Scaling Up Your Service Business During Times of Scaling Back

Talk of “tough times ahead” are just as predictable as the times themselves from recessions that occur, on average, every three-and-a-quarter years to the cadence of global pandemics. 

Of course, the unique intersection of economic shifts coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic and going into the anticipated 2023 recession require a mindful approach, albeit, a simple one. 

With these key principles you can bet that your business will be one that holds strong:

Provide a Deeper Solution

While clients are always watching the bottom line and expecting return on investments whether it be with their employees or contractors, during times of greater economic shifts, those eyes on the bottom line become more discerning. 

One of the best ways to ensure that your clients continue to see the ROI you deliver as an essential line item on their operating expenses is by deepening your value. 

Can you offer to take care of an additional task or piece of their process at a cost to them that’s fair but that doesn’t compromise your overall capacity?

Can you clearly demonstrate how your work is moving the needle and how your ideas moving forward will only continue to foster growth or maintain retention?

The key is ensuring that your client views keeping your services as a no-brainer decision by emphasizing the depth of value you bring to their company. Sure, everyone on payroll is “replaceable,” but we want to demonstrate that replacing our services, either by going with a lower-cost provider or simply doing without, isn’t beneficial in the short or long-term for our clients. 

Make Quality Investments Through a Long-Term Lens

Speaking of long-term benefits, similarly to how your clients are assessing their cash flow, you need to bring a trained eye to your own business investments. Whether it’s software subscriptions or membership programs you’re not utilizing regularly, slash those recurring expenses you can’t clearly see a benefit or a return from. 

A good litmus test is that if the cost of a tool isn’t less than the cost of the time that tool or service saves you on a monthly basis (based on your average hourly rate), you’re not utilizing it to its fullest capacity – which means you either need a plan of action so that you can start gaining that ROI, or it needs to be cut from your recurring expenses. 

These easy budget cuts free up more of your cash flow that you can then use to bolster your business savings, (something you always want to have in place, but especially during times of economic downturn), or invest into other avenues that will support your business more long-term. Those other avenues might include taking a continuing education program that will enhance your skill set and allow you to charge more or bring in higher-paying clientele or investing in a team member who can support you in maximizing your time to allow you to serve more clientele and thus bring in more revenue. 

Looking at your investments through this lens of their potential for return six, nine, or 12+ months out is one of the best ways to ensure that you not only remain steady through times of downturn, but that you’re equipped to reap the benefits once the tides shift. 

Drill Down on Systems 

A practice I’ve found beneficial both with working with clients as a marketing service provider and operating my own business over the last eight years is planning on periods of “building” vs. “growth.”

When outside forces make running a business feel like a tenuous endeavor, or client work ebbs and flows more than you can typically rely on, focusing on building out your systems internally is always a strategic move. 

During a “building” season or year, focusing your time and effort on the foundational elements of a sustainable business or evaluating the structure of existing foundational pillars to make them stronger will set you up for success during your “growth” years. For example, creating or refining your standard operating procedures (SOPs), even if you currently operate as a solopreneur, will serve you well when you’re ready to bring on team members or sell your business. 

Also, building out sales funnels that support the various revenue streams in your business is another example of building out an asset that you can leverage to save you time and effort in your sales process, as well as increase your capacity when you’re ready to shift into a growth period. 

No matter what happens in world economic markets or societal forces at large that affect how everyone works — from Fortune 500s down to families stationed with their service members throughout the world — providing quality work with a patient perspective will never steer you wrong in business. 

💻 AMSE Action Item: To dive even deeper into how to scale, get AMSE’s premium membership and access Eloise Drane’s “Scaling Your Business” event replay on your member dashboard.

DANIELLE PASTULA 

Digital Marketing Strategist and Fractional CMO

Founder of Studio Clary

With 11+ years of experience working as a marketer within the wellness and beauty industries, Danielle has worked with a variety of professionals including award-winning spa and salon owners, beauty and wellness e-commerce brand creators, and leading industry coaches and consultants to establish a magnetic online presence that builds brand authority, increases sales, and cements client loyalty. 

Website: https://studioclary.com/FB: https://www.facebook.com/studioclaryLI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellepastula/
IG: https://www.instagram.com/studioclary/

Sow Seeds of Creativity for a Rewarding Harvest

Military spouses often hear the words: “I don’t know how you do it.” We may not think we’re doing anything special, but, add the extra title of “entrepreneur” on top of milspouse – and the many other hats we wear – and “it” can seem like a lot! When COVID-19 came along, the demands on us became even greater. Between navigating changes to our new normal, facing economic challenges, and being forced to put things into perspective, we learned the importance of thinking creatively. Capitalizing on securing multiple streams of income in a market saturated with start-ups is one way for milspouse entrepreneurs to sow those seeds of creativity for a rewarding harvest – regardless of what the entrepreneurial climate throws at you. Let’s get started on how to monetize your creative strengths and build your brand!

Drop the Excuses

How many times have you talked yourself out of starting something because you thought it would fail? Better yet, how many times have you actually started something but never finished it because you were afraid to keep going? Here’s the thing – you have to start somewhere, and, until you do, you don’t get to say what will or won’t work. Every great book, blog, podcast, or brand started from a simple idea.

