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You know I love a good, solid contract — but did you know that up until this darn pandemic struck, many contracts were missing one very important piece?

Yep. It was a little piece that we in the legal world once thought didn’t really apply to online businesses. But 2020 and its ensuing chaos taught us differently…

I’m talking about the FORCE MAJEURE.

Today I’m going to explain what the heck that means, why it’s soooo important these days, and (bonus!) I’m going to give you the language to add to your contracts right now, for free!

 First, how do you even pronounce Force Majeure?  [FARWS] + [MA] + [ZHUR].  It’s French, so feel free to get a little fancy 💫

 Now, let's get down to business…what is Force Majeure and why do we need it? In French, it translates to “greater force,” and it basically refers to an act of God. As in, a force greater than we could anticipate or overcome. 

In the legal world, Force Majeure is a clause in a contract that allows parties to be excused from performance due to unforeseen circumstances. 

 Force Majeure is kind of like your “get out of jail free” card to use when events happen that are out of your control. Examples include acts of nature such as hurricanes and floods, and acts of people such as riots, strikes and wars. 

Add to that list government lock-downs, travel suspensions and other unexpected restrictions from a global pandemic. 😷

 When you can’t complete your promises under a contract because of an interruption that is totally out of your control, a Force Majeure clause in your contract will release you from the obligation.  

Sounds pretty important, right? So why did so many pre-covid contracts fail to include this clause?

Basically, it was the conventional belief among us lawyers that Force Majeure clauses weren’t really needed for online work. In theory, online work is flexible enough that you could still complete your obligations in spite of outside challenges. 

Covid smashed that theory into pieces pretty quickly. 💥

Now, all of my contracts include a Force Majeure clause as a standard, and because you know I’m committed to making sure your business is buttoned up and tight as a drum, I’m going to give you your very own version for free.

First, open up your current agreements and scan them for your Force Majeure. Do you see one? (spoiler alert: if you’re using one of my templates from the past two years, it’s there!)

If it’s already there, yay!! Now you know a little more about why it’s there and when you may need to use it.

Not there? 

Good news! You can add your Force Majeure clause to any new contract going forward.  If you are using one of my older contract templates, then just copy the paragraph below and insert it towards the bottom, just above the GOVERNANCE section.

In case your contract is missing this very important clause, here’s my gift to you: 

Your brand new, super-powerful Force Majeure clause → 

 FORCE MAJEURE.

<Insert your Company name here> shall not be liable for any costs or damages due to delay or nonperformance of this Agreement due to a Force Majeure, including acts of God, acts of people, government-imposed restrictions and safety measures, quarantines, travel suspensions, and any other event beyond <insert your Company name here>’s control, whether foreseen or unforeseen.   

That’s it! Now, should you ever need to terminate an agreement for qualifying reasons, you can do so with peace of mind knowing you are legally within your right to do so. 

 If you need my help updating your contracts, or if you have any questions about Force Majeure, just comment here or shoot an email to team@laynelyons.com. We are always happy to help!

  PS - Need some of your very own top-notch contract templates, expertly drafted by yours truly? Check out my contract kits at The Legal Umbrella™ for all the details! 

Are you ready for some FABULOUS news??? I have some for you, along with some sage advice (and maybe a little tough love) for you as you continue to grow your business. 

First the fabulous news….

My second trademark, Legal Umbrella®, has been successfully registered!!! 🎉🎉🎉 

Yup, this month I received my second shiny gold seal certificate from the United States Patent and Trademark Office granting me official ownership of the name Legal Umbrella® (swoon). You might be thinking... wait, I've seen her trademark before.. you're right. My first trademark was for THE Legal Umbrella, and now we're streamlining and expanding our protection even more.

We are all celebrating here at Team Layne Lyons. The disco ball and dancing tunes have been going non-stop! 💃  

This was a hard-won victory, and now that I know the trademark belongs to me, I feel relieved and very excited for the future.  

Now my team and I have the thrilling (but oh so arduous task) of changing every. single. mention. of ™ to ®.  We are editing every page on my website, all of my marketing materials, every contract in my shop, all of it. And every time I see that sexy little ®, I get goosies all over again. 

