Episode Summary:
In this episode of The Solo Grind, I’m talking about the reality of marketing as a solo entrepreneur when it’s just you wearing all the hats and trying to figure out what actually works. I share why so much of the advice out there doesn’t fit when you don’t have a full team or unlimited time, and how to start building a marketing plan that feels doable and aligned with how you naturally communicate. We’ll also look at why those “overnight success” promises usually fall flat, and what to focus on instead.
What I hope you take away from today's episode...
- Marketing advice is often not geared towards solo entrepreneurs.
- You need to know where your audience is before marketing.
- Understanding your audience's needs is crucial for effective marketing.
- Confidence in communication is key.
- Marketing requires consistency and patience for success.
- Avoid quick-fix marketing solutions that promise unrealistic results.
- Building relationships is essential for solo entrepreneurs.
Links to the cool stuff mentioned in this episode...
Solo Grind Central - My FREE resource library https://caffeinecreative.io/solo-grind-central/
Links to connect with me...
Book a Consult HERE! (https://caffeinecreative.io/consult/)
Email me HERE! theperfectblendcaffeinecreative.io
Find me on Substack!
Detailed Show Notes
(automatically transcribed using AI Technology)
Welcome to The Solo Grind!
Hello, my friends. Welcome to The Solo Grind. I am Teresa Schlup, the Caffeine Creative, and by day, I am a web designer. You can find me on my website at caffeinecreative.io. But for now, we're here to have a conversation about marketing, and marketing as a solo entrepreneur.
If you were here with me at my home, I would say pull up a chair and let me pour you a cup of coffee. But since we are screen to screen or earbud to earbud, we're gonna have to pour our own cup for today's conversation.
Marketing as a Solo Entrepreneur
Now, when it comes to marketing, you're probably a lot like me, looking for advice online about the best way to market.
What platform should I be on? How should I do this? Where should I go? What content should I be creating?
There’s a lot of advice out there. Some of it is really good. Some of it is okay. And some of it is terrible. But most of what’s out there isn’t made for solo entrepreneurs. It’s for people with teams or lots of time.
But if you’re a solo entrepreneur like me, you likely don’t have a team or endless hours. You want to spend your time working with the clients you’re trying to attract, not building a full-time marketing department.
So today, we’re diving into: Why “magic solutions” don’t work (and how to make them work for you) How to create a marketing plan that actually fits your life What to avoid when everyone’s promising overnight success
Why Magic Solutions Don’t Work
Many of the most popular strategies are built for teams, not for solo entrepreneurs. Some of the roadmaps and templates sound great, but they’re often generic and don’t factor in your voice, your goals, or your bandwidth.
Even the “done-for-you” solutions can fall flat if they don’t leave space for your story. Because your audience isn’t looking for perfect. They’re looking for connection and that starts with you.
Three Key Marketing Questions
1. Where are your people?
You need to know where your people are before you create your marketing plan.Yes, they might be on social media, but they might also be local. Especially if you’re a service provider like an interior designer, local networking could matter more than Instagram hashtags.
2. What do they care about?
What conversation do they want to have with you?Are you helping them solve a problem? Are you giving them clarity, inspiration, or direction?This should be the foundation of your marketing, regardless of the platform.
3. How can you communicate with confidence?
Be honest with yourself here. If showing up on video feels like pulling teeth and that never changes, it might not be your thing. That’s okay. There are other ways to show up and build trust.Focus on what feels most natural and doable for you, written content, audio, visuals, one-on-one conversations. Marketing only works when you can show up as yourself.
Making a Plan (and Sticking to It)
Once you’ve found the way you communicate best commit to it.
Not forever, but for a solid stretch of time. Give it enough space to grow before jumping to the next thing.
Pick one or two simple tactics that feel doable, then show up consistently with them for 60 to 90 days. That might mean posting weekly on Instagram, sending a monthly email, recording a podcast, or showing up in local groups.
You don’t need to do everything. You just need to pick something and do it on purpose.
Along the way, track what feels good, what gets traction, and what drains your energy. Then adjust from there.
Consistency creates clarity. Both for your audience and for you.
A Real-Life Example
It’s easy to feel like something isn’t working after a week or two. But consistent, focused marketing takes time.
Marketing is not immediate. It's not quick. You are not going to achieve overnight success by having one clever video, even if it goes viral. I say that from experience.
Years ago, I had a video that took off. Within a couple of days, it hit over 50,000 views and tons of engagement. By all accounts, it was a “viral” post. But here’s the thing… nobody remembers it now. Not even my best friend. It didn’t bring in dream clients. It didn’t change my business. It was just a moment.
That’s why I focus on showing up consistently with real content that builds trust over time.
When I decided to go full-time into web design, I committed to two things for 90 days:
- A daily “Coffee Time Inspiration” post simple Canva graphics with encouraging or insightful captions to help build connection and consistency.
- Two blog posts per week, each paired with a Facebook Live where I’d talk through the topic and share tips.
The blog posts? They were helpful for organizing my thoughts, but they were time-consuming. They didn’t drive much traffic to my site. I realized pretty quickly that they weren’t worth the pressure I was putting on myself.
But the videos? That’s where people connected. I was showing up. I was sharing value. I was letting them see and hear the real me. So I shifted my energy to the Facebook Lives and scaled back the blog writing. And the “Coffee Time” posts? Those became part of my brand, people looked forward to them, and they gave me a consistent way to engage with my audience.
It took two and a half months of doing that consistently before I saw any traction. Not two weeks. Not one viral moment. Two and a half months.
If you’re in that “nothing’s happening” phase keep going. Consistency matters. You’re planting seeds you don’t even know are taking root yet.
And if you don’t have paying clients right now, that means you have time. Use it to market, to connect, and to create something real.
What to Avoid
Beware of the miracle solutions. I get several messages a week promising 100 new leads, sky-high engagement, or guaranteed conversions. But think about it... do you really want 100 new leads this week? Can you serve them all? Are they even a fit?
Chances are, these leads will be asking for your best work at bargain-basement prices, and you’ll be drained, frustrated, and no better off than you started.
If something sounds too good to be true? Trust your gut.
Closing Thoughts
That’s our chat for today. Thanks for hanging out with me for this episode of The Solo Grind. I’m so glad to be back for Season 3, and I can’t wait to keep showing up with real, honest conversations to help you grow your business on your terms.
If this episode encouraged you, I’d love it if you’d subscribe, share it with a friend, or leave a review.
Want more support? Head to caffeinecreative.io to check out the blog or explore Solo Grind Central, my free resource library. You can also find me on Instagram or Facebook. I’d love to hear what you’re working on.
Here’s to another week of building something real with a hot cup of coffee in hand.
