I’ve never been an athletic person. I never wanted to play sports growing up. And I didn’t particularly like doing things that entailed me being outside and getting sweaty unless it was sitting on a Florida beach in the heat of August.
However (or should I say unfortunately), after a few months of treating myself to Texas beers and delicious food, my jeans told me it was about time to make some changes to my formerly un-athletic life.
So with the hopes of getting back into my favorite pair of jeans, I began working out.
It was during one of my workouts this past week that I realized that workout routines and inbound marketing had a lot in common. They both require dedication, motivation and consistency. They both can be a pain to see out. And they both require patience in order to see great results.
On the flip side, if you really hunker down and do it, you can see some amazing results. The effect of that is feeling good about yourself, feeling motivated to keep going, and often a new obsession or interest.
Now think about all of the people around the world that have a regular workout routine. If they can keep one going, then you can definitely keep an inbound marketing routine going.
Here are 5 tips, inspired by my workout routine, on how to stay motivated with your inbound marketing program.
1. Document where you started from. Just like you’d weigh yourself and perhaps even take photos at the start of working out, look at your current online presence and the results your previous marketing produced. It always feels good to look back at where you used to be and where you are now.
2. Find a buddy. They always say that working out is easier when you have a buddy or partner to keep you accountable. I think the same can be true with your inbound marketing. Pick someone from your company, another inbound marketing friend, or a consultant like me, to talk about what you’ve been doing in your marketing that day or week.
3. Get on a schedule. It often becomes easier to do anything if you get in a routine or on a schedule. Pick a certain time of day or a certain day of the week to do specific tasks for your inbound marketing.
4. Allow for a cheat day every once in a while. Just like you’d allow yourself a cheat day to not workout or to eat something bad for you, allow yourself to flub up sometimes. Don’t beat yourself up about it, just get back on your routine the next day.
5. If you’re struggling, get an expert to help. Just like you would get a personal trainer to give you a workout routine and show you what you’re doing right and wrong, inbound marketing consultants can do the same. They can help you make a plan, show you how you could improve, or even just be additional support for making your inbound marketing program happen.
