When it comes to having a marketing strategy that actually works for you and your business, just throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something will come of it isn’t going to serve you long-term. In fact, it’s likely you’ll end up struggling to make ends meet and possibly on the road to burnout as you try to do “all the things”. Today we’re talking about the reasons to focus on your attraction strategy for online business ASAP so that you can put a solid marketing foundation in place: one that brings you clients and customers month after month and year after year. Sound like something you want? Well, then, let’s jump in.
Links for This Episode
- Check out these DIY Resources and Templates
- Schedule your Mama Business Strategy Session
- Book Your Website Design + Systems Services
Podcast Episode Recommendations
- #95: What is the “Rule of 3” and Why Does it Matter for Your Online Business?
- #76: 3 Reasons to Choose Long-Term Strategy over Instant Wins in Business
- #61: 3 Ways Your SEO Strategy Might Be Preventing Your Online Business Growth
- #31: How Social Media Can Ruin Your Business + What to Do Instead
Need Help with Strategy?
Here’s the deal: in order to have a successful business, you have to have paying clients and customers. That means, knowing who your ideal client is and how to reach them, understanding why your client should choose you over the competition, and designing marketing systems that work to generate leads – over and over again – without sacrificing your family. That’s exactly what a one-hour Mama Business Strategy is designed to help you do. After the session, you’ll be able to make your first sale (or 10th) without feeling salesy, sleazy, or annoying everyone you know on social media. Overcome decision paralysis when it comes to the practical and technical side of running your business. And sleep well at night knowing you don’t have to do “all the things” in order to be successful. Plus, you’ll know the next right action step to take to jumpstart the next phase of your business life. Sound like something you need? Schedule your session today at sarahbrumley.com/strategy.
Beyond Selling: 7 Reasons to Focus on Your Attraction Strategy Today
Well hey there and welcome back to the Mama Business Podcast. I’m your host, Sarah Brumley, and as always, we’re diving deep into the world of online entrepreneurship so that you can clarify the strategies necessary to succeed long-term in business. So if that sounds like something you want or need, then you are in the right place. Welcome!
Today, we’re going to talk about something that’s often overlooked but is absolutely crucial for your online business success – and that’s the attraction strategy. Now, if you listened to the last episode – episode 95, then you know that I am spending the next 12 weeks breaking down the foundational elements of a successful online marketing strategy. In fact, I’m going to walk you through the EXACT steps you need to take to put these elements into place within your own business. By doing so, I know that this is going to give you the freedom and flexibility to create your own strategy and implement systems and automations that actually work for you. I know this is effective because these are the same foundational elements that I address with each and every client of mine and it’s the same strategy that I’ve personally used to grow my own successful business.
So, if you take the time to actually listen in each week and take action, you’ll walk away at the end of this 12-week series with a complete marketing strategy to help you achieve that long-term success.
Of course, you don’t have to go this alone, I’m always available to jump on a Mama Business Strategy call or to do the implementation for you if you don’t feel confident doing it yourself.
So, let’s get right to that attraction strategy and the 7 reasons to focus on it ASAP. But before we do that, I think we need to get really clear on what an attraction strategy actually is in the context of online business. So let’s start there.
What is an Attraction Strategy for Online Business?
An attraction strategy is, in it’s simplest form, the techniques we as business owners use to draw potential customers to our websites or online content platforms so that we can engage with them in a way that encourages them to become paying clients, loyal to our brand, and build those life-long relationships. An attraction strategy is all about all about pulling people in, rather than pushing your message out.
Think of it in terms of dating. I mean – there’s a marketing strategy to getting someone to agree to date you, right? There are really two options:
On the one hand: You can loudly declare to everyone in your workspace, favorite bar, or neighborhood restaurant that you are single and would love to meet and date someone new. I know the strategy works because I’ve seen friends do the exact same thing in person or via online dating apps. And there’s definitely nothing wrong with it, but the gist of what I hear is that you have to wade through a lot of non-starters before you find someone who maybe will be the right person for you. That’s a good example of pushing your message out. Of what we will refer to as an outbound strategy.
The alternative is showing up and simply engaging the people around you. Spending time in groups, having conversations in which you add value, and by doing so authentically, you attract the type of person that resonates most closely with what you have to offer as a person. It make time a little more time, but when you do come across the right person, you won’t have wasted your time on 50 first dates, new outfits, and all of the heartbreak and anxiety that comes along with it. Instead, you’ll know that it’s a good fit and be able to move forward in a – hopefully – long-term relationship. That’s an attraction strategy and – from my perspective, it’s marketing at it’s best – at least where dating is concerned.
