Marketing Mix by Michelle: The Blog
 It seems so easy, we start life with a roadmap in front of us. Graduate high school, go to college, get a job. However, that's not the path for everyone. Some get a job right out of high school, others go on from college to graduate school, and some get a job while others start their own business. There is no universal road map that can funnel everyone to happiness. No matter where you end up, it's important to remmeber that learning doesn't end after graduation. When I graduated from Temple University, I thought i'd get a job, work my nine to five, find a boyfriend, and maybe get married and have kids one day. However, as I discussed in this blog post that plan didn't end up happening. Instead I took some time off to travel and realized the daily 9 to 5 wasn't right for me. Not that that path is wrong, it just wasn't entirely for me. I found it more fulfilling to help businesses, and see the growth first hand as well as grow my own business rather than work for someone else. As I travel and met people, it opened my eyes to things I could do. If you're reading this, you most likely felt the same way at one point as well. I found I learned more after someone handed me a diploma then I did in the class room. Below are some of the ways I learn and continue to learn.  Continuing EducationContinuing education doesn't necessarily mean going back to school. A few of the ways I continue my education is through relevant podcasts. As the industry (no matter what one you're in) grows and changes so does what you need to know. You want to do everything in your power to keep you "expert" title. So, when I drive I listen to podcasts that keep me current. Books are always a great tool because reading expands your mind and your vocabulary. I'm a visual learners so sometimes its easier for me to retain information when I see it. On the other hand, podcasts are a great tool because most podcasts are put out weekly. I read the reviews and descriptions to find a podcast that will best fit my needs. With books you could wait over a year for the most up to date information. It's important to use these tools together and expand your mind. In addition you can find free online courses to help maintain and grow your knowledge of your industry.  ExperianceOkay, okay so this is a broad one. Overall, I learned more in the real world at my job than I did in school. While I was glad I had the foundation of the education that I did, actually doing marketing and market research for real companies taught me so much more. By gaining experience I learned what types of posts work for that particular company, times of day to post, and the lingo to use to get a response. Needless to say, if you’re thinking of starting your own company, Just go ahead and do it. Make sure the foundation of education is in place but you’ll learn as you go.  Have a MentorHaving Whats better than gaining experiance in order to figure out what you need to do? How about talking and learning from someone who has already done it! Finding a mentor is so important. They say to surround yourself with successful people in order to be successful. What's even better than that is to surround yourself with people who also want to see you succeed. They don't have to be your "competition" or even in the same industry. Pick someone who knows what they're doing in business and soak up their knowledge. Remember to one day be that person for someone else when you have the chance.  Thanks for reading this blog post. I hope youre inspired to learn something new today (and everyday after that!)
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 It's 2017 which means it's time to refocus, re-motivate, and (in some cases) rebrand. It's still January which means if you made a New Years resolution you're probably still putting the plans in motion to reach your goal. If you're setting lofty goals, thats a good thing, but it can seem daunting. So how do you get to work on making your dreams a reality? You need to make sure yourself and your business are ready. You need a game plan and fresh new ideas. Sometimes that is easier said than done. Below are a few tips and tricks that I use in order to achieve my goals. So how do you stay inspired and motivated for 2017? Let me sharewith you a few tips and tricks I use to keep working towards my g  Get Enough SleepGetting enough sleep is vital to fueling creativity and not being a grump! I say "getting enough sleep" and not "going to bed and waking up early" because those things might not be possible depending on the field your in. When I was in the event industry I sometimes wouldn't come home from work until somewhere between midnight and 2:00am. So waking up at 6:00am the next day would mean everyone who had to deal with me the next day getting a watered down version of myself, no matter how many cups of coffee I guzzled down. Falling asleep is a whole other beast because entrepreneurs never stop thinking about what else they could be doing and how they can be doing it better. Personally, I find chamomile tea relaxes my mind and puts me into dreamland almost instantly. Also, exercising is important to getting your body to be able to rest as well as your mind. to often exercise is associated with pain but if you find something you enjoy doing like tennis, or hiking, then you won't even realize you're working out!  Make Obtainable GoalsWhile your overall goal should be high, your weekly goals should be obtainable. For instance, if your main goal is to have a highly successful event planning business that is your only source of income, some obtainable goals would be to sign up for two wedding shows this month, gain 50 new twitter followers, and attend one networking event that week. I suggest making a map of your upcoming week on Sunday and following it as you go. Write a detailed to-do list for each day and include how long you want to spend doing each task. Perhaps you want to grow your Instagram followers so you put on your map to post three times that week, and spend X amount of hours liking, commenting, and following other accounts. If you break down your goal into smaller chucks, it doesn't seem so lofty!  