I did it!!

Now, on to the tough love and a bit of a confession.

You see, I waited too long to apply for my trademark. By the time I applied, I was already using it everywhere. I had a whole program fully built out, with years of visibility and a big following. I was using the name EVERYWHERE. People were coming to my business saying “I need that umbrella thing you have.”  

Seriously, more people knew me as the umbrella lawyer than as Layne Lyons. Thank heavens I was able to successfully register my trademark.  But can you imagine if I hadn’t been successful? 😱😭

I would have been forced to take EVERYTHING down, cry a whole lotta tears, change all of my branding, rename all of my programs, start all over again, and hope against hope that some of my audience would follow me to the new name. It could have been a total disaster. 

And for the whole 16 months that it took my trademark application to make it from start to finish, I was biting my nails and silently begging the trademark gods to make it work out okay. 

Nobody needs that kind of stress!

So, my advice to you, now that I am on the other side of this exciting and majestic achievement, is this: 

Don’t wait to secure your trademark until you have already built your whole brand on your name.  

Get in early. Did you know that you can actually trademark your name BEFORE you even start using it? I call that new product line, I will be filing for the trademark before I put it out into the world.

What’s your trademark?  Are you already using it? Is it high time to protect it? 

You may be hesitant to move forward, like many of my clients were. There are a lot of misconceptions out there. People think they aren’t ready yet, that they can DIY it or use a cheap big box legal service, or that it’s too expensive or complicated to deal with now.

They don’t realize how much legal strategy is actually involved to take a trademark application from start to finish (there’s a TON!). They don’t realize the potential for road blocks along the way, like misfiling in the wrong category or getting scary-sounding office actions. They don’t see the value of having a qualified, tenacious lawyer in their corner, ready to guide them through the entire process and handle it ALL for them. 

The hard truth is, you do not want to be the receiver of the bad news that I unfortunately have to deliver to some clients. The heartbreak, stress and even panic that comes with being told your name is no longer yours, that you have to change EVERYTHING… 

Whew. I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. 

If you have a brand you actively market, earn money from and love to pieces, you absolutely must trademark the name. I am so relieved that I can continue making a name for myself as the “umbrella lawyer”, and I want you to feel the same way.

Is it a significant business investment? Yes.

Does it seem a bit daunting right now? Probably yes.

Is it worth it to hold that beautiful, shiny gold seal in your hands? ABSOLUTELY YES!!

Let’s get the ball rolling on your trademark. All it takes is booking a consultation with me right here: Book My Trademark Consult.

On our call, we will talk about your specific business set up and your future plans and goals to identify the trademarks and brand assets in your business that need protection. Then, I’ll go over the trademarking process with you, in plain English. And of course, I’ll answer all of your questions so that you feel clear and confident.

You’ll leave the call feeling clear as to whether pursuing your trademark registration is the best next step for your business. And if you want to move ahead, we will talk about what it looks like to work with my law firm.

If you would like more info before booking, or you want to do a little homework before our call, you can read all about trademarks right here: The Legal Umbrella® Trademark Services.

I can’t wait to chat with you about this ultimate, next-level protection!! You are going to feel so much peace of mind, just like I do now, knowing that your brand is really, truly, yours.

PS: Here’s what one of my fabulous clients had to say about working with me to get her trademark: 

“Before I worked with Layne, I couldn’t have told you the difference between a ® and a ™ symbol, and I certainly could not have told you how it could benefit my business to trademark it. But Layne explained everything to me in terms that I could get, she is so practical in her explanations of the legal “stuff.” After talking to Layne I felt confident in what I needed to do. And when I decided to pursue a trademark, she kept me informed every step of the way. Now I am excited to know that the business I have been working so hard for (and the name I adore for it) will not be at risk of my having to take it all down and start over. You can’t put a price on that kind of peace of mind!”

— Megan, founder of FORK THE FOOD RULES®

What happens when someone refuses to pay you money you are owed? Will you get paid? Will you have to walk away? Is it worth taking legal action? It’s going to depend on your written agreement with this person.

