When you are pushing your products, people can tell. It doesn’t work as a marketing plan. Instead you have to love your work and what you offer. You have to be 100% authentic when sharing your message and allow your purpose to shine through what you do and say. The more real and honest you are, the more people will trust you and want to work with you.
It’s also important to have a marketing system. I love having an automatic sales funnel and I recommend it for everyone! Now, if that term ‘sales funnel” just scared you, don’t worry! All of the steps are outlined below. The goal really is that you don’t have to be involved in every single step because that limits the impact that you can make in your business and in the world. We want to free up your time so you are making more of a difference and of course, getting the results you desire.
How to Create a Marketing Plan in 4 Easy Steps:
Step 1: Determine Your Ideal Business
Your ideal business can look however you want it to look. Do you want a big or small business? Do you want to travel? Do you want to work by yourself? Do you want to work from home or have a big team?
What is your ideal day working in your ideal business? What is the purpose of your business? All of these questions are mandatory so you don’t start a business that is just more “work” for you to do. You would be surprised at how many business owners I meet who really don’t like how they have structured and setup their business. So this first step is important to determine what your ideal business looks like long-term.
Step 2: Determine How Your Ideal Clients Discover You
These are your leads! To determine how they will discover you, first think about where they are hanging out. What do your ideal clients do in their spare time? What books do they read? Where do they hang out online? For me, my target market right now is hanging out on Instagram and Pinterest so that is where I spend the most time and where I hear most of them find out about me.
So, how will you be visible? Your goal is to show up where your ideal client is.
Some examples are referrals, networking, speaking, Facebook ads, social media, blogging or guest articles.
Step 3: Determine How You Will Turn Your Leads Into Prospects
Now it’s time to think about getting the contact information from your ideal clients. The best way to do this is by creating an email list and offering something free in exchange for their email. The point is not to trick them into providing their email, it’s to actually offer them something of value. You can see that I do this on my site with my free 90-day Planner. This is called a Lead Magnet.
Create a lead magnet which will be the first step to your ideal client’s ultimate goal.
Examples: Assessment, Video, EBook, Webinar, Discount Code, Cheat Sheet, Resource Guide, Fast-Start Guide, Templates, Teleseminar, Quiz, Recommended Tools, Private Facebook Group, Physical Book, Physical Sample or Product, Audio Interview, Blueprint, Mindmap, Free Report or Checklist.
Step 4: Determine how you will convert prospects into customers
See how you don’t just start with converting customers? This part of your marketing plan is all about a relationship and a long-term strategy rather than trying to get a client today. People have to know, like and trust you before they will buy from you. That is what steps 2 and 3 are all about.
This step is all about relationship building. How can you start a dialogue and simply connect with your prospects? How can you learn about their challenges and desires and create a plan for them?
Examples: Complimentary Strategy Session, Newsletter, Live event, Webinar, Videos, Blogging or Teleseminar.
When you are promoting your offer, remember to spend most of your time discussing the transformation, not how you provide it. All your language should be results oriented. People don’t want the process, they want the result. You don’t have to convince, just compel. If you are being authentic about the outcome you bring, you will help them. It’s very simple. Just meet people where they are at instead of overwhelming them with the details.
