Ditch Your Marketing To-do List
Do you have a mile-long marketing to-do list that seems to get longer every day? When will the list be done? I’m sorry to inform you, but marketing to-do lists never get done.
Think about it. You can check off that newsletter article, but there’s another one to write next week or next month. You can check off follow-up calls you need to make, but there will be more after your next networking meeting. It’s an endless cycle. Why? If you are marketing for success, you’re going to be consistently putting marketing out into the world. That means there’s always something to do. However, you can shorten your to-do list.
I know, I know. Everyone says you have to “do” this and “do” that in marketing. You can’t go a day without getting something in your inbox that tells you you’re not doing something you’re “supposed to be” doing.
Um, Ok. Coaches, what do “supposed to” and “have to” mean? When you hear those words in a call with your clients, what comes to mind? Toleration! Yup, that’s it: This endless marketing to-do list is a toleration of yours. It’s time to ditch your tolerations.
Ask the Right Questions
What’s working for you? When was the last time you went through your marketing to-do list to determine what’s working and what’s not? If you’ve been doing something for eight or more months and it’s not working, ditch it!
What are you procrastinating on? If you are procrastinating on an activity, it’s probably because there’s something about it that you disagree with, doesn’t match your values or is just plain uncomfortable for you. If that’s the case then it’s unlikely you’ll consistently keep up with it. Instead, you’ll just keep beating yourself up because you didn’t do it. Why put yourself through that torture? If you keep telling yourself you “should,” “have to,” or “want to” tackle something on your list but you haven’t gotten around to it, ditch it!
How much time do you have? Have you ever evaluated how much time it takes to complete each marketing task? Is it possible that you are doing more marketing work than you have time for? Take a look at your schedule and determine how much time you can reasonably devote to marketing your practice. Compare that to how much time it takes to do all the marketing tasks you have on your to-do list. Chances are good there’s an imbalance. Determine what you can delegate or ditch in order to regain control of your schedule.
If you answer those three questions honestly and adjust accordingly the result will be a manageable to-do list aligned with your schedule, energy and personality. If you’re a detail-oriented person who can work through a small list without getting overwhelmed, turn your to-do list into a monthly marketing checklist and commit to sticking with it.
Make sure you revisit your list regularly, checking in with all three questions: An annual review is a good standard to set. Another great time to check in is when your business shifts into a new phase. Finally, be sure to check in if a sense of overwhelm is creeping in again. Listen to your gut: If it doesn’t feel right, re-evaluate.
Ditching the List
If you’re a go-with-the-flow, rather-do-what-I-love kind of person, then there’s another way to stay on top of your marketing tasks. Once you know what will work for you, ditch the list. Yup, that’s what I said: Let go of the written list entirely.
For many of us, the list itself creates “have-tos,” “shoulds” and other stressors. Once you’ve gotten rid of all the tasks that aren’t a good fit, then you know what you need to do. Simply do what fits when you are ready to do it.
Consistency is still a requirement, of course, but that doesn’t mean you have to commit to a set schedule. It may mean stockpiling some marketing to be scheduled out later. It may mean giving yourself one day a week to be creative and work on whatever marketing you want to work on. It may mean giving yourself some time every day to work on whatever marketing tasks strike your fancy. It’s up to you to decide when, where and how you want to work on your marketing.
All About Trust
What if you go with the flow, but a member of your team or your virtual assistant does not? Invite him or her to be keeper of the list. Design an alliance that will honor your free spirit, creativity and desire to work in your own time frame, as well as your colleague’s desire to consistently get your message out into the world. Find the happy medium.
Trust yourself, too. Have faith in your own way of marketing, and let it guide you as you spread the word about the amazing work you do.
Kristen Beireis
Kristen is the Trust-building in Marketing Expert at Coaches’ Marketing Source. She believes that marketing can be easy for anyone, including soul-honoring entrepreneurs who just want to help people create better lives for themselves. She uses personal values to set (or reset) a foundation for marketing that feeds your soul and attracts the right clients by trusting in who you are first. Learn more at coachesmarketingsource.com
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