UNM CE Adds Marketing and Self-Promotion Basics Class to Summer Offerings
June 7, 2011 by MaryEllen · Leave a Comment
Plagued by nagging marketing questions? Unsure of your next tactical move?
“Marketing and Self-Promotion for Digital Artists,” a two-session class from The University of New Mexico Continuing Education, begins July 26, 2011.
Students in this class will take charge of self-promotional campaigns, understand the marketing choices that work today, and then gain confidence as a result of their work.
The interactive class platform encourages participation. Participants organize marketing information based on practical, real-world case studies and tips as they apply to individual situations.
In addition to identifying messages, participants choose 10 marketing tactics that could best serve them or their business.
By the end of the second session, students develop a mini one-page marketing plan that sums up next future steps.
The course includes:
- A basic overview of publicity/visibility options and why they’re critical to success
- General press releases and other information to publicize your work
- Social media, the new PR effort, and how it impacts you
- Prioritizing action items to get the word out
- Getting started with a plan
Details:
Course #55622 – Marketing and Self-Promotion for Digital Artists
Session one, 6pm – 9pm Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Session two, 6pm – 9pm Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Fee: $179.00
Register online at UNM CE.
Create Your One Page Marketing Plan Now
May 11, 2011 by MaryEllen · Leave a Comment
“It’s expensive to advertise.”
“With so many choices, where do you put your money?”
“Everything is changing – will my business survive?”
If you recognize yourself in these statements/questions, you’re not alone. The sheer proliferation of marketing channels causes many small business owners to request help with marketing. Every day I hear from individuals who want reassurance. It’s a fact: there’s no easy solution.
Move from questions to action in a series of Marketing Master Plan classes sponsored by the South Valley SBDC. Learn from your peers, other small business owners who experience some of the same problems you face.
The Marketing Master Plan Series is back by popular demand. Each of the four-week sessions provides opportunities for hands-on work. Participants receive a copy of the updated 197-page e-book, “The Six-Week Marketing Master Plan,” a $69.95 value.
Weekly agendas include:
6WMMP in 4: Week 1 Objectives (1:00pm – 4pm, Thursday May 26, 2011)
• Engage in the 6WMMP challenge
• Prepare a SWOT analysis
• Connect value and differentiation in business
• Define your target audience
• Find your audience online
• Assess your competition
• Grasp the importance of Google analytics
• Understand how this places in the plan
6WMMP in 4: Week 2 Objectives (1:00pm – 4pm, Thursday June 2, 2011)
• Assess your business and social media
• Understand the social threesome
• Solidify the social choice of a Facebook Page
• Identify differences between Profiles & Pages
• Boost knowledge of mobile and local search
• Grasp how a bio fits in and boosts visibility
• Build a measurable social media strategy
• Understand social media’s place in the plan
6WMMP in 4: Week 3 Objectives (2:00pm – 5pm, Thursday June 9, 2011)
• Develop Fact Sheet for collateral materials
• Formulate and prioritize edit list for website
• Review additional web resources
• Discover additional media to showcase
• Prepare to launch an online media room
• Understand how this places in the plan
6WMMP in 4: Week 4 Objectives (1:00pm – 4pm, Thursday June 16, 2011)
• Plan promotions for your business
• Develop and prioritize an editorial calendar
• Produce a blog calendar and categories
• Schedule your strategic publishing plan
• Build your One Page Marketing Plan
• Define next steps
• Celebrate! Completion
The South Valley SBDC first offered this program in April 2011. When asked, “What did you like best about this seminar series?” participants responded:
“feedback, helpful weblinks and utilities”
“finding out ways to multitask”
“group feedback from peers who are knowledgeable and interested in class discussions while Mary Ellen directs the conversation”
“the goal-setting, designing the path”
“flow and positivity”
I enjoyed the opportunity of peer input as well as the introduction to many tools to assist in my marketing plan”
Register through the South Valley SBDC.
“The people you meet in class are wonderful and the synergy of ideas are mind-expanding.” – Margaret Onuska
“I found it was easier to start thinking about a comprehensive marketing plan for my own business through our sharing and feedback sessions and reviewing other class attendees’ strategy.” -Aubrey Owens
“Uplifting, informative, positive ways of learning how to manage the marketing mudslide and use it to your advantage.” – Jonathan Kronz
Conclusion:
Tom Landry, former coach of the Dallas Cowboys said, “A coach is someone who makes you do what you don’t want to do so you can become who you want to be. Get coached on a current marketing plan with the Master Marketing Plan Series. Participants develop their plan during the month and present it at the final session.
