School. No more frustration or overwhelm. Just a simple, step-by-step framework to get you where you want to grow.
I'm Stef Gass.
hey friend!
Get clear on your calling in 4 weeks or less so you can start your online business with confidence.
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Watch this workshop and learn how podcasting works to make money online! Find out why podcasting is the best long-form content outlet and how it can drive more leads than social media.
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