What type of digital marketing strategies should we implement for a startup?

This question came from a busy professional.

What type of digital marketing strategies should we implement for a startup?

What type of digital marketing strategies should we implement for a startup? We are in the primary stage and do not have much money. 

Congratulations on starting your business. The amazing thing regarding digital marketing is that it doesn’t cost much money to get started.  But you do need to invest time, energy and creativity.   You need to be committed to a consistent and frequent investment of time.   But that’s what startups are all about!

We will go into a general marketing strategy and then focus on digital marketing solutions.

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How To Get an Interview When We’re Under-Qualified

This question came from a busy professional.

How Can We Get an Interview When We’re Under-Qualified? 

Some people may be interested in a job, but they don’t apply for the job because they don’t meet all the qualifications or have the specified experience. Why should they apply anyway?

If a candidate is under-qualified–as per the job requirements–what are three things he or she can do to still stand out on his or her application and snag an interview
anyway?

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5 Biggest Mistakes People Make in Presentations

This question came from a busy professional.

I’m searching for career experts who can tell me the biggest mistakes people make
when making a presentation at work.

Most everyone has heard of the more common mistakes of not making eye contact with the audience and relying too heavily on note cards.  But here are some of the bigger mistakes that you may not be aware you are making.

  • Covering too much
  • Not properly tying the topics together
  • Not having a CTA
  • Not closing the deal
  • Not having someone else edit

 

We will go through each in detail, explain why it’s such a big
mistake and then give advice on how a presenter can avoid making the mistake.

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Career path options in the digital marketing industry

This question came from a busy professional.

What are career path options in the digital marketing industry?

There are several career options in digital marketing because there are several outlets within digital marketing.

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How to quit a job without burning bridges

This question came from a busy professional.

 How do you quit a job without burning bridges?

 

I work for a consulting company and just got assigned to a 3-4-month project at the client site due to begin in early May or early June. I found out about this project last week and unfortunately, I wasn’t given a choice. The concern that I have is that I was already planning to give my resignation notice in early May and leave the company by the end of May at the latest.

I would like to tell my supervisor now that I won’t be around to take on the critical project, so they can find a replacement right away and run it by the client – but I need to iron out the details with my potential new employer first. I don’t want to put the cart before the horse. My supervisor has been good to me and I don’t want to put her in a difficult situation, as she would need to find a replacement immediately after I begin the project and the client will not be thrilled about potential delays in project delivery.

Given the timing and importance of the project with a key client, I run the risk of burning bridges. Not sure what I should do. Any advice helps.
Without knowing much about your current situation – the problem doesn’t seem to be your current job.  The problem is how long it is taking the new employer to iron out things with your new position.  Therefore, I recommend focusing on fixing that area first.

Managing the New Employer

If you cannot iron out things with the new employer relatively quickly, this is a red flag that any future issues will also be difficult to complete.  If your new employer is unable or not willing to complete these things in a reasonable time frame, this is not a good sign.  The new employer is putting his/her best foot forward at the time of hire.  This is as good as it gets.

So, you need to start on the right foot with the new employer.

Transparency with New Employer

Transparency is always a good thing when starting a new position.

  • Tell your new employer that you need to iron these things out very quickly (within the next week or two).
  • Tell your new employer what is going on with your current employer and upcoming contract.
  • Set a reasonable deadline to “iron out the details” of the new job.

The new employer will appreciate that you don’t want to put your current employer in a bind.  This illustrates that you will be as conscientious with the new employer as you are with your current employer.

Next Steps

At this point, you have 2 directions to go:

  1. Deadline is accomplished
  2. Deadline is missed

Deadline is accomplished

If the new company makes the agreed-upon deadline, at that time – talk to your current manager about your plans to leave at the end of May.

  • Offer to mentor and train someone else during May on this new project.
  • Offer to use the time to document and automate any tasks to make it easier for your replacement.
  • Offer to conduct any training sessions, video or record any training tutorials to make the transition easier.
  • Don’t feel guilty or apologize that you didn’t tell them sooner because you really didn’t know sooner.

Deadline is missed

If the new company cannot make the agreed-upon deadline, consider this a RED FLAG.

  • Give the new employer additional time (3-4 months) to iron out those details (during which time you complete the other project).
  • Let the new company know that during that time you will be working on that other project for your current company.
  • Offer to do some part-time projects for the new company during that time.
  • Revisit that new company again in 3 months to see if those “details are ironed out”.
  • Line yourself up to join that new company full-time at the completion of that other project.

