In this episode, I really enjoyed picking the brains of Niki Hutchison, a marketing strategist who is passionate about online businesses marketing themselves like pros. We discuss moving away from amateur ways of doing things to ensure you are marketing like a professional.

Even though I am not a trained marketer myself, I have loved learning about it over the last decade of running my business. Niki and I delve into many interesting areas, including demystifying what a 'strategy' actually is, the importance of a multi-channel approach, and the massive impact public speaking can have on your business growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Marketing strategy doesn't have to be complicated: Niki explains that strategy is often over-complicated, but it is simply about starting with your business objective and deciding how to use different channels to achieve it.
• Don't rely on a single channel: One of the biggest mistakes small businesses make is relying on just one platform; instead, you should leverage your own channels (like your email list) alongside partnerships and other people's audiences.
• The power of in-person connection: Niki shares that speaking on stages and building real-life connections is currently the most effective way she is growing her audience and establishing trust quickly.
• Consistency creates trust: A major issue is 'ghosting' your marketing; disappearing and reappearing makes it difficult to establish trust with your audience, so it is vital to find a sustainable rhythm.
• From Overlooked to Fully Booked: Being 'fully booked' isn't about having zero white space in your diary; it's that confident feeling that you are winning at business, clients are coming in, and momentum is building.

Episode Highlights:

• 02:59 – Niki demystifies the word "strategy" and explains why it is actually quite simple.
• 07:59 – The danger of relying on just one social media channel and the importance of partnerships.
• 12:54 – Why in-person speaking and events are Niki's most exciting marketing tool right now.
• 20:19 – How to build reciprocal partnerships to help spread the word about your launches.
• 34:23 – Niki's top tips for creating a marketing plan that fits into your actual life without leading to burnout.

About The Guest:

Niki Hutchison is a marketing strategist who helps business owners and brands take a multi-channel marketing approach to market like a pro. She runs two businesses: her personal brand teaching business owners how to market and grow, and an agency specialising in launching for organisations.

You can find Niki on Instagram @nikihutchinson, where she basically lives in her DMs, or connect with her on LinkedIn. You can also find out about her in-person events at her website.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Adventures in Marketing: The event Niki hosts in Edinburgh with her friend Abby.
• Enterprise Nation: Niki is an advisor and trainer for this platform.
• Adobe Express Scheduler: The tool Niki uses to schedule her content.
• Habit Share: An app Niki uses to keep on track with her tasks.

I would love to hear what you think of this episode, so please do let me know on Instagram where I'm @‌lizmmosley or @‌buildingyourbrandpodcast and I hope you enjoy the episode!

This episode was written and recorded by me and produced by Lucy Lucraft lucylucraft.co.uk

If you enjoyed this episode please leave a 5* rating and review!