Here's how you can enhance your marketing operations by boosting your confidence in taking risks.

Although it is very popular today to say: 'embrace failure' I like to think of it differently. In this world that is changing so rapidly, it is critical to be in a constant state of learning and awareness. With that commitment comes the responsibility to ITERATE. Every day consider what you have learned (about your 4 P's and your environental scanning) to continue to evolve your strategy. To embrace change feels like taking risks, but in reality it is riskier to not.

One of the mindsets in the model I invented called The Six ‘I’s of Innovation, is Courage, and I link it with the INVEST stage of the innovation journey. When we are doing anything new, whether personal or professional, we have to have the courage to step away from what we are familiar with. What could you do today to increase your mindset of courage?

Since none of us has a magic ball to see the future of our marketing efforts, it can be difficult to know how much effort to invest into each campaign. It can be very discouraging to spend weeks or months putting a campaign together, only to have it fail. This is why we recommend starting with testing different ideas and topics with posts, articles, and content, then embracing the best performing as options to expand upon for larger campaigns and initiatives. And remember, done is often better (+ less frustrating, time consuming, and expensive) than perfect.

Don’t reduce fear — eliminate it. Embrace the art of marketing and the science of data analysis. Test. Scale. Learn. Move on.

Honestly, LinkedIn boosted posts allow you to experiment with data and audience in a way that other platforms don’t. If you have just a few metrics on your target audience - or even an inkling of an idea - you can test the waters and find the right blend of data and risk.

One thing I have found helpful is the need to know your data before embarking on any new new business ventures and such data can be gotten from education, training and experience in the business. When you know your data your confidence increases and failure is unlikely.

The closest thing to predicting the future, is looking at the past. As I mentioned in in the previous comment, reviewing past performance of social media posts, articles, podcasts, interviews, etc... can give you a lot of valuable insight into how a campaign surrounding the same topic might perform. Additionally, it's equally as valuable to understand the overall analytics of the industry, your target demographics, and marketing trends overall. When you combine all this data, the result should be a more educated plan and a much better chance of success.

I agree that understanding your market and customers is crucial. Research will provide valuable insights into both. Begin by breaking down the market and customer data into actionable segments based on your criteria and the solutions your brand offers to their challenges. If you already have customers, focus on identifying the top performers using the 80/20 rule. Once you’ve done this, revisit your original research and analysis to find similar customers, or lookalikes. This approach reduces the risk of a “shotgun” approach.

It's clear that Big Tech companies invest heavily in gathering as many data points as possible and expanding their market reach through extensive research. They must be onto something. Data enables them to make informed decisions and minimize risks, which often arise from unknown factors. By tracking data, they gain knowledge, allowing them to manage and improve their operations. Without this insight, it's like navigating uncharted waters and hoping for the best. Understanding your market and customers is essential for success.

I have practiced setting SMART goals: 1) Specific: Ask what i want to achieve with my marketing initiative. 2) Measurable: Establish criteria for measuring progress and success. 3) Achievable: Goal must be realistic and attainable given available resources and constraints. 4) Relevant: Align the goal with broader business objectives and priorities. 5) Time-bound: Set a specific timeframe for achieving the goal. My current SMART goal is to increase website traffic by 30% within the next six months through targeted social media campaigns and SEO optimization efforts to generate more leads and support sales growth objectives.

Not sure I agree on that as it’s hard to set clear goals with each marketing campaign… The cumulative effect & repetition of a message - one campaign after the other - is often what brings success and helps achieve goals

Without clear goals, you can't identify success (or failure). You also can't make (good) decisions about scaling a campaign or pivoting on a plan.

Setting and Completing Goals, should be the highlight of any Business Plan, Project or Idea Launch, it is Vital towards the success or failure of either. So if you want the highest possible chance of succeeding. Set and Complete your Goals.

Success metrics are crucial. I’ve observed many “seasoned” marketing executives presenting monthly and quarterly results with visually appealing slides, full of creative content and various metrics, but often avoiding discussions about Return on Advertising Spend (ROAS) and Return on Investment (ROI). While impressions, likes and mentions can boost brand awareness, it’s essential to attach success metrics to revenue to grasp the bigger picture. Businesses exist to make money. Every stage of the customer journey and touchpoint should have an associated metric, just like marketing professionals should. Define which metrics are associated with each stage, touchpoint, conversion, $$$, and Customer Lifetime Value (LTV).

Having regular team engagement (meetings and communication) and encouraging feedback and input to help solve problems can help create a culture of phycological safety and collaboration. When your team feels 'safe' to share ideas and take risks, it allows creativity and innovation to take center stage.

