6 investments to make once you're done with DIY

When we start out in business it is often all about low budget and fast startups. 

DIY Canva logo, selfies and stock photos, DIY website. You get the picture. This is often because time is a much more expendable resource than money when we start out. 

We need traction, we need audience, we need visibility. And the investment that is a no brainer to make is time.

But you will get to a point when it’s time to shift from that DIY bootstrap thinking to a six figure business owner mindset. 

To be a six figure business owner, you have to think like one and act like one. This is when it starts making sense to invest financially into our business. 

Some of the key investments I recommend?

Professional branding
I can spot a Canva logo a mile away. And those Canva templates are also a bit of a giveaway that you did a bit of DIY. Totally not a bad thing and it will 100% serve your business until a certain point. 

Professional branding doesn’t have to be expensive and you certainly don’t have to do it all at once. Start with a logo, then maybe add in some templates or your newsletter. Eventually, everything will be updated and on brand. Looking like that next level business!

Professional photography
I actually can’t recommend professional photography enough. If you’re a product based business it will get your products sold. If you’re serviced based it will let your customers get to know you. 

Your investment into professional photography will be one of the hardest working ones you make. You can reuse photos and stretch them to repurpose over and over. 

While it may seem too early or premature to invest in photography- I guarantee you won’t regret it. 

Website development
While you might have been able to get something up and running so you are online. It might make sense to take things to the next level and bring in a developer. 

I cannot recommend this enough if you are an e-commerce business! 

There are so many things a website professional is going to think of and do that you probably haven’t. From naming images to SEO to customer journey and analytics. They’re a professional for a reason and if it’s important for your business to have a high converting website- bring in an expert. 

Software and automation
Software can save you so much time. I personally spend quite a bit on software every month. But it means automated client scheduling, automated invoicing, automated client contracts, a fantastic email system, and a great client management platform. 

So is it worth it? 100% yes. 

If I wasn’t investing in this software I’d be trading my time for the automation features and my clients' experience would be nowhere near the level it is now. 

Virtual Assistant
If you’re going to let anything go in your business, often one of the smartest and easiest decisions is to bring in a VA to support you. 

They can help with everything from inbox management to content creation. Once you decide to prioritise your time it becomes rather easy to hand off tasks to a VA. Start with a few hours a month and build from there. 

Coaching 
If you’ve been struggling with the DIY mentality and not acting like the CEO that you are. Or are struggling to identify where you should invest in your business, coaching could be a great next step. 

I love working with clients to create their big vision for their business and then break it down into a practical strategy. 

What was the first thing you did when you hired a professional?