The Market Your Message Show
The Market Your Message Show
Ch 20. Deciding Your Next Move
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Decide Your Next Move: Embrace Feedback and Optimize Your Offer
In this episode of 'Market Your Message Show,' host Jonathan Milligan delves into Chapter 20 of his book 'Validate Your Offer.' He explores the essential steps to take after launching your validation offer, emphasizing the importance of using feedback to refine and improve. The episode highlights the concept of learning from failed attempts, much like Thomas Edison, and offers four potential paths for deciding your next move: repeating a successful offer, changing the topic while keeping the format, expanding a winning topic, or experimenting with a new concept. Tune in for actionable insights to transform your idea into a successful business strategy.
00:00 Welcome to the Market Show
00:11 Introduction to 'Validate Your Offer'
01:12 Chapter 20: Deciding Your Next Move
02:53 Embracing Feedback and Moving Forward
04:37 Exploring Four Potential Game Plans
07:51 Bonus Move: Mapping Out a Profit Calendar
08:52 Brainstorming Your Next Move
12:20 Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts
Hello and welcome to the market. Your message show. I'm your host, Jonathan Milligan. And we are going through the third book in the series. Validate your offer. This is an important book because a lot of people will start their business online. And then they're trying to figure out how do I create something that people will want and how do I do it without wasting time? And that's what this third book in my book series is all about. Now as a thank you for being a loyal podcast listener, I am making the audio book available one chapter at a time every single week. And as you're listening to this, we are currently going through that. Validate your offer. Now, if you ever want the audio book or you want the book or the workbook, you can go to platform growth, books.com again, it's platform, growth books.com, and you could order one of those. And of course, listen, as you go through the book or use the workbook to implement what you hear. In each episode. So with that being said, let's jump right in to today's chapter.
Speaker 69:Chapter 20, Deciding Your Next Move. Thomas Edison hunched over his workbench, surrounded by a graveyard of failed experiments. Filaments, glass bulbs, wires, all testaments to his relentless pursuit of a world changing idea. The electric light bulb. But here's the thing. Edison didn't just wake up one morning, screw in a bulb and voila, let there be light. No, his journey was a series of validation offers. Each failed attempt was a tiny workshop, a mini course on what doesn't work. You see, Edison understood something most folks miss. Failure isn't the end of the road. It's just a signpost pointing you in a new direction. Every busted bulb was a debrief, a chance to survey the results and decide his next move. And that's precisely what we're diving into in this chapter. You've put your idea out there, tested the waters with your validation offer, Now, it's time to parse that feedback and chart your course forward. Will you stick with the same topic but level up your offer? Maybe you'll keep the format but switch gears to a new subject. Or perhaps, you'll double down on a winning idea and build it out into something bigger. The beauty is, there's no one right path. But by following in Edison's footsteps and treating each effort as a chance to learn, you'll light the way to a brighter future for your business. So grab your metaphorical toolbox and let's get ready to tinker, tweak and transform your validation offer into a beacon of success. If Edison can light up the world one experiment at a time, just imagine what you can achieve by deciding your next move with intention and insight.
Speaker 70:How to decide your next move. You've poured your heart into your validation offer, launched it out into the world, and now you're staring at the feedback rolling in. Cue the drum roll, right? But wait, what's this? Crickets, confusion, maybe even a sprinkle of criticism. Ouch. Here's where most people stumble. They either slam on the blinders and barrel ahead with their original plan, ignoring the writing on the wall. Or they throw up their hands in defeat, convinced their idea is a dud. But here's the thing, both of those knee jerk reactions are a fast track to nowhere. When you tune out feedback, you're missing out on a goldmine of intel that could help you polish your offer to a high shine. So, what What's the move? Embrace the feedback, warts and all. Treat it like a trusted advisor, whispering secrets to success in your ear. Your validation offer isn't the final destination. It's just the first pit stop on a winding road. Think of it like dating. You wouldn't expect to meet your soulmate on the first blind date, right? No, you'd gather info. Adjust your approach, and maybe even tweak your profile pic. Building a business is no different. Each validation offer is a chance to learn, adapt, and come back stronger. So, take a deep breath, put on your detective hat, and get ready to mine that feedback for all it's worth. When you view your validation offer as one chapter in a longer story, you'll be amazed at the plot twists and triumphs waiting just around the bend. All right, bye for now. Let's dive in. You've got your feedback. You've sifted through the insights. Now it's time to decide your next move, but here's the beautiful thing. There's no singular right path. You've got options and we're about to explore four potential game plans.