Details:
South Valley SBDC
Thursdays, 1-4pm
May 26, 2011 through June 16, 2011
Register online or for more information call Liliana at 505-248-0132.
Business Visibility: What works now?
May 4, 2011 by MaryEllen · Leave a Comment
Social media rules if one believes the headlines. At one point during reporting of Osama Bin Laden’s death, Twitter
logged more than 4,000 tweets per minute.
Yet, according to Jeremiah Owjang, Industry Analyst and Partner for Altimeter, 41% of all businesses are reactive, not proactive when it comes to social media.
Local experience bears out national statistics like these. Consider the bed and breakfast operator who now uses only Facebook to promote. Or, the feed store now building an email list as well as a Facebook page. No print. No local advertising.
Has social media killed other methods of advertising? Or, are businesses merely reacting to the mode of the day, hoping for dramatic results?
In a presentation for the Albuquerque Independent Business Association’s Local.Lunch.Learn, Mary Ellen Merrigan talks about strategies to successfully navigate today’s gaggle of marketing channels. She draws on stories from locals as well as national case studies to create actionable and pragmatic solutions.
Details:
Location: Slate Street Café
515 Slate Ave NW
Time: 11:30am – 1:00pm, Thursday May 12, 2011
Title: “Facebook, Twitter, Flyers and More – What’s Working Now?”
Reservations required
About Mary Ellen Merrigan
Mary Ellen wrote and published The Six-Week Marketing Master Plan to guide small businesses through the marketing maze. The revised e-book, published in March 2011, serves as the basis for an ongoing series of classes designed to guide individuals through their own marketing plan. For class information, contact the South Valley SBDC. Mary Ellen continues to combine social media with other more traditional channels. She regularly consults with small business owners including some of the best known names in Albuquerque.
Advance Your Career With Social Networking
April 5, 2011 by MaryEllen · Leave a Comment
If you’re eyeing a promotion, an impressive title, or a bigger paycheck, social networking could be for you. Dozens of articles touting the benefits of social media make it clear this is more than a passing fad.
On the other hand, if you’ve put your profile up on a number of social networking sites and “nothing has happened,” it could be time for a reality check.
In a presentation for the Administrative Professional Conference, Mary Ellen Merrigan discusses the phenomenon of being everywhere and going nowhere.
“Marketing Yourself with Social Media” presentation takeaways include:
Five simple steps you can take immediately to unleash your persona on the world
A list of best practices for each step
Tips to define your brand across all channels
A guide to identifying your communication channels
Timing, tools and tactics to help your effort succeed
Mary Ellen works with a variety of business professionals to combine new methods of marketing with more traditional ones. She emphasizes quality over quantity and shows individuals how to stand out in a cookie-cutter world. Her presentation includes real-world case studies and ideas you can implement immediately following the presenation.
It’s not too late to take charge of your online reputation. Enroll in this seminar and discover how.
The 2011 Administrative Professional Conference features four tracks: Workplace Tools, Taking Care of Yourself, Creating a Healthy Workplace and Finding a Different Workplace. “Marketing With Social Media” is scheduled for 10:45-12noon on Tuesday April 26, 2011.
UNM Continuing Education presents the 10th Annual Administrative Professional Conference April 26-27. Access more information or register online.
Marketing Master Plan Class Begins March 31
March 8, 2011 by MaryEllen · Leave a Comment
Simplify, structure and solidify your marketing plan. Address the tangle of today’s marketing channels in a four week series presented by Mary Ellen Merrigan.
The hands-on workshop offers business owners an opportunity to sort, prioritize and simplify marketing tactics in an interactive, small group setting.
For four weeks beginning March 31 entrepreneurs will work on their business with customized input from other participants and Merrigan. The program includes Merrigan’s 200-page e-book, The Six Week Marketing Master Plan revised and updated in early March 2011.
The series is hosted by the South Valley Small Business Development Center. Call 505-248-0132 to register.
