Entrepreneur's Edge

Entrepreneur's Edge Brand & Marketing Strategist | Fractional CMO - Visit debbieoster.com to learn more.

It was a great year! And I’m really looking forward to what’s yet to come in 2025! Happy New Year! 🥂
12/31/2024

It was a great year! And I’m really looking forward to what’s yet to come in 2025! Happy New Year! 🥂

I want to do more of [this] and less of [this].More saying “no”Less saying “I’m sorry”Sometimes I attribute these action...
10/22/2024

I want to do more of [this] and less of [this].

More saying “no”

Less saying “I’m sorry”

Sometimes I attribute these actions (or inactions) to...

Being a woman.
Being a people pleaser.
Being a middle child in a very large family.
The fear of being seen as unreliable.
The fear of creating conflict.
Feeling guilty for prioritizing my own needs.
Overcompensating for Imposter Syndrome.

But the truth is, those are just excuses for my bad habits.

And I’ve learned that - in both personal and professional settings - it’s imperative to know when to say “no” and to identify the difference in circumstances that require an apology, and the ones that don’t.

The first step is identifying what you want to change, right? So, I’m working on it. You could say I’m a
hashtag


What about you? What do you want to do more of and/or less of?

(P.S. I want to do more hiking and less sitting in a chair for hours on end too. 😉)

hashtag

hashtag

hashtag

hashtag

Too often, businesses come to me and say, “We need social media marketing,” or “Can you help us with a website?” They’re...
10/10/2024

Too often, businesses come to me and say, “We need social media marketing,” or “Can you help us with a website?”

They’re ready to jump into action. But when I ask the most important question — What are your business goals? — I get a blank stare.

They haven’t thought it through, and it’s not written down.

Here’s the thing: jumping straight into marketing tactics without a clear direction is like trying to drive cross-country without a map.

Sure, you’ll go somewhere, but will it be where you need to be?

Here’s what I tell those businesses:

1. Start with your Business Strategy – What’s the big picture? Who are your customers, and what’s your long-term vision? Without this, nothing else works.

2. Next, your Brand Strategy – This is where we figure out what makes you unique. What value do you bring, and how do you want to be seen? It’s about more than just a logo or colors; it’s how your customers will experience your brand.

3. Then, the Marketing Strategy – Now that your brand is clear, how do you reach your audience? What channels work for your business, and how do you solve your customers’ problems? This is the framework for success.

4. Finally, the Marketing Plan (Tactics) – Now, we can talk social media, websites, and content marketing. This is where we execute, but everything has to flow from the strategy. Otherwise, it’s just guesswork (and noise).

Without a clear strategy, tactics are just a shot in the dark.

But when you take the time to lay the groundwork, your marketing efforts are focused, efficient and actually move your business forward.

It’s not always the quick, flashy fix — but it’s the only way to build sustainable growth.

Should you be on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook...?And should you post 3Xs per day?Do you need Threads?And what about Tw...
08/07/2024

Should you be on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook...?
And should you post 3Xs per day?

Do you need Threads?
And what about Twitter, I mean X?😑

How about blogs? Everyone needs blogs...
Never mind the topic or how sh*tty/unbelievable un-optimized they are...

And Facebook ads?
You should definitely boost your next post...

But wait, don’t forget about Google ads...
You’ve got to be placed at the very top of Google’s search...

You also need SEO - on a national AND local level...
You never know when someone across the country may consider visiting your town and need your services...

You’ve got to invest in videos for your business...
You need YouTube videos for sure...
Just put them up, don’t worry about the keyword strategy (so people can actually find them)...

Oh, and your Google Business Profile...
Reviews, reviews, reviews...

Owners: If you’re overwhelmed and tired of considering the above, then you are feeling the symptoms of one BIG root problem - a lack of strategy.

Because marketing is NOT one-size-fits-all. And the truth is, your business most likely does NOT need all of the above.

But to know which things you do need and don’t need, you’re going to have to rely on a marketing strategy.

So, please stop wasting time, money and effort on tactics and channels BEFORE you have a strategy.


The #1 marketing mistake that most small businesses make:Confusing these two concepts -> Marketing Strategy vs Marketin...
08/01/2024

The #1 marketing mistake that most small businesses make:

Confusing these two concepts -> Marketing Strategy vs Marketing Plan

A marketing strategy and marketing plan are deeply connected components that rely on each other for success.

And understanding their relationship is crucial for marketing that actually works.

There is a sequential relationship between the two:
- The strategy comes 1st, providing direction.
- The plan comes 2nd and outlines specific actions.

