It’s time to get rid of your cashflow problem once and for all
and build a business you love that makes a difference,
makes money and magnifies God!
You stepped away from a guaranteed paycheck and into business for yourself because you’re really good at what you do and believed you could make more money while having the freedom to be your own boss, right?
But despite your best efforts, you’re generating a fraction of the income you know you should be making—leaving you full of anxiety, uncertainty and doubt.
…this message is for you.
You’re not alone.
You suffer from the same two problems as most small service-based businesses:
1. You don’t know how to get a steady stream of clients; and
2. You don’t get paid enough.
It doesn’t have to be this way.
It's time to get off the struggle bus!
If you’re great at what you do, that’s half the battle.
You just need to dial in the marketing and getting clients part.
I want to help you do that.
How much is unclear marketing costing you in real dollars?
What are those numbers?
Whether you sell your expertise as a professional service provider,consultant, coach, speaker, author or business-minded ministry leader, people need to buy into YOU before they buy what you're selling.
So you must learn how to stand out and communicate your value, i.e.,
How will your customer’s life or business be better
as a result of having worked with you?
And why are you better than a cheaper option?
You can borrow my brain and we can work together to package your services and expertise in a way that instantly connects with your ideal clients so they understand them, want them and will buy them.
When you have a clear voice, focus and reason why you’re the best choice for your ideal client, marketing and selling becomes sooooo much easier! You will have a clear roadmap. No more confusion about what to do next.
You’ll actually have FUN running your business and you’ll be able to serve at a much higher level.
Of course, you can choose to keep doing what you’ve been doing and hope it gets better, but if the numbers aren’t adding up the way you’d like, you need to figure out why.
Financial problems will shut you down faster than anything else.
The solution is obviously to cut expenses and increase income. Easier said than done sometimes.
What most entrepreneurs do to increase income is desperately try random acts of marketing and chase shiny objects looking for that secret “thing” or latest and greatest idea that will finally help them turn the corner.
They try to get attention on social media, copy what everyone else is doing, watch more webinars, download more e-books and DIY courses, get a new logo or a new website, or whatever “magic bullet” someone promises to them.
It’s exhausting. And for most people, none of that works.
People have made getting found the #1 goal of marketing, but more eyeballs don't guarantee more sales. The reason they’re not connecting with their potential customers and making more sales is because they’re putting tactics before strategy. They haven’t done the critical work to build the proper foundation for their business, so their marketing is confusing.
If you confuse, you lose.
If any of this sounds familiar, you have a marketing problem because you have a branding problem. And as bestselling author,Pia Silva says, the two must play together like BFFs :)
Branding is often misunderstood and seen as a “nice to have.”
Contrary to what you might think, your logo is not your brand. It’s just part of the visual identity of your brand.
Your brand is actually the core of your marketing strategy. It essentially explains who you are and how you show up in the world. It’s your promise of value.
A great brand will powerfully establish your expertise and your ability to deliver what you promise.
Marketing is the strategy you use to show up in the marketplace.
The objective of marketing is not to close a sale…but rather to open a relationship and start conversations.
It’s just like dating. You don’t propose marriage on the first date.
Instead, you want to get the attention of your ideal customer and build the relationship so they know, like and trust you enough to say YES to becoming a paying customer.
All the other things you think about as marketing are the tactics you use to build awareness, i.e., email, video, content, social media, SEO and so forth.
No amount of marketing tactics will elevate a business that has no clear brand. If your message isn’t clear and meaningful to your ideal clients, it doesn’t matter what medium you’re using for marketing.
So, what’s your brand?
Guess what? We all have one—either by design or by default.
Amazon’s Jeff Bezos says it’s best:
“Your brand is what people say about you when you’re not in the room.”
Let that sink in for a moment…
Your brand is actually the marketplace’s perception of you…not your perception of you.
Whoa.
Don’t you think it’s better if the story they tell is one you want them to tell?
One that you give them to tell?
This only happens if you are intentional about it. It must be by design.
You have to stand out to sell out.
People only buy what they understand. And online, you have just SECONDS to get and keep someone’s attention. Your message should be so clear that it attracts your ideal client like a magnet and repels everyone else.