🚨Don’t have written agreements in your business? Yikes!! Do not pass go, do not collect $200, go straight to this article to find the protections you need ASAP: Overwhelmed With Legal? Start Here. 

Okay, back to our regularly scheduled content: 

Let’s consider a hypothetical situation. 

Mary is a VA who bills her client at the end of every month. She works 10 hours per week at a rate of $30/hour. This month, Mary’s $1200 invoice goes unpaid. She stops work per her contract, sends multiple reminders, and she gets nothing but crickets. 

Uh oh. 

Mary realizes it’s time to try something different. So she remembers the advice given to her by a friendly lawyer (it was me!), and she takes a screenshot of her contract clause about payments, plus a screenshot of where her client signed and agreed to her terms. 

She also takes a screenshot of a very important piece of her contract, one that just might get her paid: The Arbitration Clause.

She sends these off, along with one final, firmly worded email. It said something like: 

Dear Client,

This is your final notice that you owe me $1200 for work completed during the month of X. You have violated our contract terms by failing to pay the invoice. Please see the payment terms here: (screenshots, aka, the receipts).

Since I have not received a response from you and the payment is now XX days past due, I will be requesting arbitration, per the terms of our contract: (screenshots/receipts go here). 

The arbitration fee will be $650. The company will contact you to set up our virtual hearing. Should they conclude that you are in the wrong, you will owe $1200 + $650 to cover the fees for arbitration. 

I will be contacting the arbitration company in X days if I do not receive payment on my outstanding $1200 invoice. 

Sincerely,

Mary

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

Short, sweet, and to the point, with all the necessary receipts. Now, in my experience, it is a rare delinquent client who will opt for arbitration. 9 times out of 10, that invoice will be paid. 

But what if it’s not??? 

In cases like this, I recommend using an arbitration company. My go-to is FairClaims.com. They charge a flat $650 fee, so if you have an unpaid invoice worth more than that, it’s often worth pursuing. Especially if you are confident you are in the right according to your written contract. 

An arbitrator will set up a meeting. You will present your evidence, aka your signed contract and any invoices/receipts, and they will issue a decision. 

If all your legal ducks are in a row, you get paid, your client is on the hook for the arbitration bill (and hopefully learns a very valuable lesson - you gotta pay your people!). And you? You move on with your drama-free business. 

Bottom line? Your written contract is your best line of defense against ghosted payments and unpaid invoices. And, it must include an arbitration clause!!

Check your contract right now and see if it has this important section included. If not, you need to add one. 

Here’s some language you can use, for free!, if needed*: 

DISPUTE RESOLUTION.

Should any dispute arise between Client and Company, it would be preferable to work it out amicably, but if that is not possible, Client acknowledges and agrees that the dispute will be resolved by FairClaims.com.  Client agrees to participate in the arbitration process in good faith, and further agrees that the decision made by the Arbitrator is binding, not subject to appeal, and enforceable in any court of competent jurisdiction as a judgment of law.  

As I mentioned before, should you need to enter arbitration for a dispute, I highly recommend FairClaims - not only is their fee reasonable, the process is smooth and easy to navigate. Their tagline is Be Heard. Resolve. Move On. My kind of people! 

I hope this was helpful for you, and while I hope you never have to worry about shifty clients and unpaid invoices, if you do, now you can handle it with ease and the least amount of drama possible. 

Tell me: did your contract have an arbitration clause already, or will you be adding one? Hit reply and let me know! 

PS: Shop all the super protective legal contracts you need for your business at LayneLyons.com! 

*Quick reminder, this sample contract language is not legal advice, it's education and information for you to use as you grow your business. 

Tell me if this sounds familiar in your business: 

Ugh I just wish I could clone myself!

There are not enough hours in the day!

I just don’t have time to do it all!!!

And yet, too many of us drag our feet when it comes to hiring help.

😖 We aren’t sure which tasks to outsource

😩 We worry about finding the “right” person

😨 We stress about trusting someone else in our business

😳 We are afraid our “people pleasing” tendencies will keep us from being assertive or clear about our expectations

🤢 We get a little queasy thinking about having to fire someone

So we scan those #JobOpp threads in our entrepreneur groups. Scroll through a dozen LinkedIn profiles. Type up a job description and then revise it over and over again, never actually posting it. 

