Piccolo Marketing Blog

With just one week left (and two holidays!) in 2016, it’s time to finalize your 2017 marketing budget! So, let’s not waste any time....

1. Review 2016.

Take note of where you succeeded and where you less-than-succeeded in sticking to your marketing budget. This includes areas of both under and over utilization. Make note of target areas you want to focus on in 2017.

2. Make changes.

Based on what you found above in step 1, be bold! Make changes and take (calculated) risks. Where did you see a solid ROI? Do more of that. Where did your efforts fall short? Before scrapping this area altogether, consider whether you used this method to its full potential.

3. Define your marketing goals.

Your marketing goals should be a reflection of your business goals. How will marketing enhance and promote your larger efforts? For example, your marketing focus will look different if your goal is to bring in new clients versus a loyalty program for existing customers.

4. Get organized.

Review your marketing process. For social media, are your accounts up to date with pictures, contact info, and basic pertinent information? Take a look at your website – is everything accurate, current, and meaningful. Make sure to include links to your social media platforms and an email/contact form.

Plan ahead! Get a jump start on developing content. Whether that is email or newsletter topics, blogs, or social media posts, start building your database of links and content. This will increase your marketing efficiency on a weekly basis when it comes time to schedule and develop content.

5. Schedule check-in points.

Whether it’s weekly, monthly, or quarterly, remember to actually schedule your check-in points! Take some time to review your marketing budget and how your spending is lining up with your strategy, goals, and ROI. Checking in often can help you to catch problem areas and adjust as needed to ensure your marketing efforts are successful.

For help with setting your marketing budget or strategy, give us a call at Piccolo Marketing at 615-348-7768 - we’d love to help you start off 2017 on the right foot!

To see some of my past blogs about setting and sticking to your marketing budget, check out these links:

3 Quick Steps to Set Up Your 2016 Marketing Strategy

Your Marketing Budget - Don’t Forget About It!

3 Easy Steps to Starting Your Marketing Budget

All year we’ve been working on honing your networking skills and strategy. Unfortunately, this is one of those areas in business where you may never feel comfortable or like you’re doing enough.

But, don’t lose hope! Whether you’re an introvert, extrovert, or some combination, you can master your own networking strategy and achieve your networking goals.

It’s like the old, cliché break up line… in networking, you may need to come to the realization that, in fact, “it’s not you, it’s me.”

Are you sticking to your networking strategy?

Or, better yet, do you have a networking strategy? If not, this is your biggest area of opportunity to see results in your networking efforts. As in most things in life, your success (or failure) is the result of the preparation and planning you put in at the beginning. In regards to networking, do you know your:

1. Networking Budget
2. Business Goals
3. Marketing Strategy

Once you know these three things, you can outline your networking strategy. Then, all you have to do is stick to it!

Do you know what your networking goals are?

There are lots of great reasons to concentrate on networking. However you will only have limited success if you don’t have an objective. So ask yourself…

• Are you looking for new clients or referral partners? Or even networking for a job?
• Have you attended the number and types of events you intended to?
• How well have you followed through with contacting networking leads? (Both immediately after the event and in developing a long-term marketing campaign strategy.)

Take a minute to review and even write down what your networking goals are. Consider how your strategy is setting you up for success in achieving these goals.

Have you developed a long-term strategy for working your networking leads?

There’s no point in working to building a networking lead list if you aren’t going to follow through with them on the back end. This is truly where the work of networking begins! Until you work your networking leads, they are just that. Your job now is to turn those leads into partners. Follow these steps (and click here to learn more) to get started:

1. Determine where your business is lacking.
2. Follow-up.
3. Set aside time each week for networking.
4. Give!

Now that the year is coming to an end, it’s the perfect time to reflect on your networking successes and shortcomings. Give us a call at Piccolo Marketing at 615-348-7768 or join us at one of our many Nashville Locals events to get started!

With our recent rebranding, we decided to emphasize what makes our company stand out. Piccolo means small. In no way is our thinking small; rather, we strive to cater to the needs of our local friends in small business. Over the years, one of the greatest lessons I have learned is to remember to think small on your way to achieving big goals.

You spend all this time developing and working towards your biggest of goals. When things seem to be getting out of control or you have any setbacks along your way, it’s easy to be disheartened. However, this is the perfect time to take a step back and remember the devil is in the details.

To think small…

1. Review your process. You may be employing your “marketing strategy,” but there’s more to getting a job done than just checking it off your list as complete. Are you using your time efficiently? Are you putting the best person for the job to work? Especially for the things you do all the time that have become second nature, take another look! Believe it or not, this is where you’re most likely to find the opportunity for improvement. 

2. Schedule your time. One of the best things you can do for your goal-achieving process is to stop setting deadlines. “What?,” you are most definitely asking… Consider how you feel when a deadline comes and goes. Likely, some level of failure and you may even abandon your goal or project altogether. Instead, schedule your time. Specifically, build the act of working towards your goal (or a smaller, short term portion of it) into your day. In this way, it will remain in your focus and you’ll see and be motivated by your progress.

