Book a callFree plan

Sample plan

Sample plan: an agency that needs its next client.

This business is made up. Its problem is one owners tell us about all the time.

Small marketing firm on a monthly fee

Brightline Creative

Made-up business. Any match to a real business is a coincidence.

The problem

“Every client came from a referral. We don't know how to get the next one.”
  • All your work comes from people who refer you. So new work comes only when one of them thinks of you.
  • There is no list of the kind of business you help best.
  • A short note to a small, well-picked group is a test you can run this week.

Their answers

Here is what this plan asked, and how this business answered.

  1. What would help most right now?More people asking about our work.
  2. How do most customers buy from you?A service that goes on, like a membership.
  3. Have people paid for this service yet?Yes, more than once.
  4. Could you take on more of the right work next month?Yes.
  5. Do enough of the right people ask about your work?No, we need more people to ask.
  6. What has gone on lately?None of these.
  7. Start here?Get more people to ask.
  8. Where do most new people find you?We reach out to them.
  9. What is this based on?I can name a recent case.
  10. Is there one clear next step for someone who wants help?Yes.

Their plan

This is a sample plan. The answers are made up.

Do this first

Write to one small group of good-fit buyers.

Why

  • Most new people come when you reach out to them. (your guess)
  • Your answers don’t show a step where leads get lost. So this plan looks at how people find you. (your guess)
  • There is one clear next step for people who want help. (your guess)

One small group, one message, one reply log. Then decide.

Who does it
You.
Done means
You wrote to a small group, and kept a note of each reply.

Where you stand

3 working.

  • You know where new people find youWorking (your guess)
  • There is one clear next step for themWorking (your guess)
  • You have room for more workWorking (your guess)

Do this today

  1. Pick one small group of buyers who fit your work.
  2. Fill in the buyer sheet and the message below.
  3. Send each message yourself. Only send it to people you are allowed to contact.

Start the test, and keep a record from day one.

Use what you find

What you findYour next step
What you find: Good-fit people reply.Your next step: If no one replies, change the group or the message. Do it before you send more.
What you find: No one in the group replies.Your next step: If good-fit people reply, write to the next small group.
What you find: If you can’t tellYour next step: Write to a few more people in the same group.

Your list

Sheet: Buyer sheet

This list is made up. It is for Brightline Creative.

Who they areThe problem you solve for themWhy nowReply
Who they are: A shop owner nearbyThe problem you solve for them: Website project neededWhy now: Busy season soonReply: Wants a short talk
Who they are: A new business in townThe problem you solve for them: Brand refresh next springWhy now: Planning a refreshReply: No reply yet

Your blank copy, 5 rows

A note you can use

Send it yourself, one at a time. Never buy or scrape contact lists.

Fill in the parts in [brackets] before you send it.

Check again

When: In two weeks.

Count these real cases:

  • Messages sent: one at a time, to good-fit buyers.
  • Good-fit replies: replies from people who fit your work.
  • Bookings and sales, counted on their own.
Cases still open:
Keep cases with no outcome yet in their own group. They aren’t lost.
Later:
A reply is not a sale. Count talks, bookings and sales on their own.

Count each new lead on its own. A few weeks of counts is a start, not a rate.

Change the plan if

If the check finds a gap:
If no one replies, change the group or the message. Do it before you send more.
If it finds no gap:
If good-fit people reply, write to the next small group.
If you can’t tell:
Write to a few more people in the same group.

The whole fix

  1. Write to one small group of good-fit buyers.Done when: You wrote to a small group, and kept a note of each reply.
  2. Write to one small group this week, and log each reply.Done when: you have checked again on your review day.
  3. Make it how you work: write to a small group you have a fair reason to contact. Send one message at a time.Done when: two weeks pass and no case is missed.

How we can help

Use this plan

You can do this yourself.

The steps above are all you need to start. If you want a second look, bring your buyer sheet to the free review.

Valspire doesn’t run marketing or write offers. This part is yours.

You can also use this plan on your own.

Why this plan

Your first answers picked one area to start with. Then a set of written rules used your later answers to pick the first step. People wrote and checked every rule and every sentence. Your answers stayed in this tab until the plan was shown.

The answers this plan used

What would help most right now?
More people asking about our work.
How do most customers buy from you?
A service that goes on, like a membership.
Have people paid for this service yet?
Yes, more than once.
Could you take on more of the right work next month?
Yes.
Do enough of the right people ask about your work?
No, we need more people to ask.
What has gone on lately?
None of these.
Start here?
Get more people to ask.
Where do most new people find you?
We reach out to them.
What is this based on?
I can name a recent case.
Is there one clear next step for someone who wants help?
Yes.