Hi 👋, this is the Scott Max Newsletter. The soon-to-be daily email bringing you one step closer to your own thriving online business.
We analyze a wonderful, small, online business each week with a full breakdown of how it makes money, why it makes money, and its opportunities to grow. Below that, we give you the action steps to build a business like this to create freedom for yourself.
This is the best way to learn the tactics, skillset, and nuance of making money online.
Let’s get to the good stuff you'll see in this email:
An income of over $10,000/mo
An insight on how to prospect the right way
A guide to Building a Successful Consulting Business
But first, let me introduce our partner for this email, Stack Influence
How sending free products to Micro-Influencers have helped brands 5X revenue in 2 months. Get started with Stack Influence and join companies like Unilever, Magic Spoon,Momofuku and more
Stack Influence automates all your influencer collaborations at scale. Brands like Magic Spoon, Blueland, & Momofuku have become million-dollar listings by driving external traffic, boosting organic review rates, and decreasing their ad costs while building a war chest of authentic UGC.
We'll be analyzing a pediatric sleep consulting business that began its journey as a service dedicated to helping babies and infants get better sleep.
Over time, the business has expanded its offerings and now includes a paid course that teaches people how to become a sleep consultant themselves.
Despite starting with a narrow focus, this website has become very successful in the field of pediatric sleep consulting, generating over $10,000 in monthly revenue.
Its success is a testament to the quality of its services and the expertise of its consultants.
Through its innovative approach to sleep consulting and a commitment to improving the sleep habits of families, this business has established itself as a trusted partner for parents seeking better sleep for their children.
The How 💻
The business we are examining has two distinct sites, one concentrating on pediatric sleep consulting, and the other providing a complete course on sleep consulting.
Despite encountering many difficulties, this enterprise has rapidly built a reputation for providing top-notch services and earning more than $10,000 in monthly revenue.
Apart from the course, the business provides various services such as the Two-Week Sleep Consultation and Ask-Me-Anything Call, which have been successful in assisting parents to teach their children how to fall asleep and back to sleep independently.
While the business does use organic search and PPC advertising to generate leads, their primary source of leads is through the owner's outreach efforts.
The owner initially reached potential customers through Facebook groups, where she established herself as an expert in the field and offered her services.
This helped her build a loyal customer base and establish the business as a reputable provider of sleep consulting services.
The level of satisfaction that customers have with the business can be gauged based on their ratings.
They have also established a decent social media presence, regularly posting updates and engaging with their audience.
This has helped them build a loyal customer base and stay top-of-mind with their followers.
The business's success can be attributed to their personalized approach to sleep consulting, which includes an initial consultation to understand the child's sleep habits and create a customized plan that works for both the child and the parents.
Additionally, their focus on education and empowerment has helped parents become more confident in their ability to help their child sleep better, leading to long-term success.
The Why 🔥
The analyzed business has achieved significant success in the pediatric sleep consulting industry due to several key factors.
Powerful Niche Strategy:
One of the primary drivers of their success was the founder's effective niche and segmentation strategy.
By exclusively focusing on pediatric sleep consulting and establishing herself as an expert in the field, the founder was able to differentiate the business and generate a strong word-of-mouth effect.
Additionally, the owner's personal experience as a mother of two kids gave her a unique perspective and credibility in the industry, which helped her connect with her target audience and establish trust.
Timing is Key:
The decision to create a paid course on how to become a sleep consultant was a smart move that contributed to the business's success.
The founder had already established herself as an expert in the field of pediatric sleep consulting, and building a course allowed her to capitalize on her reputation and success.
By creating a course that teaches others how to become sleep consultants, the founder was able to expand her business and offer a more comprehensive solution.
This move not only provided an additional revenue stream but also enabled the founder to reach a broader audience and establish herself as a leader in the industry.
It was a timely decision that allowed the business to grow and thrive beyond its initial consulting services.
In summary, the success of this business can be attributed to several key factors, including effective niche and segmentation, establishing a strong reputation as an expert, offering a comprehensive course, and having well-designed websites.
By focusing on a specific area and establishing themselves as a leader in their field, this business was able to differentiate itself from competitors and generate strong word-of-mouth.
Furthermore, the decision to expand their services through a paid course was a smart move that allowed them to reach a broader audience and offer a more comprehensive solution.
Finally, their user-friendly website design provided a seamless experience for customers and contributed to their overall success.
The Opportunities 🔥🔥🔥
Based on our analysis, there are several opportunities for this business to continue to grow and improve their results.
Leveling up SEO and SEM efforts:
While the owner's efficient prospecting technique has helped the company succeed, its SEO and SEM efforts are still weak.
By devoting more time and resources to improve their search engine rankings and targeting certain keywords, the company may be able to acquire even more qualified leads and increase their overall industry awareness as the ranking difficulty is rather not high in this field.
Incorporating Affiliate Marketing for Extra Income:
Another opportunity for this business to grow could be through the use of affiliate marketing.
By partnering with other companies that offer products or services related to pediatric sleep, the business could earn commissions on any sales made through their referral links.
This not only provides additional revenue streams but also increases the visibility and credibility of the business.
As an example, FinnAndEmma a brand that sells organic baby clothes provides a commission of 10% for every sale made.
The product has a decent search volume, which makes it an appealing offer.
Additionally, optimizing the call-to-action (CTA) buttons on the website could improve conversion rates.
While the buttons are aligned with the color of the website theme, they may not be as effective and appealing as they could be.
By testing different button designs and placements, the business could potentially increase the number of website visitors who take action, such as booking a consultation or purchasing the course.
Here are some tips to help you design a good CTA button:
Use contrasting colors: The CTA button should stand out on the page. Use a color that contrasts with the rest of the page, making it easy to find.
