That Layoff Email Changed Everything

The internet has turned many ordinary people into millionaires.

Despite failing 3 projects, I've learned that the internet economy, expected to reach $480 billion by 2027, offers immense opportunities.

Here's how I leveraged this potential to generate €45k in three months through a CRM community and cohort.

How I Turned a free CRM Community and Cohort into a Revenue-Generating Machine

Last year, I was triggered by Salesforce layoffs, I was inspired by my current mentor at that time, and I set out to create a thriving CRM community and cohort program.

I couldn't accept the fact of risking my job - a job that I was doing great - without a B-plan.

Here’s a detailed account of how it all came together and generated 45k in just three months.

Framework: Prioritize Action Over Endless Planning

Instead of getting bogged down in endless planning, I took decisive steps to build and launch the community and cohort.

This proactive approach was crucial: in fact, I always read of people who are "working on the brand", "building the website", "creating a company profile".

I made my first 5k without a website. I started speaking properly with people, driving them to a call and doing a proper discovery.

My credentials and Customer Success orientation did the rest.

Step 1: Price

I began by researching the market to determine the right pricing for my program. By examining what others were doing, I set a tiered pricing model that reflected the value offered:

• Consultations: I started with 6k. Not very much considering the impact I was deliverying.

• Paid Class: as it was a 5 months program I wanted to make an irresistible offer = 300€ / mo.

Concrete Actions:

1. Market Research: Spent 1-2 hours researching competitors'. I made a business case with a business plan. No media investment, just a couple of CRM licenses to track my prospects..

2. Set Pricing Tiers: Create a basic spreadsheet to outline my services and corresponding prices. Consider offering a free discovery to attract initial interest. I used also Newsletter to build engagement around my content. Writing it 1/week (as I'm doing now). And ChatGPT for better english. Need to work more on this

3. Validate with prospect: Spent 5 sales meetings discussing my offer with potential clients to gather feedback.

In the end, I sold the cohort + 1 consultation to 3 of them.

I didn't build any landing page, any media campaign, any cold outreach strategy.

Just publishing decent content.

Step 2: Plan

Planning was essential.

I mapped out the program content, ensuring it was practical and engaging.

Here’s how you can plan your own program:

Concrete Actions:

• Define Objectives: Spend 1 hour outlining what you want clients to achieve. Focus on specific, measurable outcomes.

For example, in my case I wanted them to increase their revenue getting data in control (marketing) or increase their conversions with better processes (sales) and tools.

• Create a Curriculum: I built a cohort class with max 6 participants. I decided to dedicate circa 5 hours to drafting a curriculum that includes modules, key topics, and practical activities. I used Notions and Google Docs.

• Set Milestones: I had a clear goal - having 4k / month to balance my salary in case of layoff. So I applied my usual marketing math (want to have a look at my sales equation?).

CRM I Used:

• Breakcold for social selling.

• Attio for managing the sales pipeline.

Step 3: Execution

With the plan in place, it was time to execute:

Concrete Actions:

1. Engage Your Network: Spend 1-2 hours sending personalized emails or messages to potential clients and as Alex Hormozi suggests, I started from my phone looking for ex clients, partners, ex colleagues etc.

2. Promote Actively: I used social media, like LinkedIn, to post about my achievement, to teach my stuff. Justin Welsh says you can speak for hours if you are passionate about a subject. I touched all the stages of my customer journey. Spending circa 1 hour daily engaging with comments and inquiries.

3. Gather Feedback: After initial sessions, I spent less than 10 minutes collecting feedback via WhatsApp, I asked video testimonials and Llinkedin references. I also adjusted the program and the consultations based on the feedbacks. Want to see some of the feedbacks? Video

For instance, I used a mix of direct outreach and content marketing to attract clients. I engaged with them through personalized emails and social media posts, ensuring they saw the value in joining the cohort.

Step 4: Power Up

To ensure my consultations & program success, I focused on providing exceptional value:

I handled 3 monthly meeting with the whole community and 1 meeting per month with every participant.

While my students were starting closing 10k deals, I understood my method was bullet-proof and I started charging 500€ / mo.

Concrete Actions:

1. Interactive Sessions: Dedicate 2-3 hours to designing interactive activities for each session. Use tools like Zoom and breakout rooms for small group interactions.