But the same rings true when it comes to marketing your online business.
How does an Attraction Strategy Differ from Traditional Marketing?
Now, an attraction strategy isn’t the only strategy you can use to market your online business. So I want to take a few minutes here and let’s take a closer look at how an attraction strategy actually differs from a traditional or “old school” marketing approach, knowing that the more clarity we have at this stage, the more likely you’ll be able to build a foundation for your marketing strategy that actually works.
Difference #1: Inbound vs. Outbound
An attraction strategy focuses on creating valuable content and experiences that attract potential customers to your brand organically. This type of strategy actually seeks permission from potential customers to engage with them. And you might not think about it this way, but it’s true. When you have people subscribe to your newsletters – they do so voluntarily. They voluntarily read your blog, listen to your podcast, download your resources, or whatever else it might be and they do so because they are interested in what you have to offer. You aren’t shoving it down their throats – you’re just offering it so that they can choose to embrace it on their own terms.
Traditional marketing, on the other hand, relies on more outbound methods – like commercials, paid ads, door-to-door salesmen, among other things. This strategy often interrupts people’s routines with messages they didn’t want or need – like those flyers you get in the mail that clutter up your kitchen counter, escape your recycling bin and fly down the street and, ultimately make you annoyed and slightly resentful.
With an attraction strategy, it’s more like setting up a lemonade stand in your front yard, and people stop by because they want to. Traditional marketing, on the other hand, feels more like handing out flyers on a busy street. If you’ve every been to Vegas, you know what I mean, right? It feels salesy, sleazy, and pretty much just uncomfortable as you do your very best to walk by without making eye contact.
Difference #2: Customer-Centric vs. Product-Centric Approach
The second difference between these two strategies is that when you’re using an attraction strategy, you are placing the client or customer at the center of the marketing process. You make every effort to understand their needs, pain points, and preferences and you create content and solutions that address these directly.
Traditional marketing tends to be more service- or product-centric, meaning it focuses more on the checklist of “what the service or product is and how it functions” without always considering individual customer needs.
When you embrace an attraction strategy, you’re well aware what your potential client wants and needs and you are able to offer them a solution that’s perfect for them. A traditional marketing strategy that’s thrown out to the masses is more like the door-to-door salesman that shows up on your doorstep advertising windows. You don’t need window replacement – but that salesperson didn’t do their research. Unfortunately, the damage is done: the doorbell woke your toddler from his nap, you can no longer complete the chores you intended to get done and you might just be feeling annoyed and unlikely to give a good recommendation to your friends that DO need window replacement.
Difference #3: Relationship Building vs. One-Time Transactions
Difference number three is that an attraction strategy prioritizes building long-term relationships with customers. It focuses on nurturing leads, providing ongoing value, and engaging with customers beyond the initial purchase. Traditional marketing tends to prioritize immediate sales WITHOUT a strong emphasis on post-purchase engagement or long-term customer loyalty.
Think of an attraction strategy more like taking care of a garden. If you plant the seeds, water them, and watch them grow, you will probably end up with beautiful flowers and that plant will likely come back year after year, continuing to give you more flowers. Old-school marketing is more like picking a flower and that’s it. It’s enjoyable for a small chunk of time and then it dies and while there’s no attention given to it anymore there’s also no benefit or enjoyment of it in the future, either.
Difference #4: Data-Driven vs. Mass Appeal
Attraction marketing relies heavily on data and analytics to understand customer behavior, track content performance, and make decisions. Because you have that data, you can be super clear on what your potential and existing clients want and need to provide them the best experience possible. Traditional marketing campaigns are often less data-driven, resulting in broader messaging to reach a larger audience. It’s the “get it out there and hope that someone buys” approach.
Your attraction strategy is like picking your kid’s favorite bedtime story – you know without a doubt that if you read Chicka Chicka Boom Boom three to six times, your kiddo is going to go straight to sleep and sleep through the night. You know that because you’ve put in the research time, you’ve worked through trial and error, and you’ve analyzed the results so that you understand what works best. Traditional marketing can sometimes feel like reading a random book to your child, just hoping it’ll work. It’s risky and doesn’t always produce the results you want.
