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hi, i'm ash!
Creator of the New Travel & Design Series, 'OTHER PEOPLE'S HOUSES.'
Travel writer & host, cultural explorer, and architecture & interiors freak.
Meet ash >
I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈
I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈ I THINK YOU'RE REALLY GREAT ✈
The Newsletter
Every week, we're exploring global culture through the lens of the home. From floorplans to fixtures, we examine how houses are built, designed, and decorated around the world (with a side of sass, of course!)
The Podcast
The only podcast where we pass on the pyramids and poke around in the plumbing. I’m Ash, and I'm, exploring the strange, smart, and wonderful ways houses are built, designed, and decorated around the world.
The Books
A new series of OTHER PEOPLE'S HOUSES books designed to help you try on a new life in different places around the world—by getting to "go behind closed doors" inside local homes to discover what it's really like to live there.
YESSS I needed this November mojo! Keep it coming, Ash! I’m feeling on fire thanks to you 🔥
Although in the first “I don’t have a digital product yet” category, I immediately came up with an idea for a $95 PDF Kit. Weekend plans unlocked… 😅❤️🔥💪
Mission: try not to get overwhelmed with making a beautiful 95-page PDF like your book writing one LOL
While pro design adds perceived value, the real value is the knowledge. <3 Use Canva! Canva saves liiiiivesssssssssss. (Make a pretty border, then hit "duplicate" and keep duplicating the design for each page. Then just add your content! You got this!)
Alright, I’m committing to BFCM pre-selling a dripped email course on lead generation for creative business owners. Just need to name that bish… (the hard part 🤣).
In my brain popped a bonus on how I tie lead gen to sales to make it feel easier for creatives to manage the flow of leads to sales.
YES! The “non-awkward transition from chatting to sales pitch” is a biggie I get asked about a lot – take it and runnnnn with it, baby!!!!!!
This is brilliant! You’ve got my wheels spinning and creative juices flowing. Can’t wait for next weeks edition. xoxoxo
DO ITTTTTTT! Whatcha thinkin about?
I just picked up 3 new clients that are all beginners with email marketing. They have an established business but haven’t added email into their marketing mix. So the step by step process in a DIY kit or maybe a workshop or maybe both?
They have FOMO by not having email marketing. They are not looking for help writing at this point because they don’t know what they don’t know. It’s more getting started: Picking an ESP, creating a lead magnet, setting up and creating a welcome sequence. Owning their list instead of relying on Social Media.
A couple title ideas:
Email Marketing Mastery (Even if you’re a beginner): A Comprehensive Plan To Go From Zero to Success in 7 Days.
This Kit Will Help You Get Started with Email Marketing in 7 Days (Even if you’re a beginner).
Own Your Success: Email Marketing Mastery for Beginners.
What do you think?
I think this! “Get Started with Email Marketing in 7 Days.” Boom.
Also, on the client side, it would probably be more work than it’s worth to put together a whole workshop for 3 attendees—BUT, what could be a fun thing in this case might be, you could offer each one a VIP day where you dig in and teach them everything they need to know. A lot of times, clients love this because it’s fast and efficient and goes deep. However, if the VIP days are out of reach, then perhaps you could invite them to a small, intimate workshop where just 3 or 4 clients will be, where you’ll explain it in a group setting. That way, they have to commit, they know it’s being produced for them, you can charge more because it’s not a workshop for 100 people and there would be extreme high-touch interaction and feedback. This is essentially doing a workshop, but I would get the commitment before I started producing the materials, and make it feel special and custom for them. YAY
I like the VIP day suggestion. Any thought on pricing?
Update on my Black Friday Promotion. I went with your suggestions “Get Started with Email Marketing in 7 Days” It’s 7 lesson delivered via email over 7 days and I made it free. I’ll up sell consultations. I have 20 pp signed up which is mind blowing. I’ve been too chicken to do this and there is no product yet…LOL It’s all in my head. But this is how we get things done. Can I get an Amen!
Outline Draft:
Day 1 – Mindset and goals
Day 2 – ESP – which one is right for your business
Day 3 – List building strategy
Day 4 – Lead Magnet creation
Day 5 – Thank you page and CTA’s
Day 6 – Welcome sequence
Day 7 – Automation
I made it clear that this is not a writing course. Could be an opportunity for an upsell.
