Funmarketer Lesson of the Week:

A few years ago we designed and wrote an innovative self-paced marketing education program targeted at small business marketers and owners. I find that today, more than ever, smart marketers must continually educate themselves on marketing on three levels:

1. Continue to learn the fundamental marketing philosophy from the “old masters” of marketing and advertising.

2. Learn the “hottest trends” in online marketing (where most of the change is rapidly occurring).

3. Deepen their understanding of their own industry’s evolving marketing-place from both customers, suppliers and competitors.

Since my teens, I have been involved in a variety of leadership positions. Most of us are, if we stop really think about it. And every successful leader must develop into an effective teacher or else their message isn’t carried very far. As a marketer the role of teacher is especially important. You must help develop your company’s brand ambassadors — your customers and your employees. If you don’t develop effective messages for these ‘carrier pigeons of the brand’ to spread to their contacts then you severely limit the potential growth of the company you work for.

One of the best ways to become a good teacher is to first become a good student. If you continually learn from the marketing masters of old and then integrating that knowledge with the newest marketing tactics coupled with stunning business intelligence from suppliers and customers — if you learn like that, then when it comes time to teach you will be so well prepared the teaching will come out naturally.

Funmarketing Free Campaign Idea of the Week

You know I love the discipline of writing a powerful headline to go with an iStock photo. Well, don’t just limit this to iStock photos. Any ads you find in the paper, or any postcards or direct mail pieces you receive — feel free to write your own ads to go with them. It’s a great way to stretch out your creative brain as well as build up a backlog of ideas. Never know when you’ll need them on a rainy day.

My youngest son just returned from the Inauguration of President Obama. Believe me, it is a 16 year-old’s dream to be in DC for any Presidential Inauguration; but to be there for one this historic–wow! So just now DC is on my mind. Here’s a general, uplifting type of campaign you can use as a reminder to your customers that you are hanging in there with them during these tough economic times.

Headline — Tough Days? Plenty. Remember, Renewal is Around the Corner

iStock photo 1792363

Thanks and Happy Almost-Spring

Craig Lutz-Priefert