Let Mary Ellen help you build a business you love
I’m Mary Ellen Bates, and I’m a Reluctant Entrepreneur. I went into business because I love what I do, not so I could build a multinational enterprise. I don’t like talking about budgets with clients. I don’t really enjoy marketing myself. In other words, I’m probably a lot like you.
I have been in business for myself since 1991, and have thrived through both boom times and recessions. I’ve mentored and coached other solopreneurs for a decade and I have learned that most solopreneurs work too hard and make too little money.
I want to share with you what I’ve learned about having more fun and being more profitable as a solopreneur. I can’t make cranky clients go away, but I can help you manage them and turn them back into great referral sources. I can help you figure out how to price your services so that you make a good living and your clients know they received high value. I can help you find out what your clients actually need, value and will pay you for — not just what you are “sure” they want.
In other words, I help fellow solopreneurs build more successful businesses and enjoy their work more.
I have two sets of learning tools for the two most important facets of being a solopreneur — getting good clients and getting paid well for your value.
Getting Good Clients
SKILL-BUILDER: From Zero to Clients
Forget cold calling — this one-hour skill-builder will teach you how to get pre-sold clients calling YOU through strategic word-of-mouth marketing.
ONLINE COURSE: Getting Your First Five Clients
This 5-module online course takes you through the steps required to build a thriving business around clients you love working with. The course includes individual feedback and half an hour of one-on-one coaching with Mary Ellen.
Getting Paid Well For High Value
SKILL-BUILDER: Getting Paid What You’re Worth
If you’re not charging at least $150/hour, you’re too cheap! This one-hour skill-builder gives you the tools to price yourself according to your real value.
ONLINE COURSE: Pricing For Solopreneurs
This 7-module online course will teach you how to price your information services in a way that best reflects the value you provide to your clients. The course includes individual feedback and half an hour of one-on-one coaching with Mary Ellen.
If you’re curious about what else I’m up to, check out my tweetstream, my LinkedIn profile, my Facebook page and my Reluctant Entrepreneur blog.