Creating Compelling Offers
The first three steps in my framework are critical foundational elements. Now, let’s move on to Step 4 of my 6-part framework for building a successful creative business from scratch.
If you missed them, they are all available here on the blog. You can read last week’s post about Step 3: Building an Audience here. It’s all about how to attract the right people into your creative world so you can share your amazing offers with them.
Today, we’re diving into Step 4: Offers.
What’s an Offer?
In it’s simplest form, an offer is anything that you plan to sell or are already selling:
physical or digital products
courses or memberships
coaching or mentorship
You can have the most beautiful art or the most helpful course or membership in the world, but if you don’t structure it in a way that feels clear and compelling to your audience, they’ll never take the next step.
Here’s the thing: Creating offers isn’t just about presenting your work or building a course. It’s about creating something so enticing and well-organized that your ideal customer feels like it was made just for them.
Start Simple to Gain Traction
When I was just starting out, my goal was to get feedback on my surface pattern designs. And I knew the best way to do that was to create a small, cohesive collection of items that I could resell at craft fairs or art shows.
I’d spent years in corporate retail, and one thing I knew for sure was that presentation matters. Having a cohesive set of products and displaying them well would be incredibly important.
And so I followed my own motto: Start simple. Get fancy later.
I created a small product “capsule” that included just 5 items:
Greeting cards
Notebooks with my designs on the cover
Tote bags
Coffee cups
Wrapping paper
Those were my offers, but I didn’t leave it at that. I leveraged something I’d learned in corporate retail: “units per transaction” (UPT).
Why UPT Matters
UPT is a key metric that measures how many items a customer buys in a single purchase. It’s incredibly powerful because it allows you to increase the average value of customer purchases by bundling items that make sense together.
Here’s what I did:
I created a three-pack of notebooks for a slight discount.
I made a teacher’s gift pack featuring a tote bag, a coffee cup, and a notebook.
By making my offers more compelling through bundles and clear presentation, I was able to attract more people and encourage them to buy multiple items at once.
The lesson? Start simple. Test your offers. And find ways to make them even more appealing over time.
Creating Compelling Offers
Creating irresistible offers isn’t just about throwing a bunch of things together and hoping someone buys. It’s about understanding your audience’s desires, presenting your work in a way that appeals to them, and making it easy for them to say “yes.”
This applies whether you’re selling:
Physical products (like art prints, notebooks, or tote bags)
Digital products (like courses, memberships, or workshops)
Services (like coaching, consulting, or custom designs)
No matter what you’re selling, the thought process is the same:
Make your offer clear and valuable.
Add appeal through factors like availability, bonuses, special access, or bespoke items.
Always consider what will make someone excited to purchase.
The 3 Key Questions to Ask Yourself
To help you create offers that feel irresistible to your audience, start by answering these three important questions:
Question 1: What are you offering and how does it address your ideal customer’s needs?
Whether it’s a product, a service, or a membership, be crystal clear about what you’re offering. But don’t stop there—explain why it matters to your ideal customer. What problem does it solve? What desire does it fulfill?
Reflect: How can you present your offer so that its value is obvious and enticing?
Question 2: How can you make your offer compelling and irresistible?
Instead of offering discounts (which can damage your brand in the long run), consider other ways to make your offer irresistible:
Bonuses: Provide additional content or resources that enhance the core offer.
Special Access: Offer exclusive access to you as the creator, such as Q&A sessions, personal feedback, or mentorship.
Bespoke Items: Create one-of-a-kind or commissioned alternatives that go the extra mile for your customer.
Reflect: What can you add, enhance, or customize to make your offer feel more valuable and appealing?
Question 3: Does your first offer lead naturally into the next?
Think about the long-term relationship you want with your customer. Does your first offer lead naturally to what they might need next?
Reflect: How is your first offer part of a longer term customer journey?
Putting It All Together
Creating offers that truly resonate with your audience is about clarity, simplicity, and value. You don’t have to be fancy or overly complicated to get started. Just like I did with my simple product capsule, you can start small and improve over time.
And remember, the best offers often grow out of your audience’s needs. The more you listen to them, the more powerful your offers will become.
Download Your Worksheet
I’ve put together a simple worksheet with these three questions to help you create irresistible offers that speak directly to your audience.
📄 Download Your Offers Worksheet Here
Join Me Live on Wednesday
As usual, I’ll be live on Facebook & YouTube on Wednesday at noon PT / 3pm ET.
📌 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/annelafolletteart
📌 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AnneLaFollette1
Come hang out and bring your questions—I can’t wait to see you there!
xo,
Anne
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MEET ANNE
Hi…I’m Anne!
My creative inspiration comes from a lifetime of observation. I grew up in Paris on the Place St. Sulpice and walked to school through the Luxembourg gardens. And that was only the beginning… Learn more by watching the video on my About page.
