Meagan Kerlin

It’s officially 2017, which means that for the next few weeks, you may have to throw some punches to get a treadmill at the gym, and more people will be hanging out in the produce section of Whole Foods. Whether you are a resolution-making kind of person or not, the beginning of a new year offers you a great opportunity to try some new things and implement some positive habits. One of the most beneficial, doable things to work on in 2017 is increasing productivity–even if you think you’ve got that area under control.

Productivity is necessary, but it can be harder to find when you haven’t gotten enough sleep, you are bored with your task or you can’t stop thinking about other things. But, alas, work sometimes requires us to do things, even when we don’t feel like it. Sigh. So, how can you find the sheer force of will to just do something that needs to be done, despite feeling like all you want to do is surf Facebook and eat Cheetos? Mustering up the will to be productive is hard, especially following a busy and exhausting holiday season, but there are some things you can do now to help you push through these times. Here’s how:

• Clean up your workspace: When your desk is cluttered and disorganized, you will find it distracting, even on the best of days.
• Divide your tasks: Divide and conquer your to-do list, starting with the smallest and easiest things, working your way to the most involved items.
• Eliminate distractions: Play music in the background, buy some noise-eliminating headphones or do whatever  you need to do to get rid of those things that rob you of your focus.
• Reward yourself: As silly as it sounds, motivate yourself with simple rewards. Motivation is an extremely important and underutilized component in productivity. Find what works for you.

Sometimes, you just have to do what needs to be done. It’s not always fun, it may not feel rewarding all the time, but that does not mean you get to just sit it out. Make it easier to power through these moments by implementing a few of these habits. Resolutions or not, a few small changes can make a big impact, even when you don’t feel like working.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Do you hate your job? Maybe you don’t exactly hate your job, but do you feel stuck, annoyed or bored with what it requires you to do, day in and day out? Despite what the inspirational gurus on Facebook may tell you, simply “following your dream” or “doing what you love” won’t pay the bills. In fact, it is still very possible to do something you may not like very much and still find joy, fulfillment and purpose in what you are doing.

“Chasing your passion” can mean many different things, and not all of them involve a paycheck and the ability to support your family. You may love to travel, but, sadly, no one is going to pay you to lay by a pool in Hawaii for two weeks. (I checked. This job does not exist.) The key to doing what you love is not the job itself, but understanding how to make your passion and reality meet. Before you quit to travel indefinitely, or at least until the money runs out, ask yourself, “How does my passion correlate to an in-demand, paying job?” Even if the answer is not immediately clear, you may be shocked to learn that, at least for now, the answer could be found in the job you already have.

You may not have your dream career. You may not even like your “placeholder” one, but, the truth is, the right perspective can do much to improve your situation. More than just forcing yourself to have a better attitude, it is worthwhile to really work on finding things to love about what you already have–whether it’s your work, your possessions or other areas of life. You don’t have to have the most amazing job in the entire world to have fulfillment or contentment. As we head into 2017, don’t let your work rob you of your joy or passion, but find ways to add value to what you are already doing. You can actually love what you do without loving your actual job.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

You may not make resolutions at the start of the New Year, but whether you make a list of personal goals or not, the fact is, the start of a new year offers a great chance to do something new, whether that is implementing better eating habits or overhauling your strategy for your small business. Resolutions not only serve the purpose of adding accountability when trying to accomplish something new or force yourself to develop a new habit, but they allow you the opportunity to lay the foundation for a better, more successful year ahead. So, if you do not have a personal New Year resolution ready for 2017, you should certainly have a few for your small business. Here are some suggested goals to ponder:

• Re-evaluate your mission statement (If you don’t know WHY you are doing it, then what is the point?)
• Ask for feedback from previous customers (And really listen to what they have to say)
• Retool your social media strategy (Customer engagement is critical)
• Think about the tools you need for the new year (Everything from a new phone to better internet connection counts)
• Buy a 2017 planner (And actually USE it)
• Continue learning (This is how you get better)
• Set boundaries in your business and personal life (Boundaries are not to hinder you, but to protect your sanity)

