If you want quick wins to kick off the new year, Episode #517 of the Marketing Mentor Podcast is for you!
In it, I outline 12 Ways to Get Quick Wins to get some momentum going as we start a new year.
I make the point that a "quick win" is something you can control AND it's all about engagement.
But if you think you're doing engagement by posting on LinkedIn or other social media accounts, you'll want to listen to this one where I clarify what exactly "engagement" is.
This is an excerpt of the Smart Start Guide (which comes with the 2025 Simplest Marketing Plan, which is where you start when you don't know where to start with your marketing.
Listen here (and below)...
And if you like what you hear, we’d love it if you write a review, subscribe here and sign up for Quick Tips from Marketing Mentor.
Read the transcript of Episode 517 here...
Happy New Year! I have a special treat for y’all today – to kick off the new year, I’m going read aloud to you the Smart Start Guide, which is part of the Simplest Marketing Plan.
I’ve updated both for 2025 and one of the updates to the SMP is that I’ve added prompts for using AI to each of the 3 marketing tools. Plus, my favorite part, you get access to Artificial Ilise – a custom Chat bot that has all of my books and marketing plans and downloads – essentially my almost 40 years of knowledge. It’s very cool – almost like talking directly to me – except I’m a better listener, just sayin’ Anyway, the SMP is available on my web site – you can’t miss it. But first, listen and learn…
If your goal is to start the new year with a bang, this is your guide. It is designed to get you some quick wins right out of the gate.
But what exactly is a “quick win?”
When I asked members of the SMP community, they said:
A quick win is a solid new client.
A quick win is when a prospect expresses interest in future work.
A quick win is to hear a “yes” on a proposal submitted to an ideal prospect.
Yes, while securing a client or a new project may indeed qualify as a quick win, it’s not something you can control.
A quick win is something you can control.
You see, getting a new client or project has everything to do with timing and being in the right place at the right time.
That’s what the Simplest Marketing Plan is designed to do: put you in front of your best prospects and clients at exactly the moment when they need you.
So if it’s quick wins you want, your efforts must focus on “engagement” – that means interacting with the actual people in the market.
What is Engagement?
First, what engagement isn’t…
Engaging isn’t fiddling with your Linkedin profile and updating your portfolio.
Engaging isn’t “posting” on LinkedIn. (That may seem counterintuitive but posting is content marketing and while it may involve engaging, content marketing is the long game. Therefore, not officially a “quick win.”)
Engaging isn't perfect. Whatever you do or have in place will have to be good enough to get you started.
So if you’re not feeling ready or you are at all nervous about “putting yourself out there,” try this attitude on:
Think of everyone you engage with in January as “practice” clients and prospects. You’ll learn what you need to on them, which will give you the confidence to move on to better ones later in the year.
Simply put, engaging is talking to people – literally getting into conversations with people!
That means real people in real time. Maybe even in person.
In other words, being willing to jump in and start interacting, putting yourself out there and being eager to see what happens.
Don’t forget, your business is a laboratory for your personal growth. It’s best to keep the stakes very low and approach everything with this attitude: “I’m just going to try this and see what happens.”
Remember, marketing works, when you do it.
The Simplest Approach to Quick Wins
When it comes to quick wins, the best place to start is where you already have strong connections. That means relationships where you have already built trust.
So when it comes to converting prospects into clients, the stronger your existing connection, the more trust already exists, therefore the more likely they are to respond positively to your outreach.
That means people who already know you, whether from your neighborhood or from your past, no matter the capacity. They will be more open to your offer or request and are much more likely to give you a shot, especially if you’re promoting a new service or targeting a new niche.
So start where you have built the most trust – this will save you both time and energy while delivering quick wins.
Begin with your “strong ties”—anyone who already knows, likes, and trusts you.
When those are exhausted, move on to “weak ties”—people you have a relationship with but haven’t been in touch with recently. Don’t be reluctant to revive the relationship.
Finally, tackle “no ties”—strangers or new prospects. These efforts can be very effective when the timing is right, but they take more time and effort to personalize, and require more nurturing. So keep your expectations realistic here and don’t give up too soon.
Remember, marketing works when you do it, but focusing on who already trusts you ensures the best use of your limited time and is much more likely to pay off.
12 Ways to Get Quick Wins
Strong Ties: Build on these relationships
Reach out to recent clients and ask, “Is there anything else I can help with?”
Based on what you already know of their business, use generosity as a marketing tool to share ideas and suggest ways to improve or grow.
Take a top client to lunch or coffee and discuss their goals for 2025.
Review past projects and suggest a complementary service they don’t know you offer.
Research your client’s competitors and share your findings.
Weak Ties: Revive these relationships
Make a list of past contacts and send a friendly check-in: “I’d love to reconnect. Let me know if there’s something you need help with”
Ask trusted clients and colleagues for referrals: “Do you know anyone who also has this problem or pain point?”
Share a case study to show your latest projects and results. “Here’s how I helped [client name]. Could I do something similar for you?”*
Send an article, book, or gift that’s relevant to their needs and reinforces your value. (If you wrote it, even better!)
No Ties: Plant these seeds for the future
Attend industry events or join online communities where your ideal clients are active.
Research potential clients, then send a personalized email offering a free resource or audit.
Post valuable, targeted content on platforms like LinkedIn or Instagram.
Keep It Manageable
This isn’t about doing everything at once. Treat your business as a laboratory: try something, see if it works. If not, no big deal—try something else. This takes the time it takes. If you focus on 30 minutes a day or dedicate Fridays to your business, you’ll make steady progress.
Remember: Confidence is a byproduct of doing. Start where you are, use this list as a guide, and let the market decide what works best.
So I hope that helps you kick the new year off with a bang – get some momentum going.
And If you want my help, I offer a few different options in the Shop on marketing-mentor.com, including the brand new kick start call where I will personally – not my AI – listen to where you are in your business and then give you 3 steps to kick start your business. It’s very affordable.
Or if you are not ready for a kick start, you can just sign up for my Quick Tips at marketing-mentor.com. Once you’re on the site, you’ll find lots more resources, including my Simplest Marketing Plan. Enjoy and I’ll see you next time.