Everyone likes success, but how many are willing to pay for it? Considering the number of DIY marketers out there, the answer is not many! Doing it yourself clearly has several benefits, from saving money to making you feel warm and fuzzy inside. There’s nothing like the sense of satisfaction after a job well done.
Unfortunately, the odds of completing the task to the necessary standards are low. After all, there is a right way to do things, and a wrong way and your lack of knowledge and experience make it likely that you’ll fall into the latter category.
Here are the reasons why.
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Wrong Squared
Two wrongs don’t make a right. Two wrongs are wrong squared, which means you double down on your initial mistake and make an even bigger one. How? By creating a marketing strategy with no understanding of how it will work, and passing it to a team who have no idea how to implement it company-wide. Sure, the internet means they can read blogs and watch YouTube videos, yet it’s not a sustainable long-term plan. If you want to get the point where you can move advertising in-house, you need a top-class teacher to show you the ropes.
The Buck Stops With You?
As the leader, the buck should stop with you. Unfortunately, you don’t know whether the strategy is effective since you lack the analytical tools to evaluate the numbers and consumer habits. From an SEO perspective, it means you could spend resources on the wrong keywords and phrases, the type that have zero traction. If you hire a professional, not only do they gauge every step of the process, but they save you money by getting the plan right from the outset. Too many entrepreneurs believe that spending less is more affordable, but this is only true when the strategy is right. When you get it wrong, you have to pay for redos.
Marketing Channels
There are tons to choose from, which is the problem. It’s not a good problem, either, as it could force you to waste time and money on counterproductive platforms. Take social media, for example. Every entrepreneur knows Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are vital as they level the playing field. However, how will you understand which site to lean on more heavily than the others? Is it all about unique users or demographics? Plus, what about video content? YouTube is the undisputed king, so it makes sense to include it within your campaign. As you can see, social media channels often pose more questions than they answer.
Time For A Change
You don’t have the time to plan a DIY marketing strategy. Among other things, managers should spend six hours per week with each employee to keep them engaged. On top of that, meetings, and finding a few spare hours for family, there aren’t enough minutes in the day to start leading the marketing effort. Once you begin to feel overwhelmed, the plan will unravel at the seams.
DIY marketing isn’t always a disaster, but it is most of the time, especially when you lack experience and have a full workload.
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