It should be so clear that your prospect will self-identify and see that you are FOR them, you understand them, and you can help them.
Who are YOU for?
Let’s say you’re a weight loss coach. You zero in on helping new moms lose their baby weight.
That’s good, but you will still have a lot of competition from other weight loss coaches for new moms.
You need a differentiator.
What if you narrowed your market a little more and helped new moms with postpartum depression lose their baby weight? And what if you, yourself, struggled with postpartum depression and know firsthand what they’re dealing with?
While you might think this would limit your market, it would actually magnetize your marketing! You would be MUCH more successful!
Why? Because you would be able to speak directly into the heart and mind of that woman. You would understand and have compassion for her and show her how she can get through it and have victory, just as you have.
Your marketing would feel more like a gift to her! She would be relieved to find you and she would have hope.
You see, it’s not about you. It’s about becoming part of her story.
I completely agree with and follow Donald Miller’s Storybrand framework:
Your customer is the hero. You are the guide.
Make sure your marketing message positions you this way.
I’ve had people tell me that I’m an answer to prayer.
Who do you want to be an answer to prayer to?
There are people out there right now who need exactly what you’re offering in a way that only you can provide. They need you to stand out so they can find you!
If your competitor can communicate why they are the best solution for your ideal client more clearly and confidently than you, they will win every time…even if your service is superior.
Your checkbook = Your reality
As author, David Newman reminds us in his very matter of fact, tough love, in your face sort of way:
If you’re not happy with what’s in your checkbook, you have to change what you’re doing, saying, thinking… Your messaging, marketing, packaging,pricing, prospecting… it ALL has to change.
Change is hard. So, what happens if you just do nothing right now? If you just keep doing what you’ve been doing?
It’ll be another year of “the same”. Believe me, I know this from personal experience.
You’ll continue to spin your wheels, lose money and rob the people who desperately need your help but can’t find you because you’re either invisible on the internet or your message is so convoluted that it doesn’t grab their attention and speak to them.
The money drain will continue, and you’ll go broke.
What kind of influence can you have if you’re broke?
Not a pretty picture.
But if you ever find yourself in a spot that feels a little desperate and you're worried this might be your reality, here's what I know:
Your present circumstance does not define you
and it does not have to be your reality.
If God put the entrepreneurial dream in your heart and gave you the skills, talents and experience to back it up—and you’ve validated the market need for your services—then you need to get smart on the marketing and getting clients part.
I can help you solve your marketing message problem
so you attract the right people, increase your sales
and get off the feast or famine rollercoaster.
Before we go any further, let me congratulate you for having the courage to start your own business!
Entrepreneurship isn’t for wimps. It’s hard and it’s risky. You start out wearing all the hats and the failure rate is high.
Have I done everything right in my business?
Heck no!! Far from it.
In fact, I’ve done a lot of things wrong, suffered from self-sabotaging mindsets, learned lessons the hard way and taken great financial risks that didn’t always pay off.
I’ve also learned a lot about myself, stretched and grown and stepped through fears and doubts and challenges and realized what I’m made of. Entrepreneurship is like the best personal development training on the planet!
Most importantly, I’ve had the privilege of helping a lot of people and businesses. It’s very rewarding.
But when your bank account is low and you’re struggling to get steady clients, it’s scary and fear of failure creeps in.
According to the Small Business Administration, the top 5 reasons most small businesses fail are:
1. Leadership failure – i.e., poor management skills
2. Lacking uniqueness and value
3. Not in touch with customer needs
4. Unprofitable business model
5. Poor financial management
So shine the spotlight on these five areas of your business and see what’s broken. Then seek out the help you need to get it fixed. Don’t stay stuck.
My skill set falls in #s 2, 3 and 4.
Business is really quite simple:
it’s getting paid to solve a problem.
In his book, Thou Shalt Prosper, Rabbi Daniel Lapin refers to money as Certificates of Appreciation. The more value you provide, the more appreciation you receive.
I love that! It’s simple.
