I have a question for you. Be honest in your answer…
Is your inbox flooded every day with the next BIG idea or Ah-mazing new product, program or widget? Are you stressing about the countdown sale for the newest service, product, or webinar that promises to create wealth beyond your wildest dreams?
I understand. Entrepreneurs and content marketers (we’re all content marketers!) have a tendency to sign up to a million email lists to get the latest incredible experts freebie ebook or training.
Why do we do this?
- We want to see what our competition is doing.
- We want some inspiration for our own ebook or training.
- We want the information to help us feel educated BEFORE we put our own services or content out there in the online world.
It’s very easy to want to virtually consume all of the information out there, but because we gobble up all of this amazing content, we get easily overwhelmed and confused.
The experts out there each have a slightly different twist on the “best” way to run your business. They have to offer their own spin in order to stand out in the crowd, but we then lose sight of how to move forward.
Expert 1 says, you should “be everywhere online. Be on ALL social media platforms.”
Expert 2 says, “No, dial back. Focus on 1 or 2 platforms.”
Expert 3 says, “Go offline and reconnect in person.”
Expert 4 asks, “Why are you doing social media? Hire someone to do it for you.”
So, who’s right?
They all are. What’s important is who YOU think is right and whose expertise works for how you want to run your business. Try not to follow ALL of the experts. Find a few whose message and teachings resonate with your business and lifestyle.
The 3 Things You Don’t Need To Be Doing
Unsubscribe from all the emails of experts who aren’t really your ideal mentor, and let’s get focused in business.
#1 – You don’t need to be everywhere
Social media can be time-consuming and hard to manage on your own. It’s knowing where to post and what to post, engaging with followers who comment and share, and building a community around your pages and profiles.
Obviously, it’s not going away anytime soon, so it’s important to be online and be social.
Pick 1 or 2 (3, if you have some support staff) social media platforms and do those really, really well.
It’s much better to be in less places and present, than more places and non-existent.
Go where your audience is. Use this amazing infographic from Tracx:
Once you choose the best social media platforms to be on, make sure to create a content plan that your audience will love. Use tools to help with automating posts and make sure to fill those threads daily. If you need help with content creation, then check out: 3 Ways to Simplify Your Online Marketing [+ FREE Content Calendar]
#2 – Don’t create content you hate doing
The trend lately in online marketing is to use video to grow your audience. YouTube, Facebook Live, Periscope, and Snapchat are leading the charge.
“75% of online video viewers have interacted with an online video ad this month.”
“92% of mobile video consumers share videos with others” [Source]
BUT what if you hate the idea of doing video?
For right now, don’t. I would suggest you try to put yourself out there with video content, but if the thought of it makes you freeze up, there’s no sense in forcing yourself to do it. Your audience will pick up on it.
If you are ready to try some video content, record it first, then upload it to your social media page. Get comfortable with video before you go live on video.
Is blog writing your nemesis? Grab some tips on How To Write a Blog Quickly
Create content that feels good to you and is valuable to your audience, and post in a place where your audience is online.
Yes, writing blogs is good for increasing traffic to your site, but write them in a way that works for you. Maybe you are list person. Write a list blog that provides helpful tips to your readers.
Do you have a nice-sized email list? Write a daily email to them. Short and sweet. Give them a tip each day.
Don’t feel pressured to create a ton of content that feels uncomfortable to you. Your audience will sense it.
The best content is quality over quantity. Create amazing, educational and valuable info, and your audience will love it.
#3: – Don’t create complicated opt-in offers or “funnels”
Geesh…this is a big trend that online marketers are over-complicating!
When someone opts-in to your freebie offer, they should be added to your email list. Then think about a funnel as a simple progression through your offerings and growing your community. Don’t think of it as a way to sell more stuff.
The benefits of a funnel are to:
- Automate your follow-up process
- Stay in front of your audience
- Offer valuable and educational information to your audience
- Build trust with your list
- Segment your list, if you are using a program that can segment people by tags or clicks.
You don’t need a 40-step funnel to stay connected with your list. Remember, these people want/need what you offer. It’s your job to help them and bring some ease and transformation into their lives. Keep it simple, sister!
What You Should Be Doing
Remember this is your brand and your business. Run it the way that feels good to you and that resonates with your audience. Write your blogs in a way that feels good. Use your voice and inject your perspective. Someone will follow you and ultimately buy from you if they know, like, and trust you.
Let’s find ways to make that happen. Stuck on what to do next? I can help – how about a free clarity call to figure out the best way to connect and market to your audience.