If you’re using the quiet days between Christmas and New Year (or even early January) to plan and prepare for marketing success in 2014…
…here are some pieces you might find thought-provoking and useful.
First up…
…probably the highest payoff action will be to map out a marketing calendar for the year ahead.
Here’s a great post from Ray Edwards…
“How To Create A One Page Marketing Plan”.
My thoughts…
“Looking Ahead – Marketing Calendar 2014”.
On general success principles…
…a timeless post from John Carlton…
…“The Rest Of Your Freakin’ Life (again)”.
Exec summary…
“…there are dozens of newer goal-setting guides on the shelves. But they’re all based on the same formula:
1. Decide what you want.
2. Write it down, and be specific.
3. Read the list often, imaging as you read that you have already achieved each goal.”
Suggest you read the whole thing BEFORE 15 January 2014.
Last year I linked to this post from Marc Harty…
“Forget Resolutions: 3 BIG Reasons To Theme Your 2013?.
Applies just as much to 2014. I love this idea of “theming”. What it does is provide the “Big Picture” and the general direction of progress that you wish to make.
It fits well with the Carlton post.
To recap some points I made in this post last year…
“Success And Goal Setting Tips For 2013 (Not Just For Copywriters)”
There is no great “secret” that will magically bring you success. Sure there are some shortcuts and ways to make things a little easier.
But in essence it’s down to what Tony Robbins describes as “The Ultimate Success Formula”…
1. Decide what you want
2. Take massive action
3. Get feedback and review your results. If necessary, make changes.
4. Continue until goal is achieved.
Talking of Tony Robbins…
…every now and then I take down from the shelf my edition of “Personal Power” and undertake a “refresher” course. I’ve often found it delivers most welcome results…
…particularly at times of change and challenge.
So, why not dust off a success-oriented program that you might not have looked at for a while (if ever) and go through it? It won’t cost you anything more and who know what might happen?
I’ll update this post as and when I come across other useful tips or resources.
In the meantime, I wish you every success in both your personal and business life in the coming year of 2014!
UPDATE (31 December 2013):
Here’s another (more recent) post from the great John Carlton on the power of mastermind groups. Sure, there’s a plug for his own group but that doesn’t make his comments and insights any less valid (hey, if he believes in the concept, you’d expect him to be an enthusiastic practitioner.
‘Staying Out of The “Lonely Hearts” Club’
Even if, at this stage, you don’t want to formally join a mastermind group, I’d suggest it will be very useful (even essential) to regularly meet up with like-minded, success-oriented people. If you live in the UK and get into central London, the monthly GKIC London Chapter meeting is a GREAT way to do this. The next meeting is on Tuesday, January 21st and the details are here.
Next…
…in between Christmas and New Year I catch up on my reading. Finally finished Dan Kennedy’s new edition of No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs: The Ultimate No Holds Barred Kick Butt Take No Prisoners Guide to Time Productivity and Sanity
If you’re not getting the results you want, it could well be that you are not making the best use of the time available. Dan spills the beans on how he manages to get so much done while still having time to do the things he loves most. The first chapter alone (“How To Turn Time Into Money”) will transform the way you work if you haven’t already discovered the power of one particular number.
Well worth putting this towards the top of your success resources for the coming year.
UPDATE 2 (1 January 2014):
Here’s a VERY useful post from Darcy Juarez at GKIC…
“5 Things To Do Right That Will Make 2014 Your Best Year Yet”.
Yes, naturally there are a couple of plugs for GKIC programs. BUT…
1. If you have a good product or service, NEVER be reluctant to promote it in an appropriate fashion.
2. This is a GREAT example of (IMO) the right way to go about “content marketing”. Provide useful, relevant information and link that to your product that is going to help someone solve a problem. Too much of what passes for “content marketing” misses this critical step and simply assumes that the sale will magically happen through some unknown process.