by Fred Brewer | Sep 30, 2016 | Meet the Team
Well, we made it to the last of three posts on our company culture. If you haven’t yet read Part I: Who We Are and Part II: What We Do, go check them out! Once you’ve finished, come back and learn how we do what we do. It all has to do with attitude…
We Approach Our Work With Optimism and Tenacity
One thing about the world of marketing, especially Internet marketing, is that it’s always changing. If you fight that notion or aren’t accepting of that reality, it’s easy to get frustrated.
Google and Facebook make the rules in a lot of instances, and we have to stay within their boundaries and guidelines if we want to play the game. Sometimes we work really hard for a result only to have the “rules” change a week later. But that doesn’t mean we can just throw in the towel. We have to keep at it.
In a world like this, some days it can seem like no progress is made at all. But being committed to approaching our work with optimism and tenacity helps us persevere and press on when facing daunting tasks, ever-changing rules and algorithms, and long and arduous processes.
Maintaining positivity and being committed to giving it our all, day in and day out, inspires us to work hard for our clients and helps us remember why we’re here and what we’re here to do. It reminds us not to give up when the going gets tough or hide when we don’t have the answers. Instead, we brainstorm. We research. We test. We look at the challenge from different angles. We try and try again until we meet, and in some extra-rewarding cases, exceed our expectations.
It can be easy to forget who we’re working for and with and why we do what we do if we don’t maintain a positive outlook and feel truly invested in those we partner with. A commitment to approaching our work with optimism and tenacity helps prevent burnout so we can continue serving our clients. But what helps us get to the bottom of things and do the real problem solving? The next value…
We Face Our Challenges With a Curious and Open Mind
Challenges come at us in different ways and from different directions, but solutions are not always cookie-cutter or universal in scope. Although it can be tempting to dive in and tackle problems the same way we always have or resist changing our way of doing things, facing challenges with a curious and open mind allows us to see things we might otherwise miss, and discover new, creative solutions to challenges we’re facing.
This openness and curiosity enables us to find faster, more efficient ways of doing things, and helps us overcome challenges that would be overwhelming if we were rigid and close-minded. It also opens us up to the opinions and suggestions of others – and we all know two heads are better than one.
Ultimately, this doesn’t just make our daily work easier and more enjoyable; it also benefits our clients. When we’re open, curious, and willing to listen to others, we are able to provide better, more customized service to our clients. And that is, after all, why Spark Marketer exists.
by Fred Brewer | Sep 15, 2016 | Meet the Team
In our last post, we talked about who we are as a company, as determined by the values outlined during our company-wide culture workshop. This week, we’re talking about the values that define the culture surrounding what we do.
Without further ado, Values, Part II: What We Do.
We Cultivate Meaningful Partnerships
When asked what we do here at Spark Marketer, we don’t think about securing, hosting, and building websites, creating listings, building citations, posting blogs, or managing social media. We do all of those things and more, but our first thought is the relationships we cultivate each and every day.
We work alongside our clients to help them achieve greater success and extend their services to more people within their communities. Our goal is not to do just the bare minimum, and the phrase, “that’s not my job” is a four letter word here in the office.
Instead, our goal is to partner with our clients, come alongside them as they navigate their way in business, and do everything we can to help. We seek to become an integral part of our clients’ marketing and operations and help them succeed.
When our clients have questions, even if it’s about supplemental marketing services or business decisions, we want to be a resource and a help. Why? A success for our clients is a success for us – whether it’s a marketing success, a business success, or even a personal success.
We win only when our clients win, which is why we strive to build long-lasting partnerships, grow with our clients and their businesses, and help them reach new heights. This brings us to our next “what we do” value…
We Invest in People and Their Dreams
Here at Spark Marketer, we realize that every person has his or her own individual dreams, and we’re all about creating plans of action to help others achieve those dreams. That’s why we get to know our clients and their dreams and goals for both their businesses and their lives.
Once we know these dreams, we align our efforts and personalize our approach to marketing to help them reach their dreams faster. When you know that the work you do for a client is getting them closer to their goals and allowing them to pursue their dreams, nothing you do is a waste of time. It’s all rewarding!
Whether we’re encouraging an employee to develop her artistic talents launch a business, or helping a business owner realize his dream of expanding his business nationally, starting a non-profit charity organization, putting his kids through college, or changing the world by providing spectacular customer service, we work to provide the support and encouragement needed to make dreams realities.
We firmly believe that by helping those we work with and for reach the goals they’ve set for their lives, we can help make a larger, more meaningful impact on the world around us. And this culture of support and encouragement starts at the top here at Spark Marketer.
Taylor and Carter are always willing to invest in continuing education and training for employees when there is a desire to grow and learn. Interested in Google Ads? No one’s going to stop you from exploring that path. Why? If you’re doing what you’re passionate about, you’re going to be happier, and you’re going to do a better job. All of these investments strengthen our company and our partnerships, and encourage better service for those we serve and those our clients serve.
So, now that we’ve defined what we do, how do we do it? Check out our final culture segment, Values Part III, How We Do It.
by Fred Brewer | Aug 30, 2016 | Meet the Team
Here at Spark Marketer, we’ve always had a cherished unspoken culture. But over the last couple of years we’ve nearly tripled in size, which got us thinking: As we add to our team and grow as a company, how do we protect and preserve our prized culture?
Without taking the time to define that culture, it’s really quite impossible, which is why we decided it was time to put who we are, what we do, and how we do it in writing. And that, of course, meant meeeetings.
