Taking the complexity out of Marketing
One of my aims when consulting with clients is to help take the complexity out of Marketing - as well as the fear and the jargon.
Marketing is usually perceived as an acronym-filled fantasy land - with different strategies, techniques and ways to navigate it. This is somewhat true but it can be far from complex if you break it down and explain it in a way that makes sense to people.
The complexities stem from not understanding Marketing as a function. And this is ok - you only know what you know.
common complexities
Complexities often take the form of questions when I advise small business owners.
Here are 10 complexities that may resonate with you- they’re real-life questions clients have typically needed advice on:
Who is my target audience?
What are the most effective marketing strategies for small businesses?
How do I create a marketing plan tailored to my business goals?
How can I develop a strong brand identity that resonates with my target audience?
How can I establish a strong online presence?
How can I create valuable and engaging content to attract and retain customers?
How much should I allocate to my marketing budget?
How can I build and maintain strong relationships with my customers?
How can I measure the success of my marketing campaigns?
What is SEO and how does it help my online presence?
These questions have been blockers to my clients being able to drive their businesses forward; they didn’t know the answers, and why they came to me for help.
Which question needs answering first?
You don’t have to tackle all ten at once. Start with what the business needs to achieve and what is getting in the way. That will help you decide which marketing question deserves your attention first.
Imagine you’re posting regularly but the enquiries aren’t a good fit. The answer may not be to post more. You might need to be clearer about who the service is for, what it helps them do and what they should do next.
If you’re unsure who you’re talking to, start with understanding your audience. If the activity feels disconnected, look at what belongs in your marketing strategy. If you have a direction but too many possible channels, work through choosing the right marketing approaches.
Write down the decision you need to make, the information you already have and what you still need to find out. That gives the next conversation a useful starting point.
Each question can be answered with a one-liner; Google can help with that, maybe ChatGPT. But this just removes a few blocks from the barrier.
It’s when you take each question, bring insight, throw experience at it and apply it to an individual business, their objectives and offering, and really dig deep, that you break that barrier down completely and drive forward.
And this is what I do.
A Marketing Power Hour gives us focused time to work through a particular question and agree sensible next steps. Some challenges need more research or ongoing support; we can be clear about that from the outset. If you’d like help deciding where to start, get in touch.