by Is This The Best Time Ever To Be A Solopreneur?
Forbes recently published an article on how we’re currently enjoying the best time ever to run a solo enterprise.
Elaine Pofeldt wrote:
According to new statistics released by the U.S. Census Bureau, there were 30,174 “nonemployer” firms that brought in $1 million to $2,499,999 in 2013. That’s up from 29,494 in 2012 and 26,744 in 2011.
And there are many more nonemployer businesses getting close to the $1 million mark. In 2013, there were 221,815 bringing in $500,000 to $999,999″
It’s not just the US either. All over the world, ‘nonemployer businesses’ are thriving.
If you’re a solo entrepreneur – a ‘solopreneur’ – you can achieve what, just years ago, would have required you to employ staff to help you achieve.
If you have staff on your payroll, great. But if not, it’s possible that may not even change.
The solopreneur business model is lean: you can automate parts of your biz for when you’re not available, so you don’t have to work crazy hours and can even enjoy a vacation or two.
So there’s no reason you can’t scale your biz up without needing to expand your workspace or take on staff – if you prefer not to.
I’m a solopreneur and right now I can’t see me ever needing to take on staff. I like to keep things lean.
The magical world of Narnia the internet has provided a growing arsenal of tools and resources to manage my own growing biz, certainly for the time being.
So today I thought I’d share with you a few quick personally-recommended resources you can use to keep your admin under control, manage your growth and importantly, continue to enjoy your solopreneurship and prove the infamous definition wrong:
“An entrepreneur is a person who will work 80 hours a week for themselves to avoid working 40 for someone else.”
Pah! They of little faith…
Click the red subheads for more info.
8 Resources To Help Solopreneurs Like You Join The Gold Rush
A super-easy-to-use, effective way to grow your list and get your content & offers in front of your customers, this free (with optional paid add-ons) plugin integrates with most popular CMS’s (WordPress etc)
Er, what’s with all the sumos?
I dunno. No more, I promise. Big nudey-dudes in tight nappies slapping each other around do nothing for me, either.
Anyway, this is another cool creative research tool that lets you find key influencers to promote your content and get ideas for your own (or your client’s) content marketing.
From keyword analysis to advice on length and sharing strategies, this subscription tool is a cracker if you’re serious about content marketing.
“Simple, powerful online billing for freelancers and small businesses” says the headline. No arguments here.
If you’re a freelancer or consultant just getting started invoicing clients, this is well handy. Easily create, send and manage your invoices – duplication is a real time-saver for regular gigs too.
You may outgrow it and end up using the pricier FreshBooks, but if you’re watching your budget at the beginning, Hiveage could be your jam.
As a major music nut, I often find listening to my own collection can be distracting when working.
So this ‘scientifically-optimized’ background music generator comes in handy. Try it free for 30 days and you’ll likely notice your concentration improving.
Whenever I talk biz in-person with fellow consultants, I tell them to look up Jason Leister.
A talented writer and product-creator, he has a fascinating and totally practical take on the ‘art of clients’ that will help you work better, product better work and work with more quality people without selling your soul or racking up overtime.
I’d urge you to sign up to receive his daily emails – not just for the advice itself, but also to learn from how he creates regular, relevant, high-quality marketing that both informs AND generates sales.
Heed what he say, for he speaketh sense!
Yes, you’ve probably read a whole bunch of Copyblogger posts in your time, seeing as they’re the highest-profile content marketing educators. But have you really studied them recently?
Brian Clark & co crank out so much content daily that sometimes it’s easy to just let it fly by, unread or unopened. But if there’s one thing worth returning to, it’s their content hub. Click the link and go grab their free ebook series.
As they say, they “built a software company with over 100,000 customers out of a simple blog, and we did it by practicing what we teach.”
(Just don’t forget to sell something while you’re giving away all that free info, ya hear?)
Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit Of Less
“The Way of the Essentialist involves doing less, but better, so you can make the highest possible contribution.
The Way of the Essentialist isn’t about getting more done in less time. It’s not about getting less done. It’s about getting only the right things done.”
One of the best business books I’ve ever read, Greg McKeown’s bestseller will help you focus on what’s important and let you see through the often murky waters of solopreneurship.
Follow The Way of the Essentialist and you’ll never do business in quite the same way again.
Outdoor space
I count myself very fortunate to be able to take my solo gig outdoors for a few hours a week (London weather permitting) and sit calmly and productively surrounded by trees and wildlife in one of London’s most beautiful parks.
If you’re reading this between May and September, there’s a good chance you’re doing so while I’m crafting copy outside in the sun (except if you’re on the other side of the world and it’s night here – I don’t sleep in the park, despite how I may look sometimes).
Getting outside to write, do admin, make calls, get yer book-learnin’ on or to meet clients is good for the soul… and it’ll remind you why you let The Man fire you in the first place.
So go on, get out there and work in the fresh air – your boss says it’s ok : )
If you’re a solopreneur, consultant, coach or freelancer looking to land more business with persuasive messaging online, I can help…
Right now I’m offering a special limited-time discount on my copy optimization service. It’s a fast, effective and affordable way to get more conversions.
Head here to find out more and reserve your spot.
I’m only taking on one of these a week until the end of August 2016, so act fast if you want me to kick your copy into shape!
