Every small business needs a good content marketing strategy. Today’s content marketing choices can be overwhelming: Websites, blogs, SEO, email, webinars, video, social media… Can a small business cover every marketing outlet?
The short answer is that it is doubtful. The sheer amount of time and cost involved to regularly provide content to every marketing platform available is nearly impossible for a small business owner. That’s why your business needs a content marketing strategy that is manageable. This is the true secret to exponential marketing growth.
Streamline Your Content Marketing Strategy
Choose Wisely. Create a content marketing strategy that includes a set of marketing activities that work for you and that you will stay consistent with. Then work this marketing plan regularly. Simplicity is key.
Track Your Efforts. You can go low-tech or high-tech here.
High-tech tracking options for tracking your content marketing include project management software like Asana, Trello, Dubsado, or ClickUp. These systems allow for more complexity and detail in your tracking efforts.
For a simple, low-tech solution, I recommend tracking all of your marketing activities in an Excel spreadsheet. Include timelines and targets. You can simply place an X in each field to mark each task as complete. Optionally, never underestimate the simple brilliance of a notebook on your desk. Just make sure to check all the boxes each month!
Show Your Brand Personality. Your personal brand story is unique to you, and no one else has it. Let the personal taste, values, and expertise of your brand shine through in your marketing content. These elements set your business apart from any other, and that is what people will gravitate to. Have fun with it.
Stay Consistent. It is very easy to let marketing slip when you get busy, but the key to success is showing up for your marketing tasks every month.
Don’t worry about short time gaps. in your marketing efforts. This is a long game, and there is room in every marketing system for occasional gaps when business gets extremely busy. But continually missing content marketing deadlines will eventually defeat your efforts. If you get too busy and fall into that rabbit hole, invest in yourself and hire a professional who will execute content marketing consistently for you.
Be Patient. It can seem like you’re not gaining momentum at first, but growing a brand takes time and diligence. Social media algorithms, for example, don’t start moving until 6 to 9 months of consistent activity. If you are not seeing a lot of engagement at first, stay positive and focused. Growth will come with time and consistency.
Hone Your Efforts. You may not initially know much about the marketing platforms you choose to engage in. But you can learn a lot by researching, reading articles, or consulting with a professional. Over time, with practice and experience, you will become quite adept.
Regularly maintaining all of your content marketing strategies will keep your marketing system manageable, affordable and, most importantly, active. But don’t let all the overwhelming choices stop you from getting started in the first place. Choose a select few marketing platforms and stay with them. The result of zero effort is zero results, and I want you to succeed.