Update: How I 10x'ed Profit By Offering Virtual Planning Services And Courses
This is a follow up story for Your Virtual Doula. If you're interested in reading how they got started, published about 4 years ago, check it out here.
Hello again! Remind us who you are and what business you started.
I am Jessica Glendinning, the creator of Your Virtual Doula. I am a CAPPA trained Doula who works virtually and in hospital. I temporarily quit my hospital position when I became pregnant with my twin girls in 2018 and my continued desire to help women and families led to the creation of this business.
Your Virtual Doula provides knowledge and emotional support during pregnancy, throughout labor and delivery, and postpartum through phone, text, and email. Your Virtual Doula is invaluable for families on tighter budgets, those living in rural areas who find it difficult to get an in-person doula, and families who do not want someone present at delivery but need informational and emotional support during and after pregnancy.
In the year 2021, I have seen a profit increase ten times that of the previous year. The past year has been difficult in so many ways but the growth of this business has been extremely rewarding.
Tell us about what you’ve been up to! Has the business been growing?
Since I first shared with Starter Story I have seen a dramatic rise in customers. I do feel fortunate to have created a virtual business a year before Covid-19 changed our everyday lives. I could have never imagined how necessary and helpful this business would be to so many women and families. I have not taken on any other employees, however, I could foresee a time when I may need to take on other doulas to work under the Your Virtual Doula umbrella.
In the year 2021, I have seen a profit increase ten times that of the previous year. The past year has been difficult in so many ways but the growth of this business has been extremely rewarding.
Currently, my flagship services are virtual birth planning and my virtual services course. The package I offer for virtual birth planning includes two virtual meetings to prepare for labor and delivery and discuss mom-to-be’s needs, developing a birth plan outline, and basic postpartum and newborn care information for the parents-to-be.
My virtual services course has been very popular since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. In this one-on-one course I introduce and educate traditional doulas on virtual services and how to implement them into their existing businesses.
I provide templates for the necessary virtual contracts with clients, information on obtaining online payments and e-signatures, and how to market their new virtual services. This transition for many doulas has been imperative due to Covid-19 restrictions in hospitals worldwide.
Due to the general busyness of my day to day life I haven’t invested much time into social media or any other marketing channels. I do find it extremely encouraging that I have seen my business grow so much this year truly on its own. Much of this I do attribute to good SEO. It inspires me to imagine how much more I could do when I am able to invest the necessary time in marketing and outreach.
One of my favorite things about this business is building relationships that last a very long time. I love becoming friends with my clients, preparing them to welcome a new life into their family, assisting them through one of the most difficult times of their lives, and then through social media; seeing those beautiful babies grow up.
I have also kept in touch with some of the doulas building their own virtual businesses after completing my course. It is encouraging to see that there are others out there working hard to do whatever they can to assist pregnant women in these difficult times.
What have been your biggest lessons learned in the last year?
The biggest lesson I have learned in the last year was not to wait. If you have an idea and a desire to create a business that is meaningful to you, don’t wait until every piece is in place. Build your website, get the necessities, and get it out there. I am so proud of the business I have created but a lot of the specific details have developed on the fly. I am still growing this business even though I have not invested quality time into my marketing.
I see too many people today believe that if their business is not an immediate success then it is not worth pursuing. Time is an essential ingredient in the making of a truly successful business.
The really amazing thing about creating and growing a virtual business is that it has allowed me and my family to choose where we would like to live. Due to the fact that this job can be done from anywhere (with a strong wifi signal) my family has decided to move to the mountains in Tennessee. I am excited at the prospect of devoting more time to marketing this virtual business after the move and see where it may take me.
What’s in the plans for the upcoming year, and the next 5 years?
I hope to devote more time to social media in the next year. More time in general invested in the promotion of Your Virtual Doula will undoubtedly result in higher profits and an expansion in my client base.
In the next five years I would like to sustain my company’s growth and in doing so, ultimately hire other doulas to work as virtual support to new and expectant mothers. I am also interested in developing more online content to be made available to clients such as; online childbirth education classes, virtual support groups for other doulas, and more training courses for doulas interested in offering their own virtual services.
Advice for other entrepreneurs who might be struggling to grow their business?
I think it is most important for other entrepreneurs to understand that a strong and valuable business idea will reveal itself with slow growth. By that I simply mean that a slow, sustainable, and consistent growth in profits is more preferable long term than a quickly rising company that will rapidly fizzle out. Do not be discouraged by a sluggish start to the entrepreneurial journey.
I see too many people today believe that if their business is not an immediate success then it is not worth pursuing. Time is an essential ingredient in the making of a truly successful business.
Where can we go to learn more?
If you have any questions or comments, drop a comment below!
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
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