YOU CAN’T OUTRUN YOUR MARKETING – IT WILL FIND YOU
& it won’t sound as divine as Liam Neeson
Are you a small business owner?
Are you hiding from your marketing?
Don’t worry – you’re not the only one.
The bad news is… it’s going to catch up to you – and the only question left is:
Are you prepared to meet it?
There are a lot of business owners out there who feel like marketing is a dirty, gross, slimy thing that they wouldn’t touch with a ten-foot pole unless they had to. I’m one of them.
I’m writing this for those of us who want a way to reframe how to approach marketing and feel like we’re not alone when it comes to the weird icky vibes that marketing can sometimes elicit.
Every time I post on LinkedIn or create a blog post, I’m fighting the internal dragons that represent doubt, fear and that slipper sucker – Imposter Syndrome 🥸.
This confession might seem like professionally shooting myself in the foot, after all, you’re reading this on the website of a copywriter and marketing strategist. Well, I’m not here to pretend to know all the answers – but I do know a lot about marketing strategy and copywriting and the only way these work for me is when I’m being honest.
And honestly?
I’m not for everyone. My approach is not for everyone. And that’s okay.
You’ll discover the same thing as you go on your own journey with marketing and find a style that works in alignment with your values and purpose.
The non-negotiable, if you’re a purpose-led business owner, is showing up.
Marketing is something that we all gotta do if we want a viable business and be around to help all the people we know we can help.
Full disclosure?
This blog post is actually a piece of marketing, content marketing to be exact, but I actually loved creating it. There are ways you can market your offerings in a way that feels aligned, and congruent. Ways of marketing yourself that don’t conjure the visual of a used car sales ad replete with jingles
Marketing is all about finding the people out there with whom you resonate so you can connect and help each other.
But you can’t help anyone if they can’t find you.
Marketing is about being honest AND nurturing yourself to grow through the uncomfortable periods.
Remember that comfort doesn’t always = growth. There will be times when you try new and different things and it’s gonna feel hella weird and you’ll probably give me this kind of stink eye.
Marketing itself is simply a word to represent how we communicate the value of people’s skills and the problems they help solve in people’s lives –and, let’s face it, we live in a time where people could use a little help.
Help like what you offer. Help like what I offer.
How dirty marketing feels is really down to how you perceive it and how you use it.
Marketing is just communication.
Communicating to people how the value of the services you offer will help them enhance and elevate their quality of life.
If you’re a purpose-driven business owner who has something great to share with the world but feels a little funny about this whole marketing schtick, rest assured that you’re not the only one who struggles with reconciling yourself and the traditional concept of marketing.
Begin to embrace the idea that marketing is really all about communicating your message to find the people out there who need to hear it – and inspiring them to connect with you by demonstrating value in what you offer.
Really… that’s kinda it.
Be who you are. Be honest. Be frank. Be open to learning a tonne.
Maybe we can make marketing feel a little less dirty together.