164: Why building an online community can transform your business with Kelly West

In this episode of Online Business Uncovered, I’m joined by Kelly West, co-founder of Onle Network, to talk about why building an online community and creating genuine relationships can completely transform your business.

So many entrepreneurs spend hours trying to grow online through content, social media and visibility strategies, yet still feel frustrated by slow growth, inconsistent sales and a lack of real connection. In this conversation, we explore why networking and community building are still some of the most powerful ways to grow a sustainable business (especially in an increasingly noisy online world!).

Kelly shares the story behind creating Onle Network alongside her husband James, how they built a thriving online networking community (with hundreds of members across the UK, Ireland and the US) and why creating meaningful relationships online matters more now than ever before.

This episode is a powerful reminder that business growth doesn’t have to feel lonely and that the right community can open doors, create opportunities and help you build a business that feels far more aligned, sustainable and enjoyable.

If you’ve ever felt isolated in business, struggled to grow your audience online or wondered whether networking is worth it then this conversation will give you a completely different perspective.

Grab a cuppa, get comfortable and let’s dive into this episode!

GET IN TOUCH WITH KELLY

Email: kelly@theonle.network
Website: theonle.network
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kelly-west-onle-networking

Transcript

Karen [00:00:00]:
Hello and welcome to Online Business Uncovered. This is episode 164 and in today's episode I'm going to be talking about the importance of building an online community, the power of networking online, and how creating genuine connections can help grow your business substantially. With Kelly west, founder of the Onle Network. So let's jump right in and let's get started.

Karen [00:00:34]:
Welcome to Online Business Uncovered, the show that lifts the lid on what it really takes to turn your brilliance into digital products, passive income and time freedom. I am your host, Karen, an online business strategist, course creation expert and your go to for building a business that works for you and not the other way around. If you are an ambitious entrepreneur, feeling overwhelmed, burnt out, or maybe you're just ready for a smarter, more sustainable way to grow, then you're in the right place. Because each week I'll be bringing you inspiring conversations, practical strategies and step by step guidance to help you create scalable, repeatable digital products that sell even while you sleep. So if you're ready to stop trading your time for money, reclaim your time and finally build a business that gives you the freedom that you deserve, hit, subscribe and tune in every Thursday. Let's uncover what's truly possible for you, starting now.

Karen [00:01:37]:
Hello and welcome to Online Business Uncovered, the show that helps you turn your expertise into digital products, passive income and time freedom. I am your host, Karen and I really do appreciate you hitting that play button to listen to today's episode. Now in today's episode I am joined by Kelly west, who is the founder of the online network called Only Network. And we're going to be talking about all about the power of building an online community. We're going to be diving into networking and why building genuine relationships online can completely transform your business. Now I think this is such an important conversation to have because so many business owners are trying to grow their business completely on their own. Posting constantly, trying to stay visible, trying to make sales, trying to grow an audience. But often they're missing one of the most important and powerful growth strategies that is available to them and that is making connection.

Karen [00:02:47]:
Building the right relationships online changes everything. So in this conversation, Kelly shares her journey of building Onle Network, why online communities matter more than ever, and how networking online can help grow your audience and business and why creating meaningful relationships is one of the smartest things that you can do as an entrepreneur. So let's dive in and let's get started with today's episode.

Karen [00:03:17]:
So welcome Kelly. Thank you for coming onto the show.

Kelly West [00:03:21]:
Thank you, Karen. Pleasure to Be here.

Karen [00:03:23]:
So we've been in each other's worlds for quite a while now and I am a member of Only and I have to say it is probably my most favorite networking group to be a part of. Do you want to just share with the listeners about Only what it is and, and why you and your husband, who you co founded it with, decided to create a networking group?

Kelly West [00:03:48]:
Yeah, absolutely. So, yes, we've been in each other's spheres for a few years, so it's a pleasure to be here today. So myself and my husband James we created only back in 2018. So we met at a networking event. It was an in person event. I got the ultimate referral, I got a husband from it. So that was great. And we just spent all of our time in the networking world, all of our businesses up to launching Only.

Kelly West [00:04:12]:
We grew through networking. We didn't really do any external marketing other than that word of mouth networking. So when we came together in 2014, we were still networking, but we were not really finding a space that properly served us. We wanted somebody where it felt like a community as well as an opportunity to get business. So we thought, well, we'll give it a go. Why don't we just give it a go and see what happens. So myself and James and our eldest daughter Kearney run the business together and we're now eight years in. So we are the online business network for people who like people.

Kelly West [00:04:46]:
That's our strap line and that absolutely runs through everything we do because if you don't like people, don't bother coming because we want to get to know you, we want to understand you and we want to help support you in your business. So we are completely online. We're just over 400 members and we've got 23 UK groups, three in the US and two in Ireland. And we'll probably talk about this a bit more in a minute. But the reason for us setting up that business was very personal. We're a blended family. We've got five kids between us, our youngest daughter is disabled. So we needed a business that we could be interchangeable in terms of business leaders as well as carers for Kennedy.

Kelly West [00:05:22]:
So that's it in a nutshell.

Karen [00:05:24]:
Yeah, I think you've done remarkable, I think with the network because there are especially post Covid, so many networking groups that are popping up online and sort of existing now. And I think what Only has done brilliantly is you, you live by the words that you, you talk about. So I, I don't think I've ever been In a meeting where the people within the meeting haven't aligned to the culture that, that you've sort of created within your business, you can see that it very much comes from the top down. And, you know, the, the meetings themselves are very warm, they're very engaging, they're very friendly and lot of networking over the years. And I, I think personally, regardless to whether you're an offline business or not, online business, I think networking is probably the most powerful way to grow your business because that's where you get to build those relationships. But I, I, I feel like the only network feel, it feels different, it feels genuine, it feels authentic. Yes, business is being transacted, you can see that. But it feels like there's something more going on.

Karen [00:06:41]:
Like people want to be there because they want to connect with each other and invest in those relationships.

Kelly West [00:06:47]:
I totally agree. I think business is a lonely place, particularly now. Like, it's saturated as well. There's more and more businesses popping up and, you know, we're seeing competition all over the place. And for us it's not about seeing that as a bad thing. That's about us being inclusive and working together. There's more than enough business to go around. Like, there's more than enough.

