Every week as SmallBizLady, I conduct interviews with experts on my Twitter talk show #SmallBizChat. The show takes place every Wednesday on Twitter from 8-9 pm ET.  This is excerpted from my recent interview with Joan Wilson.  She is known as the Online Content Champion.  She helps small business owners and entrepreneurs to creatively sort out their branding ideas and uniquely package their content into profitable products.  She is best known for her 6-figure content launch services. For more info: www.OnlineContentChampions.com.

SmallBizLady: WHAT IS BUSINESS BURNOUT?

Joan Wilson: It’s not uncommon for small business owners and entrepreneurs.  Normally, if you’re a startup or working from home, you’re putting in extra hours.  Without the right structure, resources and team, some have found themselves 3-5 years later still doing the same thing.  All of this leads to business burnout.

SmallBizLady: WHAT ARE SOME OF THE SIGNS OF BUSINESS BURNOUT?

Joan Wilson: Here are a few signs:

1. Becoming frustrated, unable to focus and complete tasks
2. Doubting your self-worth and procrastinating on making decisions
3. The overwhelm becomes insurmountable and can lead to self-worth issues
4. Unfortunately, but true, it can impact your family and social relationships

SmallBizLady: YOU MENTIONED STRESS, CAN AND HOW DOES THAT SHOW UP IN YOUR BUSINESS AND LIFE?

Joan Wilson: Sometimes, business owners can become frustrated, unable to focus and/or complete tasks.  Others may be doubting their self-worth and procrastinating on making decisions.  This level of stress is overwhelming, becomes insurmountable and can lead to self-worth issues.  Unfortunately, but true, it can also impact their family and social relationships.

SmallBizLady: WHAT CAN A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER DO IF THEY ARE FEELING A SENSE OF BUSINESS BURNOUT?

Joan Wilson: One of the first thing is schedule time for yourself to take a break, relax and turn your business thoughts and brain off.  Keep in mind that self-care is essential in addressing and eliminating business burnout.  Also, create a routine of self-care and stick to it by making it non-negotiable.

SmallBizLady: DO YOU HAVE FURTHER ADVICE FOR ELIMINATING BUSINESS BURNOUT?

Joan Wilson: Yes – Get help!  Start looking for ways to automate, create passive income streams or outsource manual tasks in your business.  Determine what you can delegate to another member of your staff.  For example, if social media and marketing is a challenge and not your forté, outsource it.  Consider using shopping carts to automate product, program and service purchasing.

SmallBizLady: YOU MENTIONED OUTSOURCING YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA, WHAT ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS?

Joan Wilson: There are three things you can do:

1. Hire an expert. Don’t trying to save a few dollars and accept mediocre service that will impact your brand
2. Find a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform that fits your budget and needs.
3. When looking at CRMs, ensure integration features that will allow you to track customers and has auto-responder capability.

SmallBizLady: WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHEN YOU SAID CREATE PASSIVE INCOME STREAMS?

Joan Wilson: Good questions.  Let’s first talk about the benefits, then I will get into the how.  Passive income allows your business to create extra income with minimal effort.  We just talked about and possibly some of you agree that eliminating burnout is huge, right? Well, passive income allows you more flexibility in your life and work schedules and provides stability to small biz owners. As it relates to passive income streams, you want to set it up and have it run without your involvement.  Finally, passive income streams and strategies allow you to reach wider and specific audiences by providing consistent value

SmallBizLady:  HOW CAN A SMALL BUSINESS THAT IS ALREADY STRUGGLING START TO CREATE PASSIVE INCOME STREAMS AND ELIMINATE BUSINESS BURNOUT

Joan Wilson:  There are five (5) steps to create one (1) passive income stream and/or strategy:

1 – You need a lead magnet, which is referred to as an irresistible offer, oftentimes it’s a freebie

2 – We talked earlier about a CRM.  Make sure you have an auto-responder set up, which is an email series

2a – Give them a couple of value emails before going to step three and offering them a product to purchase.

3 – Create a sales page that addresses the problem, your advice, how you can help them, and how they can get started

4 – A thank you page.  It’s just customary to say please and thank you, so don’t miss this important step.

5 – Give people what they paid for – immediately.  Have a confirmation page where they can download the purchased product.

SmallBizLady:  CAN THIS TYPE OF PROCESS BE ADDED TO A SMALL BUSINESS OR ENTREPRENEUR’S WEBSITE OR BLOG?

Joan Wilson:  Absolutely! You may also want to consider eliminating business burnout by adding affiliate links to your site and blog.  In addition to your products, you can earn affiliate commission by recommending, making mention & selling other’s products.  Consider adding a redirection link to an image on your site or blog that when clicked, it leads to a purchase – and, you get paid.  My favorite affiliate program is Amazon Affiliate! This allows you to get paid by the world’s largest retailer by recommending and sharing a link, they purchase – you get paid.

SmallBizLady:  LET’S SAY THAT A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER OR ENTREPRENEUR IS FEELING BURNOUT FROM COACHING, WHAT CAN THEY DO?

Joan Wilson:  I would suggest the following:

1. Create a continuity program, also referred to as a membership site for passive/recurring income
2. Create a solve-one-problem program, so that people understand that what, how long (fixed-term) they will receive content.
3. And, when your buyer gets close to the end, provide incentives for them to gain commission for referrals or a discount to new program.

SmallBizLady:  WHAT TYPE OF CONTENT SHOULD THEY HAVE IN THE MEMBERSHIP SITE?

Joan Wilson:  Before creating the content, make sure that you keep in mind that it should be evergreen. Meaning that there’s no mention of time, places or current events to avoid the burnout of repeatedly having to recreate. Make sure you create an auto-pilot program plan that outlines the modules, lessons and worksheets.  Determining the installment price and how frequently it will be released to them is equally, if not the most important step.

To really easy and eliminate business burnout, digitize the products, such as ebooks, PDF guides and videos.  Also, have worksheets, checklists and templates are always a bonus.

If you found this interview helpful, join us on Wednesdays 8-9 pm ET; follow @SmallBizChat on Twitter.

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