Laura Sorensen (00:00):
Growth is uncomfortable. And that knowledge really gives me the best, truest sense of purpose in looking to the future that I could possibly want.
Intro (00:11):
Bigger doesn't always mean better. Welcome to the One-Person Business podcast where people who are flying solo in business come first. Specific tips and advice to find success as a company of one. Here are your hosts, Joe Rando and Carly Ries.
Carly Ries (00:29):
Welcome to the One-Person Business podcast. I'm one of your hosts, Carly Ries,
Joe Rando (00:34):
And I'm your other ost, Joe Rando.
Carly Ries (00:37):
We have quite the treat for you today. We are speaking with Laura Sorensen. Laura is a design doctor and multimedia brand developer who creates high-touch design partnerships with business owners to electrify their brand messaging so they can clearly stand out from their competition. She strives to future-proof her clients' brand, turn their business into a powerfully clear communicator, and become an indispensable part of their marketing team. Just some quick fun facts about her, she would be super depressed if she couldn't eat cheese anymore.
(01:14):
She has over 33 plants in her home, and she hails the smallest but mightiest state, Rhode Island. So Laura, welcome to the podcast.
Laura Sorensen (01:24):
Thank you so much. I'm so pleased to be here with you two awesome folks.
Carly Ries (01:31):
We're so excited to have you here. Do you want to just dive right in?
Laura Sorensen (01:36):
Let's go. What do you want to know?
Carly Ries (01:39):
Let's start with do you want to tell us what you're currently doing and the background that led you to want to be a one-person business?
Laura Sorensen (01:47):
The first elephant in the room I should tackle is my business name.
(01:56):
It is Atelier AKS and for those people who don't live in France or aren't French, it's a French word that means studio. And then LKS are my initials. I started this company about like 20 years ago when that seemed really cool to me. Since then, I've kind of thought, well, should I change it? A couple people have said, "no, don't change it. It's really cool." So after a while, I just realized, you know what? It's not that it doesn't matter, but your business name is what it is. And the best thing you could do is just move forward and try to find good clients and do good work for them.
Carly Ries (02:43):
I feel fancy when I say it, if that makes you feel good.
Laura Sorensen (02:46):
Hey, well, that's what I'm hoping for. But to answer your question about what I'm doing currently, I'm targeting genius solopreneurs and business owners and marketing teams, two different types of clients, to really help them revolutionize their brand, give them a brilliant way of moving forward visually and strategically and thoughtfully with everything they're doing with their brand. Really just making sure that whoever it is, whether it's a solopreneur or a larger business, that everything is streamlined and harmonized and just working together beautifully. Because when a prospective client or customer sees that, they really unconsciously think, "wow, they clearly have all their ducks in a row, I bet they're gonna take really good care of me, and they're really gonna care about fixing every little aspect of my problem."
Carly Ries (03:43):
Good. That's a great approach for sure. And I don't think everybody takes that approach.
Laura Sorensen (03:49):
Yeah, you're right.
Carly Ries (03:52):
Laura, so you're a solopreneur, What is your "why" for staying small?
Laura Sorensen (03:55):
My first answer to that is pajamas
Carly Ries (04:01):
Oh my gosh. That's my favorite answer.
Laura Sorensen (04:05):
That's just the first thing that popped into my head. I guess the more serious answer is I'm able to set my own schedule. I don't really love routine, although I need to do better at incorporating it into my life. I also love that I can choose who to work with. I don't really want to be a manager of people. Although I love people, I just don't want to be telling them what to do all the time. I'm happy doing that for myself and myself alone.
Carly Ries (04:36):
Sure, that makes sense. I'm kind of the same way. Laura, you're a designer, but you've done such a good job positioning yourself. How do you go about separating or distinguishing yourself from other people within your industry?
