Whether you’ve been an entrepreneur for awhile or are just starting out, you might find yourself wondering when to focus on the backend vs frontend in online business. Not to worry. Today we’re clarifying which one’s which and when to prioritize one over the other. Sounds like something you need? Well then, let’s jump in.
Links for This Episode
- Mama Business Blueprint
- Mama Business Strategy Session
- Mama Business Community
- More Info & Podcast Transcript
Podcast Episode Recommendations
- #71: 3 Common Excuses That Keep You From Growing Your Online Business
- #65: How to Automate Your Sales Process and Take Back Your Family Time
- #64: Are Your Business Systems Ready for Growth? 3 Ways to Know
- #63: Eliminate Tech Overwhelm: Streamline Your Business Systems with this Simple Strategy
Backend vs Frontend in Online Business: Which is More Important?
Well hey there and welcome back to the Mama Business podcast. If you are listening to this in real time, then you know that it’s the beginning of May and I don’t know about you, but there is something about Spring that makes me want to do all the things and be super productive. And it’s something I do each year in anticipation of summer because I want to spend as much time as possible out in the sun with my husband and my kids. If that’s you, then you may also be considering what’s the most important thing to do now to set your business (and yourself) up for success. Hopefully today’s topic will help to steer you in the right direction.
And this topic comes from a direct question I had from a listener this past week. She’s just getting her online business up and running and she told me that she was really struggling with some of the terminology that’s thrown around in the online business world, specifically the difference between the backend and frontend of business and which one is more important. So…that’s exactly what we’re going to flesh out today and we’re going to start by clarifying and simplifying what those references mean.
What is the Frontend?
The frontend of a business refers to the visible part of the business that your clients can see and interact with directly.
This could include:
- the content on your website, including your sales pages,
- podcast episodes or other long-form content,
- the actual coaching calls or customer support you provide,
- the course content,
- the emails you send,
…and more. Obviously, it’s not an exhaustive list. Essentially, the front end is everything you use to attract your ideal clients and create a positive experience for them.
What is the Backend?
The backend of your business, is everything tech and systems related that supports the frontend user experience. These are the behind the scenes things, meaning that your client or customer doesn’t see them but they benefit from you having them in place.
So, these could include:
- your website,
- your hosting platform,
- inventory management system if you have one,
- your customer relationship management system,
- your content calendar and task management system,
- your email marketing platform,
- your invoicing and bookkeeping system,
…among others. Once again, it’s not an exhaustive list.
Which is more important?
I like to liken this to a restaurant. When you walk in as a customer – that’s the frontend. You see the hostess, get seated, look at a menu, make a choice about what to eat and drink and then sit and enjoy the atmosphere without concern for what’s going on behind the scenes. Behind the scenes though, it’s a totally different thing. There are cooks making food, waitresses getting drinks, and probably a break room, office or two for the management and a storage room for all of the food and drinks that will be used in the next couple of days.
So, which one is more important? Well, as you can see…you can’t have one without the other. Which makes them both critical as part of building a business – online or otherwise.
Without your backend systems in place, it’s very unlikely that you’ll provide a seamless and positive client experience on the frontend. At least, not for long.
Because while you might be able to keep track of all of your inventory or enter your invoices by hand for the first little while of your business, eventually you’ll get bogged down in those backend tasks and start neglecting the customer’s needs on the front end.
Plus, you’ll be exhausted trying to manage it all.
Ultimately, the backend of your business is the foundation. Everything on the frontend can and will run seamlessly if you have that backend in place. And…the best part is that those backend systems might take a little time and resources to get up and going, but once they are set up and working properly, they require little to no attention, meaning you can focus on what you do best: serving your ideal clients.
Backend vs Frontend in Online Business: Which One Will You Focus On?
And that brings us to the action part of this episode. And we all know that action is where the dreams turn into the reality. And today’s action step is this:
ACTION: Get those backend systems up and running. You heard me lay out what they are and how they support the client attraction and retention part of your business. Without them, you risk dealing with unnecessary pressure and tasks that don’t have to be on your daily or weekly to-do list. Trust me, it’ll be worth it.
I do just want to say that because the backend of your business requires a focus on tech and systems that might seem overwhelming to a new business owner, this is something that goes widely overlooked and is often the reason for burnout among entrepreneurs. Especially those who have kids and other commitments that require their attention as well. If that’s you. If you are feeling like you want to put off setting up the backend of your business because it might be complicated or feel a bit overwhelming – no excuses allowed. Jump into the Mama Business Blueprint. It’s my program that walks you step-by-step, click-by-click through how to set up those systems and how to use them to attract your ideal clients now and well into the future. If that’s something that interests you, head on over to sarahbrumley.com/blueprint and get started today.
Whatever you decide mama, just know that I’m cheering you on. You’ve got this! Have an amazing day and I’ll chat with you next time.
