5 STEPS - HOW AND WHAT TO PLAN WHEN IT COMES TO YOUR MARKETING

Have you been planning your marketing in large batches or just scrambling at every last minute to get whatever you can out there?! Well, stop that. Make a plan and get past the scramble. 

# 1 - WHY PLAN
Number one, why you should plan your content and social media marketing? Because if you don’t your marketing has the tendency to get messy. It’s not only messy, but it tends to be inconsistent, hard to keep up with and unintentional. Which is the real reason you are marketing in the first place. To have an intention with your marketing activities. To have intention with your business actions. We are here to serve!

You have goals and specifics you are targeting. If you doing your posting and content creating on a whim, you’ll have a hard time aiming at your goals and you have a hard time tracking what your doing to find a good fit with your process.

Planning what you marketing will help you stay on track, help you be more organized and help you reach your essential purpose and clientele. Who can pass up planning after all that?!

​#2 WHAT TO PLAN

Figuring out what to plan is your next step. Assembling your marketing ideas and processes is going to depend on your marketing plan in general. I’m guessing you’ll be working on your blogging, but you want to also work in your social media marketing, any email or newsletters to your plan and schedule. What else were you considering? Write these all down. I like to use one spreadsheet and then break up each area into a separate sheets. So, when you pull that document up it’s all easy to access in one plan doc. 

I also like to work within a theme or topic for each month. Not everyone likes to plan their content this way. But, it is one option. And, I love it! Many of the big brands do it this way, too. If you’d rather go a different direction - you can plan your content by weekly plans and topics, quarterly, etc. If you think of something else, leave a comment - we’d all love to hear other options to think about!

So, you have these working ideas settled on and in a nice document. Let’s talk about putting everything together in a good, easy to follow marketing plan.

#3 HOW TO PLAN YOUR MARKETING

I recommend you start with a free planning method for your content. I like to use Google Sheets and Google Docs. If you’d like to expand into a different program when you’re ready to expand there are a number of different planning programs you can explore… maybe Evernote? Or to get more complex you can venture into Trello or Asana for project management.

Today, I am going to discuss planning today with Google Sheets and Docs as an example. But, these tips can transfer to any layout.

First you want to layout your Sheet to fit these sections along the top of the Sheet:

• Date Published
• Date Written
• Month
• Type of Post
• Post
• Series
• Image/Video
• Story / Still / Video
• Handout / Giveaway
• Blog Post That Goes With
• You Tube Video
• Link/Notes/Topics
• Topic Ideas

Now, you can probably see where this is going… You can even add more to the list above if you’ll find it will help you plan and keep track of what you’re going to build.

After you have these headers in place, you want to plan for at least 3 months at a time. You can do more if you want to of course and I like to start at the beginning of the year (or the end of the year - wink wink). But, plan 3 months at least and it will help you stay organized more than if you just do 1 month at a time. Setting aside precious planning time is hard enough, huh? 

This is a nice starting point for your thought process and what you want to plan in order to market what is special about you. These plans will give you something to build on over the year. Decide what you want to do, write about, photograph and coordinate it here. What will your theme for each month be? Here is where you’re going to decide on when to publish your content. This is where you layout all the details to what is in your theme. When you are laying out your blog theme content - expand on it to include a Blog Outline. 

I also tie this in with my blogging doc. From my spreadsheet I like to move the basic theme and blogging outline to my blogging doc. Then, everytime I sit down to write - everything is already laid out like a book index and I just build on that. 

#4 TIE IT ALL IN

If you have a plan, you’re executing the plan there is no reason why you shouldn’t also be consistent with your writing content and with your marketing. Making your plan is going to really solidify your process. It’s going to pull it all together and focus your aim and time with your digital marketing.

Planning is what is going to change your world. It’s going to change how you look at your business and your marketing. Your day will flow better and who doesn’t want that!? And, when you aren’t working on it on a schedule you’re probably feeling guilty. So make sure to put this on your calendar and stick with it.

#5 WHEN TO POST

Now that you have a plan for 3 months at a time, you can just pull it all together and then schedule it. Yes, it will certainly take time.  If you have looked at when is a good time to post already, go ahead it schedule your posts and content. If you haven’t looked into when are good times to post for your community - this will take a little time as well.

You can research it a little online, but in the end, you want to try out times for your posting - especially on social media platforms. Post and see what happens. Look at other people in your industry and see what times and days they are posting for a starting point. Make a bunch of notes and after a few months review your numbers or what you’ve discovered and take that into account when you are posting! 

It depends on what you are creating and building of course, but this is important to work on and take the time to plan. This is what you have to offer to your clientele. This doesn’t need to be a waste of time if you plan and you focus on your plan. Focus on your intention.

CONTENT PLANNING WORKSHEET

And, below you'll see I have included a content planning worksheet to help you get started. You can change it up as you need to. It's and easy way to get started!

HAVE FUN!

AND, IF YOU NEED HELP!

If you are ready to get started but really just don’t have the time, or your ready to get started but can’t figure out this confusing social media messy stuff - reach out to me! I’m super delighted to help you out! I can get your pages started for you and let you run the rest or I can help you from start through engagement! 

Please, reach out and say hi!

You can message me on Facebook or I’m around the other Social Media Hangouts, too!

PLANNING YOUR GOALS AND TASKS

First, we need to talk about your small business task planning when we talk about Marketing Time Management. Making a plan or many plans, is vital to keeping your business moving towards your goals. Because your goals are the aim! So, set aside some time each week to write out your Marketing Plans. You are going to need to have plans for your:
​

• Social Media Networking & Engaging
• You Video and Photo Creation Time
• Your Content Creation Time
• And, Your Posting and Scheduling Time
• And, later… Your Ad Building and Scheduling

HOW TO MAKE THE TIME

So, how in the world do you do that? You’re already busy as...you know what. When are you going to have the chance to fit in the Marketing!?

