In this episode, I'm kicking off the first of a three-part mini series diving deep into the foundational pieces of marketing that every small business owner needs to understand. I'm breaking down what marketing is, who needs it, and why so many businesses are struggling or even closing their doors.

We're getting into the nitty gritty details because I'm seeing way too much misinformation out there, and it's honestly breaking my heart when businesses fail because they don't understand these fundamentals.

Key Takeaways:

• Everyone needs marketing - regardless of whether you're B2B, B2C, online, in-person, service-based, or e-commerce, marketing is essential for business
• You must have an online presence - this doesn't mean posting on social media 2-3 times daily, but you need a consistent digital presence where people can find and engage with you
• Strategy comes before implementation - you need both a marketing strategy (your roadmap) and implementation, but strategy must come first or you're just throwing everything against the wall hoping it sticks (sorry, I know people hate this phrase but it's true!)
• Marketing is more than just social media - while social media is important, marketing includes email marketing, SEO, content marketing, paid advertising, print marketing, and influencer marketing
• These are specialty roles - social media management, ads management, SEO, and other marketing channels each require specific expertise, and ideally should be handled by different specialists

Timestamps:

03:20 - Why everybody needs marketing and how it differs by business type

04:00 - The importance of having an online presence (not overwhelming social media posting)

05:00 - Everyone needs a marketing strategy - your roadmap from point A to point B

05:40 - What to do when you're creating content but don't know what you're doing

07:00 - Why strategy keeps everything intentional and on track

08:20 - The problem with following random marketing advice without understanding the theory

11:40 - Marketing is more than just social media - breaking down different marketing channels

13:00 - Understanding marketing roles: strategy vs. implementation specialists

15:20 - Recap and action steps for getting started

Referenced Links:

• Free Strategy Workbook - High-level overview and direction for creating your own marketing strategy
• Done With You or Done For You Support - One-time strategy calls, consulting, and management services for done-with-you and done-for-you support

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Have questions or topics you'd love to hear about? I want to hear from you! This isn't a one-size-fits-all approach. There are millions of ways to grow a business, and I'm here to help you find what works best for you.

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