How Far Can You Throw A Marketing Log?

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Last month I blogged about making a decision based on a task feeling "light" or "heavy". You can read about it here. This month, I'd like to dig deeper into why many small business owners put marketing on the "heavy" list and what could help you re-frame marketing so that working on this important part of your business feels "light", or at least lighter. Sounds good, doesn't it.  I can feel the weight being lifted as you read this.

The reasons that marketing may feel heavy fall into a few categories. Do any of these reasons resonate?

• The Cart's Before The Horse.  As an entrepreneur, you don't know the meaning of doing things slowly. You hatched your idea for your business in a week, ordered business cards online and hit the ground running. Along the way, you created a website and a Facebook page but NEVER REALLY THOUGHT ABOUT A MARKETING STRATEGY.
• Organization Isn't My Strong Suit.  You work hard in your business and are realizing some success, but it comes at a cost.  Because you HAVEN'T SET UP SYSTEMS to help you stay on top of your marketing, it has become really heavy.
• Ain't Got No Time For That.  You wear many hats - CEO, CFO, CMO, COO, and CBO (Chief Bottle Washer). You know marketing your business is critical to your success and you are pretty tech savvy, but you just DON'T HAVE TIME to devote to doing it. Hello, there are only 24 hours in a day.
• I Need Help Programming My VCR.  Totally with you on this one. Maybe technology isn't second nature and trying to figure out every social media platform has you fondly remembering the good old days. Relax. You got this, with some help. And, you don't have to be everywhere . . . you just need to be where your customers are.
• Let It Go! (no, I'm not launching into a Frozen songfest) You know what needs to be done, could do most of it yourself, but CAN'T DO IT ALL. You need to save your creative juices for other aspects of running your business. Maybe it's time to outsource some of the tasks.
• I Need To Try Something Else.  Whoa, before you throw out how you're marketing your business, do you really know what's working, what's not, and what needs more attention?  IT'S TIME TO LOOK AT THE METRICS. A critical look at your data should give you the information you need to decide where to focus your marketing energy. 
• My Business Is On Fire! Well, this is a good thing.  Growth is great, but sometimes getting to the next level causes a bit of angst. Now is the time to REFINE YOUR MARKETING PLAN, developing a deeper understanding of what your customers want and learning how to reach new markets, build lasting collaborations. You're up to the challenge.

I'd love your feedback. What speaks to you here, if anything? Is there something I've missed? If you need help, you know where to find me.

Remember, Marketing Should Be Fun, NOT Painful.