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As remote advising continues to be the norm, finding new ways to connect with clients can be challenging. Yet growth opportunities are emerging, particularly in terms of thought leadership and digital marketing.
We recently sat down with Taylor Schulte of Define Financial to find out some of the core strategies that have worked well for his team. Below, he explains how advisors can leverage these tactical approaches to grow their practices.
Concentrate on a Targeted Strategy You Can Scale
One of the biggest issues advisors face when creating a marketing plan is trying to hit all of their goals at once. While this may sound good in theory, it makes it hard to track what’s working, and what can be improved.
“I think a lot of advisors try to do too much all at once, and it’s just not possible to be successful with all of those things at the same time,” says Schulte. Social media is one example. While it may be tempting to create content for Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram all at once, the reality is that each platform requires a different strategy and what works for one may not work for another.
Instead of trying to scale your efforts quickly, Schulte recommends taking a more narrow approach. “Focusing on one marketing activity that supports your marketing goals, and that speaks to your target demographic, is where most advisors should spend their time.”
If you’re someone who already has a presence on a particular social channel, dedicate more time to growing your brand there before you branch out to other platforms. It’s also crucial to know your target audience since some approaches are more relevant for millennial clients than they are for their Generation X counterparts.
Play to Your Strengths When Developing Your Marketing Mix
Something else to consider is to lean into what you enjoy doing. After all, your marketing efforts are more likely to be successful if they’re authentic to you and harness your existing strengths.
If you’re someone who enjoys writing, launching a blog can be a great way to showcase your expertise and highlight the things you want your readers to know.
Likewise, if you’re someone who enjoys sharing their ideas in a visual or audio format, creating videos or starting a podcast can be effective ways to grow your brand. “Once you’ve found a platform that comes naturally to you, you can start producing content on that platform, and then you can build a process to repurpose that content,” says Schulte.
As you continue to grow your practice, you’ll eventually be able to create a more robust marketing mix with efforts that work hand in hand. For Schulte and his team, this has happened gradually since Define Financial first launched in 2014.
“There are five to six things that we do really well, and they all work together in different ways. That’s what I think advisors should shoot for,” he explains.
Develop an Effective Call-to-Action
Once you’ve established your strategy, it’s important to ensure that you’re connecting with prospects who want to learn more about you and your firm. The best way to do this is with a clear call-to-action.
To make this as impactful as possible, Schulte recommends placing it in a prominent section of your website—such as your homepage—and making it easy for readers to take action. “If you have multiple CTAs, users can get paralyzed,” he says. Instead, ask yourself what you want them to do and how you can make that process easy for them. If you’d like them to set up a consultation, your call-to-action should reflect this.
The Bottom Line
Expanding your marketing efforts may feel challenging, but a targeted approach can minimize the time you spend while maximizing your results. By narrowing your efforts and being strategic, you can identify what’s working and build on that.