Episode 1158 – Smelly Dudes and Marketing Fails: A Business Owner’s Guide to Winning
Ready to Roll with Marketing Talk
Hey, Cleaning Nation! Mike and Lindsay are back, and this time they’re tackling a big question from Grace, a loyal listener. After last week’s dive into accounting (yawn, right?), they’re switching gears to something equally important: marketing. Grace wants to know, “How do I know if my marketing person is any good?” Great question, Grace. Let’s break it down.
Marketing Ain't Magic
Mike’s biggest pet peeve? Business owners who hand off their marketing like it’s a chore. He’s heard it all: “I’m just not good at marketing,” or “My marketing guy handles that.” But here’s the thing, folks—marketing is crucial to your business, and it’s not something you can afford to be clueless about. Mike compares it to knowing your numbers in accounting. You don’t need to be a CPA, but you should know the basics, right? Same goes for marketing. You need to understand what’s working and what’s not.
Know What You’re Getting
When people say they have a “marketing team,” it can mean a lot of different things. But the key question is, are they delivering results? Mike emphasizes that marketing is about generating leads—getting people to raise their hands and say, “Hey, I’m interested!” If your marketing person can’t tell you how many leads they’re bringing in or how many sales those leads are converting into, that’s a big red flag. They should be giving you clear, measurable results.
Beware of the “Smelly Guy at the Club” Approach
Mike gets real about the dangers of relying too heavily on easy marketing tactics like pay-per-click ads or local service ads. Sure, they’re convenient, but they also put you in a crowded field where everyone’s shouting the same message. Mike likens it to being one of a hundred smelly guys trying to impress the same girl at a club—your chances aren’t great. Instead, Mike suggests finding unique, less crowded places to reach your audience. Stand out by going where your competitors aren’t.
Think Before You Spend
Finally, Mike cautions against blindly throwing money at marketing without understanding your target audience. Instead of focusing on the media (like Google ads or Facebook posts), think about who you’re trying to reach and where they hang out. Maybe it’s a school newsletter or a community event where your ideal customers are likely to be. The goal is to get quality leads, not just a bunch of clicks that don’t turn into sales.
In the end, Mike reminds everyone that good marketing is about strategy, not just spending money. So before you hand over your hard-earned cash, make sure you know what you’re getting and how it’s going to help your business grow.