If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that plans can change pretty fast. That includes your solo business. But having and executing a marketing plan IS STILL key.
I mean, as a freelancer or solopreneur, you’re in charge of it all! And that ALL can be a lot to manage.
Being able to juggle your client tasks reliably and manage to keep your marketing efforts in order takes some planning. And while it might not be sexy, the only way to successfully keep a pipeline of clients rolling in is consistency and maybe these steps for creating a freelance marketing plan.
So Time for some Show and Tell
I decided that the best way to show you how to create a marketing plan for yourself was to document the process that I’ve been using the past few years and that I recently went through myself. I also included a free goal-setting workbook, you can grab it below.
So let’s get to it!
1. The first step should be to get clear on your goals.
Success as a solopreneur can look different to different people.
Do you want 12 clients a month or 12 clients a year?
Are you looking for 5K months or 10K months?
Regardless, write the goals down and get real with yourself first.
2. Pin down your audience.
Solopreneurs often have a multitude of skills, and in a desire to cast as wide a net as possible, they fail to get specific here.
But trust me, you should.
You’ll be better able to reach those perfect clients if you know what makes them tick.
So figure out exactly who you want to serve and then learn everything you can about them.
3. Know your marketing style.
A big part of marketing as a solopreneur is being self-aware. Knowing what I call your “marketing style” is a big deal because if you don’t enjoy or feel good about the tactics you choose, you’ll hate it. Then you’ll end up failing to do it consistently. I even created a quiz to help, you can find it here.
So be honest with yourself and set yourself up for success.
4. Plan your strategies.
Here is where you take numbers 1, 2, & 3 into consideration to figure out your strategy.
If your audience attends conferences and networking events, and you love being on stage and the center of attention, speaking engagements might be the ticket for you.
If you love to write and tend to get your point across best through those written words, blogging/guest posting/SEO may be your best avenue.
Get the picture? Consider your audience, but don’t forget to consider yourself!
5. Schedule it on the calendar.
Now here is where we take what we’ve planned, and we put it on a calendar.
It doesn’t matter what tool you use. You can use a project management tool like Asana. You can use pen and paper, or google calendar will work just fine.
But schedule your tasks out as detailed as possible. This way, you can stay on track from a time standpoint. And on a day to day basis, you’ll always know what you should be doing next.
6. Do periodic reviews of the plan.
Periodic reviews help to know where you stand. But remember, these plans aren’t etched in stone. They’re fluid. If 2021 is anything like 2020, adjustments need to be made along the way. Hopefully these steps for creating a freelance marketing plan can help!
If you want even more help with planning for your solo or freelance business check out The Solopreneur’s Ultimate Planning Pack.