However, depending on your relationship with money and your past earnings as an employee (which often acts as your personal benchmark for value), this can create internal conflicts about how much to charge for your products and services.
Are you charging what you're worth?
If you’re not getting enough of those Certificates of Appreciation—aka Dollars for your services—despite providing excellent value to your clients, then you’re not charging what you’re worth.
Unfortunately, this is especially common with faith-centered women and Christians in general.
When you think about raising your prices, that pesky inner critic badgers you with thoughts like:
Some of those things may be true, but there’s a name for this. It's called Impostor Syndrome and it’s deadly for your business.
A 2019 study on Impostor Syndrome conducted by author, Clare Josa, showed that a shocking 82% of entrepreneurs struggle with it on a daily basis! That’s 4 out of 5 who struggle with feeling like a fraud!!
These self-sabotaging beliefs show up in success-avoidance behaviors like perfectionism, procrastination, paralysis and people-pleasing. You can find yourself in the habit of over-giving, lacking clear boundaries with clients, afraid to raise your prices and even discounting your prices without being asked.
Oh my gosh, did I ever struggle with this!!!
I could pour my heart and soul into a client project, have them be overthe moon with what I did for them and then feel BAD about sending them an invoice! How silly is that??
Why did I feel that way?
Because I had a poverty mindset. I was always worried that there was never enough. So if people paid me what I was truly worth, it was like I was taking money away from them that they could use for something else because “there was never enough”.
But I knew there was something even deeper going on in me.
I had to get to the root cause of this success-killing mindset. My logical self knew this was ridiculous; yet it was my signature struggle.
So I traced it back to something that happened over 30 years ago.
My ex-husband was an entrepreneur and worked a lot of big deals. He loved the game of business, but he sometimes resorted to scheming and manipulating people for his own gain and I called him on it.
He said, “Terri, it's just business...” to which I responded, “Well, if that’s business…then I want nothing to do with it.”
I remember it now like it was yesterday. But I didn't realize that at that moment as a young woman, I created a belief that making a lot of money meant tricking and manipulating people.
I know it sounds absurd -- because it is! -- but take that belief buried deep beneath the surface and add in some bad theology around money and wealth, and it’s a sure recipe for disaster as a business owner!
You can never build a healthy, thriving, profitable business--no matter how good you are at what you do--if you have the wrong money mindset.
Thankfully, with a LOT of work, I’ve gotten over that. It's been a journey.
God is a God of abundance, not lack. The flow of money in our lives should be like a river, not a stagnant, stinky pond.
Your business exists for the very purpose of helping people and making a profit. Just think of that person for whom you are an answer to prayer. They NEED what you provide. If you operate in integrity and excellence, money is just a scorecard of how well you’re serving and meeting needs.
If you provide top notch services above other people in the market, you should be rewarded accordingly. And those people who recognize your value will be happy to pay you. Those are your ideal customers.
Pricing tells a story.
Pricing is one of the biggest positioning factors in the marketplace because it creates a statement of value in the mind of your prospective customer. Perception is everything!
Quickly picture in your mind a bargain-basement Walmart and a high-end, luxury Nordstrom.
Got it?
Now picture yourself walking into these two stores and think about how you feel in each one. I am sure you will agree:
Where does your brand fit on the Walmart vs. Nordstrom scale in the mind of your customer?
Does it match with what you intend it to be?
The answer is revealed in the type of customer you are attracting.
Higher prices attract better customers.
If you can’t sell yourself on your price, you will never sell anyone else.
And if you haven’t invested in premium help yourself, you will never be able to sell premium products or services with confidence because you won’t truly believe the premium investment is worth it.
Identity determines outcome.
You can never outperform your own self-image.
Our thinking drives our beliefs, actions and results. Proverbs 23:7 is true: “As a man thinks, so is he.”
Feeling like you’re not good enough is what prevents many entrepreneurs from taking the great big, scary inspired actions that create breakthroughs. It doesn’t matter how great their marketing plan might be!
As an entrepreneur, confidence is everything!
Success in business is 80 to 90% mindset and 10 to 20% strategies, tactics and tools.
The answer: Fix the human…then give them the tools.
