Podcast Summary: The Side Hustle Show – "$10k a Month Helping Babies and Toddlers Sleep (Greatest Hits)"

Episode Details:

• Title: $10k a Month Helping Babies and Toddlers Sleep (Greatest Hits)
• Host: Nick Loper, Side Hustle Nation | YAP Media
• Release Date: June 5, 2025
• Description: An insightful episode featuring Jane Havens, who transformed from a stay-at-home mom to running a multi-six-figure sleep consulting business. The discussion delves into starting a service-based side hustle, leveraging online communities, scaling through online courses, and effective marketing strategies.

1. Introduction to Jane Havens and Her Business

Nick Loper welcomes listeners to a special episode featuring Jane Havens, the founder of snoozefest.com, a successful sleep consulting business that assists parents in getting their babies and toddlers to sleep through the night. Jane's journey from a stay-at-home mom to a multi-six-figure entrepreneur serves as an inspiration for aspiring side hustlers.

Notable Quote:

Nick Loper [01:34]: "Jane went from being a stay-at-home mom to running a multi six-figure business in just a few short years."

2. Launching the Sleep Consulting Service

Jane shares her background in sales and her transition into sleep consulting driven by personal experience and a desire to rekindle her creativity after feeling burnt out from motherhood.

Key Points:

• Initial Motivation: Burnout from stay-at-home life and passion for helping other parents.
• First Steps: Obtained certification to enhance credibility and confidence.
• Finding the First Client: Leveraged Facebook groups by providing valuable advice and subtly promoting her services.

Notable Quote:

Jane Havens [03:02]: "I was just sort of lurking around in Facebook groups and I would hear parents complaining or seeking advice regarding their children's sleep and I would just chime in and sort of answer their question."

3. Building Credibility Through Certification

Jane emphasizes the importance of certification in establishing authority and trust within her niche, despite initially questioning its necessity.

Key Points:

• Certification Benefits: Enhances professional credibility and equips her with knowledge to handle diverse client issues.
• Differentiation: Combines personal experience with formal training to provide comprehensive support.

Notable Quote:

Jane Havens [05:09]: "It sort of put me in the position to take myself more seriously and to have confidence that I was trained, I was qualified, and I was a professional in this field rather than just sort of winging it."

4. Strategic Use of Facebook Groups for Client Acquisition

Jane discusses her strategic approach to using Facebook groups to establish authority, engage with potential clients, and generate referrals.

Key Points:

• Active Engagement: Regularly participates in discussions, offers actionable advice, and introduces her services subtly.
• Establishing Authority: Consistently providing value to build trust and name recognition.
• Expansion Strategy: Initially focused on local groups, then expanded to larger, nationwide communities.
• Referral Generation: Most clients come through word-of-mouth referrals from satisfied customers.

Notable Quote:

Jane Havens [07:33]: "I really spent time just making my name known. I wasn’t necessarily trying to land clients right off the bat. I just wanted people to trust me."

5. Pricing Strategy and Service Delivery

Jane outlines her pricing model and the efficient delivery of her sleep consulting services, which allows her to support multiple families simultaneously.

Key Points:

• Initial Pricing: Started at $425 for a two-week consultation, later increased to $600.
• Service Structure: Includes a comprehensive sleep plan, onboarding calls, and limited text support.
• Efficiency: Minimal time investment per client enables handling numerous clients concurrently.
• Client Outcomes: High satisfaction leads to referrals and repeat business.

Notable Quote:

Jane Havens [14:55]: "I find that if I set my clients up for success, success on the front end, which looks like a really thorough, well-written sleep plan, a phone call to answer all of their questions, those two things set up my clients for success."

6. Transition to Online Courses

Recognizing demand from aspiring sleep consultants, Jane expanded her business by creating an online certification course, CPSM.com (Center for Pediatric Sleep Management), to teach others how to replicate her success.

Key Points:

• Motivation: Desire for continuous growth and filling gaps in existing certification programs.
• Course Development: Collaborated with a professional to design the curriculum, utilizing platforms like Thinkific and later ThriveCart.
• Marketing Approach: Grassroots list building through one-on-one interactions in Facebook groups and pre-launch email campaigns.
• Conversion Strategy: Utilizes an evergreen model with occasional flash sales to encourage enrollments.