Difference #5: Cost-Effective vs. High Budget
The final difference is that attraction marketing can be more cost-effective in the long run. This is because an effective attraction marketing strategy relies on content creation and online channels that tend to have lower acquisition costs. Old-school marketing strategies like paid ads, mailers, door-to-door marketing, etc. all come with a pretty high price tag, meaning that you’re paying more to get each client in the door.
Reasons to Implement an Attraction Strategy for Online Business ASAP
Alright, mama, now that we’ve got the lowdown on attraction strategies, let’s shift gears and chat about why you should jump on this bandwagon ASAP.
Reason #1: An Attraction Strategy Targets Your IDEAL Client
I’m sure there’s some appeal to having the masses flock to your business, but quite honestly, I don’t understand it. The best part of getting started with your attraction strategy early on is that you don’t have to guess who’s going to show up on your doorstep. They’ll already know they are the right fit, have opted in, and they’ll be ready to pay money for whatever solution you offer to their pain point. Quality leads, money in your pocket, and no guesswork necessary.
Reason #2: An Attraction Strategy Builds Long-Term Relationships
That means that the sooner you start, the more quickly you are able to nurture your audience, embrace them as paying clients, and have them refer you to their friends, family, and other contacts. But that all takes time, so the sooner you start, the better the results will be.
Reason #3: An Attraction Strategy Doesn’t Have to Be Expensive
The most common reason I hear for business owners not having or implementing a cohesive marketing strategy is that they just believe it’s going to be too expensive. Like I said before, an attraction strategy doesn’t have to be expensive at all. In fact, I’d like to tell you right now that if your marketing strategy is breaking the bank or ruining your business budget, then it’s likely you’re doing it wrong. Grab a Mama Business Strategy Session and we can chat about it, but in the meantime, follow along with this series. Because effective marketing doesn’t have to be expensive marketing.
Reason #4: An Attraction Strategy Positions You as an Expert
When you regularly produce high-quality, informative content that meets the needs of your potential client – that establishes your business as an authority in your industry. It’s kinda like being the go-to mom in the neighborhood who knows everything about parenting hacks. Who doesn’t want to know her, right?
Reason #5: An Attraction Strategy Adapts to Changing Trends.
Implementing an effective and well-designed attraction strategy typically comes through use of platforms that have built-in analytics, such as websites, content marketing platforms, etc. Because of those analytics associated with those platforms, that means that you clearly understand what’s happening within your business, what your clients and potential customers needs are, and because of that, you are able to easily adapt to changes in the online marketing space. And we all know that the online world is constantly changing, right? But because you are well aware of the data, you’ll easily be able to identify what’s working and what needs a little extra effort and make adjustments accordingly. That means, you get the competitive advantage. But in order to have that advantage you have to get started.
Reason #6: An Attraction Strategy Improves Online Visibility.
I feel like this is a no-brainer, but it’s true. Through SEO and content marketing, an attraction strategy can improve your online visibility, making your brand more discoverable through search and other methods so that potential clients find you and can work with you. And this type of strategy does so long-term. It builds month after month, year after year, decade after decade. So, obviously, the sooner you get started with it, the more visible you’ll become.
Reason #7: An Attraction Strategy is Easy to Scale
Attraction strategies can grow with your business, allowing you to expand your efforts as your customer base expands. The best part of this is that you don’t have to do it all right off the bat. In fact, you can start small and adapt as your needs – and the needs and desires of your potential clients – change.
Take Action: Do You Have an Attraction Strategy for Online Business?
So, there you have it – 7 reasons to focus on your attraction strategy for online business ASAP. It’s not just about selling, although we place a lot of focus on that, don’t we? Rather, it’s about building meaningful relationships, providing value, and ensuring the long-term success of your online business.
And that brings us to the action part of this episode. And we all know that action is where the dreams turn into the reality. And today’s action step is this:
ACTION: I want you to make a commitment to yourself. To your future. To your business. A commitment that you will stick with this process. That you will show up for the next 12 weeks and do the work to build a foundation for your marketing strategy that will grow with you and your business for years to come. That will help you serve those that need you most while also helping you achieve your goals – whatever they might be.
If that sounds like something you’re willing to commit to, then I want you to make sure you’ve clicked subscribe to this podcast so you don’t miss an episode and – if you’re feeling really brave – shoot me an email at hello@sarahbrumley.com and just let me know that you’re in. I’d love to hear from you.
In the meantime, just know I’m cheering you on! You’ve got this and I can’t wait to chat with you again next time!
