Thursday Press #109: pls keep all bells to yourself
[7 DEC 2023] whistles too... [the #1 marketing tip you need to hear!]
The instructions for using my grandparents' TV remote read more like a nuclear bomb defusing manual.
>> Press the power button on the right to turn the TV on and off.
>> The channel buttons are above the DVR buttons, and the volume buttons are on the side.
>> The circles in primary colors aren't supposed to do anything, but you never know!
>> And for the love of everything do NOT — I repeat, do NOT press the all power button.
If you do that, then the cable box also turns off and the whole remote syncing system is KAPUT.
Can someone please tell me at what age I will become intellectually incompatible with technology? Because watching my dear, beloved grandparents trying to navigate the technological world of 2023 is painful at best, and disastrous at worst.
I'm pretty sure FaceTiming the International Space Station would be easier than getting both grandparents on the same device in the same room.
These issues became very clear over Thanksgiving, when my dad's side of the family convenes in Saratoga Springs, NY, for a joint Thanksgiving and Christmas celebration we dubbed "Thanksmas".
Ah the joys of divorced parents.
Neither my dad nor I have much patience for shepherding our loved ones through modernity, but this remote control situation HAD to be fixed.
So we set out to Best Buy on Black Friday of all days and asked to be directed to the universal remotes.
You would think universal remotes would be... universal, right? Dude, I have never seen so many different options for what should be a singular solution.
It depended on what brand of TV you had and if you had Roku or a Fire Stick and if you wanted to be able to stand on your head and sing karaoke while browsing the channel guide...
WHERE'S THE SIMPLICITY?!?!
Thankfully, the kind employee helped us find the most simple version of universal remote that would be compatible with my grandparents' TV.
Annnnd my flight left before we got a chance to test it out. Hope it went well, Dad! 🫣
(Between you and me, I'm very glad I didn't have to witness that process in person. 🫡)
The point is… you don't have to be pushing 80 to realize that sometimes "all the bells and whistles" really just means complicated, and sometimes the simplest solution is the best.
BELOW THE FOLD
I guarantee you're overcomplicating it, bestie. Whatever “it” is. I mean, I'm mostly talking about your marketing, but you're probably overcomplicating something else, too.
That text you've been drafting in your head for weeks.
The new recipe you want to try.
The service you've been thinking of offering for years but get in your own head about setting it all up correctly (who, me? never........)
The best marketing tip is one that most people miss — K.I.S.S.
KEEP IT STUPID SIMPLE
What, did you really think I'd call you stupid? You should know me better than that!
Keeping your marketing simple makes it easier for you to maintain AND easier for your audience to understand & take action on your message.
We're getting ready to head into the new year season when everyone and their mother is going to try to radically change their lives and implement a new 20-step morning routine.
Spoiler alert: that really complicated routine is probably really likely to fall apart.
Complexity serves almost no one.
But simplicity? Ooooh yeah baby, now we're talking.
Even though I logically know this, and you might, too, there's still something in my head that says:
"Oh yeah, they'll be really impressed if you give them 54 detailed tasks and a whole outline and worksheet and course to follow."
NO. STOP IT. I DON'T WANT 54 DETAILED TASKS, SO WHY WOULD THEY?
Sorry you had to see that bestie, back to my ode to simplicity...
Instead of trying to do all the things, be on all the platforms, and follow every new trend & hack that pops up, let's get back to the basics, yeah?
Here are 3 ways to simplify your marketing so you can be more effective without adding more work to your plate:
1. Start by prioritizing one long-form content type that you can create consistently
Whether it's blogs, podcasts, newsletters, whatever... Just make sure you can keep up with it and then repurpose it for the rest of your marketing channels.
2. Promote that content where it'll last
Ahem, like, on Pinterest maybe???
A single pin's lifespan is eons longer than a single IG post, and in my not-so-humble opinion, they're a lot easier to create more of.
Having a consistent Pinterest presence will also keep sending traffic and ideal clients your way even if you haven't posted on Instagram in weeks!
3. Have ONE place where all of your ideas live
If you're an organized Airtable/PM tool queen, love ya. But if you're like me and have a novel-length note on your phone with all of your ideas? Love you even more 😘
Whatever it is, make your content creation simpler by keeping everything you need in one place and cut the rest of the fluff!!!
As a messy marketer and anti-hustle entrepreneur, I am ALLLL about finding simple, sustainable, and SUCCESSFUL ways to market your business without losing your mind.
And while I can't write your blogs for you or pull the funniest newsletter-worthy stories from your brain, I can make sure your Pinterest is popping off so you can log off (& stay off!)
Let's put it this way:
(A) You could either hire me to manage your Pinterest for you ($997/month) OR...
(B) You could grab a ticket to the Pinterest content strategy masterclass for $97 and learn the exact strategies I'd use for you to do it yourself!
I'm sorry, did someone say 90% savings??? Talk about a holiday deal!!! Slay!
My goal for this training is to simplify Pinterest marketing down to the foundations for you. Not the basics of Pinterest 101, but the core understanding of the platform and how to use it strategically to market your business.
I'm not here to overwhelm you with a bunch of facts or random tips. I'm sharing simple advice and processes that can be adjusted to fit your own unique business, goals, work styles, and more.
7 More Ways to Simplify Your Marketing
How to Start Marketing on Pinterest
Ohhhh, so you want the nitty-gritty deets, huh? Anything for you 😘
What: Pinterest Content Strategy Masterclass, a 60-minute training & 30+ min Q&A
Who: Me and you (?)
When: Dec 13 @ 2 pm EST
Where: Zoom bb!
Here's what you'll learn:
How the Pinterest algorithm really works (& how to make it work for you)
What content to pin & why, plus best practices to make sure it actually converts
How to create a Pinterest marketing strategy, not just posting with a wish and a dream
A flexible 4-step framework to help you implement & maintain that strategy
REMEMBER — KEEP IT SIMPLE, SMARTIE! 😉