Surviving Survivor® and Making 6 Figures off a $9/mo Membership Program (with Liz Wilcox)

Frugalpreneur: Building a Business on a Bootstrapped Budget

ℹ️ Introduction

Welcome to another insightful episode of *Frugalpreneur* with your host, Sarah St. John. Today, we're excited to have Liz Wilcox back with us. Liz, known for her prowess in email marketing and her dramatic survival on *Survivor*, where she placed 4th, brings a unique blend of reality TV insights and business acumen. We dive into her strategic, albeit challenging, journey on *Survivor*, including her famous meltdown over an Applebee's reward, and how she's leveraged that experience to forge ahead in her entrepreneurial ventures. Discover how Liz has built a successful low-cost membership business, the significance of thoughtful pricing strategies, and the crucial role of adaptability and collaboration in both survival and business. Plus, hear Liz's invaluable tips on leveraging email marketing and sustaining a large-scale membership. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or a *Survivor* fan, this episode is packed with lessons, laughs, and practical advice. Stay tuned as we explore Liz Wilcox's incredible story and strategies for turning challenges into triumphs.

List 7 key themes

1. Survivor Strategy and Challenges

2. Infamous Applebee's Meltdown Incident

3. Public Reaction and Cosplay

4. Coping and Moving Forward

5. Email Marketing and Business Model

6. Membership Pricing and Strategy

7. Reflection and Personal Insights

📚 Timestamped overview

00:00 I got 4th place on Survivor.

04:54 No one voted until final fire decision.

06:23 No regrets, wished practiced more fire challenges.

11:19 Survivor lessons turned Applebee's incident into publicity.

14:31 Maria cannot win survivor challenge; puzzle crucial.

16:02 Success comes from working smarter, not harder.

19:50 Seeking smarter work solutions with a membership.

24:36 Unique approach to email marketing services startup.

26:45 Prefer podcasts, improve product, achieved 4,000 members.

30:18 Fiji trip, lost weight, sales dropped, divided attention.

33:07 Marketing is repetition; consider client work alternatives.

36:38 Seeking predictable income through $9 memberships.

41:32 Ask: Is it easy? Is it fun?

42:21 Make it easy and fun to proceed.

❇️ Key topics and bullets

Comprehensive Sequence of Topics Covered in "Frugalpreneur" with Liz Wilcox

1. Introduction and Guest Background

- Host & Guest:

- Sarah St. John introduces herself and Liz Wilcox.

- Guest Experience:

- Liz's email marketing expertise.

- Her background on *Survivor*.

- Meeting Point:

- Previous meeting at PodFest in Orlando.

2. Liz's Survivor Experience

- Challenges Faced:

- Physical issue with wrists popping out of sockets.

- Intentional avoidance of fire-making practice.

- Strategic Mistakes:

- Recognizes the error in not practicing fire-making.

- Would approach it differently if given another chance.

- Infamous Meltdown Incident:

- Emotional reaction to missing Applebee's reward.

- Quick recovery and apology.

- Public Perception:

- Infamous meltdown leading to cosplay at Dragon Con.

- Engagement on social media related to Applebee's.

- Benefits from initial publicity and reaction.

- Emotional Resilience:

- Moving past setbacks in games and business.

- Advice for overcoming losses productively.

3. Interpersonal Relations on Survivor

- Helping Others:

- Assisting Kenzie in a challenge.

- Self-awareness of strengths and weaknesses.

- Misrepresentation on TV:

- Reality TV's edited portrayal versus actual relationships.

- Show filming logistics and bathroom breaks (code word: "Coconut Grove").

4. Business Insights

- Strategic Business Decision-making:

- Leveraging questions about ease and fun in making business decisions.

- Creating a business around desired lifestyle.

- Membership Model:

- Pricing strategy for her $9 membership.

- High membership volume for sustainable income.

- Avoiding paid ads in favor of affiliate marketing.

- Marketing Tactics:

- Affiliate marketing contributing to membership growth.

- Presenting on over 300 podcasts.

- Effectiveness of marketing repeating the message.

- Customer Retention and Product Offering:

- Strategies for low churn rate.

- Emphasizing actionable memberships over educational ones.

- Importance of diverse product offerings and recurring revenue.

- Personal and Business Philosophy:

- Managing churn rate and customer support.

- Affordability perception for email marketing.

5. Liz's Reflections on Survivor and Business

- Personal Feelings:

- Intentionally not practicing fire starting.

- Belief in email marketing despite dislikes.

- Managing stress and scalability over high-pressure services.

- Survivor Takeaways:

- Strategic collaboration vs. solitary effort.

- Critique of "solopreneur" concept.

6. Practical Business Advice

- Business Model Suitability:

- Recommendation for low-ticket, high-volume models.

- High-ticket services for those preferring personalized client interaction.

- Networking Importance:

- Building strategic relationships.

- Participating in podcast interviews and events like Podfest.

- Customer Engagement:

- Under-promising and over-delivering.

