Something’s weighing on my mind. I’m behind on my marketing. I’ve missed more than a few opportunities, including my second email newsletter, a new article for my blog and a direct mail to prospects I’d been planning.
My excuse: I’ve been too busy with client work. While this is true (and I’m thankful to have this as an excuse), I have to admit I’ve felt a little off for weeks now. I don’t know the reason. I’m not searching my soul to discover the cause, which I can’t seem to describe. And I’m not beating myself up much for it.
I’m guessing you’ve been there, too. You own a small business and have been so busy doing the work — servicing clients or selling something to customers — that you let your marketing efforts slip.
We know none of our clients are sitting there thinking, I sure wish I’d get a marketing email in my inbox. Or, I wish someone would try to sell me something today.
My clients sure don’t mind. They know I’m working on assorted marketing projects for them, and they’d rather I get behind on my marketing instead of theirs.
Work’s not slowing for me, even though the year is winding down — and this is just some of the work on my plate that will keep me from spending time on marketing next week:
- Writing case studies for a branding agency – Two are completed, and I have three more to draft.
- Managing a Facebook and LinkedIn page for an attorney – In 2020, we’re talking about adding email marketing to his mix.
- Writing copy for a packaging company’s new website – My client acquired another firm and wants the site to be in more alignment with their look/feel/content.
- Editing a client’s social media posts – She drafted what she wants to say about her graphic design business, but she’d like feedback on content and on her overall strategy, too.
- Planning content for a client’s monthly email – I pulled together ideas and sent them my contact’s way. Once she OKs the ideas, I’ll start writing and formatting the email.
- Ghostwriting a blog post for an HR exec – After a short call with her about an idea, I’m taking it from there. I enjoy this type of writing and love telling someone else’s story — and writing it in their voice.
Our businesses will be fine if we turn our attention away from marketing for a bit, but we can’t make this a steady state!
What’s Keeping You From Marketing?
If you’re too busy running your own business and don’t have time for marketing — well, good for you. And I mean that! It’s a good feeling to not have to be scrambling for business.
But at some point you’ll remember, just like I have, that regular marketing is essential for the long-term health of your company. We’ll stifle the internal nagging and finally carve out time to do (or delegate) the marketing your business depends on.
Because when we make marketing our business a priority, we:
- Help smooth out the ups and downs of sales.
- Give prospects compelling reasons to work with us.
- Communicate new products and services we’re excited to offer.
- Show clients we care enough to stay in touch with them after the sale.
- Keep our website current, so we’re not embarrassed by out-of-date, incomplete info.
- Keep our edge … because it’s a jungle out there, and our clients have so many other options.
It feels good sharing my transgressions here with you and updating my blog (win/win!). Now it’s time to turn my attention to my email newsletter. I hate it took me so long to get out the second edition. But I’ve been busy …
If you’d like to get my (very sporadic) newsletter musings, that would make me day. Here’s where you can sign up: Get the goods.
