The Biggest Marketing Mistake I Made as a New Entrepreneur (And How You Can Fix It)
When you start a service-based business, everyone gives you the same advice: Get out there and network.
So, that’s what most of us do: pack our calendars with virtual coffee chats (1:1 networking calls), attend every networking event, and collect stacks of business cards.
And in the beginning? It usually works!
You land your first few clients, build a foundation on word-of-mouth, and feel great about the momentum. But then you hit a wall.
You realize that running around meeting as many people as possible isn't a long-term strategy. It drains your time and energy while you still have to deliver great work to the clients you already signed.
I know this trap because I fell right into it myself.
The Hustle Trap: When Referrals Aren't Sustainable
Early in my marketing business, I relied heavily on referrals. It worked for a while, but by year two I was exhausted.
I realized I was a marketing strategist who wasn’t practicing what I preached.
I was pouring all of my energy into Attract, with zero systems to Convert or Nurture. That left me in a high‑stress cycle of manual business development.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Almost every coach, consultant, and business owner goes through this phase.
The Gaping Hole in Your Marketing Funnel
A strategic marketing funnel has four stages:
Attract: How new people discover you
Convert: Getting them to exchange their name and email for a resource
Nurture: Staying in touch consistently to build trust over time
Close: Turning that nurtured relationship into a paying client when the timing is right
The biggest mistake I see? Business owners spend all of their energy and focus into marketing tactics at the Attract phase, while skipping Convert and Nurture.
When you do this, you end up with a leaky funnel. Meaning, you can pour all the water (new contacts) you want into the top of the funnel but most of them are leaking out the sides before they ever have a chance to turn into a closed deal.
<insert leaking funnel image that I used AI to create for me>
How to Build a Marketing System That Works for You
When I realized I was ignoring my own funnel, I fixed it. I stopped making excuses about email list size and built a simple system:
1. Create a High-Value Lead Magnet
Give people a compelling reason to join your email list. Mine was a social media guide and template, because I kept hearing from my audience that social media was their biggest headache.
2. Set Up an Automated Welcome Sequence
Deliver your resource automatically with a short 3-email sequence that introduces you, shares your background, and explains how you help without pressuring people to buy.
3. Commit to Consistent Nurturing
Start small. I began with one valuable email newsletter per month filled with resources and insights. After I proved to myself that I could do that consistently over a number of months, then I slowly worked my way up to sending weekly emails.
Unfudge Your Marketing Funnel Today
Once I put these marketing systems in place, the pressure was lifted. I knew that whenever I met someone new, spoke on a podcast, or shared a post, I had a simple path to bring them into my world and nurture that relationship in a scalable way.
I’ve helped countless clients—including a close friend who built a 10-part email course—experience that same relief.
Marketing doesn't have to feel like a non-stop hustle. It just needs a clear, strategic path. (I share more about this in this podcast episode where I break down how a clear, strategic path can replace the constant grind.)
Ready to stop relying on word-of-mouth and build a simple, strategic funnel that consistently attracts and converts your ideal clients? Book a complimentary discovery call today! I’d love to help you create a system that works for your entire business.