Laura Sorensen (04:51):
Thanks so much, Carly. I think essentially the core work of what I do is visual. I work on logo designs and web design. I also do messaging, but within those core projects, and then anything else that can come after that, marketing wise, I haven't really talked about this that much. I really approach just about every project from both a right and a left-brained perspective. Meaning I can advise and create for both form and function necessities or concerns. I'm equally concerned about making it attractive, making it visually, vivid and beautiful, sophisticated or whatever your brand styling calls for. But then also it has to work like it should. Whatever that is. Whether it's a postcard or a sales page, it has to work really well. It has to do what it's meant to do, and it has to do it really well. I am really right in the middle between the right and the left brain type of approach on these things.
Joe Rando (06:00):
That makes a ton of sense. I find it fascinating. We can probably spend the rest of the hour talking about that. As I look at your website, I see someone who, I assume your background is in graphic design, graphic art, something to that effect. But you've positioned yourself to the public in a way that is really powerful. Your hero is, "I turn businesses like yours into powerful visual stories." So this concept of visual storyteller, it feels like that's one of the things that you've done to position yourself and distinguish yourself from other graphic designers. Is that fair?
Laura Sorensen (06:38):
Yeah, I think that's really fair. I think the other thing, we might get to this later on, but it's easier, if you're a business owner to talk about what you do and what you do well, and that really was me for a long time. It's still kind of something that I get drawn to and I shouldn't really, I think what I try to focus on is fixing a problem at a basic level. People don't necessarily think "I need a new logo" just because I need a new logo. They need a new logo, because that's going to fix a problem, or it's going to solve an issue they''re experiencing. I'm not even sure if this is speaking directly to your point, Joe, but at least in my mind, I feel like that's how I try to distinguish myself.
Joe Rando (07:28):
Just as I go and try to buy something, you want to buy the right thing. Whether it's a product or a service, you're looking for the right solution to what you're trying to solve with this purchase. I just googled another graphic designer's website, and basically it says, illustrator, designer, art director. Okay, great. But I've got a business. I'm trying to grow my business, and I look at yours and I say, you're turning my business into a visual story. Well, if I'm trying to communicate something on a new website, that's gonna intrigue me a lot more.
Laura Sorensen (07:59):
That's really good to hear. Thank you.
Carly Ries (08:12):
Laura, when you're talking about all this, you sound so well versed in everything that you're saying. It's because you've been a solopreneur for a while now. How do you go about getting clients that have continued to fill your pipeline for the entire time that you've been a solopreneur?
Laura Sorensen (08:29):
First of all, I don't have some formula. I don't say "Here's how it works people." I don't have a tried and true method. Here's what I do. I have an email newsletter that goes out every month that also doubles as a blog post on my website. I get a lot of great feedback from that. Sometimes it's not people getting back to me right away saying, "Hey, I need your help with this project." It's just something over time. As they say. "some people need to get the same message 7, 8, 9, 10 times before they take action." I'm fine with that. The other thing that I do, which is just kind of a win-win, is getting to know people, reaching out to specific people that I meet in networking groups.
(09:18):
Because of post covid, we're doing a lot of these networking groups online. I just look for people in the group that say something or they ask a question that intrigues me, and I just message them. I say, "Hey, do you want to get a virtual coffee? I'd love to get some mutual inspiration going and just get to know you more." I'll actually come back to that, but I feel like that's a really easy way and it's a win-win for me too, because I'm kind of getting, getting out there and I'm making new friends. So I'd say those two things. That's about it. I feel like I need some help in that area. Maybe more later, maybe more in six months or a year when I feel like I've mastered everything.
Carly Ries (10:08):
Laura, you just mentioned meeting up with people for coffee virtually and all that. It sounds like you do a pretty good job connecting with others, but you are a solopreneur. Do you ever feel lonely? If so, what do you do to combat that isolation?
