The Marketing Coach vs. DIY Marketing: Finding the Perfect Mix for Your Online Business Success

Picture this: You're an ambitious entrepreneur, eagerly launching your online business and ready to conquer the world. Marketing your brand seems like a thrilling adventure—a chance to showcase your passion and connect with your ideal audience. You dive headfirst into the realm of do-it-yourself (DIY) marketing, armed with freebies, podcasts, and late-night research sessions. It's an exciting journey, but as time goes on, you start to feel the weight of uncertainty and overwhelm.

You aren’t at the point where you can bring on a new team member or contract out done-for-you services to have your marketing handled for you. But you aren’t sure if the DIYing is working and need a strategy and guidance that is tailored for you and your business. This is where a marketing coach can help!

In this blog post, we'll delve into the intriguing world of working with a marketing coach vs. DIY marketing. We'll explore the importance of making the right choice for your online business and discover the key indicators that reveal when it

Building the Foundation: The Benefits of DIY Marketing

DIY marketing absolutely has its time and place. It's the starting point—the foundation upon which you build your marketing prowess. And it’s a great idea when you are first figuring out your business and offer suite. This time is all about learning and experimenting as you put in the work to figure out who you are as a brand and who your ideal audience is. It's about immersing yourself in the world of freebies, podcasts, and low-cost fill-in-the-blank templates. Let’s look at some of the benefits:

Cost-Effectiveness

Starting a business is expensive. And an online business can come with a big tech stack between your website, email vendor, social media planner and more! Creating a brand, marketing strategy, and your messaging on your own will is a lot more cost-effective than hiring out. Additionally, since you haven’t invested a lot of money into it, you’ll be more open to making changes and tweaking your strategy as you see what’s working and what isn’t.

Learning at Your Own Pace

Downloading free resources, listening to podcasts, and working your way through low-cost courses are great ways to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to implement effective marketing strategies. Why reinvent the wheel when there is someone out there who has mastered a skill and can teach you their secrets? And you can learn on a timeline that suits you, which means you can be marketing your new business while still working a 9-5 job!

Trial and Error

So much about entrepreneurship is about experimentation. Learning what strategies work and what doesn’t. What marketing channels you enjoy showing up for, and which ones drain your energy. And learning what messaging attracts your ideal audience and which ones leave you with crickets. DIYing your marketing offers the flexibility to experiment and adjust strategies according to your unique business needs.

Throwing Spaghetti at the Wall: When DIY Marketing Falls Short

While DIY marketing can be a great starting point for entrepreneurs, there often comes a time when it's necessary to seek additional support. Here are a few indicators that it may be time to reconsider your marketing approach:

Feeling Overwhelmed and Underprepared

You find yourself struggling to navigate the ever-evolving marketing landscape. You aren’t sure what’s working and are tired of investing your time and money without much success. You wish your marketing efforts were more streamlined, efficient, and effective. Perhaps you lack the necessary systems and marketing channels to reach your target audience and achieve your goals.

Time Constraints and Missed Opportunities

The daily demands of running your business leave little time for comprehensive marketing efforts. You feel stretched thin and realize that important marketing opportunities are slipping through the cracks.

Failing to Connect with Your Ideal Audience

Your brand and marketing messaging aren't resonating with your target audience as effectively as you'd hoped. You hope to attract and engage the right customers but find yourself struggling to make a lasting connection.

It's time to evaluate whether a fresh perspective and expertise can help refine your brand's appeal.

Raising the Bar: The Power of a Marketing Coach

If you're feeling like DIYing your marketing is no longer working, but you aren't quite ready to hire someone to handle your brand's marketing efforts, working with a marketing coach can be a game-changer. Here's what a marketing coach brings to the table:

Here's what a marketing coach, like myself, brings to the table:

Personalized Guidance and Expertise

As a marketing coach, I go “behind the bar” with you to fully understand the ins and outs of your business. I audit your brand and current marketing strategies. We talk at length about your ideal audience, your offers, and where you see your business going. With this in-depth knowledge, we create strategies that are not only aligned with your business but with how you like to work and the time, financial and energy constraints working against you. My expertise allows you to bypass common pitfalls and take a more direct path to success.

It’s through this personalized guidance that a marketing coach can help you make informed decisions about your marketing activities. I can assist with crafting compelling brand messages, selecting the right marketing channels, and developing effective campaigns. And with my guidance, you can optimize your marketing efforts, reaching the right people at the right time and generating meaningful results.

Accountability and Support

One of the greatest benefits of working with a marketing coach is the accountability and support they provide. As an entrepreneur, it's easy to get caught up in day-to-day tasks and lose sight of your marketing goals. A marketing coach keeps you on track, provides structure and ensures that you make consistent progress toward marketing success.

As your coach, I act as your cheerleader, celebrating your wins and providing encouragement during challenging times. I am a safe space to talk through the challenges and obstacles you face and offer unwavering support throughout your journey. When self-doubt creeps in, I am there to remind you of your capabilities and the value you bring to the table.

Confidence and Empowerment

Beyond providing personalized guidance and accountability, a marketing coach empowers you with confidence. As an entrepreneur, it's natural to have moments of self-doubt and uncertainty. A marketing coach acts as a catalyst, helping you overcome those doubts and empowering you to take bold steps in your marketing endeavors.

As your marketing coach, I bring a fresh perspective, reminding you of your strengths and the unique value you bring to the table. With my expertise and unwavering support, I can instill confidence in your abilities, helping you break through barriers and unleash your full potential. The confidence and empowerment you gain through the coaching process will translate into all aspects of your business, propelling you toward success.

If you find yourself at a crossroads, where DIY marketing feels insufficient, but hiring a full marketing team is not yet feasible, consider the transformative power of a marketing coach. Embrace the opportunity to work with a knowledgeable professional who can provide personalized guidance, unwavering support, and the confidence to raise the bar and achieve your marketing goals.

