I'm proud of my group

Welcome to Week 23 of my adventure as a member of the Marketing Plan Group. In my posts, I talk about my voyage down the road of self-employment as a website copywriter, my achievements and roadblocks along the way, and what I’m learning from my group experience.

This week is supposed to be the last group call – and our homework, in addition to writing and laying out our first email newsletter, was to assess the goals we had chosen at the beginning of the group. Fortunately, my group is going to continue with Ilise on our journey together. But let’s take a look at what we’ve accomplished so far.

In the past 6 months, we have all:

• Found our target markets (or gotten closer to defining them)
• Developed lists of prospects  
• Created scripts to make research calls and used them on actual qualified prospects
• Created one sheets
• Developed an email un-newsletter
• Streamlined our websites
• Gotten valuable guidance, support, and feedback

Here’s how one of my group members, Lisa Smith Youngdahl, (whose website is in the midst of an update because of the group) recapped her progress:

I feel I have achieved a lot, mostly the ability to make research calls. I hadn't made any in at least 15 years; the very thought terrified me. I realize now that in those 15 years I have gained more confidence in both my design and speaking abilities, and I really don't mind making those calls. But, I wouldn't have known that if making the calls weren't part of this mentoring program.

I never had a one-sheet, so that's something I wouldn't have accomplished without the group. And, while still in the process, I am making worthwhile improvements to my website. And the newsletter is something I probably would have just put on the back-burner, until I had "time."

I've made 37 research calls, gone to 2 target events, (another is next week) and had two meetings. From those meetings, there is one proposal out there, still pending approval and a good contact that has referred me to another potential target customer. So I feel that this is progress, just waiting for the projects.

If you want to accomplish these things in the next 6 months, the next group starts the first week in April. There are 2 spots available. More info here or fill out this form.  

To my group: Ladies, I am so proud of you. I have gained so much from this group experience, and I feel so grateful that we are going to continue learning from, and with each other – and growing our businesses!