5 Content Marketing Blocks That Hold Small Business Owners Back

As a marketing coach who works with small business owners, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges that come with content marketing on social media. Despite their best intentions, many small business owners struggle to create consistent content that resonates with their audience and drives sales. In this blog post, I’ll outline five common content marketing blocks and provide tips for overcoming them.

BLOCK #1: MAKING MARKETING A LOW PRIORITY TASK

Do you struggle to attract a steady stream of clients or customers? Are you stuck in a feast or famine cycle in your business? If so, the solution is simple: make marketing a habit. Marketing is not a one-time event or a quick fix. It’s a consistent effort that builds momentum and creates a sustainable business.

Consistency is key. When you show up regularly, you build trust and reliability with your audience. Stick to your core topics and talk directly to your customers to show them that you care about their needs. To make marketing a habit, schedule time for it every day, every week, and every month. Commit to it, and you’ll see the results. (it won’t happen overnight, but it WILL happen!)

BLOCK #2: NOT BLOCKING OUT THE TIME YOU NEED FOR MARKETING

Many small business owners struggle to find time for marketing, especially when they’re busy with client work. But if you’re serious about making marketing a habit, you need to carve out time in your calendar and protect it like gold. The first step is to identify when you’re most productive and creative. Maybe it’s early in the morning or late at night. Whatever works for you, block that time out in your calendar and make it non-negotiable.

Eliminate distractions during your marketing time by turning off your phone and closing your email. Prioritise your marketing tasks by focusing on the ones that will have the biggest impact on your business. Remember, your marketing time is sacred. Treat it with the respect it deserves, and you’ll see the rewards.

BLOCK #3: AVOIDING BATCHING MAKES YOUR MARKETING HARDER TO DO

Creating content can be overwhelming, but batching can make it more manageable. Batching your content in stages allows you to focus on one task at a time, which can increase productivity and creativity. It also helps you avoid burnout and overwhelm by breaking up the process into smaller, more manageable chunks.

Divide the content creation process into smaller, manageable stages. For example, one day you might brainstorm ideas and do research, another day you might film videos or take photos, and another day you might edit and write captions. Once you have a library of content, you can reuse and repurpose it for future marketing efforts.

BLOCK #4: NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT MARKETING IS 80% ADMIN

A lot of marketing is boring, mindless repetition. While inspiration and creation are fun, the admin side of marketing can be time-consuming and draining. To make it possible, I recommend seeking administrative support. Once you have admin support, you’ll have more time to focus on your strengths and grow your business.

To become effective at outsourcing, you first need to understand that it’s better to pay someone else for things that aren’t using your genius the best way. Create a budget for that help and make a clear process and document it so that it works seamlessly. Become better at planning and working ahead to make it all flow easily. Give clear feedback and trust them to do the job without checking it all the time.

BLOCK #5: MARKETING DOESN’T REALLY LEAD TO SALES

Are you getting results from your marketing? If not, something needs to change. Marketing can and does result in sales. If your marketing isn’t, then the marketing needs to change. Spend time looking over your posts and marketing activity. What IS working? Start there and do more of that.

Make sure you have a clear pathway set up for people to come to you

Your content should provide value and guide potential customers towards taking action. Check that you’re not missing any key parts of the customer journey that could be preventing them from making a purchase or following through on your call-to-action.

If you’re feeling stuck, it’s okay to ask for help. As a marketing coach, I’m here to help you identify what’s working and what’s not, and guide you towards creating a content marketing strategy that works for your business. Know you need this? Book a time with me here.

In conclusion, content marketing on social media platforms can be a powerful tool for small business owners, but it’s not without its challenges. By making marketing a habit, carving out time for it in your calendar, batching your content creation process, seeking administrative support, and focusing on producing results, you can overcome these content marketing blocks and create a sustainable business. Remember, consistency and providing value to your audience is key to building a loyal following and growing your business.

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For over ten years Rachel Klaver has worked with small business owners on their marketing, with a specific interest in content marketing strategy. She loves playing with language and shares her own marketing catchphrases such as “Be a kind spider” and “You have never killed a man with your face” As a small business owner, often low on time, and with a distinct aversion to admin, Rachel loves helping other small businesses catch the marketing bug. Her insights and personality shine through her weekly podcast MAP IT Marketing, her weekly column in NZ’s national newspaper Stuff, and her content on any platform they let her have an account! You can get in touch with Rachel HERE Rachel is the co-owner of Identify Marketing

Originally published at https://www.linkedin.com.