GoodPop’s Post

If you need a jolt of joy and a virtual fist bump 👊 you need to check out this video!

How I love December! Starbucks has their best drink of the year (yes you know which one - the peppermint mocha), there are a few more random actions of kindness compared to the rest of the year, and I get to have strategic planning sessions with clients for #2024. How can it get better than this? Just curious, do you create short and long-term #goals for yourself, your team, and the organization? I don't let my clients play a game without knowing the score. Its action planning time! #actionplan #strategyconsulting #strategyplanning

The great Melissa Popp shares what too many pages marked "Discovered - currently not indexed" says about your soul (and your website - mainly your website) See why too many pages with the indexation status is basically as quality as taking your partner to Pizza Hut to celebrate your 50th anniversary together. (No knock on Pizza Hut here - pizza is delicious). Check out the full episode (see comments)!

Starbys is serving main character energy this holiday season! Here's how: Their latest Share the Joy ads put the perceived benefit of their product front and center. What this ad does NOT convey: 👉🏻 How tasty the coffee is 👉🏻 How the coffee compares to competitors 👉🏻 Why it is the best coffee What it DOES convey: 👉🏻 Coffee helps YOU create connection with others 👉🏻 Coffee helps YOU make holiday memories to treasure 👉🏻 Buying coffee is about more than just coffee! Starbucks sells these intangible benefits with short, idealistic and relatable holiday narratives from the customer's POV. You can "try on" the moment—and what's not to love? (So they make it seem!) What's a holiday ad you've noticed this season? ------------------- #holidaymarketing #copywriter

Last week I went to Taco Bell for the first time in 20 years.   I pulled into the drive-thru and froze at the menu.   I thought, if I'm going to do this to my digestive track, it better be worth it.   So many choices, so much pressure.   This is an example of why 40-60% of lost opportunities end in no decision.   The buying group wants to buy.   But people regret bad outcomes from their choices and actions way more than doing nothing. FOMU > FOMO.   So how can we, as sellers, figure out what buyers are worried about before it's too late?   By learning what's causing them to get cold feet.   But how do we detect that?   Well, buyer indecision boils down into 3 key buckets:   - Feeling overwhelmed by choices - Feeling overwhelmed by information - Feeling overwhelmed by expectations   If your buyer is stuck between 2 or 3 tradeoffs but can't figure out which is best option, it's probably a choice issue.   Yet, if they keep asking for more details, more demos or just want to circle back after they read one more report, they're probably struggling to process all the information they think they need to decide.   And if they keep asking you to prove it'll work, because it's their neck on the line, then they're probably worried the outcome won't meet their expectations. There are ways to approach each of these buyer worries. If you're working on an important deal and one of these resonates, feel free to DM me, happy to help share a few ideas.   And luckily, I overcame feeling overwhelmed by Taco Bell's choices and managed to order.   Was it worth it?   Oh yeah. Every. Bite. 😋   Feel free to drop your go-to TB order below, so my next trip is a little easier. 👇 👇 👇   #buyer #indecision #challengersale #jolteffect

Big shoutout to Walmart! Kudos to giving Cheers' category a seasonal name that I had never thought of: "HOLIDAY RECOVERY" 🎄 🥂 Categories aren't created in a vacuum. Brands work with their retail partners to best figure out how to position the offering and serve the customer. Cheers may have founded the category... but our retail partners are the ones figuring out how to implement it in their stores. It is a special feeling seeing the largest retailer in the world take something you created an extend upon it in a new way—in this case "Holiday Recovery". (Yes, that's a picture of Cheers Restore in the thumbnail!) November & December are the largest drinking months of the year. Family gatherings, home town reunions with high school friends, corporate parties, etc. all typically involve alcohol. 3/4ths of American adults drink during the holidays. Sometimes the holidays are just a marathon of responsible drinking events that need to be recovered from—like it or not, because even responsible drinking can leave your feeling less than 100% the next day. What an insightful value prop and way to position Cheers. This is a very proud moment for me, Shelby, & the team! 🎅🏻 🥃

I made a big deal about Tacos on Tuesday once and guess what it has become. Yup, it quickly became Taco Tuesday in my house every Tuesday and my kids get disappointed if it is not. I was thinking about this as it related to habits and routines. - Our brains look for patterns so how can I leverage this. - Alliteration or a fun phrase can make things sound more appealing for me to do. - This involved a group of people who together created the expectation and association of something they wanted to repeat. How could I use this to my advantage? I wanted to have focused time on my calendar for planning and working on my business vs the doing of my business. I did this with my Make It Happen Mondays (MIHM). - The phrase was something more positive for me than "sales planning", "forecasting", "budget", "invoicing", all things I do on Mondays now. Also how you phrase things matters, I have to ... or I get to focus on the business to make the rest of my week easier and be more intentional. - I engaged my team in the schedule, establishing the guardrails around the priority work. I also tell my clients that the bulk of my Monday is spent on planning work so they know. - Then I calendared it and am holding the time. I'm a work in progress and wanted to share how I'm fighting our hyperconnectivity to remain focused at work and create new habits. Now, I look forward to MIHM almost as much as I do Taco Tuesday.