And then we continue scrambling to keep all our plates in the air. All alone. Wearing our “one-woman-show” badge as we dream about sipping smoothies on the beach.

What if I told you that one small but mighty piece of paper could help?? 

One piece of paper that creates an airtight, super clear, ultra-protective understanding between you and your new contractor??

It’s called The Legal Umbrella® Contractor Service Agreement, and you can download it right now!

This written hiring contract gives you all the confidence you need to hire safely, to communicate your expectations clearly, and to trust that you are fully protected every step of the way. 

This agreement is perfect for any online-based entrepreneur who needs to hire an independent contractor (like a VA, graphic designer, social media manager, etc). It covers all your bases:

• What your contractor will and will not be doing for you (scope of work)
• Clear definition of the nature of the Independent Contractor (not employee!) relationship
• Who owns what — intellectual property/content ownership provisions
• Confidentiality boundaries 
• Drama-free termination guidelines should either party need to end the relationship
• Dispute resolution for those just-in-case situations

All of these important pieces establish clear boundaries, expectations and guidelines for your working relationship. 

If there is ever a question or dispute, you can simply refer back to your contract to find your drama-free answer. 

**IMPORTANT NOTE: If your new contractor will have access to any sensitive information inside your business (such as your client lists, financial information or your trade secrets), you need a different version of this agreement called the Contractor Engagement Agreement template. 

This contract is similar in many ways to the one above except it has much more robust confidentiality provisions. It keeps all of your secret info safe and protected! 

This version includes a built-in NDA (non-disclosure agreement), Non-Compete, and Non-Solicit. Use this one when bringing on anyone in the inner circle in your business - like an executive assistant, OBM, sales rep, or other person who’ll have access to confidential information in your business. 

Get the Ultra-Protective Contractor Engagement Agreement Now

Whichever version you need, make sure that before you start talking with potential contractors, you read through your entire agreement and customize it for your business. This will help you be prepared, confident, and at ease with your hiring decision. 

You have to get your hands on the right template first, though! 

Hiring a VA, designer, PR agent, copywriter, or other external contractor?

🌟🌟🌟 CLICK HERE FOR YOUR HIRING PEACE OF MIND🌟🌟🌟

The Legal Umbrella® Contractor Service Agreement

Hiring an executive assistant, OBM, director of operations, sales rep, or other internal contractor with access to sensitive info?

CLICK HERE FOR YOUR ULTRA-PROTECTIVE HIRING AGREEMENT

The Legal Umbrella® Contractor Engagement Agreement

Not sure which is best for your situation?? Comment below or email team@laynelyons.com, and we will be happy to help!

Oh, and in case you were wondering: I make my templates SO easy to customize! Always plain English, always easy to understand! You can customize yours in about 20 minutes. Yes, really!

Life is full of surprises each and every day. Some are happy surprises that put a smile on your face and a pep in your step. Others…not so much. A few years ago, a very real, literal life-or-death lesson was solidified for me in the Caribbean. At that time, Grant and I were living on a boat, hopping from one island to the next. Living an absolute dream, yes. But at the same time, the sea can be unpredictable and capricious. 

I quickly discovered how important it was to be prepared for…well, anything. Preparedness was the difference between sinking or swimming when conditions suddenly took a turn — literally! I saw how my greatest strength as a lawyer translated to ocean survival skills: the ability to look ahead and anticipate any and all problems that might pop up. 

That foresight and anticipation will be your road map when you’re faced with life’s worst surprises. As I often say, “The only thing worse than a disaster is a disaster without a plan.”

This has been a season of many unexpected surprises — both the happy and the challenging kind. It has been a season of leaning on my disaster plan, and also one filled with stunning beauty. 

Last year, Grant and I made the monumental decision to put down roots in Hawaii. We bought our dream house and have been knee deep in renovations to truly make it our own. Our new home has been the source of so many amazing surprises.

Soon after moving in, seemingly out of nowhere, an entire symphony of beautiful, vibrant orchids popped up along the rock wall in our garden. They have been putting on a display of such brilliance each day that I can’t wait to go outside each morning to see what they have in store for us. Each day, new ones bloom, old ones get bigger, more petals open or close. 

