What is a Signature System and Does Your Business Need One

What is a Signature System?

What is a Signature System?

WHAT IS A SIGNATURE SYSTEM AND DOES YOUR BUSINESS NEED ONE

Article: Angel Quintana
Photo: Dasha & Mari

If you've never heard the term signature system before then listen up because it's the secret sauce to creating a niche in your holistic business. Most new business owners start out with an idea and immediately jump to creating a website where their business will hopefully generate traffic, and alas... income.

However, skipping steps when creating a business is a sure strategy to sending you back to the drawing board once the business doesn't take off as you hoped. A signature system can set your business up for success in many ways:

A Signature System Knows How to Solve an Urgent Problem

It isn't enough to have a product or service that simply solves a problem-- with all industries becoming more and more saturated, you must stand out, and not only that you not only need to solve a problem, it needs to be urgent.

Most people when spending time Googling their problem are trying to find solutions they can implement immediately. They have a burning desire to find the answer, which is why they went to Google in the first place. Even if they aren't necessarily looking to purchase something at that very instant, you'd be shocked to learn how many browsers accidentally found more than they hoped to find and became instant customers. That's because they got sucked into a "system" that solved their problem.

A Signature System Helps You Create Niche

Most entrepreneurs are out there like Dorothy with her little ruby slippers looking to find their way back home. Turns out it's all in the perception. If you stopped looking for a niche and instead, decided to create one out of the sky, you're that much more ahead of the rest. 

For instance, a fitness instructor decides wrap up her expertise in an ebook to share with her customers she's discovered a system that slims down thighs in 30 days. She then goes to create the ebook and throw up a sales page to begin marketing her holistic business. But, what she didn't realize was she was one in a zillion other fitness instructors who wrote an ebook on slimming down thighs. Guess what? Back to the drawing board.

You see creating a niche can be extremely difficult until you understand what differentiates you from all the other businesses that sell something similar. When you know exactly what makes you different, creating a niche to serve your market is easy breezy.

A Signature System is Measurable

If you had an urgent problem, wouldn't you like to know how long it would take to fix the problem? With a signature system, you have figured out just how long that will take. It's part of the system.

If you knew that your product was a 6-week course that got you beautifully glowing skin, your ideal customer is going to be a lot less likely to ask for their money back after 2 weeks when her skin doesn't glow like the sun. Being measurable not only rests your customers mind, it also requires them to invest the time and dedication to solving the problem.

When it's measurable, it also makes writing copy for your website, landing or sales pages a lot easier. Imagine breaking down your system day by day, week by week, or even year by year to show your ideal customer exactly how it's done.

If you've been thinking about rebranding or starting a holistic business, starting with a signature system is going to take a lot of the heavy lifting and head scratching questions out of the scenario. This way you can better focus your time and energy on tackling each of the items on your to-do list in an efficient and effective manner.

If you think you have a signature system, but are not quite sure,  you merely need to ask yourself these questions:

  • Do you know your niche?
  • Do you know how to solve an urgent problem?
  • Do you know how to create a product or service to solve the urgent problem?
  • Do you know how to market your product or service?
  • Are you generating income on a regular basis?

If you have answered I don't no or a plain NO to any of these questions, it's a good chance your signature system has not been established. The success of your holistic business is dependent on your signature system and if you're not attracting new customers on a daily basis, it might be time to hit the pause button and find someone to help you discover your signature system.

ABOUT ANGEL

Angel Quintana

Angel Quintana is the founder of Holistic Fashionista, an alchemical herbalist and mystery school teacher based in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She's incredibly passionate about the alchemical process known as The Great Work and helping others evolve "the archetypes" found in their inner world, so they can confidently answer the questions: WHO AM I and WHY AM I HERE. Learn more about Angel's work at www.theoccultchateau.com


DISCLAIMER

The information on this website is presented for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation.

Why a Luxury Business Model will Set Your Business Up for Success

Luxury Business Model

Luxury Business Model

WHY A LUXURY BUSINESS MODEL WILL SET YOUR BUSINESS UP FOR SUCCESS

Article: Angel Quintana
Photo: Dasha & Mari

As the holistic industry grows, the more the market becomes saturated with fitness coaches, nutritional consultants, holistic health practitioners, sound healers, and yes, even holistic business coaches. To standout in a saturated market can appear to be difficult, but I assure you, it's easier than you think.