Laura Sorensen (10:24):
That's a really great question. Honestly. I guess just going back to what I said about these groups, I try to keep my calendar, not necessarily booked solid, but I try to keep my calendar booked at least two meetings a week with new people. Also, you may not tell this from my speaking voice cuz I try to be bubbly and open and encouraging, but I'm actually an introvert. I feel really good when I get a lot of alone time, so I can't be completely booked. I can't have my whole entire week booked with meeting new people. Well obviously because I wouldn't get any work done. But also because I need a lot of time to myself to do good work and also just get refreshed.
(11:15):
I would say that's my main thing, keeping my calendar booked. The other thing that I have done over the years is periodically work with a business coach that's doing some type of small mastermind group. Small meaning four or five, six other people. And for the past few years, every six months or so, I'll do a six month stint with this business coach and a small group of women. And it's the best thing in the world because you see that you're not alone. You talk about the stuff that's challenging to you, and everyone else is going through the same stuff. It's validating and it's motivating. The other big win is I actually get to help them with a problem they're having. I think I could totally help them with that. The solution to that is super simple, here you go. It's really great. I get validation for the stuff that I'm going through and I get to help other people. So it's the best thing in the world.
Carly Ries (12:23):
Win-win.
(12:25):
As of now, it seems like you have a good process down. You've perfected getting into these masterminds, you know what works for you at this point. But was there ever a time that it wasn't quite this easy? Is there something you wish you would've known ahead of time, before you started this journey?
Laura Sorensen (12:41):
Yeah. The way I want to answer this question is a little bit odd, but it's simply that I didn't realize that people will pay you for what you know, not just for what you can deliver or, not just for the specific hours of work that you can put in. I think for so long I focused on just the deliverables. "Okay, yep. I can do the siloed kind of projects. I can do a logo for you, I can do a sales page, I can create an ebook, business cards, website." I thought of things in those boxes, those deliverables. It's only been within the last four or five years of my business that I've really been able to get my head above water and realize there are so many needs out there that people have. Of course, these projects that I can do for them will help them, but they're not really thinking of them in that way. And they need a lot of strategy and advice around this. That's the stuff that comes super, super easy for me. I just thought, well, because it's easy, it wouldn't be that useful.
Carly Ries (13:58):
Which is wrong. That's good point. Because you don't realize you don't know what other people don't know. You just assume, not everybody has that knowledge.
Laura Sorensen (14:06):
Right
Carly Ries (14:08):
Well, it sounds like you love what you do and it shows through your work, but what would you say your favorite thing is about it and your least favorite thing about being a one-person business?
Laura Sorensen (14:17):
Okay. I'm a control freak, so I absolutely love just complete control over everything. Complete control over my schedules, over which pajamas I'm wearing for the day. I'm kinda joking. I don't always wear pajamas, but, it is nice to not have to dress up in a pantsuit or something. The least favorite things I would say about owning a business are a lot of times it can be feast or famine. And within that idea of feast or famine, that knowledge that really, the buck stops with me. If I need to take a break or if I'm taking a vacation or if I'm worn out, it's not like someone else can take over. Iit's not like my boss can pick up the slack. I am the boss, so I'm the one that really has to keep this engine running. That's exciting, but it can be scary sometimes.
Joe Rando (15:19):
I agree. I have been a solopreneur and it's hard to have that situation where there's nobody to step in.
Carly Ries (15:28):
I'm so happy you said that because, when you have that mentality, it can be so easy to just keep working. You just want to put everything you have into your business because you want to see it succeed. So how do you go about separating your work life and your personal life?
Laura Sorensen (15:45):
Oh, that's a great question. That's something that I still struggle with to be quite honest. I try to have a hard stop at 5:00 PM I like the term hard stop because you can tell that to someone else rather than saying "oh, I need to sign off around three or something." You say, I have a hard stop at three. They're like, oh, okay. All right. Something about the phrase hard stop, at least for me, is really valuable. So I have a hard stop.
Joe Rando (16:18):
I thought you were gonna say, it's really hard to stop.
