Lesson 8: 5 Marketing Mistakes Entrepreneurs Make

.These common marketing mistakes could keep your business from reaching its full potential. Stay away from the following pitfalls to make the most of your marketing efforts.

Mistake #1: Spreading yourself too thin on social media

It can be tempting to want a presence on every social media platform out there. After all, more eyes on your storefront means more customers, right? But trying to do too much can cause unnecessary stress and may not be the best use of your time.

Focus on the one social media channel that resonates the most with you and your customers. Try monitoring your traffic from social media sites to determine the platforms where your customers are most engaged. In other words, hone in on the channels where they click, like, and comment the most and skip those that are not making an impact on your business.

Mistake #2: Thinking like yourself instead of your customer

When writing item descriptions, titles, or keywords, ask yourself what your customer needs to know. Spell out all the details about your product, even the ones that you think are obvious. Ask friends to look at your descriptions and offer their objective opinions. This will help you spot holes in your listing details and may give you fresh ideas for how to describe your items.

Mistake #3: Forgetting to emphasize your “it” factor

Giving customers a peek into your process and telling your story on your website and social media are great ways to make your business stand out. (You’re Storefront About section is the perfect place to share this.)

Whether it’s your process, materials, or mission, be sure to highlight what makes your storefront different from the rest.

Does your brand show off your personality? Make sure your presence is felt throughout your storefront. Consider adding a personal touch in your packaging, customer service, and item descriptions.

Mistake #4: Focusing on one-time sales

Making a sale feels great but turning a one-time buyer into a loyal customer feels even better. Incorporating your brand name into your packaging, or even subtly on your product itself, will ensure that customers remember where they purchased from and keep your name on the tip of their tongues. Create business cards (or other promotional materials) reflective of your brand to include in packages and to hand out when selling in person.

Mistake #5: Falling out of touch

When a buyer makes a purchase from your storefront, that is just the start of your relationship. How do you continue to connect? Keep the conversation going with shoppers interested in your brand through regular communication. This can mean both current customers as well as potential buyers who are curious about your business. An SMS or email can be an effective way to reach your customers directly by going straight to their handset. It also serves as a way to extend the conversation by linking to your storefront and social media channels.