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  • Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes.

  • Yes yes yes.

  • Ok.

  • Hey, it’s Marie Forleo and you are watching MarieTV, the place to be to create a business

  • and life you love.

  • Now, if youve ever felt like youre falling behind and youre afraid that there’s

  • no room left at the top, this episode is for you.

  • Today’s question comes from Britt and she writes:

  • Hi, Marie.

  • Let me first say how much I adore you and your insight.

  • Youre genuine and loving and it translates through everything you do.”

  • Thank you!

  • “I recently started an online interior design business and it’s getting off the ground

  • slower than I hoped.

  • I’m watching friends succeed in similar business models quickly and easily.

  • So here’s my question, how does one not become frustrated and jealous of those who

  • are achieving the things you so desperately want?

  • I want to be happy for them, but part of me feels like there are limited spots on the

  • podium.

  • Thanks so much, love Britt.”

  • Britt, this is a great question.

  • Now, I want you to know something: I have never met one creative entrepreneur, present

  • company included, who hasn’t felt frustrated or upset when they feel like other people

  • are just zooming past them.

  • So you are not alone.

  • But the short answer here is, no, there are not limited spots on the podium.

  • We do not live in a zero sum world and there is more than enough opportunity to go around

  • for everyone.

  • However, the comparison impulse is really what’s crushing you here.

  • It’s addictive and it’s deadly and it will destroy your business and your happiness

  • if you let it.

  • So first and most importantly, my friend, put down the compare-schlager.

  • Britt, you have got to go cold turkey.

  • People say comparison is the thief of joy.

  • I’ve called it the Hamburglar of happiness.

  • But when it comes to your small business, it gets even more dire because comparison

  • really is the robber of results, the pillager of profits, the pickpocket of prosperity,

  • and those are three things that every entrepreneur needs in order to survive.

  • Alright, maam.

  • So when did you notice your prosperity was missing?

  • Did you see the guy who took your prosperity?

  • Weve had a lot of complaints of comparison work in this neighborhood.

  • Yeah, it sounds like comparison again.

  • Well keep an eye out for you though.

  • This is serious, Britt.

  • Because every time you do a shot of compare-schlager you are slowly killing any chance your small

  • business has of succeeding.

  • You know, most people don't realize it but they actually waste hours every single day

  • comparing themselves to others.

  • And the only way to stop is by cutting yourself off.

  • So take a look at your habits.

  • Are you following certain people on social media?

  • Are you constantly checking certain websites and then feeling like crap after?

  • Identify the specific behavior patterns that just trigger you and stop it.

  • Here’s a hint.

  • Don't rely on willpower.

  • Unfollow people you compare yourself to on social media if that’s one of your vices.

  • Even better, take those apps off your damn phone, woman.

  • Do the equivalent on your laptop too.

  • So you can Google free website blocker and youll find loads of options that prevent

  • you from visiting sites that just waste your time.

  • Now, once that’s done, the very best remedy for feeling behind is getting ahead.

  • Now, I went ahead and did a little research on you, Britt, to learn more about you and

  • your business.

  • And it’s clear by your testimonials that you are so good at what you do, and I also

  • love how much you love animals, but there are some changes I suggest you consider that

  • will help just create a better user experience for your customers and ideally get you more

  • clients.

  • So let’s take a look.

  • Alright, first thing, Britt.

  • You need a clear tagline and a headline that really tells us what you do.

  • We don't even know what you offer until we scroll way down.

  • Simple solutions for a home youll love.

  • I mean, that could be stools, it could be countertops, it could be a store that sells

  • finishes, it could be software that helps you plot out a room.

  • So first I’d suggest swapping out this tagline in the upper left corner fromsimple solutions

  • for a home youll lovetoaffordable interior design services.”

  • Next you should have a clear headline on this big hero image, and make sure the headline

  • is above the fold.

  • Why, you may be asking?

  • Well, because you have about 3 seconds or less when someone comes to your website in

  • order for them to decide whether you can help them solve their problem or not.

  • Remember this, if you confuse people you lose people.

  • Now, often the best headlines come directly from the mouths of our customers, and I found

  • this great headline way down at the bottom of your site that explains exactly what you

  • do.

  • Professional design on a DIY budget.

