5 Marketing Communications Tips for a STRONG 2013

The holidays are here and in many workplaces, folks are taking time off. Things might be nutty as a fruitcake at home, but at work projects slow down and you can come up for a breather. If you have anything to do with the marketing efforts in your business, use that time to rethink strategies for the coming year and make 2013 the year of solid relationships with your customers, prospects, employees and everyone else on your list. Here are some tips to get you started.

1. SIMPLIFY your message -- Use one clear and concise statement about what your company is and does. You can't be everything to everyone, so state what you do and do well. Don't get long and windy. Short and sweet.
2. Gain FOCUS -- It's easy to feel overwhelmed thinking of your many target audiences, many messages you want to send and the many ways to send them. Pick your top 3 audiences, your top message for each and the best communications vehicle(s) to reach each group.
3. Create a CALENDAR -- If you know your market is ripe in the spring, plan your messages and methods 3 or 6 months ahead. Set aside a half-day to plan this calendar and actually create the messages (emails, social media posts, etc.). It will save you tons of time and make your efforts more effective.
4. REEVALUATE -- things like your SEO keywords ... email contact lists ... advertising spending. If web traffic is slow, find better SEO strategies and keywords. Scratch emails off your newsletter list that aren't active and engaged with you. Check your return on investment for this year's paid advertising. If it's not bringing in $, there are more effective ways to keep attention on your business, so put your efforts there.
5. Seek ways to COMMUNICATE, not just market -- Interactions with customers and prospects will always be more fruitful on a two-way street. Listen to your customers (person-to-person conversation, social media, surveys). Make sure they feel valued (thank them, return their calls promptly, follow up with them). Use kindness and respect at all times, and simply build your business on the Golden Rule.
   
   
   Cheers to a Happy & Healthy New Year from Nichols Editorial!

Copyright (c) 2012 by Melissa Nichols

Have the Golden Touch with the Golden Rule

Remember the old saying, "Do unto others as you would have done unto you," or "Treat others way you want to be treated"?

We've heard it before, but somehow we forget to actually live it. Society rewards the selfish brats of the world with fame and fortune, but don't fall into the "get them before they get me" mindtrap. I challenge you to slow down for a moment and consider the words, actions and ATTITUDES you bring into your relationships. Look around--the people out there having the most fun with the most friends and greatest respect are also the ones who also practice good manners on a regular basis.

They are humble.
They are kind.
They listen.
They find the good in others.
They don't take themselves too seriously.
They do their best.

I get it--it takes loads of patience and determination to go out in this Big Bad World to slay dragons all day, put food on the table, run your kids from here to Kingdom Come in an overstuffed mini-van, and keep your spouse, boss, co-workers, friends, family and everyone else convinced you've got it all together. A perfect storm that makes us forget the most basic life lesson.

Stop for a minute and realize the world does not in fact rest on your shoulders. It will all be OK. Maya Angelou once said, "People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."

How do you make others feel?

I hope to make my family feel loved unconditionally.
I hope to make my friends feel supported.
I hope to make my colleagues feel valued and empowered.
I hope to make strangers feel special, even if it's just a smile or letting them go first at a 4-way stop.
I hope to make you feel a bit wiser.

I'd love to read your examples of the Golden Rule at work in your life, whether you offered or received it. :)