It’s nothing short of stunning.

But those aren’t the only surprises the garden had in store for us. To my absolute delight, I discovered tons and tons of beautiful, perfectly juicy baby tomatoes. Just right there for the taking! Belonging to us, totally out of the blue! 

I lean on these beautiful surprises when the not-so-welcome ones pop up, as they have been doing with more frequency than I’d like lately. 

Starting with perhaps the unhappiest surprise of all. After two years of separation due to COVID-19, two years of worry and stress and collective family efforts to keep my mother safe from the virus, she was finally set to visit me here in Hawaii. Two full years without seeing one another! To say the anticipation was all-consuming would be an understatement!!

Then it happened. Life threw one of those curveballs again. Three days before her flight, my mother got COVID. Cue the panic and the worry and the fear and the canceled plans. Cue the complete and utter disappointment. 

Thankfully, after a very rough couple of weeks, my mother was on the mend and has since visited a couple of times!

Life happens, and it almost never asks for permission to proceed. Whether we like it or not, conditions and circumstances can change so fast, we get whiplash. Without the right mindset, the right “plan B” or the right awareness, surprises of any kind can be overwhelming. 

This is why I am so passionate about helping women anticipate unwelcome surprises - those little hiccups, roadblocks and obstacles that can, at best, throw you off your game for a bit, and at worse, wreak havoc on your business and your life. 

Have you had any unexpected surprises pop up in your life or business lately? Comment below and let me know. I’d be honored to laugh (or cry) with you. 

Here’s to nothing but happy surprises and smooth sailing ahead!

Let’s play pretend for a minute.

Imagine you decided to open a brick-and-mortar store selling candles. You have a variety of candles in different sizes, shapes, scents. There are specialty candles and candles for certain occasions. Your assets also include all the display fixtures, tables, signs, point of sale equipment, and so on. 

Before selling your first candle, you would create a list of your inventory, right? And then you’d likely go to your insurance agent and present the total value of your storefront plus all its contents (ie: your assets) to make sure you’re insured properly. 

That way, in case someone breaks in and steals your goods, or there’s a fire, your insurance is in place to cover the losses. But what if you failed to document the number, type, and value of all your inventory? 

Is the insurance company going to take your word for it when you claim a loss of 591 candles, 23 display fixtures, a Square reader, and $2000 worth of signage? 

Not unless you have a detailed inventory. 

Tell me, why on earth should you operate your online business any differently? Your assets are just as valuable as a store full of physical property. Online business assets include things like your online course content, PDF downloads, website content & design, blog posts, as well as the value of your name and good reputation with your audience. 

What happens if thieves show up, or if a figurative fire (say, a cease & desist letter) threatens to burn down what you’ve built? 

How will you prove what you own? How will you value the total of your losses? And most importantly: what insurance did you have in place to protect your assets and help you recover?

As an online business owner, your insurance comes in the form of bright, shiny circle Rs and circle Cs, aka trademarks and copyrights. There are other legal protections too, of course, but these are the big guns. 

You MUST take inventory of your intellectual property. This is the most valuable asset your business has, and if you fail to protect it, it’s like leaving your candle store wide open with a sign inviting thieves and arsonists inside. 

Ready? Yes, you can do this right now! 

STEP 1: Answer these questions

1. Which of your business names, logos, and/or slogans are you absolutely in love with, as in, you would be brokenhearted to lose?
2. What does your audience know and recognize you for? A program, logo, name, podcast? 
3. Which offer/program/service are you most excited about?
4. Which offer, program, or service is making you money right now? 

STEP 2: What kind of IP is it? 

1. Brand Identity = Trademark Eligible (for example: names, logos, taglines, hashtags)
2. Content = Copyright Eligible (for example, blog posts, online courses, PDFs, books)

Decide which piece is most important to secure right now.

Note: my advice is always to start with the name/mark you intend to be your house brand. It’s long-lasting, not seasonal. It’s your client-facing, consumer-facing brand that you have invested in and that your audience recognizes as uniquely yours.

