Before diving in, it's crucial to begin with the 5-Step Planning Process so you have a clear picture of the entire Map! Remember! There are just 5 easy steps: Dream it, Map it, Book it, Chunk it & Do it!
Before diving in, it's crucial to begin with the 5-Step Planning Process so you have a clear picture of the entire Map! Remember! There are just 5 easy steps: Dream it, Map it, Book it, Chunk it & Do it!
Dream it. In this first Step, you'll simply identify the number of Founding Members you want to accept into your Beta Program. Keep this number small so you can keep demand high. When I originally launched Business By Design, THIS is the exact process I followed, and I only allowed for 25 spots originally.
Note: I do not recommend this process if you have little to no list. If that is you, start in the Pre-Launch Phase and begin building your list FIRST. How many subscribers? At least 500. But over 1,000 is a much safer bet.
The following is a simple "Map" to show the flow of this strategy. And the steps below will show you EXACTLY what to do.
The Strategy is simple. You are opening up X (10-20) Founding Member Spots for FREE... but it's application-only. Each person must submit a video application, and you will select your "Founding Members" on the chosen date.
Note: Although it is technically "free" as in "they aren't paying MONEY to join," don't mistake this for FREE. There is still SKIN in the game for each applicant. It takes time and work to create the application video and there is still NO GUARANTEE they'll get in.
Above are the important dates to keep in mind when running your Ninja Survey Process!
#1. Announce Application - Email your audience to let them know about your special opportunity to become a Founding Member absolutely free!
#2. Application Deadline - Everyone waits to the last minute. So make sure you close down and stop accepting applications.
#3. Announce Winners - You'll need to notify everyone who got accepted. Let them know when you'll be doing that.
#4. Announce Offer (optional) - You also have an opportunity to make a "downsell" offer to those who did not get accepted.
#5. Offer Deadline (optional) - If you do make a downsell offer, make sure it includes a deadline.
Let's get to work, shall we?! Follow the steps in the following slides!
Email your list an Invitation To Apply.
For this specific process, I chose to ONLY segment my "Past Customers." I didn't need to open this invite to my entire list. Your goal should be to get at LEAST 40 applications, and 20-30 Beta Testers. So, you need to send to considerably more subscribers to hit those numbers.
The following is the EXACT email copy I used.
I've created a simple LeadPage (example shown below) that uses a combination of copy and video.
The invite page should explain:
1. What I am up to (creating a brand new program that will help them)
2. What's in it for them (they can get it for free!)
3. How to get it (apply before the deadline)
4. The application instructions
5. The Call To Action (link to apply)
Note: It's important to find the STORY behind this. WHY are you doing this? What is your thinking? Your logic?
Below is the EXACT "Invitation" Page I created using LeadPages.
As you can tell from the previous step, I invited my subscribers to apply via a video. Why? Because video tells the whole story.
You can also just send your audience to an APPLICATION FORM using SurveyMonkey or Google Forms.
Applicants had to create a video that answered a series of questions, then they had to send me the link to that video before the deadline.
The questions I asked were:
1. Introduce Yourself
2. Introduce Your Business
3. Share Your Business Goals (be specific) and why?
4. What is getting in the way?
5. How can James Wedmore's Training help you?
6. What is one thing you would want to experience by the end of this training?
Creating scarcity and urgency is the "Why Now?" Principle.
There must be a deadline for applying. I gave my audience 7 days. You can do shorter.
I also let everyone know I am only choosing 25 people and why.
Interpret your data from the Survey, as you asked significant questions that will provide you with direction.
In the Video Application, applicants answered several significant questions that provided me with direction for the Coaching Calls and course, serving as a Survey of goals, challenges, and desired outcome. After watching all the videos, we made a list of their responses.
You will now have a very clear direction of WHAT your Ideal Customer wants, their pain points, frustrations, and hopes and desires.
Use this selection process to pick members who align with your Avatar.
As hard as it was to chose just 25 (out of +350 applications), I looked for those who were on the EDGE of massive success. Those who I knew had massive potential.
I also ignored anyone who wasn't a part of my existing avatar. I had service-based and local businesses applying as well, but my program would have been completely irrelevant to them.
Next, I sent a personalized email to EACH winner and put them in a private FB Group. We worked together over the next 8 weeks with 8 LIVE Webinars.
I sent ALL applicants both an email and a video. See below for the content I used.
If you would like to sell your Beta Program, here's how you do it:
Since we had over 350 submissions, I sent an email out to everyone who applied.
I sent them to a video that let them know the following:
a. The "winners" have been chosen and notified.
b. If you would like a spot, you'll have to put some skin in the game, email me to talk more.
I wrote a personal email response with my Offer to interested applicants (example below).
I had over 110 people email me back to let me know they were still interested in being a part of this group.
I was also very VERY clear on what they should expect.
We generated $18,000 in sales in less than 3 days.
Create the BEST BETA GROUP EXPERIENCE EVER!!!
These are your "Founding Members." These are the people who TRUSTED you! They fought like hell to get in. DO WHATEVER IT TAKES to give them the best experience ever!
It all starts here.
