Stop Working So Hard
Learn About Marketing Productivity Tools, Techniques & Strategies for Overworked Marketers
An uncharacteristically personal note from the course creator, Michael Carney:
“I’ve spent my life and my career keeping up with the latest technology — so that I can use what I learn to do things better and faster, to make my life easier. For me, it’s all about Enhanced Marketing Productivity. I’m always learning – I was an early adopter of the PC, convinced my bosses to let me keep the agency’s first colour Macintosh and have been acquiring the latest software for decades. These days? I’ve been keeping up with the latest AI tools and techniques that are gaining so much traction (and rightly so, they make me more productive and let me do amazing things).
“Would you like to know what I’ve learned about Marketing Productivity and how it can help you too?”
Sign up for our “Don’t Get Busy, Get Lazy” Marketing Productivity Course for overworked marketers.
Here’s what you need to know about this online training course:
This course looks at the eight key elements of marketers’ roles in 2024, and not only covers the key learning objectives for marketers for each topic, but also identifies marketing productivity tools and processes that will enable marketers to do such work as effectively and efficiently as possible.
Each lesson features the most relevant KPIs, marketing productivity hacks, recommended tools and resources, best practices and actionable insights, all chosen to help you get highly productive rather than simply overworked.
BENEFITS FOR THOSE WHO TAKE THIS COURSE
- Comprehensive Skill Development: Elevate your marketing expertise across critical areas, including data-driven decision-making, creative and digital marketing skills, digital marketing mastery, agile marketing strategies, consumer-centric approaches, communication and storytelling, project management, and navigating the MarTech landscape.
- Practical Marketing Productivity Hacks: Learn actionable productivity hacks tailored for marketing professionals to optimize your work processes, allowing you to achieve more in less time and with less effort.
- Hands-On Experience with Leading Tools: Gain direct experience with the latest marketing tools and technologies, from analytics platforms like Google Analytics to CRM software like Salesforce, and creative tools like Canva and Adobe Firefly. This course demystifies these tools, making them accessible and practical for everyday use.
- Actionable Insights and Strategies: Each lesson is designed not just to inform but to provide actionable strategies and insights that can be immediately applied to your marketing initiatives, ensuring that learning translates directly into improved performance and results.
- Data-Driven Marketing Mastery: Master the art of leveraging data for informed decision-making, allowing you to refine your marketing strategies based on solid insights rather than guesswork, significantly increasing the ROI of your marketing efforts.
- Enhanced Creative Output: Unlock your creative potential with lessons on content creation, visual design, and storytelling, ensuring your marketing messages resonate deeply with your audience.
- Digital Marketing Optimization: Learn to effectively manage and optimize digital marketing channels, including SEO, social media, and email marketing, maximizing your online presence and engagement.
- Agility in the Marketing Landscape: Develop an agile and adaptable approach to marketing, enabling you to quickly respond to industry trends, technological advancements, and market demands.
- Customer-Centric Marketing Focus: Adopt a customer-first approach, learning how to better understand and meet the needs of your audience, thereby improving customer satisfaction and loyalty.
- Streamlined Marketing Operations: Improve your project management and organizational skills, streamlining marketing operations and ensuring that projects are delivered efficiently and on schedule.
- MarTech Savviness: Navigate the complex MarTech landscape with confidence, selecting and utilizing the right tools to automate tasks, enhance customer relationships, and generate actionable data insights.
- Increased Competitiveness: Stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving industry by mastering the latest marketing strategies and technologies, making you a valuable asset to any organization.
COURSE CONTENTS
Here’s what the “Don’t Get Busy, Get Lazy” Marketing Productivity course covers:
LESSON ONE
From Gut Feeling to Growth Engine: Data-Driven Decisions for Busy Marketers
This lesson equips you to harness the power of data and ditch the guessing game in marketing. We’ll explore key marketing metrics, data collection and analysis techniques, and effective data visualization practices. You’ll learn to unlock valuable insights, develop data-driven strategies, and empower yourself to make informed decisions that fuel growth.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the importance of data-driven decision-making in modern marketing.