Kelly West [00:07:06]:
Like, realistically, you know, if you're listening, how many people can you actually work with? Like, it's not unlimited supply, is it? So I think for us it was always about creating a space, as you say, Karen, that, and we say this within the community. It feels like a family, it feels like your business family and people genuinely care. And I think that point about leading from the top, we're really proud of that. Like, we don't run any other businesses, so only isn't there to fund a different business, which you, you quite often will find with networks, particularly smaller ones, it might fund a marketing business or something else, and for us it isn't. So we, James, myself and Kearney are all about building the community and making it what people need it to be in order to get a good return from it.

Karen [00:07:49]:
Yeah, absolutely. And that really does come through. The one thing that I think is a belief, especially within the online space. And I've come across it as well. In fact, somebody, I was on LinkedIn and I'd put a post out and somebody responded about making sales through Instagram, you know, what channels are you making sales from? And I think there is a belief in the online world where to sell what, what you're selling online courses, memberships, all of that. It needs to be through those Channels, those impersonal channels where you're posting and then hoping for sales. And I know there's a lot of stuff online and I see it myself where people are selling something to help people sell online. And I think there is a space for that.

Karen [00:08:44]:
But, but I think especially in sort of my world with, with the contacts that I have, very few people actually network. They are trying to get those sales online. And the problem with that, there's so much noise out there. So standing out, being seen and, and building that trust factor with your audience becomes so much because you're competing in so many different ways with so many other people. And I, and I feel like networking is the one sort of marketing activity that you can do that. The, the, the return on investment is far greater than the financial investment that you're going to ever make. So, so that's why I, I really, you know, to get you on the show and to talk about this because I feel like sometimes with online entrepreneurs networking is a miss. And because your network has a lot of service based providers, don't they? A lot of consultants and you know, within there a real mixed bag of people.

Kelly West [00:09:47]:
You've got to remember, okay, so we talk about this all the time, don't we? I feel lots of people sit behind social media because it's easy do it when I want to do it, I can put as much effort into it as I want to. And there's a few problems that arise for me in that space. I don't think people track that activity enough to know whether it is actually working for them or not. They just feel like they've got to do more of it. I hear people say all the time, oh, I really need to do more social media. Do you know if it actually works for you and what it returns if you don't? Why are you doing more of it? Because yeah, 100 times zero, still zero, you know, so I think there's that element of it, I think the other element that people are forgetting and, and I agree with you. If you're not, if you're an online business and you have an online element, why are you not online networking? Like it's just obvious, isn't it? Because those meetings that you go to, obviously I represent only. But it doesn't matter what network you're in, you're going to go and meet X amount of people each month in the online space.

Kelly West [00:10:46]:
You can ask them to follow your social media channels, right? They might not be ready to buy from you there or then and they might not ever be your customer, but they'll follow you and your social media channels. And because you're building relationship and a rapport with them in that online networking space, over time their followers and their connections are going to start seeing your stuff because they're going to interact with your stuff. So you're just, it's like spreading the net even wider but you're, you're making it more of a warm connection because the, the connections that you're networking with are helping you grow that bigger space in the online world. So for me it's a no brainer. It takes longer though, Karen. So you know, you don't get that interesting gratification and that's the problem.

Karen [00:11:29]:
It does. But I know so many that, that are so frustrated because they are spending that time online on Instagram, on Tick Tock, they're trying to go viral or sell their stuff or do whatever have that channel work for them and they're just not getting the growth, they're not getting the results because that, because they haven't, it's almost like they say, don't they throwing spaghetti at a wall and nothing sticks because you haven't built up that know like and trust.

Kelly West [00:11:55]:
Yeah.

Karen [00:11:56]:
So you're just having those random people that you may get a follow from but it's those V metrics that don't really convert to anything. You're just growing your numbers. But it's not, you can't track it because well, if you're not making those sales then, then it's not really working for you. And I, I also feel like with social media anyway, it's about creating that social proof and sharing content that, that drives people to something. Not necessarily about selling, it's just about being, you know, being visible and, and being able to kind of share your story and support in a way that makes it accessible for people. Yeah, but I, I agree with you. I, I feel like there's a missed opportunity with online networking with a lot of online entrepreneurs.

Kelly West [00:12:43]:
Definitely. I think we get hung up with that. I mean long gone are the days whether you prefer in person or online. Like I don't want to have that argument anymore. That's fine if you like in person, stick with in person. But you cannot dispute if you are an online business and you can sell your product services nationally or internationally. You're really missing a trick if you're networking in person.

Karen [00:13:03]:
Yeah.

Kelly West [00:13:04]:
Because you're not getting the audience that you need. You know, So I think that there is a missing trick there. And I also think that piece about the social media. Like I had a post that went viral on LinkedIn last year. Most of my stuff. Right. I hardly ever post on social media. For me, social media is just proof that I exist.

Karen [00:13:22]:
Yeah.

Kelly West [00:13:23]:
You know, I'm alive. Yeah. I'm around. You can, you can get a little bit of personal stuff on Instagram or you can be on LinkedIn and I'll share the odd things business wise. Right. But like you said, that is about giving value to people so that when they are ready to buy, they're aware of you and they know where to come back. But I had a post last year that had over half a million impressions on LinkedIn. Do you know what that resulted to? Two bookings for a visit to only out of a half a million people.

Kelly West [00:13:51]:
Like I, I post probably 10 times a year on LinkedIn and I get good impressions as a result. Right. So I don't follow the norm. But what realistically comes from those numbers is vanity. Vanity again. Yeah.

Karen [00:14:04]:
I think it just creates a disillusion about how to grow your business because you are thinking that these channels, because they're free, gives you a gateway into audiences that are ready to buy. And often they're so cold that you need sort of multiple touch points in place before they even remember you letting on sort of purchasing from you. And I think one of the things about networking which literally from day dot starting my business, I didn't, you know, I started my business back in 2016. I had no idea what my business was. I was just, I was a website freelancer and I know we have that in common, don't we, doing websites? But I knew above anything else I had to go networking.

