Bekah Reed: Thank you. I’m excited to be here again and chat about not SEO. I mean, I love chatting about SEO, but just something different. So it’ll be good.
Dolly Delong: Well, Becca and I also put this in my notes. Cause I like wanted you all to know about the power of Online or just like relationships. In general, if you are listening in and if you run your own business and it is lonely, running a business can be lonely unless you like being alone, but I don’t. And I really know I need community and friends and some, and I have been in Becca’s world since 2021. I was trying to do like the math. The other day when I was like writing notes about this episode, and I realize we’ve known each other since 2021, because we were in a mastermind together. And that’s how we came into each other’s world. And, we’ve just been friends ever since then. So listeners, I also want to encourage you to please like develop relationships with other business owners because it will not only help you out in your business, but it will also help you with your. Sanity. I don’t know if you will agree or disagree, but you’ve helped me with my sanity, Becca.
Bekah Reed: Oh my goodness. No, I totally agree. And I think there’s so many different ways to go about it, whether it’s like paying for a mastermind like we did originally. but I also always say if that’s not in your budget, if you’re a newer entrepreneur, just like find somebody who’s kind of in the same either like same stage, whether it’s one year in business or in the same field as you and get in a little Instagram message DM because those people will be experiencing very similar things. In terms of like client struggles and just being able to share that is what can get you by in business If I haven’t had if I wouldn’t have had some of those people in my past like I for sure would not be in business now six years later
Dolly Delong: Well, I’m so glad you are still in business and kind of like pulling on that thread, you had said like the struggle of owning an online business. so I’ll set the stage for this conversation. So several months ago, like you were in our. Like the D DMs with me and Mara. And you’re like, you all, I just invested in this big group program. I want to launch this, but I, I’m so frustrated with how it’s going. And I’ll let you, I’ll let you, just share more about that experience there, but this conversation is just how Becca and I worked together to develop a very specific launch plan for her. How, like she took something that was like. Not working and we pivoted for her. And so I wanted to have her on the podcast today just to share her experience with working with me. So, I know Becca, you’ve experienced different approaches to launching from evergreen to live. So can you share what led you to make the pivot? To do a live launch after initially investing in an evergreen course. And if you feel comfortable, like sharing, like what you had invested in, you don’t have to share any names or anything. just like what brought you to that decision?
Bekah Reed: Yeah. So back in 2021, when we were in that mastermind, which was with catch Moyer, she’s amazing. We loved it. she encouraged us to kind of come up with some type of passive income thing. and then talked about her launching strategy, which is the strategy that Dolly does with a lot of prelaunch runway and things like that. And so That’s actually when I first created my course Squarespace with confidence, which was how to DIY a Squarespace website. I was serving, I was a service based website designer and I just realized as my prices increased, I couldn’t serve the new entrepreneurs and my heart really was for them. So I created this course. I loved it. I live launched it once. I hated live launching. It stressed me out. And so I said, I want it on evergreen immediately. And I put it on evergreen. That was in 2021. And from that point, Besides that live launch that I initially did, I really didn’t make many sales. And so I knew, okay, I hate live launching, but I do think this is a great product. What, what, what can I figure out to tie these two? And I found a program that teaches you sales psychology and using sales psychology to Have your course or product on evergreen and just consistently make the sales and I was like, huh. Yeah, i’m in signed up and It was very high ticket. It was I think four thousand or forty five hundred dollars, which at least for me, that’s that’s high ticket and so it when I the good part of it was I really think it helped me to evaluate the product I had and Refine it and as I like was interviewing people I was realizing The people who are new entrepreneurs and small business owners, they just wanted to get their dang website up. Like they didn’t need all the bells and whistles and the Squarespace with confidence course had the bells and whistles. So I just, I really was able to hone it in, hone the messaging in. and so that part was good. but after doing that, you know, I spent probably, I would say three or four months doing that portion of the course. And then after that it was, it was on evergreen. And it was through using kind of a webinar type of. Thing and I was making I mean no sales and that was very disheartening because I wasn’t getting any Return on that investment And so of course I was in the dms talking with dolly and mara and like what can I do? And I was doing everything to a t like if I invest in a course you better believe i’m gonna do everything I was just trying different things everything besides ads like That was the only thing i’m like i’m not putting ad dollars behind this until I see the conversion and yeah, it just wasn’t working and so that’s when you really came in you’re like Let’s just try one live launch. I know it’s just you out, you know, we’ll be here for you let’s try a live launch and then and let’s do that pre launch runway. And so that’s Basically, you convinced me to try it because I wanted to get a return on my investment,
