The Best Marketing Strategies for Service Providers
As a service provider—whether you’re a consultant, coach, or creative professional—the question of which marketing strategy works best comes up all the time. And it’s no wonder! With so many options, it can feel overwhelming to choose a single approach.
Here are just a few of the marketing strategies often recommended to service-based professionals:
Hosting webinars and workshops
Writing and publishing thought leadership content
Building referral and partnership programs
Speaking at events—both virtual and in-person
Podcasting
SEO and local search optimization
Networking and direct outreach
Email marketing campaigns
Social media engagement
Paid ads and sponsorships
Video content
With all these possibilities, you might be wondering: Which one is best?
The short answer? It’s less about which specific strategy you choose and more about how consistently you stick to it. Many service providers fall into the trap of strategy switching—jumping from tactic to tactic, posting on YouTube for a few weeks, then switching to cold outreach, only to abandon that and try getting on podcasts, and so on.
Strategy switching can feel like a logical way to “test” different tactics, but it usually leads to scattered results. Instead of building momentum, you end up spreading yourself thin and never staying with any single strategy long enough to see real results. Every strategy has its own unique learning curve, tools, expenses, and timelines to work.
Strategy Switching vs. Strategy Layering
To create lasting impact, you need to approach marketing with strategy layering rather than strategy switching. Strategy layering means thoughtfully combining a few complementary activities that align with a single, clear purpose.
For example, if your goal is to increase brand authority, you might start by consistently creating thought leadership content (like blog posts or a podcast) and pairing it with social media engagement. Over time, you can layer on other tactics that complement your content, such as a targeted email newsletter or paid ads to expand reach. This layered approach allows each piece to build on the others, multiplying your impact.
When to Change Strategies
Switching strategies isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes, a particular approach doesn’t fit your strengths or isn’t sustainable. But before you make a switch, ask yourself if the lack of results might be due to issues with positioning or messaging rather than the strategy itself.
A coach or marketing consultant can be invaluable in helping you identify these nuances. They can help you read the data, understand which parts of your approach may need fine-tuning, and ensure you’re addressing the right areas before moving to a new strategy.
Finding the Right Support
If you’re feeling stuck, consider reaching out for guidance. With some support, you can better understand your market, clarify your offer, and refine your messaging—all critical pieces that make your marketing efforts worthwhile. If you’d like my help, book a call, and we can discuss how to streamline your approach.
In the meantime, if you prefer video content, check out my video here 👇 and share with someone you think can use some help getting clarity with their marketing efforts.