Kelly West [00:14:53]:
Yeah.

Karen [00:14:53]:
Because I needed to be around people that were running businesses that, that had connections that would listen to my, my crazy ideas and maybe offer up some valuable advice. But I just knew networking was the avenue to, to take because that was going to create the, the results that I, I truly wanted long term.

Kelly West [00:15:21]:
A really good thing there. So you stand out head and shoulders for me as an amazing network. And I've d really good point. You use networking for marketing purposes as well as to get sales. Like, you ask questions, you listen to what people are saying and you adapt your products and services based around what the demand is.

Karen [00:15:42]:
Yeah, no, thank you. I never go networking to sell. I, my strategy is, and I'm really transparent with, with everything I do. I, I sort of share everything. But I, my strategy is about making those connections, building those relationships. But also the, what's really great about networking is you can sit back and observe and networking. Going to a networking group, I think gives you invaluable insight because people will tell you what they're struggling with through those conversations. So then you can sort of sit back and be like, ah, okay, they're struggling with this.

Karen [00:16:24]:
I know I can do this. This, this is going to help them. So I can kind of be really intentional with how I then speak to people and where I lead them to. And I think for me, because of the nature of what I do, which is new, but it's not new. It's still. Yeah, I think since COVID it's more. It's. It's more like there are more people like me doing what I do, but it's still new in the world of networking, so to speak.

Karen [00:16:58]:
So. So my way, I suppose, is. Is offering that value. Let me, let me give you something that's going to give you clarity about what is possible. And I find that kind of works well because it's immediate trust building and then the relationship building comes after that. And, and that's what I value the most. And whenever I need to need someone, whether it's for people I know or like, other business colleagues or whatever, I can come to a network and I can ask for that support. And I will get so many people coming to me with.

Karen [00:17:35]:
With something that's going to help. And that's the point, isn't it? That's what when you said business is lonely and, and we can't do it alone. We need that support. Where are you going to get that support? And that's through. Through a networking group.

Kelly West [00:17:51]:
It's building your own ecosystem, isn't it? It's like, who doesn't want good people around them?

Karen [00:17:55]:
Yeah, yeah, definitely.

Kelly West [00:17:57]:
We need people there to lift us up when we're down. And we need people to celebrate our successes because we're really rubbish at doing that as a nation, aren't we? We forget to celebrate when we were doing something really well. So I think to immerse yourself in a community or a network of people that, you know, you've got to find the right one for you. Of course, of course you have. There's plenty of them out there. But it's that, that longevity and you. I think you've hit the nail on the head again there, Karen, when you're saying don't go there to sell, go there to have a conversation. Because sales come out of conversations.

Kelly West [00:18:27]:
Yeah, but you can't just skip to that bit. You can't just get to the sales. But You've got to get to know people, you've got to understand who they are. And for me, networking has changed so much over the years. I mean, if you think of days of old when I started networking and it was bni, I'm happy to say you've got business just because you were in the room.

Karen [00:18:44]:
Yes.

Kelly West [00:18:45]:
Like that doesn't, like that doesn't happen anymore. No, of course it doesn't. Like we can pretend it does. It doesn't because people know too many connections. They know people outside of the room and they'll just go out of the room and do it quietly rather than say it in the room. So why are we pretending that that isn't the case? We have to adapt the way we network. And a lot of that for me is I always introduce people based on personality, like Karen, speak to Bob, you two are going to get on well. I don't think there's a cell involved here, but you're just going to get on really well and just have a conversation, see where it goes.

Kelly West [00:19:20]:
More and more people are doing that and as a result of that happening, networks are growing and sales are being made. But you've got to have a lot of the. Got to kiss a lot of frogs. I would say. It's a really crude way of saying it, but enjoy those conversations because people, people are interesting. Like. Yeah, embrace it.

Karen [00:19:37]:
Absolutely. And I think if you're a solopreneur as well because obviously when you are networking it's important afterwards to follow through and have those one to ones. And when you're a solopreneur and you're, you're kind of, you know, I spend a lot of time in front of my laptop. I mean my laptop is like my third arm. I mean it's just glued to me. But there's nothing more uplifting in my day than having a one to one with somebody and just having a good old chin wag. And you know, there are certain people that really stand out that I just come away and I think I want to know more about you. I want to help you, I want to support you because you're brilliant at what you do.

Karen [00:20:14]:
And I would never have had that conversation or met those people if it wasn't for networking. And I think that's why, I mean, I'm coming up to 10 years in September. No, July is my 10th year and I would never have lasted had it not been for networking because I think I would have got to. It would have been too lonely. I think I would have just been A bit like I'm out here on my own own. And it's what, you know, what. What do I do? How do I do this? And, you know, there's always people you come across that come into your world that I believe have. Have been.

Karen [00:20:50]:
They land in your world for a reason, at a time that they're meant to be there. And it's about being really conscious about that and kind of given the time to really invest in those relationships and deliver them further are because they're so important. So important.

Kelly West [00:21:07]:
And I Bet over that 10 years, you've still got contacts from 10 years ago and then new ones from last week and everything in between.

Karen [00:21:14]:
Yeah, definitely. It's quite nice because I know a lot of people that's. That's how I feel. It's that little black book, isn't it?

Karen [00:21:19]:
But.

Karen [00:21:20]:
But I value. I value people that I meet and. And when I don't see somebody for a while and then they pop up on screen.

Kelly West [00:21:28]:
Yeah.

Karen [00:21:28]:
And we do.

Karen [00:21:29]:
Which I had yesterday at the. The Winchester Group. It's like, oh, you know. Yeah, I really want to have a conversation with you. And it. The one thing in your day that just kind of lifts you and. And makes you feel like everything you're doing is worthwhile. Because I think one thing that I think many business owners or entrepreneurs can feel is that weight of loneliness as they're trying to build out their dream.

Kelly West [00:21:54]:
Yeah, definitely.

Karen [00:21:55]:
You need an anchor, don't you? You need something that pulls you in.

