Momentum is an essential ingredient to business success and nowhere is it more critical than in the area of marketing.

A simple definition of momentum is “mass in motion” and is a commonly used term in sports. A team that has the momentum is on the move and is going to take some effort to stop. A team really on the move, having built up a lot of momentum will be hard to stop.

Isn’t that what you want for your business?

Maintaining momentum means staying in motion, if you cease you stop which means you have to gain momentum all over again. It’s this constant stop, start that frustrates business owners and causes swings in results and of course in income.

Now I don’t mean frantic activity – just consistent, persistent actions that keep you moving forward.

Here are 3 simple steps to help you gain and maintain momentum in your business.

Step 1. Create a marketing plan

You must have a plan. You can’t afford to wing it because this ad-hoc approach is what causes inconsistent results.

There’s no escaping this first step. The secret is to keep it simple.

The lifeblood of every business is leads. And cash flow is created by converting those leads into sales aka, paying clients.

Think about the steps you need to take your clients through to take them from interested to sold. That’s your marketing plan.

Imagine a big funnel where you’re at the top directing potential clients into it. What’s the next step? And the next step?

For example. You’re a speaker and you give a presentation and use a strategy to get people to sign up to your list. Then you send them a twice monthly newsletter of helpful tips and strategies. Next you might email or phone and offer a complimentary ‘get to know you discovery session on the phone’. Then, if you’re a match you can offer a paid session or program.

Step 2. Create your marketing calendar

Having a marketing calendar is essential to getting organised and staying out of overwhelm.

Unless you transfer your marketing activities and actions onto your yearly planner you run the real risk of getting into overwhelm. Seeing your year laid out with the natural rhythm of activities will help you maintain momentum throughout the year.

And get you the results you’re striving for.

Think of it as a big marketing wheel that keeps on turning.

Plug in your daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual activities. And remember to block out time for holidays and training events you want to attend as well as ‘me’ time to keep you rejuvenated and motivated.

Step 3. Work your plan

Start working the plan.

When things start picking up, and they will, the trick is to stick to the plan and keep doing the activities that created the momentum.

This may be the time to hire more team because if you don’t continue with the actions that generate leads they will dry up and before you know it you’ll have lost momentum again.

Remember it’s far harder to get started than to maintain it.

One last tip. Stick with it. Give yourself time to build the momentum. Swapping and changing is what wastes energy, loses momentum and limits results.

Plan your work and work your plan!