However, the plan is not static. It should be dynamic and regularly updated to stay relevant and effective in the face of changing market conditions and business objectives.

Bottom Line: A strong marketing strategy guides your marketing plan, making sure your actions are aligned with your long-term goals. Keep your plan flexible and update it regularly to stay on track.

Does the word “marketing” induce an aching throb in your frontal lobe?It does for most small business owners, in my expe...
06/04/2024

Does the word “marketing” induce an aching throb in your frontal lobe?

It does for most small business owners, in my experience.

But marketing is essential to sustaining and growing a business.

That’s where I come in. I’m an experienced Fractional CMO. [Think: Marketing Director but at a fraction of the cost.]

If your small business has hit a ceiling, and you’re looking to achieve substantial growth in the next year, here’s how I can help:

1. Create a customized Marketing Strategy that is aligned with your business goals - think of it as a growth roadmap specific to your business.

2. Build a Marketing System tailored to your business needs so you can get high-quality, consistent leads.

3. Manage all of your marketing activities & investments so that you can focus on running your business.

4. Monitor and report on all marketing KPIs - so you know exactly what’s going on and what you’re getting in return for your investment.

If this sounds like an ideal situation, and you’re ready to talk, then DM me or comment below and we can get a quick call scheduled.




Imagine having a complete marketing team supporting your — from strategy to ex*****on — for a fraction of the cost.
04/21/2024

Imagine having a complete marketing team supporting your — from strategy to ex*****on — for a fraction of the cost.

You can’t grow your business if you can’t be easily found online.And I’ve developed a straightforward guide outlining 7 ...
04/03/2024

You can’t grow your business if you can’t be easily found online.

And I’ve developed a straightforward guide outlining 7 practical strategies to improve your online visibility.

This guide is designed for both experienced business owners and the not so experienced ones.

Here’s what’s I cover in the guide - in a simple, concise manner:

1. Target Industry Keywords: Learn to identify and use keywords that potential customers are searching for.
2. Optimize SEO Elements: Adjust your website’s title tags, meta descriptions, and headers to boost search rankings.
3. Create High-Quality Content: Strategies for developing content that engages your audience and improves SEO.
4. Optimize Your Website for Mobile: Ensure your site is mobile-friendly, as over half of web traffic is mobile.
5. Improve Page Load Speed: Quick fixes to decrease loading times, improving user experience and SEO.
6. Optimize Your Google Business Profile: Essential for businesses with physical locations to improve local visibility.
7. Build a Quality Backlink Profile: How to get reputable sites to link back to you, increasing your site’s authority.

These tactics are not just about getting found online; they’re about making more money by attracting more customers.

🗣️Comment “Guide” below if you want me to send you the link!

—

P.S. I love hosting seminars and workshops. If you are part of a group of that could benefit from one, DM me to chat and learn more about the topics I speak on.

3 steps to marketing that actually works.In his book, Atomic Habits, James Clear wrote:“A habit must be established befo...
03/28/2024

3 steps to marketing that actually works.

In his book, Atomic Habits, James Clear wrote:

“A habit must be established before it can be improved. If you can’t learn the basic skill of showing up, then you have little hope of mastering the finer details. Instead of trying to engineer a perfect habit from the start, do the easy thing on a more consistent basis. You have to standardize before you can optimize.”

This holds true for small business owners that want to use marketing to grow their business.

You have to standardize your marketing before you can optimize it.

Here’s how it’s done:

Step #1 - Standardize: Start with a marketing strategy that you can use as your roadmap and then develop a corresponding marketing plan that keeps your marketing activities consistent and on track with your marketing goals.
​
Step #2 - Measure & Analyze: Track your marketing performance to determine what works for your business and what does not.
​
Step #3 - Optimize: Learn from your efforts and work on making your marketing even more effective. Layer in more marketing efforts. Experiment with new campaigns, channels, budget, etc.

Listen, there’s no magic bullet for marketing, but if done right, it does work and it will help you grow your business.

But just like with any other business function, you must have a goal, a strategy, a plan and a way to track your progress to your goal.

The best advice I can possibly give to any business owner is: You need marketing when things are good AND you need marke...
03/27/2024

The best advice I can possibly give to any business owner is: You need marketing when things are good AND you need marketing when things are bad.

(This is not a sales pitch.)

Whether you do your own marketing, have a VA that does it, work with an agency, or work with me (😉) - you NEED marketing to grow and sustain your business in the short and long term.

Address

Brevard, NC

Telephone

+16303408651

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Entrepreneur's Edge posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Entrepreneur's Edge:

Shortcuts

Share

Category