Have you ever noticed on some treadmills that there is a setting called the “fat burning” zone?
Theoretically, if you keep your pace, speed and incline at a certain level, you will maximize your work and keep your body in its prime “fat burning” zone. Which is obviously the goal if you are spending some time on a treadmill – you want slim, trim, tangible results!
What does this have to do with growing your business? The same principle applies! Especially if you are just getting started in your business, or working your way out of a slump.
Staying in your power zone will ensure that it’s easier to complete your essential marketing tasks,and you’ll get much better results. Your marketing will be more genuine and reflect the best you have to offer. Your ideal clients will take notice, reach out and want to work with you.
What does this look like in real life? Its means focusing on these three things:
- What you enjoy doing – Are you a gregarious, outgoing person by nature? Then networking and speaking are great ways for you to create more visibility for your work and attract new clients.If you love to write, you might focus on consistently (i.e. weekly) sending an email newsletter, writing a blog post and contributing other types of content to major outlets.
Keep in mind, no one marketing strategy is the “end all,” “be all”. And no one strategy is going to make or break your business. Make your marketing and business development fun, by focusing on the activities you actually enjoy. This isn’t supposed to be hard. 🙂
- What you’re good at doing – The same principle applies here. Use your natural talents and abilities to grow your business. You’ll be much more comfortable and consistently enjoy better results.We are all naturally more confident when we are working in our comfort zone. So use that to your advantage. People are drawn to confident individuals like a magnet, so how you show up will go a LONG way towards helping you to fill your practice with ideal clients.
- What has already generated the best results – This means you have to review your past client list and really analyze where your leads came from. You may be pleasantly surprised! This analysis is guaranteed to save you time, money and energy because you can see exactly what marketing activities have generated the best results and thus, focus your attention on ONLY those key areas.This will eliminate that feeling of “I’m spinning my wheels!,” will decrease your stress and significantly increase your profits. Keep track of where EACH lead comes from, even if you just use a simple spreadsheet. Remember, you don’t need to do 92 different things to grow your business. You only need to do the top 2-3 that work the best, and do them consistently.
That’s IT! Being open to new ideas and technology is critical to your long-term success. But that does not mean you should jump on every marketing bandwagon that goes by. And it doesn’t mean you have to implement a particular strategy, just because it seems that everyone else is.
You shouldn’t force a marketing idea unless you can enjoy doing it, are naturally gifted at it or if it has generated results for you in the past. Trying to convince yourself to do things that don’t fit into one of these three categories is a waste of your time! It drains your energy, puts unnecessary pressure on you and makes your business difficult. Instead of struggling, it’s time to step out into your POWER Zone, commit to consistency and enjoy growing your business.
Make this easy on yourself! How will you step into your marketing POWER zone? Share your thoughts with me in the comments!
YOUR “TAKE ACTION” PLAN FOR THIS WEEK:
- Set aside 30 minutes to look at the marketing activities that you enjoy most. Pick the top 3. Schedule a recurring appointment on your calendar to work your plan each week.
- Evaluate your skills and strengths. How can you translate those into marketing activities that will get bigger and better results for your business? How can you leverage the opportunities that are already in front of you?
- Review your revenue report for the last six months. Where have the majority of your clients come from? Focus on these marketing efforts to repeat your success.
Kristi LeGue says
I love that you share with us that we should be doing what we enjoy doing. So many people, including myself in the past, have wasted so much of our time doing things that we do not like doing. For example, so many people came to me after spending a year or two (or more sometimes) trying to do the bookkeeping for their small business. They would tell me how much they hated it, but they were trying to save money. Problem was, they messed it all up and had to spend way more having me go back and fix it! If it makes you miserable, you are not going to do your best. Your time is better spent doing what you love and bringing the money in!
Same goes for marketing…I LOVED networking when I had my practice. I spent as much time as I could doing it. Not so coincidentally, most of my leads came in from there. I loved to see where my leads were coming from. It was great information that helped me focus my energy where the dollar signs were.
Thank you for sharing Sydni!
Sydni Craig-Hart says
I had to laugh out loud when I read your note Kristi, because I made that EXACT mistake…trying to do my bookkeeping myself. It turned out to be a costly, frustrating mistake. 🙂
Keeping track of your leads is SO important…thanks for sharing your experience with that!
Andrea Costantine says
I believe that the most powerful strategies are really very simple at their core, and this proves that.
Following these three things is truly a recipe for success. I also agree we shouldn’t be closed to new ideas, but we should know what we enjoy, what works for our market, and what produces the best results.
In the end, that means working smarter not harder – and I love that!
Sydni Craig-Hart says
I appreciate what you said Andrea! It can be challenging to balance of trying something new with the discipline of focusing on what works. That looks different from person to person, so we each have to recognize within ourselves what works best for us and keep our attention and energy focused there. 🙂
Brenda Stanton says
Once again Syndi, you have the GIFT of taking complex concepts that tend to confuse me and intimidate me about marketing and make them SIMPLE – you live up to your brand well!
I LOVE the analogy with the treadmill – and how true it is – looking at where we are getting the most traction and doing more of that. I’ve found that when I’m in “fat burning zone” I actually don’t feel like I’m working that hard, but I get the best results!
What a beautiful philosophy to transfer to marketing.
Thank you as always for your wisdom! xoxo
Sydni Craig-Hart says
Thanks so much Brenda! I really appreciate your note. At great deal of effort goes into simplifying concepts that many find difficult to grasp and implement. So the fact that you noticed that means a LOT! 🙂
Amy Kinnaird says
Wow, Sydni. As usual, you hit the nail on the head. I feel empowered just reading your blog. Love the reassuring words that I don’t have to do everything. Just go with my strengths. I’m going to focus on leveraging my marketing skills and come up with new and creative ways along those lines!
Not being true to myself only results in frustration, procrastination, and poor results.
Sydni Craig-Hart says
Well said Amy! That’s exactly why so many folks are struggling! I’m do excited to have inspired you. 🙂
Gina Bell says
Syndi I LOVE the analogy here and the 3 tip filter you provided is so valuable. There’s an additional measure I use to prioritize the actions I love to take and that is which ones create ripples? Which actions can I take that have legs or the ability to go viral – I’m talking leverage and biggest impact. I just can’t help but think this way… it’s my “Why just do it when you can REALLY do it?” nature.
You’re so gifted at breaking down the complex into easy to digest action steps! Keep ’em coming! xo
Sydni Craig-Hart says
I love that Gina! What a simple, powerful concept! Thanks so much for sharing your wisdom and adding another compelling point to my list. 🙂
Jennifer Bourn says
Boy are you right?! It makes such a big difference when you stay in your power zone, brilliance, genius … you get more done, feel more energized, experience more joy.
So many talk about getting out of your comfort zone – and I love that you take it a step further and recommend we get into our power zone – I’m taking note of this one. Thanks!
Madeline Walters says
Sydni, great job on this article.
From the title to the “take action” plan, I am convinced of your writing genius. There is a book inside of you that is just waiting to come out. Please let us (your audience) know when you will host your book signing.
As Gina Bell says: “Keep ’em coming!”
Sydni Craig-Hart says
Thanks so much for the feedback Madeline! I really appreciate the feedback and am so glad you enjoyed the article. It’s really funny… I get compliments on my writing all the time… but I don’t enjoy it! 🙂 I’ve thought about writing a book for years, but that’s always what’s held me back. Perhaps one day, because of continued encouragement from folks like you, I’ll get it done. 🙂