Advertising versus marketing - gearing up for 2021

byannedy

105 followers

Updated 4 years ago

Over 2 months have past since my last post, but I've been busy.

I think it is the nature of these things that you get side-tracked by stuff that is relevant but not where you were or what you were doing - and then when you return, you think 'sheeeet have I been staring at the wall for 2 months?'

But no I haven't. I had to do a first step before I could do this step.

You see there is a big difference between advertising and marketing. And for me I needed to get my advertising in order first.

The truth is I have to get customers. Now mine don't come from affiilate selling or even blog content. Or at least not in the first instance. You see I'm a therapist and although I work online, really my best referral is through word-of-mouth. But what to do if you don't have the critical mass for word-of-mouth? You need to go to cold calling and advertising.

Ok, look I know cold-calling is anathema to most of us, but when you are introducing yourself into a new market it's pretty much needed. Just think about all those flyers you get through your letter box. You might just remember that one leaflet that said 'we can sell your house' when you come to need it.

So here's what I've been doing:

Step 1: LOOK OVER HERE! I'M OVER HERE!

got my business card printed up

got high-quality flyers priinted up and distributed them

got a car magnet thing so potiential clients see me as I drive around

Step 2: WHO IS OUT THERE?

made a database of english speaking dentists to offer services, cold e-mailed saying 'hey got any anxious clients? I'm here.'

made a database of divorce and law blogs

made a database of relevant, local FB groups

Step 3: INTRODUCING MY FAABULOUSNESS!

Bought a cheap mobile app to make nifty, little videdo adverts

started posting weekly, unique ads on all my identified Facebook groups. LinkedIn and my own FB pages - I call it 'the Chinese water torture method of marketing' - drip, drip, dripping into the subconscious

Step 4: Content

And now I'm writing content....

You see, I've got a fairly robust, wee advertising step-up done now and that gives me the mental space and time to write. I have already primed folk with my 15 seconds of 'Hi there' videos and now I am starting to present them longer pieces.

I have sent some of my content to relevant blogs

I have started joining in on conversations on official pages because now if they check me out, well there is something there on my website to see.

And it was a really big day today, because DA DA DA I finally started thinking about relevant, affiliate links I can add to my website.

2021 around the corner

So here's the things folks, depending on what you are aiming for with your business, what you are actually providing, sometimes you need to go backwards to go forwards - for me backwards meant getting the bog-standard, advertising basics in order.

But as you can see, now as I head into 2021 I am ready to go forwards with a strong foundation in place....I hope you all are too.

All the best for 2021 Dr Anne