Being a self-employed entrepreneur is a challenging feat. Often you may find yourself wearing many hats and juggling multiple roles within your business. Being self-employed requires hard work, dedication, and commitment, from managing finances to marketing your services or products. As we celebrate National Self-Employed Day, we want to recognize the value of self-employed individuals and offer helpful tips on effectively marketing your business in 2023.
In this article, we’ll outline five effective ways self-employed people can help market themselves and their businesses for the upcoming year.
1: Develop a Solid Marketing Plan
The first and most important step to marketing your business is to develop a solid marketing plan. Often, business owners need to pay more attention to this critical step. As Benjamin Franklin said, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.” A marketing plan outlines your business’s goals, target audience, competition, and strategy for promoting your services or products. Once you understand your business’s needs, you can create a plan to help you reach your objectives and attract potential clients. Your marketing plan can include social media marketing, email marketing, content marketing, and other advertising strategies that work best for your business.
The great news about creating a marketing plan in 2023 is that you can have ChatGPT help you write one. Let’s say you started a business creating custom jewelry for women in their 20s to 40s. You can head over to ChatGPT and have it help you write a plan. Check this out:
Having ChatGPT create the framework and adding your personal experiences and touch allows you to quickly and easily create a marketing plan for your business.
2: Leverage Social Media
Social media is a powerful tool that can be used to promote your business and connect with potential clients. As a self-employed individual, there are many benefits to maintaining an active presence on social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter. You can develop a dedicated following and build your brand reputation by posting engaging content and responding to comments and messages. You can also use social media to advertise your services or products, target specific audiences, and drive traffic to your website.
LinkedIn is an especially powerful tool for business owners. It can help you build credibility and establish yourself as an expert. You can start by creating a profile, sharing content related to your business, and connecting with potential customers. Additionally, a professional LinkedIn account comes with LinkedIn Learn. LinkedIn Learn is a great place to improve your skills and add further accolades and accomplishments to your LinkedIn profile.
If you’re curious to learn more about Instagram Reels and how to use them for growth, check out our course on Instagram Reels! The course is hosted by Avery Sly, who has gained over 100 million views on her Instagram Reels, and she instructs business owners on tips and tricks for greater success on Instagram! Check it out here: https://agency8.com/reels/
3: Network and Collaborate with Other Self-Employed Individuals
Networking and collaborating with other self-employed individuals can help you expand your business, reach more clients and build meaningful relationships in your industry. Attend local meetups, workshops, or conferences, and use these opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals, exchange ideas and promote your services. You can also collaborate with other self-employed individuals on projects, which can help you broaden your skillset and grow your business.
Social media makes collaboration even more accessible. Try your hand at a collaborative post on Instagram and work with individuals that are relevant to your niche or provide value to your audience. Or, team up with another entrepreneur to do a giveaway!
4: Create Engaging Content
Content marketing is a valuable marketing technique that can help you build trust with potential clients and establish yourself as an expert in your industry. Creating engaging, informative, and valuable content, such as blog posts, videos, or podcasts, can attract more website traffic, increase brand visibility, and generate leads.
Educating your audience is a great way to create engaging content. For example, at Agency 8, we produce a newsletter on behalf of one of our clients with an open rate of over 60%! Why is it so successful? We provide educational value in every e-blast that we send out. Teach your audience the value of what you offer, why and how they can use it, and help them.
5: Offer Exceptional Customer Service
Lastly, offering exceptional customer service is critical to marketing your business. As a self-employed individual, you can connect with your clients and provide them personalized, high-quality service. Excellent customer service can help you build a loyal client base, generate positive word-of-mouth recommendations, and establish a great reputation for your business. Always listen to your client’s needs, respond to their feedback, and go the extra mile to exceed their expectations.
Word-of-mouth is one of the strongest forms of marketing. When did you last try a restaurant or shopped at a specific store because a friend or family member recommended it? Word-of-mouth provides a form of social proof that builds trust in the brand. For example, my local chiropractor operates only on word-of-mouth and doesn’t spend money on additional marketing. He can run a thriving business through referrals and word-of-mouth by coupling high-quality chiropractic care with exceptional customer service.
Conclusion:
Marketing your business effectively can be daunting as a self-employed individual, but it’s crucial to your success. By developing a solid marketing plan, leveraging social media, networking with other self-employed individuals, creating engaging content, and offering exceptional customer service, you can reach more clients, build your brand reputation and grow your business. In 2023, make it a priority to implement these marketing strategies and see the results for yourself. As always, we are available to help if you need additional assistance!
Happy National Self-Employed Day!