STEP 3: Chat with me about it

Book a Trademark consult call with me where we’ll review your current IP assets. I can talk to you about what makes the most sense to prioritize, and then we’ll draw up an action plan to make it happen. 

Please don’t wait to take care of this! I have way too many of these calls turn into impromptu therapy sessions as people burst into tears after learning that it’s already too late. 😢

Online presence is everything these days. From your website to your social channels to your email list, your e-presence is crucial to your visibility and success as an entrepreneur. 

Have you ever wondered: Is all of your online real estate actually safe and secure?? 

Most of us do a darn good job keeping our physical real estate safe. We lock doors and windows, install security systems and cameras and ask our friendly neighbors to keep an eye out when we leave on vacation.

We put up window coverings to protect our privacy. We know where the boundaries of our property are so we can be sure we aren’t encroaching on our neighbors, and they aren’t encroaching on us. 

Guess what? Your online real estate needs the same kind of protections! Without three key pieces in place, you are leaving the door open to legal drama.  And it is my mission to make sure entrepreneurs like you don’t make that mistake! 

Today, I’m sharing the top 3 ways you must protect your online presence - the what, why, and how of it all. Let’s dive in!

First, you need to have your Website Terms and Conditions clearly posted on your website. Basically, the terms and conditions language sets up all the ground rules for your website. It tells anyone who visits your site how they can and can’t use your content (no swiping allowed!). It covers your online commerce policies, how you handle disputes, and it declares a limit on what your financial liability is in case things go off track. 

This is your #1 most crucial line of protection that you must have before going live with a website. 

Next up is your Privacy Policy. This lets everyone know how you collect, use, share, store and protect your visitors’ information on your website. Basically, it’s a promise to your website visitors that you won’t share or misuse their personal information, like selling email addresses to spammers. Having your privacy policy posted gives people confidence that you respect and will protect their privacy. Also, failing to have a privacy policy that is GDPR compliant can result in hefty fines. Not good!

Lastly, you need to have a Website Disclaimer. This is a statement that tells people who you are and what you do. More importantly, it tells people who you are not and what you do not do. This clearly defines what you will (and will not) bring to the relationship, preventing you from being blamed for any negative results. It’s like a very important asterisk declaring *I am not a medical professional/This is not an attorney-client relationship/My marketing advice does not guarantee your launch success/Consult a qualified CPA before acting on the financial education I provide…etc, etc, etc. 

If you already have these things in place, amazing!! I suggest taking a quick peek at each of them to make sure everything is clear and up to date. 

Missing something? Don’t panic! But do take action ASAP so you don’t get yourself into any legal hot water. You can grab my customizable templates via the links below:

Website Terms & Conditions

Privacy Policy

Website Disclaimer

Better yet, you can grab the Legal Foundations Bundle and save yourself loads of $$ and headaches! It includes these 3 key contracts, plus 7 other foundational agreements, including a 1:1 client agreement, testimonial release, and more.  

You’ve worked hard building your online presence. Take action to keep it safe, secure and drama-free. You will be so glad you did! 

Oh boy, do I have a story for you today! 😅

As a business lawyer for women entrepreneurs, I’ve seen my fair share of contract drama and legal mistakes, but Amanda’s story really takes the cake. It truly highlights why drafting your own contract can be a total nightmare.  

Amanda had spent months preparing for a huge launch. She spent countless hours perfecting her product, hired the best contractors, and she networked like crazy, creating relationships with nearly 100 affiliates. She handled ALL the details — everything except her affiliate contract. 

Almost as an afterthought, Amanda Googled “affiliate agreement” and typed up a short and sweet contract that outlined payment structure and such. 

Launch time rolled around, and… Everything was a SMASHING success!!! 

Amanda’s sales went through the roof, exceeding all her expectations. She was THRILLED!!!

Her affiliates were thrilled too. She stayed true to her written agreement with them and paid out their generous commissions. Everyone did their own versions of a happy dance! 

But then (there’s always a “but” to these stories)... 

The refund requests started rolling in… 😬 Amanda had offered a super generous refund policy, promising a no-questions-asked-no-time-limit refund, and when all was said and done… she had to refund 38% of her overall sales. Which, to be fair, isn’t too far out of line with industry standards. 

