First Quarter 2012 Marketing Ideas

I have always said and will continue to say that we marketing people think a minimum of 3 months.  And we make our plans for what we need and want to do this way.  When the holidays roll around we have already turned our sights to the first quarter of the coming year-2012.  The only things we are doing this time of year is any charity type work that can only be done now as it pertains primarily to the holiday season we are currently in.  Otherwise we spend our time planning what we are going to be doing in January, February & March.  Typically it's in December when you work for a company that has an actual marketing budget that you get the approved one so this is why the planning gets pushed into high gear....as it is now we learn what monies we  have to work with to accomplish our goals.  Even if you don't work for such a company and only have a little home based business I have always encouraged clients to THINK like a big company and you will be able to gain and keep a market edge for your business. 

In keeping with this thought I am sharing marketing ideas for January, February & March.  I highly suggest sitting down at some point and planning what your business needs to accomplish the first quarter of 2012 and start to put some of it in motion.  At the end of December it is very difficult with all the holidays and celebrations going on to accomplish much so sooner is better than later when it come to this. 

January the month that starts every year.  It's a FRESH start on every possible level and a great month to begin a new trend as well.  It is also known as book blitz; celebration of life, financial wellness, get organized, international creativity, international New Year's resolutions for business, international quality of life, national clean up your computer, national tea and shape up US month.

Special weeks in January include: 
1st-7th:  celebration of life and diet resolution week.
1st-8th:  national lose weight/feel great week
2nd-8th:  someday we'll laugh about this & New year's resolutions week.
5th-9th: women's self-empowerment week
8th-14th:  home office safety & security week
15th-21st:  healthy weight week

Special Days in January include:

1st-New Year's Day
6th-Epiphany/Twelfth Night
7th-Orthodox Christmas
9th-national clean off your desk day
10th- national cut your energy costs and UN day
13th-Friday the 13th
14th-organize your home
15th-religious freedom
16th-Martin Luther King Jr Day
19th-get to know your customers day
21st-national hugging day
22nd celebration of life day
23rd-Chinese New Year's
24th-national compliment day
29th-Freethinker's day

February the second month of the year and the shortest...but it's packed with a lot too.  It's known as American heart; international boost your self-esteem; international expect success; library lovers; national black history, national care about your indoor air, national cherry, national time management, national weddings, plant the seeds of greatness, relationship wellness, responsible pet owners, wise health care consumer & youth leadership month.

Special weeks in February include:

1st-7th:  women's heart week
5th-11th:  children's authors & illustrators; freelance writers appreciation & publicity for profit week
6th-10th:  international networking & international friendship week
6th-11th:  national green week
12th-18th:  celebration of love week
13th-19th:  random acts of kindness week
18th-25th:  national entrepreneurs week
26th-March 5th:  telecommuter appreciation week

Special Days in February include:

1st-freedom day
2nd-Candlemas/Imbolc/Groundhog day
3rd-wear red day
4th-world cancer day
5th-Super Bowl XLVI
7th-ballet day
12th-Lincoln's Day
13th-clean out your computer day
13-14th-Westminster Dog Show
16th-innovation day
17th-world human spirit day
20th-lover your pet day
20th-President's Day
21st-Mardi Gras
22nd-Ash Wednesday/Lent; world thinking & George Washington's birthday
26th-Daytona 500
29th- Leap Year Day

March-the final month of the first quarter and over the years I have found it to be the month that people seem to be waking up as Spring is coming.  If you plan your first quarter right this will be the month you will be actually putting your next quarter plans into place actually. 

March is known as:  American Red Cross; employee spirit; international expect success; international ideas; international listening awareness; international women's; Irish-American Heritage; music in our schools; national craft; national march into literacy; national women's history; spiritual wellness & youth art month.

Special weeks in March include:

1at-7th: Universal Human Beings week
4th-10th:  national words matter & read an ebook week
8th-14th:  universal women's week
19th-25th:  act happy week
26th-31st:  national cleaning week

Special days in March include:

1st: world book & world compliment
2nd:  Dr Seuss; employee appreciation & NEA's read across America
7th:  national be heard
8th:  international women's & working women's day & organize your home office day
9th: get over it day
11th:  daylight savings begins
14th: Pi day
15th:  Ides of March & companies that care day
16th:  freedom of information
17th:  St Patrick's Day
20th: 1st day of Spring/Ostara
21st: national common courtesy day
31st: Earth hour


]

2012 is fast approaching....

Every business who engages in marketing should read this:

http://www.marketingprofs.com/articles/2011/6359/12-marketing-predictions-for-2012?adref=nlt111411&utm_source=mpt&utm_medium=howto&utm_campaign=basic&utm_term=strategy&utm_content=article

Marketing is Strategy

There is a need to clear up the confusion that exists regarding marketing and advertising.  Most people believe them to be interchangeable.  This couldn’t be further from the truth.  As a marketing person, I spend a great deal of time attempting to help people try and differentiate between the two which isn’t always a simple task.  In order to understand the difference one must know what they are exactly.

