140 | Adding products to a service based business with Robin Long, The Balanced Life

Today we’re so happy to have Robin Long on for Episode 140 of Proof to Product. Robin is the founder of The Balanced Life, a website that provides quick and effective Pilates workouts for busy women. Robin made the transition from the traditional teaching model of working in studios, gyms and training private clients to serve her clients online.

On today’s episode, Robin shares how she shifted from the more traditional service offering into a successful membership model for her service based business. She tells us why she has decided to grow her business slowly and organically - ensuring that she’s building a business that fits her lifestyle and brings her joy.

Robin and I dive into how she’s used drop shipping to add additional income streams to her business and why she decided to create physical products for her service based business. She opens up about her experience with building her team including why going on maternity leave has helped her to put more strategic systems in place. We talk about setting boundaries, hesitations she had before moving to a membership model and her advice for someone who is just getting started in business.

ON TODAY’S EPISODE:

Why Robin shifted from the traditional teaching model of pilates to serving clients online
How she came to have a membership model, community-based program
Hesitations that Robin faced when moving to a membership model
Setting boundaries for yourself as an entrepreneur
How Robin uses the drop shipping method in her business
Robin’s thought process behind adding products to her service-based business
Using products as a membership perk
Challenges she’s had since adding products to her business
Why Robin believes in slow, intentional growth for her company
Robin’s experience of growing from a solo entrepreneur to building a team
How being forced to give up control has been a blessing for her
Taking a sabbatical and putting systems in place for a seamless workflow
Robin’s advice for the business owner who is just getting started
Gaining inspiration from other industries and taking that into the fitness world to do her own thing
What’s next for The Balanced Life

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KEY TAKE AWAYS

“Even more than that, it's a community, and it's really a place to come for kind of a whole health approach. It's a really grace-filled, gentle approach to fitness.” - Robin Long

“The messages we should be hearing as women should be uplifting and empowering and positive, and especially if there are little ones around.” - Robin Long

“That's my number one piece of advice: more is not necessarily better.” - Robin Long

“I’ve always been really intentional about when it comes to adding on a new product, a new service or making a change in the business, I really value enjoying my job. I want to enjoy this, I want to love this and I want it to work from my life.” - Robin Long

“Having a physical product that they can have, that reminds them of some of this messaging actually goes off the computer and into their daily life is really powerful.”- Robin Long

“I am of the approach definitely, compared to some entrepreneurs, that slow and steady wins the race, of adding on and hiring more people, or adding different projects and things as the resources are available versus going all in and then hoping you can figure it out later.” - Robin Long

“It is possible to take a more slow-and-steady approach but still have significant growth year after year. I think that sometimes it can feel like it's one or the other.” - Robin Long

“Definitely giving up control has been a challenge. I also think because I've had the little kids at the same time that I've been growing the business, I joke that I've been growing babies and growing the business at the same time.” - Robin Long

“If you're not taking maternity leave, take a sabbatical, get a vacation, and see how it goes because you'll be forced to create some new systems and a strong foundation that can support your business.” - Robin Long

“I love that you addressed boundaries for yourself, that you instilled boundaries around this to keep it simple and make sure that it was going to work for your life if you were going to pursue this new thing. I think that sometimes we, as entrepreneurs, get so excited about a new product or service that we're creating, and we loosen those boundaries.”- Katie Hunt

“Nothing is permanent. You can always change your mind. You can always pivot. You could sell a house. You could cancel a program. You can decide what's working for you in your life and in your business.” - Katie Hunt

“When we get so focused on what everyone else is doing, it not only kills the creativity but it layers in things like imposter syndrome and fear of missing out and comparison.” - Katie Hunt

CONNECT WITH ROBIN LONG

Website: thebalancedlifeonline.com | Facebook: @thebalancedlife | Instagram: @thebalancedlife

Connect with Katie Hunt

Katie Hunt is a business strategist, podcaster, mentor and mama to four. She helps product based businesses build profitable, sustainable companies through her conferences, courses and coaching programs.

Website: prooftoproduct.com | Instagram: @prooftoproduct