How to Fall in Love with Your Marketing And Grow Your Business

So many people HATE marketing … maybe you are one of them? Which is why it is important you learn how to fall in love with your marketing to skyrocket your business.

Whether you love it or hate it marketing is the lifeblood of your business. Many people out there REALLY HATE marketing because they think it’s sleazy, pushy, and icky. But marketing is simply SHOWING your customer why they need to work with or buy from you … it is building relationships and trust. Of course, you need to KNOW who your ideal customer – target audience – avatar is first.

Without knowing who your target audience is, you cannot develop an effective marketing plan for them let alone a relationship with them. When people say they hate marketing, it could simply be they are targeting them in the wrong way.

Why do Businesses Hate Marketing?

Let’s talk about the common reason people hate marketing online and social media.

They are afraid to fail again.

More times than I’d like to admit, I have heard from a business owner that they like me a lot, but they got screwed by a “marketing person” who promised them something, charged them a lot, and then didn’t deliver.

Although it was a different company, it had already left an unpleasant taste in their mouth and that can affect their decision to work with a marketing agency. In fact one of the first blogs I ever wrote was about Digital Marketing Agencies being the modern ‘used car salesman’ of old.

Customers feel annoyed with the spammy messages.

No one likes spammy messages or emails and this results from not knowing your target market. Sending your marketing efforts aimlessly will do more harm than good for your business.

Customers mistrust not only ‘online businesses’ collectively, but also dislike the constant intrusion because they attribute the actions of a few pushy businesses to anyone marketing online.

People can think you’re not being authentic.

There can be a negative vibe of fake, over-hyped, and scammy marketing when done in an inauthentic manner. I personally know just as many people who market one way online, but are VERY different when you meet them in the flesh. And if that’s the case for your marketing, it will eliminate any authenticity. With the technology that we have now, genuine human connection matters if you want to market yourself in the digital space.

People hate marketing because of

1. a misunderstanding between sales and marketing,
2. a negative customer buying experience due to mass marketing
3. marketing done poorly,
4. marketing done to excess.

How to Make Your Audience Fall in Love with Marketing?

This is why I create the blogs and videos that I do. It is to save business owners time and heartache by using processes and systems that I know through trial and error actually work. Marketing requires a perspective change. There are three things that you need to do to help you to fall in love with your marketing, skyrocket your brand awareness and make your target audience fall in love with your marketing too.

1. Know that your marketing isn’t just an obligation, 
2. Create the right branding message
3. Be authentic

#1 Know that Marketing is NOT JUST AN OBLIGATION

In the business world, if you define marketing as only attracting new leads and reengaging existing customers, it feels like an obligation. Do it, otherwise, you won’t survive. Marketing is a process of assisting your target market.

Instead, define marketing at a deeper level as building relationships and sharing the process of “helping your target audience.”

Yes, the goals of your marketing are to get new customers and retain existing ones, but you should also incorporate the goal of helping, educating, and informing. Be the advocate and the expert in your industry. Connect with your audience and let them know that you are listening to what they really want.

Your marketing MUST aim to attract new clients and keep existing ones, but you should also incorporate the goal of helping, educating, and informing. Become an advocate for your field and an expert in your area of expertise. Get to know your audience and show them you listen to their needs.

As a part of marketing’s social responsibility efforts, companies must attract customers who want their purchases to have a positive impact. The marketing strategies of many companies incorporate socially responsible initiatives to help a community with beneficial products and services.

#2 Creating the Right Branding Message

You can’t skip this step, as it is where you learn more about yourself and what your brand stands for. When a message is delivered at the right time and the right place, it connects with the audience emotionally. In the absence of a strong message foundation, your message will not be as impactful as it could be. In fact, a great message speaks at the customer’s level, hitting the right notes in a compelling, emotional way.

How do you create your brand messaging?

• Create well-defined personas for your audiences. Many brands already know the average consumer profile for their brand. If this isn’t the case, conducting preferences research, analysing buying behaviour, and learning what these people expect is vital. At the very heart .. ASK. Ask your customers or clients what they think of you or what it is you do.
• You should not just copy an approach and reproduce it for your brand, but look for references that make sense for your company.
• Monitor market trends. Trends are not limited to language, they also include how the brand messages that apply to campaigns. Look at what is working and why.

In my previous video, I shared a few reasons brand messaging strategy is important for your business. One of them is to help you figure out your Unique Selling Position or USP. You can watch the full video here.

#3 Be Authentic

Be authentic in your content and interactions with customers. Show who you are. Be honest and passionate; tell your stories, advocate for your cause, and follow your passion. Recently, I created a video about how crucial it is to show the world what it is you stand for and that social responsibility is one of the top marketing trends for 2022. You can also watch the full video here. In fact, ‘What you stand for’ and ‘What you stand against’ are two questions I ask every new client that we start working with. It is that vital to your messaging.

As the pandemic brings to light the variety of issues we face, including climate change, unfair labour practices, and inequality, consumers are calling for businesses to be transparent in their social responsibilities. If this is something you believe in, share it with your target market. It is so much fun working with people that believe in what you do and who share your passions.

My experience has shown that what people seek in this hyper-connected virtual world is an experience that is real, trustworthy, and authentic.

How can you create an authentic brand experience?

• Bringing younger generations into the fold. Millennials and Gen Z favour brands that are “real and organic,” not “perfect and well-packaged.”
• Establishing Emotional Connections. Authentic ideas and messaging are often heartfelt. It creates emotional connections between brands and customers.
• Stand out from the crowd. We live in an information overload world. It’s difficult to discern what genuine brands are saying. Your customers will do your marketing for you by word of mouth if you are authentic in your words and actions.

There are several ways to boost brand awareness and springboard to success by falling in love with your marketing. And these the points are just some of them. Remember, we cannot please everyone, but it doesn’t mean that we have to stop marketing our business. It is so much better working with clients who ‘get you’ and love what you do, so strive for that.

Whether you have any questions or simply want to chat, drop a comment below! We offer a full range of done for you realistic, practical marketing solutions for your business that deliver results and hit the spot with your customers. You can check out what we do here.

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Regardless of what you need when it comes to online marketing, take the Leap … we are your springboard to success!