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What Goes Into a Successful Marketing Plan?

July 27, 2016
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| Categories: Market Research, Promotion

What does it take to create and implement a successful marketing plan? We always say that everyone is in “marketing.” That everyone is in “sales.” Why? Because no matter what role you have in your organization (an entrepreneur, a manager, or a subject matter expert), you need to be able to identify trends, to figure out how to create and sustain value for your customers and partners (whether external or internal), and to develop effective ways to get that message across. That's the perspective we’ve thought about as we assembled the content for The Marketing Plan Blueprint course: to walk...

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How to Get Help With Your Marketing Plan

July 20, 2016
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| Categories: Market Research, Promotion

Going through a structured planning process and then writing and sharing your marketing plan will go a long way towards addressing many of the issues you struggle with to grow your brand. Are you struggling with getting funding from potential investors? Are you struggling with getting your employees engaged to support your goals? Are you struggling with positioning your brand so it can compete effectively to win more business? One way to sort this out is by thinking from the outside in and not from the inside out. Try saying that five times fast! What we mean is that understanding the...

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What Do I Get out of Writing a Marketing Plan?

July 13, 2016
| 2 Comments
| Categories: Market Research, Promotion

With so many communication platforms out there, it is hard not to get sucked into worrying about your next blog post, your next tweet, or your next event at the expense of thinking about your overall marketing strategy. We know you’re busy running your business or you’re busy conceiving the details of your new venture. So why does it make sense for you spend time writing a marketing plan? For us, the benefits are many. Above all, it sets the foundation for how you are going to serve and win customers. It ensures that you are connecting all of the...

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Every Day is a Good Day for Marketing Planning

July 6, 2016
| 6 Comments
| Categories: Market Research, Promotion

Every day is a good day for marketing planning. Really? Yes, because a well-thought-out marketing plan will help you to win new business and customers, to get more investments if you need them, and to have your team more aligned and committed to your goals. I remember the first “big” marketing plan I had to write for a business I was responsible for. It scared the heck out of me! Why? Because the stakes were high. I had to develop one that convinced senior management that my business was worth investing in as much as I did AND it had...

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10 Books to Put on Your Summer Reading List

June 28, 2016
| 23 Comments
| Categories: Life Lessons
Summer Reading List Picks

The summer season is the perfect time to catch up on all those books you've saved to your Amazon wish list since you put "read more books" in your New Year's Resolution. We caught you! My mom and I have put together this list of some of our favorite books from our collective bookshelves. Some are perfect for the beach, while others are intended to help your business grow. Some are good for both! Can you guess who picked out which books? Whether you're traveling this summer or staying local, these 10 books can help you get a jump start on the second...

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15 Strategies To Make Your Home Rental Business Successful

June 9, 2016
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| Categories: Life Lessons, Small Business

Whether it's a full house, an apartment or even one (tiny!) room, the vacation rental and home rental business is getting larger and larger by the day. Between Airbnb, HomeAway, and FlipKey alone, there are nearly 4 million listings worldwide. Perhaps you see an opportunity for yourself to start a home rental business. Go for it!! We did, eight years ago now, and we've been happy with the results. We approached marketing our condominium by applying the same principles we teach to small business owners: Target: Who do we want to appeal to and, by definition, who could we not serve well? Product:...

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Recap: How to Design a Brand Identity for Bloggers

June 2, 2016
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| Categories: Blogging Tips, Branding
How to design a brand identity for bloggers

Thank you to everyone who joined our first Blab chat with Chelsea from The Creative Side! Chelsea and I talked about How to Design a Brand Identity for Bloggers for about an hour and a half, and we loved the questions you guys asked us during the Q&A section. Here's a rundown of the main points you'll hear us discuss during the workshop: - How to find your target audience (Lucy) - How to create a style for your brand (Chelsea) - How to communicate with your audience (Lucy) - How to design graphics that represent your brand (Chelsea) - How...

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The Essential Introduction to Starting a Blog for Mompreneurs

May 24, 2016
| 4 Comments
| Categories: Blogging Tips
FB - The Essential Introduction to Starting a Blog for Mompreneurs

All moms deserve to fulfill their inner mompreneur–and if you have a business vision, Laura Williams is the original badass business mum. We're huge fans of her straight talk and actionable resources for mompreneurs (or mumpreneurs as they like to say across the pond!) Starting a blog is integral to your personal journey as an small business owner. We understand that starting a blog can be overwhelming (we're working on ours daily!), but it doesn't have to be. With a clear vision of your goals for your blog, you'll know what your end result looks like and be able to move swiftly towards that ideal finished product....

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How to Make Your Pop-Up Show or Trade Show Booth Work for You

May 18, 2016
| 6 Comments
| Categories: Promotion, Small Business
pop-up show or trade show booth tips

Exhibiting at trade shows, conferences, or pop-up shows is a great way to promote your product to a targeted audience. You’re able to interact with your customers or prospects, and you get to see what your competition is up to. But, it can be expensive when compared to email or social media marketing. You need to account for your trade show booth, exhibitor fees, the packing, set up, dismantling, and transportation of your exhibit, plus travel costs. And, you’re investing time. Oh, and yes, your feet will be killing you by the end of the day, guaranteed! Follow along with our accompanying Trade Show Guide and...

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4 Steps to Creating an Effective Message

May 11, 2016
| 6 Comments
| Categories: Blogging Tips, Branding, Market Research
creating an effective message

I get asked a lot by small business owners how to convey what they have to offer in the most compelling way. In most cases, they don't lack for what to say, but rather how to sharpen its effectiveness. This guide provides 4 steps to creating an effective message.   Step 1: THE TARGET: Who is my audience for this message? Messages are most effective when set in the context of a specific audience. Step 2: THE MESSAGE: What is the solution I am providing? This is the core of what you're promising to customers. Your unique value that is meaningful...

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