How can I get more sales for my small business?
If you’re wondering “How can I get more sales?” the answer is simple. To increase sales, you must first bring in more leads. To increase leads, you need to define -and strictly adhere to- your brand.
Many small business owners ask questions like:
- What should I say on social media, and what social platforms should I use?
- What do I put on my website?
- How do I get on the first page of Google search results?
These questions made me realize most small business marketers are working backwards. They choose the tactics first, like social media or a new website, before they define who they are talking to and what their goal is. Putting your marketing tactics before formally defining your brand is like choosing what to wear and then checking the weather.
Whole Team Marketing
We call our method Whole Team Marketing because we believe marketing isn’t one person’s job, it’s a mindset that permeates every aspect of your business.
The signature feature of the Whole Team Marketing method is that it involves…you guessed it…your Whole Team in the planning stages. If you’re a team of one, that’s okay too. Marketing is still something best viewed from every part of your business.
There are 3 reasons you need to consider every part of your team when branding and marketing:
- Every employee sees your audience from their own perspective. Tapping into this knowledge pool makes your marketing efforts more comprehensive.
- Presenting a unified message increases your credibility. Imagine one of your team members tells a customer that your specialty is Service A. Meanwhile, another team member later tells them your main focus is Service B. The customer gets a mixed message, which diminishes your credibility.
- If your team members understand what you’re trying to achieve, they can help and support, and they can avoid inadvertently diluting the message you work so hard to craft.
Whole Team Marketing Has 3 Steps
Brand
Branding means defining your small business’s visual elements, your audience, your message and your goals.
Creating a consistent brand is the most single important marketing & sales step you will ever take.
Strategy
We assess current tactics & define a set of tactics that feel enjoyable, natural and manageable.
No longer will you stress about posting on social media, wondering if it’s worth the work. WTM uses your strengths and preferences to design your marketing plan.
Action
Once your strategy is set, it’s go time! Putting your plan into action is labour intensive at first, but over time it becomes almost automatic.
Your team can execute the plan, or we can do it, or a combination of both. It’s totally up to you.
Your Greatest Hits
When you describe what you do to a prospective customer, you want to be flawless, confident and comfortable, the way your favourite band feels when performing their greatest hits. Most bands perform their top hits again and again until they could play them in their sleep.
Think of describing what you do like singing your hit song. You need this message to have a great hook and really wow the audience, whether it’s on your website, on your social media posts, or whether you’re telling someone in person. That doesn’t just happen without preparation.
The Whole Team Marketing method uses intel we gather from every part of your business to craft the perfect message. Does it really work to keep potential buyers interested? Put it this way. You’re still reading this, right?
Step One: Brand
You know why your buyer should choose you. The challenge is defining that reason in clear, simple messages that attract and convince your target audience.
“Clear and simple” is the key. As Donald Miller, marketing expert and the author of Building a StoryBrand, says: “If you confuse, you’ll lose.”
Create That builds your team a guide we call the Whole Team Marketing Brand Playbook. Your business will use your Playbook as a reference over and over for years to come– online, in promotional materials, and in person.
We call this message discipline. The professionalism and trust that come from this level of consistency allow your audience to spark a connection with you, choose you, and remain loyal to you.
Step Two: Strategy
Most small businesses define their brand, define their audience, and then come up with the marketing tactics they feel like they should be using. Doesn’t it always seem like there’s a new social media platform, tool, or trend that you should be on top of?
The problem is, most small business marketing consultants aren’t ruthless enough when considering whether those tactics will actually bring in more customers and more revenue.
Marketing strategy should address your goal & solve for the 4 main marketing challenges:
- Top of Funnel Growth
- Conversion
- Customer Objections
- Lack of Brand Recognition
We help you choose the right tactics to address these challenges, based on your strengths and what you and your team like doing. Then we build you a marketing plan that leads you, step-by-step, to growth.
Step Three: Action
Once you have your brand and your plan, it’s go time.
If you have the capacity to put this plan into place yourself, great! If not, we can take care of it all. From building or updating your website, creating an email list marketing program, using pay-per-click advertising, or securing media appearances and publicity, our talented team can meet your needs and your budget.
No Wasted Effort
Some owners are hesitant to try Whole Team Marketing because they’ve already poured a ton of time and money into their small business marketing efforts.
Create That is different from any other digital marketing & branding agency, in that we can incorporate any work you’ve already done, so nothing goes to waste. We work collaboratively with any staff or contractors on your team.
Using the Whole Team Marketing method is like hiring a personal trainer, but for attracting customers.
Even fitness professionals and athletes can benefit from a trainer. There’s no such thing as duplication or wasted effort because a trainer builds on the foundation you’ve created already. If you’re starting from scratch, that’s okay too.
How much does small business marketing cost, anyway?
Ideally, nothing.
Seriously. Our clients typically generate enough leads (50% more, at least) that Whole Team Marketing pays for itself. Selling is easy when you have a steady influx of leads.
Of course, there is an upfront investment. If you’d like to explore working with us and see our rate card, please fill out our inquiry form and you’ll get our price list delivered to your inbox.
