Love creating but hate selling and marketing? Here's 10 ways to get you started.
If you’re like me, creating comes easier than selling. But if our businesses are actually going to support us in this society, in ways that make it worth the risks inherent in entrepreneurship, selling has to become just as important.
So, today, I’m sharing some actionable tips to navigate this challenge and begin the business of building Brand Equity (aka, marketing).
But before we begin, let me assure that it is 100% ok to put energy into selling. You live in a capitalist society where we must make enough to buy housing, health insurance, food and put money away for times when we and family members) can’t work. It is ok to make money. It is necessary for you to have a profitable business.
Sound good? Let’s have a look below.
These tips won’t do the work for you, but they will help you move past the place where you feel stuck. If none of these sound appealing, it might be time you get support in other ways. Running a business is not only daunting but it can also be exhausting. And these are times when a coach might be the best option to get you refreshed and back on the side of a running a profitable business- or maybe even closing it.
1. Define Your Audience: Take the time to really understand the folks who will love to buy what you sell. Who are they? Imagine one of them in your mind before sitting down to write or create.
2. Storytelling Magic: Infuse your content with stories that highlight your journey, your brand's values, and the impact you're making. People connect with stories, and it makes your content memorable.
3. Consistency Wins: Every time you take that tiny step forward you strengthen your marketing muscle. Even if it’s just something small, it’s forward momentum.
4. Showing up often is better than trying to craft one perfectionist post: I’m an advocate for high-quality content, but when you’re new at just about anything you have some practicing to do. Get in there with quality and value in mind but don’t expect yourself to have to create a masterpiece on day one, or even in year one.
5. Mix It Up: Don't get stuck in a content rut. Experiment with different formats like videos, infographics, podcasts, and more. You might find one that you like better than the others. And when you actually like creating something, you’re more likely to get better at it faster!
6. Solve Problems: Position your content as problem-solving gold. Address the challenges your audience faces and provide actionable solutions. Become the go-to resource for help.
7. Authenticity Rules: Be true to your brand's personality. Authenticity resonates with people. You don’t need to try to be someone you’re not because you’re 100% wonderful exactly who you are. Focus on being a part of a great relationship. Great relationships aren’t built on pretending or performing. Just be you.
8. Invite your audience to share: Customers are integral and important partners in our business growth. Nurturing that relationship by allowing others to be seen and heard is powerful and builds community.
9. SEO Savvy: Do a little bit of research about SEO and how using certain keywords can help boost search visibility. It’s not something that replaces building thoughtful relationships but it actually enforces them because you become interested in the words people are using to search for your product. It puts you more in touch with them and how they communicate.
10. Engage and Listen: Engagement is a two-way street. Respond to comments, questions, and feedback from your audience. Remember- it’s not just about launching and moving on to the next thing. It’s about showing back up to be IN the conversation.
Remember, creating marketing content is both an art and a science. It takes time to find your groove, but with persistence, passion, and these tips, you'll be well on your way to creating content that leads to the results you want.