Kelly West [00:21:58]:
You do. And again, it's that, like you say, the world's pretty bleak place at the moment for many people, isn't it? And, you know, I'm super optimistic. I'm like, my glass overflows. It's not even half full. Do you know what I remember? Even I've struggled the last few weeks because it just feels like we need a bit of sunshine. We need to, like, we just need a bit of hope, don't we? And we need a bit more forward. When I sit down and I strip that back and I go, but I'm actually no different a place than I was a year ago. Like, you just get bombarded with stuff, don't you? And you end up.

Kelly West [00:22:30]:
Up getting pummeled into a groove because so much stuff is just going on around you. When we sit back and we actually evaluate where we are, it's really important to remember those micro conversations and connections and pieces that do keep you going along the way, because we're really quick to see the negative. And I think in the Online networking space. I always, I mean, I host about 20 of our meetings a month. I have never come away from a meeting feeling down. I've always come away from a meeting feeling more, more uplifted than I was when I, when I went into it. And there is that like, that temptation to not go. Like you might get up and you'd be thinking, I'm really not feeling it today.

Kelly West [00:23:10]:
I just want the world to go away. I always say to people, that's the day you need to go.

Karen [00:23:14]:
Yeah, yeah, 100.

Kelly West [00:23:16]:
Absolutely the day you need to go. Because I guarantee you, unless something drastic's happened, you're going to feel better after it because you need people. We need people. We need.

Karen [00:23:24]:
Yes. Yeah. I think humans need that connection. I think it's really important to us and I think when we don't get it, it's like there's an imbalance in your life. And without even realizing. I think most people lean on people.

Kelly West [00:23:41]:
Yeah.

Karen [00:23:41]:
And whether they realize it or not. And it's because we need, we need that support. We need to have those connected conversations that keep us on track. And it might be that people have like a bestie they go to or, or somebody in the business, a mentor or somebody. But, but you' mind that, that there'll be sort of influential characters within somebody's business world that, that will help keep them on track. And I think that any, any entrepreneur that has achieved a high level of success, if you strip away the, the, you know, all of the fluff around it, they'll probably have a real core group of people that, that, that they've worked with and they've supported and they've been supported by, and they, they haven't done it alone.

Kelly West [00:24:31]:
Yeah.

Karen [00:24:31]:
And I think that's the thing. And I think there is, and I go back to this online business belief because I think so many people think that in order to have an online business, they have to be out there on their own selling their wares online because that's the only way to do it. And, and it isn't. And I think that's the thing that I think is it's a really important message to get across is that doesn't matter what type of business that you have those relationship, the currency of your business, that's what's going to grow and, and, and keep you going long term as well. Yeah. So what was the reason for starting only all those years ago?

Kelly West [00:25:09]:
All those years ago, it was a bit of a case of. So I think James was a member of podi yeah, it was a. It was like a spin off B and I group back in the day. I think it's still going now, actually. So he was a member of poddy. Been there, oh gosh, for years. Years. And I was a member of BNI and a couple of other different groups.

Kelly West [00:25:28]:
James, Bob, I don't know, foreign. There was loads of all these names. There's tons of them, aren't there? And I couldn't join Potty because there was already a travel counselor there. And that's. I was a travel counselor. So I went into sub for Kirsty one day when she needed somebody to go in and I met James there and the rest is history, as they say. But James and I got together very quickly and, and in the first, I think it was the first two years of our relationship, he remained in that group maybe a bit longer and I would go in and sub now and again. And I ended up changing my job and working for him as a web designer, hence what we were doing.

Kelly West [00:26:05]:
So I was going to the group quite regularly and he came home from it one day and he said, look, there was, I think There was like 36 people in the room that day. He said, I sit next to the same person every time I go. I like all of them, but really there is only a handful of people that I would actually refer to because not that I don't like them or I don't believe in what they do, but I don't know them well enough or they've not proven how professional they are to me just yet. He said, and I just. For me, it's just not really working. He'd been there about six years at this point. And I said, well, sit with someone different or, you know, we tried to mix it up and he still wasn't feeling it. So I said, well, it's.

Kelly West [00:26:43]:
Let's. Let's try and we'll speak to them and see if they want to develop it. And they didn't want to. So we were like, right, well, we'll give it a go. We'll. We'll see if we can set up our own network. And we were in person back then. So we started in Winchester.

Kelly West [00:26:54]:
We had 18 people come to the event and 17 joined.

Karen [00:26:57]:
Wow.

Kelly West [00:26:58]:
Like, oh my goodness, this is amazing. Like, we've obviously cracked something here. So we were in person to begin with, but we also did online. So we did online two years before COVID happened. Happened.

Karen [00:27:09]:
Oh, okay.

Kelly West [00:27:10]:
And that I think is the secret to our success because we had two years to really perfect it and understand it before we needed to then pivot and do it properly, you know. And it was a real heart in mouth moment. I can remember we were in lockdown and I said to James, if you think we are an annual membership then. And our, our members were paying us monthly but that was predominantly for the food they were eating at the venues. Yeah. And we had 198 members at that point. And I'm like our income's going to have gone because we made a tiny bit from those people each month and that helped us continue. So we emailed out to the complete membership and said, you've got two options.

Kelly West [00:27:50]:
You can stop paying us your monthly membership or you can keep it there to support us and to keep the network going or you can reduce it. Okay. And we gave people the option to do what they wanted. No one canceled their payment like not one person out of 198. Oh no. I'm like one person did. One person, he left. Right.

Kelly West [00:28:09]:
Everybody else either kept their monthly fees the same or reduced them by 20. And I've got goosebumps telling you that.

Karen [00:28:16]:
Yeah.

Kelly West [00:28:17]:
That's the strength of the community that we built. And at the end of COVID we used a big proportion of that money and we sent every person a gift. All 197 of them at that point. Right. Because they really, they kept us going.

Karen [00:28:31]:
Yeah. Supported.

Kelly West [00:28:32]:
They supported us. So we, we moved to completely online because we knew that was always going to be the way of networking anyway. It just catapulted us to where we knew it was going to be anyway. And we don't do hybrid because we don't believe that as a network you can do both. Well, you can either do in person really well, go for it or you can do online really well. I've never met a network yet that does both really well because I just don't think you have the same passion for both. I just don't think that works. But the reason for it.

