December Coffee Hour at the Studio
December 17, 2009 by Tina Stevens | (1) Comments >>
Yesterday was our monthly Coffee Hour at Stevens470 and we asked the question "is your marketing ready for 2010?" We were so pleased that several businesses joined us to answer that big question. We did a review of the information that goes into a marketing plan and why it is so important to have one in place guiding your business in the direction that you have chosen.
I think our most relevant topic was the understanding of who we will be in 2010 - the business we embrace and present to the world - will be the business that we are for years to come. 2010 will be a watershed year as all our businesses continue to evolve due to economic changes. So, who are we now, and what can we do to improve and expand our services in the coming years? My hope for all of us in business, is that we can embrace and display the courage to be the greatest business possible. This time of change may be the perfect opportunity to tailor your business into your very finest.
Happy New Year to everyone and I wish you courage and success!
Our next Coffee Hour will be "New Years Resolutions for Your Website" on January 20, 2010. Please join us for an interesting discussion and a light breakfast. If you are interested, you can register at our website http://www.stevens470.com/coffee-hours.html
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You need a marketing plan for 2010
December 2, 2009 by Tina Stevens | (0) Comments >>
It has been a challenging year for everyone as few of us have been
untouched by economic changes and a global recession. A lot has
changed, and while some things will return to the way they were, others
have changed forever.
Take the time to evaluate your business and your opportunities.
If there has ever been a time when you should be preparing a marketing plan for the new year, this is the time. Creating a marketing plan requires you to really assess your company as well as clarify your business objectives. It is not something to be done quickly and you should plan some time away from your daily business activities to really turn your attention to the big picture.
Here are some questions to start the process:
You may think it is futile to make a plan in the midst of so much change. None of us can predict the future and no one knows what will be happening 12 months from now. But consider the fact that without a plan you are at the mercy of whatever comes along. You can only react to the marketplace. With a plan in place you can steer your company in the direction you have chosen, even if course adjustments need to be made along the way. By having a plan you can allocate your resources to the projects of greatest priority. A marketing plan will also clarify the goals of your business to your staff and associates. We can't expect other people to be on board with an objective if we have not made that objective clear to them. The first step in successfully making progress is the ability to determine and visualize the end result. Once you do that, each decision can be made within the framework of "does this bring us towards our goal?"
Evaluate your current situation and determine your future objectives.
Think about the type of growth you want for the coming years (3-5 years). If we define growth as "the process of increasing in amount, value or importance" then your business is most likely addressing some issue of growth. Your business, at this moment, sits at a point along its own unique timeline, with a specific number of years in business, a certain level of business maturity and its own history of successes and failures.
Your business also has changing objectives based on: the products and services you can currently offer, the skills of your people, your available technology, company resources, changing needs in the marketplace, and your company's business goals and ambitions. There are a lot of issues involved, and when you factor in the recession, you have an even more complex situation to evaluate.
Use multichannel marketing to reach current and potential clients.
Business growth can only be achieved through successful multichannel marketing. Marketing is more than a brochure, an advertisement or a website. It is the complete process of defining objectives, analyzing the marketplace, finding an audience, creating a strategy and implementing that strategy with gusto. Using every available marketing channel will help you reach your target audience.
I encourage you to start on your marketing plan today. It doesn't need to be a fancy document but it does require serious thought and evaluation. Take the time to gain clarity and purpose for the year ahead.
Join us at our next Coffee Hour for help with your 2010 marketing plan.
Is your marketing plan ready for 2010?
December 16, 2009 | 8:30 - 10:00am | Stevens 470
click here for more info >>
Take the time to evaluate your business and your opportunities.
If there has ever been a time when you should be preparing a marketing plan for the new year, this is the time. Creating a marketing plan requires you to really assess your company as well as clarify your business objectives. It is not something to be done quickly and you should plan some time away from your daily business activities to really turn your attention to the big picture.
Here are some questions to start the process:
- what are my major business objective(s) for 2010?
- how is my brand doing in today's economy?
- what changes in the marketplace are affecting my product/service?
- is my current audience the same?
- are there new audiences for my product/service?
- what message will ring true and show the benefits of my product/service?
- what media will best reach my audience?