With a lot of study and work on my own self-talk and mindset, I have learned to counter my inner critic with my inner mentor so that I can get out of my own way and show up authentically as my best self and serve people with confidence.
I still haven’t “arrived” by any means, but I’m able to tame the negative inner chatter much better than I used to.
I have also dedicated myself to learning and being excellent at what I do. I had to learn to think like a successful businesswoman—a CEO—rather than a glorified employee with a lot of bosses.
People buy confidence!
If your unique difference is valuable to your client, they’ll care a lot less about price. In fact, they will gladly pay more because you are the best choice for them.
There’s no one exactly like you. No one brings your unique combination of expertise, experience, practices and principles to the table. The question is:
If you know specifically who you serve, the problem you solve and how your solution makes someone’s life or business better, all the “how to” stuff falls into place.
This is where I love to play!
So who am I?
I’ve been an entrepreneur since 1990 with partners in three different businesses and one nonprofit outreach ministry. I’ve worn every hat imaginable and have had more than my fair share of ups and downs. My role was always behind the scenes in marketing and operations, rather than the face of the business.
In 2007, I started my own marketing and design company, Smart Creative Lab, Inc. with no partner, that grew wholly from referrals and repeat business.
It has had two primary focuses:
(1) big brand franchise conventions, conferences and incentive trips; and
(2) expert platform development, graphic design and marketing for entrepreneurs, professional service providers and ministry leaders…like a virtual marketing department.
I sat down one day to write a list of what I do for clients and I literally ran out of space on the page! That was a huge lightbulb moment for me.
No wonder I struggled with overwhelm and had so much trouble answering the dreaded networking question, “So,what do you do?”
(I told you I haven’t done everything right.)
In 2017, God used a new client to help me take a step back and start evaluating things through the lens of purpose.
That client, Jeff Blanton, helps people figure out their purpose in two words. Mine is Empowering Potential. I spent a year in his faith-based mastermind program with six other Christian leaders discovering how my purpose and calling fits into the work I do in the world.
My question was:
What is my marketplace assignment?
I love being trusted by household-name brands to bring their big events to life year after year. It's truly a privilege I don't take lightly. When people find out that I have clients like Mazda and Jack in the Box and Gold's Gym and many more, they are impressed. I'm validated.
But it’s especially rewarding to equip and empower purpose-driven entrepreneurs and ministry leaders with big hearts and big visions to increase their impact in the world.
I have dedicated myself to learning all I can to help my clients really move the needle, with extensive study and training on branding, copywriting, website development and marketing.
On the Strengths Finder scale, my top five strengths are Learner, Relator, Intellection, Connectedness and Strategic.
The best way I help my clients is as a Brand Architect and Marketing Impact Strategist. Brainstorming, strategizing, digging deeper, solving problems and helping people get clarity are my passions.
What makes me different from other branding and marketing folks?
I’m a creative who understands business. My Master’s degree is actually in business.
So think: “Business Strategy Meets Messaging and Design.”
I always seek first to understand the business reason behind a project before prescribing a solution. I stopped being an order taker a long time ago and instead partner with my clients as a trusted advisor and guide. When a client comes to me with a project, I start with asking questions.
Once I know what their end game is, we can create a design and message in line with their business strategy. It’s not just about pretty pictures; it’s about the outcome. We need to know the right levers to pull to achieve the goal and then use my copywriting and design skills to communicate to their market.
Sound strategy + sound execution = a fighting chance!
I guess this is not a common skillset. In fact, I’ve discovered that agencies who understand and can integrate business strategy, marketing and communications strategy, and design strategy all together command fees of $10k to $50k+ with no ceiling. Wow! Talk about pricing based on value…
Back to the question:
What is my marketplace assignment?
We’re told to work as unto the Lord, with all our heart, not to men, in whatever we do. (Col 3:23, emphasis added)
What work did God put me on the planet to do that is in my zone of genius, that fires me up, that makes a difference in other people’s lives? How can I make my work and my business a vehicle for Kingdom impact?
I want you to ask yourself these questions, too.
As Mark Twain said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”
As a brand, who am I FOR?
