Karen C. Wilson | Marketing & Communications | Ottawa, Canada

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Demystifying Marketing: 4 Steps to Take for More Growth in Your Business

I truly believe the best way to grow your business is through marketing. 

But I also know that’s not always what business owners want to hear. 

Whether you have no idea where to begin or who to listen to for advice, or have already taken a stab at marketing but feel like your efforts are going to waste, you might need some support around your marketing mindset. 

And p.s. it’s not just you

I see the same mistakes made again and again when it comes to marketing: misunderstandings about the intention behind marketing, confusion about the tools you should be using, and misconceptions about how to start and where to focus your time. 

You'll get much more out of your efforts if you understand the true power of marketing to help build momentum and growth in your business. 

That’s exactly why I created my free mini-training, Marketing Mindset: Start here, Grow there

In this short, free resource I pack a ton of information about what marketing is, what it can do for your business, and how to reframe your mindset around marketing so you can start to embrace it.

To get you started, here are 4 steps to take to welcome more growth into your business. 

1) Start asking the right questions 

A big part of marketing any business is asking the right questions. The main question being, “WHY”? 

  • Why are you investing time and energy into the tactics you’re using?

  • Why is it important for you to grow your business? (Think beyond making money.) 

  • Why is it important for you to make an impact in the world? 

  • Why are you marketing in the ways you currently are? Or, why aren’t you currently marketing in the ways you want to be? 

These questions allow you to get to the root of why you’re doing (or not doing) certain things. 

Shiny object syndrome is incredibly prevalent nowadays, and if there isn’t intention and strategy behind your marketing tactics, they likely won’t have the impact you want them to. 

So, before you jump into anything else, take some time to reassess. 
Ask yourself what your goals and vision are, who your ideal audience is, and where you like to spend your time and energy.

2) Get to know the 4 P’s of marketing

In order to create an effective marketing plan, you need to know the four Ps of marketing. 

Most people think of promotion when it comes to marketing. But the only reason promotion is such a well known part of marketing is because it’s the loudest and most visible. 

Promotion is the megaphone we use to tell people about the rest of the Ps.

But first, we need to consider your:

  • Product (or service): who is it for? What problem are you solving? 

  • Pricing: where do you fit in the market in terms of your pricing? Are you appropriately valuing your time and energy in creating or delivering the product or service? 

  • Place: how does your customer find you or buy your product or service? 

Finally, we're back to promotion. Without clarity and answers to these other questions, you have nothing to promote! And if you start promoting before you figure out the rest, that can definitely contribute to frustration and impact your results.

By doing this initial work we’re ensuring we don’t miss out on any opportunities to grow and create impact in our industry. 

3) Create a marketing strategy and plan

We often value the act of “doing” because checking tangible things off of our to-do list gives us a feeling of accomplishment. 

And often, when I tell clients they should slow down and take time to think and plan, I get resistance. 

But using marketing tactics without intention behind them serves very little purpose. 

With the foundation you create by understanding your why and breaking down your product, pricing, place, and promotion plans, you can start to come up with a clear strategy to execute on. 

Instead of jumping into every new platform that pops up or executing on each new idea that you have, choose to make understanding and preparation your default. 

4) Take action

At the same time, we don’t want to spend all of our time working on the strategy and plan. 

Once you have some of these key pieces in place, you’ll have the clarity you need to move faster and the confidence to get things done and see real results.

Don’t get stuck for too long in the research and preparation phase. Create this solid foundation and then give yourself the chance to test out what you’ve planned out. 

Looking for the next step to take? 

If you found this blog helpful, I know you’ll find value in my Marketing Mindset: Start here, grow there free mini-training. 

Whether you’re a solopreneur or small business owner, committing time to your marketing strategy and mindset is going to be the best way for your business to grow and create impact. 

Included in the training are 3 lessons which go more into detail about what marketing involves, the difference between marketing strategy, plan, and tactics (and how to start implementing them), and the impact of strategic marketing to scale your business. 

Plus, each lesson includes a list of resources you can access to learn more as you grow your marketing expertise and become the Magnificent Marketer I know you can be!

Sign up here to begin to embrace a marketing mindset that will allow you to grow your business.