If you’re trying to build a business of any kind, it’s no secret you need to market it. Otherwise no one knows it exist.
If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, I believe you should stop aspiring and start building it today. And if you’re already an entrepreneur, it’s time to kick it and grow that thing…NOW.
I’ll tell you why in a little bit, but first I want to clear something up.
Since the explosion of social media marketing, so called “gurus” popped up everywhere, and the advice most of them touted was bothersome. They said things like this:
“Build a following, engage people, give them a glimpse behind the scenes, show them you’re human and that you care, and they will buy and be loyal to you.”
One “guru” after another published books and pumped out content with this basic message. Over time it became “fact” and business people all over the place adopted it.
And do you know what happened?
Pathetic results. Frustration. Massive wastes of time. And I’m not putting words into people’s mouths here. These are things entrepreneurs commonly said and say today.
But aside from this, the major problem with the advice is:
Those giving it were well-intentioned but a little crazy.
Now am I saying social media marketing doesn’t work? Absolutely not! But the way “gurus” instructed entrepreneurs employ it was flat out wrong for so many reasons.
The truth is social media has been central to how I market my business.
My secret is in HOW I use it and that’s as part of a systematic marketing process that accounts for basic human relationship building. It’s a process anyone can be taught and repeat.
In other words, I don’t engage on social media and expect customers to just show up, and neither should you.
Instead, take a page out of my playbook…
Take a look at this revenue growth over the last couple of years: (Link to post in email)
In 2012, my business was new, and I was learning how to market it effectively. Then in 2013, once I got my marketing process in place, revenue spiked up significantly.
What’s the big lesson?
I wouldn’t have reaped the rewards of 2013 without first honing my marketing, which, again, includes social media as a central part of a larger marketing process.
A BIG problem with people who want to start (or grow) their businesses today is they don’t take time to learn how to market effectively.
They try a bunch of easy, push-button things and get pathetic results, or worse, they never even start their business because they have no clue how to get customers.
They say things like:
“I don’t have time…”
“I don’t where to start…”
“Marketing and selling feels sleazy…”
The thing is successful entrepreneurs don’t say these things. Why?
Because they knew they had to invest the time, tenacity and patience to learn how to market effectively and then start, with an eye on long-term growth and success.
No business “explodes” in the first year. There’s a lot of grind and hustle that precedes it.
So the question is this. Will you sidestep years of struggle? Will you delay or never start your business because you don’t how to get customers?
The truth is you can sidestep it, with the right education and training.
There’s absolutely no reason to suffer with marketing and let years go by before you get traction. Now I want you to hustle and grind it out, but not senselessly.
Instead, learn from other people’s successes, including mine.
Now check this out…
I believe every current or aspiring entrepreneur can learn to be a great marketer. I believe this, not because I’m an optimist, but based on the success my client’s have had.
And they’re no different than you. They just reached a point where they were ready to learn and take action.
They’re people like…
…Courtney Agenten of Project Archaeology who’s overhauling her organization’s marketing right now and absolutely crushing it.
…Rick Longnecker of Buds & Blades Landscape Company who you may have read about in this post. His marketing hustle has him now charging above market prices.
…Luke Stokes of FoxyCart, who, with his team, is preparing to launch a 2.0 version of their ecommerce solution.
…and Bob Winchester of Corporate Culture Revolution, who’s steadily working toward launching his consulting business while holding down a full-time job and raising a family.
These entrepreneurs have put their education and training to work and today they’re succeeding.
Next week, I’m opening enrollment for Get Serve Keep Marketing Coaching, the step-by-step training course that:
- teaches you how to systematically attract and convert more customers, and
- transform your customer service into a profit-driving engine that keeps customers coming back and referring new people to you.
This isn’t an online course either. It’s one-on-one with me so you get coaching that’s tailored for you. In between sessions, you’ll have constant email access to me, which only my clients get.
So, if you’re not on my email list, subscribe today. I’ll give you access to my premium giveaway, the Small Business Guide to Marketing: Ideas You Must Know & Mistakes You Must Avoid.
Now you could delay doing anything, and that’s okay. But the longer you wait, the further away you are from winning in business.
So, let’s get started NOW. Don’t lose out on gaining the knowledge that will quiet those fears and give you the confidence and clarity you need….confidence and clarity that Courtney, Rick, Luke and Bob have today.
These marketing ‘gurus’ were crazy and why I never took the bait is a post from:
