Episode 72: Are You Still Using Old Marketing Methods That No Longer Work For Your Cleaning Business?

This time of year, business owners are thinking about next year's marketing plan and all the new ways they're going to get the word out about their business. But what I'd like to propose is that you take a close look at the marketing you've been doing and this video explains why.

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Episode 72 - Video Transcription

At the end of the year most business owners take a look back and think about how they will improve things for the upcoming year. When it comes to marketing, we usually try to come up with lots of new ways to market our business next year. This year, I propose you not only think about the NEW ways to market your business, but give some thought to what you've done in the past.

Some of the marketing activities you do may work great for you, and you should continue doing those. But some may NOT be working so well, so it's time to re-evaluate and decide to either make a change, or stop doing those activities altogether. That sounds like a common sense statement, but people get used to doing things a certain way, and resist making a change - even if it's no longer working for them.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when it comes to deciding what marketing tactics are no longer working. First, does this marketing tactic still bring in new business? If the answer is "Yes", that's great! But, you'll want to take it a step further and find out if that new business is actually bringing you a return on your investment. It's not enough to bring in new business - that new business must pay for the cost of the marketing, plus add profit to the business.

Next, ask yourself if this marketing tactic attracts clients who make you crazy!  If you're not attracting your ideal clients, well then your marketing message is reaching the wrong prospects. Either change who you're marketing to, change your message, or stop using this method of marketing altogether.

And lastly, is this a marketing activity that used to be fun but now feels like work? The thing is, marketing should always be fun, especially when you see it working! Marketing that drains your energy, takes up too much of your time for not enough return, either needs to be changed or dropped altogether. Sometimes it's easier to just keep doing what we've always done. But if there are certain methods of marketing that are no longer working; that drain your energy and aren't any fun; then it's time to let it go. If you stop doing the things that drain your battery and don't work, it frees up time and energy that you can devote to trying something new and that brings more profitable rewards for your efforts.

So let me ask you -- what marketing tactics are you going to STOP doing because they're no longer working? And what marketing methods are you going to START doing in order to jumpstart your year? Please share your comments below.