Dolly Delong: thank you so much for sharing all of that information. And I will, I will agree with you and I’m not just agreeing with you because like we’re friends, but your product, the, the, the Squarespace with confidence, like it is. It’s a really good product and it does offer a lot of transformation for the user. And I, I don’t use Squarespace. I am a show it user, as you know, but I have seen the back end of your product because like you have. used small parts of it for various like bundles that you’ve been a part of. And I like, I have seen students who purchased that in the bundle, get the upgrade, like to, to want to learn more from you. So it, it is a proven product. You did have a really, transformational, I don’t even know what to call it. something that can help. A newer business owner. So I knew that in my gut, that a live launch model would work for you. and again, it’s not just, I wasn’t basing it off the feelings I was basing it off of, okay, she’s put a lot of work in it. It is proven for the people who have bought it so far. Through the years and so I’m so happy that like you gave it a go again, and this was Like correct me if I’m wrong, but you were like I just if this doesn’t work Then I’m just gonna put it like it’s gonna. I don’t know what you had said like that’s it. I’m giving up on it
Bekah Reed: Yeah, for sure. I So I kind of I didn’t I don’t think I shared this but I had the Squarespace with confidence and I did kind of rebrand it and as I was talking with people and Seeing what they really wanted and they were like, I want a website up quick I was like, okay how can I make people get a website done in a weekend and then I transitioned my course to become beyond the template because It’s just so much more than a template. and so that’s my new course. I still technically have Squarespace with confidence. If there was somebody who like wanted to become a Squarespace website designer and wanted that, they could go through that. But Beyond the Template is really for that new entrepreneur. And again, I just really did believe in it. And I’m not like a conceited person, but I was like, man, I really do think there’s something here. But Obviously nobody else does and so yeah, just having you continually encourage me to try this and we’ll talk about the numbers And what ended up happening? but now I can’t let it go because I did make a few sales So I was like, well you guys were sticking with it.
Dolly Delong: So okay, so let’s go back then to the point where you’re like, okay, we are gonna give this let’s do another go of live launching because when was the initial, to give everybody context, when was the first time you live launched? How long
Bekah Reed: Yep. So I started the interviewing people and really, really figuring out how to hone in this course, recreate it from January to May. I live, or I put it on evergreen in May and then waited four months. And then we did the live launch,
Dolly Delong: Okay. So knowing that you, you had been sharing a lot of information with me and Mara in the DMs. And so you had said, okay, let’s just do this Dolly. So what, did you have any hesitations? Maybe this is a dumb question because you had been alluding to like, yeah, I had hesitations about the evergreen and then I was drained by the live launch model years ago. When you decided just to pull the trigger, did you have any hesitations going in?
Bekah Reed: pull the trigger to going into doing a live launch.
Dolly Delong: Yes.
Bekah Reed: Oh yeah. I, the biggest hesitation was my emotional wellbeing, if I’m being honest, um, because. One, I knew if I put in even more effort and work after, I mean, when I say I probably put in 300 to 400 hours over those nine months and I knew that doing a live launch would require more work, even though the product was created and my emails were created, I just knew it would be an additional 20, 30 hours. so I, the fear was. That’s hours away from revenue that i’ve already Had taken away from my business And I have a one and a two year old and i’m emotionally drained and I don’t know if I can emotionally handle it So that was definitely the biggest That’s what that’s what caused me hesitancy for sure.
Dolly Delong: Yeah. And like me looking from the other side, I was like, Oh, I see so much potential. And again, like listeners, like I wasn’t trying to fill Becca’s head with what, what is that like term, like false hopes, false roots. But cause I had really seen the transformation it had provided. And when I dug into the back end, I was like, no, this has a lot of good potential. And so what we essentially did was Becca and I sat down over zoom. Cause we live. we don’t live in the same city. Like it was, it was like, you live in Washington state, I live in Tennessee. And so we met over zoom for what? Not even two hours. And we mapped out your pre launch plan. And I want you to walk through, if you remember that experience, do you mind walking listeners through that experience?