Kelly West [00:29:02]:
I sort of went off on a tangent there. We've got a disabled daughter who's coming up 19 this year, but mentally she's only 2 and she requires 247 support. So I can't go and physically work for someone else because I need to be around if she needs me or you know, if, if she's. She has to get special transport into college and life's changing very dramatically for us, particularly with her moving into adulthood. And that next phase is quite scary quite frankly. Yeah. Also knackering Karen. And I'm not Going to pretend to be Mother Teresa because I'm not.

Kelly West [00:29:36]:
I love my kids dearly, but if I'm being completely honest, I didn't sign up for this.

Karen [00:29:41]:
Yeah. Yeah.

Kelly West [00:29:43]:
You don't have kids to think that they're going to be two forever. You don't.

Karen [00:29:46]:
Yeah.

Kelly West [00:29:47]:
Yeah. And that's a journey I've had to come to terms with. Embrace. I love it. I wouldn't change it for me. I would change it for her because life is hard for her.

Karen [00:29:56]:
Yeah.

Kelly West [00:29:56]:
So me, James and Kieran are able to be interchangeable in that caring space as well as in the business and, and leading and managing that business moving forward. So for us, it's always been a case of having to not balance, because it doesn't. It never balances, but be in the space we need to be at the right time. And that was the whole reason for setting up a. Only.

Karen [00:30:17]:
Yeah. Yeah, I, I love that because I think what you've. You've both done is the fact that you even met networking. I mean, the signs were there, really, weren't they? But the fact that you've taken. You've both taken something that you both were passionate about and you've been able to create a really thriving business that is growing out of it, I think is very. Is testament to, I think both you, James and Keeney, because, like, as a team and it does come through, what you do is absolutely brilliant. And you can see the. The sort of.

Karen [00:30:57]:
The love and the care that goes into what you've created, which is why I feel like it's. It is a network of people that like people because that's who you've attracted and you have been very authentic by staying true to what has been important to you. But also there is a real element as to why you have your business in the first place, which I think so many people can relate to. Because on the face of it, we think when people are being successful in business that they've, you know, they've got everything figured out and that life is amazing. And all of this, that life is happening behind the scenes. And the one thing about creating a business, especially the model of business that you've created, is that it's the thing that supports you and your family. That's what you've been able to create. And I talk about it on the podcast about, you know, how, you know, creating an online business, it's our vehicle to the life that we want to.

Karen [00:31:55]:
To create for ourselves. Your testament. Your testament to that. And I. And I think that's real. Props to, to both you, James, and Keenly for creating something so amazing and, and, and being an amazing mum, which I know you are, so that you can support your family and be there and not have to compromise that time as well.

Kelly West [00:32:13]:
Well, definitely, yeah.

Karen [00:32:15]:
And I can imagine it, it is so challenging, so challenging.

Kelly West [00:32:20]:
You know, I mean, some days I do think, why did I pick a business where I have to be on screen so much? I just don't want to put my makeup on.

Karen [00:32:28]:
I, I, yeah, I can imagine, I can imagine.

Kelly West [00:32:31]:
But yeah, it also holds me accountable and it pushes me forward because I've created a business and an engine where I do do have to show up and be a certain way and it does stop me sometimes. Some days I would probably get up and think I'm, that's it. I'm writing today off because it's been hard work with Kenny's. You may not have had a good night or whatever would have happened, but I can't physically do that. So I don't ever allow myself to go into that space.

Karen [00:32:56]:
Yeah.

Kelly West [00:32:56]:
And you know, it's easy for me to say because I've got a really good support network around me and I'm not doing it on my own, but I never feel like I've got to put a brave face on when I go into a meeting because I genuinely want to be there and I want to get myself into that next phase of mindset and move things forward because life is hard and you know, it's relative to what you're dealing with. Yes. I've got disabled. So many people say to me, I don't know how you do it. When they understand the extent of what we do, they're like, I cannot believe what you've created considering what you deal with at home. Yeah. But there's people out there with worse things that are doing greater things. Like it is relative and it's also a point to remember that what do you actually want and what is your why? I knew I wanted to create a, well, a multi million pound business ultimately is what I want.

Kelly West [00:33:47]:
Okay. So I wanted a six figure business. Did that very quickly. Wanted a quarter of a million pound business. Just kind of got to that next and then, so where do you go next? And we always knew that that's what we were doing and we have regular conversations together. Know we're not quite, you know, some of our staff earn more than us at the moment, but that's fine, we're still in build mode. But what do we actually want to do? What do we want to take from the business. What is that going to do to us in our life now? And what is it going to do for us in five years, in 10 years? Because I think people have a bit of a bury the head in the sand sort of mentality and just do what's in front of us and not worry about what's going.

Kelly West [00:34:24]:
But before you know it, two, three, four, five years have passed, and then you start questioning it. So I think it's really important that you. You know where you're heading and why you're going there, and it can change.

Karen [00:34:34]:
Yeah. Yeah.

Kelly West [00:34:35]:
You need to know.

Karen [00:34:36]:
I think, I think having that intention and purpose is so powerful. And you're absolutely right. I think it's. It's been really anchored to your. Why. Why are you doing this? You know, and how can you do it in a sustainable way that. That kind of supports your own, your outside life as well? Because it isn't just business. You.

Karen [00:34:55]:
You don't want to be just thinking about business all the time because there's life going on, so you want to be present for that. And I think that's a balance that, that sometimes running a business, you know, you sort of lose that because your business can often require so much of you. So you end up veering to one side rather than, you know, being anchored in the middle. And I think when you're questioning why you're doing what you're doing and you're veering off maybe down a road that you didn't anticipate at the beginning, it's often because that. That. Why isn't. It's not anchored in place. And I, And I think that's what you have, which is why you've been able to kind of really build solid foundations.

Karen [00:35:39]:
And now, like you say, as you're growing, you're. You're getting that consistent growth because. Because everything's been put in place and, And I think so many people tend to skip over that, that, you know, it's.

Kelly West [00:35:50]:
Yeah.

