Photo by Hannah Rodrigo

Who has been listening along to my new podcast, We All Have One? Well, I hope you’re nodding your heads because I might be biased, but I really do think the show is awesome and incredibly helpful for anyone out there even thinking about starting a business. BTW, the first round of this show is more about business life, but we’re going to cover SO many taboo and honest topics along the way – so stay tuned, alright? One more thing…please keep the reviews coming (here) if you haven’t left one already because it helps us climb the ranks on the podcast lists and means exciting things for the future of the show!

In Episode 3, I cover a topic I’ve had SO many people ask about over the years: FRIENDS AND FAMILY. More specifically, the combination of friends/family in business. In this show, I’m answering questions like “Should I hire friends and family?” “How do I successfully work with friends and family?” and most commonly “Should I expect my friends/family to be clients?”

 

Not only is this subject sensitive, but it’s rarely thought-out enough. I mean, hiring is a big deal – you want to make sure you’re hiring the right people! – and when it comes to hiring those that you have special relationships with…well, that gets sticky. 

 

 

On the flip side of hiring, I’ve seen so many relationships fail because someone starts a business and expects certain things from their friends or family. They expect them to be a client, to support them daily, and to choose their business over others. Well ya know what? That’s not always the case – nor does it have to be. 

 

When starting your business friends are not your clients.

Photo by James Pond

It’s all about setting expectations on all sides of the equation when it comes to mixing biz and relationships, and don’t worry, I’ll talk about alllll the expectations to consider.

We’re covering a lot in a short amount of time on this episode, but basically, if you’ve ever wondered about starting a business (or you have one, or your friend/family does), you’re about to learn how to go about handling everything appropriately. 

I even break down how to find your target market (because spoiler alert: your friends and family are NOT IT). I’m sharing an awesome and tactical approach to finding your target market through an exercise which I talk more about on the show. But basically, you want to put away a few hours to reallyyyy figure out who that target client is as you’re starting a business. It is beyond crucial! These are things to consider:

  • Age 
  • Location
  • Gender
  • Income level
  • Education level
  • Marital or family status
  • Occupation

One you find that ideal person you’re selling or marketing to, you want to know HOW to sell to them and how to talk to them – whether via a service, physical product, etc. You figure that out by knowing psychographics, which includes:

  • Personality
  • Attitudes
  • Values
  • Interests/hobbies
  • Lifestyles
  • Behavior

Finally, once you know your niche (we talked about this in Episode 1!) and your target client, do yourself a favor and answer these questions, too. It’ll give you SUCH a better idea of whether you’re on the right track with your target client.

  • Are there enough people who fit my criteria?
  • Will my target really benefit from my product/service? Will they see a need for it?
  • Do I understand what drives my target to make decisions?
  • Can they afford the product/service I’m offering?
  • Can I reach them with my message? How Do I reach them?

Alright guys, be sure to give Episode 3 a listen because I’m sharing some personal stories that really support my thoughts. Learn about finding that perfect client, how to keep relationships and your business, and understand how to manage expectations – plus more!

Please be sure to leave a review here after listening to the show and keep showin’ love on our Instagram

Thank you for listening! Talk soon.