Speaker 71:Four paths to consider. You've taken a brave step and put your ideas to the test. Whether the response was overwhelming or underwhelming, you've gained invaluable insights. Now it's time to decide your next move. Outcome one, same offer type, same topic. If your offer showed promise, consider running it again. You've likely just scratched the surface of your potential audience. Many who missed out initially will appreciate a second chance to get in on the action. Learn from Broadway hits. Hamilton and others do trial runs in smaller cities. They make tweaks based on feedback. Then they take the refined version to the big stage. You can follow the same script, make strategic improvements to your initial offer and relaunch it with confidence. Maybe you increase the price to reflect the value you're providing. Maybe you revamp the sales page to better speak to your ideal client's desires. Maybe you can add a powerful new strategy that didn't occur to you the first time around. The key takeaway? When you've got a winner, double down. Let your initial success fuel even greater success. Outcome 2. Same offer type, different topic. Perhaps it's not the offer itself that needs a remix. It's the subject matter. If you found yourself energized by the process of leading a one day workshop or a month long bootcamp, stick with that winning format. Just swap in a new theme that better resonates with your target audience. Think of it as a master chef, keeping their signature style, but changing up the ingredients based on what's fresh and in season. Give your audience the specific transformation they're craving in the container that lights you up. It's a recipe for success. Outcome three, same offer type, same topic, but expand to main offer. If your validation offer struck a chord content wise, it may be time to expand your scope. You've given your audience a taste of what you have to offer. Now invite them to pull up a chair and feast. Consider splitting your short workshop into a detailed course. Turn your one on one coaching session into a life changing group program. You've seen the demand for your core topic. Don't be afraid to go all in and create the definitive resource on the subject. Outcome four. Different validation offer. New topic. Maybe you're itching to shake things up completely. A new format. A wildly different topic. Something that feels equal parts thrilling and terrifying. Guess what? That's what validation offers are for. You have full permission to test the waters with an unconventional idea. Think of it like being an angel investor. You're not risking your entire livelihood on a single, untested concept. You're making small, strategic bets to see what gains traction. Some may fizzle out, while others might just become the next big thing. The key is to experiment often and pivot quickly. Bonus move. Map out a one year profit calendar. To really capitalize on the power of validation offers, try mapping out an entire year's worth. Imagine holding a crystal ball. But instead of a hazy future, you see a clear roadmap to consistent revenue. You might schedule a quarterly workshop. It feeds into a key course, which leads to an application only mastermind, or perhaps you host a monthly bootcamp, each focused on a different hot topic in your niche. The exact composition will depend on your business and your audience, but the principle is the same. Treat validation offers not as a one off experiment. But as the building blocks of a sustainable, scalable business with each offer, you're not just testing an idea. You're adding a new income stream in strengthening your foundation. Remember as the legendary Peter Drucker said, the best way to predict the future is to create it. So go forth and validate with gusto. Your ideal audience is waiting for you to lead the way.
Speaker 72:Today's exercise, brainstorming your next move. You've gained valuable insights from your initial validation offer. Now it's time to harness that momentum and plan your next steps. One powerful way to do this is through a focused brainstorming session. Set aside just 15 minutes. You'll be amazed at what you can come up with in this short burst of concentrated creativity. Grab a pen and paper or open up a fresh document on your computer. Then set a timer and let the ideas flow. During this brainstorming sprint, consider the four potential paths forward, sticking with what's working. Could you run the same offer on the same topic again, perhaps with some minor improvements based on feedback, keeping the format, changing the topic. Did you love the process of leading a particular type of offer like a one day workshop or a multi week bootcamp? Could you apply that same format to a different subject that you That might resonate even more with your audience going deeper on a winning topic. If your validation offers struck a chord content wise, how could you expand on that theme? Could you turn a short workshop into a comprehensive course or a one time coaching session into an ongoing group program experimenting with a whole new concept? Is there a completely different offer format or topic that you're itching to test out? Something that feels equal parts exciting and scary? Jot down those wild ideas. They just might be your next big breakthrough. As you brainstorm, don't worry about perfecting each idea or deciding which ones are good enough. The goal of this exercise is simply to generate possibilities. You'll have plenty of time to refine and evaluate them later. If you find yourself getting stuck, try asking yourself some prompting questions. What topics do my clients or customers bring up most often? What skills or knowledge do I have that I haven't fully shared yet? What emerging trends or technologies could I tap into? What's a contrarian view in my industry that I could explore? How could I put a fresh spin on a classic topic or format? Remember this brainstorming session is a judgment free zone. No idea is too big, too small, or too out there. You never know which seemingly random thought might spark your next great offering. Once the timer goes off, take a quick break to rest your mental muscles. Then, come back to your list with fresh eyes. Look for any themes or patterns that emerge. Circle or highlight the ideas that feel most energizing or promising. You might not settle on a single clear direction right away. And that's okay. Let the ideas marinate a bit, sleep on them, talk them over with a trusted colleague or mentor, do some further research. The right path forward will become clear in time. The key is to keep the momentum going. Don't let the insights from your initial validation offer go to waste. Use this brainstorming exercise as a launching pad for your next steps. You can repeat a winning formula. You can remix a proven format. You can dive deeper into a resonant topic, or you can brave uncharted territory. Trust that you're on the right track. Each validation offer is a stepping stone to a more impactful, more profitable business. You've got this key takeaways. Audience feedback is a goldmine of insights to refine your offer. Use it to make informed decisions, not as a final verdict. After a validation offer, you can repeat what worked. Keep the format, but change the topic, expand a winning topic, or test something new. Let feedback guide you. Plan a one year sequence of validation offers for an action plan to grow your business iteratively. Adjust based on market response.