Happy summer! Hope you’ve managed to squeeze in a vacation or two. Here at PPR Strategies, Meghan kicked off the summer by getting married! Sid, Tabitha, our dog Cody and I recently had a week at the beach, and I enjoyed several days away from technology in the sun and sand.
In business, we’re spending the summer implementing plans we created in the winter. Depending on the daily demands of your office (employees, clients, supervisors), you may have some flexibility to block time off to let your creative juices flow.
Now’s the time to get strategic and start planning for the coming seasons. Here are 5 ways you can get started with that:
1. While it’s hot, think about the holidays!
It may seem strange to think about Black Friday shopping in the middle of July, but that’s exactly when you need to start planning your holiday promotions. Small Business Saturday can be a great time to offer a special promotion. By starting to plan now, you’ll have enough time to be strategic, rather than having to throw something together at the last minute.
2. Maximize your day trips.
No matter what type of organization you work in, you can find inspiration everywhere you turn. Visit a neighboring town and wander their main streets to see what others are doing. Does this inspire you to play on SnapChat or do you love the summer concert series they have every Thursday? Whatever the concept, consider it a launch pad for your next great idea.
3. Brainstorm 3-5 marketing ideas you’d like to implement between now and the New Year.
Big or small, just get the juices flowing! You don’t have to come up with 5 massive initiatives — one idea could be a fun promo with a hashtag on Twitter. Or, maybe there’s a new product you’d like to launch before Christmas — now’s the time to create a strategy for it.
If you aren’t sure where to start with brainstorming, try the next two tips…
4. Take paper and a pen everywhere you go.
Our best ideas and inspiration often come when we’re out of the office and away from the desk. Keep a pen and paper with you so that you can catch the inspiration as it comes! Everyone loves the idea of being paperless, but we can all appreciate being able to scribble down some thoughts faster than letting our thumbs do the typing.
5. Use the voice memo feature on your phone.
The voice memo feature on many smartphones will let you ramble your thoughts and ideas. This can be even better when you’re on the go, and just need to catch that idea on the spot!
Then, you can get the thoughts transcribed through another app like Active Voice.
By taking some time this summer to be strategic, you’re setting yourself up for success in the fall and beyond!
What are you up to this summer in your business or life? Write back and let me know — I’d love to hear from you!
Til next time,
Sandy
