In the video titled “My Step-By-Step Plan to $83k/mo,” Brian Dean shares the blueprint for achieving that impressive monthly revenue for his startup, Exploding Topics. With exploding topics being a trend-spawning platform used by companies of all sizes, Brian outlines the strategies that have contributed to their success thus far. These include their impactful newsletter, focusing on organic traffic and SEO, lowering churn, and implementing bottom-of-the-funnel content, enterprise sales, expansion revenue, and an affiliate program. Brian’s ultimate goal? To reach $1 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR). With his continuous experimentation and adaptability, he’s determined to accelerate the growth of his startup.
Step 1: Building an Email List
To kickstart your journey to $83k per month, the first step is to build a solid email list. This will be the foundation for your marketing efforts and a valuable asset for your business. Here are some strategies to help you build a high-quality email list:
Creating high-value lead magnets
Offering valuable content in exchange for email addresses is a tried and true method for building an email list. Create lead magnets that are tailored to your target audience’s needs and interests. This could be a free e-book, checklist, template, or any other valuable resource that solves a problem or provides valuable information.
Optimizing opt-in forms
Opt-in forms are the gateway to your email list, so it’s essential to optimize them for maximum conversion rates. Place opt-in forms strategically on your website and landing pages, making them visible and enticing. Experiment with different form designs, copy, and placement to find what works best for your audience.
A/B testing strategies for improving opt-in rates
A/B testing is a powerful tool for optimizing your opt-in rates. Test different variations of your opt-in forms, headlines, call-to-action buttons, and offers to determine what resonates with your audience and drives the highest conversion rates. Continuously monitor and iterate on your tests to improve your email list growth.
Driving traffic to landing pages
To build your email list, you need to drive targeted traffic to your landing pages. Use a combination of tactics such as content marketing, social media promotion, paid advertising, and collaborations with influencers in your industry. Create compelling content and leverage SEO techniques to increase organic traffic to your landing pages. The more targeted traffic you drive, the more opportunities you have to capture email addresses.
By implementing these email list-building strategies, you can start growing a high-quality list of subscribers who are genuinely interested in your product or service.
Step 2: Content Marketing and SEO
Content marketing and SEO are powerful tools for increasing brand visibility, driving organic traffic, and establishing your business as an authority in your industry. Here’s how you can leverage them to accelerate your growth:
Keyword research and competitor analysis
Keyword research is the foundation of successful content marketing and SEO. Identify relevant keywords that have high search volume and low competition. Use keyword research tools to uncover valuable insights and understand what your audience is searching for. Additionally, analyze your competitors’ strategies to identify gaps and opportunities.
Creating high-quality, SEO-optimized content
Produce high-quality content that aligns with your target audience’s interests and provides value. Focus on creating informative blog posts, tutorials, case studies, and videos that address their pain points. Optimize your content for SEO by incorporating your target keywords, using descriptive headings, and optimizing meta tags and alt tags. Remember, quality content drives engagement and attracts backlinks from reputable sources.
Implementing on-page SEO techniques
Optimize your website’s on-page elements to improve search engine visibility. This includes optimizing title tags, meta descriptions, URLs, and header tags with relevant keywords. Ensure your website is user-friendly, loads quickly, and is mobile-responsive. Also, use internal linking to improve navigation and enhance the user experience.
Building high-authority backlinks
Backlinks from high-quality websites are a crucial component of SEO success. Focus on building relationships with influencers, industry experts, and other relevant websites in your niche. Guest blogging, creating shareable content, and participating in industry forums and communities are effective strategies for earning authoritative backlinks.
By implementing a comprehensive content marketing and SEO strategy, you can improve your search engine visibility, attract organic traffic, and establish your brand as a trusted source of information.
Step 3: User Retention and Churn Reduction
Retaining customers and reducing churn is essential for sustainable growth. Here are some strategies to improve user retention and reduce customer turnover:
Improving product usability and features
Continuously seek feedback from your customers and make improvements to enhance your product’s usability and features. Conduct user testing, analyze user behavior data, and implement usability enhancements based on the insights gathered. A user-friendly and feature-rich product will keep customers engaged and satisfied.