  • Now, down the road you may not want to focus on budget, but for now that seems to be the

  • promise you make and a point of differentiation for your business.

  • It is way more specific than simple solution, so it’s much better.

  • Alright, let’s move on.

  • The next thing I want you to do is simplify.

  • There’s a lot happening on your homepage and as a potential customer, I’m not sure

  • exactly where to look or what to click.

  • One quick fix, eliminate social media from your homepage.

  • Here’s why.

  • If youre lucky enough to get someone to your website, do not send that traffic away

  • to the distraction mecca of social media.

  • Youre doing it three times here on your homepage, so let’s remove those immediately.

  • Also, I think your navigation could be simpler and more customer-focused.

  • So, for example, I’d suggest losing thehow it worksfrom your navigation and

  • simply going withservices,” which is crystal clear to anyone who might want to

  • hire you.

  • You can easily make 3 dropdowns for each of what appear to be your core services: virtual

  • interior design, in person interior design, and home staging for realtors or sellers.

  • I’d also suggest removinghomeandshopfrom your top navigation and recommend

  • changing the copy fromget in touchtocontact.”

  • People know they can always click on your logo to go back home.

  • Ok, next up, testimonials.

  • So, Britt, your success stories are great.

  • However, right now they scroll by way too fast.

  • I can’t even read them before they go on to the next one.

  • And I think theyre way too far down on the page, so I’d love you to move them up,

  • perhaps underneath your hero image and either slow them way down or allow your user to control

  • the scroll so they can take the time and really read what people have to say about your good

  • work.

  • Next, let’s take a look at your portfolio.

  • So this is an area where there’s a lot of opportunity for growth and for you to really

  • showcase your amazing work.

  • So first up, I would not suggest that the first image on your portfolio page be a quote

  • card.

  • It needs to be a really great, high quality photo of an inspiring interior that you helped

  • pull together or your best before and after.

  • Now, another challenge in this section, the copy stays the same as I scroll, which is

  • a missed opportunity to describe each photo and how you helped your client create the

  • results they wanted.

  • And the functionality of scrolling through is a little bit confusing as it is right now.

  • This is an area where I think it would be helpful to look at other design sites and

  • take inspiration from how they lay out really clear before and after photos.

  • Britt, again, it is clear from your testimonials and from your pictures that youre really

  • talented and so good at what you do.

  • And, trust me, I know how much work it takes to get any website up, so congrats on all

  • youve done so far.

  • Hopefully, these suggestions will help you continue to evolve and grow your business.

  • Now, there’s a lot more that you can do, Britt.

  • Especially once you get uber clear on your ideal customers, you create an even stronger

  • web conversion strategy and learn how to really differentiate yourself in your market, all

  • of which, I have to say, we do cover in B-School.

  • Given the fact that youre a new business owner, you’d be perfect for that program

  • if it’s something youre interested in.

  • You can learn more at JoinBSchool.com.

  • Now, let’s wrap up this episode with a tweetable.

  • Comparison isn’t just the thief of joy; it’s the pillager of profits and the pickpocket

  • of prosperity.”

  • That was my very long A to your Q, Britt.

  • I do hope it helps.

  • And now I would love to hear from you.

  • So we talked about the power of going cold turkey on compare-schlager.

  • We also talked about some tactical website changes that can really help any small business

  • be more clear and customer focused.

  • So based on everything that we covered today, what’s the single most important action

  • you can take to support both your happiness and your growth?

  • As always, the very best conversations happen after the episode over at MarieForleo.com,

  • so head on over there and leave a comment now.

  • Once youre there, be sure you subscribe to our email list and become an MF insider.

  • Youre going to get instant access to a powerful audio training I created called How

  • to Get Anything You Want.

  • Youll also get some exclusive content and special giveaways and updates from me that

  • I just don't share anywhere else.

  • Stay on your game and keep going for your dreams, because the world needs that very

  • special gift that only you have.

  • Thank you so much for watching and I’ll catch you next time on MarieTV.

  • B-School is coming up.

  • Want in?

  • For more info and free training, go to JoinBSchool.com.

  • Did you see the guy?

  • Your glasses are foggy though, we can’t see.

  • Oh, were getting whispers.

  • Whispers don't make friends.

  • Youre.

  • Under.

  • Arrest!

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