You and I both know, "The Universe delivers, every time no exceptions" but when it comes to marketing a holistic business, you need not pray or meditate to  have a profitable business. Instead, you must merely look at your business through a luxury business model. Let me show you how.

Step#1
Create a Signature System

Discovering your signature system is the most sacred piece of marketing you'll ever encounter in your business. So what is a Signature System anyway? Firstly, a signature system goes way beyond just how you will solve the problem. In fact, that is just the beginning. If you sell a skincare system to solve acne, your signature system might include all the steps to achieving beautiful skin, which might even include yoga, diet, and of courses, your products.

However, your signature system also has to do with your marketing system or action plan. It could be that your system requires blogging, advertising, sharing a weekly webisode, or hosting monthly tele-classes. The bottom line is you must have a signature system if you want to set you holistic business up for success from the get-go.

Step #2
Create a Stylish Brand

Sure, there is tons inexpensive platforms (or even free ones) to build out your website, you can even purchase a cheesy logo for $5 if you want on Fiverr.com. But that won't make your business stand out and it most definitely won't help you find higher quality customers. When you think of your business like a luxury business, you start expecting more from yourself and your ideal customers. This is when you business starts to change... for the better.

You see, the internet is saturated with TONS of information, products, and yes, even inexpensive products that claim to get the job done. Well, you didn't acquire all those certifications, classes, and years of experience overnight, and you probably invested a pretty penny to be the BEST at what you do. So why would you go chinzy on the branding?

Branding is the way to set your holistic business apart from the other kinds of businesses out there. Treat your business like a luxury business by investing in a good website designer, designer packaging, a beautiful logo, business card, and more. 

Step#3
Find the Right Publicity

This is where I see a lot of entrepreneur go wrong. They think by gracing the pages (or cover) of any so-called-magazine that this gives them press. It might give you an ounce of publicity, but it doesn't mean it's good press. When someone asks you to guest blog on their site or co-host a webinar or even participate in a tele-summit, saying "yes" to these opportunities comes with a price-- and it's not a cheap price tag.

What I mean is while you can get FREE publicity by saying Yes to nearly every opportunities handed to you with the hopes of increasing your visibility and brand awareness, what you're really doing is compromising your brand by showing up on less-than-fab media platforms. 

Even if a PR person contacts you to compliment you and butter you up by saying you're the next IT girl in your niche, don't let your head get in the clouds. Stay grounded. Remember, media people are great salesman, and unless it's a credible source (just take a look at their website), saying no to that opportunity will save you in the long wrong.

Finding the right publicity to promote your holistic business is essential to your success. Saying "yes" to everything and everyone shows a lack of brand integrity. Know what you stand for, develop your brand with a branding expert, and never forget that you got into business to make money-- when you are a luxury holistic business, you just wiped out your competition. It is then you become known in your niche and the right publicity shows up at your doorstep-- without the hefty price tag and without a cheesy website. To learn more about increasing sales online, join The Club.

ABOUT ANGEL

Angel Quintana

Angel Quintana is the founder of Holistic Fashionista, an alchemical herbalist and mystery school teacher based in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She's incredibly passionate about the alchemical process known as The Great Work and helping others evolve "the archetypes" found in their inner world, so they can confidently answer the questions: WHO AM I and WHY AM I HERE. Learn more about Angel's work at www.theoccultchateau.com


DISCLAIMER

The information on this website is presented for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation.

Luxury Brand Building: Altering the Myths & Meaning

LUXURY BRAND BUILDING: ALTERING THE MYTHS & MEANING

Luxury Brand Building

Luxury Brand Building

Article by Tamisha Ford
Photo Credit: Dasha & Mari
Magazine: Issue #22

Recently, when browsing Pinterest (one of my favorite things to do), I saw a pin that said something to the tune of "I'd rather have simplicity than luxury." 