Any business can benefit from my services and expertise, so I thought and prayed long and hard about my ideal client…my niche…the people I’m meant to serve. I felt strongly that God was calling me to plant my flag in the Christian market, but I got feedback that caused me to really question that.
Two of my trusted peers—both successful, Christian entrepreneurs—flat out advised against it!
They said I should stay in the corporate market that values my services and expertise and will pay me way more with a lot less headaches. They said, "Most Christians are cheap with a poverty mindset and don’t value your expertise enough to pay you what you’re worth."
Yikes!
Then I heard a podcast interview on one of my favorite shows, Eternal Leadership, and the guest said:
“Christians are some of the WORST people to do business with!”
What???!!
The Christian entrepreneur went on to say that the only people he ever lost money to in business were people who called themselves Christians!
Honestly, I've experienced all of this in one way, shape or form. And I own my part in it all, BUT...
This has to change if we ever stand to get ahead, to prosper in our profession and to gain influence in the marketplace, our communities and our culture.
Christians should be the BEST people to do business with!
And if all the money in the world was like a big pie, don’t you think Kingdom-minded Christians should have more of it? Think of all the good that could be done!
I want to be part of the solution!
I want to use my skills, talent and expertise to equip and empower as many Christ-followers as I can to show up with excellence and compete head-to-head in the marketplace. To be marketplace changers. To prosper and thrive so they can give and serve at a higher level and have a positive and profound impact in people’s lives.
Our world is messed up and desperate for hope. America has been on a downward spiral as it continues to try to remove God from everything. But as long as there are Believers on earth, God is present! We bring God’s presence with us everywhere we go and in everything we do, especially our work.
People aren’t running into our churches looking for God. They’re right in front of us.
LET’S START A MOVEMENT of entrepreneurial influencers and world-changers who love Jesus, see things differently and feel a burden for our generation! We need to be thoroughly equipped and empowered to serve people well, to represent Christ with integrity and excellence in every place, to prosper in our profession and live out our God-given potential and purpose through the work we do.
Let’s increase our GIVING capacity! Be the BEST people to work with and do business with. Shine like a city on a hill so that people pay attention and God gets the glory. Then and only then will we be worth following and have the influence to impact the world for such a time as this.
It's really about purpose and calling
I don’t think I heard God wrong after all. He won’t take this calling and burden off my heart, no matter how long I put it off. II think it’s because I’ve struggled so much myself and have let self-doubt and fear stop me from stepping into a much bigger role.
I never needed to be the one on stage with the microphone, so I never saw myself as a leader.
But if God has called me, He will equip me. I must be assignment-minded, not provision-minded. The provision comes as a result of solving problems for people.
He’s already been gracious enough to provide me with several speaking opportunities over the past year where I can share my heart and hard-earned wisdom with other professional Christian women. The response has been overwhelmingly positive and I can see I’m making a difference-- either giving them business tips and strategies or insights and perspectives that they didn’t have before.
I’ve even been asked several times if I have a podcast so they can listen to me on a regular basis! Who knew?!
The really cool thing has been that I feel like I’m walking in my purpose and calling when I’m speaking and teaching and sharing. It has caused me to rethink my entire business.
What does this look like practically?
While I love partnering with fellow entrepreneurs one-on-one to help bring their vision to life and support them in their marketing efforts, not everyone can afford my multi five-figure fees. Plus, I can only serve a limited number effectively because there’s only so many hours in a day. I need to serve in a different way in order to help more people and get that movement started!
So I asked myself:
What do I really sell? What’s my vision for my clients?
The list is long, but here’s 11 key things I want for my clients in no particular order:
1. Relief from overwhelm,anxiety and doubt…to get out of crisis mode!
2. To go from confusion to clarity about who they serve, how they help and how it makes a difference for their customer.
3. Pride in their branding and marketing materials…no more shame or embarrassment.
4. Confidence!
5. More respect in the marketplace.
6. More clients…the right clients…the dream clients.
7. A strategy and a plan…no more random tactics and shiny objects.
8. To know what to say so they don't waste opportunities!! Find the words to share their work, their vision and mission with confidence, clarity and freedom.
