How to Get Over your Fear of Marketing your Business
Are you like many business owners who may be thinking: "Marketing? What's that?"
Marketing doesn't have to be a minefield of ideas and finding new ways in which to promote ourselves and our business. When looking at strategies to increase, or in some cases, start to look at our Top Line Growth, then at some stage you will want to attract new clients. Pro-activity is key here.
The following tips will help you take the fear out of promoting your business and move towards Top Line Growth.
1. Appreciate yourself
Firstly, realising that you are one of the greatest things to come along since the invention of the telephone or even those chocolate covered raisins, then you will allow yourself to boldly market yourself and your business without any fear of failure or criticism. Become grounded in what makes you great, unique and special.
2. Know exactly what you are marketing
Educate yourself in exactly what you and your business have to offer. What does your business offer and to whom? Becoming really clear in these details will release your confidence to continue with your marketing strategies and communications.
3. Get some support and learn about marketing from people who know
The most effective way in overcoming any fear you may have of marketing is to remove any confusion or misperceptions surrounding marketing. The more you educate yourself and learn about marketing, the less fearful and the more confident you will be to get out there and just do it.
4. Enjoy yourself
Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, marketing can be fun. You'll network and meet a lot of great people and have new experiences, and learn more from every interaction you have. Enjoy this process and fear (marketing) will be the last thing on your mind.
5. Leverage, leverage then leverage some more
We all have great strength but also great weakness in areas of business. Doing everything yourself may feel like you're really accomplishing something. Being a 'Jacks Of All Trades may give an impression of accomplishment but being an expert of something holds a far greater reward. Don't do everything yourself if it's not really your area of expertise. True leverage is key here. Get some help and free up your time to do what you do best.
Creative marketing efforts will provide you with the ripe fruit that's really worth picking. Make sure you are being unique and add a creative twist to your marketing. For instance, if you love to write - then write an e-book or article that you can use to promote your skill or business to others.
7. Try, try and try again
You have implemented a marketing strategy and have not yet seen any rewards to your efforts. So? Big deal! Be persistent and put effort into your marketing strategies. With continued persistence, the results will happen.
8. Don't put all your eggs in one basket
There are so many different ways to market yourself and your business. Don't limit yourself to just one product or service. Spread your marketing efforts through many different mediums, including, but not exclusive to - business promotions/publications, snail mail, the media (including radio, newspaper, television, and magazine articles), networking events, personal interactions, and of course, the internet.
9. Be realistic and know that not everyone is interested in what you are doing
By first understanding and then accepting this, you will get over your fear of rejection and become more confident in taking quality action towards marketing your business.
10. Design that marketing plan
Great results do not happen by accident. Sure we may stumble upon business from time to time but true results come from careful planning. Results are often the byproduct of a well thought-out, documented, logical plan. Remember to leverage when needed and work with a marketing coach or consultant to design and follow that all important plan.
Enjoy Marketing and most importantly, have fun!