To be honest, it bothered me. Why can't we have both?  I'm a paradox girl, so saying "either/or" to me is dangerous. I'll figure out a way to have both. 

Ever since I saw that pin, I've wanted to put my two cents out there about the statement, because I do think it's a misconception that luxury and simplicity are mutually exclusive. 

So what is the myth? The myth is that luxury = complicated. That luxury is somehow bad or that only difficult, high-maintenance people like luxury – that it’s only effective or influential if it’s overly diverse.

All myths.

To me, luxury is simplicity, so I don't understand the connotation. If we look at luxury brands, what do they and every one of their websites do best? They're clean, usually black and white, and have an extremely simple menu of options to navigate. What is more simple than two colors, 5-8 parent categories to navigate, and the most recent lookbooks or collections they have to offer?

Nada in my books. Luxurious branding is simple branding. Chandeliers are exquisite and intricate, yet hover gracefully in one spot.

So what does this myth mean for our businesses now that we know this? I put together a couple of things I've learned:

1 :: You can be extremely influential with a simple business model.

Anyone who knows Angel Quintana knows that she does things just a cut outside the mainstream. Signature System™ anyone? This was an attractive concept to me, because I had always been one of those entrepreneurs who bought into the 25-different-coaching-packages-and-services-model.  Maybe you can relate. It's utterly overwhelming when you're starting out to try to follow that business model. It's like we set ourselves up to fail before we even start! 

“The

I'm not saying this method doesn't still work for a whole lot of people - I believe it does. I'm just saying that, if we believe luxury doesn't equal complication, then we can be okay with being unconventional and not having to do 25 coaching packages and maybe even enjoy our work that much more. 

2 :: You can intensely influence the niche you’re creating by embracing the "both and" of paradox instead of the tyranny of "either/or". 

To clarify, I'm merely suggesting that I believe entrepreneurs should start honoring themselves and the way they work as much as their clients - to start asking "how do I want to work with my clients and this business" instead of leaving yourself out of the equation. What's more luxurious and simple than building sustainably

ABOUT ANGEL

Angel Quintana

Angel Quintana is the founder of Holistic Fashionista, an alchemical herbalist and mystery school teacher based in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She's incredibly passionate about the alchemical process known as The Great Work and helping others evolve "the archetypes" found in their inner world, so they can confidently answer the questions: WHO AM I and WHY AM I HERE. Learn more about Angel's work at www.theoccultchateau.com


DISCLAIMER

The information on this website is presented for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation.

What are You Known For? Everybody's Got Their Something

WHAT ARE YOU KNOWN FOR?
EVERYBODY'S GOT THEIR SOMETHING

Article by Cinthia Singleton
Photo Credit: Rose Jane
Magazine: Issue #19

Everybody's Got Their Something

Everybody's Got Their Something

We spend an awful lot of time and energy trying to find our own brilliance and the hidden talents that make us special and give us value.  As Nikka Costa sings, “Everybody got their something.”

Brilliance

Genius

Talent

Some get to find their ‘something’ early in life and the quest is about perfecting it while others struggle with breaking out of prescribed comfort zones to take steps and make discoveries toward It (the WHAT that we accomplish).  We become known for It and then, if we’re lucky, we receive ribbons, prizes, money and more!  Really, it begins as an essence that radiates outward for which no golden guy is ever given. 

Essence is energy.

Energy is transferrable.

Energy transforms.

We are energetic beings.

Let’s stop letting our linear mind complicate things.  Now. 

What a waste of energy it is to search and search in order to GET something or an outcome when you can take that energy and put it into creating fundamental interactions that bring more of this brilliance TO you and, therefore, the right outcomes for you?

We’re talking about finding our own brilliance by way of “like attracting like.”  Search for it in others, surround yourself in that appreciation of the simplest of somethings, and yours is/are easier to find.  See?  It’s a magnetic field that you create just by being energetically engaged.

Here’s an exercise to include in your day-to-day activities with every person you encounter.  The person you pass on the street.  The clerk at the store.  The mail carrier.  Someone ahead of you in line.

1| Stop all thoughts and judgment.  Take a breath and center in this moment.

