From One Entrepreneur to Another: What Your Digital Marketing Strategy Needs

If I had to choose a few terms that describe the roles I’ve loved most in my career, I’d probably land on “serial entrepreneur” and “digital marketer.” In my businesses, it’s worked in my favor that I understand the entrepreneurial journey as well as the nuts and bolts of strategic marketing. But unless you run a marketing agency like I do, you might not have the luxury of simultaneously being a marketing professional.

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If you have one of these skillsets (entrepreneurship) and not the other (marketing), it can be confusing trying to figure out how to wade through the abundance of marketing tips available online to handle your startup marketing. So I’d like to give you some suggestions, from one entrepreneur to another, about a few key aspects of digital marketing that I’ve seen unleash powerful results. It’s my strong belief these three things can also serve you well in your own journey.

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Positive, Progressive Headspace

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I’m not sure who was the original creator of the concept I’m about to share, but I’m sure most entrepreneurs will recognize the premise. “An event + your response to it = the outcome.” Sound familiar? There are dozens of famous quotes out there that put their own spin on this, but the takeaway is that you hold all the power in life based on how you react to your circumstances. And while it’s sometimes easier to respond well to events than it is at other times, I wholly subscribe to this idea. How does this philosophy tie into digital marketing?

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In my experience, the two are connected more than you might think. In order to be a good digital marketer, you need to roll with the punches (be able to handle whatever comes your way); be listening (to your customers, the industry and even your competitors); constantly be learning (since trends and technology advance at lightning speed); be adept with time management (there are always a lot of irons in the digital marketing fire); and, most of all, you need to be able to make decisions clearly and decisively. All of these things require a positive mental attitude and progressiveness in your mindset, knowing that nothing in this field ever stays static.

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In order to get to this place of inner serenity, I have a few suggestions:

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1. Prioritize work/life balance.

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You will never be a good marketer (or business person) if you’re spread too thin, so say “no” to everything that isn’t essential and put all of your energy into the few tasks and people that matter most.

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2. Take at least 10 minutes per day for yourself.

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Spend this time meditating, breathing deeply or sitting with your own thoughts - away from the office! This is a small amount of time, but can go a long way toward grounding you and giving you peace of mind.

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3. All hail SMART goals and thoughtfully planned lists.

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The more of your to-do items you get written down with timelines and measurements attached, the less they’ll be floating around in your head and taking up your energy and space.

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Ample, Proactive Planning

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Along the same lines of the SMART goals and detailed to-do list I mentioned, proper planning in digital marketing can yield impressive results. It’s on the best startup marketing tips I can think of, and I recommend always starting with the end in mind. So what’s the end, you ask?

ROI is usually what we evaluate after a campaign, so this is what I suggest beginning with. You won’t know the actual ROI of any effort, of course, but you can start by considering how you will measure it once the campaign is completed. How are you going to consider success in terms of social media engagement? Cost and click performance?  Website traffic? E-book downloads? Once you know this, you can set a specific goal. Then when the campaign ends, you’ll already know what you were looking for and you can properly calculate your ROI.

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Upgrade in Content Quality  

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One area in particular that is always worth thought, time, and resources is your content. Even if you’re not engaged in a formal content marketing program (and if not, I suggest you get started with one), you still use content in all other marketing channels. An ad on Facebook might lead to a landing page, for example, which will need to include targeted content. Your email marketing efforts are another avenue through which quality content can make all the difference. So, the next question is how to improve your content. The best rule of thumb I can give you, if I had to choose just one, is to go niche with everything you write. Be extremely specific in the tips you give, geared toward the particular audience you’re targeting and their pain points. This is the single best way to ensure you’ll reach your intended prospects, and have a far better chance of ending up with qualified leads.

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As someone who is passionate about entrepreneurship, just like you, I understand it can be difficult to feel like you have a solid grasp on the myriad of priorities of your business. Just remember you don’t have to know everything about everything. You can start by focusing on the three areas I covered in this post, and then if you have more questions about digital marketing, you can always reach out to us and we will be happy to help.