Notable Quote:

Jane Havens [30:17]: "I saw that the other sleep consultant certification courses on the market were lacking in certain areas... I place a really heavy emphasis on business building and entrepreneurship in my program."

7. Leveraging Technology and Tools

Jane highlights the essential tools that streamline her operations, enhance client interactions, and manage her growing business efficiently.

Key Tools:

• Acuity Calendar: For scheduling client calls and managing appointments seamlessly.
• Zoom: Facilitates strategy sessions and maintains personal connections with clients.
• Canva: Assists in creating professional and visually appealing business materials.
• ShowIt: Simplifies website management and updates, integrating with WordPress for strong SEO.
• Group Leads & ActiveCampaign: Automates list building and email marketing, enabling personalized communication.

Notable Quote:

Jane Havens [51:24]: "My favorite tool is my Acuity calendar. I feel like I can’t live without that. It makes it so much easier for me to schedule both calls with clients and prospective clients."

8. Marketing and Client Acquisition Strategies

Jane elaborates on her multifaceted marketing approach, focusing primarily on networking, referrals, and community engagement rather than paid advertising.

Key Points:

• Networking: Collaborates with pediatricians, lactation consultants, doulas, preschool teachers, and family photographers for referrals.
• Online Community Building: Created a dedicated Facebook group, "Becoming a Sleep Consultant," to educate and nurture potential clients and future consultants.
• Organic Growth: Relies on providing exceptional service that naturally leads to word-of-mouth referrals.
• Limited Use of Paid Ads: Finds paid advertising cost-prohibitive and less effective for her niche, favoring organic list-building methods.

Notable Quote:

Jane Havens [22:20]: "The key to finding clients is networking and connecting, is talking to people. It doesn’t have to happen in Facebook groups. It’s just where it was happening for me."

9. Managing Business Operations and Scaling

Jane shares insights into managing her daily operations, maintaining work-life balance, and scaling her business through strategic hires and systematization.

Key Points:

• Daily Routine: Starts the day with client check-ins, manages household responsibilities, and allocates dedicated time for business tasks.
• Flexibility: Utilizes mobile tools to manage business tasks on-the-go, ensuring a balance between personal life and entrepreneurship.
• Team Building: Plans to expand her team by hiring virtual assistants to handle technical aspects, allowing her to focus on growth.
• Automation: Implements tools like Group Leads to automate onboarding and streamline client interactions.

Notable Quote:

Jane Havens [24:01]: "I wake up in the morning and before I even get out of bed, I’m texting all of my clients just to see how the night went. That’s how I start off my day."

10. Advice for Aspiring Side Hustlers

In conclusion, Jane imparts her top advice to listeners looking to embark on their own side hustles, emphasizing the importance of overcoming fear and taking actionable steps towards their goals.

Key Takeaways:

• Brush Fear Aside: Acknowledge that fear is natural but push through it to achieve success.
• Establish Expertise: Invest in education and certification to build credibility in your niche.
• Leverage Existing Communities: Meet your customers where they are, whether online or offline, to build trust and engagement.
• Continuous Learning and Adaptation: Embrace new tools and strategies to streamline operations and scale effectively.

Notable Quote:

Jane Havens [65:22]: "Brush the fear aside. I think that when it comes to entrepreneurship or really just like making any big leap or choice, everybody's scared... the people that are successful are scared and do it anyway."

Final Thoughts

Jane Havens' journey from a stay-at-home mom to a thriving entrepreneur underscores the potential of side hustles to transform lives. Her strategic use of online communities, commitment to providing value, and willingness to invest in her education and business infrastructure offer valuable lessons for anyone looking to start and scale a service-based side hustle.

Additional Resources:

• Jane Havens' Websites:
  • snoozefest.com – Sleep Consulting Services
  • CPSM.com – Center for Pediatric Sleep Management (Certification Course)
• Downloadable Resource: 101 Service Business Ideas – A free list to inspire your side hustle journey.

Note: The timestamps referenced correspond to moments within the provided transcript, ensuring accurate attribution of insights and quotes.