“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.”
– Eliud Kipchoge, king of marathon running
Athletics is all about fast times and firsts, and marathon racing puts strength on display with its grueling 26.2-mile test of physical, mental, and emotional endurance.
Kenyan Eliud Kipchoge, known by many as the king of marathon running, is the only man to hold both the official and unofficial marathon world records. Raised by a single mother, he ran two miles to school each day but did not start running seriously until his teen years. Early in his career, he ran in shorter distances, winning the 5,000-meter bronze medal at the 2004 Olympics before transitioning to marathons in 2013.
At the height of his career, Kipchoge was known for immense self-discipline – from 5:00 AM mountain pacers to logging every workout in a personal notebook. But there’s one thing he did not do: overextend himself in training. In daily runs, he never pushed past 80-90 percent exertion. And his slow, steady consistency paid off. On his journey to logging the first sub-two-hour marathon in history (in 2019), Kipchoge never sustained a serious injury, put down four of the fastest 10 marathons in history, and was compared to athletic giants like Micheal Jordan and Usain Bolt. President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe described Kipchoge’s influence like this:
“Kipchoge is not just a marathon runner. He’s a living example of what human potential can achieve through discipline and consistency.”
The Magic of a Consistent Marketing Routine For Printers
Small steps bring big results.
From race training to business building, regular deposits add up. But when it comes to marketing, many printers work in short spurts of creativity instead of crafting consistent, structured, well-executed plans.
We get it. Life is crazy. And many print shops lack the time, resources, or tools to make “notebook-logged, well-coached 5 AM workouts” the reality of their routine. But success in marketing requires persistence, strategy, and a willingness to adapt and regularly measure results. Without a marketing routine, these things just don’t happen.
Ready to move beyond wishful thinking and irregular bursts of creativity? You’ll need a solid plan and some great tools. Good intentions pave the road, but action drives the journey.
Four Keys to Putting Marketing Success on Autopilot
When you want to become more consistent in your marketing strategy, it’s important to create a routine: a structured plan that keeps you on schedule and on point with tracking and tweaking your goals.
Marketers do this by breaking a wide-lensed strategy into laser-focused, actionable steps:
1. Set Clear Goals
Define what you want to achieve through your marketing efforts. Do you want to gain subscribers? Increase website traffic? Generate ___ leads that bring ___ new conversions? Define these goals and make them as measurable, achievable, and time-bound as possible.
2. Identify Your Target Audience
Don’t market to “everyone.” Define your key prospects and tailor marketing efforts and product offerings to meet the specific needs, preferences, and expectations of that group, so your marketing is more effective and efficient.
3. Choose Marketing Channels & Content
From printed direct mail to short content video platforms, decide which media you will use to reach your audience. Then map out a content calendar that defines what and when you will post – with lead-time and deadlines that keep you accountable to this goal.
Break goals into:
- Daily Tasks: These might include content writing, social media engagement (responding to comments, sharing posts), or website analytics and updates.
- Weekly Tasks: Here you’ll tackle big-picture projects like publishing newsletters, crafting blog posts, tweaking marketing automation tools, or prepping direct mail pieces.
- Monthly Tasks: Set time aside for deeper performance reviews, content brainstorming, adjusting ad campaigns, and reporting on progress.
4. Monitor, Review, and Adjust
Do you regularly review key metrics like website traffic, conversion rates, and social media engagement? At the end of each month or quarter, you’ll need to review the performance of your strategies and adjust your plan for the next period. Continuous optimization is essential for an effective marketing routine.
How to Master the Art of Consistency
Sound difficult? Success can be. That’s why it’s important to tackle one step at a time.
When Eliud Kipchoge felt awed by the challenge of breaking the two-hour barrier, he broke it down into mini goals. ‘When going up the tree, you go up branch by branch,’ he said. ‘You handle each branch to test the strength, then you go up.’
Well-crafted plans bring more than peace of mind. They help you get organized (daily, weekly, monthly!), stay motivated, and improve decision-making as you track progress and invest in the tools and people you need to achieve your goals.
Are you ready to stop procrastinating and start down the path to more consistent, effective marketing? You don’t have to go it alone. Check out some of the stress-free tools from Marketing Ideas for Printers:
- Ready-to-customize, professional direct mail campaign pieces – every single month, without fail.
- Professional SEO Services to exponentially increase your website traffic.
- One-to-one creative planning and content creation via custom marketing services.
- Perfectly tailored monthly email management services (up to three emails per month combined with a print-focused landing page)
- Ready-to-post social media content tailored for your print buyers – 45 pieces monthly, with flexible self-service and fully managed options.
We’re here to help you master the art of consistency. Transform average into excellent with a weekly blueprint for success!