It has been a little while since I published my last post. Where I live in northern Canada, however, we only get four or five months of warm weather each year—so you have to enjoy it while it lasts!
As if summer wasn’t already keeping us busy, we also discovered a partial sewer blockage that is causing sewer gases to back up into our house. Services are very limited where I live, and the soonest we can get a plumber here to fix the problem is October.
In the meantime, we must keep our doors and windows open as much as possible because exposure to sewer gases can affect your health. That might not sound too difficult, except we have had unusually cool weather this year—and a very healthy bear population.
Let’s just say the bears wouldn’t mind helping themselves to whatever they could find in the refrigerator!
There is never a dull moment when you live in northern Canada…lol.
Taking the First Step Back
Getting back in the marketing saddle is easier than you might think. For the most part, it begins with making up your mind to take ACTION.
If you have been away from your online business for a while—or your schedule has simply been a little helter-skelter, like mine—the first thing to do is look at where you left off.
You don’t need to rebuild your entire business in one day. Start with one task that will help you regain your momentum.
In my case, I jumped back in by publishing a review post on one of my blogs. Now I am posting here again as well. This part of my business was largely ignored over the summer, but I am not going to feel guilty about that.
After all, hiking, fishing, camping, and visiting family and friends are much more tempting when the warm season is so short. Taking time to enjoy your life is something you should never feel GUILTY about.
We are human beings—not machines.
What I Noticed About Marketing Emails
While I may not have published very much over the summer, I continued reading marketing emails. One thing I noticed was the length and structure of many of them.
Some are almost like reading a book. They seem to go on and on, which is contrary to my belief that a marketing email should generally be short, focused, and to the point.
I think it is understood that everyone involved in internet marketing wants to earn an income. But do we really need to push that point into someone’s face with every email we send?
Personally, I prefer a shorter email that creates curiosity and encourages readers to click a link to learn more.
Marketing Is About More Than One Sale
This is one reason we create marketing funnels. An email does not have to explain absolutely everything or make the entire sale by itself.
Instead, it can guide interested readers to the next step, where they can discover more about an offer and decide whether it is something they want or need.
Our goal should not be limited to making a single sale. We should also be working to establish a genuine relationship with our audience.
That means respecting our readers’ time, providing useful information, and avoiding exaggerated promises. When people trust us, they are more likely to open our future emails, visit our blogs, and consider the products or services we recommend.
Before jumping fully back into marketing, therefore, it can be helpful to review your overall approach. Look at your blog posts, emails, funnels, and promotions, and decide whether anything needs to be refreshed or improved.
How I Restarted My Fall Marketing
I jump-started my fall marketing with a new blog post:
A Fresh Approach to Spam-Free Emails
I followed that with another post:
Build A Biz Online Review: How Affordable Is This All-in-One Platform for Marketers?
Publishing those two articles gave me the push I needed to start moving forward again. Sometimes, completing one useful task is all it takes to restore your motivation.
Your approach may not be the same as mine—and it doesn’t have to be.
You might begin by updating an older article, writing a short email, reviewing an affiliate product, or creating a simple plan for your next few posts. The important thing is to choose one manageable task and take action.
Never Be Afraid to Restart
If your marketing slowed down over the summer, don’t be afraid to begin again. You do not have to apologize for taking a break, and you certainly do not need to punish yourself by trying to catch up on everything at once.
The world is still full of people looking for opportunities, information, and honest guidance. Your experience could be exactly what someone needs to help them take their own next step.
We are human beings, not machines, and we should never have to apologize for that.
So, take a look at where you left off, choose one thing you can accomplish, and get yourself back in the saddle.
What is the first step you are taking to restart your marketing after the summer break?