Welcome Winter: Marketing Ideas to Celebrate the Season

Thursday, December 21st: it's official - winter has arrived! While many of us already felt as if it was here, today is the beginning of the Winter Solstice, marking the shortest day of the year. Good news if you aren't a fan of winter; starting December 22nd, there will be a few seconds of additional light each day, and we think that's something to celebrate!

Holiday Reflections - and Kindness

Thursday, December 14th: It's just ten days until Christmas (can you believe it!!?)

Ditch The Fear: Get Out in Front

"You weren't born to just stand there" ~ holding back, dragging our feet, or failure to voice goals - these are things which kill dreams, drain your spirit, and crush dreams.

"Quit procrastinating and waiting for someone else to go first." Why sit around and let your competition get out in front!? You might be on the verge of innovative and fresh content; inches away from taking a leap and rolling out a new product line or marketing plan.... but if you sit, think, and fail to ACT....hesitation could cost you. Avoid being the one to miss the boat. Get out there first and set the bar!


#AchieveMore
#apathykills
#ditchthefear
#outinfront
#enthusiasm
#freshperspective
#courage
#getoutthere
#winningstrategy
#tipsforlife

Sincerely,

Andrea Baumann

Marketing Delmarva

 

Growth strategies for small business & nonprofits; community-centered

resource serving the Delmarva Peninsula (DE/MD/VA). Connect with us!

  

          

Welcome, December | Special Observances, Days of the Year & Holidays for Month #12

Good morning and welcome to a new month. Here we are in December - can you believe it!? It almost doesn't seem possible there are thirty (yes, 30!) days left in the year, so we are going to have a lot of things happening in the weeks ahead! I wish for you and your family, a happy and healthy month ahead, filled with opportunity and joy, peace and prosperity. Today I'm sharing a collection of observances and special occasions for December 2023, listed on two printable images as well as a complete list of dates below.

"Shop Small, Buy Local" - Free Holiday Graphics to Print & Use

Hello there! If you've stopped by my Facebook page recently, you might have noticed the movement focusing on our independently-owned establishments, an effort that is so important not just for the season, but year round. Spending with locally owned businesses works to build stronger economies buy keeping more dollars in our own towns and cities, rather than having those assets be directed out of the area to giant corporations. Fact is, out of $100 spent locally, $68 remains in the community, but when that same $100 is spent with a national chain, only $43 stays here.

Animal Shelter Marketing: Using Hashtags

Marketing and social media promotion for animal care facilities and rescues: using keywords and hashtags to boost engagement and visibility.

"Be Willing to Fail"

Reflections on life and growth; thoughts I felt were important enough to write down and share, because perhaps they will serve to inspire your journey as they have influenced mine...."Be Willing to Fail". Four simple words we've all heard dozens - maybe even hundreds - of times, right? Yes. Unless we can personally relate to a particularly moving example, this phrase may fail to encourage or inspire you....but I think I found the perfect way to explain it.

Tips You Can Use | Creativity Inspired

Being creative is not a set formula, rule, or pattern of steps. It is all about finding what inspires you and your mind.... how you fuel the ideas and energy of brilliant posts, clever photography, intriguing captions and material which makes them want to know more about your brand. What does "creativity" mean to YOU?

Learning to Write as a Tool for Growth

It is a gift to be able to write. One of the reasons it is such freedom, is how it allows us to harness and let out our inner struggles, thought process, or triumphs. Small business ownership, life as an entrepreneur, or acting in the role as head of an organization, can feel lonely and isolating at times, but look at the great wisdom in these words, "the paper always listens".

Not only does writing allow you to express yourself, it harvests and preserves your journey and evolution through life - not merely as a temporary release, but also as a chronicle to look back on and learn from.



Making the time; practicing how to put thoughts and emotions down in a notebook.....it's a golden opportunity for growth, self-reflection, and progress. Try it today! (when you pause to look back towards the end of the year, I think you'll be amazed at how much you've learned.)

Choosing the Right People for Leadedship Roles

To be perfectly honest, this statement holds so much truth it is almost painful in it's direct, blunt, message. I felt it needed to be posted, as in my work with businesses and nonprofits, I've seen how poor choices can tear down an entire organization, while thoughtful actions can inspire a culture of success among it's people.

If companies and organizations could step back and see the bigger picture, take the time (and effort!) required to honestly evaluate who is needed in a particular role, AND be willing to do the work to find the right person.... they would ultimately be building a powerful team for success. Throwing just anyone into an open slot can literally be, the worst variety of a Pandora's Box.

Good leaders know this, and MAKE the time to carefully look at an entire scenario; review candidates thoroughly and objectively; make choices which are not based on emotion or convenience, but on who is best qualified to promote a winning team environment.

See more at the album for "Leadership" on Facebook.

Power Statements: Words With a Message

In 2022, just for fun, I started creating a series of graphics with statements I felt were short, sweet, and packed a punch. Allowing myself the opportunity to play around with fonts and colors led me to the images below, which are messages I believe speak volumes about life, character, and our journey as humans.

Celebrating February: Candy Heart Messages with A Local Flavor

Here we are in February, the month of love, and there's no better time to distribute kindness and love. Below are a series of candy heart images I've created - free to download, share and repost to spread the message of community strength, appreciation for others, and the value of local spending. Display them in retail store windows sand on Main Street, at the local chamber of commerce officer, or throughout your town or city. After all, we live, work and exist together, so why not grow your entire scope of relationships? We're going to make this a terrific month!

Planning Your Year: How Vision Board Day Can Set the Stage

Did you know the second Saturday in January is Vision Board Day? More than just a random observation, it's a goal-setting, success-planning, strategy kind of occasion, perfectly timed for the new year. From picking dates to launch a new marketing campaign, take a family vacation, or implement improvements to your existing practices, this date encourages a forward-looking mindset for the months ahead.