Marketing Tips for Small Business Owners: Educated Empowered Inspired

In this episode, Shelly takes us down memory lane, sharing the top five lessons she’s learned over the course of 100 episodes. Whether you’re just starting out, building momentum, or scaling to new heights, these lessons are packed with insights that can apply to any stage of business or life.

Key Takeaways:

Consistency is Key
Show up regularly, even when it’s hard. Small steps add up to big results over time, and consistency builds trust with your audience and clients. Done is better than perfect!

Start Messy & Embrace Imperfection
Perfection delays progress. Every episode, project, or business venture teaches valuable lessons. Just get started, and learn as you go!

The Power of Community
It’s not just about downloads or email lists—it’s about real connections and building a community that supports each other.

Always Keep Learning
Stay curious, invest in personal growth, and constantly seek out new knowledge to stay relevant in business and life.

Authenticity Matters
Your story is unique, and no one can share it like you can. Being authentic creates deeper connections and lasting success.

Resources:

• List Builder Growth Scorecard - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/scorecard
• Marketing Makeover Strategy Session - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/marketingmakeover
• The Business Power Hour - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/powerhour
• Women Entrepreneurs In Prayer Call - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/prayercall
• Email Quickstart Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/emailguide
• Profitable FB Profile Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/fbprofile
• Convertkit - https://partners.convertkit.com/shellyniehaus
• Equipt360 All-in-One Markerting Software - https://equipt360.com/?_from=shelly75

Connect with Shelly Niehaus:

• Website: https://coaching.shellyniehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyniehaus/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-niehaus-7680652/

In this episode of Educated, Empowered, Inspired, we dive into simplifying marketing strategies to help you amplify your business. If you’ve been feeling overwhelmed by marketing complexities, you’re in the right place. We'll break down essential strategies to reshape your approach, making marketing as simple as having meaningful conversations with potential customers. By understanding and resonating with your audience, you can drive meaningful engagement and transform how they perceive your offers.

DOWNLOAD YOUR WORKBOOK: https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/persona

Key Takeaways:

• Simplify Your Approach: Think of marketing as having conversations, not just pushing out content and offers.
• Common Mistakes in Marketing:
  1. Overcomplicating Language: Avoid expert jargon that doesn’t resonate with your audience. Speak their language to connect better.
  2. Jumping Straight to Solutions: Build a connection first; let customers understand why they should care before diving into what you offer.
  3. Failing to Highlight Transformation: Clearly communicate the change customers will see from using your services. Paint a picture of their potential success.
• The Right Order Matters: Focus on aligning your marketing activities with the customer’s journey and needs. Start with foundational messaging before expanding into more complex strategies.
• Practical Steps for Audience Research:
  • Identify where your audience spends time online and offline.
  • Listen to the conversations and questions they have in these spaces.
  • Understand and articulate the transformation they seek through your services.

Resources:

• List Builder Growth Scorecard - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/scorecard
• Marketing Makeover Strategy Session - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/marketingmakeover
• The Business Power Hour - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/powerhour
• Women Entrepreneurs In Prayer Call - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/prayercall
• Email Quickstart Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/emailguide
• Profitable FB Profile Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/fbprofile
• Convertkit - https://partners.convertkit.com/shellyniehaus
• Equipt360 All-in-One Markerting Software - https://equipt360.com/?_from=shelly75

Connect with Shelly Niehaus:

• Website: https://coaching.shellyniehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyniehaus/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-niehaus-7680652/

Join marketing expert Shelly as she delivers another insightful Marketing Makeover, this time with Andrea Blythe, the visionary behind Let Love Rise. Andrea discusses her journey from navigating personal grief to launching a thriving business aimed at helping women find their joy and authenticity after divorce. Shelly offers her marketing prowess to refine Andrea’s strategies, focusing on attracting and securing one-on-one clients through targeted, authentic engagement.

Key Takeaways:

• Niche Focus: Shelly emphasizes the importance of honing in on a specific audience—middle-aged, divorced women—to increase marketing impact and client engagement.
• Platform Precision: Streamline efforts to one or two platforms where your ideal clients spend their time. Shelly advises prioritizing depth over breadth for genuine connections.
• Lead Magnet Optimization: Continually refine lead magnets to directly address client pain points, enhancing appeal and effectiveness.
• Authentic Engagement: Shelly stresses the value of real interactions over broad reach, especially on platforms like Facebook, preferred by the target demographic.
• Strategic Offers: Shelly guides Andrea on integrating compelling offers into communications to seamlessly transition followers to clients.

