MARCH 28, 2023

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Welcome to The Tilt, a twice-weekly newsletter for content entrepreneurs.

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Make a Backup Plan

Can your business survive without you for a few days or even a week?

A major weather disruption, such as a tornado or flood, could upend your home and life. A routine medical procedure could go wrong and land you in ICU (that’s what happened to me). A family member may need emergency help that leaves you no time for your business.

In traditional employment, you’re more likely to just call in your absence and let the employer handle the business side of life. But as a content entrepreneur, you probably work alone and don’t have a backup system.

So before an emergency arises, plan now on how to handle it with this checklist.

• Create a business contact list. Include your primary person, their business, email, and phone number. Also, briefly detail their connection to your brand (i.e., vendor, client, collaborator). Update it regularly as your business activities change.
• Designate someone to be your notifier in case you are unable to reach out to your contacts. Ensure this person has access to the contact list at all times. Write up an emergency follow-up script that your notifier can simply update and send.
• Set up alternative location plans. If the power goes out or a tree falls that prevents you from working in your office/home, know where you’ll go and what you’ll need. Are all your files on a cloud server accessible from any location with an internet connection? Do you also have the files downloaded on your computer in case you can’t access the internet? Where would you set up business temporarily? A coffee shop? The local library?
• Document your processes. As a solo entrepreneur who handles everything in your business, writing down what you do, how you do it, and when you do it may be an afterthought. But take the time to do it now in case someone unexpectedly needs to fill in. (It’s also a great tool to more thoughtfully understand what you do, why you do it, and what changes might be necessary for your business.)
• Detail all your business accounts. Keep a password-protected list of the services and subscriptions you have (i.e., email provider, graphics, SEO tools). Include the login information (that’s why the document should be password protected). Give the password to your notifier.
• Ensure your content calendar is always at least a month ahead. Work ahead, so you or your backup person don’t have to scramble for ideas when an emergency arises. It’s also a good move to reduce your everyday stress.
• Draft an out-of-office email that lives in your inbox that you or your notifier can launch in an unexpected situation: “Due to unforeseen circumstances, I am not in the office. If this is an emergency, please contact ______. Otherwise, I will get back to you as soon as possible.”
• Put the necessary legal documents in place. Who assumes power of attorney for your business? Who can access your bank accounts? Who can use your social media accounts? It’s important to put everything in order from a legal perspective.
• Promote your backup plan. Make your partners, collaborators, clients, etc., aware of your in-case-of-emergency plan. (And ask for theirs.) It can go a long way in letting them see you’re operating a responsible business.

– Ann Gynn​

Connect with your fellow content business founders at Creator Economy Expo. Learn in the hallways and at social events, as well as from your seat in the room with the expert presenters.​
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Entrepreneur: Melanie Benson

Biz: Authority Amplifier

Tilt: Coaching expert entrepreneurs

Primary Channels: Website, Amplify Your Success podcast​

Other Channels: Twitter (19.7K), YouTube (462), Instagram (4.3K), LinkedIn (2.9K), Facebook (6.2K)

Time to First Dollar: Slow to gain new clients, Melanie realized she needed to position herself, so clients saw her as an expert. She opted to put herself in a leadership position every month in her existing networking group. “And that is where a lot of my first clients came,” she says.

Rev Streams: On-demand courses, downloadable toolkits, group programs, occasional sponsored podcast episode

Our Favorite Actionable Advice:

• Build connections: Even before she presented on the stage, Melanie had built a following (not on social media), so audience members knew what she was about before she took the microphone.
• Pivot quickly: A video-produced podcast became too cumbersome to create, so a year later, Melanie opted for an audio-only version.
• Offer content products with multiple price points: Her free podcast and $100/$200 courses give a reasonable entry point for potential customers who will eventually seek her higher-priced products.

– Sarah Lindenfeld Hall

All the Story: Get more of Melanie Benson’s story.​

Know a content creator who’s going full tilt? DM us. Or email tilt@thetilt.com.

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• Do you need an amazing lead magnet but are not sure where to start? A quiz gets attention and increases engagement. Try creating one today with Interact's step-by-step course. Get the FREE course and a FREE 14 day trial.*
• ​You have a business idea. Now what? (The Salt Lake Tribune)
• ​Are you listening? It could be the boost your business needs. (Small Business Trends)
• ​Your content project failed. Here's how to deal with it. (Content Inc. podcast)
• Streaming is down from its lofty levels. Joe and Robert discuss if there is a new streaming model on the way. (This Old Marketing podcast)

*The Tilt receives a small commission if readers (at no additional cost) make a purchase using this link.

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Your team for this issue: Joe Pulizzi, Pam Pulizzi, Ann Gynn, Laura Kozak, Marc Maxhimer, and Dave Anthony, with an assist from Sarah Lindenfeld Hall.