Idea for Marketing

As 2012 starts, if you are like most others, you are thinking about ideas to improve your quality of life and are making resolutions to change something about your life that will lead to those improvements. If you are reading this blog there is a better than average chance that you have some responsibility for the marketing success of a regional or specialty cookbook. Have you thought about what resolutions you are going to make in regards to improving your cookbook program this year?

Are you ready for an idea? Develop a written marketing plan that lays out monthly activities for marketing efforts on a number of fronts. The plan should include media, social media, special events, internal and external marketing, wholesale account activities, retail account activities and written goals for the results of each. Once your marketing plan is finished, share it with someone you respect and admire.

You will be amazed at the results you will achieve if you commit to a plan in writing and share it with someone you respect. We all want to look good in the eyes of those we respect so by simply sharing the plan you will more likely stick to it.

A Fresh Start

The beginning of a New Year usually marks a new beginning for most of us. Resolutions are made that, if kept, will make our lives healthier, happier, wiser, more patient and the list goes on. Here's an idea that can be fun and increase your choice of foods on your everyday menu.

Try one new recipe each week from your community cookbook collection. To keep things fresh, choose a dish each week that you have never tried before and choose a different food category weekly, as well as a different cookbook. If you have fewer than 52 community cookbooks go through the ones you have before starting over OR simply add to your collection each week until you have accumulated the full 52 total books needed.

Just think about this idea - at the end of the year you will have developed seven to eight new food favorites in appetizers, soups, salads, side dishes, entrees, desserts, etc.. In addition, you will have become familiar with a local communities' traditions and food styles.

I will wager that this idea is a lot more fun than keeping some of your other resolutions. Enjoy!