Glossary for solo business owners

The words of building an online business, short and plain. The same terms come up in Modulyo's guided steps, applied to your own business.

AI assistant

A conversational AI such as Claude, ChatGPT or Gemini. It writes copy, builds websites, and walks you step by step through tasks you haven't done before.

Call to action (CTA)

One clear next step at the end of a text or on a button, such as "Book a 20-minute call". Ideally one per page.

Consent (GDPR)

In the EU you may only send newsletters to people who explicitly agreed. Say clearly what they are signing up for.

Content plan

A list of topics for posts and newsletters, made in advance. You no longer have to come up with a topic every week.

Conversion

When someone takes the step you hoped for (subscribes, books, buys). Conversion rate: how many of the visitors did.

Digital product

Something made once and sold many times (a guide, a template, an online course). The income is not tied to your hours.

Discovery call

A short, free first conversation with a prospect. The aim is to understand their situation, not to sell. If it fits, the offer comes at the end.

Domain

Your website's address, for example yourname.com. You buy it from a domain registrar and renew it every year. Your own domain looks more professional and stays yours whichever tool you switch to.

Educational content

A post or article that teaches your audience something. It builds trust and shows you know your field.

Hosting

The service where your website runs and visitors reach it. Website builders usually include it; if you build with an AI assistant, you need simple hosting separately.

Landing page

A web page built around one offer or free resource, with one goal. Nothing on it distracts from that.

Lead

Someone who has shown interest in what you do (subscribed, wrote, asked) but has not bought yet.

Lead magnet

A useful free resource (checklist, short guide) you give in exchange for an email address. This is how your list grows.

MVP (minimum viable product)

The smallest version of your offer that already solves a real problem and can be tried. You learn from it before expanding.

Newsletter

A regular email to your subscribers. Your list is yours: it does not depend on a social platform's algorithm.

Niche

A well-defined group of clients with a specific problem. Smaller than "everyone", but easier to become known in.

NPS (Net Promoter Score)

One question on a 0–10 scale: how likely are you to recommend me to a friend? 9–10 are promoters, 0–6 are detractors.

Objection

A client's hesitation before buying ("too expensive", "no time right now"). Not a no: a sign of what still needs clarifying.

Offer

What the client gets, for how much, by when, and what the next step is. A good offer leaves no open questions.

Outreach

A personal message to a potential client or partner. It works when it is about them, not about you.

Persona (ideal client)

An invented but realistic member of your audience, with a name, a situation, goals and sticking points. You write to them.

Positioning

How clients see you compared with their other options: why they should choose you.

Productized service

A service you deliver the same way, at the same price, every time, like a product. A first step towards a digital product.

Sales funnel

The path from first contact to purchase: discover, show interest, try, buy. Some drop off at every step; worth measuring.

Service package

A service with a set scope and price. Easier for the client to decide on, easier for you to plan.

Social proof

Other people's experience of you: testimonials, reviews, case studies. It helps new prospects believe it works.

Target audience

The people your service is for. The more precisely you describe them, the easier they are to reach.

Testimonial

A short review from a happy client in their own words, ideally with a name and a concrete result.

Upsell

A bigger or additional offer to someone who already bought from you. Easier than finding a new client, if the first job went well.

Validation

Checking with real people whether your idea is wanted before you put a lot of time into it. The best sign: someone would pay.

Value proposition

One or two sentences on who you help, with which problem, and what makes your way different. All your copy builds on it.

Value-based pricing

Setting the price by what the result is worth to the client, not only by the hours spent. Your own hourly rate is the floor.