Bekah Reed: Yeah, so we hopped on that call. and You really just strategized you you had a whole trello board that showed me what to do And so you it was a shorter runway than you usually suggest Um, but that’s what worked with my calendar. And so it was a five week runway And you really encouraged me in a with a lot of different things. content creation related to Squarespace related to new entrepreneurs, and then I’m pushing that content out with my pig full strategy, which Dolly will link below about what that is. and so of course I continued doing that, but you also one of the biggest things was encouraging me to get a feedback. a little bit as Tintin nervous for again. This is all, this is me being so honest, but I was just nervous because I didn’t want to let other people down. I didn’t want other people to invest time in sharing this product with their email list. And I didn’t really have proof. Like I had proof with the Squarespace with confidence course, but I didn’t have proof with the beyond the template course. And so I was very nervous asking people to come alongside me. but you did encourage me to think, reach out to 15 people. And you were you were just facts and figures with so much if you reach out to 15 people This is about how many people will say yes This is about how many people will actually follow through with their yes and so throughout this whole process I was just able to take my emotion out of it a lot of time but also when my emotion did creep back in and i’ll like I started having dreams. I don’t know if you remember that me voice noting you and Mara being like you guys I had a like nightmare about this and Mara who is also in the launching world was like Yep, completely normal and that happens to my clients all the time and I was like what? this is crazy talk Like it’s just it really is live launching is all consuming even when you try not to make it that way But just having you guys to like there to encourage me and of course have the plan and the facts and figures That’s Did help me. I still was a little mentally a basket case, but it helped
Dolly Delong: Oh, what also I will speak to when your strengths though, is that you are very disciplined and dedicated to a content strategy. That’s something that you’ve always been, very disciplined in and shout out to Becca. She has her, a great YouTube channel, again, dedicated to, Educating newer entrepreneurs about SEO and Squarespace tips and education. And it’s grown to now over 1000 subscribers, which is a big deal for a small business owner. And so she also, I had her dig into a strategy with YouTube. what we did for her was we, Focused in on a pre launch way, pre launch runway, sorry. And of sharing content that acted like essentially like a domino leading to the launch. But then a week before her launch, we had what’s called, I like to call a hype event. So an event that gets people like it boosts your email list size. So it grows your email list, but it also brings more. Potential warmer leads to an event that is free that that way you can pitch your offer at the back end of the hype event and You were very disciplined in promoting that hype event. In addition to promoting your content, to promoting your content on YouTube, to promoting your content on like Instagram. And so I want to applaud you because I have done, launch strategies with business owners. I’ve given them the roadmap and then they did absolutely nothing.
Bekah Reed: Yeah, i’ll do the things like I just need the help But i’ll do the things and I am also someone like when you were talking about my youtube channel I am the business owner that just throws spaghetti at the wall and In the past it’s worked for me because i’ve had endless hours and now I have two tiny children and I don’t have as much capacity to just be like, let’s put out this video. Let’s put out this video. And so you forced me to be more strategic with my videos. And I do think that also helped with leading people to that launch event.
Dolly Delong: Well, can we talk more than about the launch event, your hype event? So, essentially, well, I’ll just let you describe what it is so I won’t butcher it.
Bekah Reed: Yeah. So it was a microcast webinar training situation. So I really wanted to provide a lot of value. I wanted people to know exactly what’s in the course. But not just tell them what’s in the course, but also things that they could walk away from the training and immediately implement in their business. And so that’s what it was. it was, About 40 minutes total with the pitch like the pitch section was about five minutes So if you’ve been to any traditional webinars a lot of times they’re like an hour long the pitch is like 20 minutes I just wanted and you know, maybe in hindsight, maybe my pitch could have been longer or should have been longer But I just wanted to that was what I was really nervous about to be honest So I wanted a lot of really valuable content. So yeah, that’s what I did. And then I had In terms of facts and figures, I had, just under a hundred people sign up, which would not have happened without affiliates. That is definitely I can attribute to the affiliates because it also grew my email list by about 50 people. And again, I really think the affiliates. Had a big, had a big role in that. and then like prior, just to give you some idea about the, like prior to this, I had this exact same webinar. I didn’t change anything about it. except for a couple tweaks for because it was live, but I had had 183 people opt into that webinar and made no sales. I had 97 people, I think, opt into the live launch webinar and I ended up making three sales. So. Much better conversion.
Dolly Delong: am so, so excited about that. And, I wanted to ask you what is. Like, how did you, I always hate asking feeling based questions ’cause I’m like, I like to focus on the data. I like to focus on the numbers, but really, I know for you it was like lots of fear and hesitation and feelings based off of live launch, but how did you feel after your, your live launch or after your hype event and you’re just like, Hey, it’s done.
