Selling your expertise: How to choose what services and products to offer

If you are reading this article, then I’m assuming that you are expert in your own right. You have an in-demand expertise. You are able to solve people’s problems.

Maybe you already have a business that you want to develop further or maybe you are thinking of starting a new business.

Either way, I’m going to show you how to choose what services or products to sell in your business.

 

This page includes affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase, I may earn a commission. This commission comes at no additional cost to you.

 

When it comes to running your own business there are a lot of decisions that need to be made.

Most of the people I work with are in the education and expertise industry. Their business is dependent on their knowledge and their ability to use that knowledge to help others. They could call themselves a coach, consultant, trainer, specialist, mentor, advisor etc. T

Now you might think that deciding the focus of your business is the hard part. However, there are so many different ways that you can build a business around your expertise. This can make it overwhelming for a new business owner getting started or a more advanced business owner who wants to grow their business further.

Everywhere you look some business or marketing coach will be telling you to sell a specific type of product or service.

 

There are the people who swear by passive income so will tell you to make digital courses.

Then there are the people who think recurring income is the biggest priority for a business and as a result will emphasis having a membership site.

There are also others that recommend premium branding and focusing on high-ticket 1:1 coaching.

And then others will talk about the people are craving in-person connection and that live events will help boom your business.

 

The fact is as a service provider you can do any of the above.

 I could also give you examples of people who have created successful businesses by selling any of the above.

However, it is your responsibility to work out what is best for you! You need to work out what are the best products or services for you to offer!

 

If you have followed me for a while you’ll know I talk a lot about finding the best thing for you. Whilst most people start money to improve their financial situation, the majority also want to live a better life. However, a better life looks different to everyone and that is why you need to get clear on the life you want and then choose the right products or services to offer that will support you living that life.

 

 

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PRODUCTS AND SERVICES TO OFFER

 

As I already mentioned there are numerous products or services you could offer, so how do you work out what you should offer.

 

1. Consider your dream lifestyle

The first thing you should do is consider your dream lifestyle. In an ideal world, what would your working situation be?

Things to consider:

• Location – Are you someone who wants to the freedom to work from anywhere? Do you want to travel for business? Do you want to work in a specific location?
• Timing – Are you happy to work every day of the year? Do you want months off at a time? Want to only work whilst the children are at school? Are you chasing the Tim Ferris Dream and want to only work 4-hours per week (Check out my review of The 4-Hour Work Week here).
• Relationship with the buyer – Are you happy for customers to just be a name and possibly a number on a spreadsheet or do you want to work closely with people?
• Impact – How many people do you want to impact through your business?

Answering these questions will help you to start to work out how your business and life would work together. Some of the answers will naturally reveal which products or services are viable and which ones don’t make sense at all.

 

2. Consider your personality

The next thing to do is consider your personality. Creating a business that is aligned with your personality will make your life so much easier. I also consider a business owners personality when designing a marketing strategy and you should consider your personality when choosing what product or service to offer.

Below is an example of a product grid. This was created by Ryan Leveque and I first saw it in his book Choose (You can check out my review here). The reason why I’m sharing this product grid is I think it is a great way of quickly being able to think about what products or services you should be offering.

 

Product Grid

In the grid I stands for Introvert and E stands for Extrovert. If you are an introvert you are likely to find more joy and happiness from creating a business in the left-hand column and if you are an extrovert, like me, then you are more likely to enjoy a business that focuses on the right-hand column.

Do you class yourself as an introvert or an extrovert? How do you feel about the services or products that suggested for your personality type?

 

 

MAKING THE FINAL DECISION: CHOOSING WHAT PRODUCTS OR SERVICES TO OFFER

 

Now you have two ways to consider what products or services to offer. Hopefully, there will be a few obvious choices. However, what do you do if there are multiple options or you still aren’t sure?

Just make a choice and get going!

As I explained at the beginning you can build a successful business around most products or services. What you offer in the beginning isn’t what you have to offer forever. Also, just because you offer one thing, in the beginning, doesn’t mean you can’t expand in the future. For example, lots of people will start off with 1:1 work. This is a great way to get moving quickly. From 1:1 work you may realise there are enough similarities in your approach that you could offer a group coaching programme or an online course. You may later decide that you want to impact more people and write a book.

Lots of people change their services or products over time. However, if you don’t offer something your business will never get off the ground.

Go over the two ways of considering how to choose the products or services to offer, make the most informed choice you can and then go for it!

 

WHAT SOME 1:1 SUPPORT TO DECIDE WHAT TO OFFER AND CREATE THE RIGHT PRICING AND MARKETING STRATEGY FOR YOUR OFFERING?

Choosing what to offer is only the beginning. Once you have chosen what you want to sell you need to work out the right price and the marketing strategy to go along with it. I can help you with all of that. Find out how you can work with me here