You don't have to have the answers to be successful in your (online) business

A lot of the information out there about how to market your products effectively tell you that you have to have the answer to people's "pain-points".

But the traditional tenents of marketing kind of went out the window now that people have their choice of entertainment and information platforms.  Social media, even TV and radio platforms are diverse and content-rich in a lot of ways.

Even the SEO optimization and algorithms for Facebook marketing are continuously changing it can seem impossible to stay on top of the trends.

It is now, more than ever, a time to try different things and discover what works for you - because nowadays there is no perfect formula.  Here are some do's and don'ts to get you started.

DO:

Create content.  Create, create, create.  If you have a website, write blogs, make sure you have content for people to engage with and that let's them know what you are about as concisely and clearly as possible.  Create social media content.  Graphics meme's and quotes are great - visual always works better.  Get on Instagram and research hashtags.  And if this is complicated to you, find a 10 or 12 year old, because they will know exactly what is going on and can help you - you don't have to pay heaps of money, you just need friends with kids, nieces and nephews (if you don't have your own already).  

Write a book, or a least a how-to guide.  OR some tips and tricks.  Free content is a must these days,  Not only to help people realise that you are genuine about what you know, but to give people a clearer sense of what you have to offer.  Even if it's a short instructional video, or a PDF of your favourite spreadsheet layout - whatever is relevant to your business (and most importantly, fun for you to create). If you do create a bit of content, you never know what it can lead to. I worked with a lady who loves pictures of flowers and nature.  We created a bunch of social media graphics memes around the theme of self-nurturing using her quotes and tips.  They then became headings for blogs and then sparked an idea for workshop content that she now makes money on. Yay!

Be interested and engage online. Have a way of monitoring what people engage with on your website, emails or social media.  It can feel like you are just talking to the wind if your only measure of success is sales.  Yes, making the money is a big part of it, but if you don't know where your stuff is being seen, what bits works and what bits don't, you aren't giving yourself much of a chance to develop and change it.  There are basic analytics available with most email and web platforms. Use it, or find someone who can help you.  Which brings me to...

Be willing to outsource.  If you have lots of information, ideas but no love for turning into content, and you don't love the online world, it is worth getting someone else to help you.  It doesn't have to be difficult to find that help either! Just think of it this way, for what you are worth per hour, would it be better to pay someone who was more savvy, efficient and creative in that area and actually get it done and done well, then using your time to do it when you could be out doing what you are good and great at!  

Okay... that was all DO's... 

So I am changing it... and just for fun, I am going to create a separate blog for the "DON'T" points... just because I can!  Stay tuned!
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