Marketing Strategy For Small Businesses In 2024 with Kalee Murrin
Welcome back, Daring Made community! In today’s post, we dive deep into the world of business marketing with a special focus on strategies that can elevate your brand in 2024.
Our inspiration comes from an insightful conversation with Kalee Murrin, a seasoned marketing strategist and the founder of Sonder Social. Kalee’s expertise in marketing strategy offers invaluable lessons for entrepreneurs and small business owners looking to refine their marketing approach.
Whether you’re just starting or looking to scale, this post is packed with actionable tips and thoughtful reflections on the importance of brand awareness, feedback, and consistency.
Understanding the Role of a Marketing Strategist
Kalee Murrin’s journey as a marketing strategist is rooted in her ability to see the bigger picture. She began her career in the corporate world, where she honed her skills in various aspects of marketing, from email campaigns to paid advertising.
However, her passion lies in understanding how different marketing elements interconnect to create a cohesive strategy. This holistic view is what led her to establish Sonder Social, a marketing agency that focuses on strategy-driven, comprehensive marketing support and consulting services.
Kalee’s approach emphasizes that marketing is not just about isolated tactics but about how these tactics come together to support a brand’s overall goals. She explains:
“So I think it all boils down to brand awareness, especially when you're thinking of marketing as sort of this thing by itself, which obviously as we just spoke about, it kind of contributes into a bigger ecosystem and we hope that your marketing efforts are then going to lead into other things. But ultimately, you know, I think a lot of people walk into marketing or investing in marketing services thinking, marketing is the connection to sales.”
The Journey of Sonder Social: A Focus on Organic Growth
When Kalee founded Sonder Social, her vision was clear: to help businesses build a solid marketing foundation, particularly through organic social media strategies.
Organic marketing, as Kalee describes, is about more than just posting content; it’s about creating a genuine connection with your audience and building a community that supports your brand over time.
Starting from scratch can be daunting, especially for small businesses or solopreneurs. However, Kalee emphasizes the importance of focusing on where your audience spends their time and doubling down on those platforms.
She advises against trying to be everywhere at once, suggesting instead to concentrate on one or two key channels and build a robust content library there.
“So I think in terms of brand awareness, it's just kind of developing this omnipresence, so to speak. And again, that doesn't necessarily mean you have to be on every single channel that's out there. But you're thinking about where does your audience hang out in the digital space and how can you sort of have a consistent presence there where they're constantly seeing your content and they're constantly being a part of your community or you're engaging them to be a part of your community and just really kind of having that consistent presence.”
Brand Awareness: The Ultimate Goal
At the heart of any successful marketing strategy lies brand awareness. Kalee believes that the ultimate goal of marketing efforts should be to increase brand visibility and recognition.
This doesn’t happen overnight, but through consistent effort and strategic placement of your brand in front of your target audience.
To build this awareness, Kalee recommends a strategy of repetition and consistency. The more frequently your audience sees your brand, the more familiar and trustworthy it becomes.
This process requires patience and persistence, but the payoff is worth it. As Kalee notes, people need to encounter a brand multiple times before they consider engaging with it.
The Power of Feedback in Shaping Marketing Strategies
One of the key takeaways from Kalee’s interview is the importance of feedback in refining your marketing strategy. Whether you’re just starting or are a seasoned marketer, listening to your audience and incorporating their feedback can significantly enhance your marketing efforts.
Kalee emphasizes that feedback isn’t just about what’s working; it’s also about understanding what’s not working and why.
This information is invaluable as it allows you to adjust your strategy in real time, ensuring that your marketing efforts are always aligned with your audience’s needs and preferences.
Marketing Strategy Tips for 2024: Focus, Consistency, and Connection
As we look ahead to 2024, Kalee offers some crucial marketing tips for small business owners:
1. Think Smaller, Focus More
In an age where businesses are tempted to chase the latest trends and be everywhere all at once, Kalee’s advice is refreshingly simple: think smaller.
Focus your marketing efforts on a few key messages or concepts and repeat them consistently across the platforms where your audience is most active.
This focused approach allows you to build deeper connections with your audience, as they begin to associate your brand with specific ideas or values.
Over time, this consistency helps to solidify your brand’s presence in their minds, leading to higher engagement and conversion rates.
2. Don’t Fear Repetition
One of the challenges many business owners face is the fear of sounding repetitive. However, Kalee argues that repetition is not only necessary but also effective in building brand awareness.
The key is to deliver your message in different formats and through various channels, ensuring that it reaches your audience in a way that resonates with them.
Don’t be afraid to repeat your core messages; instead, embrace repetition as a tool for reinforcing your brand’s identity.
3. Build Genuine Connections
While content creation is important, Kalee stresses that building a community around your brand is even more crucial. This involves engaging with your audience, responding to their comments, and making them feel valued.
“Those connections that you make with people in your industry in complementary industries with, potential dream clients, potential people you can create a strategic partnership with or collaborate with, even influencers, they're so used to getting these like empty comments all day long, empty compliments.”
By fostering genuine connections, you create a loyal community that not only supports your brand but also advocates for it.
This community becomes a powerful marketing tool, helping to spread the word about your business and attract new customers.
Lessons in Business Marketing: Reflecting on 2023
As we reflect on the past year, it’s important to take stock of what worked and what didn’t in our marketing strategies.
Kalee’s insights remind us that successful marketing is not about doing everything at once, but about doing a few things really well.
Looking back at 2023, consider the following:
Which marketing channels were most effective for your business?
What messages resonated most with your audience?
How can you refine your strategy to focus on these strengths in 2024?
By answering these questions, you can start the new year with a clear and focused marketing strategy that builds on your past successes.
Embracing Change and Adapting Your Strategy
Finally, Kalee’s interview highlights the importance of staying adaptable in your marketing strategy. The marketing landscape is constantly evolving, and what worked yesterday might not work tomorrow.
By staying open to change and continually seeking feedback, you can ensure that your marketing strategy remains effective and relevant.
“So I think it all boils down to brand awareness, especially when you're thinking of marketing as sort of this thing by itself, which obviously as we just spoke about, it kind of contributes into a bigger ecosystem and we hope that your marketing efforts are then going to lead into other things.”
Conclusion: Take Your Marketing Strategy to the Next Level
As we head into 2024, take the time to reflect on your marketing strategy and consider how you can apply Kalee’s insights to your own business. Focus on building brand awareness, embracing repetition, and fostering genuine connections with your audience.
By doing so, you’ll not only enhance your brand’s visibility but also create a loyal community that supports your business for the long haul.
Remember, marketing is not just about creating content; it’s about creating connections. So, as you plan your strategy for the new year, keep your audience at the forefront of everything you do, and watch as your business grows and thrives.
Thank you for joining us on this journey of business reflections and marketing insights. We look forward to seeing how you apply these strategies to your own business in 2024.
Stay daring, stay focused, and keep building the business of your dreams!
Marketing Strategy For Small Businesses In 2024 with Kalee Murrin