- Providing continuous value for retention.

7. Conclusion and Resource Mention

- Membership Benefits:

- Praising resources and affordability.

- Mention of Sarah's affiliate link.

- Final Advice:

- Emphasizing fun and ease in business strategies.

- Encouragement for email marketing adoption.

❓ Questions

Absolutely! Here are 10 discussion questions based on this episode of Frugalpreneur featuring Liz Wilcox:

1. Strategic Decisions:

- How do you think Liz Wilcox's decision to avoid practicing fire-making impacted her overall strategy in *Survivor*? Was this a wise decision, considering the benefits versus the risks?

2. Handling Setbacks:

- Liz talked about the importance of moving on from setbacks. Can you share a time in your own life or business when you had to quickly move past a failure? What strategies did you use to overcome it?

3. Public Perception vs. Reality:

- Liz's meltdown over the Applebee's reward became infamous and even led to her being cosplayed at events. How would you handle a public meltdown if it happened to you, and what steps would you take to manage public perception afterward?

4. Role of Humor:

- Liz found humor in her *Survivor* meltdown incident despite initial negative feelings. How important do you think humor is in dealing with stressful situations?

5. Influence of Reality TV Editing:

- Knowing that reality TV is heavily edited, what are your thoughts on how media portrayal can affect a person's public image and opportunities post-show?

6. Business Strategies:

- Liz Wilcox emphasized building a business around lifestyle, ease, and fun. How do you incorporate these values into your own business strategy?

7. Membership Model:

- Liz's membership model at $9/month has proven successful. In what ways could a low-priced, high-volume membership be advantageous or challenging for your own business?

8. Networking and Marketing:

- Liz has appeared on over 300 podcasts. What are some effective strategies you have used to create and maintain a strong network for your business?

9. Handling Customer Churn:

- Liz shared her strategies for maintaining a low customer churn rate. What are some methods you use or would like to use to improve customer retention in your business?

10. Email Marketing Value:

- Despite disliking emails, Liz Wilcox finds email marketing effective. What are your experiences with email marketing, and how do you ensure its effectiveness for your audience?

These questions should provoke thoughtful discussion and deeper insights into the themes explored during Liz Wilcox's guest appearance on the *Frugalpreneur* podcast.

10 lessons

Based on the transcript excerpt, here are 10 lessons covered in the event, including titles and descriptions:

1. Survivor Challenges: Physical Limits

- Liz faced unique physical challenges during fire-making due to wrist issues but chose to avoid practicing it.

2. Strategic Errors: Fire Practice

- Liz acknowledges the lack of fire-starting practice as a strategic mistake and shares insights on improving strategies.

3. Applebee's Meltdown: Hunger Strikes

- Liz's infamous meltdown over an Applebee's reward highlights the impact of extreme hunger in high-stress situations.

4. Public Reaction: Humor and Humility

- Despite the meltdown causing a scene, Liz learned to laugh at herself and embrace public reactions positively.

5. Coping with Setbacks: Quick Recovery

- Liz emphasizes the importance of swiftly moving past setbacks and not letting failures impede future success.

6. Reality TV Illusion: Editing Magic

- Reality TV is edited to dramatize events; not everything is as it appears, including Liz's fire challenge.

7. Behind the Scenes: Constant Filming

- Survivor films 24/7, sharing a unique behind-the-scenes insight into constant camera presence in reality TV.

8. Self-Image vs. Portrayal: Perception Gaps

- Liz discusses the disparity between her real personality and her TV portrayal, emphasizing strategic gameplay.

9. Low-Ticket Membership: Sustainable Income

- Liz's $9 membership model targets affordability and sustainable income, focusing on high volume over high ticket.

10. Collaboration over Solitude: Strategic Alliances

- Liz critiques the "solopreneur" concept, advocating for collaboration as a path for better business growth.

Each lesson provides valuable insights into both Liz's Survivor experience and her strategic approaches in business, offering listeners practical takeaways.

Survivor, Setbacks, and Strategies

In this episode of Frugalpreneur, Sarah St. John talks with Liz Wilcox, a top 4 finalist on *Survivor* and a renowned email marketing expert. Liz shares her intriguing journey on the reality show, her meltdown that went viral, and how she transitioned into a successful business model while focusing on making things easy and fun.

Survivor Strategy and Fire-Making Challenge

Liz Wilcox’s journey on *Survivor* was filled with strategic maneuvers and personal challenges. One of the major physical struggles she faced was her wrists frequently popping out of their sockets, making fire-making a significant hurdle. As a strategic move, she intentionally avoided practicing fire-making, believing it would make her less of a threat, thus increasing her likelihood of being taken to the final stages of the game. Unfortunately, this strategy backfired, as she was eliminated in a fire-making challenge that determined the final three contestants. Liz reflects on this experience, acknowledging that avoiding practice was a strategic error she would change if given another chance.

