Lockdown but looking up
What a strange time we are living in. Strange and yet… strangely wonderful, right?! This might be controversial and I know there can be a lot of guilt attached, but for me and for a lot of people I know, 2020 has actually been a roaring success! For a multitude of reasons, we’ve been reminded of what’s really important to us, we’ve been locked indoors with our families and our own thoughts, and this time of tragedy and anxiety has actually resulted in a surge of creativity. We’ve been forced to adapt, to innovate, to adjust, to really listen to what our ideal clients actually want, rather than just what we want to offer.
The revolution is coming
Whether your business is booming or busting right now, although it might feel wrong to chase after growth at a time like this, I think it’s imperative that we try. With many folks being made redundant or stuck on furlough this year, the time has never been better to take stock of what we really want in life… and to go for it. It’s literally now or never to go chase after those dreams! My prediction is that we’re going to see a Small Business revolution in 2021 and I am so completely here for it.
Good things come in threes
So how do we get started? How do we set up, how do we grow, how do get back on track? For me, the answer lies in three key things.
A resilient mindset - a willingness to learn from failure, permission to do things at your own pace and absolutely no room for guilt, or that pesky imposter.
Investment - even a brain-and-desk-based business requires investment. Be prepared to invest in yourself, your personal development, your systems and processes, and in your client experience. You will absolutely reap the rewards.
Marketing - well of course I was going to say that! But seriously, if you’re not marketing, you’re not telling people you exist and people aren’t going to see you and buy from you. Simples.
Don’t forget: all of these things are interlinked, but if your mindset isn’t right then you won’t be in a position to make the right investment and marketing moves. Ask yourself where you want to be in 5 years time, who you want to be working with, how many hours you want to work? Put COVID aside for a second and think about what you really want. Picture how it’s going to look and imagine yourself there. Then imagine what happens if you don’t take steps to achieve that dream? What’s the risk of doing nothing at all?
Make the most of what you have
When you’ve nailed your noggin on straight and you know where you’re headed, having a strategic plan for investing in your business and your marketing is key. The good news is, that investment doesn’t have to be just about moolah. What time could you invest in things you have already to make them work better for you? What favours could you call in? How could the marketing channels within your control work harder for you?
Got 10 minutes?
Here’s six simple ways to maximise the marketing channels right under your nose and get those digital channels delivering!