Less marketing noise.More clarity, strategy, and action. Blog
Business owners are creatives: Use that creativity for marketing
I talk to business owners all the time who struggle with the idea of creating content around their business. I maintain that most business owners have a strong tendency to be creative. Starting, building, and maintaining a business is in itself an act of constant creativity in response to all kinds of variables that come at you. So, begin to look at how you can harness your creative genius (in whatever form it comes) for marketing.
Demystifying Marketing: 4 Steps to Take for More Growth in Your Business
I see the same mistakes made again and again when it comes to marketing: misunderstandings about the intention behind marketing, confusion about the tools you should be using, and misconceptions about how to start and where to focus your time.
You'll get much more out of your efforts if you understand the true power of marketing to help build momentum and growth in your business.
Where to allocate your marketing efforts: inbound vs outbound marketing
Your marketing strategy is the guide you use to build a plan that describes where you will allocate these resources to achieve your business and marketing goals: outlining your ideal content schedule, your brand messaging, and the specific marketing tactics you are going to use based on where your ideal audience is, where you like to spend time, and what previous data has indicated.
Your plan should also include a mix of inbound and outbound marketing, so let’s dive into the differences between the two so you can make informed decisions for your business.
How to show respect for your audience's time and attention
Content marketing helps people become aware of your company, what you offer, and specifically how you can help your ideal clients.
And if you’re showing up authentically and consistently (regardless of what platforms you choose to prioritize), your follower or subscriber count is likely to go up.
Your work isn’t done when someone joins your audience though. In fact, maybe even more important than the initial follow, is how users are responding to and interacting with the content you’re producing.
Stop planning and start doing (or vice versa)
Are you planner? I am. At its best, planning is an incredible tool for gaining clarity on the next steps you need to take in your business. At its worst, it can lead to analysis paralysis, stunting your ability to take action.
On the other hand, you don't want to put something out into the world before it's ready to go. You need a minimum viable service (or product), and a plan to launch it to your ideal customers.
Sometimes a shortcut doesn’t seem like a shortcut
Advice and ideas come from so many people and places, with promises of great results. But the routes they want you to take can be so much longer and hurt your business by not working as expected.
In truth, strategic planning is a shortcut. It just doesn’t seem like one. It takes time and thinking and it can even be a difficult investment in your business.
If you're always doing, you never have time to think
In a very busy world where we are connected to what everyone else is doing at all times, there’s a certain pressure to be busy.
And where there’s this need to always be productive and busy (and to have something tangible to show for it), blocking off time to essentially “do nothing” can seem absurd.
However, time and time again, research reveals that mental rest is just as important as physical rest.
If you’ve ever had a great idea in the shower or on a walk, you know the power of uninterrupted, intentional reflection and thinking.
How to match your marketing expectations to your resources
What’s the long-term vision for you and your business? How do you plan on measuring success? What conversions and KPIs are important to you?
When you have an idea of the overarching plan for your company, you’re able to better gauge which marketing activities will have the biggest impact. Data is your friend! Use it to guide your marketing choices.
How to choose what not to do in marketing
Between all of the different channels, platforms, tactics, and activities available now, there are so many ways you could be marketing your business. But just because these options and opportunities exist, it doesn’t mean you need to (or should) do all of them. So, how do you choose what not to do in marketing?
The impact of collaboration: Referral programs and partnerships
You’ve likely heard that collaboration is key (which may have been accompanied by an eye roll because you’d rather have not been part of the group project for which this comment was directed), but have you considered how collaboration supports your business plan?
Expanding your efforts through word-of-mouth marketing will mean rapid growth for your business. While we’ve spoken at length about the testimonial client route for effective referrals before, here we’re referring to mutually beneficial agreements with other business owners.
Don't want to miss future insights?
Get practical marketing and business strategy tips delivered to your inbox, along with updates on workshops, resources, and upcoming events.