Have you ever felt overwhelmed when trying to market your business?  Perhaps you are confused by the many options available and you don’t know where to start?  Or maybe you are an entrepreneur who finds yourself so busy working with clients, putting out fires, and trying to catch up that you don’t see how you can possibly add one more thing to your already overwhelming schedule.  If this is the case with you, you’re not alone.  These are common challenges faced by service professionals.  The danger of being overwhelmed is that it can lead to “analysis paralysis”, but I want to encourage you – there is a cure!

These challenges CAN be overcome and you CAN break through your “overwhelm” to begin marketing your solutions to the people who need them most.  To do so, you just need to follow a few simple steps:

1. STOP and re-boot – If you are feeling weighed down and confused, the best thing you can do is STOP.  Really!  Stop dead in your tracks.  Just like you need to re-boot your computer when it’s running sluggishly and taking forever to load, you need to re-boot your mindset and your action plan when you find yourself feeling overwhelmed.  Recognize that you need to re-set your psyche and give yourself at least one morning or afternoon (preferably a full day) just to re-group.
2. Get organized – Not having your marketing ideas, materials and plan in one easy to access location is a sure fire way to undermine your efforts.  So if you’ve been writing your “plan” on sticky notes, random pieces of paper or just have your ideas floating around in your head, it’s time to get organized.  Use your re-boot day to gather all of your marketing information in one place so you can access what needs to be tackled first.

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Marketing your business is not a one-time event that you participate in when you need to attract new clients or increase your revenue. To create long-term success in your business, you need to market consistently - each day, each week and each month to grow your business and attract a steady stream of clients.

The basis of marketing your business is sharing your expertise and solving problems for your ideal clients. They are always looking for solutions, so it's important that they are regularly reminded of what you have to offer.

Here are some different marketing strategies that typically work well for solo service professionals:

• Email marketing
• Vlogging/videos
• Blogging
• Social media
• In-Person networking
• Public speaking
• Hosting lead-generating teleseminars & workshops
• Hosting and participating in radio shows

This list encompasses a few different techniques which may be new or "out of the box" for you. It's best to chose marketing strategies that fit your personality as well what is appealing to your audience. But with so many options available, how do you chose what's right for you and your business?

First and foremost, you need to be in tune with your target market. You need to know exactly what problems they are facing right now. What are they struggling with RIGHT now? What are they searching for? What do they want to learn from you?

By identifying their most pressing problems, you will be able to choose the marketing strategy that best fits the solution you will provide. For example, if you’re a public speaking coach, you might want to blog regularly about the best techniques to eliminate the fear of public speaking. A post can include tips on how to reduce fear and stress while delivering a great presentation. Then, you can also create a video that demonstrates these techniques, in action, so that your target audience can "see" how to do it.

Providing solutions on two different platforms extends your reach to your target audience, as well as allows them to choose which format works best for them. Some people can read instructions and do something, while others need to see it to understand and emulate it. Either way, you've provided exactly the solution your target audience is looking for. Additionally by using a blog and video, you are providing content that will "live" online for months and years to come. So, it will serve not only the people who are looking for a solution now, but also 3 months from now, a year from now and beyond. This content will continue to generate leads for you and support your overall marketing plan.

You also want to get clear on HOW your audience wants your message delivered to them. Are they active participants in social media? Do they prefer live workshops to virtual learning? Would they rather read what you have to say then listen? If you don't know the answer, simply do some market research and ASK your ideal prospects what they prefer. They'll be happy to tell you and will be much more inclined to enroll in your offering because you've tailored it to their needs.

Finally, consider what you want your prospects to do once they've received your message. Do you want them to request a free consultation? To sign up for a teleseminar or workshop? Enroll in of your group programs? Or purchase a product? You'll want to choose a marketing strategy will make it easy for your prospect to take action on what you've shared.

Which marketing strategies have created the best results for your business? Are there any you want to try but have been hesitant to do so? Share your thoughts with me below!

Want to use this article on your website, blog or in your own ezine? You're welcome to do so! But here's what you MUST include:

Sydni Craig-Hart, The Smart Simple Marketing Coach, is founder of SmartSimpleMarketing.com Known for her simple, tech-savvy, integrated approach to marketing, she also has the unique ability to find untapped profit centers in her client’s businesses so they can create money NOW. Visit www.SmartSimpleMarketing.com to listen to Sydni's F.R.E.E. audio class, “10 Proven Steps to Powerful Marketing Results!” and to schedule your F.R.E.E. "Profit Breakthrough" session!

For most solo service professionals, in-person networking is a significant piece of their ongoing marketing strategy. Getting out and meeting the right people is often the quickest way to enroll new clients into your practice and generate additional revenue.

Though networking can open the door to numerous opportunities, that doesn't necessarily mean it's one of your favorite activities. I know a fair number of entrepreneurs who dread networking and consider it to be a necessary "evil" of running a business.

Whether you LOVE networking or do it out of sheer necessity, I'm confident you want to enjoy the best possible results at every opportunity. Following are some of my proven, Smart, Simple Tips on how to use this strategy effectively to connect with your ideal clients and create opportunities to grow your business:     MORE

At the beginning of each year, we set our New Year's Resolutions.  We want to lose weight, we want to exercise, we want to travel more, WE WANT TO MAKE MORE MONEY.

Some of us are really good at setting goals, and we know exactly how much money we want to make - down to the last penny.  But, on December 31st, you're sitting back and thinking about the last year and  you realize, hey I didn't make the big bucks this year like I wanted to.

Why is that? MORE