First, let’s look at the definition of each.  Marketing, as defined by Webster’s Dictionary “is the act or process of selling or purchasing in a market.  It’s an aggregate of functions involved in moving goods from producer to consumer”.  An aggregate of functions….meaning there’s more than one function involved here. This is a key point to remember as we continue our analysis.  Webster’s defines advertising as “the action of calling something to the attention of the public, especially by paid advertisements.”  Remembering that marketing is more than one function at work, we can see by looking at the definitions that advertising is only ONE part of marketing…one of the functions of it!  And to go one further, marketing is also not the selling of advertising either but rather the determination of which advertising source to utilize for a particular message one is looking to portray to the public. 

 It’s the advertising side of marketing which the consumer is most familiar with because it is the advertising messages which they see the most.  Which explains the simple response one gets when you mention marketing to someone…the typical response is something similar to ‘Oh!  You mean advertising.’ My response is usually yes but it’s much more than that.  One can understand the typical response because it is what they see most frequently, especially in today’s market where we seem to be bombarded by all types of advertising.  From the subtle product placement in a movie or TV show to the constant commercial advertisements that seem to be everywhere now.  TV, radio, newspapers, magazines, billboards etc etc etc.   There’s no way to escape it!  We get them on-line off line wherever anyone can think of it.  As a marketing person myself, it amazes even me how much advertising has multiplied over the years and in the different places you can now find ads.  It’s not so simple anymore, which is why any good marketing person would tell you a plan is so important.  Because there is so many factors to take into consideration when determining what will work best for a business. 

 I like to think of us marketing people as generals.  There is a LOT of similarities in the job.  Generals make plans on attacking their enemy or what is the best strategic move for troops in a particular situation.  And if you think about it they usually involve more than one aspect as well.  When a country goes to war with another one…they never typically attack just from land or air or sea…but usually all three.  Now Marketing managers & the like don’t make life or death type decisions but they make decisions that affect people.  Our battle ground is the competitive market place.  We have to decide which are the best strategic plans to follow given the particular time of year, the economy and funds available amongst other things.  Our “war room” if you will is the marketing department of a business or as in my case being an independent marketing consultant, my own office.  It’s in these places where we analyze information available and determine what the best plan to follow given all circumstances.  Generals drop bombs and other weapons to get the attention of whomever they’re attacking.  Marketing people find ways to make impressions on the consumer.   The more impressions the more likely the consumer will use that business’ product service etc.  Our “enemy” is our competitors who are trying to do the same thing we are.  Generals determine after their analysis which is the best sources to use to plan their attack.  Marketing people determine which is the best methods to use to get the public’s attention so that those oh so important impressions can be made on them, which will affect the way they interact and purchase in the marketplace.  Usually when I describe this similarity, people look at marketing with a different set of eyes.  Once people see all the “pieces-parts” that make up marketing and understand it’s more than just advertising they are better able to grasp what’s involved in marketing their business and can further understand that sometimes plans don’t always work  and as business owners and marketers we need to constantly be thinking of something new to try.  We need to think in a strategic way in order to achieve our goals of growing our businesses. 

November & December Marketing Ideas

I know.  I know.  It's only September and most people are just recovering from the back to school nonsense.  However, when it comes to marketing you need to be thinking ahead....especially when it pertains tot the 4th quarter of the year and even more so for the last 2 months.  With all the holidays that are packed into November & December any advertising you are planning on doing needs to do it sooner not later because it fills up VERY VERY fast and there is only so much air time & space available for everyone.  This is why I am giving marketing ideas for both November & December together because on top of the limited time & space there is also a time constraint on business people because lets face it the end of the year's holidays are all about family and we all run around like crazy once the holiday season begins until it ends in early January.

November is truly an autumn month...everything about it, throughout most of it anyway with possibly the end feeling more like early winter.  There's a feeling of home that just seems to fill the air. 

It's known as the American & National Diabetes, Family Stories, Percussion/International Drum, Lung Cancer Awareness, Military Family Appreciation, National Adoption, National Family Caregivers, National Home Care & Hospice, National Inspirational Role Models, National Life Writing, National Native American Heritage, National Novel Writing, National Scholarship and Vegan month.

There's several "special" weeks in November as well:
1st-7th:  National Animal Shelter Appreciation & World Communication week.
7th-11th:  National Young Reader's week
7th-13th:  Pursuit of Happiness week
8th-14th:  World Kindness week
13th-19th:  American Education & National Hunger & Homeless Awareness week
14th-20th:  National Global Entrepreneurship week
20th-26th:  National Family & National Game & Puzzle week
21st-27th:  Better Conversation week