Laura Sorensen (16:21):
It is hard to stop. But at least for me, if I focus on the hard stop is at 5:00 PM, it doesn't always happen, but it's definitely more likely to happen. The second thing I would say, and this is just simpler. I don't work on the weekends anymore. I just don't do it. I'll have some clients that will email me and, every once in a while I'll have a client say, Hey, what's going on? How come you're not on? You're not being in touch. And I'm like, "well, I am regrouping on the weekends." So I, I don't work on the weekends. I have a virtual assistant, and I tell her, do not work on the weekends, and definitely not on vacation.
Carly Ries (17:07):
Oh, that's so hard
Laura Sorensen (17:08):
I know. It's hard.
Joe Rando (17:12):
There are those people that say "I sent you an email Saturday night at seven and you didn't reply"
Laura Sorensen (17:18):
Yeah. They need to take a break.
Carly Ries (17:21):
Laura, if you get done at five and are strong about trying not to work on the weekends, how do you stay focused to make sure that doesn't happen?
Laura Sorensen (17:29):
Yeah, that's super hard. That's the question we all have. When I really need to get my nose to the grindstone as it were, I'll actually turn off or quit my email program on my computer. It actually doesn't really help to kind of pause your inbox. That doesn't help either, because my brain will always go and look. "Oh, let's look and see what's come in and Oh yeah, I should actually work on this other thing." Then I'm off on this other thing. I'm not getting the work done that I need to. So I actually quit my email program and I'll start it up again when I'm ready to answer email.
(18:16):
I'm one of those weird people where I just don't like noises and beeps and things, especially when I'm working. I always have do not disturb set on my phone and on my computer. Every once in a while I will not see or hear a note from a coworker or a friend or whatever. But I actually think it's better that way than the other way where I would always be getting disturbed by beep, you have a new message, beep, somebody replied to you on Slack, all that stuff.
Joe Rando (18:54):
You don't even want to get me started.
Carly Ries (18:56):
That'll be the topic for next week. Right. Joe
Joe Rando (19:02):
I've been working on it for a few years now, gonna fix that problem.
Carly Ries (19:05):
That sounds like a good plan you have in place for turning off all the, what I call ,the soundtrack of our lives today. I want to go back a little bit. You did mention that you have a VA or a virtual assistant. How do you manage your business processes and as it relates to her as well?
Laura Sorensen (19:24):
I could do a deep dive into how the onboarding process works for new clients. First off, I have a really specific client filtering contact form in place. Because I'm just an agency of one, I can't be talking with new clients all day, every day, I would never get work done. Also there are going to be people out there that have a real need for something and I'm not the best fit. For example, if someone's like, "Hey, I don't know you from Adam, but you do great work. Can you help me out with this brochure?" There's nothing wrong with that project. There's nothing wrong with that person. But because I love to work with clients on many different things and help them with the core of their brand and everything that comes out of that, I wouldn't be a good fit. So I like to not waste time with maybe talking to those people and not waste their time either. I actually have a pretty rigorous questionnaire in place. I tried to make it fun and interesting to fill out, and I ask some really good questions. I use Typeform for this. So even though it's a somewhat lengthy quiz, they only see one question at a time, which is super cool.
Carly Ries (20:48):
Are there personality questions in there too, to make sure you'd be a good working relationship or what all is in there? Not question for question obviously.
Laura Sorensen (20:57):
Yeah, that's a good question. Carly. They aren't really personality questions but I ask questions about "what problem is our work together gonna solve for you?" I really get them thinking about the why they need this project. Then I ask them some deep questions like, "if I were doing business with you, why should I do business with you as opposed to Joe Schmo next door? What do you see as your advantage?" Those types of things. Essentially if someone is coming to me and they're, "Hey, I want a website in two days", they're gonna look at this and they're gonna be, "Hey, I don't have the time to fill this out. It's fine because you're not an ideal client for me.
