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Marketing News You Can Use

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Wrapping Up Summer With Homemade Muffins (and Affinity Marketing)

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Did you know there’s a method to the madness of a tasty muffin? You betcha. The muffin mixing method combines dry ingredients in one bowl, wet ingredients in another, and then folds the two together for a light and fluffy treat. Easy peasy!

Interestingly, the muffin method can be paralleled to affinity marketing. They both bring together multiple ingredients (businesses) and form a partnership of mutual benefit. Simply put, you grease my pan and I’ll grease yours.

If you’re like me, you wonder how your small business can practice affinity marketing. Voilà! Circle M Market Farm BnB recently popped in to my social media feed and it’s a perfect example of businesses working together. Notice how owner Kriss Marion not only uses products from her neighboring farmers, she also promotes them. She’s a smart cookie, because their success contributes to her success. And—perhaps most importantly— encouraging others is a simple and caring thing to do.

Don’t these muffins look delish? Owner Kriss Marion shares the recipe in the comments of her Facebook post. Check out Circle M here, and many more farm stays here in beautiful Wisconsin.

What I’m Working On This Month

Looking for an outdoor festival for celebrating October? Mark your calendar for Fermentation Fest in the rolling countryside of Driftless Wisconsin. What seems weeks away, means work and planning now. This month I’ve been hard at it with the creative team of Wormfarm Institute.

What I’m Tuned In To This Month

Speaking of Hiking…

Wisconsin’s Ice Age Trail Alliance has come out with its 2023 atlas and guidebook, which means I’ll soon come out with my updated map. Added trails, new trail communities— they’re all here and ready for press!

In the meantime, check out Adunate’s super sale on 2022 maps. Get these for the cost of shipping and handling only—a great way to get started on your Ice Age Trail adventure. Hurry, only a few left!

Shop Here
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Encouraging News for Small Business

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May is Small Business Month and AARP has promising news. Not only have small businesses survived the pandemic, they’re actually thriving!

AARP Bulletin recently listed ten shopping trends and even though the article is directed to consumers, savvy entreprenuers can use them to ramp their own marketing. I’m particularly interested in Trend #10 on Mom and Pop shops. The colloquial “Mom and Pops” often carries a negative connotation of struggling, however, this author says otherwise. 

“A Wall Street Journal study found that since COVID started, all of the net job growth has been driven by companies with fewer than 250 employees,” states the author. 

How are Mom and Pops doing it? With unique shopping experiences, whether in person or online, and on a smaller, friendlier, more human scale. 

Dreaming of your own business? Think positive!

What I’m Working On This Month

Do you love Lake Superior? If so, stay tuned—I’m in the depths of a new map. Details like color palette, typeface, and choice of paper are all in the forefront. These are my favorite parts of the creative process. Soon, folks, soon!

In the meantime, scroll on down for maps already in my shop.

What I’m Tuned In To This Month

Let’s Work Together

Think Adunate might be a good fit for your next project? Give me a holler and we’ll discuss ideas.

CONTACT ME

June 3rd is National Trails Day!

Showcase your adventures!

Shop Here
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Treating Your Customers Like Royalty

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My husband and I recently celebrated at Bistro Bella Vita in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It was absolutely divine and here’s why.

Yes, making online reservations was super convenient. And yes, the venue was interesting and the made-from-scratch, sustainably sourced food was, oh, so good. What was most memorable, however, and why we’ll certainly come back, was the way we were treated.

So, it was our 44th wedding anniversary and every staff in house must have received the memo. From the moment we entered they made us feel special—not that staff-singing, all-eyes-on-you, embarrassing modus—rather a genuine warmth that brought smiles to our hearts. Many of the staff individually came to our table and congratulated us. They asked how long we’ve been married and marveled at our years. Our server offered complimentary desserts (I chose tiramisu, gastro-swoon!). When we were leaving, she wished us many more years to come.

Treating us like royalty has made us loyal customers indeed. Next time we’re in western Michigan, you’ll find us dining at Bistro Bella Vita.

CX is King/Queen in 2023

Those in the know say customer experience, or CX, has become a top priority for consumers. Royal treatment may sound highfalutin, but it’s the name of the game for small business marketing.

What experience do your customers have when they patronize your business? Are they coming back for more? What can you do to make them feel like royalty?

Not sure? Ask them!

What I’m Working On This Month

Check out my updated website (and please let me know of any glitches, typos, or dead links:-).

What I’m Tuned In To This Month

Let’s Work Together

Need help branding your business or promoting your product? Let’s discuss ideas.

