Rome wasn’t built in a day. Rome also wasn’t built without a plan. Planning is essential to almost every human activity. Do you need to go to the grocery store? Okay, first write your list, then grab your keys, then get in the car, and so on. Are you going to start a new project around the house? Not without a plan you’re not.
Planning is not only meant for general ideas, but also for every aspect of your company. Planning is important for marketing, social media, video content and more. For instance, companies research tirelessly to analyze their consumers and find out how to best appeal to them. Once they have their research, they formulate a plan to attract potential buyers and tailor a marketing campaign around that plan.
Here are five reasons why planning is one of the most important things you can do.
#1) Plans help you set appropriate goals
The whole point in doing anything is to accomplish a goal. Creating a plan helps you determine if your goal is realistic or not. After you develop your plan, you may discover that you have to refine your goal a little bit to make it more achievable.
Use the acronym S.M.A.R.T. – Smart, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Time-bound – to decide whether or not your goals are achievable and adjust as needed.
#2) Plans help you reveal strengths and weaknesses
In order to develop a plan, you have to look at it from every possible angle. This is where you will notice the strengths and weaknesses of your plan and, while no one likes to see a weakness in their idea, this is essential to planning. Without dissecting your plan’s weaknesses, you may end up steamrolling ahead and sabotaging yourself. Notice your weaknesses and adjust accordingly.
#3) Plans increase your efficiency, confidence and credibility
Efficiency is the goal in everything you do. Plans will help you manage time, talent and money. A project may not entirely fail with poor planning, but it will use more resources than necessary to complete. Along with increasing efficiency, planning will increase your confidence. Well thought out plans boost your confidence, and boosted confidence means an increase in certainty. Creating plans, especially when working in a group, is a great way to earn credibility. A strong plan will establish your credibility among your team and push you into a place of leadership.
#4) Plans reduce risk
You’ll never be able to predict the future, but you can prepare for it. A good plan prepares for risk and uncertainty so that, if you come across a roadblock, you are ready to deal with it and continue on the path towards your goal.
#5) Plans encourage peace of mind
Perhaps most importantly, plans relieve stress. Planning alleviates a lot of uncertainty in the future and lends to your confidence. You will feel much better knowing that you have thought through every possible scenario and have discussed the pros and cons. Stress will be present, but never overwhelming with a strong plan.
Not planning or poor planning can lead to poor management of time, money and other resources that could have been allotted elsewhere. Beyond affecting yourself with your lack of planning, you can impact those around you and the brand you represent. You could hurt not only your reputation, but the reputation of your company as a whole.
The planning process is vital to any project you will take on, whether it is personal or for your company. Take it seriously and don’t cut corners, because the last thing I’d want to say is “I told you so.” Remember these five tips for planning, and your next project will be a breeze.
Every couple of months we feature a blog post from our friends at MAGNET (Manufacturing Advocacy & Growth Network). MAGNET’s mission is to support, educate and champion manufacturing in Ohio with the goal of transforming the region’s economy into a powerful, global player. You can visit MAGNET online at manufacturingsuccess.org.
As technology continues to evolve at a rapid pace, 3D printing has emerged as a game-changing manufacturing process. A common additive manufacturing process, 3D printing enables the creation of three-dimensional objects by building them layer by layer. Here we explore seven different types of 3D printing technologies and delve into their unique characteristics and applications.
Material Extrusion
Material Extrusion, also known fused deposition modeling (FDM), is one of the most widely used 3D printing technologies. In this process, a thermoplastic filament is fed through a heated nozzle. The nozzle melts the material, which is then extruded layer by layer to create the desired object. Material extrusion is known for its affordability, ease of use and compatibility with a wide range of thermoplastics. This 3D printing method is used for prototyping, product development and low-volume production.
Vat Polymerization
Vat Polymerization utilizes a liquid photopolymer resin that is selectively cured by a light source, typically an ultraviolet UV laser or a digital light processing (DLP) projector. The resin hardens layer by layer as the light source selectively exposes it to light. This technology produces highly detailed and precise parts with smooth surface finishes, making it ideal for applications in jewelry, dental and medical industries.
Powder Bed Fusion
Powder Bed Fusion comprises two main techniques: selective laser sintering (SLS) and selective laser melting (SLM). In SLS, a high-powered laser selectively sinters powdered material, usually polymers or metals, to fuse it into a solid structure. SLM, on the other hand, involves completely melting the powdered material to achieve a fully dense metal part. Powder Bed Fusion offers excellent geometric freedom, material versatility and is often used in industries such as aerospace, automotive and medical for manufacturing complex and high-strength components.
