Is your marketing style big, slow or bold?

Get clear on the right marketing style for you

Your marketing style determines your entire entrepreneurial experience. Entrepreneurs often let it choose them but it’s an important choice to make consciously.

Are you going to go big, go slow or be bold?

Consistency works best in everything marketing. Knowing your commitment level in advance will inform goals, weekly & daily activities and more likely lead to results you are looking for. Marketing plans often don’t meet expectations because we haven’t matched our intended results to our style.

Which marketing style do you have and which one you need?

Going big to get exposure quickly

Going big is the classic, most well known strategy out there. Why? Because that’s the big flashy advertising we see on TV, online and everywhere. These include grand openings, big launch campaigns and often have bigger budgets.

Going big is not doable for most lean startups. It requires a larger investment in more expensive marketing tactics and/or a whole lot of time. But there is a time and a place. I have a friend who spends $800 per month on Facebook ads and has put a lot of personal time into marketing his business. He’s been very strategic about it. He knows his ads convert to even more revenue.

This style works for him because his business requires volume to succeed. He designs components for sports equipment so marketing powerfully had to put him on the map in an existing industry dominated by a few big players.

Going big is a marketing style that requires commitment, time and/or a budget. It’s not for everyone but if you have a big dream and can market strategically this is the path for you.

The Slow Build

Most micro-entrepreneurs fall into the Slow Build marketing style category by default. They go big once in a while but it’s in bursts and then they slow down again to dripping out a blog or social media post here and there.

I think many people in this category are here for one of three reasons:

1. They didn’t plan on the amount of money/time required to market at the beginning, thinking it would just grow organically and naturally without needing the big push.
2. They lack confidence in the value they offer or results they get for people so consistently sharing their knowledge and message (and investing in it) is right out of their comfort zone.
3. Their businesses did grow organically mostly via networking and now they are so busy working in the business, there is no time for regular marketing (and with that leveraged business growth).

If this is your strategy, have you ever questioned if it really works?

The Slow Build can be agonizing for people because they don’t get enough traction from the effort they do put into marketing and lose enthusiasm and focus. Entrepreneurs need both of those!

That said, I do think that this strategy can work very well for people who are content to chip away consistently at tasks.and are very passionate about the project.  Either working full-time, run another business or have other commitments that keep them from spending more time here is also another reason to choose a slow & steady pace. You also have to expect slow revenue growth with this method.

Being bold

Being bold is the marketing style in which you have the best chance of beating the system. What this means is that you are more likely to get noticed, get more uptake and gain the most value with less effort than the previous two marketing styles.

The biggest challenge here is that it takes confidence in your own value and willingness to put yourself out there. Not everyone is born with it but, like a muscle, you can grow it with practice. What you do need at the basic level is a belief in and willingness to share your biggest message. Opening the kimono, so to speak,  will help you connect with people faster.

Another way to be bold is through the actions you take. Brodie Welch, a Chinese Medicine expert with many years of serving her clients through her private practice has just done this by launching her podcast, A Healthy Curiosity. A podcast was a bold way to put out her voice, beliefs, values and connect to people personally with her massive wealth of knowledge.

Being bold requires input and effort but for a much greater leadership outcome than constantly communicating more quietly. It demonstrates leadership, ability and draws in more prospects who are attracted to that ambition.

Are any of these strategies ultimately “right”?

Not at all. It entirely depends on where you are, what you want and how much of yourself and resources you are willing to put in now. Just make sure you choose consciously so you can be content with the results that come from the effort you make.

Let me help you design a marketing plan personalize just for you! Your style, your goals and your personality all have to come into the equation. Want to know more how I can help, check out my coaching programs or book at chat with me here.