You need to respond to emails, get to meetings, write a blog, call that woman about that opportunity, update your website, remember to post on Twitter, increase your traffic, send your invoices, prepare for your accountant, buy that software, choose an image for the brochure, figure out how to get more subscribers, prepare a launch, find someone to help do that admin and to top it all off, make time to sell and expand your marketing efforts.

Sound familiar?

There is much to do in start-up mode or when trying to grow a small business and seldom enough time, we are required to learn a huge variety of skills and roles and what can happen is that the things we tend to find more difficult or time consuming start to slip behind.

For many people this begins with sales and marketing.

Sales and marketing opportunities do not usually email you and interrupt what you are doing or call you and present themselves. Unfortunately this all important part of the growth and viability of your business is the part that very often gets put in the I’ll-do-it-later category.

It may be because it is too hard, you don’t know what to do, you are scared of not being good at it or because you don’t like giving people the opportunity to say no. Personally I don’t like to sell because it feels weird, yes, even after 10 years as a successful sales rep, it still feels weird!

Whatever your reason, if you are not prioritising sales and marketing each week it’s time for a change of habits. It’s time you set up a habitual mindset of growth and expansion and here are three practices that you can use to do this.

1.       Allocate time each day or week

Choose your time for sales and marketing and diarise it, whether it is an hour a day or 1 day a week, have a consistent scheduled time that is set aside just for sales and marketing.

2.       Initiate 2 conversations for expansion each day

As well as your scheduled times, look to initiate at least 2 conversations each day that will expand your business and the opportunities available to you. This could be in person, on the phone, through Social Media or at an event. Try finding out more about the people you know and come in contact with. Look for complementary projects, businesses or goals.

3.       Create partnerships

Think about the business owners who would have the same types of customers as you. Look for some strong partners for cross promotions and joint ventures. Think about ways that you can work smarter with your sales and marketing efforts and how you can leverage what you already have.

If you have been letting sales and marketing for your business slide with all the “stuff” you need to get done, stop for a moment now and create a plan for how you will prioritise the growth of your business, and get into some good habits for expansion.

How do you currently fit sales and marketing in?

Happy Hunting!

Serena “Social” Star

Serena is a business coach, radio presenter and one half of the Grassroots team currently travelling through South America as an ambassador for World Vision. She has a passion for successful websites, low maintenance income and blogging and her book How to Retire in 12 Months is in stores now.

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