Bekah Reed: Once it was done, yeah, I was definitely out of a whole lot more peace, and I think it was interesting because I had that, that live webinar, and then a week later I did a live webinar with you and Mara. To launch our black friday product. I was so excited to get in that webinar Like it was I was just like, I mean, I love being on camera if i’m being honest Like I have a youtube channel. I enjoy it And so I felt like with that webinar I was able to just be more relaxed probably also because I was just chatting with two of my friends, but I think having that webinar a week prior and being like everything worked fine I was just worried about the tech quite honestly, and just being like the tech worked fine Made me a lot more confident in that next and I and now for Feud for 2025. I do plan on live launching this One or two times in the year With bonuses and I will be doing a live webinar because it worked
Dolly Delong: I love that so much. so listeners, I, if you’re wondering, okay, what was the strategy with the affiliates? Like, why did you do this? I am a firm believer that you can not, and I mean, maybe you like doing things alone, but a lot of business owners. Should not be doing business alone. Like they need that not only support and community, but also collaborations help you grow in so many ways. Like the, that’s one of the secret sauces, secret sauces. I don’t know if that’s even a term, but that is something that a lot of bigger business owners don’t necessarily talk openly about yet part of their strategy. Is collaborating with other business owners who are kind of like adjacent or parallel with their business that serve very similar customers. And so I wanted Becca to take advantage of that strategy and know Hey, like there are business owners who want to like, collaborate with you and want to encourage you and bring other their audience to you. To, to in front of her so that she can serve them. And so there is, so if you’re wondering, if you’re like, how, how do I get in front of other people’s audiences? Like one of the main ways is collaborating and like doing it in a very strategic way, making sure that what you have can also serve your, like their audience and vice versa. Does that make sense?
Bekah Reed: Yeah, and that was something that you really encouraged me is figuring out and creating a list of people who are Aligned but not doing the exact same thing. And so I would work with somebody who is an seo expert Um, but she does not design websites, you know, or even you like working with a lot of small new business owners, too getting on podcasts. That was something you encouraged me to do again I only had five weeks so I could only get on a couple podcasts. But yeah Just really being able to figure out Who, and I think an advantage of working with you also was, you created a script for me, which helped me feel like it wasn’t my words a little bit. So it’s if it doesn’t work, it’s Dolly’s words. Whatever. You know, and so that just helped me, having a lot of that strategy. I mean, there’s so much that you did, but Just being able to send out that email. And I actually did send them a personal, every person, a personalized video saying, this is why I believe this program would benefit your audience. I gave a 30 percent commission, which is a little bit higher than some people do. And just really tried to bless them along the way, as well as sending emails that said that repeatedly like this is your affiliate link. Here’s some Instagram stories that you can post and sending them graphics. So I know for the next launch, I want to increase the amount of affiliates I have. and also I just know like I made three sales, which might not sound like a lot. My, my course is 600 and so getting the messaging perfectly is a little bit tricky because it’s more than a template, but a lot of Squarespace templates are less than 600. Um, and I also know that I’m probably going to have people come back to the next webinar and be more primed to buy. Just a couple more thoughts.
Dolly Delong: No, I love that. I was going to ask you, have, have you noticed like any other people, cause you took that live webinar after we did that and you put it back into Evergreen, correct?
Bekah Reed: Yes, I did.
Dolly Delong: And how have you been promoting it since then?
Bekah Reed: um,
Dolly Delong: I need to come back into your life.
Bekah Reed: I, you know, I, the way my content calendar works is every couple of months I have a new thing and my offer suite, I guess we’ll call it, really caters to different levels of businesses. And so that was for the brand new entrepreneur. And then I promoted something that is for somebody who wants to become a website designer. So very much they would not be a good fit for my course. So once I pivoted my marketing materials, my blogs, my YouTube videos to getting ready to promote the next thing, I haven’t seen that conversion. And now I’m really going into my SEO course. Again, if somebody were to buy my SEO course, They probably have an existing Squarespace website. So they just need to figure out the SEO portion. so just That’s I think that that marketing change marketing messaging change has affected I haven’t made a sales sense. But again, I haven’t been promoting it. I have still had people Enter the training because you know It’s on Pinterest, it’s, it’s linked in YouTube videos, it’s talked about in YouTube videos. That was another thing you had me do, is at the beginning of YouTube videos, I would mention it, as well as at the end, and just try to avoid saying the word live, and that I definitely think helped.