Can you imagine if Amazon or Instacart would’ve let fear or hesitation kill their ideas before they even got started? They would’ve missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime. Don’t let that be you. Drop the excuses!

Scope Out the Market

I’ve never been a fan of reinventing the wheel. It is important to take time to scope out the market prior to making any significant decisions. You’ll want to research trends and how existing brands used those trends to their advantage. Here are some ways you can do it:

Similarity Index

Find brands that are similar to the ones you plan to create. Looking at similar platforms will give you ideas you can incorporate into your own brand.

Resource Identification

In looking at similar brands, you’ll also learn about the differences that exist with the resources you may need to have a successful brand. You’d be surprised to learn how much a decision such as which web hosting platform you use can affect your bottom line!

Expansion Potential

Most brands start out with a laser-focused vision. However, there is always opportunity for growth. Regardless of whether you decide to stay small or expand to a commercial-sized brand, that expansion should never come at the expense of authenticity. In the service-based industry, you capture and maintain your audience by presenting your best self. Once you dilute yourself in the name of notoriety or income, you become just like everybody else – and there’s no value in that. 

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Finally, remember that proper planning prevents poor performance. You have to have a plan for how you’re going to take your vision from an idea to a lucrative business. The first step requires you to figure out what you actually want to accomplish and how. 

Figure Out the Details

Let’s begin with specificity. You need to drill down what your aim is and focus on it. Once you’ve decided what your focus will be, work on refining it. Next, you have to be able to measure your progress toward that outcome. You don’t necessarily need to go to great lengths by creating magnificent databases to determine how you’re progressing – at least not in the beginning. A simple notebook or e-document that contains your business plans is a great start.

Once you’ve identified a suitable place to document your progress, you’ll need to determine what exactly you’re going to document. My early measures of success with my brand included the following: 

• Launch of my brand(s)

• Degree of fit within my niche

• Authentic growth

• Brand recognition

These are just a few of the measures I used to determine the progress toward my goals. Reviewing them regularly also helped me to determine where I could make adjustments to my processes, as well as the longevity of my brand.

Break It Down

Next, you’ll need to make sure your plans are achievable. One of my favorite strategies when it comes to achieving goals is incrementalism. This means giving yourself enough grace to break up your larger goals into smaller chunks. You never want to go a mile wide and an inch deep. It is very possible to achieve multiple things at once, but there is no honor in having a mediocre product.

You’ll also want to evaluate your plans to make sure they’re relevant. This is a continuous process. There is nothing wrong with making adjustments along the way, but never forget what first drew your audience to you. 

Set Those Deadlines!

Lastly, it is important to craft deadlines for your plans. A goal without a due date is simply a pipe dream. If you think about it, everything created with purpose has a due date – babies, bills, projects, and more. Your brand should be no different! Remember, incrementalism will be your best friend in this process. Break up your goals into tiers: primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary. 

These are the steps I navigated over the course of a year when I was building my brand. While everyone’s timeline will be different, be sure not to rush the process. Remember, it is entirely possible to use your creativity as a springboard to income. All you need to do to work toward a bountiful harvest is to sow that first seed, and, if you’ve made it to the end of this article, you already have!

Make it stand out

Brittany Chatman is a proud MilSpouse (USAF, Retired) and the owner of Chat With Bee, a lifestyle and social brand that specializes in authentic content creation. With more than five years of experience, Brittany prides herself in the creation of the following forms of content – Blog Posts, Technical Writing, Voice Talent, Amateur Photography, and Short-Form & Long-Form Video Social Media capabilities including Static Imagery, Carousel Imagery, and Reels/TikTok

 www.instagram.com/chatwithbee

Use Networking to Create a Killer Career

Everyone socializes and networks. As a small business owner, networking can reap many benefits that increase brand awareness, revenue, collaboration, and more. 

So, how do you turn networking into a thriving business?

Use Social Media Apps or Sites

Using social media apps can help you find your target market. All social media marketing is different. What you post on Instagram or Snapchat may be inappropriate to post on LinkedIn. Tailoring your content to the site you are posting on is essential. Try out each app and see where your followers get the most engagement. Each like, share, or comment you receive builds your brand awareness.

Join Virtual and In-Person Groups

Collaborating with other entrepreneurs can help you increase your reach and revenue. There are multiple ways that you can collaborate with other small business owners. Matchmaking events in your local area or mutual organizations are the easiest. You can find someone within your niche to conduct a podcast, write articles, or more. Find groups in your industry or area of interest and use the networking tips in this guide to maximize your time and impact. Connect with like-minded people and fellow entrepreneurs at one of our chapters or live events. 

You can also find ways to connect and collaborate using Facebook groups, like the MilSpouse Creative & Entrepreneur group). If you're a blogger who wants to write a guest post or a financial counselor seeking to put on a summit, you can find many other small business owners looking to establish their businesses in the market. Creating a campaign around your future collaboration can build up anticipation with your followers and theirs. Ultimately, you get introduced to their followers and meet new people, and the word-of-mouth results can increase your bottom line. 

