Does Marketing Even Work? 7 Marketing Power Tips to Get You More Clients

Do you ever wonder, does marketing even work?

After all, when you’re doing All The Things to build your business and still not getting clients and customers, it seems like a very valid question!

You feel like you’ve tried everything—writing blog posts, posting on social media, sending newsletters, hosting webinars, and creating free opt-in offers—and you’re still not making the money you hoped for.

Talk about frustrating!

I understand how you feel. It took me two years of doing All The Things before I had a pivotal aha moment.

I realized I didn’t know how to market the right way.

Once I really “got” this, it changed EVERYTHING for me and my business. And I’m hoping it will shift everything for you, too.

That’s why, we’re going to walk through 7 marketing power tips that will shift your action-taking from woefully ineffective to profoundly powerful so you can see results from all of your marketing efforts.

Sound good?

Let’s dive in and walk through your first set of power tips.

Marketing Power Tip #1: Always use your client’s language

Before you skim right over this first power tip, STOP.

This is the most important insight I’ve ever had about business. Even going into my 11th year of self-employment, this point still ranks #1.

Yes, it’s that important! It’s THE piece of marketing advice that changed everything for my business.

Why?

One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is using the wrong words to attract their ideal clients. They use “expert speak” or “jargon” to talk about their work—not the words their customers are using.

When you talk to your customers like they’re your peers, they don’t understand that you can help them. Which means every ounce of effort you put into marketing is a total waste!

Everything you do—your blog posts, guest posts, Facebook ads, social posts, newsletters, sales emails—will reap ZERO fruit if you’re not using the words your prospects would use to describe their problems or desires.

Discovering the words your clients use should be your top marketing priority, always!

My Personal Recommendation for YouReady to Bring Your Dream Business to Life? Watch Marie Forleo’s 3-Part Video Training Series

Marketing Power Tip #2: Experiment with lots of marketing tactics

Once you have the right words, the next thing you want to do is try different kinds of marketing—even if you were playing with them previously.

Since you now have the right words, so you’ll likely get better results!

If you were posting to social media but weren’t getting traction, it was likely because you were using jargon. So start fresh because now you have the right words.

Also, try new things. Be open to surprising yourself with what you might actually enjoy.

One of my favorite clients once talked how much she hated Facebook. But with an open mind, she tried it fresh and was pleasantly surprised at how much she enjoyed “being of service” on Facebook. Now it’s her top way to get new clients.

I recommend choosing 3-5 ways to get clients, but you might need to test the waters with 8 or more to find your favorites.

And finally, I know you’re thinking, “Which marketing tactics work the best?”

The answer: “The ones you actually do and have fun doing.”

Click to TweetWhich marketing tactics work the best? The ones you actually do and have fun doing. @jennyshih

Marketing Power Tip #3: Be willing to do things imperfectly

Now that you have the right words and are open to experimenting with different marketing tactics, don’t let yourself get stuck in the trap that holds some of the most determined business owners back: wanting to do it perfectly before taking action.

The desire for perfection will suspend your results FOREVER.

This means you need to start pitching guest posts before you feel confident in doing it.

You need to show up on video even when you’re still sorting through the awkward and uncomfortable feelings.

By being willing to take imperfect action, you’ll figure out how to do things in ways that will get results.

As you know, you can only figure out what works by actually doing something, not just thinking about it.

Marketing Power Tip #4: Put in the time and be consistent

Once you’ve found a few marketing strategies to play with and are willing to do them imperfectly to get started, your next step is to execute those strategies consistently.

That means you don’t write just one blog post or one email. You don’t post on Facebook only when you feel inspired to do so. You don’t record a couple of podcasts then throw in the towel.

It’s a huge mistake to try something once (or even 10 times) and declare it a winner or a failure. You have to show up, do the work, and keep doing the work—over and over, many, many times—to know what will or won’t work effectively for your business.

And remember what I said earlier: All marketing tactics work.

So a good rule of thumb is to put yourself out there 10x more than you think you should. (Yes, I’m serious—10x!)

My Personal Recommendation for YouReady to Bring Your Dream Business to Life? Watch Marie Forleo’s 3-Part Video Training Series

Marketing Power Tip #5: Be of service

My favorite, go-to way to build trust with prospects and turn the perfect ones into paying clients and customers has always been what I call “be of service.”

“Be of service” basically means, “Show up and be your awesome self, for free, no strings attached.”

I don’t mean give your services away for free endlessly.

I do mean…

• Freely offer your knowledge (All of it! Not just in your business arena) to your fellow humans
• Be the beloved connector, making introductions between awesome people you know so it benefits them
• Show up to give—not get

Serve others freely within the context of your connection. For example, you can’t reconcile someone’s books at networking event, but you can offer bookkeeping tips freely.

Or you can’t coach someone to find their ideal career on Facebook, but you can offer some much-needed perspectives to get them unstuck.

And don’t limit your service only to what you do in your business. Share and serve freely to all people in all areas of need—in the circles where you’re showing up to serve (which should be related to your area of business).

The sure-fire way to get noticed in a sea of people who endlessly want to “get” from others is to show up without looking to get. The energy is magnetic, and people will start to seek you out for your paid services. It’s almost magic!

Marketing Power Tip #6: Don’t worry about “making the pitch”

The great thing is that once you get on the “be of service” train, you need to worry less about pitching than you were before—which is great news—because most business owners are afraid to pitch their services and come across as too pushy.

When you show up to serve others, those who benefit from or witness your generosity will actively seek you out for your paid services.

Of course, you have to have a way for them to get in touch, clear next steps, an offer they can buy, and be willing to tell them the next steps, but this is a cakewalk compared to cold call pitching!

So stop worrying about the pitch and simply be ready to tell others how to work with you when they ask.

Marketing Power Tip #7: Supercharge your marketing with empathy

As you’re out in the world serving your fellow humans, there’s another way you get to fully embody you as you show up: your empathy, compassion, and caring nature.

You see, you’re likely a sensitive and empathic person. You CARE about people. Like really, really care. You have a big heart, and you want to help the world with it.

These things might have caused more harm than good in traditional jobs, but in your business now, it’s a superpower!

That’s because empathy allows you to tap into what your ideal client’s emotions. You can sense what they’re struggling with and dreaming about, and that knowledge helps you more deeply connect with prospects.

And prospects who feel connected to you are more likely to buy from you.

So ditch the fear of selling, of being salesy, of over-pitching, and just show up to serve with your big heart and love of helping others, and you’re on the right track.

My Personal Recommendation for YouReady to Bring Your Dream Business to Life? Watch Marie Forleo’s 3-Part Video Training Series