I’m extending the sign up until Monday and the emails will start on Wednesday.
Thanks Ash for the push and now time to write 7 killer emails.
Any feedback is welcome as always <3
Omg, I am THRILLED that you shared this update, B!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU GO, BARB!!!!!!!!!!!! This just made my day. Twenty people is a ton – and especially because it’s so targeted, meaning you *know* they all need help getting started with email marketing. There’s no ambiguity if there’s a good product fit. Which means that any offers you make should land, hooray!
I think the #1 thing I’d think through here is that most people will not be able to follow along and “do this” in real-time, because they won’t be able to actually make their lead magnet and thank you pages and welcome sequences, etc. before the 7 days are over. So a solid next logical offer is: “I know that’s a lot! Let’s do all of this together.” And then you can do it as a workshop where it’s a few weeks, or private 1:1 clients. Or offer both, at different price points. Very proud of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
I’m kinda scared and excited at the same time. I feel the majority of the people who signed up want to become email marketers more than want to learn for their own biz…just a hunch.
I agree. It’s a lot to take in and do in 7 days. Would it be better to change the outline or content? And get them some quick wins. Or just do what you suggested and offer a workshop/ 1:1?
I’m thinking of selling my Better Boundaries course for the holidays! The time of year when we have to tell our aunt that we actually can’t make it to her house on Thanksgiving. When we need to tell our mom that, if she comments on our weight, we’re leaving. And when we tell ourselves that, if we eat another slice of pie, we will vomit on our shoes.
I used to sell all 5 sessions and the resource doc for $35. I’m thinking of upping the price to $70 for the boatload, maybe with a $150 add-on for a coaching session.
What do y’all think?
https://joylist.nyc/better-boundaries
Another idea is a PDF with 50 prompts for creating LinkedIn content, tools for turning any piece of content into a LinkedIn post, and a sample content calendar!
Hey Jillian, I like the new price point! You know what would else be cool? A special holiday boundaries live workshop, and then you can make the offer to sell your signature kit on the back end of it, thereby doubling your profits and bringing more folks into your world.
Brainstorming my workshop title and I’ve landed on Have Fun Dating (Even if you hate it). But I’m not sure if it’s specific enough? Would love people‘s thoughts 😊
I love the conceit here! It’s a workshop for people who need to date, but hate dating. Ha—maybe that’s the title! 😂 “A Workshop for People Who Need to Date, But Hate Dating.” Am I weird for digging that?!
Thanks Ash, I love it too! Straight to the point 🎯
🙋🏾♀️ I’m in the do not have a digital product and terrified of video camp!! Lol. I always feel like I don’t have enough to talk about to keep people interested that can’t already be found all over Pinterest.
I keep thinking maybe a course on Designer secrets to finally get your room pulled together. But I feel like it needs to be in video (that I don’t want to do) vs. a written format. Thoughts???
Also thinking of niching into STR or short-term-rental design. 🤷🏾♀️
Elle we are gonna sucka punch that fear right out of your brain, this idea that your knowledge isn’t valuable because it can be found elsewhere. That’s not why people will buy from you: they will buy from you because they want YOUR perspective. Do not discount the value of your own way of doing things, baby! Truly. This is not hype. This is the reality: people buy from people because they like the people and their personal brand. Your personal brand = the thing you need to keep developing. Then, it will be a joy to buy from you, whatever piece of knowledge you are selling!