- Identify key marketing metrics relevant to your specific goals (e.g., website traffic, engagement, conversion rates).
- Utilize essential tools and techniques for data collection and analysis.
- Create clear and impactful data visualizations for effective communication.
- Develop data-driven marketing strategies based on actionable insights.
Marketing Productivity hacks include:
- Track a limited set of high-impact metrics aligned with your goals
- Leverage these marketing automation platforms to automatically collect data, and utilize data connectors to streamline data integration from various sources.
Recommended tools include:
- Google Analytics, Social media analytics platforms (e.g., Facebook Insights, TikTok Analytics), CRM dashboards, Google Data Studio, Tableau Public, Microsoft Power BI
LESSON TWO
Creative and Digital Marketing Skills
This lesson delves into essential skills like content creation, visual design, storytelling, and SEO, while introducing productivity tools and processes to enhance your efficiency.
Learning Objectives:
- Identify key skills for successful creative and digital marketing in 2024.
- Master the art of creating high-quality, engaging content your audience loves.
- Understand best practices for visual design and storytelling in marketing.
- Learn the fundamentals of SEO for content visibility.
- Employ productivity tools and processes to streamline your creative workflow.
Marketing Productivity hacks include:
- online editing tools for clarity and conciseness
- writing templates optimised for different content types
- the best tools for AI-assisted writing and design
Recommended tools include:
- Grammarly for grammar and style, Hemingway Editor for readability, ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, MidJourney, Adobe Firefly, DALL-E, Canva
LESSON THREE
Digital Marketing Mastery: Optimize Your Efforts, Not Your Time
This lesson equips you with the knowledge and tools to navigate the ever-evolving digital marketing landscape efficiently. We’ll explore key marketing channels, data-driven approaches, and marketing productivity hacks to help you achieve maximum impact with minimal time investment.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the core digital marketing channels and their strategic applications.
- Enhance visibility and ranking in search engine results.
- Engage with your target audiences on various social media platforms
- Employ efficient workflows and tools to manage multiple channels effectively.
Marketing Productivity hacks include:
- SEO audit checklists, keyword research templates
- Social media calendar planning, automated posting schedules
- Editorial calendars, repurposing content across channels
- Keyword grouping for better PPC ad targeting, automated bid management
Recommended tools include:
- HubSpot, Hootsuite, Buffer, Publer, Sprout Social, Google Keyword Planner, SEMrush, Ahrefs, MailChimp, Litmus
LESSON FOUR
The Agile Advantage: Thriving in the Dynamic Marketing Landscape
This lesson is designed to arm marketers with the mindset, tools and techniques necessary to remain flexible, innovative and forward-thinking in their strategies and execution.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the importance of agility and adaptability in modern marketing.
- Develop strategies to stay informed about industry trends and technologies.
- Learn how to conduct efficient experimentation and iterate on marketing approaches.
- Cultivate a growth mindset and embrace uncertainty in decision-making.
Marketing Productivity hacks include:
- Subscribe to industry newsletters, utilize content aggregators, set up alerts for trending topics
- Utilize A/B testing tools, set clear goals and success metrics for experiments, establish a quick feedback loop
Recommended tools include:
- Feedspot, Google Alerts, Google Trends, Trello or Asana for agile project management, Slack for team communication, SWOT analysis templates, MindMeister for mind mapping brainstorming sessions, Google Optimize, Optimizely, Unbounce
LESSON FIVE
Consumer-Centric Marketing: Putting Customers First
This lesson emphasizes the crucial role of a consumer-centric approach in today’s marketing landscape. We’ll explore strategies for understanding customer needs, creating engaging content, and optimizing the customer journey for maximum impact. You’ll learn efficient methods to implement these strategies and manage them productively.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the importance of a customer-centric approach in today’s marketing landscape.
- Develop strategies for effectively gathering customer insights and understanding their needs.
- Create engaging content that resonates with your target audience.
- Optimize every touchpoint in the customer journey to improve brand experience and loyalty.
Marketing Productivity hacks include:
- Customer segmentation tools, regular customer surveys and polls, monitor social media conversations
- Create a content calendar, repurpose existing content across platforms, leverage user-generated content.
