The Doula Darcy Podcast: Episode Summary
Episode Title: Passive Income Ideas for Doulas
Release Date: October 16, 2024
Host: Darcy Sauers
Introduction
In this engaging episode of The Doula Darcy Podcast, host Darcy Sauers delves into the realm of passive income tailored specifically for doulas. Drawing from her extensive background in advertising and her 14 years of experience as a doula, Darcy provides actionable strategies and inspiring insights to help doulas expand their businesses without overextending their time and energy.
The Inspirational Story of the Lactating Deer
The episode kicks off with Darcy sharing a personal anecdote that serves as a metaphor for creating passive income. At [00:46], she recounts observing two deer in her New Hampshire backyard—one mother and one juvenile. Fascinated by the lactation process, Darcy's curiosity leads her into a bow hunting chat room where she discovers hunters' misconceptions about deer lactation.
Darcy Sauers [04:59]: “If you want to make a course for hunters that teaches about lactation in mammals, go for it. These guys would buy it.”
This story not only illustrates Darcy’s knack for identifying niche markets but also underscores the vast potential for creating specialized digital products.
Translating Personal Passion into Passive Income
Building on her deer story, Darcy emphasizes the importance of leveraging one's unique experiences and passions to develop passive income streams. She highlights that the internet offers a global audience, exponentially increasing the potential customer base compared to local, in-person offerings.
Darcy Sauers [10:30]: “The Internet is only limited by your imagination. And there is, trust me, an audience for everything.”
She encourages doulas to brainstorm areas within their expertise—whether it's nutrition, organization, sleep training, or any other specialized service—and transform these into digital products like courses, workbooks, or information packets.
Practical Strategies for Creating Passive Income
Darcy outlines several strategies doulas can implement to generate passive income:
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Digital Courses: Creating comprehensive courses on specific topics related to birth and postpartum care.
Darcy Sauers [14:05]: “You don't have to follow someone else's rules. You have to follow your own heart and passion and what your customers need.”
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Information Packets: Developing simple, focused guides that can be sold repeatedly with minimal ongoing effort.
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Membership Programs: Offering exclusive content through subscription models to provide continuous value to clients.
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Workbooks and Guides: Designing practical tools that clients can use independently, such as meal plans or organizational checklists.
Darcy stresses that while creating these products requires upfront effort, the long-term benefits include additional income without the need for constant active work.
Insights from the Doula Village Community
Darcy shares insights from her Doula Village, a community where doulas collaborate and support each other in building their businesses. She highlights success stories and diverse approaches taken by fellow doulas:
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Lizzie from Fierce Lizzie: Developed a childbirth education class specifically for unmedicated hospital births, successfully selling it repeatedly to a targeted audience.
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Anna Rodney of Chicago Family Doulas: Also focused on a specialized childbirth education class, demonstrating that a single well-crafted product can sustain income.
Darcy Sauers [19:20]: “She just sells over and over again because there's new people that want an unmedicated hospital birth all the time.”
These examples illustrate the viability of niche-focused digital products and the importance of understanding and catering to specific client needs.
Overcoming Challenges and Building Confidence
Darcy acknowledges the challenges doulas may face when venturing into passive income streams, such as marketing and initial product creation. She offers reassurance by emphasizing that there is no one-size-fits-all formula:
Darcy Sauers [21:15]: “There is no magic formula, and anyone who's promising to sell you a magic formula is lying.”
Instead, she advises doulas to trust their instincts, follow their passions, and seek feedback from their communities to refine their offerings.
Call to Action and Community Engagement
To support doulas in their journey toward creating passive income, Darcy invites listeners to join her Doula Village community. Priced at $67 a month, Doula Village offers resources, strategy sessions, and a supportive network to help doulas develop and market their digital products.
Darcy Sauers [22:45]: “If you want to put yourself in the room, virtual room with other doulas who are doing this… it's a great place to ease into that online doula business building world.”
Additionally, Darcy encourages doulas to engage with their local and online communities to gather insights and validate their product ideas, enhancing the likelihood of success.
Conclusion
In wrapping up the episode, Darcy reinforces the transformative potential of passive income for doulas. By creating digital products, doulas can not only increase their earnings but also extend their impact, reaching and assisting more families without the limitations of time and physical presence.
Darcy Sauers [23:30]: “You can work less hours somehow help more people and earn more money. It sounds too good to be true, but trust me, it is true.”
She leaves listeners with a motivational push to identify their strengths, tap into their passions, and take actionable steps toward building a sustainable and fulfilling doula career through passive income.
Notable Quotes
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On Audience Potential:
“The Internet is only limited by your imagination. And there is, trust me, an audience for everything.” — Darcy Sauers [10:30]
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On Following Passion:
“You don't have to follow someone else's rules. You have to follow your own heart and passion and what your customers need.” — Darcy Sauers [14:05]
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On No Magic Formula:
“There is no magic formula, and anyone who's promising to sell you a magic formula is lying.” — Darcy Sauers [21:15]
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On Passive Income Benefits:
“You can work less hours somehow help more people and earn more money. It sounds too good to be true, but trust me, it is true.” — Darcy Sauers [23:30]
Final Thoughts
This episode of The Doula Darcy Podcast serves as a compelling guide for doulas aspiring to diversify their income streams through passive means. Darcy Sauers combines personal storytelling with practical advice, making the concept of passive income both accessible and attainable for her listeners. By fostering a sense of community and providing tangible strategies, Darcy empowers doulas to enhance their professional lives while continuing to support families effectively.
For more insights and to join the community, you can reach out to Darcy on Instagram @thedoula_darcy or join the Doula Marketing Group on Facebook.