You always have options and say when it comes to your career and future employment.

5 Ways to Make Yourself Stand Out at Work

A busy professional asks a question regarding working relationships.

I’m looking for meaningful, effective ways that employees in nearly any scenario can make themselves stand out in a good way.

It goes without saying that above all, you must continue to produce high-quality work, make the most of your time at the office. We don’t want any of the below to affect the quality of your regular duties or responsibilities.
In other words, if you are not already doing the below – you are already standing out (but in a bad way).

Once you have accomplished the below, you can focus on the next 5 ways to make yourself stand out.

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When do you need a new career vs. just a new job?

A busy professional asks a question regarding career advancement.

When do you need a new career vs. just a new job?


When you’re burned out in your current job, how do you know if it’s time for a new career vs. just a new job? What questions should you ask yourself? What criteria should you be thinking about?

This is a question that everyone should ask – even before “burn out”.  But, as you pointed out, many don’t consider it until they are “done” with their current job.

Avoid Burn-Out

To avoid burn – have a career development plan (3, 5, 10-year plan) and regularly do a career assessment against that plan.

Some steps to get you on that path:

  • Work with a success coach, mentor or business coach to assist you in your career and professional development plan.
  • Include your professional development task in your professional yearly review discussions
  • Share your career goals and professional development plans with your manager
  • Schedule various tasks to accomplish throughout the calendar year to achieve those year-end, 3, 5 and 10-year plans.

Never too late

If you don’t have a career development plan, create one now.  Decide where you want to be, do and have in 3, 5, and 10 years.  Consider a 360-degree view of your life in 3, 5 and 10 years.  To assist you in this, feel free to download this Dream Sculpting Worksheet.

New Career or New Job

Once you have your career development plan, it is critical that you regularly evaluate it.  As you gain new experiences, skills and interests, you are changing.  The career path that you defined 3 years ago may not fit the person that you are today.  Take the time to reassess your professional and personal desires.  Make sure you are not only staying on target – but that this target is still what you want.

The Next Career Step Challenge Worksheet may also help you with deciding if you need a new career or just the next logical step in your current career development path.

I know your situation is different.  If you would like additional information on this topic, please contact LauraRose@RoseCoaching.info

I am a business coach and this is what I do professionally.  It’s easy to sign up for a complimentary one-on-one coaching call, just use this link https://www.timetrade.com/book/WFSFQ

 

With enough notice, it would be my honor to guest-speak at no cost to your group organization.

 

Can I start a business without money?

Hello, this is Laura Lee Rose – author of the business and time management books TimePeace: Making peace with time – the The Book of Answers:  105 Career Critical Situations – and I am a  business and efficiency coach that specializes in time management, project management and work-life balance strategies.

Today’s question comes from a busy entrepreneur and small business owner:

      I’ve been unemployed for a few months now. Could I still start a business without money?

      I’m curious because I’ve read about it but never made a decision. So I do believe that the answer would help me.

Without knowing your talents, work experience and skills, this answer will be very general.
Starting a business without money is possible, but difficult.

Business Plan

The first step would be to create your business plan, which outlined your business goals, start-up fiscal needs, revenue expectations, resource needs, and general business strategy.

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Questions People Forget To Ask Their Boss

Today’s question comes from a busy professional:

What are the questions you should always ask your boss? What do you need to find out, or clarify? And why?

  1. What questions should people always ask their boss, and why
    are they important to ask?
  2. Is it okay to ask your boss questions? Why might it be
    important to do so?

A company executive speaks with a woman during a business meeting.

Yes.  It is not only “okay” to ask your boss questions, it’s very important to ask your boss questions.  Questions show that you are taking control of your own career and professional development.  You are not waiting to be told the information; you are initiating and guiding the conversation with your questions.

The reason it’s important to ask questions is that you want to be able to

  • Understand what your manager expects of you
  • Be able to better anticipate his/her requests.

While these are very good questions, another important aspect is “when” to ask these questions.

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5 Lies You Tell Yourself About Your New Year’s Resolutions

unmotivationToday’s question comes from a busy professional:

I can’t seem to stay motive past a few weeks on my New Year’s Resolutions.  How can I stay motivated in my New Year’s Resolutions?

You are not alone.  Although many of us make resolutions, only 10% of us actually keep them.

 

Some of the lies we tell ourselves are:

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