Answer the questions to help you focus on the marketing that works for you.
This Saturday, I just taught an Intensive for students in my Unleash Your Crusade program.
And I asked them 4 questions I want to ask you, too.
Because I’m realizing that there are a lot of smart people talking AT you in the “how to grow your business” world.
But rarer are the people who are showing you how to tap into your OWN smarts.
So, I’ll talk at you about your marketing here, first. And then, I’ll ask.
Lately, I’ve been finding myself sounding like a broken record on several points, namely:
- You do not need to do EVERY marketing method.
- You just need to find the 3-4 that work for you
- And you need to do them regularly (every day/week/month)
- Better set some goals around them, too (e.g. “I will get 1 meeting a week with someone who is in the position to refer me THEIR clients again and again.”)
- If it’s not working, it’s one of two things: 1, it’s not a strategy that plays off your strength or 2, you haven’t been doing it long enough and are being impatient. Keep going.
- As your biz grows, new opportunities will open to you. Take them. But know that you can’t really skip steps. Foundations first, then get fancy.
Right? So, here are some questions for those of you who are not totally new to this marketing rodeo.
- What are your top 3 tried-and-true methods for getting in front of people who want what you’ve got right now?
- Are they working? Why or why not?
- Where is your greatest room for improvement in your marketing? (Is there something you’ve been meaning to do, but haven’t? Is there an opportunity sitting in your lap that you haven’t snatched yet?)
- What ideas come to mind to make that improvement happen?
I was flat out surprised and inspired by my clients’ responses to these. Book more workshops. Build out the “getting to know you” emails she sends to people after meeting them at an event. Tapping into her well-heeled and very-well-connected social network, and reaching out to people who can refer her business. Committing to sending a content-rich weekly newsletter.
The catch, of course, is to actually make it happen. But I’m starting to see how many people just need to get grounded and FOCUS on the most leveraged use of their time… and make space to ASK themselves what that is.
So, color me curious, dear reader. Wondering what YOUR answers are. Leave ‘em in the comments below.
Mighty thanks to Oberazzi flickr photostream for pondering
Posted October 24, 2012 at 1:47 am | Permalink
I think those are wonderful questions, and also wonderful pointers. We can’t do everything all the time. It’s about MAKING A HABIT out of the marketing forms that suit us because once they are habits they are no longer overwhelming. Case in point: When I decided to do a weekly newsletter the task seemed daunting and perfectly overwhelming. Once I started DOING it… well, now it is just something I do and no big deal N
Posted October 24, 2012 at 7:06 am | Permalink
Amen, Gitte.
And I find it’s helpful to share a couple details here, for the group: your weekly newsletter shouldn’t take more than an hour to write. And at a certain point in your biz, you should just be the thinker/writer… and have your assistant pick a photo, load it into your email, and send out. That’s when you’re grossing about $3-4K consistently each month, or less if you have kiddos. I’ve had clients who resisted when I said “weekly newsletter”-and then they told me each one took them 4-5 hours!! That’s a problem.
Thanks for reading + writing, GL.
Keep it up,
Stella
Posted November 13, 2012 at 8:40 am | Permalink
What are your top 3 tried-and-true methods for getting in front of people who want what you’ve got right now?
1. be interested, not interesting - go comment, post, interact on their end
2. offering a benefit to buying/signing up
3. doing something for free for a “regular”, if they introduce me to one person who NEEDs me. i keep one user, gain one, and while i lose money immediately, gain more it in the long run.
Are they working? Why or why not?
yes mostly, but it can be exhaustive, i’m considering hiring help from week to week, need less consuming options
Where is your greatest room for improvement in your marketing? (Is there something you’ve been meaning to do, but haven’t? Is there an opportunity sitting in your lap that you haven’t snatched yet?)
What ideas come to mind to make that improvement happen?
i need to be more consistent in creating posts/value
i think i need an administrative support person
get up earlier and write a paragraph, then i find i actually finish vs never starting
thanks for thinking of me stella when people come your way, i’m working with jordana and she’s great! glad to answer when people ask questions, i only hope they do the same for me!
Posted November 14, 2012 at 5:14 pm | Permalink
Robert-
Nice. Yes, the reaching out and comp sessions can be time intensive. But you don’t need to do that forever-just as you “climb the mountain” to filling your biz.
Happy to refer you — you do great work, are a patient teacher, and loads of people need a tech wizard who speaks tech AND English.
Glad to see your face around these parts.
.st