Why “be everywhere” is Terrible Marketing Advice
Raise your hand if you've heard that when it comes to marketing your business you should "be everywhere"?
You should be on Facebook. Twitter. Instagram. Pinterest. LinkedIn. Don't forget IGTV, Instagram Stories and Instagram Live! Also, Facebook Live AND Facebook Groups, ya heard?
Oh yeah. And remember when Vine was a big deal? And Periscope was the next big "thing"? Apparently, TikTok is something now too but honestly? I just can't be bothered.
No wonder we'll all so damn overwhelmed. We're relentlessly "busy" in our business but can't get traction.
The thing is, when we try to do all the things and be everywhere we end up phoning it in because we're just so freakin' tired of it all.
Yes, it can be hard to know what focused strategies are the right ones to grow your unique business. But I can guarantee one thing: adding more tips, tricks and tactics won't help. In fact, that'll dilute your efforts in marketing.
It's true, learning what works takes trial and error (believe me, I've tried literally every marketing hack under the sun in my business, including burning a small pile of cash on FB ads). But here's the thing:
I hereby give you permission to stop doing the things that aren't working for you.
These can be marketing efforts that are a time suck, that you don't see any return on, or are simply a buzzkill for you.
What do you do instead? Double down on the few marketing efforts that you do see results with. Or hell, even just the marketing efforts that you actually enjoy doing (repeat after me: it's okay to have FUN in your business, FFS)
Want to see what I mean? Here's a list of things I've stopped doing in my business even though "they" *waves hand vaguely in the air* say I should definitely be doing these things:
Shut down my Facebook groups
Stopped doing Facebook Lives
Stopped doing IGTV (and IG Lives)
Deleted my Business Pinterest account
Deleted a complicated tech platform for my small group program
Cutting that sh*t out freed up some time and energy for me so know what I did instead?
I joined a women's business group I L-O-V-E and attend meetings / engage with members like a fangirl because they're fun and smart as hell.
I've focused on my in-person, live workshops. They keep me sharp, are insanely energizing, and --bonus!-- they bring me clients.
That's it.
Initially, when I trimmed the fat I was a little freaked out. But when I 86'd (who else grew up waiting tables?? and in restaurants that still had smoking sections?!) that list above and honed in on the thing I love most (really, truly connecting with people) my business has grown, month-on-month, for the last 6+ months.
...for the record, no. I'm not saying I've 10x my revenue month-on-month or something ridiculous. But I've seen slow, steady, consistent increase in clients and revenue. Which is all we really want, right?!
One more thing before I sign off: your list will be different than mine. That's okay! You do you, bae!
If going Live on Facebook or IGTV or [insert marketing activity of choice] makes you happier than Christmas, go for it! If you're feeling good as hell doing that thing, your energy will shine through and you'll draw people in.
Reply here and tell me: how will you simplify? What marketing do you want to stop doing? What are you super pumped to do more of?