#156 The Most Underrated Profit Lever in Your Business
I have so many stories with people that begin with "we started as internet friends" and I think that is one of the powerful things about online community that will become less and less abnormal over time.
I met Jessica Miller through LinkedIn. She commented on my posts often, and then I heard her episode on the Nathan Barry show and I was like, wait a minute, I know this woman! I reached out for a virtual coffee, and next thing you know we're friends, and I'm a guest on her podcast.
I was so drawn in by Jessica's story – she had a heart attack super young, 2 months after giving birth, completely out of the blue. She saved her own life by driving herself to the hospital, and that was her "I'm going to change my life" catalyst. Now she is a life and business coach.
I don't know a single successful business owner that hasn't been through some sh*t that gave them the audacity, confidence, or drive to build their dream and create their own reality.
In addition to my respect for Jessica's journey, we have very similar principles about business. If you serve your customers well, your business will grow. Jess is great at finding "hidden cash" in the business by serving your existing clients.
Check out our conversation on the It's Your Offer podcast, "The Community Advantage: How To Turn Clients Into Compounding Revenue", and keep reading to hear Jessica's perspective on community.
Guest Written By Jessica Miller
Most business owners think growth comes from more. More leads More marketing More offers
But after working with hundreds of 6- and 7-figure business owners, helping them uncover hidden profit sitting in their existing businesses without adding more complexity, I can tell you:
The fastest path to more revenue is usually sitting much closer than that.
It’s your community. Not just the audience you have…
But the people already inside your world.
Your clients, your customers, your listeners, your members.
This is one of the biggest things I help my clients unlock inside my consulting work and programs like my Profit Accelerator:
How to turn what they’ve already built into their most powerful growth engine
Because when leveraged well, your community becomes one of the highest ROI, lowest effort profit levers in your business.
And the reason it works?
Because community creates proximity, trust, and personalization at scale.
When people feel like: → “This was made for me” → “These are my people” → “I’m seen here”
They don’t just stay…
They buy more, engage more, and get better results. Here are four simple ways to turn your community into a powerful growth engine:
01. Personalize the experience (without overcomplicating it)
The more your community feels tailored, the more valuable it becomes.
This doesn’t require building something complex.
It looks like:
Speaking directly to specific types of members
Calling out where people are in their journey
Creating moments where people feel recognized
This is something we refine constantly with clients, because even small shifts in personalization can dramatically increase engagement and conversion.
Because personalization does something powerful: It increases buy-in and follow-through
And when people follow through…they get results.
And when they get results…
They stay longer, upgrade faster, and tell others. Personalization isn’t an extra “something”. It’s a multiplier.
02. Build natural next steps (so people don’t stall out)
Most communities lose momentum because there’s nowhere to go next.
People join… They engage… And then eventually they plateau.
Instead, think about: → What happens after someone gets their first win? → Where do they go when they’re ready for more?
This is where your highest-leverage growth lives, and it’s a huge focus in the work I do around offer optimization and client lifetime value.
Simple examples:
A next-level room, offer, or experience
A deeper container for committed members
A way to continue the journey without starting over
When your community naturally feeds your next offer, you don’t need to “sell harder.”
Growth becomes a continuation, not a restart.
03. Turn proximity into revenue (without feeling salesy)
One of the biggest missed opportunities in business:
You are already in the room with people who would buy from you… but you’re not making it easy for them to do so.
Community gives you something most marketing can’t: Ongoing proximity
This is why my clients often see faster cash flow growth by focusing here first before adding new funnels, traffic, or offers.
People are watching, learning, trusting, and getting results in real time.
The key is not to push harder…it’s to make the path clearer.
This can be as simple as:
Regularly reminding people what’s available
Sharing client results and stories
Inviting the right people into the next step (aka making an offer)
When done well, it doesn’t feel like selling.
It feels like: “Of course I would do this next!”
04. Design for depth, not just growth
More people doesn’t automatically mean more revenue.
More connection does.
The most profitable communities aren’t just big… They are deeply engaged.
That means creating:
Smaller moments within the larger space
Opportunities for real interaction
Environments where people are seen and supported
Because depth drives:
Retention
Referrals
Repeat purchases
And those are the three things that grow a business fast, without adding more complexity.
This is often where the biggest “hidden money” is sitting inside a business, and once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
If you’re trying to grow your business right now, you might not need more strategy…
You might just need to look at your community differently.
Because when you combine: → Thoughtful community design → Intentional personalization → Clear next steps and intentional offers
You don’t just build a great experience…
You build a business that grows from the inside out.
Next Steps
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I know there’s more revenue sitting inside my community… I’m just not fully tapping into it yet”-
You’re probably right.
And the fastest way to find it is to look at what’s already working — just more intentionally.
I created something simple for you:
The Hidden Money In Your Community Audit
A quick, 2-minute audit to help you uncover:
Where you’re leaving money on the table in your existing audience
What’s missing that’s slowing down repeat purchases and upgrades
And the easiest opportunities to turn your current community into more consistent revenue
…and come over and find me on LinkedIn at Jessica Dioguardi Miller where I share valuable resources on uncovering hidden profits in your existing business with ease.
P.S. Most people are surprised by what they find when they go through this audit. In almost every business I audit, there’s already enough opportunity sitting inside their current community to generate meaningful new revenue, without adding anything new
👋 Becky here! I remember in one of my early conversations with Jessica she helped me realize how much untapped potential I had with one of my best clients... "there's more opportunity there, I guarantee you". That conversation was SO helpful.
I'm sure as you read this you noticed how similar our ideas are – I harp on the importance of designing for connection, and personalizing experiences. That's exactly why we recorded a podcast together.
During this episode, you’ll learn:
Why retention – not marketing – is often the biggest missed revenue opportunity in your business
The real reason most memberships fail (and how to fix it quickly)
How to design a client journey that increases engagement, results, and long-term value
Why more content is actually hurting your offers – and what to do instead
How to turn your existing clients into your most powerful (and profitable) growth engine