Hands up if you’ve ever just posted on social media because you felt like you should, with no real plan behind it. We’ve all been there! Random acts of marketing rarely get results. What you need is a strategy. It’s not as scary as it sounds.
Step 1: Clear Goals
Before you do anything else, ask yourself: what do I actually want my marketing to achieve? More enquiries? More website traffic? More followers? Better brand awareness? Your goals are your starting point and everything else should flow from them. Be specific!
Step 2: Know Your Audience
Who are you talking to? Get really clear on your ideal customer. Think about age, what platforms they use, how your service can help them.The better you know your audience, the better your marketing will be. We always recommend building a buyer persona, this is basically a detailed description of your target customer.
Step 3: Look at What You’ve Already Got
Before you start creating anything new, take stock of what’s already there. Think about your website, social media channels, emails.An honest review of where you are now will help you figure out what needs the most attention.
Step 4: Choose Your Channels
You don’t need to be everywhere, in fact, trying to do everything at once is one of the quickest ways to burn out and see no results. Based on where your audience hangs out and what your goals are, pick the two or three channels that make the most sense for your business and focus your energy there.
Step 5: Plan Your Content
What are you going to say, and when are you going to say it? A simple content calendar or even just a spreadsheet can make a huge difference. Plan a month ahead if you can, mixing up promotional content, educational posts, behind-the-scenes content and anything that shows off your personality.
Step 6: Review and Tweak
A marketing strategy isn’t something you write once and forget about. Set aside time each month to look at what’s working, look at engagement and open-rates. Use that information to keep improving.
If you ever feel overwhelmed, that’s what our marketing strategy workshops are for! We sit down with you, go through all of this together and help you walk away with a clear plan you actually feel excited about.
Message us if you want creative ideas and support.
The Creative Collins girls xx
