Stage 3 of the small business roadmap is one of my favorites. In fact, it’s the stage most of us start with even though skipping over stage 1 and stage 2 can be deadly to your idea.
And as we dive right in here, many of us naturally resist doing some of the most eye-opening parts of this stage. (We get into what those parts are and how to do them in this episode.)
The cost of skipping over these parts is a plan that’s too rigid and too isolated from the world of your customer. (Which is why our planning stage culminates in what we call a Business Sketch Template.)
This is one of my favorite stages because it’s where so many insights happen.
Where do those insights come from? Your customers (even though they’re just potential customers at this time).
There are 5 steps to the Planning stage and in this conversation we’ll walk you through each one with plenty of stories and explanations to get these ideas embedded in your process.
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“Stage 3 in the small business roadmap is where the audience insights happen”
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Planning Steps:
The real meat of each of these items is in the conversation. The items below are meant as simply a placeholder while you listen to the episode.
- Interview potential customers (BEFORE you start building any plans). Check out the quote below on this one.
- Research competition. How are others approaching this problem? It’s a huge myth that entrepreneurs only work on problems nobody’s solved yet.
- Define what kind of business you’ll build: 10 Business Archetypes: How to Choose a Business Model That Makes Sense (and Money, FS091).
- Identify what problem you think you’ll solve.
- Complete a business sketch template. (PS. signup for any of our free guides and you’ll get our business sketch template as well)
Planning is guessing. http://t.co/wKrJ9jULu8 pic.twitter.com/ggsM597UtU
— Fizzle (@Fizzle) April 8, 2015
“The way to succeed in a startup is not to be an expert on startups, but to be an expert on your users and the problem you’re solving for them.”
The Roadmap Episodes:
- Clarity (episode 100)
- Connection (101)
- Planning (102)
- Build (103)
- Money (104)
- Scale (105)
- 4 Updates (106)
Show Notes
Austin Kleon: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle
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Blog Strategy 101: The 14 Step Video Guide
Learn how to set goals that actually stick!
The Top 10 Mistakes in Online Business
Every week we talk with entrepreneurs. We talk about what’s working and what isn’t. We talk about successes and failures. We spend time with complete newbies, seasoned veterans, and everything in between.
One topic that comes up over and over again with both groups is mistakes made in starting businesses. Newbies love to learn about mistakes so they can avoid them. Veterans love to talk about what they wish they had known when starting out.
These conversations have been fascinating, so we compiled a list of the 10 mistakes we hear most often into a nifty lil' guide. Get the 10 Most Common Mistakes in Starting an Online Business here »
Once again, the show was great. I’m finding that I’m not really in any one stage. – with the exception of “clarity”, I’ve completed that one. Instead I’m kind of along the path in each of all of the other stages.
I think this is because my business happened to me, rather than me setting out to start a business. I started being asked to do things for others, started to make money, then noticed the gravity of need, then intentionally set out to build my audience, and then wrapped a business around it all.. ahhh! So sometimes I feel a little disjointed. These podcasts – like many other Fizzle resources- are helping me to identify what I skipped, what I haven’t considered, and where I should focus more energy.
“…my business happened to me, rather than me setting out to start a business.” Great way of putting it, Trudi! Thanks for saying that.
Actually, Chase, that might be an interesting topic for a podcast… I’m just saying. By the way, my 6 year old does a great “Hello and welcome to the Fizzle Show” because I always listen to it in the car and he listen’s along. I’ll have to send it to you guys.
Do!
This is so fun! I love listening to you guys every day!
This one was great. I have to say, I didn’t find any sort of business success until I began following your rule of asking potential customers what they actually want BEFORE building the product. So important!
PS – are you guys going to be at NMX next week?
Thanks, Meg!
Unfortunately not at NMX this time. Possibly next time though!
Here are my thoughts on this:
1. I totally get the idea of doing something for your audience. If I had access to a specific audience I could think of a dozen ways to figure out how to help them with articles and products. So that I get.
2. Getting to that level has been the single hardest part about every business I’ve tried to start. Going out and meeting people to talk about their lives and problems is terrifying. I usually chicken out.
But that’s where the community comes in, for support.
“I usually chicken out.” Me too. But a few ideas (a minority) have felt real enough for me to push through. Keep on keepin’ on.