CONTACT ME

Wisconsin Outdoors is Calling.

Shop Here

Love Yourself, Love Your Business

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Ever wonder why marketing yourself is so hard? True confession—I can promote my clients much easier than I can myself. When it comes to my own business, I have to really push.

If you’re like me, you may feel awkward and self-conscious about marketing. You feel talking about yourself is a form of vanity. You worry what other people think, especially those you know. Here’s the thing, if this mindset overtakes you, you’re actually cheating your business from the positive exposure it deserves. Even worse, you’re cheating your customers from the valuable product you have to offer.

Here’s a pep talk for marketing yourself with confidence!

10 Self-Loves to Motivate Your Marketing

  1. If you don’t market your business, you’ll have no business.
    —Successful entrepreneurs everywhere
  2. Don’t let the expectations and opinions of other people affect your decisions. It’s your life (business), not theirs.
    ―Roy T. Bennett, author, nonpolitician 
  3. Courage starts with showing up and letting ourselves be seen.
    —Brené Brown, professor, lecturer, author, and podcast host
  4. Criticism is the tool of envy and jealousy.
    —Joe Cervantes, attorney and member of the New Mexico Senate
  5. Your work has value and should be compensated accordingly.
    —paraphrased from Ilise Benum, marketing expert for creative professionals
  6. Marketing is really just about sharing your passion.
    —Michael Hyatt, NY Times Best Selling Author
  7. Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.
    —Coco Chanel, fashion designer and businesswoman
  8. There’s nothing wrong with staying small. You can do big things with a small team.
    —Jason Fried, founder & CEO of Basecamp
  9. Don’t let yourself off the hook by deciding that something is out of your reach, instead, ask yourself, ‘What would I do if I weren’t afraid?‘
    —Sheryl Sandburg, business executive, billionaire, and philanthropist
  10. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
    —Neale Donald Walsch, author, actor, screenwriter, and speaker

What I’m Working On This Month

January has been a month of maintenance. It’s all part of wintering, as they say. It’s also necessary for small business ownership. Hopefully all will soon be ready for launch!

What I’m Tuned In To This Month

  • RAW DEAL: A dirty underbelly that affects not only small farm producers but we consumers as well.
  • REST MANIFESTO: Winter’s a good time for resting. This article helps us feel less guilty when we do.
  • DEMON COPPERHEAD: Author Barbara Kingsolver says in life she is not a risk-taker but as a writer she chooses the fast car. She really did with this one.
  • IS EVERYONE DOING THE BEST THEY CAN? With what they’ve been given? Dr. Brené Brown makes us think in this podcast.

Let’s Work Together

Think Adunate might be a good fit for your next project? Give me a holler and we’ll discuss ideas.

CONTACT ME

Valentines in the Shop

For the Outdoor Lover in All of You!

NOT SUBSCRIBED? LET’s Do This!

Ending the Year with a Bomb (Cyclone)

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Dreaming of a White Christmas? We got it (and more). The good news is, following those frigid temps, gusty winds, and drifts of snow, came the sun. And a glorious sunshine it’s been!

Hang In There!

In many ways small businesses are dealing with their own end-of-year storm. COVID, worker shortages, supply chain disruptions, high inflation are all challenges entrepreneurs face. But the good news is, people are sticking together and helping one another.  

I’m thankful for another year working with an inspiring network of people. Many are clients. Others are cohorts. They have helped me in a multitude of ways and I’ve been honored to be there for them. We’re hanging in there.

And here’s the most optimistic news of all: Small businesses everywhere are finding success. The sun shines after a storm. Hang in there! 

LET’s WORK TOGETHER
Commerce Street Brewery Hotel, Mineral Point, WI

What I’m Working On This Week: Nothing!

They say the week between Christmas and New Year’s is when you don’t know what day it is, who you are, and what you’re supposed to be doing. Yep, that’s us. And, for the good word, Commerce Street Brewery Hotel is a delightful mid-week getaway!

What I’m Tuned In To This Month

  1. Maine’s tree tippers: A generational tradition of trimming trees and making wreaths.
  2. What is cozy, really? With January in the coming, this is something you may want to know.
  3. Covid came quickly but the vaccine did not. How scientists developed the mRNA Technology inside Covid vaccines. Not as rushed as some of us thought.
  4. Infinite Ellipses of Ritual and Flavor, a tasty read on beans. Plus a recipe.

However you celebrate the holidays, God’s blessings be with you.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!