Entrepreneurship
The Minimum Viable Offer
In This Section, You Will Learn:
- • What a Minimum Viable Offer (MVO) is
- • How to craft a compelling offer
- • Pricing strategies for beginners
- • Creating urgency without being pushy
- • Testing your offer before building
- • The one-page proposal
What is a Minimum Viable Offer?
- Definition:
- The simplest version of your offer that someone would pay for.
- It's NOT:
- • A fully built product
- • A website
- • A polished presentation
- It IS:
- • A clear promise of result
- • A price
- • A timeline
- The MVO Formula:
- 'I help [AUDIENCE] achieve [RESULT] using [METHOD] for [PRICE]'
- Example:
- 'I help e-commerce stores increase sales by 30% using Facebook ads for $1,500/month'
Crafting a Compelling Offer
- The Perfect Offer Has:
- 1. Clear Target: WHO is this for?
- 2. Specific Result: WHAT will they get?
- 3. Timeframe: WHEN will they get it?
- 4. Price: HOW MUCH does it cost?
- 5. Risk Reversal: What if it doesn't work?
- Bad Offer:
- 'I do web development' (vague, no result promised)
- Good Offer:
- 'I build conversion-optimized Shopify stores that get you online in 7 days – $2,500 or you don't pay'
- Great Offer:
- 'I build Shopify stores for fashion brands that increase conversions by 25% – 14 days, $3,500 with a 30-day money-back guarantee'
Pricing Strategies for Beginners
- Pricing Options:
- 1. Value-Based Pricing (Best):
- • Price based on the VALUE you create
- • If you save them $10,000, charge $2,000
- • Highest margins, requires proof of results
- 2. Market-Rate Pricing (Safe):
- • See what competitors charge
- • Start 20% lower to get first clients
- • Raise prices as you get testimonials
- 3. Cost-Plus Pricing (Basic):
- • Calculate your costs + desired profit
- • Doesn't account for value, often underprices
- For Beginners:
- • Start at market rate or slightly below
- • Get 3-5 clients and testimonials
- • Raise prices 20% after each 3 clients
- • Goal: 3x your rates in 6 months
Creating Urgency (Ethically)
- Why Urgency Matters:
- • People procrastinate on decisions
- • 'I'll think about it' = they'll forget
- • Urgency creates action
- Ethical Urgency Tactics:
- • 'I can only take 3 new clients this month'
- • 'This price is valid for the first 5 clients'
- • 'I'm raising prices on [date]'
- • 'I have a slot opening next week'
- Unethical Urgency (Don't Do):
- • Fake countdown timers that reset
- • Fake scarcity ('Only 2 left!' for digital products)
- • Pressure tactics and manipulation
- Real scarcity is powerful and honest.
The One-Page Proposal
- Don't build a website yet. Write a one-pager:
- Structure:
- 1. Problem Statement (2 sentences):
- 'You're struggling with X, which is costing you Y.'
- 2. Your Solution (2 sentences):
- 'I help you achieve Z using my proven method.'
- 3. What's Included (3-5 bullets):
- – Deliverable 1
- – Deliverable 2
- – Deliverable 3
- 4. Timeline:
- 'Delivered in X days/weeks'
- 5. Price:
- 'Investment: $X,XXX'
- 6. Guarantee:
- 'If you're not satisfied…'
- 7. CTA:
- 'Reply to schedule a call'
- This is all you need to start selling.