The First Step to Creating Content That Sells

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Table of Contents

Podcast Description

Get ready to dive into the first step you need to take before creating content that sells. While content may be king, it’s crucial to have a solid plan in place to maximize sales and save time.

In this episode, I’m sharing my process of planning sales and promotions with valuable insights on how to strategically schedule your offers throughout the year while remaining flexible and organized.

Whether you’re a service provider, coach, or digital product creator, this episode will help you lay the foundation for successful content creation that drives sales.

Links Referenced in Episode:

▶ Learn more about my VIP Half Day

▶ Annual-at-a-Glance Planner

▶ Visit the Cheerful Productivity Shop

▶ Hidden Gems

▶ Episode 5: Key Things to Review Before Starting Your Quarterly Planning

Connect with me:

Website | Instagram

Watch on YouTube:

The Importance of Strategic Planning

Content creation is often considered the king of marketing, but jumping straight into it without a plan can lead to wasted time and missed opportunities.

In this four-part series, we’ll dive into the behind-the-scenes strategies I use to maximize sales and save time with my content planning.

When it comes to content creation, it’s essential to have a solid plan in place before diving headfirst into the creative process. Many entrepreneurs overlook this crucial step, often rushing through it to feel productive. But trust me, taking the time to strategize is a game-changer.

As a creator myself, I understand how easy it can be to get lost in the act of creating. However, neglecting marketing efforts can hinder business growth. Putting ourselves out there and actively promoting our products and services is vital in today’s competitive online space.

So, as we approach the end of the first quarter and gear up for the next few months, it’s time to take a step back and figure out our game plan. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the first step in content planning: mapping out your sales and promotions.

The Annual-at-a-Glance Planner Method:

To effectively plan your sales and promotions, I recommend using an Annual-at-a-Glance Planner. I personally use a Trello board, which allows for flexibility and easy adjustments as plans evolve throughout the year.

Here’s a breakdown of the planning process I follow:

1. Assess Existing Commitments:

First, review any prior commitments you’ve made, such as collaborations, bundles or summits. These commitments deserve your attention, so make sure to add them to your calendar. By acknowledging these obligations upfront, you can plan around them and avoid overwhelming yourself.

Related Post: How To Be a Standout Bundle Contributor

2. Plan Your Big Launches

Next, identify the major events you’ll be hosting, such as product launches, collaborative events, challenges or themed promotions.

Rather than determining the specifics, focus on outlining the launch period. For example, mark the start and end dates of your launch, allowing room for pre-launch activities in the weeks prior.

3. Incorporate Personal Touches

Consider incorporating national holidays, special birthdays, anniversaries or other personal events that resonate with you and your business. These themed promotions add an element of fun and excitement, making them more engaging for your audience.

(This course is the one that inspired me to host the Spring Into Action Egg-stravaganza – an Easter-themed promotion).

4. Remain Open to Opportunities

While having a structured plan is crucial, leave some room for spontaneity. Stay open to last-minute collaborative events, shiny squirrel opportunities or emerging trends. Being flexible allows you to jump on exciting prospects and inject fresh energy into your promotions.

Want to work together to align your promotions and content to maximize sales and save time? Learn more about my VIP Half Day here.

Pros and Cons of Flexible Planning

As with any approach, there are pros and cons to maintaining a flexible promotional calendar. Let’s take a closer look:

Cons

Here’s some of the cons to planning your promotions flexibly:

Limited notice for affiliates

Flexibility may lead to shorter notice periods for affiliates, potentially impacting their ability to schedule and promote your offerings effectively.

This is an area I’m working on improving (with the help of this membership), as giving affiliates plenty of time is crucial for their success.

Increased to-do list

Flexibility often means taking on more projects, resulting in a larger workload within a limited timeframe.

While systems and efficient processes can mitigate this, it’s important to acknowledge the potential for a busier schedule, making it even harder to prioritize your weekly tasks.

Shifted timelines

Flexibility may cause delays or rescheduling of planned launches or promotions. While it allows for spontaneous opportunities, it’s essential to strike a balance and ensure major sales events remain on track.

There have been many times where I’ve personally had to push back a big launch or promotion because of a new opportunity arising and changing my whole schedule.

Pros

On the positive contrary, here’s some of the reasons why I love to plan promotions flexibly:

Freedom from rigidity

Flexible planning liberates you from feeling constrained by a rigid schedule. You can adapt to emerging trends, capitalize on exciting opportunities and maintain a sense of spontaneity while still progressing strategically.

Openness to new opportunities

By embracing flexibility, you’re more likely to spot and seize unexpected opportunities that align with your business goals. This adaptability allows for dynamic growth and keeps your promotions fresh and exciting.

Efficient action with systems

Implementing systems and processes empowers you to take swift action and efficiently execute your plans.

Systems provide structure while allowing for creativity and agility, ensuring you get things done effectively.

Related Post: How Systems Keep You Focused

Start with Strategic Planning

Strategic planning is the cornerstone of successful content creation and sales. By mapping out your sales and promotions in advance, you can optimize your marketing efforts, engage your audience and maximize your sales potential.

Remember, while flexibility brings its challenges, it also opens doors to exciting opportunities. With the right systems in place, you can maintain a balance between structure and spontaneity to move your business forward in a way that feels good to you.

If you’re new to the Cheerful Productive Chats Podcast, be sure to follow and leave a rating and review if you’re enjoying the content. Stay tuned for the next episode, where we’ll explore how to align your long-form content with your promotional plans to boost sales.

Thank you for joining me on this journey to productive success. To access the complete show notes and additional resources mentioned in this blog post, visit cheerstoproductivity.com/66. Keep an eye out for the Annual-at-a-Glance Planner in the shop, coming soon!