People LOVE a shortcut. Right!

Shortcuts forus on action

We all want the answers to our problems in a one page list.

Consider planning for every blog, article, workshop, podcast, or product with a one page action tool. Start with the actions you want your client to take. Then build the tools to make that happen.

The steps are the same as usual;

1. Your client
2. That client’s problem/desire/need
3. Their desired future state
4. Solution (activity/actions) – target just one

So let’s look at an example.

1. Your client – a busy mum with a fussy toddler (or two)
2. Her problem/desire/need – Worried her child isn’t getting the right vitamins or a balanced diet
3. Her desired state – her child happily eats nutritious snacks and meals
4. Solution points may include;
   1. knowing when her child has had enough to eat
   2. recipes she can prepare in advance and freeze
   3. shopping list of healthy shop bought snacks
   4. creating an environment that encourages family meals where meals are fun and inclusive
   5. staying positive even when you want to scream

Now I don’t profess to be a toddler feeding expert. My apologies if you are an expert and my list seems naive to you, but I hope you get the gist.

Note;

• The client is one person (when you sell to everyone, you help no one)
  • The “Oh that’s me” factor – call it out specifically
• The problem/desire/need is not usually the point you teach to, but it is the thing your client recognises in themselves.
  • As content experts we can get a bit caught up in what we see as her ‘real issue’ but if your client isn’t there yet. You need to use the language she uses to describe the current pain point.
• The desired state
  • A clear picture of where your client wants to be
• Solutions usually relate to the ‘real issue’ and the shortcut ACTION you can help with.

SO you could create some checklists;

• 10 things to look for in the supermarket to provide nutritious yummy snacks for your toddler
• Create fun family meal times, no more food wars
• How to know when my toddler has had enough to eat

Or a one page PDF you can make pretty and functional;

• 5 recipes that are quick, easy and feezable (OK, I’m not sure that’s a word, but you get the idea)
• Menu watcher – to note what your toddler eats in a week (some days they just aren’t that hungry)
• 5 things you shouldn’t do to get your toddler to eat

Stay really focused.

Write the short cut as though you are talking to one person with this need/problem/desire.

Only include actions (where possible). The tools should sound more like “how to” than “why to”. That can be a hard habit to break.

It’s about moving your client into action, not teaching what you know.

You can see, from this one example, there are tons of one page short cuts you can create for your clients.

Your shortcut

Use the tool supplied here to brainstorm your short cut tools your client could put into practice right now.

Shortcut worksheet

Once you have your list, you have blog content, webinar sessions, and tools to use right now to help your clients and grow your business.

You can use your shortcuts as an opt in at the end of your posts to build your mailing list. (like I just did)

You’ll notice on the worksheet I’ve created here, I have added my logo and copyright. It’s important that your client can print and share the resource and your name and business are obvious. You want your resources to be shared. Word of mouth is the best!!!

Now you have your shortcut tool, the purpose of the blog or the article or the workshop session is to give some examples and some of the ‘why’. This is the content portion of your lesson. The content should only be sufficient to make sense of the action you are suggesting.

Of course not all solutions can be implemented through a one page shortcut. Some solutions require more. But once you get started, I think you’ll be surprised how many actions you can simplify for your clients.

If you created one shortcut for every solution, guess what??? You have the beginning of your course.

Cool heh.

Let me know what you think.