Dolly Delong: Okay, wonderful. This is me just being like, don’t forget to continue to promote it and just see what happens and I know I, I did not make this, this stat up. I, I, I heard it several times, but like listeners, if you’re like, how, how should, When should I like put ad money behind like something, um, like a webinar that’s evergreen or like a masterclass or whatever I’ve heard have at least a hundred new subscribers or leads go through the masterclass just to see, or webinar, whatever you want to call it. just to see what the conversion rate is like before you put. Like money into ads. Um, I am a big believer proponent of organic marketing. And that’s something that again, like I will applaud Becca for doing because she has this amazing strategy. She hinted at it earlier. It’s called her pig fell strategy and that I have taken it and I’ve created like a version of it and it stands for Pinterest, Instagram, Google business. And then I do Google search console on top of that, and then Facebook, email, email marketing, and then LinkedIn. And so she, after every, creating every piece of content, Becca then takes that and she pigfells it. So when we talk about pigfell, that’s what she’s referring to. so I know I, I was just like curious, like how your, your marketing for that. Is still going, but that’s good to know. Like you are aware of that and you have goals for 2025 on how you’re going to promote it.
Bekah Reed: Yeah, and I’m excited. So Dolly, Mara and I are actually doing a little retreat in Arizona meeting up and we’re going to be pouring into each other’s businesses one day for each business. So I’m excited to kind of strategize with you two, and figure out kind of, I’m thinking quarterly, probably doing a new, like a new thing each quarter in terms of what I’m launching. So I’m going to get it all on the calendar next year and get a little bit more streamlined. This year was a lot of figuring out also just how to raise tiny humans alongside of business. So.
Dolly Delong: Oh, I have so many ideas for you, Becca.
Bekah Reed: I can’t wait. It’ll be amazing.
Dolly Delong: It’s going to be awesome. And I’m like, Again, like listeners, if this, this is the power of friendships coming out of, like, from who, where you meet them. Like for me, I met Becca at a mastermind and then our just friendship grew from there. And so please find your friends and like grow with their businesses. Cause like it will not only impact your business, it will impact. So like it will create a positive ripple effect. And I am so excited about having a little, I’m calling it a friend mastermind in February. It’s going to be so much fun.
Bekah Reed: Oh, it’s gonna be awesome. We’re gonna be in the warm weather and I’m from Spokane, Washington, so I’m also just really excited for that.
Dolly Delong: Oh, it’s going to be so much fun. okay. So let’s talk about then reflections and results on the live launch. ultimately you had like you shared, you had a 3 percent conversion rate and you welcome new clients into your program. So now that you’re on the other side, what aspects of live launch do you feel contributed most to this success? I know you hinted at it, but I just wanted to like, to get more clarity on. What do you think contributed?
Bekah Reed: I mean there’s so many things. I think being more strategic with my marketing efforts and not just doing whatever video somebody asks me for that week. I also think the emails that you encouraged me to create were a little bit more strategic so like my conversion, um show up rate was 27. 8%, which honestly, I know nothing about percentages. It was all just Dolly being like, this is good or this is bad. So she told me it was good. So I was like, great. Um, 8% show up rate I think was partially because of some of the emails you told me to send and then partially because you encouraged me to do a live, show up bonus. And again, that’s something I never would’ve really thought of to do. and just even in terms of I think my open rates were higher for my emails and like my first replay email had a 69 percent open rate and 21 percent click rate. And I think that was also because you really encouraged me to prime my audience. Mm
Dolly Delong: Um, have you had any other, this is kind of like throwing a curveball at you, but have you had any other interaction with your audience about your. Launch since when was your launch September? Okay. Um, yeah, that seems so long ago, but yet not so long ago. Um, did your audience give you any feedback? I’m just curious. Yes.
Bekah Reed: So as I’ve been talking with people, they did mention like price point was higher than what they want to spend as like a new business owner right before the election. However, As I’ve also talked with other people or the same people there’s they’ve said it’s worth that value So I don’t feel like I need to lower the price.I do think my messaging is good I just think The time of year was a little off. Um, but again, I didn’t really have any other options and i’m glad I did it And i’m glad I got the first one out of the way. because I do think doing like a spring launch for me personally, I’ve noticed in terms of like courses, in terms of my service businesses, I, all like the spring is always better for me. summer is always bad and fall is always bad. So I’ll be really interested to see how spring goes.