Gathering and analyzing user feedback
Regularly collect feedback from your customers to understand their pain points, needs, and suggestions for improvement. Utilize tools like surveys, feedback forms, and customer support interactions to gather valuable insights. Analyze this feedback and prioritize action items to address customer concerns and enhance their overall experience.
Implementing customer onboarding processes
A smooth and personalized onboarding process is crucial for customer success. Create an onboarding program that guides new customers through the setup and usage of your product, demonstrating its value and features. Provide educational resources, tutorials, and proactive support to help customers get the most out of your product from the start.
Providing exceptional customer support
Deliver excellent customer support to build strong relationships and foster customer loyalty. Offer multiple support channels, such as email, live chat, and phone support, to cater to different customer preferences. Respond promptly to inquiries, go above and beyond to solve problems, and proactively engage with customers to ensure their satisfaction.
By prioritizing user retention and implementing strategies to reduce churn, you can maximize the lifetime value of your customers and create a loyal customer base.
Step 4: Bottom-of-the-Funnel Content
To accelerate your growth, it’s crucial to create content that addresses the specific pain points and needs of potential customers who are closer to making a purchase. Here’s how you can create compelling bottom-of-the-funnel content:
Creating content that addresses specific pain points of potential customers
Craft content that directly addresses the pain points, objections, and questions of potential customers who are in the decision-making stage. This content should provide detailed solutions, case studies, and comparisons that showcase the value of your product or service.
Offering exclusive free trials and discounts
Provide exclusive free trials, demos, or limited-time discounts to entice potential customers to try your product or service. This gives them a hands-on experience, builds trust, and increases the chances of conversion. Highlight the unique features and benefits of your offering to differentiate yourself from competitors.
Implementing remarketing strategies
Utilize remarketing techniques to stay top-of-mind with potential customers who have shown interest in your product or service. Display targeted ads across various platforms to remind them of the value you offer. Customize your messaging based on their previous interactions with your website or content.
By creating bottom-of-the-funnel content and utilizing remarketing strategies, you can nurture potential customers and guide them towards conversion.
Step 5: Enterprise Sales
Targeting and acquiring enterprise customers can significantly boost your revenue. Here’s how you can effectively pursue enterprise sales:
Identifying target enterprise customers
Identify potential enterprise customers that align with your product or service offering. Research companies in your target market and industry that have the resources and needs for enterprise solutions. Analyze their pain points and challenges to tailor your approach.
Tailoring sales pitches and proposals to their specific needs
Customize your sales pitches and proposals to address the specific needs, goals, and pain points of each enterprise customer. Highlight the unique value your product or service brings to their organization, emphasizing scalability, security, and ROI.
Building strong relationships with key decision-makers
Develop relationships with key decision-makers within the target enterprise organizations. Nurture these relationships through personalized communication, networking events, and providing value through industry insights or educational content. Building trust and rapport is crucial to secure enterprise deals.
Leveraging case studies and success stories
Use case studies and success stories to showcase how your product or service has delivered positive results for existing enterprise customers. Highlight specific metrics, cost savings, or efficiencies gained. Demonstrating proven success will increase credibility and persuade potential enterprise customers to partner with you.
By focusing on enterprise sales and customizing your approach to target organizations, you can tap into a lucrative market segment and accelerate revenue growth.
Step 6: Expansion Revenue Strategies
Expanding revenue from existing customers is a cost-effective way to increase your overall revenue. Here are some strategies to implement:
Upselling and cross-selling to existing customers
Identify opportunities to upsell or cross-sell additional products or services to your existing customer base. Analyze their usage patterns, needs, and pain points to tailor personalized offers that provide additional value. Clearly communicate the benefits and ROI of upsells or cross-sells to encourage customers to expand their engagement.
Introducing new products or services
Continuously innovate and introduce new products or services that complement your existing offerings. This allows you to tap into new revenue streams and provide additional value to your customers. Leverage your existing customer base as a launchpad for new products, leveraging their loyalty and trust.
