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Too Many People Make This Common Mistake
One of the best marketing strategies costs nothing.
People go online every day looking for answers. They go to Reddit, Facebook, X, YouTube, TikTok and more. If you show up there, too, these people could become your customers.
However, this strategy isn’t about bombarding people with shameless self-promotion. Too many people make that mistake. There’s a much better approach.
Let’s dive in. Scroll down…
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There’s a Right Way to Do This
Let's start with something important if you use the tactics below to generate business online. This is NOT about popping into every online forum you can find and pasting in the equivalent of an ad for your business. It might pay off occasionally if you spray and pray with spammy posts, but it’s not a great strategy.
The tactics below are about regularly showing up and providing value, allowing you to promote your business gently. Sometimes, if you help someone and build trust, they’ll check out your business without you even having to mention it.
Here are just a few ideas, and you can probably brainstorm many more that are unique to your business and industry.
1. Answer Questions in Your Niche
Reddit – Find relevant subreddits and answer questions related to your industry. Make sure you customize your profile and mention your business for anyone who clicks through that when they read your posts.
X (Twitter) – Search for people asking about your field and provide valuable responses. Start to follow others in your industry and jump into conversations. Look for communities you can join where people talk about your industry.
Facebook Groups – Join groups where your ideal customers hang out and offer help. If you run a bakery, give tips on how to find the best ingredients. if you have a thrift shop, show people how to find great deals.
YouTube – Jump into discussions in the comments under videos related to your field. If you’re a tax expert, find people asking questions and help them. Ensure you have a few videos posted if people click on your username after reading a helpful comment.
Instagram and TikTok – Many people focus only on their content on these channels, but connections are waiting to be made in the comments on other people’s videos. Help someone there, and they might become a customer.
LinkedIn Posts – Share short, actionable advice that showcases your expertise.
Newsletters – Regularly send helpful information to subscribers.
Blog Posts – Write simple, informative articles answering common questions.
Medium – Repurpose your blog articles, LinkedIn posts, and newsletters here. I’ve written dozens of marketing articles on Medium, which helps drive newsletter subscriptions and X followers.
3. Make It a Daily Habit
Spend 10-15 minutes each day answering questions and posting insights. Consistency builds authority; this approach can bring in more leads over time than any ad campaign.
Start today: Answer one question, post one tip, and watch how your business grows by being helpful. What’s one online community or website you can join in your industry right now? What’s one topic you are an expert on that you can write an article about?
A Time-Saving Hack to Experiment With
You can take something you wrote, like a newsletter, blog post, or comment, and use the free version of ChatGPT to turn it into other content. For example, feed the AI your LinkedIn post filled with your insight and ask it to turn it into X posts or a newsletter item. One piece of content can be rewritten and repurposed in multiple places.
Thanks for reading. See you next week. If you want more marketing and business-related content, check out these other newsletters.
-Mike
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Where to find me online: bio.link/mikeholden