When it comes to marketing, there are a lot of strategies and tactics. Social media. Email marketing. SEO. PPC. The list goes on.
While all have their place in an effective and well-rounded marketing strategy, none of them will truly work without one key component: Consistency.
Consistency has to be at the heart of your marketing. Without it, you’ll struggle to gain traction, build a following, and cultivate the authenticity required to drive results for your business.
Whether you’re a new business owner looking to jumpstart your marketing efforts or a seasoned entrepreneur trying to make a big impact, you have to prioritize showing up in a consistent way.
Here’s the breakdown on what consistency in your marketing really means and why it’s so important to sustainable success.
Consistency 101
As an entrepreneur, it can feel like showing up across platforms and engaging in all the marketing-related activities is a must.
I’m here to (lovingly!) tell you it’s not.
When thinking about where your time is best spent when marketing yourself and your business, ask yourself these questions first:
- What marketing tactics feel aligned with my business and my brand, and which ones don’t?
- Where can I best serve and show up for my audience?
- What platforms make me feel excited, and which ones leave me feeling drained?
Starting with these questions will help you identify what efforts are an energetic and strategic fit for you and your business and indicate what you can be consistent with.
Real talk: If you don’t have a purpose for why you’re doing what you’re doing, or you simply don’t like it, you won’t find consistent success.
So, what does ‘consistency’ mean in marketing?
It means showing up at the cadence that works best for you.
If you can only manage to send one email newsletter to your people per month, stick with that. If you’d love to post on Instagram daily but can realistically only get to it three times per week, make that your standard.
Whatever amount of dedication you can commit to on a regular basis should be your priority. The key is identifying what this looks like for you based on factors like your workload, goals, audience needs, and industry, and then sticking to it.
Why is Consistency Critical to Your Marketing Efforts?
With all the marketing tips, tricks, and tactics at your disposal, why is consistency so important?
Because without it, the results you’re looking to achieve won’t be realized — here’s why:
You’ll struggle to build momentum.
When you are repeatedly showing up for the “first time,” or reengaging your audience after taking a hiatus, you’ll constantly feel like you’re starting over. Any momentum you established in the past will have sat idle and it’ll take time to kick-start it back into gear for it to begin having an impact again.
You’ll lack credibility.
When your marketing is on and off, it makes it difficult to establish yourself as the expert in your field. Think of the influencers you trust most: They show up regularly. They share knowledge. They stay at the forefront of their industry.
Regardless of the expertise you have, if you don’t share it consistently, people won’t think to turn to you when they need help in the area you serve.
You’ll lack authenticity.
A solid marketing approach isn’t all about the sale. In fact, it should focus on authenticity, vulnerability, and storytelling first, and the transaction second.
If your marketing solely entails popping in to ask for the sale before exiting stage left, you’re missing a tremendous component of marketing, which includes building relationships and providing value to those you serve. When people don’t see you as someone they like and trust, they won’t buy from you.
You’ll lose the fun and creativity.
While marketing is data-driven and results-oriented, it should also be a creative, enjoyable part of your business and a thoughtful reflection of who you are. When you aren’t consistent, it can make checking your marketing to-do’s off of your list feel like a chore.
Your marketing is meant to attract the right people and opportunities to you. Being consistent allows the small, everyday moments to become part of your story, and it keeps your efforts fresh and exciting.
Marketing’s Best-Kept Secret
Despite all the marketing best practices, algorithm changes, and new approaches out there, one thing remains true: being consistent. Whether you choose to market via one channel or show up across the marketing/communications spectrum, by making consistency a pillar of your strategy, you’ll gain credibility, turn strangers into loyal fans, and produce results that get you closer to your goals — and allow you to have some fun along the way.
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