2| Just look at the person.  Observe them for a moment, quickly.  What is the ONE unique thing about them that you can say is unique, interesting, special.  Another way to look at this is: what is the thing about them radiates?

Kind eyes

Warm energy

The swift way they relate to a problem

Their thoroughness

Sound of their laugh

Animated hands when they speak

3| Don’t put them into a category or type.  Energetic beings have no title, rank, nationality, color.  When you find yourself doing so, go back to that quality in Step 2.  

4| If they make eye contact with you, smile.  Oh, what the heck… even if they don’t make eye contact, smile; smiles are energetic blessings.

The simplest things will speak to you. 

ABOUT ANGEL

Angel Quintana

Angel Quintana is the founder of Holistic Fashionista, an alchemical herbalist and mystery school teacher based in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She's incredibly passionate about the alchemical process known as The Great Work and helping others evolve "the archetypes" found in their inner world, so they can confidently answer the questions: WHO AM I and WHY AM I HERE. Learn more about Angel's work at www.theoccultchateau.com


DISCLAIMER

The information on this website is presented for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation.

The Dao of You: The Road, The Path and The Essence of Your Authentic Self

THE DAO OF YOU: THE ROAD, THE PATH
AND THE ESSENCE OF YOUR AUTHENTIC SELF

The Dao of You

The Dao of You

Article by Kimberly Manning
Photo Credit: Dasha & Mari
Magazine: Issue #18

In Chinese philosophy, The Dao (Tao) is The Way. Your Dao says everything about who you are, how you live your life and how you do business. 

The Road to Self

In the literal sense, Dao means “road” which is the most physical interpretation of this ancient philosophy. What’s the road you travel daily? Do you have a routine that includes good sleep hygiene, a healthy diet, exercise, meaningful relationships and some kind of spiritual practice? 

Your authentic self needs the structure of a well-built highway to thrive. Are you a Maserati driving on a dirt road, or zooming down the Autobahn? Patch any potholes in your life so you can thrive.

The Path of Transformation

The Dao is also the Path. It’s the journey that leads you from where you begin in this life to your final destination. Has your journey been Easy Street, a little bumpy, or like climbing Everest? 

As pressure turns sand into a diamond, likewise, the journey you travel helps to hone your personal story. There are many ways to tell a story, however, it is when you learn to tell your story from a place of power that you can empower others. 

Do you share your personal story in your business? Your path can be a great gift to your clients. Your ideal client is attracted to you because she sees a version of herself in your journey from a more fractured self to wholeness. 

The Essence of Authenticity

At the deepest level, your Dao is who you are at your center, a combination of your core values and spiritual beliefs. When you live and lead from the place of your highest calling you are able to generate transformation, in your own life and in the lives of those around you. 

This level is energetic and about fully coming into your being.  Knowledge of who you are – your authentic self – is required to live at this level. Do you know your highest values? Are you living and working each day in service to those? If not, hire a coach, get clear and use your precious life force to live from this place. 

The quality of your energy (chi, prana or The Force to Star Wars fans) and how it flows through your life is critical. Do you engage in activities that raise your energy, like time in nature, viewing art or listening to uplifting music? Are your home and office supportive spaces? Are you committed to a spiritual practice? A life of integrity and authenticity is high vibration. Up yours.

Find your way, your Dao. Get yourself on the road, the path and the essence of you. You, and your clients, deserve the most authentic you.

ABOUT ANGEL

Angel Quintana

Angel Quintana is the founder of Holistic Fashionista, an alchemical herbalist and mystery school teacher based in Saint Petersburg, Florida. She's incredibly passionate about the alchemical process known as The Great Work and helping others evolve "the archetypes" found in their inner world, so they can confidently answer the questions: WHO AM I and WHY AM I HERE. Learn more about Angel's work at www.theoccultchateau.com


DISCLAIMER

The information on this website is presented for educational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for the diagnosis, treatment, or advice of a qualified, licensed medical professional. The facts presented are offered as information only, not medical advice, and in no way should anyone infer that we are practicing medicine. Seek the advice of a medical professional for proper application of this material to any specific situation.