Creativity! One of the things that we #leaders and professionals have the opportunity to do is to tap into our ability to innovate. In fact, I believe that #innovation is one of the key components of an EPIC culture that is Empowering, Purpose-Driven, Innovative and Collaborative. Yesterday, as I dashed around prepping for a quick “staycation” with the man I love, I was transported into a #mindset of whimsy and fun…. Yes, thanks to a grocery store! (The Publix in Riverview on 301 by Belmont) #publix . If creating an emotional state of possibility is a winning sales strategy, this Publix gets an A+++. The store looked more like a high end sweet 16 party than a place to pick up a box of Fruit Loops. Not only was the floral department brimming with balloons and flowers (even an entire section of balloons in Spanish), but every single aisle throughout the store cried out with Valentine’s Day playful whimsy. I can only imagine how much labor and inventory went into creating this Valentine’s Day experience and I would guess that some might have had reservations about committing to this expense. However, what I witnessed was a breath of surprise and awe from every single person who stepped through their front door. Virtually every single shopper stopped and picked up the bigger bouquet of flowers, the fancier balloon, the curated presentation of chocolates and a stuffed animal. It was so #easy and inviting. By buying into these products, it felt as if you were buying into the perfect magical Valentine’s Day experience. So as I sit here on this glorious day representing love and human kindness (including kindness to Self), I am reminded of the wonder that we each have the capacity to ignite when we step boldly into the realm of #creativity and innovation. Creating unexpected experiences is something that we as individuals can initiate or be part of in the context of our organizations and businesses. I would guess that some team members of that Publix may have felt that their role in inflating all of those balloons was insignificant, if not mundane. To me, those balloons serve as a reminder that the “mundane” tasks that we perform in the context of our companies might turn out to be that remarkable, “brighten your day” moment for one of our clients. So no matter how “small” your role, don’t underestimate your value. Even James Bond needed his Q. So on this lovely Valentine’s Day, what remarkably creative experience will you choose to create? And can you amplify your innovation by collaborating with someone else? Ideas? #leadershipdevelopment #keynotespeaker #motivation #epic #resilience #grit #gritmindsetacademy #meridithalexander #business #podcast #valentinesday

How many of you like to go to Costco for the samples? Me too! I remember growing up in my hometown of Coquitlam BC, going to the Costco in Burnaby drooling at the mouth for samples. I have been a frequent at Starbucks since 2003, especially if it's connected to an Indigo. I received samples from Starbucks of pricier drinks often and it brings a smile on my face every time. Even more personal, I've had awful days at work back in the day, arrived at my local Starbucks (Liberty Village, Toronto) and order my evening tea. They ask "how was your day", and I say "not great/bad/brutal/I'm sick/not feeling the best." They subsequently say "you know what? It's on the house" OR "let me make you a drink that'll help your cold! It helps me feel better so I know it'll help you." I'd like to highlight the absolute power of RECIPROCATION. It is a widespread norm of human culture that obligates (or attempts to) recipients of an act to repayment in the future, so that one individuals act of kindness does not go lost. Reciprocation is a lever of influence that is exploited constantly! When someone extends an act of kindness (invited or not) we feel obligated to return a roughly equal favour. Though it comes in variations, the general rule is favors, gifts, invitations, friendly actions, and the like expect a reciprocal return. In business, the most obvious form of an uninvited gift is a sample (exploiting this lever of influence that encourages a purchase), but it can take form in many other creative ways to encourage your clients to build a deeper business relationship with you. That being said, we can discuss strategy... The point is that human beings, almost universally, practice this lever of influence and it can be cleverly exploited if used correctly to help you build BETTER relationships in your book. If you've read this far, you can magnify the power of reciprocation by customizing and thus personalizing your attempts according to your clients current needs and wants. This is a direct reflection to my earlier Starbucks experiences, as they were absolutely powerful at that time. #coaching #sales

A UK bank holiday, summer holidays, AND a day celebrating all things beer? Bring on August! 🍻🥂 Our August 2024 calendar is here to help you, the business owner, prepare for some exciting holidays and events. Customers love a personable business, and using these events is a great way to increase foot traffic. Here are some of our favourite standout dates: 🍺 International Beer Day, 2 August Bars and restaurants can start the month off right by showcasing a diverse range of craft and local beers. Think information leaflets about spotlight beers, beer tasting sessions, or exclusive discounts. ☕ Afternoon Tea Week (UK), 12-18 August Hospitality businesses, think about themed tea parties, bottomless brunch-style afternoon tea bookings, or interactive masterclasses. Retail stores could get involved with gift sets, in-store tea tastings, or sell cooking kits for families to host their own. 📸 World Photo Day, 19 August Did somebody say user generated content? Host a photography competition for the best photo of your business or products, with a prize for the winner. Great for engagement and fresh content. August is also National Black Business Month. Take the opportunity to support and uplift Black business owners in meaningful ways, such as promoting Black-owned businesses, showcasing Black-owned products in your business and celebrating inclusion. Save this post to remember these important dates! Which date are you most looking forward to? #SmallBusiness #HospitalityPOS #RetailPOS #EventPlanning