Snap out of it!
Yeah... you know who I'm talking to: You there in the Slanket about to launch your Netflix queue. Like many others in the digital ad business, Q1 2019 has been a hazy sleepwalk of stalled budgets, consolidation, sheepish buying and general malaise. But it's not just you. And it's not fatal. And it ends now.
Today's Drift is our collective wake-up call. Here are a few ideas and themes to get your motor going and shake off the cold of Internet Marketing Winter.
Start with One Short List. Getting your business back on track seems overwhelming because of the hundred choices and tasks littering your desktop and inbox. Get all that shit out of your way by consolidating into one short list. If it's not something that's going to get you closer to a customer or drive a revenue opportunity forward, table it.
Default to Action. Make sure your short list includes a lot of action verbs like write and call and propose. These will be your triggers to act. Don't fall prey to wimpy non-actions like follow up and touch base. The feeling of getting important things done has a massive psychological impact. You move the ball and simultaneously blow your funk out of the water.
Turn Down the In-House Noise. Has anybody ever bought anything from you on Slack? I didn't think so. Yet we allow ourselves to let an endless string of email chains, slack discussions and internal meetings eat our days. Just say no. Put an internal out of office message on that says I'm on client business right now: text or phone me with any specific, urgent items. Then go back to your list.
Aim for the Middle. The CMO isn't going to see you and the media planners can't help you. But there's a whole lot of people in the middle who can. Client advertising managers and marketing staff; agency media directors and group VPs. Reach out to them with some We were thinking about your business today notes that cite a potential business problem, missing audience segment, storytelling problem... whatever. Ask for a short phone meeting with screen sharing (it's less threatening and easier to schedule.)
Generosity is Fuel. Right now, you might be hung up on your need to sell something. Anything! This is exactly the time to be generous. Internally, do a favor or pay someone a public compliment. With your customers, think about doing something cool for their businesses. Generosity gets you out of your own head and breaks the negative loop you're stuck in. Don't just make a deal, make a difference.
Ask Unreasonable Questions. Are you open to having us earn a million dollars by solving a problem for your client? What would it take for you to open up the budgeting process and consider improving your plan? What would get us immediate approval to go to contract on this?
Expect Nothing. Blame No One. Do Something. You are the one you've been waiting for. There are a million mopes out there who will only ever be a little better than the worst break they've had. Overcoming adversity and being better than your circumstances starts with a positive choice. Make that choice now and start acting on it.
