Follow Up -

One of the most important things I ever learned was the value of "follow up" and how to do it. It is one of those critical lessons I've learned. It's great to set goals and accomplish much and it's wise to prioritize. We're busy people! We monitor our success by results. But have you ever looked back and thought something that was a very good idea hadn't produced the results you wanted?

Well, I have. Both at work, and at home. I felt the pinch when I was once reminded at work that my follow up was lacking. But in the long run, it was one of the most valuable bits of constructive criticism I ever received.

How can you know when you've arrived if you don't know where you are? So I have learned to document, document, document. One of the best things I ever did for myself was to create a daily journal in my word program of everything that happens during the day. I've named it "Diary." I can easily go back to see "when" a certain advertising campaign started, who I spoke with at what phone number, a new thought for another project, etc.

This method proved to be useful when I had a large staff. If there was an employee disciplinary problem I had dates that could be very important for legal matters.

For another firm, I was managing everything, but the the owners were at a different location. Sometimes they would get calls and questions, but didn't know the answers. So I just emailed them my notes at the end of the day. In return they emailed me their daily notes so we would all have complete information and not be redundant in our efforts, or seem inept when someone needed to know something. Sharing information isn't a sign of weakness.

It's easy to just print out a page, or part of a page so staff working on the same project to be apprised of the current progress. It's just a written record, mostly for myself and I have found this to be an invaluable tool, personally.

For example, right now I have several different advertising campaigns running with several different companies for several of my websites. If I didn't have my "Diary", my brain would be in a state of mass confusion! There are many things I need to remember to work on, and I don't want to waste alot of time chasing phone numbers, or "digging" for my answers.

Franklin day planners are a very useful tool for prioritizing. I have used that system. The most valuable thing I learned from that system was to begin and end each work day reviewing my notes, seeing what needed to be done, noting the progress and prioritizing.

We all need a good system - a road map, if you will. I like to be able to mark things off my "to do" list. I like to recognize and reward the quality contributed by others. I enjoy feeling pride when I am able to tell myself "Good job, self!"

So, I guess your "free marketing tool" for today has been a peek into my "Diary."

Save yourselves alot of hassles.....
Follow up, follow up, follow up!