These suggested goals can be adjusted to suit your needs and overall objectives for your business. It doesn’t matter what’s on your list, as long as you have a strategy for getting better and doing more in the new year. Without a plan, you risk wasting the beautiful opportunity for a fresh start that comes every January 1st. As we approach the end of the calendar year, it’s time to prepare to run hard toward the opportunities just around the corner.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Thanks to a rapid progression in technology, we are in the midst of a communication revolution. And, while there are many amazing advances now in the hands of the average consumer, it could be having a negative impact on the way businesses interact with customers and clients. We are now in an era, a crisis even, in which people would rather communicate with others in every way imaginable, except by phone call. Most people prefer texts to phone calls, and, while this is fine for one’s personal life, it’s critical to understand that personal communication should still be playing a major role in business and marketing.

Okay, I get it. Phone calls can be weird. It can be awkward, especially if you don’t know the person or need to maintain some semblance of professionalism. An email or text would be easier and less anxiety inducing, but there are many cases in which a person’s voice is much more effective than any written word could be. Communication is a critical part of any business, but the vast cultural changes regarding communication often have people leaning toward an easier way to reach out– via email or text.

A phone call can seem terrible, and, sometimes, it may be downright uncomfortable to say what you need to say over the phone, but the act of using your own voice to say these things proves this: you’re invested in what you are doing, you’re prepared to answer questions and you are not intimidated by silence on the line (pretend you’re not, even if you are). Sometimes, old school methods are more productive than any of the new bells and whistles.

Next time you are about to email or text, ask yourself if it could be better communicated by a phone call. With practice, or sheer determination, you can develop the habit of better, more personal communication. Don’t be afraid to use your voice — it’s one of your most powerful tools.

The end of the year is a slow time for many business owners, and you may find yourself “sitting on your hands” as you wait for the start of the new year. If the holidays are a slow time for you, it’s important to use this opportunity to undergo a little tune-up, so to speak, and be ready to head into 2017 prepared and excited. We are aren’t talking about lighting incense and chanting in a circle, we are talking about the practical steps you can take to end the year on a positive note, strengthen relationships with clients and mentally prepare for future growth in the new calendar year. Here are a few practical, simple ways you can do this.

• Suggestion 1: Express your appreciation to your clients and customers. If you are able, write little notes of thanks to those who supported your business this year. If this is not possible, find other ways to say “thank you” and cultivate gratitude for what you accomplished this year.
• Suggestion 2: Do the things you have been avoiding. From hiring new personnel to revamping your social media marketing strategy, get everything lined up to start as soon as possible in the new year. Make a list of goals that you want to accomplish before the end of 2016 — you still have a few weeks left to make some serious progress.
• Suggestion 3:  Make an effort to recount what you have learned this year. Owning a business, regardless of the type or size, is a constant learn-on-the-go process, and it’s always great when you don’t have to relearn the same things over and over. Sit down, write down what you have learned this year and make a plan to implement these lessons.

The end of the year is no time for business owners to shut down, but a great time to get ready for the year ahead. What are YOU going to do to use these last few weeks of the year to leverage your business for amazing success in 2017?

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

Have you noticed more videos on your Facebook newsfeed? That’s no happy accident. Facebook has been pushing the video component of their platform for a while, which has led to an increase of businesses and entrepreneurs using video to boost customer engagement and increase exposure.

If you aren’t using video as part of your marketing strategy, you are already behind…but don’t worry. You can catch up. Fortunately, you do not have to have a degree in graphic design or video editing to make Facebook Video work for you. Instead of just making a straight sales pitch in video form, consider how you can also use the auto-play feature on Facebook to do the following:

• Educate your customers about your products or services
• Use humor or positivity to gain exposure and establish rapport with potential clients
• Entertain viewers (because humor is always a good choice)
• Use videos to get more clicks from Facebook ads

It’s clear that Facebook users are creating and sharing more content than ever before. Social media trends are basically free marketing gold, and if you can gain exposure by appealing to the current wants of your customer base, your business will benefit. If the customers you hope to reach are using Instagram, get on Instagram. If statistics indicate that Facebook video is a powerful and effective tool for both private users and business, then get on it, by golly.