9. To live out their calling in the marketplace and magnify God.
10. To be paid what they’re worth…not as a commodity.
11. To create purposeful prosperity that gives them financial freedom and increases their giving capacity.
God’s people can do amazing things to further Kingdom work with their money…but we have to earn it first. Money is a side effect of serving others and solving problems.
Then I had an idea...
“What if I worked with a small group of people and helped them build a standout brand at a fraction of the price of one-on-one?
I could help them clarify what makes them unique about who they are, what they do and who they help and ensure their brand design and marketing message fits their overall business strategy and model. They could be equipped and empowered in their business as active participants in the process.
Sound strategy + sound execution = a fighting chance!
I also remembered the first major turning point I experienced in my own business in the Spring of 2014: The 10K Bootcamp.
My Turning Point
I was designing a lot of websites and really struggling with pricing custom projects profitably, scope creep, project management, overwhelm, finding reliable, quality and affordable subcontractors, and making sense out of all the information and advice I heard and read. I felt like I was a lone ranger, figuring it all out on my own.
I was drowning and discouraged.
I needed to find a way to work smarter, serve my clients better, and make more money while also creating some margin for self-care and time with my family.
I discovered the 10K Bootcamp! It’s like business school for freelancers and digital agencies.
Essentially, they teach you how to get high value projects for high value pay ($10k websites and higher), strategies for getting better quality clients and how to conduct discovery that uncovers true business problems. It’s mentor-led by smart, experienced web professionals with small groups of like-minded peers who are in similar places in their businesses.
I recognized one of the graduates and she was endorsing it, so I hopped on the phone with the creator of the program to learn more. We had a great conversation. He listened to me, gave me some insights and advice that were right on point, and I believed in my heart of hearts that this would really help me.
The problem was, it was $3,000…more than our mortgage payment…and we didn’t have the money.
So I talked it over with my husband late that night in the kitchen---who doesn’t have an entrepreneurial bone in his body, by the way--and we decided it was worth the investment. I would enroll the next morning using the payment plan.
Then I found a 12 month, no interest credit card offer in our stack of mail, so I was able to pay in full, save $500 and have even more time to spread out payments. Thank you, God!
The Outcome
Fast forward six months and that program was instrumental in turning my business around! It changed how I approached everything and gave me systems, processes, knowledge and skills that skyrocketed my confidence!
It had an exponential impact on me, my clients and the services I provide.
It was so good that I remained part of a paid mastermind with them for years afterwards because of the tremendous value and continuing education and community support I received. It was amazing!
But here’s a key point I learned before I even showed up for the first class:
The transformation was is in the transaction.
The change IN me began when I stepped up and chose to invest in the program. That decision gave me:
Since then, I’ve gone on to invest in several other premium mentor-led programs and continue to learn from quality online mentors to increase my knowledge, expertise and value.
It’s time I created the same type of help for my clients that allows me to support them in a way that brings results, gives one-on-one access to me and builds community with like-minded entrepreneurs for much less than I’m able to do with one-on-one custom projects.
That’s what I want to share with you today.
GET NOTICED BY DESIGN…NOT BY CHANCE
A 10 Week Journey to Building Your Standout Brand
Get Noticed by Design…Not by Chance is a unique “done with you” program designed to build your brand, messaging and marketing strategy in a matter of weeks! It combines training, one-on-one consulting, small group coaching and implementation for faith-centered, purpose-driven entrepreneurs and experts.
Unlike most online courses that you buy and are on your own to complete, we do it together. It’s not a one size fits all.
I’ve taken all the things I do for clients and trimmed them down to the key essentials—the needle movers—to package, position and articulate your message, services and value to your market. I’m giving you the best of everything I know about branding, messaging, direct response copywriting and the mindset secrets I’ve learned to get out of my own way.
I’m also in the trenches with you!
Yep. I’m moving out of a totally referral and repeat business to doing all the things I have my clients do!
Let me tell you, for an introvert who doesn’t like the spotlight, it’s much more comfortable to be behind the scenes as the secret weapon for a select few, but that’s not where the magic happens. The magic happens outside of your comfort zone!