Material Jetting
Material Jetting, also known as inkjet printing, operates similarly to traditional 2D inkjet printers. Instead of ink, it uses a print head to jet liquid photopolymer materials onto the build platform. These materials are then cured using ultraviolet light. Material jetting enables the simultaneous printing of multiple materials, making it suitable for creating multi-color, multi-material and highly detailed models. Its applications range from product design and architectural modeling to medical and dental applications.
Binder Jetting
Binder jetting is a process that selectively deposits a liquid binding agent onto a powdered material bed. The binder connects the particles to form a solid structure. This technique allows for the production of parts in a range of materials, such as metals, ceramics and composites. Binder jetting is known for its speed and cost-effectiveness, making it suitable for both prototyping and low-volume production.
Directed Energy Deposition
Directed Energy Deposition (DED) involves the precise deposition of material, usually metal, through a nozzle or laser onto a substrate. DED can be used to build large-scale objects, repair existing parts or add features to an existing component. It offers the advantage of high deposition rates and the ability to use a wide range of materials, including metal alloys. DED is commonly used in aerospace, automotive, and marine industries.
Sheet Lamination
Sheet Lamination is a unique 3D printing process that involves bonding together layers of material, typically paper or metal foils, using adhesive or heat. The layers are then cut or shaped using a laser or blade. Sheet lamination offers cost-effective prototyping and is often used for creating full-color architectural models, packaging prototypes, and educational models.
The world of 3D printing offers endless possibilities, thanks to the ever-expanding list of technologies available. Understanding and harnessing the potential of these technologies allows us to embrace innovation and drive efficiency.
My internship at Sonnhalter has been such a big opportunity for me. Not only have I gained experience in my chosen field, but I also got to hold a wrench that was nearly as big as me, so I guess it’s up to you which is more important.
One of the first things I was given to work on here was a press release on something I knew absolutely nothing about. It was definitely a challenge and far from the fake scenarios I used to write press releases for in my Intro to PR class, but I liked knowing that what I wrote was going to reach people and be used.
My favorite part of the internship has been writing blog posts, like this one. I enjoyed researching any given topic and putting it into my own words, as well as inputting my own personality into the blog posts. Writing these blog posts has also given me the opportunity to gain experience more about a variety of topics, such as the connection between toilet plungers and CPR.
I got the chance to experiment with graphics and creating videos, something that I didn’t have much experience with beforehand. I was even able to contribute a donation location to the annual tool drive, something I am particularly proud of.
Even though I am going to miss most of the Tool Drive since I move back to my college house at the beginning of August, I really liked knowing that I was working towards helping people in need. I enjoyed seeing things that I created go towards a greater goal of partnering with Habitat for Humanity.
With the experience and knowledge that I have gained from this internship, I feel confident in my capabilities going forward and I know that I will only learn more with every opportunity I get. I know that wherever I end up, I will have Sonnhalter to thank for starting me on my path.
It’s no secret that blog posts are a vital piece of marketing. In 2022, 90% of businesses used blog posts as a part of their marketing strategy. But how can you make sure your blog posts are reaching their full potential? Here are five ways to leverage your blogs.
Have a strong headline and break up your content (just like this)
The most important thing is to make sure your blog posts are both reader and search friendly. Blog posts that utilize headings and proper spacing are both pleasing to the eye and helpful in boosting your search engine optimization (SEO).
A good, strong headline that draws readers in is also essential. Your headline should tell readers they will gain something from reading your blog post – whether it is informational, educational or for entertainment, your readers must get something out of reading your blog post.
Include strong meta descriptions to also help attract customers to your blog. This also doubles for optimizing your SEO.
Develop your voice through your writing
Show readers a more personal side of your brand that they can relate to. No one wants to read blogs that are bland with zero unique personality. When your blog is friendly and personable, customers feel more comfortable interacting with your brand and purchasing from it.
Traditional marketing methods, like print ads or brochures, certainly have their merits, but blogging allows customers to see the people behind the brand and what the brand is meant to represent. Think of how the fast-food franchise Wendy’s became iconic for the humorous and sarcastic responses across their social media and how their engagement and sales increased.
Find your voice and work it through your blog posts. Don’t shy away from being clever and witty, or sincere and heartfelt if that is what your brand is. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to be yourself!
