5 Tell-Tale Signs You’re Hiding Out In Your Marketing

Ever find yourself waiting to get your website up before getting out there in a big way?  How about building your list before launching your next program?  Or working on your blog because you’re not working with enough clients?

As a solo business owner, marketing your business is your business.  The irony is, when things get a little uncomfortable, the activities that are supposed to help your business grow can keep you playing small.

If you’re going through the marketing motions and your bank account is still empty, your marketing efforts might be a procrastination device in disguise.  Here are 5 classic signs:

Sign #1: You take months to get anything done. Sure, things like designing your brand’s look and feel and getting your website up take time.  But they don’t take that much time.  If  even a smaller project (like creating a new “free taste” for your website) is taking forever and a day, chances are you’re indulging in perfectionism or “analysis paralysis,” two classic hiding-out behaviors.

Sign #2: You’re focused on low cost information products instead of projects that bring in the big bucks. While Internet marketers love to sing the song of “passive revenue,” the truth is, most solo business owners simply don’t have the infrastructure to pay their bills with infoproducts alone.  Pursuing low cost products instead of (instead of alongside of) bigger, more impactful opportunities (like getting new clients) is a sure sign of avoidance.

Sign #3: You haven’t created, launched or filled a new program in months. Many spirit rich solo business owners love to market and give stuff away for free, but hold back on creating and filling new programs because they’re afraid to seem too pushy or salesy.  Trouble is, if you’re not selling, you’re not serving, either.

Sign #4: You haven’t had a “money conversation” with a new client in months. You’ll know your marketing efforts are actually working when you consistently receive new inquiries about your services.  If nobody is asking, well… while you may be doing a lot, your message isn’t hitting home and connecting with your audience.

Sign #5: You’re always really busy but you’re not making any money. If I’m busting you on this one, it’s time to get really honest with yourself.  What is all that “stuff” that’s eating your time?  More importantly, what’s the payoff?  There is a payoff somewhere, and if all that busywork isn’t creating clients and income, the payoff might be in keeping you safe (and stuck).

If you truly long to grow your business and yet you’re hiding out in marketing, something is stopping you from moving forward. It’s likely fear: fear of what others will think, or fear of what will happen if you become “too successful.”

These fears are a perfectly normal part of the journey.  But you can’t let them stop you from doing the work you’re meant to do in the world, or creating the life you want.

My coach’s request to you is to be on the lookout for those times when you may be engaging in what I like to call “marketing churning” – focusing on the small fries instead of the big fish, taking too much time and getting overwhelmed with low-payoff activities.  When you catch yourself in the act, simply ask yourself, “What fear can I let go of?”

Ready to stop hiding out and get new clients… this month?  Watch for my brand NEW fr’e’e report and audio, “3 Clients In 30 Days! How Authentically Enroll 3+ Clients In A Month, Even If You’re Starting From Scratch.” Marketing Goddess newsletter readers will get it first, so be sure to get on the list here if you haven’t already: http://www.marketinggoddess.com