The Infamous Applebee’s Meltdown

Liz became famously known for her meltdown over an Applebee’s reward on Survivor, which included a bacon bourbon burger. After not eating for 72 hours, her hunger got the best of her when she wasn’t chosen for the reward, leading to a dramatic scene. Despite the initial embarrassment, Liz quickly apologized and continued the game. This incident gained her a lot of publicity, and even after the show, people cosplayed as her at events like Dragon Con, and social media users frequently tagged her in posts related to Applebee’s. Liz has since found humor in the situation and appreciates the additional exposure it brought her.

Moving Forward from Setbacks

Liz emphasizes the importance of moving on from setbacks, a crucial lesson from her Survivor experience that she applies to her business life. She believes that expressing frustration and anger in a healthy way is important for moving forward. Her ability to laugh at herself and the situation has resonated with many people, who have reached out to her expressing gratitude for her handling of the situation. Liz’s experience serves as a reminder that feelings of anger and disappointment are natural but should not hinder long-term progress.

From High-Ticket Copywriting to Affordable Memberships

Transitioning from Survivor to her professional endeavors, Liz has been very intentional about how she structures her business. She moved from offering high-ticket copywriting services to creating a low-cost, sustainable membership model. Liz’s $9 monthly membership aims to reduce stress and make valuable resources accessible to beginners and those hesitant about monthly commitments. This pricing strategy has been incredibly successful, with her membership growing to around 4,000 members, generating a substantial monthly income.

The Role of Networking and Affiliates

Liz is a testament to the power of networking and strategic collaborations. Having appeared on over 300 podcasts since 2020, her visibility has significantly increased, contributing to her membership growth. She emphasizes the importance of repeating one’s message across various platforms and building strategic relationships, like her connection with Sarah from PodFest. Instead of relying on paid ads, Liz focuses on affiliate marketing to spread the word about her membership. Affiliates earn a 50% commission, which has proven effective in driving new memberships without incurring high marketing costs.

Practical Advice for Entrepreneurs

Liz shares valuable advice for fellow entrepreneurs, advocating for building a business around the desired lifestyle. She suggests asking two crucial questions when making business decisions: “What would this look like if it was easy?” and “What would this look like if it was fun?” These questions have guided her in creating a business model that is both sustainable and enjoyable.

For those considering membership-based businesses, Liz recommends focusing on what you enjoy and are comfortable with. If you prefer large audiences and less direct client interaction, a low-ticket, high-volume approach might suit you best. Conversely, if you enjoy personalized interaction, higher-ticket, more focused offerings could be more appropriate.

Sustainable Business Models and Member Retention

Lastly, Liz discusses the significance of sustainable business models and retaining members. Her approach of under-promising and over-delivering ensures that her members receive more value than they expect, which helps maintain a low churn rate. Despite the industry average, Liz’s churn rate has historically been below 5%, even reaching as low as 3% at times. Regular updates, offering additional mini-courses, and supporting member navigation and customer service contribute to this success.

Resources:

Below I have linked (affiliate links, of course) to the program as well as her other affordable stand-alone courses. I encourage you to take 5 mins to check these out and discover how this can positively impact your own business:

Email Marketing Membership: That little $9 email template membership making big waves in the small biz world by helping people understand (and write) emails that connect + convert. For a price you won't believe.

Email Metrics Workshop: Discover the truth behind that pesky little Apple ios update. Then learn the larger picture of email metrics and which to focus on for success of YOUR business.

Welcome Sequence Workshop: Gets people to open your newsletters, engage with what you send, and buy when you sell

Bankable Black Friday:Want to get serious about actually having a Black Friday sale but feel like you've got no time, no clue, or whatever other BS inside your head? Grab this training and I'll walk you through the offer, strategy and copy behind it all.

Sales Page Training + Templates: A plug-n-play sales page template that includes EVERY section you might need. (way more than this sales page, btw.) Complete with side-by-side detailed examples that make this template incredibly easy-to-read and understand. Ya know, so you can actually use it.

Open Sesame: In this workshop, you'll get all the info you need to create an engaged list that's interested in what you're selling. Plus time to implement and ask questions. BONUS: all the gifs + 90s references you can handle. (aka this will not be boring.)

Launch Course: Complete with email templates, tutorials, and activities that help you hone in on how to best explain your product to your ideal customers and let go of other intense, coercive strategies that might keep you clinging to any and every buyer.

20 Minute Newsletters: Email outline so you know how to structure every newsletter from here on out. 2 videos to show you my exact steps (AKA you'll actually learn how to use the outline). voice guide that explains how to write like YOU + banish the whole "I used this copywriter's thing and it doesn't even sound like me" thing

Summit Email Success: The online training (with templates!!) to implement email marketing into your summit like an absolute pro to reach your summit goals and covert your upgraded pass like mad.

Community Through Email: In this 90-minute training/workshop, you'll learn:

a firm foundation as to WHY email matters and HOW it can be so freaking effective.

Email Staircase: Learn how