Signs that you’re a solopreneur in need of marketing help — and how to get it

Originally published on GENM.CO

It’s not easy to break away from the pack and go out on your own — but it’s easy to forget that you don’t have to do it alone.

You don’t need to be struggling to need help, either. This is something that GenM identified early on in the development of our platform. You see, according to Census.gov, of the 28 million US businesses they’ve tracked, 78% are solopreneurships (1 person businesses.) Which means you’re one of almost 21 million independent businesses that are in need of affordable marketing help to grow their endeavour. Whether it’s lead gen, content marketing, implementing SEO, creating email campaigns — the list of what needs to get done can seem endless. It’s important to know that you’re not alone.

As the Marketing Lead at a higher learning platform, I see the need for affordable marketing help every day.

Businesses join GenM to find marketing help from a remote student marketer. A trained marketing apprentice works with them for 3 months to help check crucial tasks off their to-do list. This ignites an acceleration that’s key in a solopreneur’s growth, moving them forward in a lean, productive way. Let’s face it, not everyone who’s just starting out or hustling away at their independent business has the budget to spend on their marketing. Especially on small, quick tasks like updating a blog or publishing a Facebook ad.

“We all understand the importance of asking for help, those who achieve big things are the ones who accept it when it’s offered.” — Simon Sinek

Originally published on GENM.CO

What are the signs that you need marketing help?

This will be different for every type of solo business but there are some common tell-tale signs that can be applied to most. After learning from the requirements of over 6,000 of our business members at many different stages of their company growth, I’ve compiled a definitive list:

1. You know your stuff, but need more hands on deck. Maybe you’ve found what works for you but just don’t have the time to keep things rolling.
2. Your to-do list is endless. Not only do you spend too much time thinking about what you need to do, but you also have a seemingly endless list.
3. You’ve wasted money on ads. Everyone else is doing it, right? You’ve tried and may have seen a bit of success but not enough to justify the cost.
4. You’re reading too many articles about SEO. It works, but how?
5. Social media is a mystery. You’ve posted, liked, followed, shared, commented, hearted, thumbs-upped, starred, upvoted, with no result!

Now, how do you get marketing help with little to no budget?

1. Ask. You know some marketers and other business owners — talk to them. Pick their brains. Ask about their traction channels, how they acquire leads, how they retain clients, and where they get marketing help from. Many of the people who you’ll talk to have been where you are and they’ll typically be keen to share their knowledge.
2. Share. You’re not alone in your mission to grow. Join Facebook communities, Slack groups, and forums. These are excellent places to learn from others, communicate your experiences, and share your services with other solopreneurs.
3. Get. You can start today by exploring marketing help sources. Contact local agencies to see what they can help you accomplish within the budget you have. If that’s still too costly (or you’re starting without a budget), explore online options for freelancers and student marketers who can complete your tasks at little to no cost.

The Takeaway

Corporate wiseman Simon Sinek had the right idea about asking for help: “We all understand the importance of asking for help, those who achieve big things are the ones who accept it when it’s offered.” Being a solopreneur is a big adventure full of ups and downs. It’s not easy to break away from the pack and go out on your own — but it’s easy to forget that you don’t have to do it alone. If you need some help, ask for it. If you’re offered help, take it. Grow.

Feel free to 👏 and help others to find this article + learn about how we’re helping solopreneurs get their marketing done over at genm.co

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