Stay The Course: How To Be Consistent with Digital Marketing Even When You're Not Seeing Results

"If you build it, [they] will come." So, you went out and built it. But, what the hell? Nobody's showing up yet. Results take time, so don't give up on your Field of Dreams just yet. Owning a small business is a lot like starting a new diet - you gotta keep showing up at the gym and counting those calories if you want results. Instead of throwing in the towel, keep reading for pointers on how to stay consistent with your efforts even when it feels like nothing's happening.

Persistence Pays Off with Proper Planning

Consistency is key but winging it isn't going to cut it no matter how great your idea without properly planning how to execute it. And, here's a hard fact of reality, planning takes time away from taking action so factor that into your anticipation of when you expect to see results. So what do you need to plan and how do you know you're on the right path? A lot goes into marketing yourself so here is a high-level view of some of the things you'll need to figure out to move forward.

• What you want your audience to know about you and your business - this is crucial because your brand identity gets your audience invested

  • What content categories your online presence will share

• Where you will engage your audience and how often (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc.)

  • What kind of content goes on each platform (remember, different platforms have different strengths and reach different audiences)

  • Email campaigns and/or newsletters

  • How much time you will spend each day engaging and networking on these platforms

• How you can commit to a realistic, consistent schedule to maintain the platforms

  • Our post Top 5 FREE Resources for Your Small Business can help you

• How you will create your content

  • In-house or hire graphic designer

  • License images

  • Stockpile of ideas and guidance

Brick by Brick: Build Habits that Stick

So we have a strategy in place, let's talk about turning your consistency into a habit, so everything is second nature. Here at tawc we have a variety of things we do to keep on task that should translate well to any business, no matter your industry:

• Evaluate your day each night and use that to plan out what needs to be done the next day

  • When planning your next day, organize tasks by priority

• Habit stack - maybe you drink coffee and check your email every morning, so stack on something else with it, like making your social media posts at the same time

• Eliminate distractions - If Wikipedia pulls you down a rabbit hole each time you visit, avoid it until your work is done. If Debbie can't stop running her mouth every time she walks by, shut your office door.

• Track your progress - you can't know where you need work if you aren't tracking it somehow!

• Celebrate your success - there's a reason we give our pups a treat when they do a trick correctly, because it works! If you reach a goal, give yourself whatever your Milkbone equivalent is. For us, it's probably a handful of Tootsie Rolls or maybe a new book. ;)

More "On Track" than Thomas the Tank Engine

None of this stuff will happen overnight, so always allow yourself some grace. Like hitting the gym, six pack abs don't come overnight either, unless you're Steve Rogers. The key is showing up day after day, even when it feels like you're shouting into the void.

But there's still good news, it gets easier the more you do it. One day you'll wake up and realize that posting on your socials, writing the newsletter, or making that email campaign don't feel like a chore anymore. Now it's just second nature like brushing your teeth (hopefully) or saying "that's crazy" a thousand times while your neighbor rants about property taxes.

We get it though. Even the best of us need a good jumpstart or help to stay on track, which is exactly why we are developing our Social Media Jumpstart Kit - a guide to help you uncover your brand's voice and aesthetic, identify and engage with your ideal audience, and provides an overview of the most popular social media platforms to make getting started (or finding your way again) that much easier. Sign up here to get updates & be the first to know when the Social Media Jumpstart Guide launches.

Trust us - your future self will thank you.