Dolly Delong: Oh, I’m so glad you brought that up, Becca, because I love reminding myself and so I will just like verbalize what I always say. say in my head, but it’s always interesting to me when my own buyers or my ideal clients are buying. And I try to keep that in mind as I make my marketing calendar for the next year. So right now we’re sitting at the end of 2024 and we’re looking into 2025. And so I know from past data, this is why it’s really important to you. Not only collect data, but to understand where your ideal clients are in their buyer’s journey throughout the year. because for example, if you guys need a tangible example of this, like if you serve moms, especially moms with kids who are in school, for example, they will probably be more prone to be alert and buyer aware in I would say probably not in summer. Because they are at home with their kids, they have the mom hat on and they’re probably more prone to buy like in the fall or like around like times where it’s not as packed with like spring break or fall break or whatever. So you have to like, maybe that was like a really bad example, but I was just thinking off the top of my head. But I just want to encourage listeners, if you have something like Becca has. That is proven that has helped people go from point A to point B. And if you’re like, Oh, I should just scratch everything off. I just, I’m going to throw it all out. I’m going to burn it all down because I didn’t have one, a month, 1 million launch, so and so had. but you only had in your mind, you only, I say this in quotations, you only had two buyers. Like, why not reassess okay. is an ideal time for my buyers to be most primed to buy. Maybe launch then. I will also add a caveat to this. if you are an online business owner, you’ve been around, I want you to notice like a lot of people launch in September because a lot of bigger named business owners. Launch their main program in September. So there’s this thought of, Oh, if they are launching in September, I’m going to launch in September. So I want you all like to be very aware of that because what might work for them may not work for you. So just be so aware of like past data when you’re. Your ideal clients are going to buy from you the most. It might be in like January. It might be in like June. I don’t know. You, you have to research that data for yourself. I’m going on and on Becca. I’m so sorry.
Bekah Reed: No, it’s good in my that is like moms are a lot of times who I work with and so At for my service based business, which has been around for six years november to april is when I have highest months, so If you also have a higher price service based business, you may be experiencing that as well
Dolly Delong: yeah, I will say I, so every, if you’re an OG listener, you know, I have two sides to my business, family photography, and then systems, workflow, education, and then launching services with family photography. I know that my highest, highest months are normally August all the way to November. So I’m in my feast mode right now. Like I’m in feast mode. But then as far as Least amount of revenue coming in starts in like mid December to maybe March. I’m just like, and if I let that dictate, if I only let my feelings dictate me during that, I would be like, that’s it, I’m burning it all down. But based off of data, I know, okay. I’m mentally prepared. This is when I’m going to be serving my photography clients a lot. This is when my income is coming in. And then, that way, I can. I can make better marketing decisions on the other side of my business. Okay. But maybe in my slower months, I can then have these launches, or I can really invest more in my one-on-one clients for launching because they might be needing launching help. So again, when you’re starting out in your business, you’re, you will not know all of these answers. Like you are figuring things out. So. So I encourage you listener to start collecting this data about your clients, start collecting this data about when you are making a lot of money versus not making a lot of revenue. And just see if there’s a pattern so that this pattern can impact your marketing in the future.
Bekah Reed: Yeah, totally agree.
Dolly Delong: Okay. So I’m going to ask you another question. So. Now that you’ve had time to reflect on both an evergreen model and a live launch model, what advice would you give to other business owners who are considering like, okay, my course has been like, kind of like you, like it’s been on evergreen, but it’s not selling or it’s trickle, like the sales are trickling in, what advice would you give to them?
Bekah Reed: Okay. This is all my personal two cents, but I do have opinions I think that it is very difficult to have an evergreen only Product or course if you have a smaller audience and let me define smaller. Under 5, 000 on Instagram and under 2 3, 000 on email list. If that’s you, I would definitely say live launching might need to be your strategy for a while. And I hope that’s not disheartening for you. I hope that you can listen to this and relinquish some of the pressure, the frustration. That I had, but I just think if you want it to be fruitful, that’s, that’s kind of the reality. so, that I was, unless, there is an exception, unless your product or course is under 300. then I think that maybe Evergreen could work. I do have my SEO course, my Squarespace SEO course. under 300 and it has been around since 2020. And although I get the most sales when I do live launch it, which I don’t really ever do. usually the only time I’m live launching it is when I’m a part of a bundle and then they can bump up and pay for the full SEO course. So that is definitely when I get the most sales from the SEO course, but I still do make, six sales or so, six to ten sales a year on Evergreen for that SEO course. And it was priced at 150 for a long time, now it’s 250. So I do think if it’s under 300 that can be feasible, but I mean you can you really run a business off that? Probably not. So yeah, I just also want to relinquish that, like I felt like when I first started with Evergreen and products and all that, I was like, this is how my business is gonna just go from here on out. See you later, services! I’m gonna be that stay at home mom that hears the ding on my phone. that’s just not. Like, I’ve been around for six and a half years and I have yet for that to happen. So, maybe once my email list explodes, but that’s also a slow grower. so yeah, that’s just, that’s kind of my thoughts on that. So, I will be doing live launching until I can really get this done. messaging or this, this webinar honed in and having that higher conversion, then I’ll invest in ads and then I’ll, I’ll try it out and see how it on evergreen works.
