How to make sure your marketing is helping you book clients
When you’re just starting out as a brand or web designer, marketing can feel like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube. You know it can be done. You’re willing to roll up your sleeves and try. But it seems like everyone else got the instruction manual and you’re left with a pile of unsolved squares.
Now, important note: Don’t feel bad about being confused by marketing when you’re just starting out. Cuz there is no instruction manual. Only the entirety of the internet screaming instructions at you 😵💫
But even though there isn’t a step-by-step guide to walking you towards marketing that works all the time, this blog post is a guide to help make sure your marketing is helping you book clients—even when you have to do your own marketing and have almost no idea what you’re doing.
It’s okay. Most small businesses start there.
And if that’s who you are or where you’re at, you’re in the right place. Because this post is going to help you make marketing work for your small business.
Tl;DR: What is marketing? The things you do to make sure people know your design business exists. And it matters because if people don’t know you exist, they can’t book you for services. That’s why having a marketing strategy is so helpful—because it helps you stay focused so you can avoid the dreaded feast or famine cycle that plagues so many entrepreneurs.
The answer to a very important question: What is marketing, exactly?
The simplest way I’ve figured out to answer this question is this: marketing is the things you do to make sure people know your business exists. So it’s everything you do to attract customers—whether that’s posting on Instagram, running ads, sending emails, or showing up at local events.
But marketing is also about the things you do to educate and motivate your potential clients. Because (in the end) you want people to take an action. And that action is inquiring about your services..
Why is marketing important?
Think about it. If marketing is the things you do to make sure people know you exist, what happens if you don’t do any marketing? No one knows your business exists.
And I know that’s not what you want.
And even if you have the best product or service in the world, if no one knows about it, you’ll be your own best-kept secret. So marketing is important because it’s the bridge between your business and your future customers. Without it, your business is like a billboard in the desert—technically there, but not getting seen by anyone who matters.
Bringing strategy to your marketing as a new design business
Here’s the honest truth: most small business owners aren’t failing at marketing because they’re lazy or uninspired. They’re failing because they’re hustling hard but spinning their wheels. You might be posting on social media, tweaking your website, or even boosting the occasional Instagram post. But you’re not seeing results. Why? Because without a strategy, you’re doing random acts of marketing. And those don’t actually help you reach your goals.
Hi—is this you? Definitely keep reading then!
Trying to do your own marketing without a strategy leads to a ton of confusion: What should I post? Where should I post? How often is enough? It’s overwhelming, and it can make you want to throw your phone into the nearest body of water. But don’t worry. There’s a better way.
Let’s answer the next important question: What is a marketing strategy?
A marketing strategy is your game plan for all those things you’re going to do to make sure people know your design business exists. It defines where you’re trying to go and how you’re going to get there.
So it’s not just about what you’re posting or where you’re showing up—it’s about coming up with an efficient way for you to do your marketing. And while knowing who you want to reach, what you want to say, and how you’ll measure success are all part of it, a good marketing strategy answers questions like:
Who are my ideal customers?
Where do they hang out online (or offline)?
What problems do they have that I can solve?
What makes my business different?
What actions do I want people to take after seeing my marketing?
What a marketing strategy does for you
To go with the same analogy, having a marketing strategy is like having a map when you’re road-tripping to a new place. It keeps you focused, saves you time, and helps you avoid dead ends. So when you have a marketing strategy for your design business, you’ll:
Stop wasting time on tactics that don’t work for your business
Post with purpose instead of randomly (and kinda panic-y)
Attract the right clients instead of just anyone with a pulse
Know what’s working (and what’s not) so you can get better over time
Most importantly, a strategy helps you market consistently—so you’re not stuck in the cycle of “market like crazy, get clients, get busy, stop marketing, panic when things dry up, repeat.”
More on that in a bit.
How can you create a marketing strategy? It’s easy with Enji!
Here’s where Enji comes in to save the day (and your sanity). Because you don’t need a marketing degree or a 50-page marketing plan to get results. With Enji’s suite of easy-to-use marketing tools, you can whip up a straightforward, effective marketing strategy in no time. Like 5 minutes no time—seriously.
Here’s what it looks like to get started with Enji:
Use Enji’s Marketing Strategy Generator to create your marketing strategy. It’s like playing a game of 20 questions
Tap into the AI Copywriter and Brand Voice Generator (Enji will have already created your brand voice for you) to keep your messaging consistent and on-brand
Plan, draft, and schedule posts with the Social Media Scheduler so you’re visible on social media without always needing to be on it
Track your results with the KPI Dashboard, so you know what’s working and what needs a tweak
With Enji, you’re not just guessing—you’re making informed, strategic moves that actually make sure your marketing is working for you!
How to not get stuck in the feast or famine marketing trap
Now to the “more on that in a bit” part. Let’s talk about that rollercoaster ride known as the feast or famine cycle. And here’s how it usually goes: when business is slow, you have tons of time to market yourself. You hustle, get some clients, get busy serving them, and then—oops!—you stop marketing. Eventually, the client work dries up, and you’re back at square one because you’re freaking out you don’t have any leads.
The root cause of this unproductive (and stressful) cycle? You’re trying to do too much, too sporadically. Like cramming all the marketing you can muster into this month—only to get exhausted by it the next.
The key to not finding yourself in the trap? Have a marketing strategy that’s simple (read: one you can stick to even when you’re booked and busy). Why? Because consistency beats intensity every time.
So once you create your marketing strategy, set aside a realistic amount of time for marketing each week (even 30 minutes counts!). And use tools like Enji to make that time as productive and efficient as possible because you’ve focused on the things that actually bring in leads.
The best marketing advice I can give you (A.K.A. Do this now!)
Start tracking where your leads are coming from—right now. Whether it’s a simple spreadsheet or Enji’s KPI Dashboard, knowing which marketing activities are bringing in business is pure gold. It helps you double down on what works and ditch what doesn’t, saving you time, money, and headaches.
Ask every new lead, “How did you hear about us?” Track the answers. Don’t let that information die wherever inquiry forms go to die in your inbox. And, over time, you’ll see patterns that guide your strategy and make your marketing more effective (and less stressful).
Marketing doesn’t have to be overwhelming or reserved for the “more established businesses.” With a clear strategy, a few smart tools, and a dash of consistency, you can attract your dream clients and grow your business—no Rubik’s Cube required.
Remember, Enji is here to help you every step of the way, making marketing simple, effective, and (dare we say) even a little fun. Now, go forth and market your design business!
Get started with my exclusive discount code.
Meet the Author, Taylor.
Founder, CEO, and Product-Visionary
A marketing consultant and small-business builder, Tayler is the Founder of Enji—easy-to-use software for small business owners who do their own marketing. With Enji, Tayler is taking everything she has learned over a decade of helping small businesses with marketing as a consultant to build the tools you need to do your marketing fast, efficiently, and with tons of confidence. Because, while you didn’t sign up to be Chief Marketing Officer of your business, at Enji, we believe becoming one doesn’t have to be so daunting.
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