Volunteer Your Expertise

Giving back to the community should be an aspect of every entrepreneur's business. It shows your goodwill and helps you impact the community. Volunteering can help you develop new skills and generate publicity. It can also help you jumpstart your networking skills.

If you want to turn networking into a thriving business, put yourself and your business out there. 

You only know the possibilities once you get involved and engaged with the community and your followers; networking events are a perfect way to achieve this. Once you start, it will be hard to stop reaping the benefits of your new and improved social networking skills.

💻 AMSE Action Item: Join the AMSE Slack channel to start networking today. Find events and advice, support other entrepreneurs, and socialize within your community!

Annette Harris

Annette Harris has been a noteworthy financial and human resources leader for over 14 years. She is a U.S. Army veteran and the Founder of Harris Financial Coaching. Annette can also be credited with volunteering with local and national nonprofit organizations that support the community through financial literacy education.

Every AMSE Resource at Your Fingertips: Your NEW Member Dashboard

Over the summer, our AMSE Member Dashboard had a major glow-up, and I’m a little in love with the new look and platform.

The previous dashboard was wonderful, with all your AMSE goodies, downloads, and resources available to you. But whenever you needed to change something (you moved, your billing information changed, etc.), you had to email the membership team to assist you. While they are nothing but helpful, why not allow members to make changes and give them more control over their profile and account information. After nearly two years, I was excited for something new as an AMSE member and an even better Member Dashboard.

I was not disappointed - the GLOW-UP was REAL!!!

The new Member Dashboard was built with you, the AMSE member, in mind. It is easy to use and includes all your previous features and benefits with even more! The best part is that every resource you will need is right there at your fingertips. 

Let’s dive into this new and improved area:

How Do I Sign Up?

If you are a NEW AMSE member: head over to www.amsemembers.com. Click the “Memberships” tab to learn more about the benefits of membership or if you are ready to sign up, click the “Log In” button and then “Join Now” at the bottom of that page.

If you are a CURRENT AMSE member: follow the same steps but click “Lost Password?” at the bottom of the page. Use the same email you used for the other member dashboard and reset your password!

*If you have any trouble with logging in, please contact us at membership@amseagency for help!*

New Platform + Profile

Your dashboard is now on Wordpress! Everything is blended together for an easier experience. You sign up, pay, and log in here. If you ever need to change your Member Profile or update your membership, you can do it from your dashboard. It’s too easy!

Watch this video about the new platform and your profile! 

Calendar

Do you ever have trouble keeping track of AMSE’s monthly digital events? Curious about when and where Chapter Meet-ups are occurring? Not anymore! There is a calendar in your Member Dashboard that is updated frequently with all of these. Search each month for the events you would like to attend and find all the details, including signup links, in each event listing. You can even add the event straight to your iCal or Google calendar!

Community Stream + Groups

Not everyone uses Slack (but you should use ours!). Now you have the option to talk within the community right in your Member Dashboard! Your home page hosts a stream for member posts. Introduce yourself, ask questions, or just say hi to everyone! There are also Groups in this dashboard, which act as hubs for different businesses, interests, Community Chapters...you can create a group if you do not find one you like? I’m so happy to find even more ways to connect and collaborate with other members.

Easier Navigation

Need to access a course from Building Your Business The AMSE Way? Looking for a specific download or a Masterclass replay? Everything is broken down into tabs on the left menu. But if you still cannot locate something? Search for it using the magnifying glass at the top right corner! A simple word or phrase can get to you it in seconds!

Find more how-to videos in the Member Dashboard!

More for YOU

There are even more resources available to all members of AMSE. Masterclasses, Virtual Coworking, and Coffee Chat events are open to everyone! These are vital sources of education, professional development, networking, and community. You have even more savings in the Discounts tab; no matter what field you are in or what you sell, there are discounts on CRM, social media management, coaching, automation platforms, and more. It’s all there waiting for you!

We love the new AMSE Member Dashboard and hope that you do, too. With all the support, tools, and guidance you could need just a few clicks away, this is another way that AMSE is bringing entrepreneurship to every milspouse who desires it. 

Tell us what you think of the new dashboard in the comments!

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The All-Access Pass is where it’s at!

✨ Group Coaching every month, with the opportunity to be an AMSE Group Coach yourself!

✨ Discount in the AMSE Shop!

✨ A FREE 20-second snippet on our official podcast, Owning Up, to promote your business!

✨ Digital replays of all our Masterclasses so you can watch and learn on your own time!

Learn more about the All-Access Pass here!

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Rachel is the co-owner and editor of The Military Mom Collective. She has been an Air Force spouse for 18 years and is a mother of four children. She holds a BA in English and a MA in Management. When not busy with work or her family, she enjoys reading as many books as possible and drinking all the coffee.

Rachel is also the Copy Editor at AMSE and a freelance writer. She has been featured on We Are The Mighty, Her View From Home, AMSE, PCSgrades, The Beautifull Project, Hand-in-Hand QC, and other publications. She has been blogging for herself and other organizations for over 10 years. She is always trying to stay on top of SEO practices and loves using the power of experiences and storytelling to empower businesses and individuals.

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