I’m talking about a marketing calendar.

I know, I know. They seem like a real pain to put together.

But they don’t have to be. Today we’ll break down how we create a marketing calendar for our clients. So take our tips and start building out your own plan (and thank me later).

In today's newsletter:

• Creating a simple marketing calendar (it doesn’t have to be that hard, guys)

• Jojo Siwa’s trying reallllly hard to rebrand herself (plus what we can learn from the unimpressed reactions)

• Gypsy Rose Blanchard’s giving us whiplash (and what to do if you feel trapped by your own branding)

• How to handle negative comments (and why getting them is actually a good thing)

- Charlotte, Editor ♡

A marketing calendar is like a roadmap for your business's marketing activities. It's a visual tool that helps you plan and organize your marketing efforts over time. Thankfully, they aren't as hard to put together as you might think!

Do you ever feel like your business is playing catch-up with its marketing efforts? 

Ever missed out on key promotional opportunities or felt overwhelmed by last-minute campaigns?

It might be time to introduce a marketing calendar into your strategy.

Because they aren't just a tool for big corporations. A marketing calendar is a valuable asset for businesses of all sizes. It empowers you to plan, execute, and iterate your marketing efforts effectively to drive growth and success.

When we sign a new client, our account managers create a 6-12 month calendar to get a big-picture view of what's coming up in their world.

Here’s a sneak peek into what one of our client calendars might contain:

Key Dates. These are dates that may be relevant to a client's specific industry. This allows us to consider pushing out new content that is timely.

Speaking Engagements. We need to know if our clients are at a conference or speaking onstage somewhere. These are perfect opportunities for us to arrange a filming or repurpose their content. And if they don't have anything lined up, we can help them get planning to drive some attention!

New Product and Service Launches. A marketing calendar details the frequency, the plan and the how so we can plan how best to capitalise on announcing the why.

Photos and Filming schedules. Whilst some of our content creation is agile, this still takes planning so our clients don't run out of photos and fresh material.

Podcasts. A few of our clients have their own podcasts that we have created and launched for them. These are filmed here at TAS. Some of our clients feature as guests on other creator events. We book these for them as part of their marketing reach and activity.

And finally:

Away Dates. Everyone has a private life when the DND (Do Not Disturb) sign goes up. And no one wants to attend a work meeting when they are off on family holidays. So we build some peace and quiet time into our plan as well.

So if you're thinking about creating a marketing calendar of your own...

Remember to be flexible and update the activities at the start of every quarter. You'll find that a little effort goes a long way in painting a clear picture of where your brand needs to show up in the next few months!

-Elaine, Accounts Director

So, What’s the Tea?

2024 has seen wars, AI, and earthquakes. One thing we did not expect to add to the list?

JoJo Siwa in a catsuit and KISS makeup gyrating on another female.

Lord have mercy; she's going for a rebrand.

And it's not quite landing with the public.

The former Dance Moms child star revealed her new look last week at the iHeartRadio Music Awards - a Gene Simmons-inspired catsuit + star makeup.

The star also took to TikTok, where she promoted the release of her new single and music video, Karma.

The video is a blatant attempt to (quite literally) strip herself of her child star image. Too bad it comes across as highly inauthentic.

It feels like one of those camp leaders who keeps swearing to try to seem cool or something.

People have, of course, taken to the internet to share their thoughts. Many are calling it cringe, saying she's trying way too hard.

"What rebrand?" one user said. "She went from rainbow sparkles to black ones?"

The young star claims to follow in Miley Cyrus’ footsteps, but the difference between the two is hard to ignore.

Why?

• JoJo’s rebrand feels unauthentic, so her audience doesn't buy it. We know what Jojo’s life is like, so we know she's not actually some rebel in disguise.

• On the other hand, Miley's rebrand reflected what she was actually experiencing at the time. It showed a raw and vulnerable side of her.

Here's the thing: if you are going to rebrand, it has to be authentic to you.

Your brand is an extension of you. So it has to reflect your values and resonate with your audience who share them.

SPEAKING OF REBRANDS:

If you’re gonna do it, you may as well do it big, right?

We're guessing that's what Gypsy Rose Blanchard's take is, anyway.

The ex-convict just filed for divorce, got a nose job, and got matching tattoos with her ex-fiancé.

SHEESH, miss Gypsy girl, slow down. You’re giving us whiplash!!!!

For real, though, can you blame her after being incarcerated for the last 7 ½ years? PLUS experiencing a lifetime of trauma and abuse at the hands of her whacko mother?

We personally think: good for her.

So if you're feeling a little trapped in your brand, here are some things to consider if you want to shed old skin. (And no, this doesn't involve cosmetic surgery or actual skin).

1. Have a clear purpose and end goal. Having a north star will help you make the right decisions for your brand.

2. Identify your audience. Who do you want to speak to?

3. What do you want to say to them? What are your values that make you, you?

4. Network and engage with others who share these values and messaging.

5. Be authentic and consistent. We want to see the real you!

Good luck folks x

-Danya, Account Manager & Soph, Your Pop Culture Servant ♡

What’s Going Viral?

Got FOMO?

Listen to our YAP Podcast Tuesday - Saturday, where Stan & Jony break down the videos that are blowing up on social media. Not only will you learn why they work, but we’ll tell you how to capitalise on these trends before they disappear.

Watch the full podcast here and subscribe to the YouTube Channel so you don’t miss an episode.

Today’s Creator Spotlight 👉 Dr Miami

Check out what's going viral for them RIGHT NOW 👇

Santina LEFT Dr Miami

You’ll be missed queen

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The betray of a Social Media Manager

Tweets from The Intern

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Ask the Editor

Q - I'm getting decent engagement on my social accounts but some of it's negative. How do I handle it when people post hate comments? - Kelsey

Hey Kelsey,

No one likes getting negative comments on their posts (well, unless you're into rage baiting)! Although you may not believe me, getting that kind of engagement is actually a good thing.

Now if you're actually posting something that's really offensive, that may not be the case. And if that is you, it would be a good idea to look at your strategy and adjust accordingly.

But if you're just finding that some people don't like or agree with your content, that's not bad. It just means your reach is getting big enough that your posts are reaching a wider group of people now.

And obviously not all of them are going to like your content. So, in a way, getting those negative comments means you've made it! As far as how you handle it, you can just thank them for their opinion and move on!

- Charlotte, Editor ♡