Reminds me of a movie, a great movie I might add… “Field of Dreams” and well that would be great if it were that “easy”. Just build a baseball field (or website, for example) and be done, but it just isn’t the case “in the real world”. (Yes, I love quotes, okay!)
Okay, let’s back up and get more specific. So, what exactly have you gotten started (built)? Did you create your website, set up your social media profile(s), create 
and print your business cards or maybe set up your paid advertising campaign? Well, whatever you started and completed building… it isn’t the end…just a means. Everything has a start and well, the start was with the idea, you created some action with getting something established, now you have to make it happen. By the way… we are proud of you for making it this far. Now what?
Business Cards – what’s next
Take the business cards for example, if you thought, I have them and I am done now… not quite. You spent that time and money to have them made, sitting them on the shelf, not quite what you had in mind, right? They aren’t going to hand out themselves. You need to keep a stack in your car, purse, briefcase, everywhere so you can hand them out when the situation arises. Networking meetings are ideal places to network… but feel free to check 
out these other ideas to get out there.
Website – what’s next
Sure, you have a great website, but just having a website isn’t enough. You need to be sure that you have all the right components of an optimized website. What I mean is that you have keyword rich content for the consumers and the search engines to find your site as well as the back end stuff that helps give your site more authority and relevancy in the minds of the search engines.
Social Media – what’s next
Let’s look at the social media profile (insert Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, Google+….etc here). It’s great to have a social profile ONLY as long as you take the time to build and caress it (engagement). You could have the best profile and built a great following but if you are going to promote the heck out of yourself (consumer turn-off), or not post regularly, or not engage with your followers, you aren’t doing your profile AND you business any justice. Social media is one of those things that can be very beneficial, but if you don’t “work it”, it’s pointless. You need to be where your consumers are, and they are there, for sure. Don’t miss the boat here!
If you aren't going to work it.. why is it that you are bothering at all?? Click To TweetPaid Advertising (PPC) – what’s next
Let’s look at the other example – you set up your paid advertising campaign (PPC). I don’t care if you created the best keywords with negative keywords to boot, have a fabulous ad and the most optimized landing page, you have to continuously massage that paid campaign. There is no possible way to know what the consumers type into that search engine. Trust me; I have seen some WEIRD stuff. There are search query reports that you (or me, your PPC consultant) could pull to determine what folks are searching for, which ads Google has decided to show more and how those keywords are being scored.
Bottom line:
There is no fat lady, it's never over - keep working on your website & business! Click To TweetThere is always some massaging that can be done after you set up your website, create your business cards, create your paid campaign, set up your social media profiles, establish your business goals and etc. A business needs to continually evolve in order to grow, or do well.
I would love to help you in any way I can with your business marketing needs, i.e. social media, ppc or search engine optimization services, so contact me for more information to give your business the boost that it needs.
~Kristen
You make so many great points in this post. If we don’t “work it” all the effort is worthless! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks Crystal! We do, it just “won’t fall on our plate” right Miss Season and Spice? lol
Excellent post, Kristen. All of these are important. And although you didn’t specifically mention it in this post, I love all the backlinks that you place within your article. It helps folks to go deeper into your website.
Thanks! Now that I have more of them I am more able to backlink. It is so important in SEO, as you know! Thanks, feels good to have kudos from another fellow in the field! 🙂
Thank you for the great points. You’re right. We have to take note of all of these things for the benefit of our growing business. Two thumbs up!
Thanks for the great tips! It’s so true, if you’re going to have a social media presence, you need to “be” on social media.
I love all these points, Kristen. The great thing about the search engines is that they love it when you tinker with your website, add stuff to your blog and so on. Their beady little bot eyes and long spider legs sense new stuff and say, “Whoa! Check this out!” This lets perfectionists off the hook…now they’ll have to find another reason to procrastinate! Good stuff.
No fat lady? So my play will continue on my business. I am totally not looking for to sing any more.
Nope my fellow Kristen, no fat lady… but go ahead and keep trucking w your biz… save the singing for the shower. 😉
So much truth in this post, Kristen. Building our brand is an ongoing work in progress, in my experience. It requires we tune and then fine tune what we are doing. The world, and especially the online world, seems to change at warp speed and new platforms become the new kid in town and we have to decide if we want to play with that new kid. Some many choices, we need to choose wisely to make the best use of our time. I also love quotes and love Field of Dreams. It had me thinking of another quote, Luck is what happens when opportunity meets preparation! This I believe. With a little bit of magic thrown in too.
Great point Bev about the new kid.. there are soooo many of them these days. Sheesh! I like that quote too!
We are on the same page. Our Christmas in July Campaign is underway and I am checking and tracking the website banner, the FB posts, email opens, The Advertising campaign and we are tweaking the boosts and ads. One year ago I would not have known to do this. Social media marketing in an ongoing process & a never ending challenge. Love using your click to tweet.
Atta girl Roz and glad you like the click to tweet.. got to make it easier for the consumers, right?! 😉
Boy, can I relate to this! It’s never ending. And I didn’t go into business to be a marketer but I guess that’s my second job.
Ain’t no lie Carol and I am with you… who knew huh? LOL
You are so right! I think many of us bought into all we had to do was create a website and social media and we were done. Surprise! It is just the beginning.
Yea Ginny… surprise! It’s not a one and done thing, some days though, I wish! lol
A lot of great tips here. Many business people tend to forget to put themselves out there in front of people.
Thanks Gisele and very true. Thanks for stopping by!
I’m having a debate now with a client who absolutely does NOT want social media to market his website….
his staff don’t want to be bothered with it…but DOES want a newsletter to connect with their clients. They have no problem
getting clients.
I know –it’s scandalous.
So, we’ll work on a newsletter instead.
That is crazy… there is a lot of potential in social Sharon, as you know… but if he won’t commit to it, don’t bother, that’s for sure. Newsletters are golden, as you know. A problem to have, no problem getting clients.
The one thing I would say.. if they aren’t online, they won’t see what others are saying about them.. that could be bad. Ya know!
Thanks for sharing this helpful tips boost your business optimally.
You are welcome Lorii
When we first started our business, we thought we could build a website, finish it, and move on to the next task. It didn’t take long to realize that there is no part of an online business that is ever “finished”! Keeping up with search engine algorithms and social media platforms are a full time job! Very thankful that we have a full team – It’s too much work for one person!
Yea, glad you realized that early on Cynthia, many are still sitting on the fence about it. However, in your industry, (ours), I am sure you got it much sooner than most! It’s never finished! Definitely too much for 1 person.
You’re completely right Kristen. It’s all about working what you’ve got and refine, refine, refine. Great article!
Thanks Clive – always refining!
Kristen,
A great article I am glad I saw it posted when I did online. Realistically makes perfect sense marketing is a full time job and promting our website and business are all integrated in the whole package. Thank You Excellent!
Lori English
You are quite welcome Lori… glad you leaned from it.