Experienced marketers know how to plan for the end of the month, quarter and fiscal year well in advance of Day One. They navigate through holidays, enjoy earned vacation time, know their audience segments, their buyers and influencers, and important dates.
But, for those unfamiliar with marketing's end of the quarter reporting requirements who say such things as "What happens at the end of the quarter?" "What's marketing supposed to do?" That's not good.
On the last day of the quarter, marketing should be declaring victory.
Tony Compton:0:00
At the end of the quarter, will your marketing report be a success or a bust?
I'm Tony Compton. Welcome to my marketing podcast.
If you know how to plan for, and work through and around the holidays, you could be in good shape. When you shut it way down for the holidays and you're out of the office for weeks and weeks, your marketing report might just be a bust.
And if you tell people "I've just returned from the holidays and I'm just getting back up to speed!" through the first month of the quarter - and then some, that's not good. More, if you waited until after your sales kickoff earlier in the quarter to do anything in marketing, don't expect to rock this quarter's marketing report.
Now, how about your marketing team? It's called The Great Resignation. People are looking for depth and meaning to their work. If you're providing it, your report may be in great shape. If you're not, the end of the quarter could spell marketing trouble. In fact, you and what team you have left may still be gathering last quarter's numbers. If you're bogged down chasing it, you're headed for a bust. You gotta realize, time flies! 90 days will not last forever.
In Q1, January 10 quickly turns into January 17, which quickly turns into January 24. And after a short month of February, it's March 1st. The game is essentially over. Just ask sales. If you don't realize time flies in any quarter, you're not looking good.
How about knowing important dates? In Q1 in the United States, the Super Bowl is an unofficial national holiday. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is a national holiday. And college basketball tournaments preoccupy many in the month of March. And those are just in the first quarter of every calendar year in the USA.
Plan accordingly, especially for the last day of the quarter.
Because, will you stand and join your sales and executive teams to examine the business outcomes of your marketing activities? Or will you be out of the office by 4pm, on that day, too? Are you interested in seeing which contracts came in at the deadline and why you won or lost deals? If you're in sync with sales and your executives and investors, you've got a great chance at success.
But, if you're unfamiliar with marketing's end of the quarter reporting requirements and say such things as "Wait, what?" "What happens at the end of the quarter?" "What's marketing supposed to do?" That's not good.
Experienced marketers know how to plan for the end of the month, quarter and fiscal year well in advance of Day One. They navigate through the holidays, know their audience segments, their buyers and influencers and important dates. Because on the last day of the quarter, marketing should declare victory.
More on victorious marketing on my next podcast, which will be experienced, down to business and right to the point.
Now That's a Marketing Podcast!
I'm Tony Compton.