Make it clear: Use clear and concise language that conveys the action you want the user to take. Avoid using generic phrases like "Click here" or "Submit."
Use action-oriented verbs: Start the CTA button with a strong action-oriented verb, such as "Download," "Sign Up," "Register," or "Buy Now."
Keep it simple: Avoid using too much text or cluttering the button with unnecessary graphics. A simple design is often the most effective.
Make it visible: Position the CTA button in a prominent location on the page, where users can easily find it.
Create urgency: Use words that create a sense of urgency, such as "Limited Time Offer" or "Only a Few Spots Left."...
Test and optimize: Test different variations of the CTA button to see which one performs best. Use analytics to track clicks and conversions, and optimize accordingly.
Owned by Jayne Havens, a certified pediatric sleep consultant, she offers a personalized approach to teach children how to fall asleep and back to sleep independently.
Her passion for sleep consulting began when she left her corporate sales job to embrace motherhood and help her son sleep through the night. Jayne's methods quickly gained attention, leading her to establish Snooze Fest and launch CPSM.
Through CPSM, Jayne has trained and certified many sleep consultants, setting them up for success as both sleep consultants and small business owners.
The Takeaway, What We Learned 🎓
Focus on a specific area and establish yourself as a leader in your field to differentiate yourself from competitors and generate strong word-of-mouth.
Offer personalized services that address the specific needs of your clients, and focus on education and empowerment to help them achieve long-term success.
Leverage your personal experience, expertise, and reputation to build credibility and connect with your target audience.
Use social media and other digital platforms to build a strong online presence, engage with your audience, and establish yourself as an expert.
Optimize your website's design and user experience, including fast loading times, intuitive navigation, and effective call-to-action buttons to improve engagement and conversions.
Invest in search engine optimization and search engine marketing to increase your visibility and attract qualified leads.
Consider utilizing affiliate marketing to partner with other companies that offer complementary products or services, which can provide additional revenue streams and increase your credibility.
Action Steps, From Day 0 To ∞👩💻
So, you will have your own website, hosting account, and a good grasp of digital marketing fundamentals if you are a student/graduate of Max Business School.
If not, get started here, it’s totally free and will teach you all the skills you need to build yourself a business (and the freedom it provides you) similar to the one we’ve analyzed today.
Day 0
You’ve read this email and love this particular business model and/or niche.
If not, we'll be sending more ideas in our next email or check our archive here.
If yes;
Consider if this is a business you can happily commit to for 3-5 years.
If yes;
Is it a customer/topic/day-to-day activity you can get passionate about?
If yes;
Would starting this business cause you to lose focus on the business that you are currently building?
If yes, don’t do it.
Focus on building what you have and take lessons from my analysis above to implement them into your current business.
But if not, then move to day 1.
Day 1
Determine your niche: As a new consulting business, it's advantageous to specialize in a particular service or industry. Consider your unique skills and experience to identify the area where you can offer the most value to clients. Research your target audience to understand their needs, pain points, and competitors' services. Tools like Ahrefs will be very helpful in this process.
Develop a business plan: Creating a comprehensive business plan is essential to ensure long-term success. This plan should include key components such as the purpose and vision of your agency, a clear definition of the services you will offer, the target audience you wish to reach, pricing strategies that are competitive and sustainable, and a marketing strategy that will effectively promote your services to your target audience.
Choose a name for your business: Select a name for your consulting business that is unique, easy to remember, and relevant to your industry.
Build a website: Your website will be the face of your consulting business and the first point of contact with potential clients. Choose a good host provider such as DreamHost and create a website that reflects your branding and niche.
Create Relevant and Impactful Content: Creating high-quality content relevant to your consulting agency's niche is crucial for establishing expertise and building your brand. Use the data generated during the very first step related to identifying pain points to create a varied content plan that provides practical solutions. Promote your content through various channels, including blogs, social media and email marketing, to maximize its impact.
Establish your online presence: Utilize social media platforms to build your online presence and connect with your target audience. Identify the platforms where your audience is most active and create a social media strategy to engage with them.
Develop thought leadership: Build credibility and establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry by creating content that speaks directly to your target audience. This could include blog posts, white papers, case studies, or webinars that address their specific challenges, pain points, or interests.
Network and build relationships: Attend industry events, participate in online forums and groups, and build relationships with influencers and experts. This can help you gain valuable insights, make important connections, and position yourself as a thought leader in your niche.
Identify potential clients: Use social media, online directories, and industry associations to identify businesses or individuals that may benefit from your service offerings. Develop a list of potential clients that fit your niche and target audience.
Reach out to potential clients: Use email, LinkedIn, or other channels to introduce your consulting business and service offerings to potential clients. Offer a low-cost trial of your service to demonstrate the value you can provide. This can be a powerful way to build trust and credibility within your niche market.
Nurture relationships with clients: Follow up with clients who have shown interest in your service. Provide free consultations or audits to nurture your relationship with them. Always focus on building long-term relationships with your clients.
Track progress: Set goals for your business's growth and track progress towards those goals regularly. Use data-driven insights to make informed decisions about where to focus your time and resources.
Stay up-to-date: Stay up-to-date with the latest trends and techniques in your service area. Attend industry conferences, read relevant publications and blogs, and network with other professionals to stay informed and on top of new developments.
In my next email, I’ll have another business breakdown for you.
Remember, if you know someone who might like this newsletter, sharing is caring.
If you are ready to get started with your own business, one of the first steps is always a website. Click here for our exclusive hosting deal and click here for an invite to our Max Business School community where you’ll hang out with thousands of fellow ambitious business builders.
Remember to check out the classroom tab (top left corner) for all of our free courses teaching you all you need to succeed online.
Bye for now,
Scott Max
If you’d no longer like to receive emails from me, you can unsubscribe here.