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FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions

The FAQs

General FAQs

  1. What countries and/or states does Red Barn work in?

    Red Barn is a global company capable of working with countries around the world. We have worked with companies across the US from California to Florida and in between!

  2. Do I have to pay for travel costs if you come to my place of business?

    Typically if you are within CT, Western MA, RI, or parts of NY – No. Depending on your needs and if you require in office visits, there may be some travel costs associated with our visits. We also offer our clients the option to do video conferencing!

  3. Do I have to be on retainer with Red Barn?

    No – you don’t. Red Barn is happy to do project work for your company as needed – from writing content to doing graphic design – we can accommodate your needs. If you do have recurring work, we suggest a retainer – it allows for better planning to meet deadlines and may save you money in the long run.

  4. How do you work with your strategic partners? Does that cost extra?

    Depending on your situation, Red Barn may suggest working with one of our esteemed partners. Some costs may be absorbed as part of your contract to help streamline your operations while other costs, like individual employee coaching or recruiting costs would be extra. We can work with you and invoice everything under Red Barn or set you up to work direct with one of our partners.

  5. Do you give referral bonuses if we send you clients?

    If the client fits our Target Client Profile (TCP) and signs on as a retainer client – then YES! We are happy to offer you a referral bonus for helping spread the work about Red Barn and what we do. Contact us for more information and to learn a bit more about who fits our TCP.

  6. I'm a big company - can you handle my account?

    We sure can! We’ve worked with Fortune 500 companies all the way down to solopreneurs and everyone in between!

  7. How much does it cost to work with Red Barn?

    Depending on the size of your business and what your needs are, our retainer fees can range from about $1,250 per month up to $10,000 per month. We also have different options that range from DIY courses to 1:1 Coaching. Give us a call, and we can set up a time to chat and create a detailed proposal specific to your needs.

Coaching and Consulting FAQs

  1. How can Red Barn help me launch my consulting business?

    Red Barn Consulting has a specialized program just for Coaches and Consultants that is aimed at helping you not only launch your business, but do it the right way so it’s successful and sustainable.

  2. How does Red Barn coach its clients? How does it work?

    We offer 3 different ways to work with us: an online course that is DIY that you work through by yourself with a little email support, a hybrid model that you work through the online course but with weekly check in calls and email support, and our done for you model where we do all the heavy lifting, we work one to one with you on all the steps to make sure you are set up for success.

  3. What specialties do you work with?

    No matter your consulting specialty, we can help you take your business to the next level. Let us do the leg work so you can spend time on what matters – your clients. We know the consulting world because it’s what we do!

  4. I haven't left my 9-5 job - can you still help me?

    YES! This is the best time to get some help, before you leave your corporate job and head into the unknown. We can guide you through the transition, show you how to gradually shift from the 9-5 to a consultant. How do we know what you need to do – because Cindy was in your shoes!

  5. I'm already a business owner and I just need some guidance - can you help?

    Absolutely, we work with business owners from small businesses up to large businesses. We offer different coaching options that fit your needs – sometimes you just need another perspective and an outside view to help you take things to the next level or sort through some issues. We’re like a therapist – without the PhD.

  6. I'm not sure what kind of coaching I need - how do you figure that out?

    We’re always happy to hop on a phone call with you! We can sort through what issues you are having and what type of coaching plan best fits your needs – there is no one size fits all when it comes to coaching.

  7. How have you helped other consultants and coaches?

    We’ve worked with many coaches and consultants from helping them leave their corporate job and start their own business to helping some take their business to the next level and learn how to scale so they aren’t maxing out their time before hitting their revenue goals. Each client is different based on their goals.

  8. I want to start my own business - but I'm not sure I'm ready... how can you help?

    It’s ok to be afraid of change, but it’s also important to make sure your new business idea is sustainable. We can have a strategy call to vet out your idea, see what kind of research you’ve done, your skills, and determine if it’s something viable. It’s all part of the process.

Operations FAQs

  1. Will Red Barn create procedures for my team so we can learn how to do what Red Barn does for us?

    Yes, Red Barn is happy to share our processes and procedures when it comes to showing you how to post, schedule, or send eblasts, blogs, social media, etc.

  2. Why does Red Barn prefer to fix Operations before starting Sales and Marketing work?

    You can have a kick butt marketing strategy and a rock star sales team BUT if there is no process to get the stuff out the door, or the supply chain is running amuck OR the servicing of the client is God awful – then Houston, we have a problem. All your fabulous marketing and sales stuff doesn’t matter because you have unhappy clients.

  3. I run a small business, do I need Red Barn to evaluate my operations?

    In our opinion, yes. The best way to make the most of our services is to start with strategic planning which includes evaluating operations.

  4. How will Red Barn evaluating the operations of my business to increase revenue?

    We look at all the different pieces of your business to make sure each area is running smoothly. We can see first-hand what works and what doesn’t and what may cause bottlenecks with increased sales. A fresh set of eyes and perspective can help solve issues and streamline your operations to ensure that sales and marketing can work effectively to bring in new business and create happy customers.

  5. Can Red Barn help me do Succession Planning for my business?

    Of course! We’re big on succession planning. We believe in planning for the future and setting those future leaders up with the right skills and knowledge to conquer the world – or at least your business!

  6. Will Red Barn write Operations Manuals for my Insurance Business?

    YES! Cindy is a licensed P&C insurance agent and knows her way around the industry. She’s written a ton of Operations Manuals and would be glad to help with yours.

