Hello Reader,

Happy Greenwashing Month! I mean, Earth Month. Katie Robert of Trust Insights wrote an article about the 5 Ps of marketing. I think we should take it on for micro and small business owners. Think of them as your compass. In my personal life, I try to answer this question: "Does it serve me? Will it take away time from my family?" For business, you can ask these questions to kick off your marketing planning.

Purpose

Start with 'why.' (This is a Simon Sinek book, btw.) Why does your product exist? Identify the problem you're solving. A well-defined purpose is your North Star of your marketing efforts, providing direction and meaning in each decision you make.

People

Identify your stakeholders. From customers to staff to collaborators or partners, understanding who needs to be involved or informed empowers you to customize your messaging and build the right connections.

Process

Strategy is your map; process is your path. Process maps out the journey from planning to execution. Flesh out the steps that will take you from concept to execution.

Platform

This is your 'where.' Choose platforms and software that streamline your marketing activities.

Performance

Measure your 'what'. Whether it's increased sales, higher traffic, or improved customer satisfaction, set quantifiable metrics to measure your marketing's effectiveness.

Ready to apply the 5 Ps in your business? Review how these Ps align with your current marketing efforts. Identify one area within the 5 Ps where there’s room for improvement and commit to one actionable step to enhance it this week.

Simple and steady. Let me know if I can help! You can always book a time with me to see if we can work together.

• Who loses in any war? Babies and children.
• Hold On Bags (Los Angeles-based) is giving away their Earth Month clean up kits. Get one and be a trash person like me!
• I basically failed out of Organic Chemistry (O Chem) in college, but I love these professor videos.
• Do you hate making 36 cookies in one baking session? Me too. Here's a recipe for single serve banana chocolate chip cookies! 🍪

One of the AI programs I pay for is called Marketing Magic; its engine is Open AI (same as ChatGPT). Meneske Stewart (founder) has separated tasks like email copy, lead magnet, social posts, titling, landing page so that you just press the button to let it run. She is offering a lifetime license at $697. Free trial here.

This weekend, I'll be volunteering to pass out little green pails at my kid's school's annual fundraiser event. My city's Waste Warrior (reducing single plastic use, etc) education program has inspired me to incrementally change purchase and consumption habits to decrease waste. It is a state law (CA) that organics (food waste) go into the green bin. This helps decrease dangerous methane gases from the landfill. Do it. It's been a year of changing my habit and it's such a small change to make a big impact. Let me know if you already separate your food waste! (Take off stickers from fruit.)

Have a good week!

Chris

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