It’s hard to believe it’s October already! How is your plan for the year coming along? As we start the fourth quarter it’s a good idea to revisit some of your annual company goals and this includes your marketing plan.
Small steps lead to big results. Choose one marketing action task to finish the year strong.
We often talk about how your random acts of marketing don’t give you consistent results, so our Take Action task for you this month is to get really consistent about one aspect of your marketing. There are only three months left in the year. And, for many of you this is the busiest time of year and make or break in terms of your revenue. So what can you resolve to do to get more of the clients and business you want, really focusing on that ideal customer?
Choose Your Action Task
We have a few suggestions for you. Now be warned, we want you to pick one thing from this list of suggestions to focus on for consistency. If you aren’t already doing these things, don’t try and do them all at once!
Tackle Your Email List
Take a look at your email list. You should engage or re-engage those people. Plan the content for the emails you’ll send the rest of the year. Whether it is once a month or once a week, take some time to create a plan.
Take a look at your email list. It’s time to engage or re-engage those people.
To do this, first plan how often you’ll send and write down those dates through the end of the year. For example maybe you’ll send an email on the first Wednesday of the month, or weekly on a Friday morning. Next, pick a topic or theme for each of those dates. Remember, you’re only looking for snack- size content that is relevant to your audience, there’s no need to write a lengthy newsletter. Now that you have a plan, get writing and sending those emails. Remember, most consumers still prefer email for communications and sales offers from businesses.
Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Make sure to optimize your Google Business Profile. Did you know you can post key information there?
Make sure you claim your listing and have all your relevant business information included in your profile. Once you have the basics you want to post weekly. When you post on Google don’t forget that this is a search engine, not social media. Think about what people are searching for and your posts should relate to that. These are the questions that you get asked on a regular basis. You can spotlight your new content on your blog, a featured product or service, and if you’re having a sale or event.
Check Out Your Website
When’s the last time you reviewed your website home, about, and services pages? Does it reflect your current messaging and business?
Another action task you can choose is to review your website. Focus on the home page, about page, and your services pages to make sure the content is relevant and accurate. You have stories to share that will help your customers and prospects solve their problems and give them a reason to work with you. Make sure you’re telling your story online in a conversational tone. Avoid industry jargon that doesn’t speak to your ideal audience. Also make sure that you have good call to actions on your website. What do you want visitors to do next?
Get Social
If you aren’t using the social media platform your audience hangs out on the most, start using it. Initially, you should use it as a consumer taking note of how it is used, what is successful, and to get ideas of what to post. Plan out your themes and social mix ahead of time similar to your email calendar. Then start posting at least once a week on it.
If your audience is using a social media platform you aren’t, it’s time to learn more about it. Get familiar by checking out what others are doing that’s working.
Remember, social media channels are rented land. You don’t have as much control over your presence as you do on your website or in an email, but social media can be a good way to extend your reach, interact with your prospects and customers, and drive traffic back to your website.
Lights, Camera, Action!
Your last action task option is to create more videos! Make at least three short videos, and use them on multiple platforms. You don’t have to be on camera, although it is good practice! You can use a template instead. With either format you choose you’ll want to follow the hook, value, and call to action formula. Learn how to use your smartphone camera to capture the story of your business. This can be customers, events, new products, tips, how to’s, success stories, meet the team, but people really love video today.
People love video! – Create more videos. You can repurpose it on multiple platforms.
Now more than ever, a good online presence is critical for your business. And the bottom line is this, having an overall strategy and plan, and then integrating it into your day-to-day processes saves you time and gets better results.
If there’s one thing we’ve learned over the years of helping our customers use digital marketing to really grow their businesses, it’s this: Consistency builds traction and gets results. So what consistent action will you take to finish the year strong?
Links in this episode: Don’t Make These Costly Digital Marketing Mistakes
