116 - I Don't Have TIME To Do Marketing

It's No Secret with Dr T.

The reason I like marketing so much is that you know when it works, plus I also enjoy the creative process and steps required to make a marketing plan a reality.

But a good marketing plan does take time to develop.

Over the past 12 months, I have had to opportunity to speak in front of hundreds of people and after every speaking engagement someone will always ask, "how am I supposed to find time to fit marketing into my already busy schedule”?

An Open Mind Finds Solutions

That's a really good question and it's one I like because as long as you’re asking HOW it means you’re open to the possibility of finding a solution.

Asking HOW questions are also far better than saying, “I don’t have time to do marketing” because by saying I DON’T you’ve already lost.

It’s not about FINDING TIME to do marketing; it’s about MAKING TIME and when you really want to do something you’ll always find a way.

It's About Priorities

At one event, I was talking to a business owner and he mentioned he had zero time to do marketing, because he was flat out, however, while we were talking his phone rang, and it was his wife.

She asked if he could leave work early next Tuesday to pick up their daughter from school because she had an appointment elsewhere and couldn't change it.

Now, remember, this person just finished telling me he had zero time to do marketing because he was flat out, but what do you think he told his wife?

He said YES of course.

It's Not Really About Time

So it’s not really about TIME, it’s about PRIORITIES and what is important to you, and in this particular case his family was a priority, which it should be, but this is when you need to be honest and figure out where marketing fits into your daily, weekly and monthly business priorities?

Just like your children are a massive priority in your family life, marketing should be a massive priority in your business life.

However, let's be honest, if marketing bores you senseless and you have no interest in marketing it's going to be a difficult journey. There needs to be some level of desire.

WHO Not HOW

So what should you do? The answer is really simple. Ask WHO, not HOW.

Instead of trying to work out HOW you're going to fit marketing into your busy schedule, resulting in your brain going into meltdown and finding all the reason why you may not be able to fit it into your busy schedule, why not ask yourself, WHO can I get to help me with my marketing?

Geography

And don't be limited by geography. The internet has made the world a small place and your WHO may be on the other side of the world.

I've been helping people develop marketing plans for years and I remember last year speaking with clients in Australia, Canada, Greece and the United Kingdom, all in the same week, and the reason I was able to help them with their marketing is because the basic underlying principles of marketing are also not bound by geography.

What Type Of Business Owner Are You?

I like to think there are three types of business owners.

1. You know marketing is not your strength but you want to get better (and you enjoy it): If this is you, you need to start reading books and blogs, listen to podcasts and start attending marketing events, and when you're ready you'd definitely benefit from one-on-one mentoring.
2. You enjoy marketing, but you honestly believe you don’t have time: You need to start with mentoring sooner rather than later, because mentoring is about opening your eyes to the skills you already possess, and I know over a few short months I can easily show you how to find a few extra hours each week and also show you how to involve your team in the marketing process.
3. You don’t like marketing and have no interest in learning about it: You need to find a WHO, but be careful, there are a lot of companies charging ridiculous fees for doing simple online marketing tasks.

No More Excuses

So remember, having no time is no longer a valid excuse because we know we can always find the time and make time if we have a strong enough reason or priority.

We all get twenty-four hours per day; it’s how we use them that counts, but if marketing is not your thing, just find a WHO and let them do all the heavy lifting, but whether you do it yourself or you outsource, make sure you start by creating a strategic marketing plan first and foremost.

If you have any marketing question after reading this blog or listening to the podcast, please feel free to email me [e-mail]

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