I recently listened to a quick video from Chris Ducker, the online time management and business guru. He said something I found profound: “In order to say yes to something, you have to say no to something else.” This is huge!! I mean… take a minute and think about that. Cuz, I’d really like to say no to the junk I don’t want to do any more and yes just to the stuff I want to spend my time doing! Don’t you?!  And, while that probably isn’t always possible, or maybe your results don’t always line up with your plans, you need to think about what matters to your business and what can bring you results.

Review what you have on your Marketing To Do List and start scheduling it out so it becomes routine and it becomes a habit and it stays important. Because Marketing can get you leads, and what else do you want?! The leads, the leads!

Back to your planning. Above are 4-5 main areas to keep on your calendar, scheduled and committed to. Staying consistent and routine will get you results. Only showing up when you feel like it will get you... blah!

SCHEDULING BRINGS YOU RESULTS

Let’s relate planning your Marketing Duties  to something else in your life like planning your meals or exercising. Both are probably something you do everyday. Ok, eating probably is. And, you probably don’t have pizza or cereal every meal. Maybe you even plan your meals for the week? And, you always need to do these things… especially eat. And, you do it at the same time every day. And, this is the same way you can work in your marketing. You can do it at the same time everyday, until you make it a habit. Again you need to be religious about your schedule and make sure to adhere to it and then it will come more natural. And, you will always do such and such at 1pm after lunch and that time is scheduled in your calendar. Make sure you take the time then to schedule your marketing and keep that timed appointment with yourself... because it’s important.

Maybe you need to make it something more fun so it has more incentive. Try bringing in a little reward to keep your plans top and center. For example, decide, this is when I get to have my fun latte or other favorite snack and sit down for an hour or two every afternoon and engage with some social media folks, build content and do some Marketing Scheduling. Or, maybe the treat is afterwards. Treats can help you create a feeling of fun and specialness while you tackle a project you may not really want to do much of.

Pin the image above to Pinterest for easy reference for later!!

MAKING SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENTS

So, this is your basic to do system. You made your plan…. you made your list, you put that list on your calendar, you showed up for those appointments and through this you moved forward with your goals and plans.

After you have a basic habitual plan down pat and have been working with it for a while…. Now you can mess with it and monkey it all up. You know it needs to be accomplished and it “nags” at you every day from your calendar. But, maybe it HAS to be moved for another important doctor appointment or your son’s afternoon meet up with the teacher’s meeting that you absolutely can not miss. You’ve already ingrained in your mind that your marketing is important and it brings in your leads, but you’re now able to tweak your calendar and understand it won’t get lost behind. It’s forefront in your mind. So, make an adjustment to your calendar, but continue to keep your marketing in an important slot.

When you make adjustments you might need to do your Marketing when you are out and about. Don’t just use the time standing in line to shop and review the latest celebrity news. Take this “down time” as a spot on your schedule so you can sneak in some marketing and not fall behind when you are at other appointments during your scheduled marketing time slot. Here are a few tips to do your Social Media Marketing on the run:

Stick to a stricter time allotment. For example, now you need to leave your computer and go stand in line at the school or wait in the doctor’s office…. This is a perfect time to check on your feeds and comments for any engagement you received. The next place time you have a break in your day you can do a handful of comments or questions to engage with some of your followers and people you follow. I know people are going to think you’re glued to that little machine, but they aren’t working for themselves and they can just stick it. You’re building relationships and leads people!

So, yes, you will need to juggle a little to get it all done in a day. But, the beauty is, now you can. Now you can have more freedom because of the plan and schedule you laid out. You can sneak it all in when you need to adjust that schedule to fit in those thing that are also important during the work week!

You just can’t build a successful business without good plans in place and without a good execution system guiding you.

TIME MANAGEMENT TIPS TO KEEP YOU ON TRACK

And a few random time management tips to make your Plan Work:

1. If you aren’t using a timer to keep you on track… start today! I actually use a time at my desk and a group of timers on my phone. Acting like a bit of an assistant…. “Next Task! Next Task!”

2. Back to the phone and apps… use it. Use them. They can be helpful to help make your life easier! One app, not work related, but that I love is “Our Groceries” app. It’s awesome. You can create different shopping lists, so you can keep track of what you need at different stores right at your fingertips! You can keep some recipes in a nice list so you can access them on the fly. And, it stores your last grocery items so you can quickly add them to a new list. No more lists forgotten on the kitchen counter, no question as to what that recipe needed? It’s something I organize closely so that this part of my life is much easier.

4. You might also like a time tracker app and sort out the way you actually spend your time so you can budget your schedule a bit better.

5. Maybe you are ready to farm stuff out. And, it doesn’t have to be work related. Maybe just have someone come by and help with your yard work or your window washing, in order to free up some more of your time. I have friends that are enjoying the meal in a box products a couple times a week to make their life easier!

6. Consider Block Scheduling. Sections of your calendar where you do certain types of things. Marketing between 9 and 11 am every day. And, then you use your timer to work out the tasks you have on your list and keep on your list to get as much done as you can in your time allotment.

When you build your plan and your system you a signaling to the universe that you are serious and this is real. Writing your tasks into a calendar guides this business and keeps it moving forward! Congratulations! This is a big step to bringing your Real Estate business results!

​AND, WHEN YOU ARE READY!

If you are ready to get started but really just don’t have the time, or your ready to get started but can’t figure out this confusing social media messy stuff - reach out to me! I’m super delighted to help you out! I can get your pages started for you and let you run the rest or I can help you from start through engagement! 

Please, reach out and say hi!
You can message me on Facebook or I’m around the other Social Media Hangouts, too!

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