3. Cross your T’s and dot your I’s. The devil really is in the details. After all, a T that’s not crossed is just an L! And that could get really confusing. Know what your end goal is, but have a solid understanding of all the little pieces and parts that are essential to making your vision come to life. 

4. Don’t work alone. Whether someone is actually working with you in the trenches or is simply an ear to lean on, it’s important to have someone to bounce your ideas and concerns off of. With your own goals, you are likely too close to it to see if something just doesn’t add up or if you are getting off course. Use your resources to help keep you in check!

Ready to start thinking small? Give us a call at Piccolo Marketing at 615-348-7768 – we’d love to help you achieve your biggest of goals!

December 2^nd.

While most people are counting down the days to Christmas (23), be sure to take note of the number of days you have until your new marketing strategy is in effect. That would be 29.

Are you ready?

If not, let me help you set your marketing strategy for 2017.

Answering these questions will get you well on your way to creating your perfect marketing strategy.

Who is your target audience?

Consider the age, gender, industry, position/title, or budget of the person you are targeting. Additionally, factors such as major life events (homeowner, new parent, etc.) or buyer motivation (personal, business, or gift purchases) are important to consider when deciding how to target your audience.

What platforms should you use?

Now that you know WHO you are targeting, you can infer where they are more likely to be found. The characteristics of your audience also guide the type of content that will be the most effective. Consider the type of information that can be delivered in a tweet versus a blog and how that translates to the needs of your audience.

Where are your competitors finding success?

This one may be a little tougher, but it’s an important point to consider. While you may be finding success where you’re at, are you missing an important piece of the puzzle? Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box and to try new ideas!

When should you reach out?

It has been well established that the platform you are on impacts the time of day you are likely to more effective in delivering your content. If you’re going to take the time to create and post meaningful content, it’s important to ensure they are working most efficiently for you! Check out this infographic for more information on when is the most effective time to post.

Why haven’t you started yet?

If you’ve been putting off developing your marketing strategy or you just don’t know where to start, that’s OK! As with all other components of your business, it may not be your job to make something happen. It’s simply your job to put the right people in place to get the job done and it may just be the right time to hire a marketing consultant.

Need more? Give us a call at Piccolo Marketing and we can help! Don’t delay, your marketing strategy countdown is in full swing!

In the spirit of the holidays, I wanted to talk about being thankful. And particularly as it pertains to business.

William Arthur Ward is quoted as saying,

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

Let’s all try to bring a little thankfulness to our daily lives…

“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings…”

In the spirit of gratitude, don’t take any single day or moment for granted. Each day is a new opportunity to affect change in your business and others. And that can start with a simple act of thankfulness.

• Send a handwritten note. Pick out a new customer/client, a loyal customer you haven’t seen in awhile, or a referral partner you’ve recently been in contact with and send them a note of thanks. Make it simple, and most importantly, thoughtful.
• Make a referral. Share the wealth! Remember that client who requested something just outside of your comfort zone? Reach out to someone in your network of referral partners for advice or to bring on to complete the project. People enjoy being recognized and appreciated for their expertise.
• Give a gift. A small gift, like a gift card or cookies, can go a long way in saying “thanks” to an employee who deserves recognition or a referral partner who sent a new client your way. You’ll be amazed at how a small act of giving can brighten your day.

“…turn routine jobs into joy…”

Make an effort to take the mundane out of the… well, mundane… If you’re feeling a little burnt out with your routine tasks, try to change things up a bit with these tips.

• Make an adjustment. Try to do some of your routine tasks at a different time of the day. For example, maybe you have started to dread making sales calls or creating new email templates. Do it first thing in the morning or right after lunch when you’re fresh. Tackling these things first will get them out of the way and open up your time for seemingly more rewarding or “interesting” tasks.
• Block your time. Time blocking can be effective in that you’ll be able to get small, simple, or recurring tasks out of the way in one shot. For example, instead of checking and responding to your email as they pop up, set aside an hour in the morning and the afternoon to focus on your emails. You’ll be amazed at how much more productive you’ll be. And that is something to be thankful for!

“…and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”

Take nothing for granted! Even the most chance of meetings can turn into a fruitful opportunity.

• Invite new contacts out for coffee. You’ll never know how you can work together with someone until you meet. A more personal meeting is a great opportunity to really learn about someone, explore how your two business worlds can interact, and understand what your individual needs are. Give it a try!
• Try something new. Consider stepping outside of your comfort zone with that invitation to a networking event or business industry group. Make plans to work towards one of your “loftier” business or personal goals. The sky is the limit! 

In closing, thank you for reading! Go out and spread the thankfulness today!

Another year has almost come and gone! Since all good things must come to an end, let’s take a minute to count down some of my favorite blogs from 2016. With topics ranging from marketing and networking to leadership and wellness, there is sure to be something for everyone!

