True, it was only a soft launch to a small list, but for me, it was a big deal.

And yes, I’m proud of the results.

In the spirit of transparency, I want to admit something right here, right now: I didn’t really know what I was doing.

To prepare, I read a few blog posts, asked my trusted mentors for their 2 cents, and sketched out a loose plan.

But in the end, it boiled down to me laying the pathway as I walked it.  (This can be said for so many things in my life. C’est la vie!)

Hindsight is 20/20, as they say.  In retrospect, I can see where I stumbled and how I can be better prepared for success next time.

So, without further adieu, I’ll share the top 7 lessons I learned from my first launch:

1. Start early. Give yourself at least a month to plan out your strategy before you put it into play. Everything takes longer than you expect, especially if you must wait on other people to execute their parts.

2. Start with the end and work backward. I moved my workshop’s start date a couple times to accommodate other things that needed to get done (such as videos, writing a sales page, emails, blogs posts, etc.). I now know I should have staked my start date in the ground, instead of working toward a moving target.  Beginner’s mistake. One of many, I’m afraid.

3. Write out each step with details. Seriously, I can’t put too fine a point on this. Grab a calendar and write down a publish date for every deliverable associated with marketing your product. Include what the item is, its topic and how it will be delivered. You cannot be too detailed.

4. Enlist help early. I am a stubborn do-it-yourselfer, but with this project, I finally gave in and hired a couple of people to help me with videos, proofreading, and graphic design. In the end, the product was SO much better because I relinquished control and allowed the pros to do their thing. I said I’m stubborn, not crazy.

5. Prepare for logjams. Give yourself plenty of wiggle room so that you aren’t writing marketing content on the fly, or waiting for a significant element to be sent to minutes before the course starts. No matter how carefully you plan, there will inevitably be details that jam up your timeline. Extra padding is good thing.

6. Boldly share on social media. Then, share again. You absolutely cannot listen to that nagging voice that says, “You are posting too much. Stop it. You are annoying. They hate you.”  The best way I found to alleviate some of that ridiculous anxiety was to schedule my Tweets, posts, and updates at various times – both a.m. and p.m. – with the help of apps such as Buffer and HootSuite; Facebook also allows you to schedule posts. Remember, the world doesn’t adhere to your sleep schedule. The Internet is open 24/7, so you need to spread out the shares.

7. Relying solely on newsletter articles, blog posts and social media shares limits your exposure. Don’t forget about interviews, guest posts, webinars, videos, and ads. This is where I fell short due to lack of experience and poor planning. Another valuable way to get more exposure is to have partners, a.k.a., affiliates. This is an area I’m definitely exploring for my next launch.

In the end, it’s all just research. At least that’s how I see it.

This launch taught me how to pull off a small launch imperfectly, and still find a modicum success.

I can live with that.

Next time, with better planning and tools, who knows what will happen? Now that this launch is is soaring, I’m ready to try again and find out.

If you are one of those wait-until-the-last-minute types, this post is for you.

No worries. No judgement here. I’ve been known to procrastinate, too.

Because, let’s be honest, if you are an entrepreneur, your to-do list seems never ending.

I totally get how busy you are.

That’s why I wanted to help you out by sending you this reminder — just in case your intention to join The B Colony slipped through the cracks this week.

This will be my last reminder because registration for The B Colony closes at midnight tonight.

The B Colony is a 7-week blogging workshop that alleviates some of the rarely talked about loneliness that hovers at the edges blogging. As a member of the Colony, you get instant community, accountability and a chance to build a blogging habit that fits your life.

In The B Colony, you and your work will be seen, appreciated and shared by other members. That means you no longer need to feel you blog from a silo.

The workshop runs from Sunday, April 28 – Saturday June 15. 

I’ve filled it with a lot of great content and videos, but at the core of the course is a focus on building a community.

If you are ready to change the way you blog, or if you are eager to begin blogging for your business, The B Colony is where you need to be. Click here and join me and other bloggers just like you.

But don’t wait. That to-list isn’t getting any shorter.

Today is Arbor Day in the United States. 

I find comfort knowing we hold a special day to honor trees.

As a way to pay homage to the trees around me, I walked in the sun and paused to appreciate their various sizes, shapes, and colors.

In Georgia, we have pine trees that stretch up, tall and straight like rows of pencils.

The wind accompanied me on my walk, moving through the leaves like a song. Branches swayed and birds twittered like gossiping school girls.

I created this workshop for bloggers who are serious about building a following and reaching the people they serve. It’s goes beyond the basics to help you build readership, community, and a doable writing ritual.

The B Colony workshop is set up in the easy-to-use Ruzuku platform, which will help you stay on track with the weekly exercises. Over the 7 weeks of the course, you will get access to modules that include The How-To Beyond Basics Tool Kit, weekly emails, writing tips, lessons, Proofreading Partners, engagement, support, as well as videos to set up Google Analytics, Gravatars, and easy sharing tools and more.

All this goodness so that you can produce a month’s worth of weekly blog posts with ease.

AND (here’s the best part) you instantly become part of a community of people who are there to support you.

Built-in support. What’s not to love about that?

If you want more new readers to find your blog and a built-in community of supporters to cheer you on, simply click here and join The B Colony.

The workshop runs from April 28 – June 15.

Oh, and for the first 11 sign ups, I’m offering a kick-ass bonus. But, to find out more, you have to click.

This offer ends Sunday, April 28. Seriously, you don’t want to wait.

Click here.