- Utilize customer journey mapping tools, conduct user experience (UX) testing, track customer interactions with data analytics.
Recommended tools include:
- SurveyMonkey, Google Forms, Brandwatch, UserTesting, Hotjar, Crazy Egg, Google Docs, Evernote,marketing automation platforms (HubSpot, Mailchimp).
LESSON SIX
Master the Art of Communication and Storytelling for Busy Marketers
This lesson equips you with the skills and tools to become a masterful communicator and storyteller in the marketing landscape. We’ll explore strategies for crafting compelling narratives, delivering clear messages, and connecting with your audience emotionally. You’ll learn efficient processes and discover tools to improve your communication and storytelling skills, even with limited time.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the importance of effective communication and storytelling in marketing.
- Develop strategies for crafting compelling narratives that resonate with your audience.
- Learn techniques for delivering clear and concise messages across various channels.
- Utilize tools and processes to streamline your communication and storytelling efforts.
Marketing Productivity hacks include:
- Utilize storyboarding tools, brainstorm with colleagues, leverage existing content for inspiration.
- Utilize presentation templates, practice your delivery beforehand, seek feedback from colleagues.
Recommended tools include:
- Miro (online whiteboard), MURAL (collaborative brainstorming platform), Hemingway Editor (clarity and conciseness check), Canva (presentation creation), Prezi (interactive presentations), Loom (screen recording for asynchronous communication), SparkToro (customer insights)
LESSON SEVEN
Enhancing Project Management and Organizational Skills in Marketing
This lesson equips you with the essential project management and organizational skills to navigate the complexities of modern marketing campaigns. We’ll explore strategies for efficient planning, robust execution, and proactive risk mitigation, enabling you to stay organized, meet deadlines, and achieve your marketing goals with ease.
Learning Objectives:
- Develop a systematic approach to planning and scheduling marketing campaigns.
- Master the art of delegation and collaborative workflow management.
- Learn effective techniques for tracking progress and maintaining project visibility.
- Identify and mitigate potential risks to safeguard your marketing efforts.
Marketing Productivity hacks include:
- Utilize project management templates, break down large projects into smaller, manageable tasks, establish clear deadlines and milestones.
- Utilize risk management templates, conduct regular risk assessments, prioritize risks based on likelihood and impact.
- Implement dashboards for real-time project tracking, setting up automated status updates.
- Utilize communication tools integrated with project management platforms, set automated notifications and reminders, track project progress through visual dashboards.
Recommended tools include:
- Project management platforms (Asana, Trello, Monday.com), mind mapping tools (MindMeister, XMind), Microsoft Planner, slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Dropbox or Google Drive for file sharing, Jira for agile project management, Microsoft Project for comprehensive project planning, Google Sheets for budget tracking
LESSON EIGHT
Navigating the MarTech Landscape: Tools and Strategies for Busy Marketers
This lesson equips you to navigate the ever-evolving marketing technology (MarTech) landscape. We’ll explore essential tools and platforms, including marketing automation, CRM, and data analytics, and discover how to leverage them effectively to enhance your workflow, streamline tasks, and gain valuable insights for smarter marketing decisions.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the role of MarTech in today’s marketing landscape.
- Explore key MarTech categories and their functionalities (marketing automation, CRM, data analytics).
- Learn how to evaluate and select the right MarTech tools for your needs.
- Develop strategies for integrating MarTech tools into your existing workflow efficiently.
Marketing Productivity hacks include:
- Integrating marketing channels for unified automation, using templates and workflows.
- Automating data entry and contact updates, using CRM for personalized marketing communications.
- Automating data collection and reporting, using dashboards for at-a-glance insights.
Recommended tools include:
- HubSpot, Pardot, Mailchimp, ActiveCampaign, Salesforce, HubSpot CRM, Zoho CRM, Microsoft Dynamics 365, Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Tableau, Power BI, Gartner Magic Quadrant for Marketing Automation, G2 Crowd, Capterra, Zapier, Workato
CONCLUSION
By mastering this course, you’ll be able to automate processes, manage customer relationships more effectively, and leverage data insights to drive strategic decisions, ultimately leading to more successful, productive marketing outcomes.
