Craigslist NC is Not Going to Fix Your Marketing Strategy

Hubspot tools tell us a surprising number of people are searching for marketing solutions on Craigslist.

Now there's nothing wrong with Craigslist, if you're looking for a place to rent, a second-hand car or any number of other things, but it's not the place to go for something as important as your company's marketing.

Done right, great marketing is the difference between a stagnant business and a soaring one. It's the special sauce that takes your idea, product or service from conception to your consumers.

This post is not about slamming Craigslist (Hüify staff use it all the time); it's to urge anybody who sees marketing as a casual add-on to their business to rethink their strategy.

Perhaps those searching for marketing solutions on Craigslist are looking for an affordable option? Perhaps they're looking for a free one - an intern who's prepared to come and help out for the benefit of their resume?

Why #inbound? Inbound Marketing vs. Outbound Marketing http://t.co/LM2qjcfvnP #smmw15 pic.twitter.com/w459S9Wawn

— Ammar Mohammed (@ammr) March 28, 2015

To answer the first part of the question, great marketing doesn't have to be expensive. Inbound marketing services are generally a lot more affordable than outbound, and using inbound processes can deliver a spectacular return on investment (ROI).

The power of inbound marketing can transform your business in a matter of days and weeks. Inbound doesn't just bring any old traffic to your website, it attracts the right kind of traffic. 

Inbound starts by identifying your buyer personas - semi-fictional representations of your ideal customers. Everything from there is tailored for a bespoke buyer's journey, from blog posts to attract potential customers, to offers that appeal to their unique needs and a sales process specific to the buyer persona in question.

The great thing about inbound is that it's completely transparent. Every process is tracked for success, which means you can measure what works and what doesn't, thus informing your approach going forward.

You're also investing in a long-term strategy with inbound. Optimizing your website, building blog posts, landing pages, evergreen offers and call-to-actions, generates assets that will be working for your business for years to come. It's akin to buying real estate and watching the rent pour in.

Cutting costs might feel like the sensible short-term strategy for your marketing, but in the long-term you're going to wish you invested in inbound and built a digital foundation that will really pay off.

As for the notion of hiring an intern to do your marketing, you should think hard about what both parties will get out of the experience.

If you already have an inbound marketing team performing wonders for your company, an intern coming in can learn a lot from being involved and go away enriched by the experience. Providing you're clear on the role and make the internship beneficial, it's a great way to go.

If, however, you're looking for an intern to come in and RUN YOUR MARKETING, both parties are going to be disappointed. The intern is going to be out of their depth and probably walk away with their confidence crushed. Meanwhile one of your company's most important functions will be in the hands of a novice.

The intern experience has to work for both sides. 

And so we return to the notion of going to Craigslist for your marketing strategy. It might seem a good idea at the time, but in the long-term you're going to wish you spent on inbound marketing that will deliver results and, more specifically, revenue.

Hüify is a dynamic inbound marketing agency in Wilmington NC. To book a free consultation click the schedule button above.