#5 Get Your Marketing Plan Prepared for 2016!

Or, more appropriately, 2017!

If you don’t read past #5, be sure to stop here and review my tips for creating and implementing your marketing plan. With a focus on goal and budget setting, these 5 tips will help you get your thoughts in order BEFORE the new year so you can hit the ground (or interwebs) running!

#4 What Kind of Referral Partner Are You?

Take your networking efforts to the next step with a focus on “referral networking.” Why, you ask? Because, while you may not be able to personally deliver a particular service, tapping into your referral network can provide your client with a solution.

And everybody likes a win-win.

#3 Email Marketing 101: Nurture Your Lead List

Building your email marketing list is one of my keys to business success. But, there is a difference between building your list and effectively using it! Learn more here and get started with nurturing your lead list.

#2 Business Development 101: How To Be An Effective Leader

I think we all try to be the best version of ourselves! How do you exemplify strong leadership?

Ask yourself these three questions and consider how effective your leadership style is. After all, “Leaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others.” (John Maxwell)

#1 What types of networking groups or organizations should I join in 2016?

Did you know that there are a variety of types of networking events? Make sure you’re attending the ones that make the most sense for you and your business goals. The trick is to be prepared and to strategically pick events that will show you results (and increase your networking confidence)!

Haven’t had enough yet? Connect with me on LinkedIn to see all of my past blog posts plus weekly content, tips, and business news.

Here are some more of my favorites. Click the link to learn more about any topic that strikes your fancy!

• When Should I Hire a Marketing Consultant?
• My #1 Networking Tip: Turn Your Contacts Into Partners
• The First 3 Things You Should Do When Marketing a New Business
• Work-Life Balance: Don’t Lose It!
• How to Consistently Follow Up with New Contacts

This year is winding down and with that comes lots and lots of planning, strategizing, and goal setting for next year. In order to get your business house in order, you’ve likely been pulling together and finalizing your budget, business goals, marketing strategy, and – I hope – your networking strategy!

A solid and thoughtful networking strategy can easily complement your business goals. It’s important to consider how your budget, goals, marketing, and networking all work together. Efficiency in coordinating these four main efforts can directly contribute to your buisness success or failure.

Let me help you review your networking strategy.

STEP 1: Finalize your budget

• Determine your total budget for the year. This is to include day to day operations, marketing, and networking efforts.
• Break your budget up by quarters. This way, you have smaller, benchmark numbers to hit. For me, this helps to keep my budget at the forefront of my decision making.
• Review your budget. At the end of each quarter, consider your ROI – where did you get the most out of your spending? Where do you feel like the time and money you spent fell short? Adjust accordingly and stick with what works! 

STEP 2: Set your business goals

• Conduct a SWOT analysis. Namely, define your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Base your goals on turning your strengths and opportunities into action and eliminating your weaknessess and threats.
• Line up your goals with your budget. It’s important to work within your means and set yourself up for success from the start.
• Double check that your goals are SMART – specific, measurable, agreed upon, realistic, and time based. 

STEP 3: Define your marketing strategy

• Recognize your audience. Part of knowing HOW to market is knowing WHO to market to. This includes making decisions on the type of platform and the content that is most appealing.
• Pick your platform. There are so many options and knowing where you are posting will help dictate how often you post, the tone and length of the post, and what your focus is. For instance, the style and delivery of your content is very different when considering a tweet versus a blog.
• Get creative. Your marketing strategy should and can extent beyond social media. Consider flyers, brochures, cards, or mailers as appropriate. Don’t forget to design and prepare materials for networking events or special promotions! 

STEP 4: Outline your networking strategy

The moment you’ve been waiting for! Now that you know your budget, your goals, and how you’re going to market yourself or your business… get out there and sell it!

• Don’t just be a salesman. I use “sell” loosely above. A major goal of networking should be to build your network. Sounds obvious, right? This idea is often overlooked. Use events as an opportunity to get your name out there and to start to build connections with fellow professionals.
• Know what your networking goals are. If your goal is more than “closing the deal,” you need to understand what it is you are looking to achieve with your networking efforts. Are you looking for referral partners? Employees or a new job for yourself?
• Schedule time for networking. Try to block a few hours into your week and register for one networking event per month. The more you make networking a priority the more likely you are to give it your full and undivided attention.

For additional help on developing your networking strategy, give us a call at Piccolo Marketing at 615.348.7768.

There are many definitions and many elements that make up “brand management.” At its most basic, brand management is the analysis and planning on how that brand is perceived in the market. Your marketing strategy in relation to brand management should be consistent and consider a wide array of elements.

We’re just over halfway through 2016 and that means it’s a great time to take a little pause. Where have you been with your marketing strategy, where should you go, and what trends are a good fit for your business?

Does your content marketing strategy focus on your organization’s story? A clear, concise content marketing strategy engages your audience and drives consumer behavior. With a successful content strategy, you will have a framework for the creation, production, and distribution of your marketing materials.