How much time have you wasted going round and round on solutions that just didn’t work? Or what about a mix and match business strategy? Where you do a little bit of this and little bit of that, does it really work out in the end?
I mean for a business, or any dream for that matter, to work we can’t just care a little bit, we have to go all in. Likewise, we can’t manage a little bit or market a little bit – we have to go all in. They’re fundamental to our business.
Here are some quick marketing lessons learned the hard way that could same you real time and real money. And you know what they say about time . . .
Lesson #1: Do the work and then do it again.
You have to do the work to create a great product. And then you have to turn around and do the work again to create a smart marketing strategy and management solutions. Having a great product doesn’t excuse poor management or weak marketing.
Lesson #2: Website strategy shouldn’t be an after thought.
Every website is not the same. Some are like brochures, they just lay there until someone stumbles across it and picks it up. But others are like the energizer bunny, they just keep going and going and going. The owner creates new and relevant content and marketing campaigns that go out gets attention and visits. The energizer bunny website goes to work (just like you).
Lesson #3: Make my website simple please.
You don’t have to design your own website. You can put your energy into something else while you pay an expert to create it for you. But in the end you still want something with a login, so that you or a member of your team can change the text, plus add a few videos when you want to. Beware of designer hijacked websites.
Lesson #4: One time around the marketing block is never enough.
Just like we all want more than one client, then we have to market more than one time. Consistent marketing is a about a systematic approach, not a random collection of hodge podge solutions.
It’s hard to implement 15 marketing ideas at once, especially when you’re learning at the same time. It’s difficult to remember what everybody told you. But it’s easy to choose one strategy, study it, implement it and then start another.
Lessons Learned Photo via Shutterstock
#2 and #3 are so true and not that hard. You just have to sit down and put together a very simple strategy about what you want your site to do (and not do) and then have a very credible, simple website that accomplishes it quickly & easily. Great points Jamillah!
Joel Libava
Great job on this post about marketing.
It seems like the talk this year is about website design and usability. Simpler. Easier to navigate.
Marketing-related, for sure.
Thanks for the reminders!
The Franchise King®
I really like #4 – it’s easy to get overwhelmed with too many strategies; by taking it one thing at a time, you can really achieve your marketing goals.
Sometimes learning the hard way is the only way!
Jamillah Warner (MsJ)
Oh, but it’s painful (and memorable).