Most inventors like myself are risk takers as we invest our time & money to invent, we all take risks to create innovation. Most people might want to look into the new bill Representative Thomas Massey is introducing at this time. This bill will lower the risk for our innovators and protect America’s patent system.

Creativity is the mother of all successful product launch's, Products or Services, you don't have to be the Creative one, you just have to Hire a Creative Person or Group to have it. So no early on if you have it, if you don't then hire it as soon as possible.

Innovation and creativity thrive in a positive culture, with the right talent, and a well-balanced work-life routine. If you don’t give your employees time to think and they always have more on their plates than they should, innovation and creativity will suffer. The most innovative ideas don’t usually come during moments of stress or feeling overwhelmed by work. As a marketing leader, ensure that every team member has free time for study, research, and brainstorming. Don’t expect creativity or innovation to flourish without fostering a culture that nurtures these qualities.

The most important thing that you will ever learn is quite simply the NEXT thing that you will learn. Only an open mind, inquisitive approach, and true understanding of the importance of all perspectives will ever allow you to grow and expand your understanding of what marketing is really all about. Anyone can continually play to their strengths, their base, and their comfort zones. The marketer who embraces the value of what they disagree with as aggressively as that with which they agree will learn that missed opportunities are the result of never having been truly considered. Ask yourself questions continually that do not self-affirm, but rather create the personal discomfort that challenges you to think differently. That is growth.

This is so true, especially in today’s day of AI when so many programs are out there they could do so many marketing jobs, continuous learning, knowing your data inside and out how did dissect it how to look at it and get a quick understanding and how to manipulate it is so important

Have you ever wondered why the most successful people and companies in marketing never stop learning? They learn from their own and others' mistakes, stay updated with trends, gain insights from other pioneers, and study history to understand timeless principles. Continuous learning is crucial for staying ahead in today's fast-paced world. It allows individuals and organizations to adapt, innovate, and thrive amidst constant change. By consistently acquiring new knowledge and skills, you minimize risks and seize opportunities, ensuring long-term success and growth.

One thing I have found helpful is getting new diplomas and certifications. This does not only come with additional knowledge but also with increased confidence and willpower. That is the I can do it spiri

Continuing education is a necessity in marketing. There are always new strategies to learn, platforms to explore, technologies to test, and ideas to implement. As mentioned above, industry trends should be coupled with historical data to help inform decision making processes. Without continuing education, you're taking the biggest risk of failure.

Assessing and adjusting means being very honest about where you have been and where you want to be. The biggest mistake is to justify and not face the truth. When we can tell it like it is to ourselves then we can properly adjust and correct our course.

Maintain agility and adaptability in your approach to marketing operations, especially when taking risks. Be prepared to pivot quickly based on changing market dynamics, emerging trends, or unexpected outcomes, which requires confidence in your ability to navigate uncertainty.

Assessing and adjusting are going to be a continuous process as we will have to review to get to that special spot that works for us. I myself will continue assessing and adjusting until I get it right if there is such a thing. Everything is rapidly changing and so must we.

Modified A/B testing is a method I’ve used and find highly useful. Often strategies come down to two or three approaches, and it’s not uncommon that the final factors for a decision are a matter of hunches because there isn’t enough data or information to confirm either or any. In today’s world, it’s fairly simple and inexpensive to test each path with small samples.

Have the confidence and courage to speak up when you know your products are not good. Marketing is not something you do to your customers, it is also something that requires you influence your companies leadership to make better products. And if that also doesn’t work, do your marketing in a way that is authentic to the value your product offers to your customers. The time where the consumer was gullible to marketing is over. In this challenge Ai will be both your and your customers greatest ally. Use it to create genuine change in how companies operate, and what kind of personas rise to the c suite.

I agree with the importance of understanding your marketing data, taking calculated risks, and tailoring your strategies to align. Here's what you can do next; - Stay flexible - Conduct regular evaluation - Predefine goals and objectives -Stay fresh and innovative dynamic can change rapidly - Stay informed, connected, and refine your tactics based on updates. And Good luck...

Finally, practice self-compassion and kindness towards yourself as you navigate the challenges and uncertainties of taking risks in marketing operations. Recognize that setbacks and failures are a natural part of the process and focus on learning and growth rather than self-criticism.

The whole organization culture is also important, not only in the Marketing Division / Department. Make sure at least all the leaders of other Division / Department are aligned. Otherwise, you can have all these points check-listed in your marketing team, until your finance team (or sometimes your products team) turn all the great ideas down. I'm just saying ;)