What a thrill it was to see my face published on the front page of the local newspaper on Labor Day in 1994.
Back then I owned a gift shop. In the paper my daughter and I represented the “changing face of labor” in the region.
In that pre-Internet year (it was around but not the force it is today), there was lots of labor going on in my business. Nothing was automated.
Worst of all, I was busy beyond capacity to the point where there was no time to re-construct my marketing plan, not even on weekends.
Things haven’t changed much for many of us. We’re still in “do” mode, but thankfully the Web’s connections have introduced us to more opportunities to automate what we’ve created.
Sometimes automation comes with a low investment price, such as the ability to tweet messages when we want or distribute newsletters to our followers.
Then there are the complete automation models available at a much-higher cost, the ones that have so many bells and whistles that it takes several weekend tutorials (or lots of lessons through YouTube videos) to understand all of the controls.
In my quest to systematize most of my marketing, I’ve chosen the latter option, but the main point here is to automate whatever you can to deliver your marketing message on a regular schedule. Today is a good day to make some crucial business decisions.
Decide how you will lessen labor by automating your:
1. Newsletters
2. Tweets
3. Direct mail campaigns
4. Web site additions
5. Squeeze pages
6. Teleseminars (at least the planning, since you deliver it live)
7. Blog posts
8. Facebook fan page updates
The best way I’ve learned to begin this type of strategy, for any part of my business, is to start small. Choose one task that you’d like to automate, find a solution, and put it in place.
From there, you move to the next one, and the next so that you’re not overwhelmed by the complexities of doing everything at one time.
Our solo marketing brains often try to figure it all out in one big ball, and that’s when we crash and do nothing.
You’re not alone in figuring out how to create an easy marketing system for your projects. This is also one of my tasks.
Which of the above projects (or perhaps one that’s not on the list) have you recently completed? Share your accomplishment here so that we can all celebrate.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
My marketing efforts have pretty much collapsed, I must admit. I still sent out regular letters once a month or so, and I have my two email newsletters, but neither of them has ever generated any business. I guess I’m just missing out on this one.
I totally understand, Mitch.
There was a time when I was getting publicity all over the place, and it was because of my monthly media connections.
Suddenly, I stopped doing what worked. I know it was because I allowed other projects to get in the way, but I’m glad to be making an effort to get back on track.
When you’re ready, you’ll do the same.