Details:
1pm – 4pm, four consecutive Thursdays,
March 31, April 7, April 14 and April 21
Albuquerque Hispano Chamber, 1309 Fourth Street SW, AlbuquerquePre-registration required. $250.00 per participant
Past participants of the Six Week Marketing Master Plan give the program high marks. See comments below:
“I feel I have gone down the rabbit hole and lord it is ALOT of info!”
Phoenix Forrester, Phoenix Forrester Fine Art“You may feel like you are herding cats when you add constantly changing social media to your marketing responsibilities. Mary Ellen’s book, Six-Week Marketing Master Plan, adds the right catnip to your marketing tool bag.”
Jane F. Lee, Ed.D., Vice President, TeachTown“The training that Mary Ellen offered enabled me to develop a strategic plan for the development of a new external website which has garnered support and funding from the top executive management of my organization. Thanks to Mary’s training, I was able to develop a plan which has encompassed strategies ranging from better content oversight on thousands of outdated pages to an evolved social networking campaign as well as better marketing and communication in all aspects of the website. I continue to use the concepts that I learned in the class daily as my team moves forward with overhauling our outdated and ancient website.”
Ann Lorenz“I feel that this is the best $$ I have spent on marketing since I started my business.”
Cindy Padilla, Kokopelli Bodyworks
To learn more contact Mary Ellen through this website form.
Marketing with Social Media Course Slated for March
February 17, 2011 by MaryEllen · Leave a Comment
The combination of moving faster and being connected 24/7 means one thing: you must be more clear in your communication.
Social media provides an opportunity to directly connect with customers, vendors, potential employers and friends. Frequently, the proliferation of social channels and the lack of a cohesive strategy dooms the effort before it begins.
Marketing with Social Media, a nine-hour course from UNM Continuing Education puts you in a position of choice. The three-session course will help you:
- Realistically assess where you are and where you want to go
- Explore social options that complement current strategies and serve your purpose
- Understand how major social media channels best serve their participants
- Explore the ever-changing world of Facebook Pages (formerly called Fan pages)
- Identify the differences between Profiles and Pages on Facebook, the number one social media choice, and review communication strategy differences for the two
- Gain knowledge of resources to automate and systematize your social media experience
- Develop a strategy for choosing your communication channel and making it more successful
- Review examples of best practices to solidify thought processes
Details:
What: Course # 55623
When: Wednesdays, 6pm – 9pm – Three sessions, March 16, 23, 30
Where: CE South Building, 1634 University NE
Price: $229
About the Instructor:
Mary Ellen Merrigan specializes in practical and sane marketing strategies for small business owners. She offers realistic solutions customized to each participant.
Workshop participants say:
“With Mary Ellen as guide, I learned how to navigate the tsunami of marketing strategies, how to create a marketing plan for my business and most important, how to stay true to myself. Get her eBook, but take her course or get her as a consultant. For it is Mary Ellen herself that brings the magic, that inspires, that helps you probe deep into what makes your business unique. And, the best part is that she models what she teaches. She is authentic. Thank you, Mary Ellen.” – Gail Summers
“A great place to start marketing your business with social media.” – Victor Lopez
“Extremely useful for initiating business strategy for social media.” – Janet Bridgers
Mary Ellen continues to keep abreast of the ever-changing world of social media. She has two social media certifications and just completed a two-week Facebook Page training course. For special questions, connect with Mary Ellen via email.
Identify Your Master Marketing Plan
January 20, 2011 by MaryEllen · 2 Comments
Ready to thrive in business and enjoy life?
Begin with a systematized step-by-step plan for marketing.
Join me at EXHIB-IT Trade Show Marketing Experts, 6207 Pan American Freeway, 9am Tuesday, March 1 to discover more.
- Discover three metrics you can use anytime, anywhere
- Leverage your core messages
- Reduce overwhelm with limited key media
- Transform your results with tactics you like
For more information, or to register, contact EXHIB-IT! Trade Show Marketing Experts.
Untangle the Marketing Knot
January 5, 2011 by MaryEllen · Leave a Comment
Stymied by marketing?
Fed up with social media that sucks your time and offers little or no return?
Disgusted that your competitor got a feature in the local paper and you did not?
Tired of hearing promise after promise about the four hour work week as you put in 40, 50 or 60 hours of effort?