Resources:

• List Builder Growth Scorecard - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/scorecard
• Marketing Makeover Strategy Session - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/marketingmakeover
• The Business Power Hour - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/powerhour
• Women Entrepreneurs In Prayer Call - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/prayercall
• Email Quickstart Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/emailguide
• Profitable FB Profile Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/fbprofile
• Convertkit - https://partners.convertkit.com/shellyniehaus
• Equipt360 All-in-One Markerting Software - https://equipt360.com/?_from=shelly75

Connect with Shelly Niehaus:

• Website: https://coaching.shellyniehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyniehaus/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-niehaus-7680652/

Shelly discusses a common theme she’s seeing among clients—a feeling of heaviness, exhaustion, and overcommitment. In this episode, she dives into five practical steps to help lighten your load, focus on what matters, and create room for growth and joy in your business.

Key Takeaways:

Strategies and Systems

• Are your business systems feeling supportive or heavy? Shelly shares how to reassess your tech stack and decide what’s essential. She encourages listeners to streamline, keeping only what truly helps their business.

Commitments

• Overcommitted? Shelly explores the impact of saying “yes” to too many commitments. It’s time to re-evaluate networking groups, coaching programs, and other recurring commitments that may not be adding value.

Goals

• Are you holding onto goals that no longer serve you? Shelly talks about the importance of setting goals aligned with where you want to be, not just where you were.

Tasks

• Are tasks being done out of obligation rather than impact? Shelly challenges listeners to assess the “must-do” tasks and consider outsourcing or letting go of those that don’t truly move the needle.

Rooms

• Are you staying in groups or communities longer than you should? Shelly encourages you to release rooms or groups that no longer energize you, freeing up space for relationships and opportunities that better align with your growth.

Episode Challenge:
Shelly invites listeners to create a Life-Giving vs. Life-Draining list. Identify what to keep, what to delegate, and what to let go. Then, share one thing you’ll bless and release to make room for growth in the coming year. Shelly would love to hear from you—reach out with your takeaway and maybe even inspire the community!

Resources:

• List Builder Growth Scorecard - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/scorecard
• Marketing Makeover Strategy Session - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/marketingmakeover
• The Business Power Hour - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/powerhour
• Women Entrepreneurs In Prayer Call - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/prayercall
• Email Quickstart Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/emailguide
• Profitable FB Profile Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/fbprofile
• Convertkit - https://partners.convertkit.com/shellyniehaus
• Equipt360 All-in-One Markerting Software - https://equipt360.com/?_from=shelly75

Connect with Shelly Niehaus:

• Website: https://coaching.shellyniehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyniehaus/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-niehaus-7680652/

In this episode, we're transitioning from discussing the "why" behind email marketing to delving into the practical steps of building an email list and crafting an effective strategy. I know this might feel overwhelming, but fear not – I'm here to guide you every step of the way. Over the next few moments, I'll walk you through my five-step strategy, making this process manageable and exciting. Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and embark on your email marketing journey? Let's uncover the incredible potential of email marketing – a personalized touch that stands in a league of its own compared to the bustling landscape of social media. It's akin to having a secret ingredient that sets your business apart, giving you that sought-after competitive edge. Remember, your email list isn't just a collection of addresses; it's the nurturing ground for meaningful connections and boosted sales. So, let's dive in and make your business thrive.

Mentioned in this Episode:

Episode 39: https://educated-empowered-inspired.simplecast.com/episodes/elevate-your-business-embrace-the-power-of-email

Email Quickstart Guide: https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/emailguide

Resources:

• List Builder Growth Scorecard - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/scorecard
• Marketing Makeover Strategy Session - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/marketingmakeover
• The Business Power Hour - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/powerhour
• Women Entrepreneurs In Prayer Call - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/prayercall
• Email Quickstart Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/emailguide
• Profitable FB Profile Guide - https://resources.shellyniehaus.com/fbprofile
• Convertkit - https://partners.convertkit.com/shellyniehaus
• Equipt360 All-in-One Markerting Software - https://equipt360.com/?_from=shelly75

Connect with Shelly Niehaus:

• Website: https://coaching.shellyniehaus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shellyniehaus/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelly-niehaus-7680652/