Parenthood made me a better marketer

If you’re thinking about becoming a parent or a marketer, read this blog entry at your own risk. Now that that’s out of the way, I can share that it’s no secret that raising kids is hard work. As a parent myself, I know full well the realities and demands (as well as joys) of parenthood. As a marketer, I often think about how my role as “mom” has conditioned me for the work I do on behalf of clients now.

Read on for the Top 5 ways parenting has made me better at marketing:

1. Knowing the audience.
   The secret to success in parenting is anticipating the needs of your kids before you miss the window. Moms and dads carry snacks with them everywhere for this exact reason. The same is true for marketing: you must intimately understand the target customer’s needs and offer a compelling solution for the best results.
2. The demanding schedule.
   Ohhh, the schedule of a parent. Just like moms and dads burn the midnight oil, so does a marketer. Just because your customer’s shop closes at 5:00 p.m., it doesn’t mean yours does — especially when it comes to digital marketing. Since the internet doesn’t turn off at night, it’s a good thing coffee can be bought to-go.
3. Multi-tasking like a boss.
   Ever made dinner while holding a crying babe? Or cleaned the kitchen while also helping with a child’s homework? Parents do it all the time. These multi-tasking talents take center stage for marketers, too, especially when many projects with competing deadlines arrive. The best get it done.
4. Creative thinking.
   All parents know that if you offer Option A to a child, he will want Option B. … Even if Option B doesn’t exist. Its your job as parent to creatively mitigate situations like this to avoid all-out-fall-outs and teach character. Marketers similarly have to think creatively. When a well-thought-out promotion doesn’t perform, creativity is required to adopt new techniques and deliver results. Marketing is half science, half art, after all.
5. Putting the client first.
   Good parents always have the best interest of the child in mind. So do good marketers — but it is the client who comes first. In this way, success is shared.