She honored her refund policy, of course…but what about all those affiliate commissions she had paid out on the refunded sales? Her affiliates needed to pay her back, right? After all, those sales they had sent to her were no longer sales… they had vanished… 

Her affiliates said no. 

And they were well within their rights to do so — the contract Amanda had drafted for her affiliates said absolutely nothing about refunds!!  Nothing in her contract said her affiliates would need to return commissions for refunded sales. 

YIKES.

Because Amanda used an incomplete, DIY contract for her affiliates, she lost more than $60,000… a mistake that could have been totally avoided with a proper contract!! 

Wanting to avoid this kind of nightmare with future launches, Amanda wisely sought legal advice. She booked a call with me, and I reviewed the contract for her.

The good news? I pinpointed the problem right away: the missing refund language. And I helped her with a new, complete, lawyer-drafted agreement. 

The bad news? Amanda had learned a very expensive lesson, losing lots of sleep and lots of money over it. 

Dear reader, this is why I am so passionate about what I do. This is why I talk about the importance of investing in legal protections from the start. 

⚡ Crystal clear refund policies. 

⚡ Crystal clear affiliate contracts. 

⚡ Crystal clear terms of use for the products & programs you sell…

These are absolutely necessary for you if you want to protect the money you work so hard to earn. 

Are you wondering if you have the right kinds of written agreements in place?  Head over to laynelyons.com to browse our contract templates. Our new search function makes it super easy to zero in on what you need. Just hover over Get Contracts, and choose your path forward! 

You can browse according to what stage of business you're in -starter or scaling!

1: Make a list of where you want to speak and follow-up! 

Figure out whose podcasts your clients are listening to and where they are getting their information. I love asking my clients where they found me and what other podcasts they listen to because it gives me ideas for who to reach out to in the future. 

Next, pitch yourself and the topics you want to talk about. Remember to lead with value! Make it about the host, not you. 

Finally, follow-up. I don’t send one email and expect to hear back. I follow-up with hosts consistently to make sure they know I really want to be on their show. 

2: Prepare ahead of time! 

Make sure you know your talking points backwards and forwards. Be super clear on what you want to promote. I have a one page note sheet that I use when I’m doing my interviews that has the stories I want to share, a bit about the podcast and my other key messages. 

I also make sure that I set myself up for success by freeing my schedule up before the interview. This way I’m not rushing around, trying to tie up loose ends right before I speak. 

3: Make sure you're protected!

You have awesome information to share that you’ve worked hard to create! Make sure that you protect yourself. You need an agreement that addresses the ownership rights to your recording, the conditions of you making a sales offer to their audience, any promotions or additional benefits you will get from your appearance and much more.

Start getting visible ASAP, but first, make sure to do it right with your Legal Umbrella up! As an add-on to my signature package, The Legal Umbrella®, I also have all the contracts you need for speaking. I've got you covered whether you are the Speaker or the Host.

Click here for your Professional Speaker Agreement. This document protects you when you speak on podcasts, stages, at live events, on summits, etc. It includes detailed provisions on making an offer from the stage, your requirements for audio-visual support, ownership of the intellectual property created at the event, cancellation by either party, coverage of expenses and much more. Make sure you get it signed before you speak at any event.

Click here for your Guest Expert Speaker Agreement. This document protects you when you host experts on your podcast, summit, at your live event, etc. It includes detailed provisions on speaker and host obligations, promotional benefits and requirements, ownership of the intellectual property created at the event and much more. Make sure you get it signed before creating any recordings of your guest expert speakers.

With your contracts in place, you can be free to share your expertise without the fear that someone might swipe your content, use something you say in the wrong way or have misaligned expectations about the who ultimately owns the recording.

While I can’t promise that the speaking on stage “butterflies” will ever go away, I can say that being on podcasts and summits is a really great way to get in front of your dream clients. 🤩 I’ve noticed in my own business and heard from my clients that having these agreements in place has opened the door for more joint venture opportunities and paid speaking engagements.

Now I have to know—What’s your favorite podcast? Leave a comment and tell me!