Excellent email and good points Ian - thank you. I suppose that sometimes the battle is about "what you think you should be doing" (or "what's the best thing to do") vs "what you're best at or like doing": those two things can often conflict and so I guess clarity, commitment and patience is required. For example, you could argue that recording a video, posting it to YT , than transcribing it into a blog post, then converting to an audio for your podcast is the most productive way to go. But if you dislike doing videos, then you have to stick to just writing the blog post (for example). Thoughts?
I'd agree. There's what's theoretically best and what will actually get done.
Of course, it's good to push yourself outside your comfort zone. And you might find you grow to enjoy something you didn't think you would. And if you don't like *any* marketing you might be in trouble!
But I think over time it's very difficult to be consistent with something you really dislike.
The other thing is that if you can make good headway with the thing you like, eventually you may be able to pay someone to do other types of marketing for you.
I agree completely. Over the last few weeks I’ve been thinking about where best to spend my time, and what I actually enjoy doing when it comes to marketing or building relationships. On Monday I heard someone say (to this effect, anyway), “If marketing is building relationships, then your best marketing activities will be similar to the ways in which you meet people and form friendships in real life”.
Those words, coupled with your newsletter today, have helped me to make a decision. Thank you!
I was thinking primarily in terms of newsletters and online marketing of course, but very true generally.
I remember when I first set up my business in 2007 "business networking" was the main route for small businesses to form new relationships. Events and meeting strangers has never been my thing. I forced myself to do it, even got quite good and the skills - enough that I could teach it to others. But at the first opportunity to avoid it, I would! I just didn't enjoy it.
In the face ti face world I much more enjoyed doing presentations and havign peopel come up to me afterwards rather than having to make the first move and think of things to talk about. I know people who are brilliant at that kind of thing and love it. But as soon as I found something else that worked for me I stopped!
I think what makes the difference is realising that as small(er) businesses, there are enough clients out there for us that we don't need to use the mainstream approach. There will be ways of marketing that might not work for all our clients but work for enough that we can use them.
Excellent email and good points Ian - thank you. I suppose that sometimes the battle is about "what you think you should be doing" (or "what's the best thing to do") vs "what you're best at or like doing": those two things can often conflict and so I guess clarity, commitment and patience is required. For example, you could argue that recording a video, posting it to YT , than transcribing it into a blog post, then converting to an audio for your podcast is the most productive way to go. But if you dislike doing videos, then you have to stick to just writing the blog post (for example). Thoughts?
I'd agree. There's what's theoretically best and what will actually get done.
Of course, it's good to push yourself outside your comfort zone. And you might find you grow to enjoy something you didn't think you would. And if you don't like *any* marketing you might be in trouble!
But I think over time it's very difficult to be consistent with something you really dislike.
The other thing is that if you can make good headway with the thing you like, eventually you may be able to pay someone to do other types of marketing for you.
Oh, this was timely - thank you, Ian ☺️
I agree completely. Over the last few weeks I’ve been thinking about where best to spend my time, and what I actually enjoy doing when it comes to marketing or building relationships. On Monday I heard someone say (to this effect, anyway), “If marketing is building relationships, then your best marketing activities will be similar to the ways in which you meet people and form friendships in real life”.
Those words, coupled with your newsletter today, have helped me to make a decision. Thank you!
Very wise words Natalie.
I was thinking primarily in terms of newsletters and online marketing of course, but very true generally.
I remember when I first set up my business in 2007 "business networking" was the main route for small businesses to form new relationships. Events and meeting strangers has never been my thing. I forced myself to do it, even got quite good and the skills - enough that I could teach it to others. But at the first opportunity to avoid it, I would! I just didn't enjoy it.
In the face ti face world I much more enjoyed doing presentations and havign peopel come up to me afterwards rather than having to make the first move and think of things to talk about. I know people who are brilliant at that kind of thing and love it. But as soon as I found something else that worked for me I stopped!
I think what makes the difference is realising that as small(er) businesses, there are enough clients out there for us that we don't need to use the mainstream approach. There will be ways of marketing that might not work for all our clients but work for enough that we can use them.