Special Days in November include:
1st:  All Saint's, National Authors & National Family Literacy
2nd;  All Soul's Day
3rd:  Sandwich Day
4th:  Use Your Common Sense Day
5th:  Sadie Hawkins Day
6th:  Daylight Savings ends
8th:  Election Day & National Parents as Teachers
'9th Young Reader's Day
10th:  Sesame Street Day
11th:  Veteran's Day
13th:  World Kindness Day
14th:  Loosen Up & Lighten Up, National American Teddy Bear & Universal Children's Day
15th:  America Recycles & I Love to Write Day
16th:  International Day for Tolerance& National Educational Support Professionals Day
17th:  Homemade Bread & Great American Smoke out
19th:  Equal Opportunity, Family Volunteer Day & National Day of Play
20th: Children's Day
21st World Hello & Television Day
22nd Humane Society Anniversary Day
24th:  Celebrate your Unique Talent & Thanksgiving
25th:  Black Friday, International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women & Native American Heritage Day
26th:  Islamic New Year
27th:  National Day of Listening
28th:  Cyber Monday


December is the first real month that brings winter to mind.  It is also a month FULL of holidays for everyone.  It is all about giving and being with family.

Additionally it is know as:  World AIDS, National Write a Business Plan, Rising Star, Safe Toys & Gifts and Universal Human Rights month

Special weeks in December include:

1st-7th:  Cookie Cutter & Tolerance week
1st-8th:  Recipe Greetings for the Holidays week
10th-17th:  Human Rights week
17th-23rd:  Saturnalia
25th-31st:  It's About Time week
26th-31st:  Kwanzaa

Special Days include:

1st:  World AIDS & Special Kids Day
3rd:  International Day of Disabled Persons
4th:  National Cookie Day
5th:  International Volunteer for Economic Development Day
6th:  St Nicholas Day
9th:  National Salesperson Day
10th:  Human Rights & Nobel Prize Day
11th:  Worldwide Candle Lighting Day
12th:  Poinsettia Day
20th:  Hanukkah
21/22: World Peace Day, Yule, Winter Solstice
24th:  Christmas Eve
25th:  Christmas
31st:  World Peace Meditation Day & New Year's Eve

Remembering 9/11

For the 2,973 people who perished September 11, 2001 after hijacked planes crashed in New York City in Arlington, Virginia and in Pennsylvania. The victims were mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers of many faiths and races who came from more than 80 nations. All who were killed died working and living the American dream. WE SHALL NEVER FORGET.

Everyone Could use a Proofreader.....

Great Article about something so simple and often overlooked.

http://www.marketingprofs.com/short-articles/2385/how-a-typo-can-hurt-your-business?adref=nlt090811

Marketing with an uncertain economy

Okay so depending on who you read or listen to the economy of the world is or is not about to go into another recession.  No matter what they say, the economy in its current state is affecting business in a big way and in many ways also.  In a time when most businesses haven’t even recovered from what has been dubbed the “Great Recession” this is not a good thing at all.

 Typically, when the economy turns a bit sour, the first place you will see ANY business cut expenses is marketing, advertising, PR and will put greater demand on any sales personnel, if they even have any, to continue to reach their goals and budgets even though they will not have any marketing or advertising to support their efforts.  For long standing customers or clients this isn’t usually a major  factor for them to continue to spend their monies with a particular business-the old adage of it isn’t broke don’t fix it attitude comes into play here.  However, for a business that is looking to grow and expand this poses an interesting conundrum.  How will new customers find out about you without getting your name out there somehow?  This has been the ultimate question for as long as economic situations like our current ones have been around. 

Here’s what I know after 20 years working in various aspects of marketing, sales & PR.  You cannot cut your marketing budget in its entirety.  You can scale back some of the larger expenses such as TV advertising and such and instead take the time for other less expensive aspects instead.  There are also free or almost free things you can do as well. 

Press releases as I have said many many times over are underutilized by most businesses.  If you have a newsworthy story to share, whether it is a long or short one….let the media know so they can let your customers or your potential customers know.  If it gets printed it cost you only the time and effort of having to write it or having it professionally written and your story is given time or space that would otherwise be taken up with paid advertising! 

Another newer aspect that I truly tout the benefits of is social media-The benefits of this to any business no matter what their size is only now being understood.  I had a client ask me why her business should be on Facebook etc.  After spending several minutes explaining how it can be beneficial I then sat down and showed her what it is that makes social media excellent for ANY business….I first pulled up The Creative Consultant’s page and then a few big name businesses as well as a few smaller businesses and organizations as well.  The “playing field” in social media is the same for every sized business….it’s all what you put into it.  So it doesn’t matter if you are a one show horse or if you are a multi-billion dollar company every page starts out exactly the same way and basically all look the same as well.  Twitter and all the others are exactly the same case as well.  And they are free…and put businesses in direct almost personal contact with their customers/clients.  So why not use it?  The use grew after the last major economic disaster we had so one can expect with the current economic uncertainty.  And that all depends on who you’re asking as well. 

So whatever the economic future holds, is anyone’s guess and the economist predictors keep coming up with different answers in their crystal balls but businesses need to remember that there are various marketing aspects out there that don’t cost as much as the “traditional” advertising avenues.  I highly recommend to any business to realize that with the murky economic waters not doing anything could be business suicide.