(21:39):
That's something that I've actually had in place for a long time, and that's been really helpful for me. I also feel like it helps my prospective clients understand, even before speaking with me, understand what I care about, my approach, the way that I like to work. That's really valuable for when it's time to have an intro call, which would come after this type form. I use acuity scheduling, which is pretty cool. I'm currently looking at a new scheduler, it's called Periodic, you could find out more at Periodic.site. I actually have not used it at all myself, but it's looking pretty cool so I might up level to that. Those are the two main pieces of my processing. What I always need to do better is find a better way to do client check-ins when someone has already started working with me and I'm waiting on them for a piece of information or, I want to see how something has worked out for them. I always kind of do that on the fly, but I do need a better process for keeping that on track so I don't forget, so nobody falls through the cracks.
Carly Ries (22:59):
Isn't there always that one thing that we just can't nail down
Laura Sorensen (23:02):
Yeah. I always think of it like an astronaut suit. You can always get everything in there except your arm. Then you get your arm in there and then your foot falls out.
Carly Ries (23:14):
Laura, sorry, I feel like I went back to talking about processes. I just keep thinking about some of the other things we talked about in the conversation. You had talked about feast or famine at one point. That's just kind of the nature of the game when you're a solopreneur. How do you embrace that uncertainty because it sounds like it could be a little unsettling.
Laura Sorensen (23:33):
It can be unsettling, but I call myself a Christian, so I believe that everything that is happening now, whether it's, whether I see it as good or bad, it is being used, or it will be used for my good and/or for someone else's good. So if I'm feeling that squeeze somehow, I really deeply know that God wants me to grow or learn something really crucial about that. He's really pushing me, and that might be uncomfortable, but hey, growth is uncomfortable, right? And that knowledge, it really gives me the best truest sense of purpose and looking to the future that I could possibly want.
Carly Ries (24:16):
That's a good frame of mind to have. So when you have had the famine areas, which are sometimes a result of a mistake, what would you say the one biggest mistake that you've made as one-person business?
Laura Sorensen (24:30):
The biggest mistake I've made, is continuing to have this mindset that I can be everything to everyone. I'm really kind of a generalist. It doesn't really make sense to most prospects because they're like, well, I have a really specific problem. Kind of what Joe was saying earlier, this designer was saying, oh, I'm an art director and an illustrator and I do this and I can do all this stuff, but that doesn't really explain how you can actually deal with problems. For a very long time, I was making that mistake. I was saying, I can do all of these things, rather than just focusing on fixing one problem or focusing on a particular niche. Kind of like we talked about at the beginning, how I'm gearing in on those genius solopreneurs and marketing team leaders. Those are two different camps. Years ago, I wouldn't have had the wherewithal to think about it that way and explain what I do and who I can help in that way.
Carly Ries (25:31):
So, Laura, piggybacking off of that, what has been your biggest aha moment as a one person business?
Laura Sorensen (25:38):
I have a marketing strategist and PR person that I actually do some barter with. What she does every month is she calls me up and she'll say, "Hey, what do you wanna talk about this month?" She'll interview me and then she actually writes my blog post for me, which is an awesome thing to have if you're a solopreneur. Find somebody that you can either pay or barter with that can do that for you, because it's just a boom. One thing that she continually opens my eyes to is, and I might have touched on this before, this idea that I have that the things I know and the capabilities I have that aren't necessarily tied directly to visual design, maybe. Knowing illustrate, knowing Adobe Illustrator or Photoshop or, knowing WordPress or something like that. This stuff that's more just strategy.
(26:34):
I kind of assume that most people know that stuff. And so we would be talking over a particular topic and she'd ask me a question, I'd say, "well, wouldn't people know the answer to that or know how to deal with that?" And she'd say, "no, people don't know." That had to happen a lot of times for me to realize, wow, even the smallest piece of advice that I can offer might be truly valuable to someone. I shouldn't continually discount the simple observations that I can make about something or just the simple advice that I can offer.
Joe Rando (27:13):
So true. You forget how much you know, when you work in a field for a long time and it can be gold to other people.
