On this week’s Dear Katie, I was asked a question that anyone wanting to market their firm online can relate to: What would you do if you were starting to market your firm online from ground zero today?
A lot of people have common roadblocks when getting started.
They either don’t know where to start or they feel like it’s too late to get started online.
For the first roadblock, I can give you a plan to follow – keep on reading.
And for the second roadblock, I promise it’s never too late.
If I were starting my firm’s digital marketing journey from ground zero, I would follow these exact strategies to market a firm:
Who does your firm cater to? Your firm may offer a lot of services to many people, but when it comes to digital marketing, it’s best to focus on:
Focusing on a single niche is a great way to build your firm and personal brand because you can begin building up your following, guest appearing or blogging in front of your audience and solving problems that resonate with your niche.
It’s A LOT easier to become a big fish in a little pond than it is to become a big fish in a big pond.
Solving one problem allows you to create an irresistible offer, sign on more clients, and create a great impact (and more revenue) in a shorter time frame.
And once you know your niche and the problem you need to solve for your audience, you can narrow down your choice of social media to be present on.
Over 5.17 billion people are on social media.
First, determine which one your niche hangs out on the most – or at least is the platform they’re easiest to find on.
And since your audience is likely spread across multiple platforms, I also recommend that you choose a platform that allows posting content that you like creating.
For example, if you don’t like posting videos, don’t force yourself to be on TikTok. That’s a recipe for disaster.
Selecting one social platform will also help you align your digital platform with the platform of your choice.
You may or may not have an account on the platform you’ll be using, but in either case, you need to make your profile shine.
Profiles go overlooked, but it’s the first thing your ideal client will see, so you need to spruce up your profile to:
Your profile also needs to show that you’re legitimate and trustworthy and hint at the type of content the person can expect when following or subscribing to you.
If you’re not sure whether your profile will pique the interest of your ideal client, ask a third party to review it and make sure it’s up to snuff.
Having a following on a social media platform is great, but what if that platform goes away someday? Here’s where having a newsletter is key.
Maybe you don’t have an email list yet, but as your platform starts to grow, you’ll want to create one and start directing people to it.
Even if you have a small audience, it’s important to start growing your list now. At the beginning, you can use your newsletter to:
Make sure that you have a strategy to direct people to your newsletter. For example, I dedicate one post per week on my social media platforms to my newsletter. I’ll also plug my newsletter in other places, such as when I’m interviewed on podcasts.
In step 2, you chose a social media platform to focus on. Now, it’s important to stay committed to that platform and be intentional about how exactly you use the platform. .
This means:
Create a plan to incorporate all of these activities into your schedule and stick to it.
Another great way to expand your reach and grow your online presence is to strategically team up with other influencers in your niche and start creating content together.
The content you create could be a:
Partnering with influencers will not only support your content creation, but it will also help you grow your audience more quickly and allow you to make valuable connections in your niche.
If you follow the steps above and stay the course, there’s no doubt that you’ll steadily grow your firm. The key is to keep going and improve over time.
Far too many people jump in only to give up a month later. But if you stay on track and remain consistent, you’ll beat the odds and reach your goals.
It’s important to remember that real results take time and effort, but you’ll see big returns that make it well worth it.
And, that’s a wrap on this Dear Katie question.
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Now I want to hear from you. Do you have a question?
Until next time, cheers to your success!
Katie
Focus on solving one specific problem for a particular niche. This helps you build your brand and attract clients more effectively.
Identify where your target audience spends their time and select one platform that aligns with the type of content you enjoy creating.
Your profile is often the first impression potential clients have of you, so it should clearly communicate how you can help them and establish your credibility.
Create a newsletter and promote it through your social media posts. Even a small audience can be valuable for nurturing relationships.
Be consistent by posting regularly, engaging with your audience, and growing your network. Create a plan and stick to it.
Teaming up with influencers can expand your reach, help you create valuable content, and connect you with a larger audience in your niche.