Build trust with your customers
Blogs are meant to be relatable and relaxed. The informal nature of blogs is meant to encourage customers to engage so that you can understand each other better. Establishing a relationship between business and customer is essential to building trust.
Customers trust blogs that know what they’re talking about. Share your expertise to lend to your credibility. Include topics like industry insights or tutorials that highlight your expertise. Blog posts with success stories add value to the relationship between you and your customers.
Make your website a destination
Other ways to build trust include engaging in conversation by asking and answering questions. Customers want to interact with brands, but only if they value their customers engagement and respond to it. Keep an upbeat, light-hearted tone throughout your interactions to encourage customers to continue interacting.
Repeat traffic is the lifeblood of websites. A HubSpot study reported that companies with a blog receive 97% more links to their website. Your blog will give people a reason to revisit your website. This is why it is important to have a personality in your blog so that it is more appealing and readable.
Really go the extra mile by providing free resources on your blog – reliable industry tips, free downloads and guides will keep customers visiting your sites. It is also a good idea to include links to other places on your website in your new blog posts to keep things such as older blog posts in circulation.
Be Passionate!
Enjoy what you’re writing! Things that you are enthusiastic to write about are exciting to read about and will inspire more action from your readers. Write about things you care about and skip the things that bore you, because customers will be able to tell. Blog posts aren’t meant to be something checked off a to-do list; they should be fun, upbeat and engaging.
Blog posts with clear passion and good energy will exemplify the care you have for your industry, which will influence your readers to have that same energy when they interact with your brand.
As trade show season approaches, your company might be wondering what can you do to drive traffic to your booth. In the past, we’ve seen some creative ideas like puppies, arcade games and more! In this blog post, we will discuss different ideas of how you can draw attention to your booth.
Games
When it comes to attendees you will need to be engaging with your booth design. Having something fun and interactive to attract and retain attention is important. One example of this is to have games set up at your booth – whether it’s cornhole, spin the wheel or plinko. This will allow attendees some entertainment and a chance for you to giveaway some “swag” to those who participate.
Photo Booth
Photo opportunities are an easy way to have people gather at the booth while utilizing branded elements from your company. Having branded filters can help increase your engagement and promote brand awareness for your company. It can also encourage those who take a photo at the booth to post it on social media with a branded hashtag.
Virtual Reality
Having virtual reality (VR) keeps visitors glued to your booth and can keep the attention of the crowd. VR at your booth can be used to showcase your products and show how they work. Also, users can see, hear and interact with their surroundings.
Hosting a Contest
This is one of the most effective ways to get people to stop by your booth, but in order to get a decent crowd you will need to promote it pre-show. Not only should you talk about it on social media, but you can advertise the contest online or media outlet. By hosting a contest and collecting user contact information, you can collect qualified leads that you can use in the future.
Conclusion
These are just some examples of how you can attract guests to your booth at a trade show, and there’s plenty of more ways to entice people. Make the most of your booth by exploring these ideas and feel free to get creative at your next trade show.
Check out our other blog posts that cover trade shows.
When your company is focusing on a variety of marketing materials to advocate your brand and products, you might not think it’s necessary to add email marketing to the mix. But email marketing can be a part of your overall success and tie into your other promotional materials like social media, blogs and the latest news.
In this blog post, we will highlight the benefits of using email marketing and how it can improve your business.
Personalizing Content
Email marketing allows you to target content specifically toward your audience. For example, you could focus email marketing on specific products if the user expressed interest, for first time customers or based on location. By using a variety of different email subjects or different images, you can increase your engagement and/or sales.
Collecting Important Data
Not only can you collect leads to know your customers’ contact information, but you can utilize email marketing to send out surveys or receive feedback. By obtaining customer feedback, you can learn what products to promote, what your audience is interested in or how you can share tips, tricks and education.
Like previously mentioned, email marketing can help gather leads and keep track of who is engaging in your emails by opening or clicking on a link.
This information can help improve your customer experience and better understand who your audience is.
Generating Website Traffic
Email marketing allows you to drive your audience to your website to engage with your brand or products, as well as improve your SEO. Email marketing is a great way to provide your users with content, like blogs, videos and important updates, that link back to your site.
Conclusion
Email marketing is flexible and allows companies to complete their marketing goals depending on their needs. Using email marketing as part of your overall mix gives you the ability to grow and see your marketing impact.
