During the past few years, I have become an avid gardener.
It has been an educational process…and a lot of trial and error.
I’ve learned the difference between an annual and perennial…evergreen and deciduous…which plants need shade or sun…how often to fertilize…the importance of dead-heading.
No one is more surprised at my green thumb than me.
There are daily, weekly, monthly, seasonal and annual tasks that must be done to properly maintain it…and the same can be said for having a marketing strategy that produces year-round results.
4 Gardening Lessons to Grow Your Business:
1. Establish roots for firm foundation.
One of the first lessons I learned was the three most important elements for every plant are the right type of LIGHT, SOIL AND WATER. Without these in place to establish roots, plants will struggle to survive.
The three most important elements for every marketing program are the right amount of TIME, BUDGET AND A PLAN. Without these as the foundation, you will not reap what you sow.
2. Significant change requires risk.
In the beginning, I stuck to a few types of flowers and plants that I saw everywhere. As I gained knowledge and confidence, I began experimenting with different varietals and selecting items that were unique to my garden. Now, I layer my flower beds with a multitude of plants of different heights, colors and blooming season.
This is similar to relying on the same 1-2 marketing activities year-after-year. An integrated marketing plan, layered with multiple tactics to reach your customer repeatedly and from different angles, is how to make your business bloom.
3. Pruning is necessary for faster results.
Gardening is an ongoing process…you don’t stop once flowers are planted. It often takes weeks or months to see signs of life. Another important lesson I learned is pruning plants and shrubs regularly helps shape them and encourages new growth.
Marketing also requires time, attention and shaping. You can’t launch a new website or setup an automated sales funnel and then call it a day. And, you must be willing to make an adjustment when something isn’t working…or risk having a business that doesn’t grow.
4. Plant seeds for future growth.
I received an email last week from The Dallas Garden School stating that July is the time to start planning your fall garden. Not only to prepare the soil and plant seeds, but also identify what needs to be transplanted.
Now is also the time to prepare your marketing plan for the fall season. What has worked well and should be continued? What new marketing tactic should be added?
