3 marketing lessons from gardening

This week I was able to work in the flower garden for this first time since last fall.

It seems like every time I work in the flower beds I get new encouragement as a copywriter and entrepreneur.

Even when none of the flowers are blooming yet, as was the case this week.

There was something satisfying about clearing away the dead branches and debris from last year’s garden to make way for the new shoots pushing their way through the dirt.

An early spring garden reminds me of a business that has hunkered down after going through a difficult time.

On the surface there aren’t many signs of life.

There is evidence of the successes of the past (last year’s dead blooms and branches)… but it’s hard to take encouragement from that.

So what are the upsides?

Here are 3:

*It’s obvious what you need to clear away and what’s not working.

When a garden is in full bloom it’s not always easy to tell the weeds from the regular flowers. And even when you can, it’s difficult to pull out the weeds because they have deep roots. Also, there are so many weeds it’s often hard to take them time to get rid of them all.

Whereas in early spring it’s easy to scoop up the dead blooms and leaves and throw them on the brush pile. The dead weeds pull out effortlessly.

So it is in business. When your business is thriving it’s easy to ignore the stuff that isn’t working. But when you go through a dry spell, it’s far easier to cast out the dead products and ineffective ad campaigns.

*There are fewer distractions. As wonderful as it is to gaze at a beautiful garden, a certain complacency kicks in.

Sometimes there are so many flowers that it’s hard to appreciate them all, as I discovered last December. And one starts taking the flowers for granted.

Not so in early spring. Or in your business if you’re struggling right now.

When you no longer have the distractions of a successful business you have the freedom to experiment and try new things.

Maybe that will include letting a copywriter write your copy instead of taking the DIY approach.

Perhaps it means developing that new product you’ve had on the back burner for a long time.

Whatever it is, take full advantage of the silences in your business and let yourself try new things the busier businesses don’t have time to do.

*Nothing fancy is required. I used a small clippers and my bare hands to totally clear my garden and get it ready for spring.

I didn’t need a lawn mower, weed eater or the assistance of family members, like I do later in the season.

As a result, I was able to get results quickly and can now see the shoots that are poking through the dirt, which give me encouragement about the possibilities ahead. I wasn’t able to see them before.

So it is in your business if it’s not realizing its full potential right now.

Inexpensive low-tech things like a blog, social media campaign or local Meetup group will get you some quick results to help motivate you as you move forward and see the new possibilities start to appear on the horizon.

Filed under: Email Marketing • Stories/Storytelling

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