So, I decided to make some soup one day, and while I was doing so, I realized that a lot of the requirements to pull off a good soup recipe, are the same ones that are needed to make a great marketing campaign happen.
Here is a not so quick recap of what I realized…
(If you don’t have time to watch, read below):
- Your Why…
Identify why you want to create a marketing campaign in the first place, so that if it gets complicated and overwhelming, you remember why you started this campaign in the first place. Is it because the cash register isn’t ringing? Is your business in a lull? All to often, business owners get caught up in the frenzy of running a business, that it can be hard to make time to market your business, even though it is an essential part of growing your business. - Setting SMART Goals
Specific
Measurable
Attainable
Risky
Timely
This is important so that you can assess whether or not you hit your goal once your campaign is over. - Plan!
The most important part of the recipe that often gets overlooked… the plan. Make sure that you set yourself up for success to accomplish your goal and complete the campaign. Outline who is responsible for what, figure out what specifically you need, and make sure that you set aside time and/or money to bring the campaign to fruition. - Tools
Marketing tools are an essential component of executing a campaign. They can help you save money, time, and make replication easier. Don’t get overwhelmed if you are looking into new tools, and you see a number of options out there. Refocus on what you need, and think of future campaigns before re-evaluating your options. Ask for help if need be. - EXECUTE
Make the campaign happen! - Assess/Measure
It’s always important to reassess what worked and what didn’t, after ALL marketing campaigns. What was your ROI? Did you hit you goal? What would you do different next time to make this recipe/campaign better, or is it best to not do this again, and try something new? Whatever the answer is, don’t get discouraged if you get less than stellar results. What you learned during the process of the campaign is really important for future campaigns. And, whatever you do, don’t give up on marketing your business if it has been a struggle. It takes practice, and it’s harder to make an impact on your business when you are reactive vs. proactive. People can smell the desperation a mile a way, so try to do something consistently every month until it becomes your go-to recipe (strategy) for success.