What To Do First in Marketing (When Everything Feels Urgent)

Stage 1: Awareness

Focus: Getting in front of the right people

This is where most people think they’re doing well, posting daily, using trending audio, hashtagging like it’s 2019. But visibility isn’t just about showing up. It’s about strategic exposure to the right audience.

If your current visibility strategy is exhausting but not producing leads, ask yourself:

• Are you showing up where your audience actually spends time?

• Are you leveraging your unique strengths like speaking, teaching, or writing?

• Are you using channels that allow people to experience your point of view?
  
  

Examples of Smart Awareness Tactics:

• Speaking at a virtual summit or local workshop

• Writing a blog post that answers a key question in your niche

• Collaborating with aligned creators

• Posting educational reels that lead to saves not just likes

• Joining niche Facebook groups with ideal clients (and offering value)
  
  

Choose 1–2 visibility strategies that energize you and align with how you communicate best.

Stage 2: Trust-Building

Focus: Nurturing the connection

People don’t buy the first time they see you. Most don’t even remember you after that first post. That’s where trust-building comes in, it bridges the gap between awareness and action.

In this stage, your goal is to move someone from “I’ve heard of them” to “I feel like they get me.”

And no, you don’t need to “share everything” or post daily to build trust. What matters is consistency, value, and alignment.

Examples of Trust-Building Touchpoints:

• Lead magnets that solve a real problem

• Email sequences that tell a story, not just pitch

• Sharing your values and approach through micro-content

• Highlighting behind-the-scenes decisions or client wins

• Offering free audits, templates, or mini-guides

This is the best time to introduce your freebie—like the PEBS Client Attraction Funnel visual roadmap.

Stage 3: Conversion

Focus: Making it easy to say “yes”

This is where you shift from nurturing to inviting.
The mistake? Many service providers ghost their audience right here.

They build awareness. They earn trust. But they never clearly invite people to take action.

Your job in the conversion stage is to:

• Tell people how to work with you

• Make your offer the obvious next step

• Remove confusion and friction from the process
  
  

Examples of Strong Conversion Tools:

• “Start Here” page with your signature offer

• Booking calendar linked in your bio and emails

• Client stories that reflect your audience’s journey

• Short-form sales videos or voice note CTAs

• Bundled offers or “low lift” starter services
  
  

 People want to work with you. Don’t make them guess how.

Stage 4: Loyalty

Focus: Keep them coming back

You’ve converted a client… Now what?

Client loyalty isn’t just about upsells. It’s about creating meaningful, personalized experiences that deepen your connection post-sale.

Remember:

• It’s easier (and more cost-effective) to retain a client than find a new one.

• Happy clients refer.

• People want to feel appreciated—not just sold to.

Examples of Loyalty Builders:

• A “thank you” video or handwritten note

• Quarterly check-ins via email or Loom

• Birthday/anniversary bonuses

• Invite-only offers for past clients

• A community for alumni or loyal clients

 Make them feel like VIPs and they’ll act like it.

TL;DR: Stop Marketing in Circles, Start Moving with Clarity