I think that’s normal for 90% of the people! But think about it. The people you are trying to serve, have a lot in common with you, so don’t let the thought of talking to them scare you. People love to receive attention and love to be asked for their opinion. When you start doing (the talking) you’ll get addicted to it because you’ll realise how hungry for your solution people are and they will truly tell you exactly what they need and want. I’ve recently surveyed hundreds of people and not a single one told me to get to hell and not disturb them. They either didn’t respond or they did, and when they did they went on and on and on with what they needed/wanted.
Believe me, it’s less scary than it looks and it’s a lot of fun! You can do, it mate!
Don’t go thinking I missed that hint of Sam Kinison in your voice Chase.
That said, I’m fairly confident I’ve been trying to tackle all 6 steps at once and getting some important appendages stuck in each. What a nightmare.
I’m not expecting an overnight success but GOSHDAMMIT I really need one. I know that’s going against reality, and I haven’t help make any of it happen by trying to do everything at once.
If nothing else, Fizzle has helped me slow my roll and try to get one thing done at a time. Sorry for bleeding in the comments.
I love blood, Dave. Bleed away.
I think you left a finger over in Connection. I’ve put it on ice for you. Come pick that up when you get a chance.
I can still swing a Wacom Pen… I’ll be ok
Ha! Big Dave could have been describing me when he laid out his status as an entrepreneur. I can sooo relate to trying to do it all at once because everything seems to be in this vortex of Catch-22-ness: I need to find out what my audience wants, but I don’t have an audience, so I need to build an audience, but without a product, how can I build an audience? And to sell my product, I need to hire someone who can make my website look professional, but until I”m supporting myself with my business, how can I pay someone else?
I think I kind of botched the planning stage, because I did it in almost exactly the opposite order to what is suggested: I said, “Hey, there are a lot of anxious people out there. I’m going to help them!” (Step 4). Then I decided that I’d do it via an online course (Step 3). Next, I looked at what competitors were doing (Step 2), and because I didn’t have an audience, I just asked some friends who have anxiety issues and looked on some forums for anxiety to see what problems people were talking about and what kinds of help they were looking for (Step 1). Somewhere along the line, in between everything else, I made a sort-of template (wretched attempt at Step 5).
So now I have a pretty good course (and a couple more products) out there, with revenue of exactly $5 in three months. Yay for me! :-/
I think this series of podcasts came along not a moment too soon. I’m going to take all the stages and steps and incorporate them into my progress log on Fizzle.
Look out!
Bonnie, I think we’ve all done that with one or many of our businesses/projects. It’s OK. It’s all good. Now you know you did it all backwards, so it’s just a matter of reversing the steps and voilà, you have a business! Well, not that easily, but the little successes of Stage 1 will drive you through Stage 2. Then the successes of Stage 2 will get you through State 3. It’s really how it goes!
I’ve done pretty much the same as you (for 18 times) before hitting it right.
And listening to this Podcast series I can see why this time it’s working. Because I am doing it in the “right” order. So yeah, the Fizzle boys got it all figured out for us! ;-)
Now you just need to push the reset button and let the excitement of a new happier and most successful ride begin! You’re in good hands!
Gee, where do I start? Thanks for yet another great episode! You just saved me a few months on my business plan. Seriously, I will move through Stage 3 a lot more quickly after listening to this episode. Actually, I’ll listen to it again tomorrow and get back to you then! For now, just one more “thank you” for the insights, inspiration, and laughter!
Thanks, Emanuele!
Another great show…I need to listen to it again ans soak it up! Thanx for do I back-to-back series so I can binge! I feel like I’ve got clarity down and I’m work I on connections. The problem I’m having is that…I DON’T KNOW WHERE TO FIND MY PEOPLE! I want to go into a very niched down apparel space so, like most of us, I asked everyone I know personally in that space. They all loved it, but I think friends lie…a little at least…ha
SO essentially I’m stuck! I want this to be sold online, but would it be appropriate for me to literally hit the streets and show people my designs. People=strangers?? Is anyone ever afraid of them “stealing” you idea?
Ahh…I’m freak in out!
Any who, thats for the inspiration and keeping my wheels spinning. Fizzle on!