There has been a 75 percent increase in the viewing and sharing of videos on Facebook in the last year. From a marketing perspective, this should certainly catch your attention because Facebook is free. It costs you NO MONEY to set up a business page, ask for “likes” and start posting videos to your page. The opportunity for increased exposure and more website clicks through smart and effective use of your your Facebook business page is just too good to be left on the table — so don’t wait to get started.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

For many people, entrepreneurship is a gradual slide. What starts as a small project for a friend or a one-time order can quickly escalate to almost full-time status in a matter of weeks. Savvy individuals see these opportunities as a way to earn a bit of extra income or save for the future, but what if you want to take this little venture of yours and make it your only venture? Is it possible? Sure, people quit their “real jobs” every day to chase their dreams, but what about you? If you’ve been loving your side hustle more than your 9-to-5, you may be thinking it’s time….but, how?

Entrepreneurship is great, and there are many benefits to being your own boss. But if full-time status is your goal, it won’t be a cakewalk. Outside of the initial commitment, there are a few things that you must consider and have firmly in place as you prepare to transition if you wish to be successful:

• A vision
• A business plan
• Clearly defined goals

These three components will guide you in everyday decisions, keep you moving in the right direction and lay the foundation for your future success. Your vision serves as a roadmap, your business plan is your security blanket and your goals propel you forward, one step at a time. Be cautious and be smart, but don’t sit on your hands. If you’re ready, committed and prepared, do it anyway, even if you’re scared.

A side job or hobby can be great — you can make money, meet great people, do something you love and have fun, but what if that’s not quite enough anymore? It’s time to ask if your “little side business” has the potential to serve a far greater purpose in your life. It’s even possible that your side hustle could become your only hustle.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing LLC

I work from home, which, on most days, is wonderful. I love the flexibility to work from anywhere, anytime, even if it meant I had learn some serious time management at first. I also have a two-year-old son, who, on most days, spends the majority of the time being wonderfully adorable and completely destructive. In a span of 10 minutes, he can pull everything out of the pantry, dig his fingernails into every eyeshadow that I own, color on the walls in pink marker and spray himself in the face with Windex. Not only is he capable of this, he actually did all of this last Monday.

My sweet son is not as cooperative as my now school-age daughter was when she was a toddler. He does not play quietly on the floor at my feet as I serenely pluck away at my keyboard. Around the time that he hit 18 months, I realized that my toddler simply did not care about the blocks of time I designated for work. I was perfectly able to manage my time….I just could not do it while managing a toddler. I had to find a new approach, and fast, because I felt that both my ability to do good work and my sanity were fast slipping away.

I decided that time management was simply not enough anymore, so I turned to behavioral management. Not my child’s behavior, (note: if you know how to teach me this magic, please call) but my own. I turned my schedule upside down. If it becomes clear that productive work is not possible while my toddler is awake, I turn my to-do list upside down. I do everything else I need to do that does not involve brain power or correct grammar, leaving nap time and after bed time free to work in peace. I am a night owl by nature, so late night work is not only possible for me, it is sometimes preferable.

I knew how to manage my time, but it wasn’t until I changed my behavior that I started to see real results. If you are where I was six months ago, and you just cannot seem to break free of that out-of-control feeling, it’s time to think about changing your behavior. There are times in life when the only thing that you can control is your own behavior, so do that. Like I did, you may have to let go of your concept of doing things in a logical order. You may not make it to the grocery store like you planned, but there are other productive things that can be done, and cereal for dinner never hurts anyone.

Show yourself grace. If your current time management plan isn’t working, try something else. Adjust. Adapt. Change your perspective and your behavior, even if it forces you outside of your preferable comfort zone. Things will get done, you will do good work, there will be more peace in your life and, eventually, this phase will pass.

By Meagan Kerlin for Vertu Marketing