Marketing, the unsung hero behind small business success. Sadly, some small biz owners stumble on the road to marketing greatness, making common mistakes that put a wrench in their efforts. Fear not!

Let’s dive into the three most prevalent marketing missteps made by small business owners. Join Jenn Donovan and I (Jacqui Naunton) as we sprinkle some wisdom and wit to help businesses thrive. So, let’s drop the blunders, embrace effective strategies, and make sure our products or services get the spotlight they deserve!

Mistake #1: Not Showing Up (Insert Hide-and-Seek Flashbacks):

Ah, the infamous game of hide and seek. But seriously, entrepreneurs, you can’t be hiding behind your products or services. Customers crave connection. There’s real truth behind building the “know like and trust” factor in your biz.

So try showing people the face behind the business. YOU are the most unique part of your business… and if you want to stand out, doing it with your uniqueness is one surefire way to do it. It’s time to break free from your comfort zone and embrace the magical world of human-to-human marketing.

Jenn’s tips to get comfortable showing yourself in your business:

1. Try getting some professional photos taken (the budget stretch is worth it)

2. Jump onto Instagram stories with a quick photo or boomerang of yourself

3. If you don’t want to show your face, start with putting your voice over a video

4. Record yourself doing a daily task and put text/music over it

ACTION STEP: Tell you audience 3 things about yourself in you Instagram stories.

The world is waiting to meet the face behind the brand, so let’s make an entrance!

Mistake #2: Forgetting to Sell (Less “Oops,” More Cha-Ching!):

We get it—selling can be intimidating. But avoiding it altogether? Not the move. And hey, oversharing every little product detail? That’s a bit much, too. Let’s find that sweet spot, shall we?

Strike a balance between selling and other content that’s so mesmerizing, your audience won’t even realize they’re being persuaded. Consumers need to have multiple touch points (and reminders) before they’re ready to buy.

Besides, if you truly believe in your product or service then you know that buying from you is in the customers best interest… and so you showing up and selling to them – that’s not being sleazy, it’s being kind.

Remember, businesses exist to make money, and customers expect a little sales pitch. So, don’t be afraid to sell.

Jenn’s tips:

1. People are busy, make it easy for people to buy from you

2. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable selling

3. Remember, not everyone is seeing your posts

ACTION STEP: In your last 9 Instagram posts, how many are clearly sales posts?

Mistake #3: Not Making Marketing a Priority (Because Beyoncé Didn’t Build Her Empire in a Day):

Marketing shouldn’t be an afterthought or something you do when you find time between Netflix binges. No, no, no. It’s time to make marketing a priority, a strategic masterpiece. Let’s plan ahead, shall we?

Is world banana day around the corner? Or perhaps International day of clowns? Are there quieter months on the horizon? Market ahead and ride those waves like a pro.

But here’s the deal—no rushing and hoping for the best. Set a date with yourself, my friend. Take some quality time to sit down and think about your marketing strategy…regularly!

Ask yourself those juicy questions: What themes or special days/weeks are coming up on the world calendar? What’s happening in your business in the next 30 or 90 days? Time to get nostalgic, too. What were you up to this time last year? And don’t forget the nitty-gritty: How many posts/emails are selling versus building brand awareness or boosting engagement? And let’s not neglect our email leads—how are we generating those bad boys? It’s time to plan, strategize, and conquer the marketing realm!

There you have it, small business owners! By tackling these three marketing mistakes head-on, you’ll level up your game and skyrocket your success. Embrace your inner spotlight, find that selling sweet spot, and communicate like a pro. Marketing is your trusty sidekick on the quest to conquer the competition and win the hearts of your target audience. So go forth, implement these insights, and keep refining you

ABOUT JENN:

Jenn Donovan, marketing thought leader, change maker, coach and mentor for small businesses, international keynote speaker, best selling author and podcaster (she has 3!).

Founder of Social Media and Marketing Australia, founder of the extremely successful community Facebook group – Buy From a Bush Business (currently 367,000 members) and the Co-Founder of Spend With Us – Australia’s answer to Amazon but only for rural and regional small businesses.

Jenn takes her clients from Invisible to Invincible using strategic marketing principles and is also a community leader, and a community believer and is on a mission to ensure the lost art of Human to Human marketing and community are seeded firmly in everyone’s marketing strategy.

LINKS:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jenndonovan_/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jenndonovan.au

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenn-donovan/

Podcast: https://socialmediaandmarketing.com.au/podcast/

 

If you loved this episode as much as I loved sharing it with you…there is more where that came from!

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