A marketing pep talk inspired by my plant Lola.
This marketing pep talk is inspired by my plant Lola (hey, don't laugh! My big sis named it!) 🤣
Many entrepreneurs struggle with marketing primarily because there is so much "noise" out there. So many so-called experts on webinars, masterclasses, podcasts, blogs, and social media posts say they have the answer to marketing. Unfortunately, this often leads to entrepreneurs receiving poor advice, wasting time and money, and sometimes throwing their hands up in frustration and giving up.
I see this all the time, and my plant, Lola, inspired me to give this pep talk on what to do when the marketing advice entrepreneurs receive fails.
Consider the source of your marketing advice.
I got this bird of paradise plant about nine months ago. It was beautiful and lush, and the leaves were large and without blemish.
I researched how to care for it and followed the recommendations. Knowing that I DON'T have a green thumb, I followed the advice to a tee!
Not too much sunlight 🌤
Water only when needed. Don't over water! 🤷🏽♀️
Be mindful not to replant often because the bird of paradise is finicky and may not bloom if you do! 😱
AND THEN, the advice doesn't work. It makes matters worse!... 😳😩
The leaves started yellowing😭
They cracked and dried along the edge 😭
One leaf died completely! 😭
And you freeze because you don't know what to do or whom to trust!
I read up on the problem and talked to a few people, and they said I should take all the leaves off. 😱 I was scared to remove them.
I didn't know what to do! 🤷🏽♀️
I was heartbroken. 💔
My plant was dying! 🥲
I felt useless! 😒
I was stuck! 😳
THEN... In stepped an expert with visible proof of their expertise to save the day! 🎉🥳
I went to an event at someone's home.
They had a beautiful garden with lots of birds of paradise! I thought💡 These people know what they're doing! I could get some tips!
And GUESS WHAT? The owner was a landscaper! 💃🏽💃🏽
I complimented him on his gardening skills, shared my problem, and told him all I had done to this point (with photos, of course). 😁
He diagnosed the problem by first asking me a few questions:
What was the size of the pot?
How long did I have it?
When was the last time I watered it?
How often do I water the plant?
He then gave me advice.
Water Lola 2x each week (depending on the flower pot's size).
Give her two glasses of water each time.
I followed his instructions for a couple of weeks. And nothing happened, and I realized I was giving Lola too much water for the pot size.
You can make adjustments based on what's unique to you.
So I then:
I started giving her two glasses of water once per week.
I occasionally put her outside for some fresh air.
I dust the leaves
I moisten leaves
I TALK to her! 😳
It takes time to see the results.
AND THEN...
One day, I saw that the once-yellowing leaves were green! 🌿 And a short while after, I saw NEW leaves shooting! 💃🏽💃🏽
Check the results often. Don't leave things to chance.
Every morning I go downstairs to open the blinds by Lola. I check how she is doing and see that she is a flourishing plant! 😍 Watching her grow makes me so happy and proud! 😍
Marketing takeaways from this analogy:
Be mindful of the source of your marketing advice.
Don't panic. Start networking and educating yourself on marketing.
Get expert advice backed up by social proof (positive reviews, examples of past work, and the results).
Invest in your marketing with your actions and the proper tools.
Make adjustments as you see fit.
Know your numbers! How is your marketing performing? What are the results of your efforts, time, and money?
Celebrate your progress and be proud of the results you will gain from being persistent in your marketing efforts.
Have you ever received bad marketing advice that resulted in disappointment, loss of time, and or money? Maybe you are in that spot right now. If so, contact me today, and let’s see if I can help you turn your disappointment into joy!