2. Automation and Tools: Spend 1 hour setting up CRM tools like HubSpot to automate follow-ups, reminders, and data tracking. In particular, I used Circle to manage my community and to run group sessions.

3. Community Support: Create a private online group (e.g., on Facebook or Slack). Spend 30 minutes daily moderating discussions and encouraging participant engagement.

By delivering high-quality content and maintaining active engagement, I was able to transform the community into a thriving, revenue-generating machine.

In total I spent circa 176 hours to build this product > circa 22 working days.

If I consider the fact I was in paternity leave (2 months) it was my part time job.

And considering the days spent in cosultations and with clients, I almost earned an hourly rate of 110€ / hour (before taxes)

Understanding the Market

Initially, my target audience was entrepreneurs and freelancers.

I interpreted market needs by engaging with potential users and understanding their pain points.

Today, I work primarily with C-level executives and large companies, reflecting the program's evolution and growing credibility.

Now I want to provide you suggestions about LInkedin, as I used this channel to get traction (and I paid a lot of money to get well trained about this platform)

Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile

Engage with Your Audience:

• Interaction and Feedback: Regularly engage with your connections through comments and messages. > provide SMART content to catch attention. Add value, or just skip commenting.

• Action Steps: Comment on 10 posts daily and send connection requests to 10 relevant professionals. Personalize your message and ask relevant questions to customers

Provide Real Value:

• Actionable Content: Share posts that offer practical insights and solutions.

• Action Steps: Post 3 times a week with valuable content related to your expertise.

Iterate and Improve:

• Continuous Improvement: Regularly update your profile based on feedback.

• Action Steps: Review and refine your profile monthly, focusing on the headline and summary sections.

Leverage Your Network:

• Building Credibility: Use your existing connections to grow your network.

• Action Steps: Request recommendations from colleagues and clients to enhance your profile's credibility.

Lessons Learned

Opening the Sale:

• Initial Engagement: Instead of focusing on the close, prioritize the opening. Ask questions to understand your prospect’s true needs and goals.

• Action Steps: Spend the first 10 minutes of any sales call asking open-ended questions to uncover real needs.

Building Relationships:

• Sorting and Sifting: Choose to repel the wrong prospects and attract the right ones by understanding and addressing their specific challenges.

• Action Steps: Develop a qualification framework to quickly identify whether a prospect is a good fit.

Close First, Then Present:

• Understand Before You Sell: Determine your prospect's true purpose, goals, incentives, fears, and doubts before diving into your pitch.

• Action Steps: Create a list of probing questions that help uncover deep insights about your prospect’s motivations.

CRM videos > Why CRM projects fail (and CxO cry a lot)

Transforming Your CRM into a Revenue-Generating Machine - Watch Video

Many think installing a CRM tool automatically increases revenue. However, the key lies in strategic setup and use. Here’s how to maximize your CRM:

1. Strategic Setup: Start with a clear strategy. Avoid unnecessary fields; focus on essential data.

2. Process Mapping: Document and automate your sales process within the CRM for efficiency.

3. Effective Use: Ensure your team inputs crucial info like follow-ups and meeting notes.

4. Training: Align and train your team for consistent use.

5. Smart Integration: Choose the right technology to complement your business needs.

TL,TR

I leveraged the immense opportunities in the internet economy, despite previous failures, to generate €45k in three months through a CRM community and cohort program.

The launch plan lasted just 3 weeks

Triggered by job insecurity and inspired by a mentor, I prioritized action over endless planning, researching market pricing, and creating a practical curriculum.

I engaged my network and promoted actively without building a website.

The program focused on interactive sessions, automation, and community support, spending approximately 176 hours or 22 workdays.

Turning a CRM into a revenue-generating machine requires more than just purchasing and installing the software

• It's crucial to properly set up,

• map processes,

• and automate tasks.

87% companies misuse CRM by adding unnecessary fields and relying on automation alone.

Instead, focus on strategic setup and process mapping to effectively manage data and customer interactions.

This proactive approach can significantly boost revenue and efficiency.

Prioritize understanding business needs, translating them into technology, and training the team for consistent use.

Proper CRM utilization transforms it into a powerful growth engine.