As do many agencies and marketing companies, we get calls all the time for businesses that ‘need a brochure’ or ‘want to send out a postcard or e-newsletter.’ That’s great that these businesses are even thinking about marketing their businesses. However, it is so important that businesses have a marketing plan in place before spending any marketing dollars. By not having a plan, not only are you doing an injustice to the business you are also doing an injustice to the entire marketing industry. You probably won’t see results and you’ll become disgruntled with marketing in general.

The way marketing works best is to have a strategic business plan and then follow that plan up with a marketing plan that outlines exactly how marketing efforts will help you achieve your business goals. Your marketing plan may or may not include a brochure. It may not include doing an e-newsletter. There are a ton of variables that we have to look at before determining what’s a fit for your business. Some of those include your target market, demographics, historical data, competitions, etc.

All this aside, the key point is that in order for any business to really see a return on every marketing dollar spent, a plan should be in place. This plan should have buy-in from everyone on the team and it should be revisited every few months. It’s fluid and may require adjustments but the important thing is that there is a plan and all of your marketing efforts are moving together in a unified and consistent fashion. If done correctly, it works!

The 30th Annual Charleston Boat Show has issued a fund-raising challenge to the 27th Annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival to see which event can raise the most money for the people of Haiti. All proceeds will go directly to Water Missions International to provide clean drinking water.

The Facts

The goal is to see which event can raise the largest amount of donations for Water Missions International’s efforts in Haiti.

100 percent of all donations will go directly to Water Missions International, headquartered in Charleston (West Ashley behind Seacoast Church)

Water Missions International has already sent 32 water purification systems to Haiti but many more are needed.

Water Missions International has committed a total of 100 water systems to the people of Haiti to address their water crisis.

Each system provides clean water for up to 5,000 people per day.

$25,000-$35,000 will fund one safe-water, disaster, response project.

A safe-water, disaster-response project includes the construction of a water purification system, transportation to Haiti, set-up and staffing throughout the disaster. After the immediate need has been met, the system is then relocated to a permanent, sustainable location, continuing to provide to the people of Haiti. It truly is the gift that keeps on giving!

If every attendee at the Boat Show and the Oyster Festival donates $5, we can fund two disaster-response projects in Haiti.

The Charleston Boat Show and the Lowcountry Oyster Festival are two of the most popular, well-attended events in the Lowcountry. Jacqui Bomar and Kathy Britizus, the event producers, would like to utilize the recognition of their events as a way to get patrons involved in helping out.

While the challenge is real, the Charleston Boat Show and the Lowcountry Oyster Festival seek to dramatically and jointly expedite the efforts of Water Missions International in Haiti. Time is of the essence.

With the help of boat- and oyster-lovers alike, everyone can help bring clean water to the people of Haiti.

The Events

Charleston Boat Show:
January 22 – 24 (Friday, Noon‐6 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.‐6 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.‐5 p.m.)
Charleston Area Convention Center in North Charleston (FREE parking)
Tickets are $8 per adult (bring 5 canned goods for the Lowcountry Food Bank and receive $2 off)

Lowcountry Oyster Festival:
Sunday, January 31 (10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.)
Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant (FREE parking)
Tickets are $10 per person in advance and $12 per person at the door

Follow the challenge on Twitter at www.twitter.com/BoatsVsOysters.

Trio Solutions has partnered with Dr. Bernard Maria and the staff at MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center to produce an online monthly newsletter called Georgia Kids First. The first edition launched on January 14 and has already received very positive feedback. This e-newsletter is geared toward keeping the patients, families, employees and health care professionals at MCGHealth Children’s Medical Center informed and connected.

Each month, Georgia Kids First will highlight inspirational patient and family stories and will give updates from the hospital’s leadership staff and medical teams. This month, we’re profiling C.J. Dube, a former cancer patient who has found ways to give back to other children battling the disease.

I speak for everyone at Trio when I say that we are thrilled to be a part of this project and that we look forward to working with everyone at MCGHealth. To learn more or to sign up for the newsletter, visit www.mcghealth.org/kids.

In 2010, Disney is offering a free admission to one of their theme parks if you give a day of volunteering to a nonprofit organization. This past year they gave the general public an opportunity to celebrate their birthday at one of the parks for free through their What Are You Celebrating marketing campaign. They continue to raise the bar in the marketing industry. The Give A Day. Get A Disney Day. program is a unique opportunity to engage more volunteers in service through your organization and celebrate their good deeds. Any organization that is meeting a community need can collaborate with HandsOn Network in the Give A Day. Get A Disney Day. program.

Getting about that time…presentations to the amazing organizations we are helping. Seriously, if you take a minute and reflect on what these groups are doing for our community and the world, it is so impressive. These are people that spend they lives focusing on the goodwill of others. Godspeed to all of you! You are a true blessing to the world and remember on those days when things seem tough that your efforts don’t go unnoticed and WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU DO!

It has been almost a full 24 hours that we’ve been on lock down at the Trio Compound. JM and I are struggling a bit but still working away for our CreateAthon recipients and the communities they serve. Super sleepy but very excited to present the projects to the clients!

Marketing plan…check! Logo…check! Banner…check! And the creative juices are still flowing. CreateAthon 09 in effect!

We’re about to finish up the Palmetto Medical Initiative marketing and communications plan…and WOW…they are an amazing bunch! Be sure to check out their Web site to learn more about their organization and how you can help make a difference.

Next up…The Good Neighbor Center. Another worthwhile cause that we are honored to be working with. Check out this story written in the Post & Courier last year…and let’s all try to be a little bit more appreciative of our Lowcountry Veterans. Thank you for all you’ve done and continue to do for us and for our country!

Things are going well over here in the Creative Quarters of Trio! Just saw the logo designs for the Charleston Area Children’s Garden Project and once again, our designer
extraordinaire has outdone herself! Looks awesome, Roxy!

Working on the banner and rack card for Liza’s Lifeline now. Big shout outs to George with Expotrade Exhibits and Brent with Professional Printers for their discounted pricing for the materials needed to complete these projects! These new marketing pieces will definitely help this organization in their mission to provide education, support and awareness about the dangers of domestic violence.

Lots more going on and we’ll report back soon. Holla!

And we’re off! The 2009 CreateAthon has begun and the Trio crew is back in action. We’re super excited about the five non profits that we’ll be helping this year! Getting ready to hold a strategic planning meeting with Charleston Community Sailing…and away we go!

Everyone at Trio Solutions Inc. is looking forward to helping out our 2009 Createathon Winners: Charleston Area Children’s Garden Project, Good Neighbor Center, Charleston Community Sailing, Palmetto Medical Initiative and Liza’s Lifeline! It was very difficult to narrow our selection to these five. Every organization that applied should be commended for the work they are doing in our community. We would love to be able to help them all. Createathon will begin on Thursday, Sept. 18. Be sure to follow our progress on Twitter.