Implementing customer loyalty programs
Reward and incentivize customer loyalty by implementing customer loyalty programs. Offer exclusive discounts, early access to new features, or other benefits to encourage customer retention and repeat purchases. Engage with your customers regularly, providing personalized communications and demonstrating that their continued partnership is valued.
By focusing on expansion revenue strategies, you can maximize the lifetime value of each customer and drive sustainable growth.
Step 7: Affiliate Program
An affiliate program can help you leverage the networks and reach of industry partners to drive sales and expand your customer base. Here’s how to establish an effective affiliate program:
Identifying potential affiliate partners
Identify potential partners who align with your target audience and have a strong online presence in your industry. Look for bloggers, influencers, or companies with complementary products or services. Reach out and establish mutually beneficial partnerships.
Creating attractive commission structures
Design commission structures that incentivize affiliates to promote your products or services. Offer competitive commission rates and additional bonuses for achieving specific sales goals. Ensure that your commission structure aligns with your profit margins and business goals.
Providing affiliate marketing resources and support
Equip your affiliates with the necessary marketing resources to effectively promote your offerings. This can include banners, affiliate links, product imagery, and content suggestions. Provide ongoing support and communication to answer questions, address concerns, and foster a strong affiliate relationship.
By implementing an affiliate program, you can tap into the networks and influence of industry partners to drive sales and expand your customer base.
Step 8: Setting and Tracking Revenue Goals
Setting specific revenue goals and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) is essential for measuring your progress and adjusting strategies. Here’s how to set and track revenue goals effectively:
Defining specific monthly revenue targets
Set specific revenue targets for each month to keep yourself motivated and focused. Break down your ultimate goal of $83k per month into achievable milestones. This will help you stay on track and measure your progress effectively.
Monitoring key performance indicators (KPIs)
Identify the key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with your revenue goals. These could include metrics such as monthly recurring revenue (MRR), customer acquisition cost (CAC), conversion rates, and customer lifetime value (LTV). Regularly monitor and analyze these metrics to identify areas for improvement and assess the impact of your strategies.
Adjusting strategies based on data and insights
Use the data and insights from your KPI tracking to inform your decision-making and adjust your strategies accordingly. Identify what’s working well and double down on those efforts. Likewise, identify areas that are underperforming and make necessary improvements or changes. Continuously learn and iterate to accelerate your growth.
By setting and tracking revenue goals, you can maintain focus and have a clear understanding of your business’s progress and performance.
Step 9: Expanding and Scaling Operations
As your business grows, it’s crucial to expand and scale your operations to accommodate increased demand and ensure smooth operations. Here are some strategies for expanding and scaling operations:
Hiring additional team members
Assess your current team’s capacity and identify areas where additional team members are needed. Hire individuals with the specific skills and expertise required to support your growth. Ensure that your team is aligned with your company’s goals and values to maintain a positive work culture.
Automating processes and workflows
Identify repetitive tasks and processes that can be automated to boost efficiency and productivity. Utilize automation tools and software to streamline operations and free up your team’s time for more strategic initiatives. This could include automating email marketing campaigns, customer onboarding, or data analysis.
Exploring new marketing channels and partnerships
Continuously explore new marketing channels and partnerships to expand your reach and tap into untapped markets. Identify potential partners, influencers, or platforms that align with your target audience. Collaborate on co-marketing initiatives or seek out advertising opportunities in new channels to reach a wider audience.
By expanding and scaling your operations, you can accommodate increased demand, streamline processes, and drive further growth.
Conclusion
Brian Dean’s step-by-step plan to reach $83k per month is a comprehensive blueprint for startup success. By following the outlined strategies, including building an email list, content marketing and SEO, user retention, bottom-of-the-funnel content, enterprise sales, expansion revenue, affiliate programs, revenue goal setting, and scaling operations, you can accelerate your growth and work towards reaching your revenue milestones. Remember to continuously learn, adapt, and experiment with your strategies to find what works best for your unique business. With dedication, persistence, and a customer-centric approach, you can realize your goal of $1 million in annual recurring revenue (ARR).