You may think it is futile to make a plan in the midst of so much change. None of us can predict the future and no one knows what will be happening 12 months from now. But consider the fact that without a plan you are at the mercy of whatever comes along. You can only react to the marketplace. With a plan in place you can steer your company in the direction you have chosen, even if course adjustments need to be made along the way. By having a plan you can allocate your resources to the projects of greatest priority. A marketing plan will also clarify the goals of your business to your staff and associates. We can't expect other people to be on board with an objective if we have not made that objective clear to them. The first step in successfully making progress is the ability to determine and visualize the end result. Once you do that, each decision can be made within the framework of "does this bring us towards our goal?"
Evaluate your current situation and determine your future objectives.
Think about the type of growth you want for the coming years (3-5 years). If we define growth as "the process of increasing in amount, value or importance" then your business is most likely addressing some issue of growth. Your business, at this moment, sits at a point along its own unique timeline, with a specific number of years in business, a certain level of business maturity and its own history of successes and failures.
Your business also has changing objectives based on: the products and services you can currently offer, the skills of your people, your available technology, company resources, changing needs in the marketplace, and your company's business goals and ambitions. There are a lot of issues involved, and when you factor in the recession, you have an even more complex situation to evaluate.
Use multichannel marketing to reach current and potential clients.
Business growth can only be achieved through successful multichannel marketing. Marketing is more than a brochure, an advertisement or a website. It is the complete process of defining objectives, analyzing the marketplace, finding an audience, creating a strategy and implementing that strategy with gusto. Using every available marketing channel will help you reach your target audience.
I encourage you to start on your marketing plan today. It doesn't need to be a fancy document but it does require serious thought and evaluation. Take the time to gain clarity and purpose for the year ahead.
Join us at our next Coffee Hour for help with your 2010 marketing plan.
Is your marketing plan ready for 2010?
December 16, 2009 | 8:30 - 10:00am | Stevens 470
click here for more info >>
(0) Comments >>
November Coffee Hour at the Studio
November 18, 2009 by Tina Stevens | (0) Comments >>
We hosted our monthly Coffee Hour at Stevens470, discussing effectively using e-mail marketing. We enjoyed coffee with a wonderful group of professionals, and reviewed methods and ideas to improve the effectiveness of e-mail marketing. Generating e-mail lists, quality content, audience, having a call to action, testing, deliver ability, and tracking were covered. Thank you to all who attended.
Our next Coffee Hour asks the question is your marketing ready for 2010? and will be on December 16, 2009. Please join us for an interesting discussion, a light breakfast and some holiday cheer. If you are interested, you can register at our website http://www.stevens470.com/coffee-hours.html
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The theater was packed!
November 13, 2009 by Tina Stevens | (0) Comments >>
George Hargrove being interviewed by Channel 40 | Tim O'Donnell answering questions | Katie, Tina, Alison and Bob from Stevens 470 | the theater was full and we were pleased to have Mayor Sarno join usThe premiere screening of George: Wrestling with Resistance was a huge success! Every seat in the theater at the Basketball Hall of Fame was full and there were many people standing in the back and sitting on the stairs. The story of hope and optimism for the young people of Springfield was well received and it was obvious that many of the people attending were proud to be a part of Springfield and to share in the story of George’s success.
George Hargrove, the subject of the film, and his family attended. George answered questions with poise and shared his delight in being on the big screen. George is an incredibly charming young man with a composure well beyond his years.
Tim O’Donnell, the filmmaker, is a talented and motivated educator and artist. He is proud to be a teacher in Springfield and truly cares about the young people he shares his time with every day. The relationship between Tim and George is clearly inspirational for both of them. Tim also answered questions and shared his personal stories about making this film.
Tim’s objective for this screening was to show the people of Springfield that the young people in our public schools are full of potential. They are smart and talented and looking for a positive direction. George, in spite of the hardships he has faced growing up, has succeeded as a wrestler, but more importantly, as a young man and as a role model.
At the end of the event, Tim invited all of the Springfield students in attendance to stand up, and he then reminded us that while he has made a film about George, and George is indeed exceptional, there are so many talented and motivated students attending school in Springfield. And with the support of family, educators, and the community they all have unlimited potential.
Thank you Hampden Bank and Baystate Health for joining us in sponsorship of this event.
For more information or to purchase the DVD visit www.georgewrestling.com
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