As for the format—glossy, professional photos go A LONG WAY. I sometimes prefer that because I can study the photo and the way things hang together, rather than trying to stop a video over and over again. Could you make a killer class if you did it Masterclass style, with talking heads and professionally produced video? You know it! But, are you there yet? Probably not! Let’s just start where you are. I could see a series of kits that would help a person achieve a certain style, e.g. “The Cottagecore Kit,” “The City Apartment Kit,” “The London Terrace House Kit,” “The Countryside Retreat Kit,” etc. This would help non-designer customers quickly discern what would be awesome for them, rather than asking them to consider whether or not a kit about “how to pair patterns” is something they need. Does that make sense? Bottom line—you could soooo make something beautiful with gorgeous photography and fun writing. Have you seen An American in Provence? That book is what I am picturing! https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/An-American-in-Provence/Jamie-Beck/9781982186951
Thanks for the confidence boost Ash! I can see how being style-specific would be more of interest vs trying to figure out what detail in the decorating process people are stuck on. I had not heard of the American in Provence book, but it looks divine!! I could see creating images with computer renderings and hand-drawn sketches ( I’ve been practicing my hand sketching again, lately). Going to order Jamie’s book. 🙂 🏃🏾♀️
oooh… teasing out one little module of one of my big courses and selling it as a limited time stand-alone Thanksgiving offer is a brilliant idea.
Which one, which one?! You have so many good ones!
I have actually changed my mind. Not about the idea, the idea is great, and I’ll probably do it closer to Christmas, but the timing. My heart aches for the children of Palestine and Israel and I’m going to do a charity drive and I will give 50% of my sales from that to the Norwegian Save The Children foundation in the week leading up to Thanksgiving, and make that my Thanksgiving campaign. I will do the mini-course idea for a Christmas special. But which one? I’ve started working on a mini-course with just the Scandinavian Wardrobe Formula, for people who don’t want the whole Academy experience but want to cut straight to the chase and get the wardrobe building formula and how to use it. And run that that as a Christmas Special Offer.
Hey ash, just tried to login to 48… on circle, got a does not exist message 🤷♀️.thanks, neva
Hello love! Can you send a quickie email to ash@themiddlefingerproject.org? You’ll get Elizabeth, she’ll help you get access! (I don’t want to share private info here.) THANK YOU.
I’m going to give this a try. Fuck it. I’m interested in the challenge. I’ll let you know how it went.
I love this series, …thanks so much for putting this out. Perfect timing.
I’m going to launch a new kit and I’d love some feedback on the description of it. The kit is for strategic planning. Here’s what I have… Here’s a kit that’ll help you strategically map out 2024 like a Fortune 100 CEO
I am also kicking around a kit on sales via social media, so how to prime, how to reduce friction, how to use both indirect and direct selling. “here’s a kit that’ll help you sell without ever feeling sleazy”… but I don’t really love that. Or do I?
Help…
Hey Julie!!! As soon as I read “strategic planning,” a part of shut off and slinked away to go have a beer. Those words together feel (a) Hard, and (b) Unclear on what the hell it get me, in the end. Why will I want to strategically map out my 2024 like a Fortune 100 CEO? It’s a rhetorical question, but I’d focus there. Will it help me earn more? Sleep more? Play more? See if you can make your big promise, and then the strategic plan is how. Going back to the age-old idea of “sell ’em what they want, give ’em what they need.”
oh that’s so good…. and so smack you in the face smart. I really need to become the master of hyping the unsexy, because everything I help with is unsexy AF…. thank you so much!
GO GET ‘EM, BABE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You and your hilarious and WONDERFUL biz tips have definitely come back into my life exactly when I needed you the most!
I have officially binged on your posts for five hours today (I’m turning into a level 10 clinger!) because you give such simple, straightforward advice that I can implement immediately. My clients named me the TechWitch because of my uncanny ability to get technology to do whatever I want. And after 12 years in the design industry, I can do a LOOOOOOOT of shit. And I have NEVER had a digital product because I couldn’t find square one. Too much info, too big ideas, too many pieces.
And this post series, though being read after the New Year, gave me the first puzzle piece! I may have missed Black Friday for 2023… But now I actually have a plan and ideas to implement for 2024 without panic! Thank you!! 🥰 *ugly cries while running to the computer I’ve been avoiding*
Oh! And OHMYGODDESS PLEASE BRING BACK THE SCRIPTS!!! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Ahhhhhh!!! This comment just made my entire morning!!!! HIIIIIIIIIII!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t believe you made it for 5 hours without getting sick of me. 😂
We can blame it on my ADHD hyperfocus super power when I’m really interested in something if it’s weird. 😂
But honestly I took lots of notes and already got started. 🥰