If I don’t step out and become more visible with my brand and marketing message, the people who need me won’t find me. So I’m doing it!
Do you want to join me?
I’m looking for a small group of Christian service-based entrepreneurs and experts (including business-minded ministry leaders) to jump in as founding members of Get Noticed by Design…Not by Chance.
This is for you if you’re ready to:
Harness the power of mentoring and small group learning
Statistics show that group learning and accountability can increase your success rate seven times more than on your own! I’ve experienced this firsthand. In Get Noticed by Design…Not by Chance, you will benefit greatly from the collective education, experience and expertise of me and your peers!
BONUS: Biblically-based mindset coaching on conquering the fears and doubts that keep you from stepping outside of your comfort zone, to charge what you’re worth and bring massive value to the people you’re here to serve.
BONUS: Training to change your mindset about sales as well as your approach so you can sell with ease without being “salesy”.
Pilot Program Benefits and Expectations
I will do absolutely everything in my power to help you succeed. Your success is my success.
How is this different from other online programs?
Online programs and info products for self-paced e-learning is a $20+billion industry in the United States alone. It seems everyone is a course creator these days. But the stats are in: the success rate is only 3%!
Information alone does such a poor job of helping us learn that 97% of people who buy an info product, training course or program either never open it, never get through it, or never get results. You need guidance and accountability to get to the finish line.
Get Noticed by Design...Not by Chance is a high-touch, hybrid solution combining the best of DIY (Do It Yourself) and DFY (Done For You). You won’t be left on your own to just watch videos, fill out worksheets and figure out how to apply everything to your specific business. You’ll have someone who cares about you and your success. You will have the structure, step by step process and access to me for the support and accountability to get it done.
What's it like to work with me?
Since this is a brand new program, I don’t have any case study testimonials yet. Maybe you will be one... But here’s what some of my clients have to say about working with me.
Created by Terri Podlenski, M.A., Brand Architect & Marketing Impact Strategist
There are numerous online programs and info products for self-paced e-learning. It's a $20+ billion industry in the United States alone. But the stats are in: the success rate is only 3%!
Information alone does such a poor job of helping us learn that 97% of people who buy an info product, training course or program either never open it, never get through it, or never get results. You need guidance and accountability to get to the finish line.
1:1 Custom services normally yield high results, but require a much higher investment. This is what I have provided my clients the past 12 years. I love partnering with fellow entrepreneurs to help bring their vision to life and support them in their marketing efforts. However, I can only serve a limited number effectively.
DWY is a hybrid solution combining the best of DIY and DFY. The Get Noticed By Design program is a Done With You solution that pulls together all the pieces I believe are essential for any business to have in place in order to be positioned strategically and market effectively.
There is great power in group learning and accountability. Statistics show it can increase your success rate seven times more than on your own. I've experienced this first hand. Participating in a group program was the turning point for major growth in my own business and the inspiration for my new DWY program.
Get Noticed By Design will give you the clarity you need to simplify and maximize your marketing in a way that feels good to you and attracts the people you're trying to reach. Your content and positioning must be right in order for your marketing to work.
Don't spin your wheels sending people to your website if it doesn't turn them into customers.
Get Noticed By Design is a combination of training, one-on-one consulting, small group coaching, worksheets, templates and some "done for you" implementation at a fraction of the price of custom one-on-one services.
Get Noticed By Design is for Christian coaches, consultants, service providers, and experts as well as business-minded ministry leaders who are ready to dial in their marketing to go to the next level... to be a "King" in the marketplace. This is for you if you are ready to show up with excellence, prosper in your profession and live out your God-given potential and purpose through the work you do.
"Terri Podlenski is so good at seeing and articulating what we take for granted in ourselves and the work we do. I feel like I often can minimize my own impact and potential, but Terri reminds me through encouragement, tangible tools and feedback to take a step further down my God-given path. She sees the potential of what we offer the world and shares it back with us in a way that feels empowering. I start to feel like “I can do this” … I work with Terri and I feel empowered to take the next step in my journey to live out my purpose and potential, which changes me and the world!"