Karen [00:35:50]:
You know, when I had my branding student, I'd work with my clients on. On, you know, the, the strategy around their brand and talk about the wine, the purpose and the intention or that. And. And that would be a real challenge for so many.

Kelly West [00:36:03]:
Yeah.

Karen [00:36:03]:
Why are you running your business? Oh, because. Because I don't want to. I don't want to be in a corporate job anymore. It's. It's not enough. It's not strong enough. Because it is tough. It's a reason, but it's.

Karen [00:36:15]:
But when you have those times of hardship in your personal life or in business. And they. You're going to get those. You need that anchor. I think you need that, that reason why you're. You stay strong. And I feel like, yeah, yeah, like the pain of giving up is going to be so far greater than the pain of continuously moving forward.

Kelly West [00:36:38]:
So true.

Karen [00:36:40]:
And I. And I feel like that's what you. You have created which, which is so inspirational and, you know, and what you've done and stuff. So it's absolutely wrong.

Kelly West [00:36:48]:
Like sometimes I want to scream, you know, it's taking me and James to the edge and back many a time. I can imagine. I can remember a few years ago, I was actually looking for a job and he saw it on my laptop and he was like, what are you doing? This is both of our business. And I'm just, you know, see what's out there. But that caused us a real problem because he rightly thought I was wavering because I didn't like what I was doing. No, I was just having one of those moments which I'm sure many of us do go, oh, blimey, wouldn't it be easier if I just. I can't because I can't physically do it. And then you go and you look and you go, now better off where I am, aren't I?

Karen [00:37:21]:
Thank you very much.

Kelly West [00:37:22]:
And you keep going again. So, yeah, we've all been there.

Karen [00:37:26]:
Yeah, I am, I. My husband rolls his eyes so many times because I love what I do. And my, my model of business is very different now. So when I had my branding studio, I was running projects that were bringing in a lot more. More income in one go, so I'd have a lot more cash flow. And when I moved over into sort of like the online course space and I'll start now, I naively thought at the time I was just adding another service on my business and, and actually what I then realized was, no, it is a new business. And so I had to really kind of take a step back with everything, you know, like everything just dropped. Dropped.

Kelly West [00:38:07]:
Yeah.

Karen [00:38:08]:
And I knew it was going to take time to build up because I'm building sort of more sort of passive income stream models. So. So, so the. So it's a lot less, but it, but, but I'm building for sustainability and that was always my intention because I had a moment in lockdown where I had this really crappy client and I was on the verge of taking them to court because they're in breach of a contract and it was horrible. From the April to The October, it's still, I've still got trauma. And I just had a moment where I was like, that's it. I'm going back to work. I'm done.

Karen [00:38:43]:
Yeah. And then the next day, and I'm really stubborn. I woke up and I was like. And my online course was selling. And then I just had like a light bulb moment where I was like, hang on a moment. You know, I got a course that's making me money. And then, and then they kind of like spiraled into all these other creative ideas and all of that.

Kelly West [00:39:00]:
That.

Karen [00:39:01]:
But, but, but I knew that where I want to get to is going to take longer because, because it's a different type of business and I'm sort of five, six years in and, and it's been, it has been up and down because obviously I've had to prove myself and I've had to, you know, kind of create something viable that works and, and you know, like, it's not an overnight thing, but every, I think every six months, months we go through this thing of. And I'll be very hormonal. So I'm in perimenopause at the moment and I will go through. And my hormones will be raging and I'm like, everything is not working. I just want to blow everything. I'm going back to work. And then, and every, and then my husband now, he just rolls his eyes and he's like, lets you do it. Okay, we'll talk about this tomorrow when you're.

Karen [00:39:49]:
And the next day, it's almost like a night and I will wake up and I'll be like, like, right, so I'm, I'm networking, I'm doing all, you know, and it's, it's almost like that moment of, it's almost like pressing the reset button. It is, it is. And then like you, you said you go online and you have a look at what's there and you're like, absolutely, I'm not.

Kelly West [00:40:08]:
Yeah, I'll stick to what. Thanks.

Karen [00:40:10]:
Yeah, definitely. And it's like, so, so what I do to, to kind of help me. What's really helped is I tend to focus in on the data. And this year especially, I've been very data driven with, with everything that I'm doing. And that is me, stay, stay, stay, you know, on. Because I can. The data is telling me it, it's all going in the right way. So, so it, it's those up and downs.

Karen [00:40:34]:
Like, say, obviously you have your challenges and everybody's got things going on, but I said But I think it's so normal, isn't it, in business where you sometimes just want to chuck it all in and just be like, I'm done.

Kelly West [00:40:45]:
Yeah.

Karen [00:40:46]:
And then if you're like me, the next day you're like, right, let's. Let's add a new service.

Kelly West [00:40:51]:
Yeah, exactly. Yeah. I think the difference with you, though, Karen, and probably me as well, and thanks to James, because I'm not an attention to detail person whatsoever. He's. He brings that bit is looking at the data like you've just said.

Karen [00:41:05]:
Yeah.

Kelly West [00:41:06]:
If your data is telling, your data will tell you everything you need to know about your business.

Karen [00:41:11]:
Yeah.

Kelly West [00:41:11]:
But so many people don't know.

Karen [00:41:13]:
Yeah. They're not looking at it, access it

Kelly West [00:41:15]:
or how to, you know, determine what they're looking at. I think that is the key. And if you, if you're listening to this and you don't know what your numbers and your data is, speak to someone. Because that.

Karen [00:41:26]:
Yes.

Kelly West [00:41:26]:
Such a big difference.

Karen [00:41:28]:
100. 100. It's. It's interesting. I've had moments where I've probably gone on a bit of a spiral because I've done something and, and on the face of it, it doesn't feel like it's worked.

Kelly West [00:41:39]:
Yeah.

Karen [00:41:39]:
And then I, you know, it starts playing your mind, you know, like, oh, I'm not good, you know, all that rubbish. And then things will happen. It's like a compound effect and. And you'll get these signs that are happening. And then you look at the data and the data is evidence. And I think as business owners and entrepreneurs, we have to be that scientist. We have to be like, if I do this, is it working? How can we define it's working? What is the evidence that is showing us? And, and since I've adopted that way of thinking, I feel more grounded because when I'm in those moments where my hormones are all over the place place, and I'm like, doubt in myself and all of that. The data is providing me the evidence that everything is where it needs to be and it's all going in the right direction.

