S.M.A.R.T targets – Munchy May Side Project

As you may recall during my education on this blog I made use of a reflective cycle that defined what had previously happened in a project, affirmed where I was currently, and then with this new clarity aim towards where I should strategically direct my efforts next. I utilised a tool and framework called S.M.A.R.T targets as a method to implement self-reflection into my creative process as a exercise to make the unconscious conscious, the saying goes what gets measured gets focused. ‘S.M.A.R.T’ Is an acronym that stands for ‘Small’, ‘Measurable’, ‘And’, ‘Realistic’, ‘Targets’. The intention of this tool is to periodically review goals and milestones for the purpose of growth through accurate and appropriate target setting. The results from this review would then be tailored into a concise action plan moving forward.

During my education I found that despite how time-consuming it was to dedicate time to this reflective cycle that positive and focused results were born from this process. Therefore, I will be utilising this tool again for my current projects as I seek to emulate the success I found using this method in the past. I will be reviewing my second project: Munchy May.

Context of previous two weeks

On Tuesday the 7th of April I created a post called “What are my current projects?”. Within this post I outlined my two current projects: the first being to create and grow an eCommerce store online within a focused niche. The second being my ambitions to grow a brand label which would act as an entity hosting an open call project inviting designers to take part in an art challenge. This brand label is called “Munchy May” which is also the name of the project and challenge.

During the first week after I set my targets, I released that I could not achieve the goals I set for my first project because I had missed vital information that I needed to work through before I can begin the creation process. Highlighted on my blog I spent my time exploring the best potential niche I could work towards building a store for which I concluded was the “Cute and Kawaii” niche. I explored the limitations and benefits between the “print on demand” and “drop shipping” supply chain fulfilment, and I also explored all potential products that were available for manufacture using print on demand manufacturers in the USA. I ended the first week of my project researching 3 artists which I believe will benefit the visual aesthetic of my intended brand label should I experiment and incorporate it within my product designs.

In my previous post, I expressed that my goals for my second project were to utilise the follow for follow Instagram strategy to grow the Munchy May Instagram account to 1,000 followers. The deadline I set for myself was to achieve this level of growth before the first of May by gaining a minimum of 20 new followers per day. I also expressed that I intended to design, construct, and publish a website explaining the entire event in detail including the creation of promotional content which will be posted on the Instagram account. Over the course of the 2 weeks since these targets were set I have achieved every single goal I intended to for this project. At present the Munchy May Instagram account has just hit 1,000 followers, the website has been created and published and can now be viewed by anyone, and a series of promotional posts have been published to the account.

What’s Happening this week?

This week is the countdown to the beginning of Munchy May event. It is my last chance to promote the event and encourage participation before the challenge begins on the first of May. I have achieved my monthly target for follower count acquisition and any extra followers are a bonus. Essentially this week is focused on marketing the event to as many people as possible that would consider the option of participating in the event. I will spend my time engaging in conversations with people, direct messaging peers and potential participants formally inviting them to the event as well as posting content to reach a wider audience. In each posts description I will leave details about the event including direction towards how to find more information. The aim is to do this consistently to gain results utilising the compound effect regarding audience retention.

It is my intention to also dedicate some of my time this week dedicated to finalising my artist research in regard to my eCommerce store. Once I have finalised my research, I will begin the process of exploring designs and experimenting with shape and form. My goal for this stage is to have 13 different designs for my chosen 20 products which I outlined in a previous post. I will need to design 1 square design, 4 rectangular (A3 shape) designs, 2 badge designs, and 6 seamless patterns. I would consider this week very product if I can finalise my experiment and complete a single design towards this goal.

What I need to reflect on

At this stage in my two projects I have completed my initial goals for Munchy May but I am still working towards beginning the process of my eCommerce goals. As stated, I have however achieved the completion multiple aspects of my research for this project. I need to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of both projects to transfer this knowledge into an action plan that will ensure the continued growth and refinement of a specialised skillset. This skillset is integral for the growth and refinement of my projects which will have a direct positive impact on each projects success.

Looking forward into the next few weeks, I will need to define the next milestones that I intend for both projects as well as implement a measurable action plan which I will use to ensure success whilst being able to receive reflective feedback throughout the process. It is important that I consider the pitfalls that I may face at each stage including how best I can overcome each obstacle. I believe by doing this I will continue the refinement of each project through rigorous self-management and dedication to my goals. It is better to work smart than to work hard.

Munchy May Target 1 – Continue marketing the event to as many people as possible through various means.

Discussed throughout this SMART target blog post, the events success can only be ensured if I have people participate in the challenge. Not a lot of people choose to get involved in a long form project once the project has begun for the other participates. Therefore, it is important that I put this information Infront of as many people as I possibly can. The methods that I will utilise to communicate this message are as follows:

1. Direct message peers inside and outside my circle formally inviting them to take part in the event. I will also direct message them the promotional carousel post so that they may be put into my funnel directly.
2. Post content that my audience will like and include a call to action in the description directing people to check out my website for more information.
3. Engage in discussion with people by engaging with their content and responding to comments on their content as well. This will encourage people to learn more about me and they could check out my profile.

I will consider this target a success if I can get to 100 website visitors before the first of April as well as 100 post saves for the combined force of my promotional Instagram posts. If I achieve this, I would consider this marketing sprint a success because I would have ensured more people were aware of the event and the potential them to partake is higher.

Munchy May Target 2 – Grow the Instagram account to 1300 followers before the 1st of May.

As off the creation of this post the Munchy May official Instagram account is sitting on 1077 followers. The difference between the account’s current total followers and the aspirational goal of 1300 is 223 followers. There is exactly 1 week left in April, if you divide 223 by the 7 days it equals to 31 followers per day. I will use the target of acquiring 31 new followers per day as the framework I need to achieve my aspirational goal of growth. I will consider this target achieved if I hit my target number by the deadline outlined. I believe that this is an important target to hit as it will increase the potential number of participants involved in the event.

eCommerce store Target 1 – Finish all research blog posts.

Time is off the essence and it’s important to make small consistent progress to ensure a project achieves its goals. The research that I am currently finalising is integral to the next step in my project’s creative method. I feel that I would be crippling my progress if I dwelled to much on this aspect of my development and therefore wish to seek the swift completion of this stage. I will consider this target a success if all blog research has been posted by Tuesday the 28th of April.

eCommerce store Target 2 – Illustrate 10 different style explorations including, form, line weight, colour, shading, and aesthetic, in response to my artist research.

Due to the nature of my product development goals it is important that I be open minded in my exploration of potential designs that my niche could consider appealing. If I follow a linear development process it is likely I will miss the opportunity to refine my designs to impress my audience in a way that would truly resonate with them. Therefore I will not consider this target a success unless I have a minimum of 10 different variations of style in response to my artist research.

Conclusion

Therefore, in response to my outlined goals, this week I will be spending my time finalising het research phase for my eCommerce store’s product development. Which will then lead into my experimental drawing phase which I will respond to the analysed aesthetic which I have outlined within my blog research. Meanwhile whilst I am executing these objectives, I will also be spending my spare time continuing to market the Munchy May event on Instagram as well as employing the current strategies for growth with the goal of achieving 1300 followers by the 1st of May. I believe that If I achieve each of my goals that I will be on track for success with both of my projects. I intend to review these targets by next Sunday the 3rd of May. This will be the third day in my Munchy May event where I will be able to outline my successes in regard to marketing the event.