There are so many mediums to think about these days when you’re marketing your small business. Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, Pinterest, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn… the list is endless.
How do you keep pace with all of them? Or do you? How do you promote your business without it overcoming your life? How do you showcase your stuff without sacrificing integrity and your true purpose? Well, I hope I can help. And I’ll start with this…and *warning* it’s pretty shocking.
Don’t use every social media platform.
REALLY. Unless you’re super, duper drawn to it, and have unlimited time, I think you should choose three that you genuinely ENJOY!
Market with genuine joy.
Joy is contagious yet false joy is easy to spot. So, what makes your heart sing? Follow that FIRST. Stay true to you. Again…it is so easy to get caught up in “whatever everybody else is doing.” But that’s not you. You’re a trailblazer, so go your own way, darlin’.
Seize the moment, but also know when to schedule the moment.
There are some serious time savers to marketing if you seek them. I won’t bury you with options, as I tend to stick with an old faithful…Hootsuite. If you’re not familiar, it’s a social media management dashboard that allows you to schedule your posts across several main platforms.
Speaking of that, know that discipline is not a dirty word. It frees our minds to focus on other important things, like, you know, quality of life I suggest creating a weekly or monthly schedule to best capture your precious time as well as the time of your audience. What do you think about most on Mondays? How can you brand your Wednesday Wisdom posts? Or whatever! Think about consistency, but also…
It’s important to let yourself live in the moment as well. That’s what humans do best. When you feel magically compelled to share something… DO! Just because your schedule says it’s “Marketing Monday” doesn’t mean you can’t share your joy about an awesome new all-organic restaurant you had lunch at. It’s important to show that you’re human too. Be human. People like humans!
Speaking of which…
Share your heart if you dare.
This is hard for a lot of people. They don’t want to put their heart on the line. I get it. And if you don’t want to, don’t. And if you don’t want to share personal pictures, don’t.
BUT!
The best responses I’ve seen are the posts, photos, and videos that let the audience see your vulnerability. When we are brave enough to share our hearts, the world shifts for the better. We change someone (and ourselves) for the best. You never know who you are going to inspire, and please know, you always will. Sharing your heart offers trust and creates a genuine relationship.
Interact + care about your audience with boundaries.
I used to have a big problem with this. I would incessantly refresh and check to see if my posts across platforms were being interacted with. It took up a lot of my time that I could have been spending elsewhere. And you know what, it was driving me nuts, I mean no one needs to be spending hours a day on social media. Really, folks, you don’t.
Set out a certain amount of time per day to check interactions. I’d say be flexible with about an hour of your time. During this time, respond to your audience. Ask questions. Care for them as you hope they will care for what you are saying. The golden rule of social?! Hehe…who knows!
Also! Interact with individuals and brands who are in your wheelhouse. Tell them why you like their product or post. Ask them questions. Be curious. Find your tribe. This is a great way to expand your reach and show that it’s not all about you.
Be proud of your product.
Most audiences need direct communication to convert into clientele. Give them clear evidence that you know what you’re doing, you’re doing good in the world, and it’s not just about the bottom line. Have confidence in who you are first and what you do second. So many small businesses, especially the holistically centered ones (I work with these clients most often), are sheepish about tooting their own horn. Please be proud of who you are. Tell them why you do what you do, how to find you, why your work is important, and whatever else comes to mind for you.
Keep tooting my friends!
So, that’s a start. Marketing is necessary, especially for small, holistically-minded businesses, but make it enjoyable for you. What’s your favorite way of communicating? Follow that path! Set up reasonable boundaries, but know when to improvise. Find your tribe and love them hard. You can do it! Of course, if you need some help, I’m only a click away.
Did I miss something or do you have anything you would add to this list? Please share in the comments!
