• oh wow this is called great mind. Melanie Kissell you are amazing Webmaster ! I never come close to think what’s Common in House Painter, an Author, and a Musician & thanks for making understand to your website audience about common thing 🙂

  • Very Nice article. Though these are basic things that everyone is supposed to know and follow but its these that we so often miss or neglect and that’s what, i suppose, differentiates a good blogger from a great one! Thank you for this lovely piece of information.

  • Good point on what to do when an idea strikes! Far too many time have I had a fantastic idea, only to not write it down and then totally forget it. Nowadays, I try to note it down on my phone…

    • Hi Mike

      Great way to put your phone to use — capturing your ideas!

  • Leaky Bucket Marketing. Mel you have coined a fantastically evocative term common to many small business folk I meet. Very often they are busy punching more holes in the bucket even while it is pouring all their good juice out onto an infertile concrete floor. Your suggestions are a great way for them to start cementing up the holes and keep their marketing bucket intact. Great post,!

    • Hey Sandy — thanks so much for the visit and for your endless positivity and praise! 🙂

      I love this …
      ” Very often they are busy punching more holes in the bucket even while it is pouring all their good juice out onto an infertile concrete floor.” Perfect! That says it ALL.

  • YES, Melanie – I LOVE that you focused on the whole schedule/strategy partnership. Revolutionary, life-changing things happen when you take a month-long perspective – and the world darn near flips upside down for you when you look at a year out at a time!

    • Hey Annie!

      Thanks so much for stopping by and sharing your perspective. I’m getting a vision of you turning cartwheels and doing back flips as you look a year out on your biz! 😉
      Weeeeeeeeeee!! LOL!

  • Melanie, thanks for sharing your online marketing plan template. What a great resource for planning an outline strategy and conquering leaky bucket marketing. And I so love the fact that you’ve identified your (non) ideal client — no stick in the mud clients wanted here. 🙂

    • Although I’d prefer to deny it, Clare …
      Life is pretty darn short. So I see no reason anyone should have to work with cranky unpleasant souls. I won’t allow those types of people into my private inner circle or my biz-related circles. In other words, “Wendy Whiners” need not apply! 😉

      Thanks for dropping in! REALLY enjoyed your post on “burnout”. Great stuff!

  • Melanie I love the leaky bucket analogy. The list you’ve given is wonderful, and sure to keep all of us busy plugging those holes for some time. The template is great. Thanks for sharing.

    • Thanks a heap and a bundle, Nicole! I appreciate the visit and I LOVED reading about “Debbie the Steampunk Chicken” over at The Numbers Whisperer. 😉

  • Melanie, I loved the ideal client pinterest board so much I stopped in the middle of reading and made one! It’s so easy to feel overwhelmed; the calendar is a fantastic idea!

    Graeat stuff! Thanks.

    • Ooh, la, la Ashley! Good for you!

      Now don’t forget to come back and post the link to your “ideal client” Pinterest board, okay? Would love to share it with my readers. 🙂

      Thanks a bunch for dropping in and for your kind words.

  • What a wonderful and great resource and reminder for everyone!

    • Thanks a heap, Laura! I know you’re super swamped this week so I truly appreciate the visit. 🙂

  • Melanie, you can add photographer, massage therapist, web designer, tour guide…. into your list! I love your nemesis. And the antidote is exactly what you offered at the end (no opt in? What??) – a PLAN. It’s easy to leak ideas and opportunities if you’re winging it without a foundation. You know, I have an editorial calendar for what I’m going to write next, but I never really thought about making up a calendar of what marketing things I’m going to tackle on any given day. So thank you for this very big “duh” moment but that’s brilliant. I work well with rules so making the “you will plan your ecourse today” rule would definitely work for me. Love it!

    • Oh, Carol Lynn, I want to give your remarks a great big hug. Thank you! 🙂

      You and I will probably bump into each other one of these days in the hallways of the “rules” arena. I work best with rules. Always have. Always will. I’ve said it a million times but I’m an A,B,C, 1,2,3 kind of gal. Rules and steps to follow put me at peace.

      ” … winging it without a foundation” is definitely NOT my style.

  • You may not “officially teach” this stuff, but um — you just did, girlfriend! Great list of ideas on how to approach some of the online stuff. It’s definitely a bit overwhelming for the newbie to know where to start. Having an overall marketing strategy/plan in place (not just for online) certainly helps you get off on the right footing. Knowing where your ideal clients “hang out” is crucial to making sure you don’t waste time doing things that they’ll never see. Leaky buckets be gone!

    • ” Knowing where your ideal clients “hang out” is crucial to making sure you don’t waste time doing things that they’ll never see.” A really good point that sizzles, Tea! 😉

      We need to bring this point to a boiling point!

      There’s no way in hell (pardon my French) anyone is going to get their desired results via social media channels UNLESS they’re on the RIGHT channels. Thank goodness for Google “Trends” and “Alerts” and the other ways and means we have of researching our target market. Amazon is oftentimes a great place to start.

      Thank you for joining the conversation. 🙂

  • Wow, Melanie – love the syndrome list and the detailed advice on how to solve it – implement any of those tips and your marketing will get an immediate boost. Great job!

    • Many thanks for swinging by, Sharon, and for your gracious kudos! 🙂

  • What a great list and a freebie! Your clients are so lucky to have you, Melanie, and I’m so glad you don’t have to work with sticks in the mud. 🙂

    • Thanks for dropping in, Tammy. Always a joy to see your warm smile. 🙂

      I see no reason anyone should EVER have to work with “sticks in the mud”. They zap your energy and suck the happy right out of your heart.