You’re not alone.
It’s time to stop the insanity. Do something different. If your New Year’s resolution involves changing your marketing results, look no further.
“The Six Week Marketing Master Plan” untangles today’s many marketing channels. (Disclosure: I collaborated with designer and web specialist Maria G. Nozza to produce the book in 2009.)
A group of dedicated consultants and coaches is now working through the program. Revision 1.11 launches later this month.
During the past year dozens of professionals have used this system to set and achieve marketing goals. They’ve produced detailed marketing plans customized for each of their businesses.
The Six Week Marketing Master Plan gives structure and streamlines efforts. Participants learn a systematized method to customize collateral and define tactics for visibility.
A new group now forming begins the week of January 24, 2011. For details, complete this contact page.
Each participant receives the revised, expanded and updated Six Week Marketing Master Plan. Classes, limited to 10, meet weekly for three hours.
Six week classes also begin in March and April.
“This program helps you sort and prioritize so you know which business efforts help you succeed,” commented author and facilitator Mary Ellen Merrigan.
“Don’t let another year pass without accomplishing the marketing goals you choose.”
How will next year be different?
November 3, 2010 by MaryEllen · Leave a Comment
Would you be pleased with another year exactly like this? If the answer is “yes,” read no further.
If your answer is “no,” what changes are you making? How will you ensure that next year will be a stronger opportunity for your business?
“Do-It-Yourself Planning: A Simple Marketing Plan for 2011” presents potential solutions for entrepreneurs.
- Learn two tactics to refocus your message and connect with your audience
- Review specific questions for year-end evaluation
- Focus on your audience and the best mix of marketing channels to reach them
- Discover the flexibility and viability of a simple plan template for your business
This worhshop is sponsored by the South Valley Small Business Development sponsors this workshop 9a – 11am Tuesday, November 16 at the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce.
Even if you’ve not been a social media fan, jump start your year with the right social media for you.
Reach your best customers with a combination of old school tactics and new media. This interactive workshop gives you the opportunity to explore these ideas and more.
Details:
“DIY Planning: A Simple Marketing Plan for 2011”
9am – 11am | Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Register: Telephone: (505) 248-0132 E-mail: svsbdc@cnm.edu
Sponsor: http://www.nmsbdc.org/southvalley/
Location: Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce | 1309 Fourth Street SW
About The Presenter:
Mary Ellen Merrigan consults with small business owners to combine greater visibility with profitable growth. Many of her smart marketing strategies contain a D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself) component.
She is the author of “The Six Week Master Marketing Plan: An hour a day to take your business to the next level.” The e-book offers a step-by-step guide to integrating social media with other tactics for solid sales and is sold online.
In addition, the series is now offered by UNM Continuing Education as a certificate level class (Smart Marketing Series) in the Fall 2010 and Spring 2011 semesters.
Build Practical and Sane Social Media the DIY Way
October 8, 2010 by MaryEllen · Leave a Comment
Floating down endless Facebook streams?
Lost in Tweets?
UnLinked? Dug out? Dropped?
Is your time online simply frittered away?
Do you wonder, “What’s the point?”
The answers are here. In a seminar entitled “DIY Social Media: Get Strategic, Get Results” Mary Ellen Merrigan discusses today’s most-talked-about marketing channel, social media.
The free, two-hour workshop is sponsored by the South Valley Small Business Development Center.
You’ll learn:
- Why Facebook is the foundation of social efforts
- How Twitter pumps up visibility
- What FourSquare, Yelp and Groupon mean to brick and mortar stores
- Why getting strategic matters
Details:
10a-12noon, Wednesday, October 21, 2010
Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce
1304 Fourth Street Southwest
Call to register: 505-248-0132
DIY Social Media: Get Strategic, Get Results! offers practical and sane strategies for an online world. All participants receive a Best Practices handout.
Mary Ellen Merrigan has developed successful, sales-building D.I.Y. (Do it Yourself) smart marketing strategies for a wide range of clients promotes the benefits of combining traditional and social media. She is the author of “The Six Week Master Marketing Plan: An hour a day to take your business to the next level,” available online at http://www.sixweekmarketingplan.com. Join Mary Ellen to learn how you can use smart marketing to achieve a positive bottom line.
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