Dolly Delong: You know, I’m so glad you’re here for so many reasons because I just, you know, I love you. but I’m so happy that you are sharing, the reality. Of running an online business like it’s presented in such a shiny and flashy way and when business owners realize Oh, I’m not experiencing that exponential growth that so and so said I would, But yeah, I will, I will say like you are persisting and that I think that is key, like being persistent and you’re still, like, you’re making those micro changes along the way, okay, who do I want to serve? How can I change my messaging? What do I want to do? it’s not like you’re stagnant. You’re still changing, but you’re not like giving up totally. And people would give up after a while. And so I just want to applaud you.
Bekah Reed: And I think one thing, a couple of thoughts I have, one that Mara said throughout this was cause of when I was like, if this doesn’t sell, I’m done. And she’s like, well, maybe don’t be because she, she works with launching clients who do a hundred thousand million dollar launches. And a lot of times it takes multiple launches. Guys. And so, I am somebody that sometimes can get disheartened and be like, I’m never launching that again. But, I do plan on relaunching and relaunching and seeing how that goes. because I do think it’s something that can serve people well. Another thought I had is, I do think that there’s that shiny object syndrome on the digital course world, evergreen stuff, and I would just analyze you and are you somebody who enjoys teaching? If you aren’t, maybe that’s not the right avenue. There’s nothing wrong with being a service provider for your entire business journey. and yes, you’re trading your time. It’s one for one. you hear that all the time. you don’t want to trade your time for money. Why not? You can continue to increase your prices. Like I have a website in a day service. I spent six hours in my day and I charge 1850 personally. That’s a really great hourly wage and I’m okay with that. Never getting rid of that service. there’s nothing wrong with that, you know? And I think, just really figuring out, but at the same time I do enjoy teaching and so that’s why I’m continuing to pour into the SEO course and beyond the template course, because.It’s just something I enjoy. I enjoy pouring into new business owners, and educating. So, I was a teacher for a while, like, it’s something I like. So,
Dolly Delong: I love that. That’s really good. Those are some really good points you just shared. So, okay. I know we’ve been talking for a while, long time. I’m so sorry to just be so chatty, but it’s been so fun, chatting with you about your experience and, Okay, here, I know I have to ask this because, we are talking about your launch strategy experience with me, but having worked with a launch strategist, aka with me, what would you say is the biggest benefit of having more hands on support and guidance?
Bekah Reed: okay, if I had to choose one, I don’t know if this is what you want to hear, but if I had to choose just one, it would be just the encouragement and someone on your team.that’s invaluable. just having somebody to say, This product doesn’t suck. This product doesn’t suck. over and over again, because you, if you’re in launch mode, and if you’ve done that, you know.I even created graphics on my phone that was like, I think I still have it. the one was like this lock screen. It says, The Lord blesses me. The Lord is gracious to me. He gives me peace today and forever more. And it’s a note to myself. because I, when I was in launch mode, I was not right in my mind.And the other one was on my lock screen. You are worthy of extravagant blessing, and you are prepared for this launch. I still have it. Um, and I just, I just needed that encouragement, and a lot of those words just came from you and Mara encouraging me. So yes, you helped me with the strategy. Yes, I do attribute to the fact that I made, you know, Whatever six hundred dollars times three is to you, but I do think also just the encouragement is Really really helpful. Oh, you’re so welcome.
Dolly Delong: and listeners, it’s not like when people work with me, I’m just like, Oh yes, this will sell. I have had to tell people like in the past, like this. You may need to reassess this. Have, have you actually had like testimonials? has this ever, have you ever sold this before? Have you ever even created it?So it’s not like I am a yes person to everyone. I look at things from all angles and I want to make sure, it will be launch ready. Is this something that. Your people want on the market. And so I, I just, I’m so proud of you, Becca. I’m so excited that you just, push forward. So like, um, what you had shared this a little bit, but can you reshare like what, moving ahead, what are your plans for 2025 when it comes to this product that we’ve been talking about?
Bekah Reed: Yes, so I am going to I’ll have it on evergreen, but then I will live launch it. with bonuses Um, so for the live launch that that we did in september. I had a hundred dollars off I don’t necessarily think I will do that again I think i’m gonna have some really really really juicy bonuses this next time just because I I want that first launch that crew that got in I want to respect that and so yeah Lots of bonuses, and I plan on launching it one or two times depending on what the rest of my calendar looks like for the year and time but That’s yeah, that’s my plan for the beyond the template course
Dolly Delong: And then what are your plans? This is another off the cuff question, because I really see the, listeners, if you are planning on launching, you should not only plan to launch to your same email list over and over again. So this question goes along, this is why I’m asking this question, what are your plans on email list growth?
