5 Key Lessons on How to Grow Your Business in Today’s Digital Marketing World
As female founders, we all know how hard it is to stay on top of the ever-evolving digital world. And yet, it has never been more vital to keep informed if you want to keep growing your business online. Scared of AI? Don’t know where to start with email marketing? Still stuck on socials? You’re not alone!
I already spend so much of my time online, reading and researching for my own business and for my clients. But the internet can be an overwhelming place and so to get a bit of inspiration, to have some actual in-real-life human contact (!) and for a chance to learn from the absolute best, I headed to Up North - a one-day marketing festival hosted by @connective3 Agency. The event gathered top industry experts including the content manager for Steven Bartlett (aka Diary of a CEO podcast host) and the guy behind Innocent’s super-fun marketing brand. All of the speakers shared valuable insight and in this blog post, I’ll share my key takeaways so you have some easy, actionable tips for how you can continue to adapt to the ever-advancing world of AI, why human connection and community-building remains crucial in business, and the power of personal branding.
So here they are…. my 5 key lessons on how to grow your business in today’s digital marketing world.
Embrace the Advancements in AI
Talk of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how it can help your business has exploded in recent weeks, perhaps no more so than with the launch of things like Chat GPT. It’s an undeniable trend and it’s not going anywhere which is why I was so pleased to see it discussed at the Up North conference. As a small business owner, it is crucial that we don’t just ignore this rapidly-evolving technology. AI is becoming increasingly capable, and can now produce PDF document, emails, copy for website (and more) with ease. Platforms like Jasper AI even offer a plagiarism button to ensure originality so whatever your business, you can be confident you’re not stealing others’ work and ideas. By staying updated and adapting to AI tools, you can enhance your business processes and gain a competitive edge.
Top tip: Start playing with an AI platform and see how it could help you. One of the huge benefits for us as business owners is the sheer amount of time it can save you! And who doesn't need a few more hours to work with!?
2. The Four-Second Rule
In a world where attention spans are at an all-time low, capturing your audience's interest has become more challenging than ever. The first line or few seconds of any content you produce are incredibly valuable and will ultimately decided whether you hook your audience in or not. This was reiterated at the conference, especially in relation to email marketing. Working on your subject lines can be the difference between a reader opening and engaging, or feeling frustrated at yet another email and deleting or even unsubscribing! Remember that failing to engage your audience with useful, relevant content might lead to losing their attention and missing out on valuable opportunities.
Force 24 founder reminded us that “by removing information, you can empower the information you are sharing” or in other words, sharing your knowledge in a digestible way for your audience can also help position you as an expert and in turn build your brand loyalty, so it’s worth the extra effort to make sure you get it right!
Top Tip: Perform a four-second scroll test on your email or post to ensure that your key hooks and messages are clear and easily understood. You want your emails to be memorable for the right reasons.
3. Remember we are all human
Ironically, with the rise of AI and technological advancements, people are craving human connection more than ever. As a small business owner, it is essential to humanise your brand and build a sense of community around it. Think outside the box when it comes to rewarding your advocates and engaging with your audience. By fostering authentic connections, you can create loyal customers who are passionate about your brand and are more likely to spread the word about your business. The only way you are going to do that is by showing up. If you have been following me for a while you will know I am a huge advocate of this and it’s often where we start with our clients growing their online presence.
Top tip: Show your face on your Instagram stories and talk about your business - you could even give your audience a little ‘behind-the-scenes’ glimpse into your day. People buy from people.
4. The Power of Personal Branding
This leads me to the next point… Ashley from Great Influence reminded us of the importance of personal branding. Think of successful figures like Steven Bartlett and how their personal brand played a significant role in their success. We know them not by their business names (where he is making all his money) but through him as a person. At Up North, we had the privilege of hearing from Grace Anderson, the head of content for Steven Bartlett. She emphasised the importance of staying true to yourself, remaining curious and open to learning - something that Steven has nailed. Being authentic and embracing your uniqueness is your superpower when it comes to building a personal brand that resonates with your target audience.
Top tip: When building your personal brand, remember that the goal of sharing your story and being authentic is that you take people along with you - ie you’re showing them how you have overcome certain things or learned certain things so that you spring to mind over anyone else when they face the same hurdles.
5. Incremental Gains through Consistency
Grace Anderson also highlighted the significance of staying hyper-focused on your "why" and remaining committed to your vision. She emphasised that success is the result of consistent effort, small steps, and experimentation. Failure should not be feared but embraced as a learning opportunity. By approaching setbacks as lessons, you can refine your strategies and make incremental gains over time. Additionally, don't be afraid to stand out and be different. It is your unique qualities and innovative ideas that will make your business noticed and memorable.
Top tip: Write down your “Why” for your business and refer back to it with each business decision you make - if it’s not contributing to your why, it might not be the right step to take.
Attending the Up North conference was an enriching experience, providing valuable insights and I really loved being at an in-person event for a change! From embracing the advancements in AI to cultivating human connections, and from the power of personal branding to the importance of consistency and experimentation, the conference shed light on key aspects that cannot be ignored. By implementing these takeaways, female founders can stay ahead of the curve and thrive in an ever-evolving digital world.
How are you going to implement these lessons? Let me know on Instagram or via email! I’d love to hear from you.
For more info on the brands mentioned above and a few more I had the privilege of listening to, check our their social links below:
Grace Andrews @the.socialclimber
Ash Jones @Great.influence or @_ashleybjones
Daniel Rowles @target.internet
Kelliesha White @depop
Adam Oldfield @weareforce24