Laura Sorensen (27:21):
You're so right, Joe,
Carly Ries (27:23):
But you've obviously mastered all the jargon and everything within your space. So I have to ask, what was your biggest, "I've got this moment" as a solopreneur.
Laura Sorensen (27:34):
I feel like there have been a few over the years, but about a year ago I was on the phone with a prospective client and we were getting into a great groove. I was introducing this new service to him and I was pretty unsure that he was going to want to go ahead with it, but I just said to myself, "I'm not gonna apologize or qualify what I think he should do." He responded and said, "well, you are the expert. I trust you and if you say that I should do this, then I'm gonna do it" And I thought, wow, all it took for me to hear that was, I just need to be clearer about what I think someone should do, not apologize for it and just be a straight talker.
Joe Rando (28:21):
I will say that he sounds like a smart guy to not have to be the smartest guy in the room, so to speak.
Carly Ries (28:25):
Speaking of being the smart guy, what is the best piece of advice you've received that has help you when you're on your own,
Laura Sorensen (28:32):
This might be some really good advice for those people out there that are perfectionists as I am, I heard this once and it's really helped me. Sometimes 95% of perfection is actually good enough because it is highly likely that no one else except you, and you probably won't even see it when you go back that you don't see that missing 5%. If you work so hard, if you're that kind of person that' says "oh my gosh, I have to work for three more hours to get all the pixels aligned or do every last tiny, tiny detail." If you're somebody like me that can just do that for hours and really waste time, people aren't gonna even see all of that work that you've put in. Most people are not going to see it. You are probably the only one that's gonna see it. So save time and just do it. That's not an argument for doing it just good enough, but if you're a perfectionist, then it's already probably gonna be perfect anyway.
Carly Ries (29:32):
I just wrote 95% in big bold letters on my desktop just to remind me of that. Well, Laura, I have one more question that's kind of the nitty gritty of your business and then we're gonna jump into a few fun questions. What do you think is the best resource to help people on their solo journey?
Laura Sorensen (29:51):
I am kind of loving LifeStarr right now. I'm loving it. I feel like that's a funny shout out cuz we're doing a Lifestarr podcast, but I'm totally loving it. The other thing that came to mind is this book I've actually had on my bookshelf for a couple years, but I keep coming back to it. Her name is Emily Ruth Cohen, and the name of the book is Brutally Honest. It's really geared more for small agencies or large agencies of any kind. I really love her straight talking and helping you separate the wheat from the chaff and going back to that 95% versus the 5%. She really helps you get your head around that in so many areas of your business. I just really love her. I think I'm only half of the way through the book, but I just love taking it to a great coffee shop, getting a great cappuccino and getting a spot by the window where the sun's coming in and just sitting and reading for an hour or two.
Joe Rando (30:57):
Is Cappuccino your go-to
Laura Sorensen (30:59):
Actually, cappuccinos. But I would say mochas are my favorite.
Joe Rando (31:05):
We haven't got coffee into this podcast yet and it's definitely coming. So you've started us, thank you.
Carly Ries (31:12):
We actually have a blog post on our website about matching what espresso drink you should get with your mood. I did some extensive research when I wrote that, so definitely be sure to check it out.
Laura Sorensen (31:25):
I'm totally gonna check it out.
Carly Ries (31:36):
Laura, we already jumped into the fun stuff, so we may as well keep going. What is your favorite movie that always puts you in a good mood?
Laura Sorensen (31:46):
Okay, this is kind of weird. My favorite movie, I think it came out in 98 or 99. It was a made for TV mini series. I don't even think either of you would know of it, but it's based on a Jane Austen novel called Pride and Prejudice. It has everything. It has intrigue, it has love, it has lies and it has sex. it has everything that is fun and interesting and good, but it's packaged up in this awesome way that makes you excited to be alive and love the people that you're with and not be so focused on looking right or sounding cool. It helps me think about just being me, the weird wacky person that I am and knowing that, this is really cheesy, but knowing that this is lovable.
