Your lack of clients isn’t really your problem… it’s only a symptom that your marketing and messaging aren’t bringing you the right leads! (Don’t kill the messenger but it’s true, I’ve lived it).
Marketing is perhaps the biggest bottleneck for the majority of business owners. While you likely didn’t start your business to become a marketing expert, poor marketing is a significant barrier to consistent cash flow and growth.
Consider these statistics:
75% of small business owners lack enough qualified leads, which directly impacts cash flow.
59% don’t have a written marketing plan, making it impossible to measure the effectiveness of their marketing efforts.
DID YOU KNOW?
A business with a written marketing strategy grows 60% faster.
So, if you want more freedom and flexibility, you need consistent cash flow and growth which means you need a written marketing plan/strategy.
To simplify your marketing and make it effective, focus on these 10 core foundational elements:
- A specific, dialed-in target market, an authority-building niche.
- A clear understanding of your audience’s 2 a.m. problem.
- A compelling core message.
- A standout brand (and not just a pretty logo, colours or fonts).
- ONE irresistible (no-brainer) program, product or service.
- Memorable, shareable content that positions you as an expert.
- Measurable results for all of your marketing efforts.
- Storytelling woven into your content.
- A structured, and repeatable sales system.
- A follow-up system (80% of sales happen after 5-12 contacts).
You’ll notice that the 10 core foundational elements do not talk about marketing tactics – whether you use one or many social media platforms, podcasting, speaking, complicated funnels or confusing technology! Those things come later – they are simply how you put your message out into the world.
One of the most crucial steps to increasing profits, and the flow of leads and clients is to clarify and strengthen your message to the world! While you may have worked on this previously, when you first started your business, in order to grow and scale, you will need to refine this once again. Refining your messaging is a constant – because the marketplace is constantly changing.
For several of my clients that meant shifting from being a generalist (lawyer, bookkeeper, accountant, etc.) to becoming THE specialist and expert in a much narrower field. It’s how a lawyer went from being in debt to having a $500K profit; it’s how a financial advisor went from working weekends and evenings to having a highly profitable business with very few, select clients.
Evaluate your current marketing strategy against these 10 core elements.
Is it bringing in the right leads and converting them into clients? If not, it’s time to adjust and create a plan that drives results. With the right foundation, your marketing can become a consistent engine for growth without overwhelming your time.
You can do this
Diana
P.S. I’m a marketing nerd and I geek out on helping clients tweak & optimize their marketing because it impacts everything else in their business!!!
Need a tool to help you identify your marketing gaps and unlock a possible $100K in your business? Download my Marketing Gap Scorecard here.
