Whether you're a business owner, marketing consultant, or social media expert, there are always ways to get better and more creative with your marketing. The following is a list of 25 ways I've been able to improve my skills as a marketer and entrepreneur over the years. I hope they're helpful, and I hope you'll share some of your own tips and techniques!
1) Write a Blog. If you don't know what your message is, start writing it out. Let other people see how you struggled with different directions and new ideas, why you chose to focus on particular goals over others, and what your true voice is. Eventually, the message will write itself.
2) Read a Blog. Or better yet, read lots of them. And they don't have to be about marketing. Try something likeSteve Pavlina's Personal Development Blog if you need an inspirational change of pace.
3) Watch a Documentary. Lots of marketers are audio and visual learners - if you're one of them, it might be more helpful to watch something like Art & Copy by Doug Pray than to read several different blogs or filter through YouTube videos.
4) Forgive Yourself. We've all had our share of marketing blunders... times we thought we had the next huge idea or promised an ROI we couldn't deliver. Rather than keeping that mistake in the back of your head and letting it turn you into a middle-of-the-road, run-of-the-mill marketing professional, give yourself credit for trying and don't let it keep you from trying again. It's hard to be the best on the first attempt, so if at first you don't succeed....
5) Find the Right Setting. Sometimes our talents don't line up with our passions. So if you're sure marketing is right for you, find the place that will bring out your best. It might be a nonprofit, a small retail shop, a law firm, a corporate powerhouse, or your own consultancy.
6) Join a New Community. There are lots of social media sites out there, sites where you can share interests and give (or get) feedback. If you're caught up in the most popular like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, it might be time to try some new venues. Check out niche communities like dailymile.com for runners and coastr.com for beer drinkers. Here's a full list of niche social networking sites.
7) Share Something Valuable. A blog is a great way to share content, but eBooks and whitepapers can provide more in-depth information for your potential clients. For example, CreAgent Marketing offers this free whitepaper on Facebook statistics in exchange for your email address. It's a great way to grow your list of contacts!
8) Make it a Story. Every business has some history, maybe a few lucky breaks and turning points. Share the story of your business or a particular product you developed. When people can personally relate, they're more likely to become a customer.
9) Have Fun. People having fun attracts people who want to have fun. Just take it from those fish market people in Seattle; they could have been another seafood stand in Pike Place, but they decided to have fun at work. As a result, you can watch a live web cam as crowds of tourists surround the world-famous fish market every day.
10) Watch Less TV. It may sound counter-intuitive for a marketing professional to ignore what's happening in the television world. But you're good at what you do and you don't have to get all your ideas from one medium. If you really need inspiration, watch some YouTube videos instead.
11) Remember Your Purpose. Every marketer has a role to play. It's easy to get caught up in side-jobs and menial tasks, but don't let them drag you down. You're there to do something creative, so take a step back and look at the big picture; that should be a nice reminder about why you were hired in the first place.
12) Take a Hike. Literally. Don't sit in front of a blank computer screen trying to brainstorm the next big idea. Get away from your desk with a specific idea in mind. Talk about it with co-workers or let it simmer in your own brain while you do something more active.
13) Join a Meetup Group. I'm part of a group of business folks who meet one morning every month to talk about marketing trends and ideas. Meetup.com is a great website for finding similar groups in your area - and these groups are invaluable for networking and new ideas.
14) Take a Free Marketing Class Online. The Cheap Revolution has a great list of 99 free online classes on business and entrepreneurship. Pick one that relates to marketing and get started!
15) Know Your Energy. Everyone brings a natural energy to their job (and life in general). This is especially important in marketing because of the way our profession requires us to work with all different people. Figure out your marketing energy and you'll be able to identify strengths and weaknesses in your approach.
16) Speak Up. Whenever you're the one in front of the room, others listen. So look for opportunities at local volunteer group meetings (Rotary, Lions Club) and Chamber of Commerce events. You might have to get over your fear of public speaking... so it's a good way to kill two birds with one stone.
17) Learn How to Analyze Statistics. Everywhere online, we're inundated with statistics. Your Facebook page, YouTube video, website, and e-newsletter automatically generate stats that can tell some pretty valuable stories. Spend some time with these numbers and you'll have a much better chance at increasing your visits and views.
18) Use Your Pen. There's something magical about putting ink on a piece of paper. Of course, all the best ideas are written on napkins while people are drinking coffee or beer. But seriously, instead of restraining yourself by the limited layout capabilities in word processors, pull out a blank sheet of paper and start doodling. Your mind will be free to work more naturally and visually.
19) Travel Wisely. If you're like me, you spend a lot of time in the car. Instead of turning on the radio in the hopes you'll hear something that doesn't remind you of a boy-band artist gone solo, download some podcasts on marketing or business trends and listen to them during your commute.
20) Trust Your Instincts. You have more marketing experience than the person across the table. You're the one who went to school for this stuff, or at least took some online courses and spent countless hours reading articles like this one... but everyone has an opinion, especially when it comes to marketing: "the logo should be bigger," "the headlines should be bolder," "the music should be louder." Entertain their perspectives and then make your own decision. Your instincts are probably pretty accurate, so don't let someone's misguided opinion persuade you to do something that's not good for business.
21) Call Yourself a Marketer. Don't kid yourself, you're good at this stuff. So feel free to admit it! Don't hide your marketing aspirations.
22) Create Your Own Success. Even if you're working in an organization that isn't known for creativity or efficiency, that doesn't mean you can't be creative or efficient. Don't get caught up in the politics around you, be good at what you do and you'll get noticed for sure.
23) Use Someone Else's Big Idea. Just because someone already invented it doesn't mean you can't use it for your own organization. Some national marketing campaigns can be adapted and recycled for local use. In these instances, you don't have to explain the concept, you just have to pull it off a little differently.
24) Use Your Own Big Idea. Yeah... the one you stashed away several years ago. Or the one you used for your senior thesis or your last major internship. Go back into your personal archives and reignite the passion you had for marketing in your early years. Remind yourself why you got into this in the first place and you just might find your second wind.
25) Step Away from it All. Take a vacation, or a virtual vacation, or a stay-cation, or whatever it takes to rest your brain for a while. When you lift weights, you have to take rest days in order to get stronger. Your muscles rebuild during the time off. Remember that your brain is a muscle that can become fatigued or strained, and a few extra rest days can make you smarter and stronger.
Thanks for reading - please add to this list by commenting below!
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"Seven Statistics that Prove your Business Should be on Facebook."