THE ORIENTATION

A free written look at your business, sent within a day.

Most advice about your business comes from someone with something to sell you. Each of them sees the bit they know.

WHAT IT IS

A read of the whole picture, not a pitch for a service.

The marketing agency wants you doing more social. The web developer wants you redesigning the site. The consultant wants you in their programme. None of them are wrong. They're each looking at the bit they're set up to look at.

The orientation is different. It's me looking at the whole picture and writing back, plainly, what I think is actually going on and what one move would help most. No service to fit you into, no upsell at the end. Just a read of your business by someone who's spent twenty years doing this, sent within a day.

WHAT IT COSTS

Nothing. No card, no trial, no catch.

The orientation is free because the work of looking properly at someone's business is something I'd want to do whether you ever paid me or not, and because the people this is for are usually tired of generic advice and not sure who to trust.

The honest answer to "what's the catch" is that there isn't one. If what comes back is useful and you want to go further, there are paid modules on this site you can read about in your own time. If it isn't, or you don't, that's the end of it.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER YOU SUBMIT

A written reply, two pages or so, within a day.

01 / SUBMIT

You send your answers through.

02 / CONFIRM

A confirmation lands in your inbox.

03 / RECEIVE

A written reply from me, within a day.

The questions below take about ten minutes. There's no right answer to any of them and nothing is graded. The more honestly you answer, the more useful the orientation will be.

SECTION ONE

The bit that actually matters.

ONE / 9

What's the biggest thing about the business that's bothering you right now?

Not enough of the right customers coming through The business isn't being seen the way I'd want it to be It's harder to explain what I do than it should be Growth has stalled and I'm not sure why It doesn't quite feel like mine anymore Something else

Tell me more, if you want.

Pick one to keep going.

TWO / 9

If a friend asked what your business does, in plain language, what would you say?

No marketing voice. The way you'd say it over a pint.

This one's needed.

THREE / 9

What part of the business actually matters to you most?

Pick as many as honestly apply.

The actual work itself, the craft of doing it The customers and how they end up feeling Independence, getting to do things my way The team or the people I work with Standing for something, doing it differently Making a proper living from it

Pick at least one.

Tell me more, if you want.

FOUR / 9

When someone first lands on your business, what do you suspect they're actually seeing?

Probably a bit confusing, honestly Looks fine, blends in with everyone else A bit dated, doesn't reflect where the business is now Quite strong actually, just not landing the right people Genuinely don't know, haven't looked at it from outside

Pick one to keep going.

FIVE / 9

Who is the business genuinely for, in your head?

Not the segmentation answer. The kind of person you actually want walking through the door.

This one's needed.

SIX / 9

How long has the bothering thing in question one been going on?

Pretty recently, last few months Most of this year A while, longer than I'd like to admit It's basically been there since the start

Pick one to keep going.

SEVEN / 9

What have you already tried, to fix it or get round it?

Anything counts. The half-finished things count too.

Worked with an agency or consultant Redesigned or rebuilt the website Spent money on ads or social A rebrand, or a partial one Tried to figure it out myself, on and off Nothing serious yet, that's why I'm here

What did or didn't work?

Pick at least one.

EIGHT / 9

If the business worked the way you wanted it to, what would be different about an ordinary week?

Specifics, not aspirations. What would you actually be doing, or not doing.

This one's needed.

NINE / 9

What's the move you've been meaning to make and keep not making?

Reposition or rename what I do Redo the website, properly this time Put the prices up Narrow what I offer down to fewer things Stop doing the work that doesn't fit anymore Something else I keep avoiding

Pick one to keep going.

And what's the reason, honestly?

SECTION TWO

Last bit. A few quick details before the PDF.

ONE / 8

Your name.

This one's needed.

TWO / 8

The name of the business.

This one's needed.

THREE / 8

Website, if you have one.

If you don't, leave it blank. Plenty of good businesses don't.

FOUR / 8

A social channel where the business actually lives, if there is one.

The one that's most you. One handle is plenty.

FIVE / 8

How long has the business been going?

Under a year One to three years Three to seven years Seven to fifteen years Fifteen years or more

Pick one to keep going.

SIX / 8

How many people, including you?

Just me Two to five Six to fifteen Sixteen to fifty More than fifty

Pick one to keep going.

SEVEN / 8

How did you find your way here?

Optional. Helps me know what's working.

Someone mentioned it A search led me here Something on LinkedIn Scott sent me an email Some other route

EIGHT / 8

Where would you like the PDF sent?

Just an email; you won't be added to anything.

This one's needed.

Send it when you're ready. The PDF lands in your inbox within 24 hours.

A read of the whole picture, not a pitch for a service.

Nothing. No card, no trial, no catch.

A written reply, two pages or so, within a day.

The bit that actually matters.

Last bit. A few quick details before the PDF.

Thank you. Your orientation is on its way.