Bekah Reed: Yeah, so this was actually something that you encouraged me You said after this you only have a five week Situation you only have a five week runway for this so we couldn’t do everything that you wanted to do But one thing that you had said a couple things was launching myself on podcasts more. Um, snd I love chatting on podcasts So i’m like heck yes Definitely will be doing that.You also suggested bundles. So I already am going to be in a bundle in December and I don’t know when this is coming out, but the bundle is for people. it’s it’s like a six figure Entrepreneur how you can become that and so i’m doing a training just for that bundle about what does your website need to convert in 2025.But that is also a really great lead in to my, my microcast. So then I, I mentioned that on the sales page where that’s hosted. so more bundles, more podcast pitching, because that’s something I enjoy. And I thrive in as well as continually I’m I rotate my content sometimes i’m talking about seo So when i’m talking about seo that’s obviously going to be leading to a free training that leads to my seo course but when i’m talking about especially squarespace i’m giving a lot of squarespace tips on my Youtube when I do that that will also that content will lead To this and i’m trying to remember and be more strategic with those youtube videos to actually mention it like you encouraged me to do
Dolly Delong: Oh, that’s what I’m so excited about in February because we are going to dissect, I, again, Becca, I have plans for you. I’m planning on dissecting your YouTube, channel strategy so that Every video you make, there is a specific, purpose of growing your email list out and, pointing people to, take the next step.Either to work with you or to subscribe to whatever or to buy from you. I want every single episode to be, like, dissected, so I’m so excited. Alright, I hope your heart is prepared for February.
Bekah Reed: am so prepared and I know that like the youtube is the untapped resource for me and so And it’s it’s been I mean i’ve been growing it for five years So it’s like it’s not like I immediately got to a thousand subscribers I’ve been working hard and I will say like throwing spaghetti at the wall has kind of worked because Some of the videos on YouTube that like, that are my highest performing.I’m like, what the heck? so it was good in terms of getting information about what my people wanted But I do think that there is a place now to be more strategic with it So I’m very excited about it. Follow me on Instagram and I will you guys all in to my YouTube journey.
Dolly Delong: I love it. I love it. Well, I will be sure to have everything in the links and the show notes. And, I guess like a good wrap up question would be how can people find you and follow you and work with you? And can you talk about the product that we launched? I will also link that in the show notes, but I don’t mind if you do a pitch for that.
Bekah Reed: Yeah, so I’m on all these social medias Instagram I’m most active with the exception of December. I take a sabbatical from Instagram because my mental health needs it But YouTube Instagram are my main two and then the product beyond the template I would say if you have any interest in if you’re new to kind of the website design world and you’re like I need a website that’s actually converting like I have maybe a website, but it’s not nobody’s actually Contacting me or whatever it is watch my free training first and see if you know, it would be a good fit and she’ll link it below but after you watch the training my course really dives into the main components that a website needs to Convert so branding first of all, and I go into like what what does color theory even look like?What kind of fonts do you can you choose that will then? like actually convert your audience. What does that even mean? Then we go into what does a website actually need to convert? Like what, what do you need to have on your homepage so that people will then contact you or buy your product? And then finally we touch on SEO because I just think it’s way too important.and I go into my SEO strategy. That is how I get 80 to 90 percent of my clients. If you Google search website in a day, Or if you Google search Squarespace SEO course, which are two of my main things, you will see I pop up in anywhere from one to five spot on page one of Google. So it’s just, it’s so important.And I think it’s, it’s great because I can get off Instagram and it doesn’t matter. So, if you are in a place where you want to learn about any of that, definitely go over to the training.
Dolly Delong: love it. And I will, like Becca said, I will link it all in the show notes. So, if you have stayed and listened the entire time, thank you so much for staying all the way to the end. it, it’s always fun to do these reflective episodes with past clients for me, because I can like always say, Oh yeah, like launching and strategic launching is important. But to actually hear. Every, like my client’s experience is working with me. Like people need to hear like the nitty gritty of what helped them, what didn’t help them. So I want to say thank you so much for your time Becca and for listeners. I hope this was helpful. I hope it was insightful. And if you are looking to launch either. A program or a digital product in 2025. I would love if you would consider to work with me, like in, so I will be sure to link like my contact form in the show notes as well, and you can just read all about the experience and what that would look like. So anyways, until then you all have a strategic and streamlined in magical week, you amazing muggle you. I will talk to you all next week with a brand new episode. Bye
