I met Lizzie at a women’s forum that I conducted in Nairobi some years ago. She was working for a multinational company and had what many would consider a dream job. Most a single mom of 3 young kids, Lizzie was unhappy about being away from her kids most of the time; working long hours, attending workshops out of town, travelling extensively, etc.
We explored the different options open to her if she wanted to be able to watch her little angels grow. She is a marketing professional and is really good at what she does.
One day I attended a networking event and bumped into her. Nothing seemed to have changed with her at all. She was the same confident, cheerful, good looking woman she was when we first met.
“You got married!” I said. She gave a hearty laugh. Then she proceeded to tell me that so much had changed in her career.
Until one day she got very sick in the office and was rushed to the hospital. She was diagnosed as suffering from exhaustion and advised to take things slow. She was given two days sick off to rest.
It was painful to go back to the office after 4 days at home, since the off days were followed by the weekend. She struggled to enjoy her job after that but she just could not make it.
Lizzie explained that she had always loved experimenting with make-up so when she found herself idle at home, she opened a Facebook page and used it to educate women about the right way to apply make-up and how to select the right make-up for one’s skin tone.
Online Marketing
So, is it possible to make money from the comfort of your couch? Let us explore some of the winning strategies for successfully marketing your business online.
Do you have a skill or hobby that you could turn into part time work? You could become a freelance make up artist, hair dresser, DJ or a trainer in something that you are good at. Leverage the use of the Internet to let the world know about what you have to offer.
Online marketing does not have to take the form of obvious advertisements. You will achieve much more by using subtle messages and catchy stories to get the name of your company or brand out to the public.
One very important lesson I have learned by being in the network marketing industry is the power of numbers. Think of any successful company you know; Coca Cola, Safaricom, Equity Bank, East African Breweries… How many customers do you think each of these companies have?
Having just your family, colleagues and neighbors as your customers is not going to give you any real success, though you might start with them before you find your way in the market place.
How much do companies spend on advertising? Can you build a big organization without spending an arm and a leg to reach a large audience?
The Internet has brought together 2 Billion plus people so you definitely can get your numbers from there, as long as you know how to do it.
Begin by branding yourself professionally online. Personal Branding enables you to stand out as the expert in something.
* A professional Photo
So, how do you promote your brand to an online audience? Social networks are basically for socializing so join the right online communities and socialize.
Do not spam people/flash your business card on people’s faces left, right, front and back.Show that you are a real person.
If you are using Facebook, open a business page for your business posts rather than using your personal profile. That way, even people who are not your friends or friends of your friends can easily access your content.
Content Marketing
You create valuable media and content and make it available to future customers. They are not customers yet so at this point in time, you are educating them with the hope that they will become customers in future.
First, you need to have some real life experience to share. I have shared my story about my battle with depression extensively and it has captured the attention of many people.
Besides having a story to tell, you need to share some practical lessons that people can apply in their own lives and get results. Don’t complicate things. Keep it simple.
Your content should educate, inspire, entertain. Hey, you are building a relationship with your audience, not writing a thesis for your degree so go slow on quoting facts and statistics. People should be able to enjoy as they learn.
The Use Of Social Media To Grow Your Brand
There are different social media platforms out there and you need to learn how each works before you begin messing up.
To be successful in social media marketing means that you need to learn how different platforms work. Laziness won’t take you anywhere so don’t come up with content for one platform then push it to all the other platforms.
Success is not handed to anyone on a silver platter; you’ve got to put in the work. In life there is no elevator to success; you’ve got to take the stairs and keep going no matter how steep it gets.
To make a journey from point A to point B successfully, you need to look at the map before you embark on the journey. Familiarize yourself with a platform before you throw up all over people.
Pay Per Click Advertising
This is a great way to grow your online following. Different social media platforms offer to show your adverts to their audience and you pay per click.
It will not look like advertising since the update appears in their news feed just like any other update. Different platforms have the pay per click advertising; Twitter, Google, LinkeIn, etc. It is a very effective way to spend your marketing shillings, and it is affordable.
Has this article been of help? What has your own journey taught you about online marketing? Any tips you can share? I hope to read about your tips in the comments.
This article is written by: Susan Catherine Keter, life coach, mentor, freelancer and blogger.
Website: www.susancatherineketer.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Financial.Literacy.Africa/?pnref=lhc
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SusanCatherineK
Quora: https://www.quora.com/profile/Susan-Catherine-Keter
Thank you for sharing,atleast I have learnt some content on online marketing & best usus of social media
You are welcome. Social media provides a powerful platform that is full of opportunities for those who are ready to learn.
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