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This episode is for you if:

• You’re interested in working from home 
• You want your online business from home to be fulfilling and financially successful 
• You want tactics for growth from a professional making waves in the community 

I never devalued myself or the work that I delivered by offering lower prices or adjusting proposals. It’s a slippery slope down a road of “why am I even doing this?” 

Snagging the Right Clients 

Struggling to find the clients you know will skyrocket your business? And, let’s be real… the clients that get you excited about your work?

It’s tempting to lower your prices or “devalue” your work and time because you’re so eager to get clients and money in the bank. However, it hurts your business in the long run. 

A. You’re not attracting the right clients which leads to 

B. Referrals that are still (not surprisingly) not the right clients OR

C. You don’t get referrals because working on that project was miserable and you hit the ground running once it ended (but you still delivered excellent work) 

Blah! It’s a hot mess. Let’s find the exit.

Here’s what you can actually do to jump out of that vicious “not the right client” cycle. 

• Find people you love online and those that you align with the content they’re creating 
• Follow them, offer suggestions and tips … get involved 
• Choose projects that inspire you and that you know will be a success down the road 
• Allow time for all of this to happen (it’s not overnight, think long-term) 

Example: You follow an online rockstar you love and they start an online membership program for $50/month. You join and connect with some really intriguing businesses that are smaller, but growing. You jump in and help grow their business. 

Another tactic is to offer a free service, like a teaser, to your ideal client. From the example, offer the online rockstar a sample of their podcast edited with precision, offer a ten minute review of a landing page to improve it AND load them with compliments on why they’re a rockstar that you follow. 

If nothing else, you’ve connected with a really cool person. If the rockstar doesn’t work with you, there’s still the opportunity that they mention you to another business in that space. 

“You need a “insert your business”? Actually, “insert your name” just sent me a pretty cool edit of an email. I haven’t worked with her, but check her out.” 

Boom. 

Pro Tip: Notice that Amy did not devalue her work or time, but she was strategic with it. Meaning, she started out as a high tier virtual assistant, yes getting less than she makes now but it allowed her to get into the space and make the connections. You will most likely have to work your way into the ideal field, but this does not mean you work for pennies on the dollar or veer away from you ideal work. 

The biggest game changer for finding the right clients and that then offer referrals, was going to live events (even small local business events). 

Time Management Tips (from a type-A Make it Happen Guru) 

There’s no playing around when it comes to time management for Amy Lockrin. Not only does she help make things happen for million dollar businesses, but she also has to make things happen with her family.

Time management with a business and kiddos is no joke.

(I’m writing this and playing plug the paci with my six week old in the swing beside me and my toddler is running around with the babysitter.) 

First, Amy reveals a weakness that speaks to many of us work from home businesses. She’s great when it comes to client work, but a bit lousy when it comes to her own. 

Meaning the time blocked for her own business is allowed interruptions. Um, my hand is raised in guilt as well here. 

Work better than us and commit to your own business just as much as you do others. 

How Amy Time Blocks: 

– She wakes up early and appeases her work comes first mentality 

– She has the day fully time blocked in Trello (family as well as business) 

– She works off a multi-checklist system 

– Each night she works out the kid’s schedules + work 

Pro Tip: 4-8 pm is scheduled for client work and she’s off the books so she can get work done. There’s a way to contact if there’s an emergency, but that’s it folks. AND, I love this, if she chooses to work late and responds to a question or comment… this does not mean that she’s open for conversation. 

How do you form healthy work/client boundaries? 

Create an on-boarding system with client welcome kit. Don’t let this intimidate you. The more clear your boundaries are, the more healthy your client relationship is, which means better work and less worry. 

Let them know your office hours, how you’ll communicate your progress, where you’ll update with documents and how to make a payment. Make it SO easy for them to work with you, they just can’t work with anyone else. 

Flash Round:

Favorite Online Management Tool: Trello

Planner: Emily Ley 

Inspirations in Online Business: Dana Malstaff

Fun Fictional Read: Anything by Russel Brunson 

Drink of Choice: Margarita 

Resources:

Amy Lockrin’s Website 

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