Ready to get started with a marketing coach? Book a call with me today!

Mixing the Perfect Cocktail: The Marketing Bar

If you are like me, maybe you are a little greedy… you want the best of both worlds! The financial freedom and flexibility that comes with DIY marketing and the one-on-one support and accountability that comes with a coach. Don’t worry, I have just the thing for you: The Marketing Bar!

The Marketing Bar is a revolutionary membership that empowers business owners to transform their brand and marketing efforts. It's a comprehensive platform led by me, designed to provide the learnings, coaching, tools, and community for entrepreneurs to take their marketing to the next level.

It’s ideal for those who have been DIYing your brand and marketing efforts but feel overwhelmed and unsure of what strategies are truly effective. For those that crave a supportive community and guidance, but traditional expensive masterminds or done-for-you services are out of reach.

That's where The Marketing Bar comes in. It’s a step-up from traditional DIY marketing to help you build a profitable and successful brand.

Here's what you can expect inside The Marketing Bar:

  1. Support and Community: Say goodbye to feeling alone on your entrepreneurial journey. The Marketing Bar provides a vibrant community of like-minded individuals who believe in your vision and offer genuine support. Connect, collaborate, and learn from fellow business owners who share your goals and challenges.

  2. Brand and Marketing Strategies: Build the foundations of your brand and marketing strategies and simplify and streamline your marketing efforts! From a full course and exclusive tools to masterclasses by guest speakers, you’ll have everything you need to craft your unique strategy and effectively market your brand.

  3. Personalized Coaching: No more guesswork or generic advice. I am active inside The Marketing Bar, reviewing your strategies and messaging and offering tailored feedback and insights. Our bi-monthly coaching calls is an opportunity to get guidance that aligns with your unique brand, target audience, and goals, ensuring that your marketing efforts are strategic and impactful.

  4. Efficient Systems and Routines: Streamline your day-to-day operations with efficient systems and routines. The Marketing Bar helps you develop effective processes that work within your schedule, freeing up time for you to focus on growing your brand and serving your customers.

  5. Clarity and Results: The Marketing Bar is here to help you gain crystal-clear clarity on your brand, messaging, and marketing strategies. With actionable changes and proven tactics, you'll be able to make a significant impact on your marketing efforts and start seeing tangible results. It's time to make your brand shine and watch your business soar.

  6. Expert Guidance at an Affordable Price: You might be thinking that all of this personalized support and expert guidance must come with a hefty price tag. Well, think again! I believe that exceptional coaching should be affordable and accessible. I created The Marketing Bar to provide you with expert guidance at a price that won't break the bank.

So, are you ready to raise the bar and join The Marketing Bar? It's time to unlock the true potential of your business, connect with an incredible community, and take your marketing to a whole new level.

Finding Your Perfect Marketing Mix for Online Business Success

Your Winning Formula with the District Brand Bar

I help solo entrepreneurs and small businesses at every level and price point. Let’s find the right marketing mix for you!

🍹DIY Marketing: The Creative Alchemist

When you do it yourself, you have full control over brand and marketing. You can experiment with different strategies, adjust on the fly, and fine-tune your messaging at a time that works for you. Plus, it's a budget-friendly option that allows you to stretch your entrepreneurial dollars. But remember, like crafting a cocktail from scratch, it requires time, patience, and a willingness to learn from your experiments.

Are you a DIY-er? I've got the tools and resources for you here!

🍸Marketing Coaching: The Expert Bartender

When you are ready to be done with the guesswork, it could be time to bring in an expert bartender. A marketing coach who can shake up your strategies and deliver results to order. With a coach by your side, you'll have personalized guidance and expertise at your fingertips. They'll help you navigate the marketing landscape to create a strategy that works best for you and your audience. A coach holds you accountable, ensures you're using the right ingredients, and teaches you the secrets of the trade. They empower you to step up your game and raise the bar on your marketing efforts.

Ready to nail your brand and marketing once and for all? Bring me behind the bar with you!​

🥂The Marketing Bar: The Balanced Mixologist

Now, here's the exciting part: I created the perfect balance between the two—The Marketing Bar. It's where you get to be the creative alchemist, experimenting with DIY strategies, while also savoring the expert guidance of a seasoned marketing coach (me!).

Inside The Marketing Bar, you get the tools, guidance and support to craft your unique brand, mix together a marketing strategy and create marketing routines that work for you. It's the ideal mix of the financial freedom and flexibility that comes with DIY marketing and the one-on-one support and accountability that coms with a coach.
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​Want the best of both world? Join The Marketing Bar!

Take a moment to consider your goals, needs, and preferences. Are you ready to dive into the hands-on support and transformative resources of The Marketing Bar? Or perhaps you crave the personalized attention and expertise of 1:1 coaching? The choice is yours, and I am here to support you every step of the way.

Not sure which approach is right for you? Book a free strategy session and let’s find your perfect recipe together!

Kristin Lawton

Ready to grow your brand and get a handle on your social media once and for all without a ton of work?

Then you need Kristin Lawton behind the bar with you. As chief brand mixologist for the District Brand Bar, Kristin uses her decades of experience directing marketing and branding strategies to help small business owners see results for their bottom line. She distills down an otherwise time-consuming process into a simple-to-implement tailored brand recipe. Her work with businesses and sole entrepreneurs gets results. Her action plans get you organized to effectively share compelling content and engage with your customers online, driving traffic to meet your revenue goals.

When not boosting engagement on Instagram, you’ll find her behind her home bar creating a new cocktail or embracing her adventurous spirit in and around Washington, DC with a new restaurant, new travel destination or new hike.

https://www.districtbrandbar.com
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