Mary Ann Mariani, Professional Presentation Skills Coach
Founder of Kingdom Presenters - Speak with Impact; Advance Your Ministry
Frankly, the conversation is different.
The World Today
In today's crazy world of anything goes with an intimidating culture that likes to censor biblical truth, Christians need to be strong and present. God cares about the work we do and wants us to prosper and to represent Him with excellence in our spheres of influence. Successful Christians can do great things and glorify God with their money, influence and impact.
We must be careful about who we allow to speak into our life. I believe it's important to have mentors who share our values and worldview.
Information Abounds
I have invested thousands of dollars and hours studying and learning from the best in the industry about effective branding and digital marketing. I kind of geek out on this stuff. I've seen what works, what doesn't work, who is legit and who is not.
I've also sat in conferences taking in all the latest, greatest info from highly successful and influential gurus, only to be surprised and offended by some of the things said from the stage -- many even overtly anti-Christian. It cuts at the core of my spirit.
Greater Purpose
Any business can benefit from my services and expertise, but I want to equip and empower Christians to show up with excellence and compete head-to-head in the marketplace. The Bible calls us a "peculiar people", meaning we are special, unique and set aside. We are in the world, but not of the world and the world is paying attention.
I created Get Noticed By Design because I saw a gap in the marketplace. It not only provides you with the tangible business knowledge, strategies and tactics you need to set your business up for success, but it is in line with your values. My desire is to see you prosper and thrive so you can give and serve at a higher level and have a positive and profound impact in people's lives.
"If you need someone who goes above and beyond the call, shares your passion, enthusiasm, and aims to help you influence the lives of others, Terri Podlenski and Smart Creative Lab will not only provide you with the knowledge, skills and excellence needed to achieve your goals, but the heart we all need when making decisions that are meant to impact the lives of others." -Mary James, Christian Artist, Worship Leader, Speaker and Writer
If you're tired of random acts of marketing and no clear strategy, this 10 week journey could be a game-changer for you. Just schedule a 30-minute discovery call to see if we're a good fit. Even if it's not right for you today, I'll give you my best advice for your next best steps. Grab your spot on my calendar and let's chat!
An entrepreneur since 1990 with a Master's in Business, I have worn every hat imaginable and been on both sides of the platform-building business over the past 20+ years... building one with my former business partner and great friend, Danna Demetre for 12 years, and helping others build theirs the past decade.
Danna and I also co-founded and operated a nonprofit outreach ministry, so I know the ups and downs, ins and outs, and have been a student of all the pro’s. I currently serve on two nonprofit boards, including Mary James Ministries and am VP and Marketing Chair for Professional Christian Women’s Connection in San Diego.
My personal purpose is Empowering Potential. Brainstorming, strategizing, digging deeper, solving problems and helping people get clarity are my passions.
A large part of my time is spent providing franchise convention marketing and design services to a host of household name brands like Gold's Gym, Jack in the Box, Mazda, Fantastic Sams, World Gym and more. I love bringing a big event to life!
My heart is to use my expertise to help kingdom-driven entrepreneurs, experts, and professional service providers clarify what makes them unique about who they are, what they do, and who they help. Then they can find their market advantage; have the marketing collateral to back it up; and reach the people who need them most.
I am a lifelong learner, well-studied, committed to excellence and have invested substantially to stay on top of industry best practices and strategies.
There's never been a better time to grow a wildly successful business online. You just need a proper strategy to execute. I can help you figure it out.
If you are passionate about sharing your knowledge and expertise with the world, there's never been a better time! Maybe you are already out there and just seeking better results. Or maybe you have this passion and dream in your heart, but don't know where to begin.
Everyone is an expert at something. No matter the topic. No matter the industry.
It all starts with clarity.
If you know specifically who you serve, what problem you solve and how your solution makes someone's life better, the "how to" stuff all falls into place.
I'd love to help you grow your business! Let's start the conversation...
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10473 Artesian Springs Ct, Spring Valley, CA 91977
terri@smartcreativelab.com
(619) 200-0432