Karen [00:42:28]:
So I think that is really important. And I can imagine, actually with the model of business that you have and you've created evident, you know, that evidence, that data is probably key to telling you what's going on. Really?

Kelly West [00:42:40]:
Definitely. I mean, if you think membership, community. So if you think we're having a bit of a slow in terms of what we've done done previously and again, look at the patterns so you know what's coming. Yeah, yeah, we're having quite a slow couple of months. But if I look at the visitors that are coming in, they've slowed a bit. Well that's because we haven't put as much marketing out. So we know, we know where all of those gaps are. So we know.

Kelly West [00:43:03]:
Okay, well we need to dial up the marketing then. And so we need to put a few more posts out, find more visitors come in, guess what happens, more members join.

Karen [00:43:09]:
Yeah.

Kelly West [00:43:09]:
So it's analyzing where those points and those gaps are so that you know, know, you know our visitors come in but they're not converting. Well that's a sales conversation and conversion conversation. Like you can then sort of use your numbers to identify which areas of your business maybe you've taken your eye off the ball on or you need to just close the gaps around. So yeah, it's really important.

Karen [00:43:29]:
Yeah, yeah, definitely. Now one of the great things I think you've done which you know made me very happy is you and James created an online course.

Kelly West [00:43:39]:
Yes, we did.

Karen [00:43:40]:
Do you want to just share about the online course and what that's about?

Kelly West [00:43:45]:
So James and I are. So we're just uber passionate about networking. I mean what it's brought us personally as well as professionally. Everything in our lives has been enhanced by networking. Okay. And we've done it for a long time. So we know how to work networking. We know how to be in that space.

Kelly West [00:44:04]:
So we used to run a monthly webinar and we would teach people on the way webinar. But the problem with that one to many sort of model is it's different depending on who you are and how you want to access it. Okay. So we'd end up, everybody would ask want to ask questions but there's kind of relative to that person and not always for everybody. So we then decided, well we can't be. We could probably run that meeting every day. We just physically can't do it. So we decided right, let's stop doing that because we're not giving individuals enough information don't directly for them.

Kelly West [00:44:34]:
So we've built the course which self paced. It's a mixture of videos, workbooks, real sort of probing questions to you as an individual as to how you can be clearer in your messaging when you're networking, how you develop your message for networking, what you are asking for at networking, how do you behave at networking. Like all the questions you should be giving in one to ones literally from start to finish how you can adapt networking to you to make it work. So you do get an outcome. Also talks to you about what is the outcome that you want? Because there's many different things. So we've built that course basically. Well, two reasons. It's for anyone, you don't need to be a member.

Kelly West [00:45:15]:
But if we can educate our members into better networking, that's great for the community because it rises everybody. So that, that was the reason for building it.

Karen [00:45:26]:
Yeah, brilliant. And I've, I've heard nothing but good things about the, the course. And so how was that experience, excuse me, in creating the course?

Kelly West [00:45:35]:
It's roller coaster again, isn't it? It's that like procrastination of oh, we got to get this done, haven't we? We've got to get all that like. And I'm not a perfectionist, James is. So it nearly drove me mad because it all had to be perfect, right. And thank God it did because you know, better product at the end of it. But it's that age old thing, isn't it? You launch it and you go, right, I'm gonna sell 3,000 of these, aren't I? And you might get one if you're lucky. And then you remember, oh yeah, of course. Because nobody actually really knows it's there, do they? Yeah, keep talking about it and we get consistent, yeah, people buying it because we've got to drip feed the message like. And you know what, somebody might need to see you talking about it 10 times before they buy it.

Kelly West [00:46:23]:
Somebody else might only need to see it once and they're bought in. So I think we forget that we've got it in our heads and we've bombarded ourselves with it but actually our audience is still relatively new to it. So yeah, we're pleased as always. You always want it to do better, don't you? Because nothing's ever good enough. But we've had a consistent flow of sales and it's evergreen so it can just, just continue, which is good.

Karen [00:46:46]:
And I think what, what works really well with it, it sort of fits in line with your business model. You have an audience of people already there but like you sort of say it's evergreen so you can sell it outside, but it gives you that extra layer of income so that if, if, I don't know, join ups are slow, you know that you can push out the online course so you're, you're, you're mitigating that vulnerability of just having one thing, you know, so it's part of something that you can offer to your members. Because I think that's it. I think, and we were talking about this before we jumped on is one of the things I love about your meeting. I love the structure. I love the fact that you have a discussion point in the meeting that anybody can get involved in. I love that and I love the fact that you have the final piece has been the ask because that's not being done anywhere else. So, so you could be really intentional as to why you're going to the meeting in first place.

Karen [00:47:44]:
But, but I think what really you do really well is that it's an extra lay of experience that you're offering your members. So it isn't just about come to the meetings and meet people and pay us money and have 90 minutes of, you know, fun. You're, you're, you're saying to them, look, let us help you. And we can do that by using you working through this framework that we have created that has been designed to support you so you can get the most out of your networking. And I think the two together just work absolutely brilliantly.

Kelly West [00:48:19]:
Definitely. I mean, I think, you know, back in the day BNI obviously still the global leader, but BNI was all about educating people how to network. Whether you love it or hate it. I know I reference it, but it is the grandfather of networking. So we have to, it is we wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them. It doesn't matter if you like it or not. So they educated networkers but they would make sure you had to do the education when you came into the network. We don't force people to do that but we will say to them if you're struggling, perhaps you need a little bit of education.

Kelly West [00:48:48]:
And here we go is a really affordable course for you to work through yourself. Everybody that's done that course has come back to me and said it's just obvious things that you forget get that you just need to tweak and they make such a massive difference. So yeah, it, it's, and also for us it's about, it's so intrinsic to our business. Why wouldn't we have done that course for people to have access to? It's almost a no brainer, isn't it?