Get InspiredOk so it possible you're setting you're weekly goals and getting enough sleep but finding it hard to find the right things to post on social media, ideas for your clients, or what to write in your next blog post. Sometimes, it's hard to look at your computer screen and feel inspired. It's like there's a little voice in the back of your head that's screaming "do something interesting, NOW NOW NOW!" Which often times makes us want to power off the laptop and crawl into bed for another hour. When that ugly monster gets in my mind there's a few things I do to vanquish it. The first is go for a walk. I talked about earlier how exercise is good for helping you get to sleep and it's also good to spark creativity. Often we need a break from all the technology we're consumed by and to get some fresh air. Personally, I've had some of my best ideas come to me while mindless wondering around the neighborhood. Another way to spark creativity is to brainstorm. It's better when you have a co-worker or pal to brainstorm with because, as they say, two minds are better than one. Of course, that isn't always a possibility but it is possible to brainstorm by yourself. Give yourself a topic such as "new product idea for 2017" and write in stream of consciousness. Don't think, just write. You'll be surprised what ideas you didn’t know you had! If you are brainstorming with someone else, one important thing to remember is to take a page out of a comedians book and say "yes, and..." even if an idea is farfetched, odd, or illegal, you can take those bizarre ideas and turn them into something useful.  Thanks for reading this post, I hope you enjoyed it and it made you inspired to reach your goals! Here's to wishing 2017 is your best one yet!
 Happy New Year! I hope you had as great of a New Years Eve as I did. Nothing is better than being surrounded by loved ones and a couple bottles of nice wine. In honor of my first blog post of 2017, I'll be using Pantone's 2017 color of the year, greenery throughout the post. I put this list together because I think we can all agree that the best way to get business is through contacts you already know. If you've been part of the same networking group for years, or been introduced through a mutual contact, it's slightly easier to start a business relationship this way because the initial trust is already established. Of course, the best way to meet new contacts is through networking. At times, networking can be nerve-racking, awkward, or tiring, but mostly I've found it to be fun! Read below for a few of the best (read: honest) no b.s. networking tips I have for 2017.  1. Know When to Join a Conversation You know the moment; you walk into a networking event and no one you know is there. Or maybe you've a few minutes late and everyone is already mid conversation. The best approach is to find someone and start talking. Sometimes, it is harder then it sounds. It's best to look for someone else on their own, or a group of three. This way you found someone who also might've felt uncomfortable or found a group of people who were talking and therefore didn't interrupt what could be a private conversation.  2. Know When to LeaveAlmost more important than knowing when to join a conversation, is knowing when to leave. Most times, you'll be able to find common ground with someone and chat and joke with them. Even when you find a good connection with someone, you don't want to spend all your time (and theirs) chatting. The goal of networking is to make a few good connections so you don't want to monopolize anyone's time too much. On the flip-side (and I think this is very rare so don't get me wrong) but occasionally you'll start talking to someone and you two might not vibe at all and you'll want an exit of the conversation. The answer to this is easier than you might think. No, you don't need to lie and say you have to go to the bathroom, or down your drink and use the bar as an excuse. Just simply say "It was nice chatting with you" and exchange business cards.  3. Make Friends"It's not what you know, it's who you know" The number one mistake people make when networking is being selfish. It seems weird to think that you can be selfish while networking but it happens. Instead of focusing on building a connection, people too often focus on building their business. When you meet someone, pretend like its the first day of kindergarten and make friends. People want to work with people they trust and get along with. So let friendships come first and business will fall into place. It's also important to not write someone off because of what they do. Swap out the thought "they're not a good contact for my business" with "how can I be a good contact for them?" Then follow through, introduce them to those in your network who might need their services or invite them to the next networking event you're attending.  The moral of all this is yes, sometimes, networking can be awkward. I'll say it even if no one else will. But, it doesn't have to be. In fact, I'd argue that 99.9% of the time networking events are a lot of fun. I've made countless contacts and friends through networking and proud to say how supportive the group is. All the you have to is be confident, relax, and have fun.
The most important tip I have that's not listed above? Sign and GO. Go to as many networking events as your schedule allows. You'll see your business grow! |
AuthorHi there, it's me, Michelle! Welcome to my blog. It’s a deeper look into my business and marketing tips for you. Archives
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