If only I had the time, I would ...

• revise my website
• launch an email marketing campaign
• get more involved in social media
• build my prospect pipeline
• stay in closer touch with clients

How often have you said that to yourself? If you are like many business owners, your to-do list is endless and marketing your own business often gets lost in the day-to-day business of serving your customers. When faced with the choice of working with a client or launching a newsletter, most business owners would choose the former. It seems like a no-brainer. Yet when you don't take the time to market your business, you are making it more difficult to build relationships with clients and to cultivate prospects. In short, you are stunting the growth of your own business.

How do you break the vicious cycle of too little time, too much to do? The truth is, there is no magic bullet and it isn't easy to make time. The following strategies, however, can help you get into the habit of marketing your business.

• Develop the mindset. Business owners are often driven by the mantra, "The client comes first." That makes sense, especially in a challenging economy. But without effective marketing, a business can wither and die. Recognize that marketing your business should be a priority and deserves your time and attention.
• Make an appointment with yourself. Find time, at least weekly, to work on marketing your business. Schedule an appointment with yourself and/or your staff and respect that time as you would any other commitment.
• Prioritize. Sometimes people put off marketing their business because they don't know where to begin. There are so many marketing projects they want to undertake that they end up doing nothing. Begin by developing a short-term marketing plan covering three to six months. Consider your business goals and link your marketing efforts to these.
• Take small steps. Once you set priorities, break down your marketing strategies into small, doable steps. For instance, if you decide that you are going to relaunch your website, your first step might be to review your current site and develop a list of changes you want to make.
• Overcome roadblocks. Sometimes a task seems overwhelming because you aren't sure how to tackle it. If this is true for you, try taking a small but concrete step toward completing a task. It may be all the momentum you need to get going. If you are held back because you lack skills or resources, consider hiring a professional for assistance. A small investment often can reap a substantial return.

© 2010 Joan B. Marcus Communications LLC