Karen [00:49:13]:
Like of course, absolutely. And yeah, and you've built it, you've done the work, you've built it. So now it's just about scaling the sales which you can do as you grow your network. And I think that's one of the great things about creating online courses courses is people can plug it into their business and it becomes even if somebody is thinking about joining the network, maybe they haven't done networking, maybe they're now confident or comfortable in coming into a networking setting. They can access your course to get them ready for it. So, you know, it's just that layering of experience and support that you're being able to provide through the business that you've created. And I think as business owners, that's what we need to be thinking about is, is how can we support our audience so that we're delivering those results for them. And things like online courses and communities and memberships and all of that help to facilitate that, that transformation for, for the audience that we want to work with.

Karen [00:50:12]:
So it's great.

Kelly West [00:50:13]:
And it's just another string to your bow, isn't it? You, you absolutely expert in that space.

Karen [00:50:19]:
Absolutely, yeah. Yeah, definitely, yeah. And, and, and let's, let's face it, it's another income you want in your business. So, so, yeah, fantastic. So before we finish up, what three tips would you give somebody if they've never networked before? They don't know about online networking, but they're curious and they want to check it out. What advice would you give them?

Kelly West [00:50:44]:
I think the, the obvious one is, is just, just do it. Like, just stop thinking about it because we all massively overthink things. Pick one, one or two online networks that you like the look of for whatever reason, and just go along just while you're in the meeting. What do you like about it? What don't you like about it? What is your goal when you're going networking anyway? And then pick the one that suits your goal and your preferred outcome and get stuck in, like, don't give it one or two months because that's not going to work. You've got to give it 6, 12, 18 months for it to properly work. But go in with the intention of making that the commute community that you're gonna, you know, be part of. And I do think people can juggle probably two, three maximum networks.

Karen [00:51:25]:
Yeah, I agree that that would be

Kelly West [00:51:28]:
probably my top one. My second one would be supply and demand. Like, it does blow my mind sometimes. People spend so much time trying to build a business, perfect the products and the services before they've even gone to market to see if anybody wants it.

Karen [00:51:44]:
Yeah.

Kelly West [00:51:44]:
And then they get there and they go, ah, ah.

Karen [00:51:47]:
People aren't think of that thing.

Kelly West [00:51:49]:
Or oh, she's just said that, like, the best new business owners will get involved in networking straight away. Ask the questions of the, the peers within the groups and go, what is it you'd like to see from me? As a marketer, as a brand designer, whatever it is, and then they'll build their products and services around that supply and demand. So that's my second one. And then I think importantly, consistency. Like, you've got to be in it for the long term. You've got to be there for the long haul. Right. It's consistency of professional behavior.

Kelly West [00:52:22]:
Yeah. Show up, do what you say you're going to do. Give credit for people to gain credit back to you. Like, you've got to build a real community and personal network within the networks that you're going to. And, you know, consistency is banged on about all the time, but you can be doing the wrong thing consistently and that's not going to work. So it's again, looking at what is working, checking the data and making sure you're consistently showing up in the right places.

Karen [00:52:48]:
Yeah, absolutely, absolutely. And, and can I just add, I think it's about showing up with integrity as well, because I think it's so important to, to, to, to. To just be yourself and not, not have the facade of, of maybe kind of be further ahead than you. You maybe are or, or whatever. I think, I think people buy into people that are honest, that operate with integrity and I think that that is absolute fundamental. I think when it comes to networking.

Kelly West [00:53:22]:
Yeah, you don't need to be perfect. We're all human. Like, we'll make mistakes, but as long as you've got integrity and you're professional. Yeah, you'll win.

Karen [00:53:30]:
Yeah, absolutely. No, they're really valuable. Thank you. This has been great. I mean, I could talk to you all the time. Yeah, definitely all day. You know, we, we can cover so much. But I just want to sort of say thank you so much for coming on to the show.

Karen [00:53:43]:
I really value your time and sharing everything that you shared. If any of my listeners want to attend an only meeting, then I will put Kelly's details in the show notes and please do go check out a meeting. Do you want to just. Where can they find you? How, how long is that the meeting? How much is the meeting? Do you want to just share that?

Kelly West [00:54:08]:
Yeah. So basically a meeting's 90 minutes. They're regional meetings. You don't have to live in the region. We just had to call them something. So you'll put the details of the website in the show notes. Have a look at the, the meeting calendar on there. Pick a meeting.

Kelly West [00:54:22]:
I'll actually give you a code, Karen, so that people can book a free visit. It's normally, it's normally a fiver, but yeah, we, we'll give people a free visit and then equally, if you want to reach out to me on link LinkedIn, you can find me Kelly west, only networking. I'm always up to connect with good people.

Karen [00:54:36]:
Absolutely. And, and the other thing I, I just want to add to this is because I have a lot of listeners that are in other countries. Yes. So it isn't just for here in the uk. This is a global network and they're building globally. So it doesn't matter where you are, where you're based, as long as you've got an Internet connection, you can attend. So do please check it out. Kelly, thank you so much for coming on today.

Karen [00:55:00]:
It's been absolutely brilliant. Brilliant. Thank you.

Kelly West [00:55:02]:
Thank you.

Karen [00:55:03]:
Karen, thank you so much for tuning into today's episode. I hope it's given you some clarity and sparked some new ideas in your business. If you found this helpful, please share it with a friend or a fellow entrepreneur who's also building their online business, because this might be exactly what they need to hear today. And if this episode has you thinking that you're now ready to start turning your expertise into income, then I'd love to invite you into my membership. Sell your brilliance online. Head on over to www.sellyourbrillianceonline.com/membership. 

I will be back next week with another episode, but until then, have a wonderful week.

Karen [00:55:48]:
Thanks for tuning into today's episode of Online Business Uncovered.

Karen [00:55:52]:
If the if today's conversation has sparked

Karen [00:55:54]:
an idea or gave you a dose of clarity, then please make sure to check out the show notes for all the links and resources mentioned. New episodes land every Thursday, so hit, follow or subscribe to stay in the loop. And if you're loving the show, a quick rating or review goes a long way in helping more brilliant entrepreneurs like you find this show. Until next time, keep showing up, up. Keep sharing your brilliance and remember, freedom in business is possible and it starts with taking the next right step.