Q&A: "How do I best prioritize next steps?"

Q&A: "How do I best prioritize next steps?"

Today's listener is already doing a lot of things right. She's designed and printed a series of planners for new moms struggling with postpartum depression.

With this specific product and a clear target market, she's wondering what comes next? How can she reach that target market with her product?

My side hustle is a line of wellness planners for moms. I originally created versions of these planners to help myself with postpartum depression and anxiety, and I hope to help other women as well.

My question is about how to best prioritize my next steps. I have products, website, and an Etsy account. I have a story in my head that I need to build up Instagram followers before reaching out to influencers. Also, am I right in thinking that cold emails are the best way to connect with potential sales avenues? How do you effectively cold email without sounding like an annoying salesperson?

So let's review: Lacie has three planners to help moms with postpartum depression and anxiety. She has a clear idea, a specific target market, a product, and a website.

It sounds like Lacie's next steps are all about marketing. No time like the present!

I don't agree with that story in your head about needing a certain number of Instagram followers before doing anything. What you have is a product, so that should be the focus. There are two common approaches to marketing this kind of product—one is based on your existing platform, and the other is product-focused.

As for cold emails, those are okay. They won't always work but sometimes they will. Keep expectations reasonable—if you reach out to ten people you don't know, you probably won't hear back from all ten, but hopefully the response will be more than zero.

How do you effectively pitch without being annoying? In short: be specific, be brief, and make it easy for them to say yes.