  7. What does my company culture have to do with my operations?

    Everything! Happy employees are more productive employees. Creating a positive and collaborative company culture helps your business to not only be a fun place to work, but keeps employees motivated, empowered, and wanting to come to work.

  8. Can Red Barn help me determine if my staffing needs are being met?

    Sure! We’ve had numerous clients include us in their staffing decisions. We can help you determine if you are overstaffed, understaffed, or why a department isn’t meeting their goals. At the end of the day, your employees drive your operations, so having the right people in the right places is key!

Marketing FAQs

  1. What is a SWOT analysis and why should I have one done for my business?

    A SWOT is a comprehensive audit and competitive analysis that analyzes the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats facing a business. An honest SWOT analysis helps a retailer identify what it’s doing well, where it can improve, and where it fits in the competitive landscape.

    Performing a SWOT analysis helps you thoroughly understand your business by presenting a viewpoint of the company’s operations from a different angle. For new businesses, this analysis is critical to the organization’s planning process.

  2. How much does a marketing & sales strategy cost? Is it a one time fee?

    It depends on the size of your business – but our typical costs range from about $2500 to about $7500. When you sign on as a retainer client, we spend the first month of our contract working on this. When you choose to re-up your contract with us, we include a new marketing and sales strategy each year.

  3. I know my website is 20 years old, but I love it, why do I need to change it?

    Although you might love your website and find it easy to use, your potential customers may not. In today’s digital world, having a mobile responsive and fast loading website can make or break your business. In today’s digital world, it’s all about keeping up with Google’s best practices to keep your website high on the search list.

  4. How much does a website cost and is there a deposit required?

    Website pricing really depends on what you are looking for. We create our pricing based on your design requirements, the numbers of pages, copy writing, and type of website your business needs.

    We typically charge a 50% deposit up front on all websites.

    We also offer website hosting and maintenance contracts. A maintenance contract is vital if you want to keep your site updated and protected. It also includes copy and image changes or adding new pages.

  5. Why is my ``WHY`` so important? I just want to increase sales!

    Because it’s all about the WHY! Your Why is the reason customers buy from you – it’s what sets you apart from your competition – it’s the reason you do what you do!

  6. What metrics do you use to tell if your marketing is successful?

    Depending on your goals and business, there are a wide range of metrics used to determine if the marketing is successful. Metrics from emails, blogs comments, social media, Google Analytics, digital ad buys, etc. can all be used to determine how successful a particular marketing campaign is.

    We will also evaluate your Return on Investment (ROI) and conversion rates. It’s complicated – but we’ve got your back!

  7. Why can't I just use images I find on Google for my website, blog, or emails?

    It is considered Illegal to use any image that holds a copyright without that owner’s permission or without purchasing a license that grants that permission. You might be tempted to use an image anyway – but we suggest not risking it. You may never be found out but if you are and you are sued, a lawsuit could cost you $1000’s of dollars per image. We suggest purchasing all your photos from sites like Adobe, Shutterstock, or Istock. It keeps a record of all your downloads should you ever get a letter questioning where your images came from.

  8. Why do I need social media for my business and does it matter if I'm on LinkedIn?

    Social media is almost as important as having a website. People need to be able to find your company, information about your company, and what people are saying about your company. It’s all about being “social” . LinkedIn is a definite YES! LinkedIn is a necessity these days – It’s a great place to meet new connections and find prospects. It helps build your brand and establish who you are – for both prospects and employees. And please, don’t be an egghead! Make sure you use a fabulous profile picture.

Sales FAQs

  1. Will Red Barn manage my sales team?

    Our days of managing sales teams have past, we prefer to train the Sales Manager on how best to manage the team and hold everyone accountant using tried and true processes. Cindy has years of experience managing and leading successful sales teams. The cost really depends on how experienced your team is, how many people are on the team, and what your goals are. Give us a call and we can give you a quote.

  2. Does Red Barn attend company sales meetings if needed?

    Yes, we can until you get a better handle on your team and managing them. We are happy to use online meeting platforms like Skype, Go To Meeting, or Zoom to join in remotely.

  3. My sales team needs social media presence – what can Red Barn do to help?

    At Red Barn, social media is our sweet spot. We can come on site and do a team presentation with some one on one time at the end to show employees how to create and manage their personal social media pages. We can teach your staff how to utilize social media to become a trusted advisor for their prospects and gain leads.

  4. Can Red Barn teach us how to navigate a networking event to benefit the sales team?

    Absolutely. We can share some best practices on how to network at different types of events. We have a rule here at Red Barn –
    any function you attend, you have to bring back 5 business cards for potential leads.

  5. Will Red Barn help my company establish a referral program?

    Yes! We have set up referral programs for many of our clients, especially in the insurance arena. We know what it takes to get a successful program off the group and get buy in from the employees so they have fun while participating.

  6. We need to hire sales people – can Red Barn help vet them?

    We sure can! We can also recommend top notch recruiters and coaches to make sure that your new hires start off on the right foot!

  7. Our business sales are stagnant; what can Red Barn do to increase revenue?

    We start from the bottom and work our way up! We look at your operations, conduct a SWOT analysis and then, based on that information, we create a strategic plan geared towards improving any operational issues and building revenue.

  8. Why do we need to provide Red Barn with our sales revenue data?

    Without seeing your sales data, Red Barn won’t be able to see if our processes and strategies are working. Providing this information will allow us to see if there are any spikes in sales during a specific time period or with a specific product. It’s pretty critical to the whole plan!

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