In other words, this course will help you become lazy (and much more productive), not just busy.
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WHO SHOULD TAKE THE COURSE
Overworked marketers in any business, large or small, who are overwhelmed by what they already have to do and would love to improve their marketing productivity, to work smarter, not harder.
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TIMING
The “Don’t get Busy, Get Lazy” Marketing Productivity Course begins on Monday 02 December, 2024.
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INVESTMENT
This eight-part online training course is available for $897+GST. However we offer an Early Bird Discount of $100 — pay just $797+GST for bookings received by Monday 25 November, 2024.
Bookings are confirmed on receipt of payment, which can be by bank deposit or credit card. We can raise an invoice in advance if you need it.
To reserve your place in this course, please pay by credit card through PayPal by clicking here:
If you would prefer to pay by bank deposit, or require an invoice, please send an email to bookings@socialmedia.org.nz with your requirements.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
You’ll receive our emailed confirmation of your booking. Then on the first day of the course we’ll follow up with details of your Login and Password, along with an Enrolment Key for the “Don’t get Busy, Get Lazy” Marketing Productivity Course.
If you have any questions, or would like more information, please email us at bookings@socialmedia.org.nz.
FAQ
How does the Marketing Productivity course work?
- Every lesson includes Action Steps so that you can start implementing what you’ve just learned, along with Quick Wins so that you can apply your newfound knowledge immediately.
Is the course live?
- No, everything is online, conducted on a web-based e-learning software platform. Once a lesson is released, you can access it whenever you wish, anytime 24/7, in accordance with your own timetable). You proceed at your own pace, accessing materials online.
What’s the course format?
- This particular online training course provides content in a variety of multimedia forms, including text, images, videos, slideshows, presentations and PDF files. No special software is required to participate, you access it through a web browser (eg Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari).
How often are lessons released?
- Course lessons will be provided weekly, on Mondays, over eight weeks.
How long will each lesson take?
- We typically recommend you allow 2-3 hours per lesson.
What happens if I need help?
- Interaction with the course tutor is enabled via email (with telephone backup if required).
What are people saying about these courses?
Feedback from previous marketing training course and workshop participants:
- It is great that we have managed to get an external perspective on marketing in the digital space – your expertise in this area is greatly appreciated. – Hazel T.
- I really enjoyed the [Digital Marketing Workshop] today and got a lot out of it – Nikki H.
- Thanks for a great [Digital Marketing] session yesterday, really enjoyed it and learnt lots – Izi W
- “this was the best professional development course I have done in many years” – Mark R, senior Agency Exec responsible for social media
- “thought the information within was outstanding” – Ed P, General Manager
- “What I loved was that I started with a fairly rudimentary understanding of social media but have learned a lot – including where to find more information as I need it.” – Fiona W, Marketing Manager
- “I found it relevant, informative, topical, insightful and a bloody good read. It’s never evangelical, too techy, patronising, assumes that you know too much or too little about digital and has a warm sense of humour in the communication throughout which helped faciliate the learning process for me.” — Adrienne B, new media senior executive
- “Thanks for pointing me in the direction of this course! It’s been extremely enlightening” — Shayne P, design agency director
- “Rapt with what I have seen of the course” — Julia R, fashion editor
- “I’m really enjoying the course – learning a lot – and I know the two friends I persuaded to join us are also loving it.” — Lavinia C, designer
- “Am thoroughly enjoying the content!” – Kara B, magazine co-ordinator
- “I was already engaging with social media and have been doing so for about 6 years or so. But, did I know how to use social media in a marketing and business sense? No, I simply did not. This course was a great way to show me how to do that.” — Sheryl K, online marketer
COURSE CREATION AND TUTORING
- This Marketing Productivity course has been created and is tutored by Michael Carney.
PS Yes, of course we used marketing-productivity-enhancing tools to help plan, outline and illustrate this course. Hat tip to Google’s Gemini AI, the “Professor Marketing” Custom GPT on ChatGPT, and MidJourney, for all their assistance. Couldn’t have done it without you.