I’m going to start writing updates to track my marketing practice, ideas and what I learn. This is the first. If you see it, welcome and thanks for being here.
Exciting things happen so slowly!
As you may know, I am craving experimentation with marketing tactics and tools. I have been playing with some, but I don’t have a true business, product or service to test them on. (Or do I? Read on to see if I have anything going for me whatsoever.)
My Current Situation
I work for an organization that helps other companies through change and large projects that they lack the resources or knowledge to do themselves. Sometimes those projects have a content writing/marketing element, which is where I come in. Well, I can’t just test things out in any situation there. There are approvals to go through, and anything out of their norm rarely goes through. It’s both frustrating and understandable.
My employer hired a marketing director a little less than a month ago. Here’s the exciting part – She understands and wants to give me these opportunities I’ve been seeking! *Awkward office celebration dance*
The plans are moving as fast as a snail, because she had to get acclimated to our organization and is building out a marketing plan that must be approved by the next level up. There are a few opportunities in that plan for me to learn how to track ROI of marketing activity and I WANT TO LEARN by DOING.
Waiting is hard.
Do I Have Opportunities Outside of Work?
First of all, yes I do have opportunities. They’re everywhere.
The reason I’m clinging on to the hope that my employer will give me opportunities to learn through my work with them is because (A) they’re a real company so we’ll see real results and (B) I don’t want my life to be consumed by marketing activity. If I don’t get to experiment and learn at work, I need to find time outside of my employment to play with marketing tactics and tools. I like my evenings and weekends.
I think I’m about to lose at least a little of my evenings and weekends.
The opportunities I have for self-directed marketing experimentation include myself, my Usborne Books & More side gig, or freelancing.
Myself – I suppose I could treat myself like some sort of person who interests others enough to read or learn from them. Sure, I have a “personal brand,” but my child and chickens are really the only things that make me interesting. I suppose I could be a content writing educator of sorts.
Usborne Books & More – This is what some would call an MLM, but I really do love the products. We sell educational, interactive books and activities for children of all ages. The books are SO fun! So, I get a discount now, and sometimes I sell them to others who find the books just as amazing. There is a lot of potential for experimentation here, but I’d definitely be breaking the MLM code to do it. You’re supposed to have parties…. I don’t want to push books at parties. I’d rather offer them to people who really do love fun books. I may give this one a shot, see what happens.
Freelancing – Given my experience with freelancing, I now know I’d have to be very specific when seeking out a client. I would want a small business in my area with owners willing to hand over the reigns of their marketing, letting me try a number of tactics and set up ways to track leads from awareness to buyer. The only thing I want to get approved by them is budget and accurate copy. This could be fun with the right client.
Amber Heiden's Marketing Services 