Every time I go to some sort of business networking event, there’s at least one person who compliments me on my ability to be all over social media all the time.
At this stage in my business, there are certain marketing tasks that have become second nature. Social media marketing is one of them. (Granted, it helps that I love social media.)
However, even before marketing was second nature, I learned early on that there were certain marketing tasks that I could never stop doing as a business owner. Marketing is everything, which is why there are certain tasks business owners need to make sure they are doing all the time.
Posting on social media.
One of the marketing tasks you can’t drop the ball on as a business owner is posting on social media.
Read: You cannot let your accounts go dead.
First, this makes it look like you’re not in business.
Second, having active social media accounts is what helps you build a following. That following is what helps you get paid.
Fortunately, there are plenty of tools to help you post on social media automatically. My personal favorite is Edgar which runs your social media postings on a loop based on a master library and a master schedule.
Improving your skills.
As I was participating in a year-end review of my business, I realized how several marketing tasks have become second nature to me over time. Everything from posting on social media to writing long-form sales copy doesn’t seem as difficult as it used to be.
I realized that the reason for this is actually quite simple: I have never stopped trying to improve my skills.
Even when I had no idea what the heck I was doing, I was still attending classes and trying to implement what I’d learned. Then, one day, I woke up and it was as if everything I’d learned up until that point had finally integrated.
This doesn’t mean that I can just stop learning. Actually, it’s quite the opposite. Now I can learn about new marketing concepts and understand them pretty easily because I have a solid foundation.
I then test these new marketing concepts to see if they work. Most of the time, they do.
Pitching the media.
One of the marketing tasks that will surely take your business to the next level is getting in the media.
In order to get in the media, you need to be consistently pitching. This means you need to be engaging with writers on Twitter, networking, working HARO like it’s nobody’s business, and cold pitching media outlets with story ideas.
If I had to pick one marketing task that helped boost my business practically overnight, it would have to be this one.
Building your list.
As much as I love social media and media placements, none of it is worth it if you aren’t using it to build your email list.
Your email list is the most important part of your business. It’s literally your bread and butter. That’s why people say “The money’s in the list.”
The reality is that social media sites can shut down tomorrow and media placements lose can lose their luster, but your email list is forever.
Final Thoughts
Marketing tasks may not always be fun, but they are paramount for running a successful business. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by all the marketing tasks it seems you need to do, just stick to these four.
