Marketing is similar to sexual activity. Everyone thinks they’re experts at it.
– Steve Tobak
We are living in the period of solopreneurs that is a golden age: self-employed, creative experts who are transforming the traditional working model of work on its upside. Doing away with the traditional model of working with layers of management, employees all over the world are making the decision to be in complete control of their careers. To create their own niche and capitalize on their talents. To be part of the revolution of solos.
You’re one of them. A revolutionary!
Making your personal brand has never been simpler. Thanks to the rapid growth in social networks, single entrepreneurs now have instant access to billions of users all over the world. You can talk directly to anyone anywhere, anytime. The number of products and services that users can access instantly is unlimited. Both buyers and businesses are not restricted by geography anymore.
It’s an inspiring time. However, it’s also one many entrepreneurs and companies are overwhelmed by.
We live in a digital-first world.
In his book, Ctrl Alt Delete, Mitch Joel talks about the concept of “digital-first.” He provides five essential changes that businesses must adapt to ensure their future security or even go out of business. One of these changes is that today the primary place where your business and brand are viewed as valid is on the internet. The web and social media have the ability to decide the chance of success.
Serial businessman Gary Vaynerchuk is an excellent illustration of how to build successful businesses by using digital media. A native of the Soviet Union in 1975, Vaynerchuk moved to the United States in 1978. With humble beginnings, his father went on to run an alcohol store located in New Jersey. At the beginning of the digital age, Vaynerchuk was able to see the potential for the growth of the business of his father. After college, Vaynerchuk remodeled the liquor store into a wine retail store that he named”the Wine Library. The year 2006 was the time he launched a video blog that was updated daily, Wine Library TV. The hugely popular website turned him into an internet star. It was watched by 90,000 people a day and brought about an explosion of television or speaking events. In just six years, Vaynerchuk has grown the business of his family to a level of $1 million to $50 million per year.
Not terrible for a small family company, is it?
As you can observe that traditional marketing is being blown from under the sun. There is no longer a need for cold-calling and arranging meetings after meetings to create leads and sell. Digital marketing has provided numerous cost-effective avenues that allow self-promotion as well as lead generation. Sales now revolve around leveraging your social media networks, interacting with customers on the internet, and educating.
It is basically the social sales model (see the hyperlink below)
Nowadays, the companies and entrepreneurs who make the biggest impression on their customers have become role models. They’re trusted advisors that create tribes, powerful online communities that aid in helping their brands to grow. They offer education and help. They’ve joined with the sales and marketing train on social media. They are embracing the connected economy with all their heart. Because if you don’t, you get left behind.
We can’t afford to rest on our achievements. We need to build upon this vast sales reform and look forward to the future. We need to become ambassadors for the industry. We must be thought-leaders who connect meaningfully with our followers and share the wealth of our knowledge and treat our followers not only as leads or dollars but as long-term relationships.
How can you stand out From the Others?
Solopreneurs are the wave of the future. They comprise 61 percent of Australian companies[11. In addition, with the advent of websites for freelancers, including Upwork, 99designs, Freelancer, and Airtasker, growing numbers of Australians are working as freelancers. According to the marketplace for freelancers, Elance-oDesk, 30percent percent of the Australian workforce – which is 3.7 million people – do some form of work that is freelance[2[2].
Digital marketing is a massive chance for solopreneurs. As per Ipsos Open Thinking Exchange, the average person spends 2 hours per day online. Additionally, IBM’s Global CEO Study found that CEOs think that the use of social media to improve customer satisfaction will grow by 256% in five years. It means that social media is likely to be the second most popular method to connect with customers following face-to-face communications.
Social media has helped create an equal playing field. It’s affordable and readily accessible. You don’t need vast sums of money to start an enterprise. There is no need for any existing clients. You can begin a business by starting from scratch. The internet has offered everyone the chance to build an entrepreneur who is successful on their own.
However, there’s a drawback to this opportunity for equal opportunities. Despite the reach of social media, one of the significant issues entrepreneurs have to overcome is acquiring leads and keeping customers.
The online marketplace means that you’re competing with other businesses which have a similar business to yours. You cannot simply sign up for an account on LinkedIn and Facebook profile and hope for your customers to find you. What will they see when they’re there? What is it that makes you stand out? If everyone else is touting the same selling points, What will make people decide to go with you?
In a world where consumers are able to access information immediately about every type of business all over the world, it’s tough to stand out from the crowd. To get that edge, it is essential to establish an online connection.
Solopreneurs are not enough. You need to connect with your clients by offering more than your goods and services on their own. It is essential to inspire, guide, and earn confidence. You must bring a positive change to people’s lives by educating your customers.
Position position, position, position
It is the most critical aspect of establishing trust and influence. It’s more than making an impression. It’s about taking control of your space in the field you work in. It’s about showing your skills by launching conversations, influencing others, and redefining the game by producing engaging content and educating others. You’re the expert to clients and peers who require advice.
It’s also what drives sales.
If you’ve got a solid position, the ROI on investment will be unparalleled. Technology and digital media business Burst Media’s Influencer Marketing Benchmarks for 2014 Report revealed that, on average, marketers who have implemented an Influencer marketing strategy in 2014 earned $6.85 for earned value per $1 spent on paid media. The main methods used to market to Influencers included:
Blog posts
Social syndication, branded content, and distribution
Influencers and content that is influential
Blogs. Content. Social media. They are essential affordable tools to use if you are looking to boost your standing from business owner to top industry professional. These are the things that make your audience trust your business.
If you’re liked by people and trust you, they’ll be able to listen to you; however, if they believe in them, they’ll be willing to do business with you.