Since we all play a part in creating and preserving the company’s culture, we all need to be a part in determining just what makes up that culture. So, we got together as a team and dedicated three days in May to identifying our culture and values, so we could define and set our mission, purpose, and vision for the company going forward.
What came out of this culture workshop was so important and so telling of who we are, what we do, and how we do it as a team, we thought it a good idea to share each value and what it means to us. So, over the next three posts, that’s just what we’ll do. Let’s jump right in with the values related to who we are…
We Are Honest and Accountable
While discussing our personal values and the character qualities we each felt were essential to our culture, honesty and accountability came up over and over again. But these qualities weren’t just discussed as being important for others to possess, they were discussed time and time again as valued personal traits. Every single member of our team felt that honesty and accountability were cornerstone traits to who we are as a company and keys to longevity and success.
Honesty and accountability are especially important in our industry, because one commonality between almost all of our clients is that they’ve been misled by a marketing company. This past deception is almost always to blame for any challenges we face when onboarding clients, and we get it. We have to earn their trust. We have to show them that, even though they’ve been lied to in the past, they’re now working with a company that values transparency and honesty.
We strive to be honest in everything we do – honest with ourselves, our co-workers, our clients, and our vendors. Because we have great respect for each other and those we work for and with, being honest is really the only option. But beyond that, we’re a company that does what we say we’ll do.
We know talk is cheap if it’s not backed up by action. In the words of Taylor, “the reality is,” our word is only as good as our follow-through. Together, honesty and accountability are crucial, not only because it’s what our clients expect, but because it’s what our clients deserve.
We hold ourselves and each other accountable to provide our clients with the best possible results and to follow through with what we say we’re going to do. Not following through and keeping our word is a form of dishonesty, and we believe those we work with and for deserve better. We cannot serve our clients well without being honest with ourselves and others and without being open to being held accountable.
What’s this look like in every day life? It’s taking great effort to be upfront about the length of time a project will take and what is and isn’t possible, because we want to be truthful in all our dealings. This doesn’t mean we don’t sometimes have hiccups or obstacles that pop up and change those expectations – it simply means that when those hiccups occur and obstacles pop up, we communicate this with our clients and work to get beyond them to get the work done.
The weight that we give honesty and accountability is tied to the high value we place on respect and the importance of showing respect to others in regards to how we speak, how we act, and how we treat their time, which leads us to our next value.
We Act With Compassion and Respect
One of the things we believe about respect is that it’s not something that should wane and wax over time and with interaction. It’s not something that depends upon whether or not we agree. It doesn’t differ from person to person. You deserve respect because you’re a fellow human being. Period. Respect should be present always, in all our dealings.
Each and every one of us is unique. We bring our own unique talents and knowledge to our work and to the way we approach problems and life. By showing respect, we open ourselves to the possibility of learning from others and seeing the world through a different lens or from a different perspective. This respect breeds compassion and helps us to be mindful and considerate of others. Alternately, as soon as we stop acting with respect, we instantly lose the ability to learn from others and we shut our minds to countless possibilities.
So how does compassion and respect show up in our every day?
Every morning, we share what we are working on. This isn’t a backdoor version of micromanaging – it’s so we can be respectful of each other’s time and consider what each member of our team has going on each day. It gives us all a chance to see into the lives of those we work with, look for ways to be helpful, and give each person the space and support needed. This simple task-sharing exercise helps build compassion and respect as we work together for our clients’ success.
But this compassion and respect extends beyond our office – we strive to act with compassion and respect towards our clients as well. Stepping back and shifting perspectives to see where a client is coming from isn’t always easy, but it’s imperative. We can’t serve our clients well if we don’t respect them, empathize with them, and try to understand where they’re coming from. We can’t help our clients if we think we’re above them or better than them on some level. Anyone lacking compassion simply isn’t able to lead or serve others. As partners with our clients, we MUST have compassion.
That said, we are only human, and sometimes we mess up, which leads us to our next value.
We Own Who We Are and What We Do
As a team, we need to know we can count on each other. And this means taking ownership when something goes wrong or we fail to follow through effectively. To err is human; to own up is divine.
Everyone makes mistakes, but the best way to learn and prevent widespread damage is to take responsibility and work on solutions. Pointing the finger doesn’t do any good and it certainly doesn’t encourage teamwork and cooperation.
Here at Spark Marketer, we strive to minimize mistakes as much as possible, which is why we have so many SOPs and systems in place. But when we do err, we’re honest about it. We own up to our shortcomings, we take responsibility for the repercussions, and we hold ourselves accountable.
Not one of us is perfect, but we can’t get better if we aren’t honest with ourselves and others and willing to work on getting better. Together, we can be better, do better, and serve better, which brings us to our last “who we are” value in this post.
Together, we __________________
Fill in the blank. Because whatever happens, we’re in this together. We partner with each and every one of our clients and each and every member of our team, so whether we’re having fun, helping veterans (with Warrior Horse), solving a problem, or struggling to keep business afloat, we do it together. We’re invested in the success of this company and in the success of every company we serve. And that means every success, every failure, every mistake, every opportunity impacts us all.
Every person here at Spark Marketer and every client we partner with should feel that support and know that we’re really in this together. From sending cards to clients who are dealing with the loss of a pet or loved one, to helping with the vet bills of an employee or going in together on Wrestlemania tickets for a diehard fan (Alex, our graphic designer), we strive to cultivate a real sense of community and communicate the message that whatever we do, we do it together.
Hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into who we are. Check out the next segment, Values, Part II: What We Do!
