You’ve likely heard me say, “marketing is simply a matter of sharing solutions with people who are already looking for them.” To get the results you’re looking for (more clients, more income, more visibility, etc.) you must also market consistently.
I understand that it can be overwhelming trying to figure out what to do to grow your business and keeping to a schedule in actually getting the work done. However, there are a few tricks that will help you.
For a quick dose of clarity, review your business activity over the past 6-12 months, which will give you a clear picture of what’s working and not working in your business.
As you review your client list you’ll want to ask yourself:
- How were clients introduced to my business?
- What did they buy from me?
- How much revenue did each client relationship generate?
The point is this: all of your clients came from a source. Identifying these will help you focus your marketing efforts on the sources that get you the best results. (Here’s a FREE tool to help you with this.)
Once you’ve gained some insight into your client list, you want to note which marketing strategies you actually implemented in order to engage those clients. Did you do networking, speaking, email marketing, or use social media? Whatever the activity, make sure you write that down and note EXACTLY what you did. Meaning:
- Which networking events provided the best connections and leads?
- Which of your email blasts got the best open rates and generated the most leads?
- Which social networks did you participate in? And where did you get the best response?
Next to each marketing strategy in your list, note how much income you produced from that activity. Organize the items from most income gained to the least amount.
Now the fun begins! After completing this simple analysis, you will see clearly which marketing activities have created the best RE$ULT$ for your business. Going forward, you’ll want to do MORE of the activities that earn you the most income. Those that brought in the least amount, either discard them or re-strategize.
You’ll want to use this information to do three things:
- Set new S.M.A.R.T. goals for yourself based on what’s already worked in the past
- Commit to focusing on JUST the top three (profit-producing) strategies and nothing else
- Create a simple marketing plan to help you stay on track and implementing consistently
This means putting your “blinders” on and not allowing yourself to get distracted by opportunities or marketing strategies that don’t specifically support you achieving the goals you’ve set for yourself. Which makes your marketing easier, less expensive, more fun and MUCH more effective!
Completing this simple analysis will allow you to breakthrough any paralysis you’ve been facing. There is no need to be confused about what you should do to grow your business. Keep your focus on the marketing strategies that actually earn you money! Which three strategies will you focus on in your business? Please share your thoughts on the blog.
Your Action Plan For This Week:
- List the marketing strategies that you have implemented.
- Note next to each strategy how much money you have earned from that activity.
- Commit to only focusing on the activities that make you money.
- Get your copy of my “Create Your Money Map” system, which will help you set SMART goals and outline a simple marketing schedule, customized to your business.
Jennifer Bourn says
Sydni – When I first started really tracking where my new business leads and income was coming from, I realized that I was dedicating time and money every month (including getting a babysitter for my kids) to attend a night-time networking event that was netting us ZERO leads and income. I had been going because that is where most of my business friends were networking and it was fun, but it wasn’t where my ideal clients were spending their time. What an EYE OPENER. Since, I have obviously ditched that event and now we just meet up for lunch and cocktails 🙂
Jennifer Bourn, Bourn Creative
Margo DeGange, M.Ed. says
This is such smart advice Sydni! So often we think our activity is effective but without tracking we just won’t know. I think peeps get a little freaked out at the word “tracking”.
You make the concept seem easy to swallow.
You can’t manage what you don’t measure. If you take a little time at first to look at where the dollars are coming from, you just might be pleasantly surprised. You may discover it’s in your best interest to drop the activities you don’t like doing anyway!
This is great info and very useful for business owners.
Hugs,
Margo
Sydni Craig-Hart says
Thanks so much for the comment Margo. I appreciate it! What have you found works well for you to track your marketing efforts?