It's always been in my DNA to be an entrepreneur. I don't remember exactly how old I was, but I invited everyone on my soccer team who had a dog to my backyard, and we would have a dog show. I recruited some neighbor kids who didn't have a dog to be the judges. I made signs with crayons and hung them up around the neighborhood. From "hosting" that dog show, I got asked by the families to walk their dogs when they were on vacation, and they paid me!
I also would take my mom's garage sale signs from the garage and put them on the corners of the street. I would set up a card table with the Happy Meal toys I didn't like and try to sell them along with Kool-Aid. A woman once stopped and asked where the garage sale was, and I said right here. She went on to tell me through a rolled-down window from her driver's seat what "false advertising" meant.
But what really got my entrepreneurial brain going was when I discovered the Baby-Sitters Club books.
I was 11 and babysitting my brother and some neighbor kids (It was the 90's). I found The Baby-Sitters Club Kristy's Great Idea at the library. (BSC if you're in the know)
My mind was blown!
Little did I know that Kristy, Claudia, Mary Anne, and Stacey were teaching me valuable lessons that would shape my future career in digital marketing.
A network of baby-sitters- a business in babysitting? I immediately took my Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper and made it into a catalog of clients. I recruited 3 of my friends from my various sports teams, and we re-created our own baby-sitters club in my tiny town, complete with a weekly meeting and Kid Kits. It took a bit to build up the word that we existed like any business (as with any business). Still, each week, we got together for one hour on the phone and waited for job requests to come in. While we waited, we used crayons, colored pencils, and construction paper to make flyers to advertise our babysitting services.
I was at the thrift store recently and saw that someone had donated their entire collection of Baby-Sitters Club books. It got me thinking back to that time. Also, as I navigate the fast-paced world of SEO, content strategy, and social media campaigns, I think about what the BSC taught me about business in general.
And here's what I came up with:
1. Spot Your Market Opportunity
Just like Kristy Thomas had her "Great Idea" to start the Baby-Sitters Club, successful digital marketing is all about identifying market needs. In my work, I'm constantly looking for gaps in content, untapped audiences, or emerging trends that my clients can leverage.
2. Collaboration is Key
The BSC taught me that everyone brings something unique to the table. Claudia's artistic flair, Mary Anne's organizational skills, and Stacey's math abilities all contributed to the club's success. In digital marketing, I've learned that the best campaigns arise from diverse teams bringing their individual strengths together.
3. Adapt or Perish
Remember when the BSC faced competition from the Baby-Sitters Agency? They had to up their game and offer better services. In the ever-changing digital landscape, adaptability is crucial. Algorithm updates, new platforms, shifting consumer behaviors - we must always be ready to pivot our strategies.
4. Customer Service is Everything
The BSC girls knew that being reliable, punctual, and good with kids would keep clients coming back. In digital marketing, we build lasting relationships and brand loyalty by providing value to our audience and being responsive to their needs.
5. Data Matters
Mary Anne's meticulous record-keeping in the club notebook reminds me of the importance of data in digital marketing. Analytics, engagement rates, and conversion metrics are our modern-day equivalents of the BSC notebook, guiding our decisions and strategies.
6. Continuous Learning
The BSC members constantly improved their skills, from taking childcare classes to learning about children with special needs. Stay updated with the latest tools, trends, and best practices in digital marketing is non-negotiable.
7. Solve Problems Creatively
Whether it was entertaining a problematic child or managing multiple clients on a busy night, the BSC girls were master problem-solvers. Similarly, we often need to think outside the box in digital marketing to overcome challenges like algorithm changes or reaching a saturated audience.
8. Build Your Brand
The BSC had a strong, recognizable brand in Stoneybrook. They were known for reliability, quality, and professionalism (as professional as 13-year-olds can be). Consistent branding across all platforms is crucial for building trust and recognition in digital marketing.
Who knew that a series about teenage baby-sitters would lay such a solid foundation for a career in digital marketing? These lessons, learned between the pages of my favorite childhood books, continue to influence my approach to business and marketing today. And maybe they can help you.
So, the next time you face a digital marketing challenge, ask yourself: What would the Baby-Sitters Club do? The answer might lead you to your next great idea.