When running a successful online business, you need to ensure that you have a strong online presence. As an online nutrition business owner, online marketing can make or break your business. This allows your online nutrition business to reach a larger audience at a lower cost than traditional marketing methods.

Especially when you’re just starting out, you can market yourself for free using social media channels, email marketing sites and websites. Although these methods are low-cost, you have to keep in mind that they still require effort and strategy to execute effectively. 

Mistakes are inevitable whether you are just starting out with your online nutrition business or have years of experience. However, my goal with this blog is to help you avoid common mistakes made by dietitians and nutritionists online. Every business has its own challenges and setbacks but if you can avoid them, you will be much better off! 

Here are the TOP mistakes I see dietitians and nutritionists make when marketing online. 

Mistake #1: Marketing without a Consistent Brand Strategy

Without a consistent brand strategy, your marketing efforts may be scattered and ineffective. Your messaging may not resonate with your target audience, and your brand may not be easily recognizable or memorable. This can lead to a lack of trust and loyalty from your customers, which can ultimately hurt your business in the long run.

A consistent brand strategy helps you in creating a clear and consistent visual identity for your brand, which is important for building recognition and recall. This includes elements like your logo, colour scheme, typography, and imagery, all of which should be used consistently across all marketing materials. 

You also don’t need to invest thousands of dollars on your branding. You can get started for free using Canva or hire a freelance graphic designer on Fiverr or Upwork to design your logo and branding font. 

Mistake #2: Not Getting Clear on Ideal Clients 

Marketing to busy parents of toddlers is very different to marketing to high-level executives experiencing burnout. It’s important to get clear on your ideal clients. 

When you are not clear on who your ideal clients are, you may end up wasting time, money, and energy on marketing campaigns and tactics that don’t reach the right people or resonate with them. Additionally, you may miss out on opportunities to connect with and serve a specific group of people who are more likely to benefit from your product or service.

Moreover, not knowing your ideal client also makes it difficult for you to measure the success of your marketing campaigns and to make informed decisions about how to improve them. With a clear understanding of your ideal client, you can track which marketing campaigns and tactics are working well and which ones are not, and make adjustments accordingly.

Mistake #3: Posting on Social Media without a Proper Content Strategy

Posting on social media without a proper content strategy can have a negative impact on your brand or personal image. Without a clear plan for your content, you risk posting inconsistent, irrelevant, or low-quality content, which can damage your reputation and prevent you from achieving your social media goals. 

Additionally, posting without a proper content strategy can cause you to miss opportunities to engage with your audience or promote your brand. A well-planned content strategy can help you identify opportunities to create engaging content and connect with your audience, build a loyal following, increase engagement, and achieve your marketing goals. 

Mistake #4: Not Showing Up

As an online business owner, not showing up on social media can be detrimental to your success. Social media platforms have become an integral part of our daily lives, and millions of people use them to connect, share information, and discover new products and services. 

People buy from brands they know, like, and trust. If you’re not showing up as your brand and connecting with your audience on video or DMs, then you’re missing out. Not showing up consistently can limit your reach, decrease engagement, and give your competitors and advantage. By simply being present on social media and engaging with your customers, you can grow your brand, increase sales, and build a loyal following.

Mistake #5: Waiting for too long to get started due to Perfectionism

Perfectionism can lead to a fear of failure or a fear of making mistakes, which can prevent you from taking action and launching your business. 

Every day you delay launching your online business is an opportunity missed. You may miss out on potential customers or revenue that could have been generated if you had launched earlier. Additionally, spending too much time perfecting every detail of your online business can be time-consuming and may not be worth the effort. I always advise my clients in the Momentum Club and Accelerator Program that it may be better to launch their online nutrition business or program with a minimum viable product and refine it based on their client’s feedback. 

Waiting for too long can also lead to decreased motivation and enthusiasm. It can be easy to lose interest and become demotivated especially if you feel like you’re not moving forward. 

Finally, always remember that perfectionism can be paralysing and prevent you from taking action. It can be challenging to launch your online nutrition business if you are constantly striving for perfection. Remember that launching your business is just the beginning, and you can continue to refine and improve your product or service over time.

Mistake #6: Not Charging Your Worth

Being the cheapest isn’t the right way to attract clients. When charging, you need to consider your experience, the specialty area and your professional development. 

When you do not charge what your online nutrition program and other services are worth, you are essentially undervaluing yourself and your business. This can give the impression that your online business is not as credible or high-quality as it really is.When you undercharge, you limit your ability to invest in your business and grow. You may not have the resources to hire additional staff, invest in marketing or upgrade your equipment, which can prevent your online business from reaching its full potential. You may also attract the wrong customers – those who are looking for the cheapest option rather than the best value. 

It is important to price your products or services based on their value, taking into account your expenses, market demand, and competition. By charging what your business is worth, you can increase revenue, attract loyal customers, and invest in the growth of your online nutrition business. 

Mistake #7: Being too Broad and Trying to Cater to Everyone

Online businesses have the potential to reach a global audience, which can be both a blessing and a curse. While it may seem like catering to everyone is the best approach, it can actually be detrimental to the success of your business. Trying to cater to everyone can lead to a lack of focus and weaken your brand identity, making it difficult to stand out in a crowded market. By targeting a specific niche, you can establish a clear brand identity and differentiate your business from the competition. 

A specific niche can also help you better understand the needs of your target audience and create tailored solutions that better meet their needs. This can result in more loyal customers and better customer retention rates. 

Additionally, narrowing your focus can help you optimise your resources by targeting people who are more likely to be interested in your online nutrition program and services, resulting in more efficient marketing and higher returns on investment. 

Mistake #8: Not Having an Email List

As an online business owner, it’s crucial to have an email list as part of your marketing strategy. Email marketing is an effective way to reach your target audience, promote your products or services, and build relationships with your customers. Without an email list, you’re missing out on the opportunity to connect with potential customers and maintain relationships with your existing ones. 

Relying solely on social media or other channels to reach your audience can be risky, as these platforms can change their algorithms or policies at any time, limiting your ability to reach your audience. With an email list, you have control over your communication with your audience and can reach out to them directly, ensuring that your message is delivered to their inbox. 

Email marketing has also been shown to have higher conversion rates compared to other channels, which can increase sales and revenue for your business. An email list also provides valuable data on your customers, such as their preferences, behaviour, and engagement with your emails, which can help you optimise your marketing efforts and improve your online nutrition business.

Your Take Home Message

If you’re currently making these mistakes, it’s about time to reflect and reconsider. Mistakes are an unavoidable part of life and business but I’m confident that you will create more success if you avoid the TOP 8 mistakes I’ve outlined above! Have a consistent brand strategy, identify your ideal clients clearly, show up consistently, be specific, don’t wait and take imperfect action. Finally, build your own email list. 

If you are ready and willing to learn more about building your 6-figure online program, check out my FREE Masterclass , 3 Little-Known Secrets to Building Your 6-Figure Online Program where I delve deeper into how to build your online program from scratch. 
Or, if you have questions or need help with building your online nutrition business, feel free to email me at info@charlynooi.com! I would love to address any questions or concerns you might have!