Tapping Into Your Marketing Power Zone for Better Results (SSMS Episode 81) [ 11:57 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (14)

Stumbling into a marketing pitfall can happen even to the most seasoned entrepreneur. The key to avoiding these traps is knowledge. You must know what they are and where they are in order to keep your business out of harms way. Listen to this week’s episode to learn 5 pitfalls to avoid as you strive to increase your success as a small business owner.

Love it or hate it, marketing is a necessary part of creating a successful business. If you happen to reside in the "hate it" camp, it could be because you feel like marketing means you have to be pushy, sales-y or fake. We've all had the experience of having someone try to "sell" us and it doesn't feel good.

Fortunately, such tactics are not necessary to enjoy a profitable business. And that is certainly NOT the Smart Simple Marketing way. To me, marketing is simply a matter of sharing solutions with people who are already looking for them.

You and I both face a number of problems each day, both in our personal and professional lives. And of course, we are always on the lookout for solutions to those problems. We seek solutions that are simple, easy and provide a return on our investment.

So as long as you're showing up when and where your ideal clients are looking for the solutions you offer (aka marketing), you will have a never-ending stream of great clients to work with.

What you don't want to do is shoot yourself in the foot by making common mistakes that will undermine your efforts. Take a moment to take stock of what you're doing to grow your business and make sure that you aren't making one of these critical errors:      Read more about Common Pitfalls That Are Killing Your Business

Effective marketing isn't just about the strategies you use to create visibility for your work. It's also about tracking your progress. No, it's not the fun, exciting part of growing your business. But if you don't pay attention to what you're doing, you're going to waste time, money and effort. In this week’s article, I share my simple tracking strategy that you can use to get better results from your marketing.

How to Track Your Marketing So You Know What’s Working (SSMS Episode 67) [ 10:06 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (201)

If you want to consistently attract ideal clients to your solo practice, you need to have a clear marketing message. In addition to defining your message, you need to figure out how to package your message for maximum results.

How you present your marketing messages makes a BIG difference in how your clients respond or relate when they receive them. So, first you want to get clear on HOW to best connect with your audience.      MORE

I recently reviewed my client list over the past 18 months to see where my clients had come from so that I could fine tune my marketing efforts. You see, Smart Simple Marketing is not about doing more. It's not about doing the "latest and greatest thing". It about doing what works and doing that consistently.      Read more about How to Find Out EXACTLY Where You Should Be Promoting Your Business

Marketing your business is not a one-time event. Rather, it is an ongoing process that you execute repeatedly to present your solutions to those that are already looking for them. To do this easily and effectively, you need a plan to follow each day, each week and each month in order to create visibility and attract a steady stream of leads. This plan should include specific marketing strategies that will allow you to position yourself as a problem solver for your target market.

There are a LOT of marketing techniques to choose from. So it's easy to get overwhelmed with the sheer number of marketing methods. But as a solo service professional, your time is extremely valuable (and often limited). Thus, it’s important to select the few marketing methods that A) make sense for your business and B) are not only effective, but that can be done consistently. Your potential clients are always looking for solutions, so it’s important that you remind them regularly of what you have to offer. MORE

Small business marketing is not only necessary to your success as an entrepreneur, it's easier than you think. Statistics say your small business has a 1 in 6 chance of survival, but without effective, ongoing marketing, your odds are far less than that. Utilize proven small business marketing strategies that will let you spread the word about your business quickly and get in front of the right people.

Small business marketing can seem like a big task. After all, big corporations have entire departments devoted to nothing other than marketing, so what can you do with a one-woman (or one-man) show? The good news is ...plenty! You can market your small business in a number of ways that will have your phone ringing, inbox filling up and your bank balance growing. One of the keys to success is to build a compelling brand and consistently create awareness for that brand. Read more about Small Business Marketing is Easier Than You Think

Feeling overwhelmed with marketing your business?  We've all been there at one time or another.  But you don't have to stay there! Being in a constant state of overwhelm is a choice.  It's a choice one makes partially as a result of a limiting belief that being successful in business is hard and can't be done with grace and ease.  It's also partially a result of poor time management and disorganization.  Whatever may be contributing to your overwhelm, let's get you out of there!

You can’t possibly tackle every aspect of your marketing plan at once. But doing nothing to create awareness about your business is not an option, either. MORE

Do you feel stuck in your business because you don’t have enough money to devote to marketing? While there are great marketing programs out there that are worth an investment, you don’t have to have a huge budget in order to get more clients and generate more revenue. In this week’s podcast, I share five specific ways that you can market your business using the smallest of marketing budgets.

No Cost Marketing Strategies That Work (SSMS Episode 43) [ 6:59 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (310)

Offline marketing is sometimes ignored by solo service professionals – but it shouldn’t be! By holding workshops and in-person appearances in your local area, you can increase your income, raise your public profile, and build a foundation for a stronger business in the future. In addition, you help build your relationship with your audience. You’ll be able to get to know your local target market while you’re earning revenue from the event AND laying the foundation for future upsells to other products and/or services. MORE