Joe Rando (32:43):
I know that miniseries. My oldest daughter was a huge fan, she still is.
Laura Sorensen (32:54):
That's so awesome. They've now actually done several different movie versions, but that one I think was 98 or 99. You get the Gold star Joe. That's awesome.
Carly Ries (33:06):
Is the miniseries Pride and Prejudice or is it based off of Pride and Prejudice?
Laura Sorensen (33:10):
No, it is called Pride and Prejudice.
Carly Ries (33:12):
I was gonna say of course I've heard of that, but I didn't know, there have been so many adaptations, like you said.
Laura Sorensen (33:25):
It's totally worth a watch. I just love it.
Carly Ries (33:29):
Oh, fun. I'll definitely check that out and add it to the adaptation list. So, if you're in a slump during the day, you've hit that two o'clock time of day where you again, need a cup of coffee or something, what is your favorite song to pump you up?
Laura Sorensen (33:46):
That would have to be this song called Street Life and it's by Randy Crawford. They actually play it in the beginning of the movie Jackie Brown, that's directed by Quentin Tarantino. It's vintage energy, like vintage gasoline for your tank. It's awesome. I love it.
Carly Ries (34:15):
Oh, we'll definitely have to YouTube that later. Before we wrap up, can you share with us how you define success?
Laura Sorensen (34:24):
I would say success is knowing that I'm truly helping people grow their business, not only grow their business, but grow their idea of what it means to be successful in a business. But I'm truly helping them do those two things. I'm making money at the same time, but essentially I would say money is secondary to all that. Sure. We all want to double or triple or quintuple our income, but if you're not doing what you love and you're not really helping people, all of that money, it really doesn't matter. It can't be a substitute for really knowing that you're bringing joy to people's lives and you're making their lives better. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Carly Ries (35:12):
Well there you have it! Well Laura, we can't thank you enough for coming on the show today. What is the best way that people can get ahold of you if they want to continue the conversation?
Laura Sorensen (35:22):
Well, you can look me up on LinkedIn, Laura K Sorensen. People often misspell that. You can also find me at my website at atellierlks.com.
(35:49):
Carly Ries
(35:49):
Laura, you have an offer for our listeners, correct? Carly, I'm so glad you asked. I actually do have an offer that is squarely directed at solopreneurs. I call it my solopreneur brand rocket. This is how I explain it. "Does the task of branding your business overwhelm you? Are you unsure of where to even start and do you know that you have to stand out but know that you need an expert to get you there?"
(36:21):
Well, in 10 weeks with me, you'll get a clear messaging that targets your ideal client. You'll get a logo and a brand deck that will serve as your marketing blueprint. You'll get a website that's both effective and good looking and you'll get social media visuals that beautifully reflect your new brand. You'll also receive clarity about what to do next with your marketing. You'll get the smarts to make good design decisions for your business moving forward and you'll get wisdom about how to better serve your existing clients. At the end of all this, you'll be able to say, "my business looks better than companies 10 times larger than mine". So just in case you're wondering Carly, here's another way that I explain the value of this program. I build Ferraris for my clients. A lot of solopreneurs though don't have the budget for this custom built done-for-you design, but if they do Fiverr or Squarespace on their own, they'll probably end up with a bottom of the line Kia that blends into the background and will break down in two years or less. Ouch. Apologies to anyone that owns a Kia and loves it, but I can steer you in the right direction, pun intended. I can show you how to build your very own Lexus that will turn heads, rock your business and run beautifully for years. Find out more, just go to brandrocket.me.
Carly Ries (38:11):
Awesome. You provided so much valuable information today, so thank you for joining us and thank you listeners for tuning in. If you like what you hear or even if you don't like what you hear for that matter, be sure to subscribe and we will see you next week.
Laura Sorensen (38:27):
Thank you Joe and Carly.