Online Business Launch Tech Step 6 - Automation

This is part of the series that is designed to complement the free download

Online Business Launch Strategy (21 step Process, Tech and Launch infographic).

If you don't have that yet, go to the download page to get it now before reading this post.

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Part 2 (Tech), Step 6   - Automation 

Now it's time to start thinking about automating your tech.

If you're like me though, you've probably already been thinking about it.  I have a tendency to want to automate things before they're ready.  But if you've gone through the previous 5 steps of tech and before that the 7 of process, then you should be ready to begin automation.

But, if you haven't done the work on those, then I highly recommend you do so before jumping into this step.

Why Automation

Automation allows you to leverage your previous work to gain bigger results with the same (or less) effort.

When you automate tasks, it's like you free up both memory and CPU space in your brain for other tasks.

In fact, I love the way that Michael Hyatt puts automation in perspective of one of the three ways you reduce overwhelm.  The three are to:

1. Eliminate
2. Delegate, or
3. Automate

If you can eliminate low important tasks - fantastic.  If you can delegate tasks that others can do, freeing up you to do your super-power - amazing! (see the earlier steps about delegation and hiring VAs and OBMs).

And then if you can automate repetitive tasks - THAT tops the cake with the most delicious icing!

Automation - Use Kajabi

The challenge with any system is balancing power to do complex stuff with the simplicity required for the average person to be able to get things done.

One of the reasons I'm an unashamed fan of Kajabi is because they do a great job of this.  It doesn't have the range of features in every area that dedicated systems do (such as for email, CRM, funnels etc) but it does have enough power to automate tasks without making you go crazy trying to understand it.

Perhaps this is best shown by an example.

Example Funnel in Kajabi

Let's look at one of the most important automation features that is used from beginners to pros - subscribing to an email sequence through an opt-in.

But be warned, the most basic funnel can look a little bit complicated when you see it laid out.  Take the example below.  This is a basic Kajabi funnel that accepts an optin from a landing page, subscribes the avatar to two email sequences, delivers the freebie and nurtures the new contact. ... but it sure looks complex.  Really it's not, once you use Kajabi automation.

How To Read This

The BASIC FREEBIE FUNNEL IN KAJABI diagram is divided into three sections.

1. Onstage - what your avatar sees
2. Backstage - what goes on in Kajabi
3. Offstage - what goes on in other systems outside of Kajabi

This is the sequence:

1. The avatar arrives on your landing page, and if they complete the opti-in form they are sent a double-opt-in to confirm their email
2. The avatar also goes to a thankyou page with instructions how to confirm their email (more advanced funnels may also have another offer on the thankyou page)
3. If the double-opt-in-confirmation is completed, the avatar is tagged and subscribed to two email sequences:
   1. The freebie sequence, and
   2. The nurture sequence
4. The freebie email sequence is triggered by the tag added in step 2, and the avatar is removed from this sequence if they click on the link within one of the emails to download the freebie
5. If they click the freebie link in the email, the freebie is provided immediately
6. If they don't immediately download the freebie, they are given 2 more chances before the sequence ends
7. They are also subscribed to the nurture sequence, which provides more value and background and case studies and expert positioning and builds trust etc etc until you make more offers, more funnels
8. You can add additional funnel steps such as webinars, low ticket offers, coaching calls etc for whatever suits your business (this is represented by the cloud).

Why am I showing you this funnel?

I'm showing you this because of all the AUTOMATION that occurs in making this happen.

All the ORANGE shapes are automations that happen within Kajabi.

You do not need to touch them.

Once this is setup, it can run without your intervention.

It can therefore scale and scale and scale ....

That's what automation provides.

Now It is your turn

It's time to get your automation planned out.

This is really two steps

1. What do you WANT to do, and
2. What you CAN you do

To map out what you want, start with a pen and paper.

If you want to use software like I did, I made this diagram in draw.io.  It's free and easy to use for mind-maps and flow diagrams.

Next you have to understand what Kajabi is capable of.  It is great but it can't do everything, and so step three is:

3. Make adjustments to blend what you want with what you can do

Then, step 4 is go back to your tech plans and work out who and how you'll get it done.

As always, if you need help with this beyond what I could discuss here, feel free to get in touch. 

Coming up next

Coming up next, the last step in the tech series before we get into pulling it together into an online product launch.