Last week, the Chief Rocker and I had a lunch meeting with a fantastic organization that we are partnering with. When beginning any new business relationship, I find myself returning to a familiar conversation, inspired by The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey, to get us started in the right direction.
The belief is this: Any marketing effort will go off the rails quickly without clear goals and objectives, so it’s important to “begin with the end in mind.”
What does this mean, exactly?
You must define what success looks like and work backwards.
- Identify your goals. What does success look like? In what timeframe?
- More sales? How much more? What capture rate? What product or service?
- More traffic? If so, how much more? In-store? Online? How will it be measured?
- More leads? Are you looking for quantity, quality, or both?
- Define your budget parameters. How much are you willing to spend to achieve your goals
- Clearly define your audience. Are you talking to just one particular group or are there multiple segments of people you need to reach?
Messaging is key.
In order to be successful in marketing, your messaging has to break through the clutter, grab your audience’s attention, and meet at the crossroads of problem versus solution. Your opportunity is to offer the solution that only you can provide – even better if you’re there before they realize they need you.
You must clearly describe what action you want your audience to take. Do you want your audience to call you? Visit your location? Engage in a promotion? Provide a referral? Be clear. And lastly, whatever the call to action is, make sure their customer experience goes far beyond their expectations!
Begin with the end in mind and increase your opportunity for success. Need help clarifying your goals and getting started? We are here to help!
An influencer is someone who acts as a mutual friend, and connects your brand with your target consumers. In today’s technological world, people are exposed to an abundance of purchasing choices, yet they don’t have the time to research them. Instead, buyers rely on friends, acquaintances, and fellow consumers to inform their purchasing decisions. The rise of social media has made it easier than ever for people to find other people who will help give them the information.
“Live with intention. Walk to the edge. Listen hard. Practice wellness. Play with abandon. Laugh. Choose with no regret. Continue to learn. Appreciate your friends. Do what you love. Live as if this is all there is.”
Every year at this time, I sit down to write a blog that adequately expresses the gratitude I have in my heart. And the truth of the matter is, I struggle to find words weighty enough.
As businesses are planning for the new year, there are several social media trends that appear to be here to stay (at least for now). You should consider these when putting together a strategy for 2018:
However, these initiatives in and of themselves are not enough to sustain the brand awareness or momentum necessary to meet the larger goals.
I don’t mind telling you, friends – the past couple of weeks have been a complete and total exercise in spinning my wheels. I’ve had some big distractions – visiting relatives, a sick child, a big project, some health issues that needed addressing – but honestly I have had a hard time getting back to prime productivity.
These events have caused me to struggle with feelings of fear and unease, and I have struggled to quell the fear and unease in my children. And although I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, I have looked to others for guidance about how to cope with these feelings, and I thought sharing what I’ve learned might help someone else, as well.