Marketing doesn’t have to be so scary...
When you think of ‘marketing’, so many concepts that fall under that (very big) umbrella come to mind - and it can feel a bit daunting. You’ve got your branding + design, or your web development + SEO, and your digital & social media marketing and so forth...the list goes on. Understanding all of the things the word encompasses can be overwhelming - trust me, I get it. As a marketing graduate, I totally understand the feeling. I’m currently trying to decide which of these varied and wonderful paths I take my career down as I courageously step my foot in the door of the marketing world.
When I graduated uni, I didn’t know where to begin. Through the completion of an internship at Inka Creative, I have found a sense of direction in my career and learnt that you don’t need to know and do it all in marketing to succeed. The same thing applies for your business, you just need to find what works for you, and I want to help you figure that out.
Here are my top 3 steps to help you find your direction in the ever-evolving world of marketing:
1. Figure out your direction - goal setting time!
These days, it feels like there is so much competition out there and you may be thinking what could set aside the ones that fail from the ones that succeed? Most of the time, it comes down to the goals you set and the plan you execute to accomplish them. Ask yourself, what do you want to achieve? It seems like a pretty straightforward question, but there is a lot to consider when setting out goals for your business. The important thing is to determine exactly what you want to get out of all the hard work you’ll put in - be very specific here! Setting specific goals that are worth your efforts will give your business a sense of purpose and direction.
2. Create your unique strategy
Your product or service might be similar to your competitors, but your strategy shouldn’t be. The relationship you build with your audience and customer will be unique to you, your business & brand. The first step (and a very important one) is to determine your audience. Who is it you want to target? And how do you want to reach them? Once you know your ‘ideal customer’, get to know yourself, clarify who you are, what makes you different and how you relate to them. From there you can create a clear plan for your messaging, to put your unique self forward and build a great connection with your audience. The important thing to remember here is that your strategy is uniquely for you.
3. Choose what works best for you or your business
You’ve got your business goals, you’ve determined your marketing strategy, so now it’s time to implement it - across the right platforms of course! As I mentioned before, the possibilities within marketing are so vast and with the digital world rapidly evolving, it can seem hard to keep up. It’s so easy to get caught up in what everyone else is doing and thinking you should be doing the same, but you can’t do everything and more importantly, you shouldn’t. My advice here is to focus on a few platforms that are the best way you can reach your customer. Where are they hanging out? Where do they engage with you most? Start there and when you’re feeling like you have your groove, add on. What another business might be doing, whether it’s Instagram Reels or launching a podcast, might not necessarily work for you. You have to be realistic here and commit to what you can do best.
Marketing can sometimes be a process of trial and error. Technology and trends are constantly evolving, so the best way to navigate yourself and your business is just to break it down with some fun and easy to take steps. And always remember, whatever you can’t do, you can learn - that’s the exciting thing about marketing!
This post was written by Inka Intern Nemat as part of our 12-week Intern Program. If you're interested in interning with us, keep an eye out for announcements on our social channels to be the first to know.