Usually during Small Business Month we’re (entrepreneurs) excited, we’re preparing for the holiday season and the influx of sales, and we’re putting the wheels in motion to end the year solid and with a great plan for the new year. This month however – it is tough settling in to work mode when the weather has been so awesome – we just want the day to end so we can get outside and enjoy it – only a few weeks until the time changes, the temperatures dramatically drop and that sense of gray overwhelms us. Yes?
I’m even having a hard time with this, this year… Not sure why – I’m the classic workaholic. Work from sun-up to sun-down and beyond, daily… Don’t get me wrong, I’m still putting in a ton of hours – but wishing I was outside enjoying the weather.
What makes it more frustrating is the state of the economy – so many of my clients are finding it hard to get a sale the past 4-5 months. People are afraid to spend money on anything but necessities due to the cost of everything from food to gas being so high. And while prices are starting to come down the savings and reserves are gone.
What do you do when business is slow? Hope? Hope doesn’t pay the bills… (as my father used to say). So, while business is slow, WORK ON YOUR BUSINESS. Put together a marketing strategy, develop new sales tactics – what worked before doesn’t work today, be consistent in your promotions. Sit down and get it done, analyze your numbers, what has changed? Have your customers changed? Younger, older, more disposable income, less? Are they using tech you don’t use? Are you reaching your customer where they are? So many questions… Now is the time to analyze!
This week I’m talking about Small Business Pain Point #2 – lead generation – we all struggle with his one!! So keep reading below and check out our ebook B2B Lead Generation on a Budget below as well… and if you need help, give me a call!
Another common theme I hear from clients “I tried a call, email, campaign, ad, blog, etc., it didn’t work”. When I asked one client what she called trying, she said – “I called 10 prospects (people she had never met), and not one called me back”. I asked a ton of questions as to her message, etc. but ultimately, 10 is not ‘tried’, 10 is a start! You will definitely need a thick skin, learn not to take it personally, and that ‘No’ is better than no answer at all…
I could go on and on – so I’ll stop here! The point is -- no one said running a business is easy, especially when business is slow! So, hunker down and put a plan in place. You will be amazed at the return if the planning is done, and you know your market! Build it and they will come – no longer works!
In this issue, Week 3 of Constant Contact’s "Ready, Set, Send" challenge, and a great read on Google and AI – a hot topic this year! What are your thoughts on AI? Are you finding ways to take advantage of it?
Have a great week, and I apologize for being long-winded this week – just a few points some business owners need to hear! Hopefully it gives them the spark to start the fire in their business!
Enjoy! Have a great day, and if you have a question or comment - email me!
Debi Katsmar
Pain Point #2:
Difficulty in Generating Consistent Leads
Many small businesses find themselves struggling to generate consistent leads. It’s a common issue that can feel like an uphill battle, especially if you’re relying on word of mouth or outdated strategies that once worked but no longer deliver the same results. The market evolves, and so should your approach.
Lead generation needs to be proactive and strategic, not left to chance. It’s not enough to hope that customers will come to you through referrals alone—though they are valuable, they can’t be the only source. Think of it like fishing: if you only cast your net in the same spot, you’ll eventually run out of fish. Diversifying your tactics is crucial. This could mean implementing a CRM system to manage your customer data, automating your marketing with tools like email campaigns, or optimizing your website to attract new visitors organically.
If you’re struggling to keep the leads flowing, it might be time to re-evaluate your strategy and adopt new methods that work alongside the trusted ones. Remember, consistent lead generation isn’t about abandoning the old; it’s about building on what works while embracing what’s next.
YOUR WEEKLY INSPIRATION
If you aim at nothing
you will hit it every time.
TUESDAY MARKETING TIP
Engage With Your Audience on Social Media
Regularly interact with your followers on social media platforms to build relationships.
LEARNING - Week 3 of 6
Ready Set Send Challenge Week 3: Audience Building
Congratulations! Now that you've spent some time focusing on goal setting and designing the perfect email, it's time to move on to a very important piece: who's your audience? I'm Melanie Diehl of Melanie & co Marketing Collective and this week we're focusing on building your audience! Over the past...
Hmmm, would love to hear your thoughts on this one....
Does Google Prioritize AI Content in Organic Search and SEO?
Discover how Google's ranking system views AI-generated content and how quality and relevance trump whether it's human or machine-written in the world of SEO.
Your website is the hub of your marketing - is it a Silent Seller or Just Silent? It should be generating leads for you. If it isn't - Book a call or meeting - we would be happy to have a conversation!
And that's all she wrote folks! I hope you received valuable information in this issue, please feel free to share with a friend or colleague.
Check out our marketing resources, and some of the websites we've built for our clients. Call us any time - we're always happy to help.
Not sure what you need? Book a consultation with one of our team? We'll provide valuable information throughout the strategy session to guide you on the right path... Don't worry, we won't sell unless you ask! Book a consultation today!
