Episode 193. Baking it Down - Smart Baby Goals

Release Date: January 8, 2025
Hosts: Heather and Corrie Miracle
Podcast: Baking it Down with Sugar Cookie Marketing 🍪

Overview

In Episode 193 titled "Smart Baby Goals," hosts Heather and Corrie Miracle delve into the concept of setting achievable, bite-sized goals tailored for bakery business owners. Moving beyond traditional "Smart Goals," they introduce "Smart Baby Goals"—a refined approach aimed at fostering consistency, reducing overwhelm, and ensuring steady business growth. This episode is packed with practical strategies, real-life examples, and actionable insights designed to help bakers effectively manage and expand their businesses.

1. Rethinking Goal Setting: From Smart Goals to Smart Baby Goals

Heather opens the discussion by critiquing the conventional approach to goal-setting within the Sugar Cookie Marketing Facebook group. She emphasizes that while "Smart Goals" (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) are beneficial, they often remain too grandiose for many members.

Heather [01:05]: "Buy goals should push you. The problem is when the goals are so monstrous, it's hard to wrap your brain around them."

Corrie concurs, highlighting the psychological toll of setting excessively high targets, which can lead to feelings of defeat if unmet.

Corrie [01:34]: "The problem with. And if you listen to like the David Goggins type people...the defeatist side of your brain that's like, we did not meet the goal is so overwhelming."

To counter this, they propose "Smart Baby Goals"—smaller, more manageable objectives that encourage consistent progress without causing burnout.

2. Breaking Down Lofty Goals into Achievable Steps

The hosts discuss how overly ambitious goals can derail progress. They illustrate this with relatable examples, such as setting a goal to "learn how to fly a plane" versus breaking it down into smaller steps like "researching flight programs."

Heather [03:06]: "If I said my 2025 January goal was to research what it takes to sign up for the program, I would...make progress."

This approach ensures that each step is attainable, fostering a sense of accomplishment and motivation to continue advancing toward larger objectives.

3. Practical Implementation: Social Media Consistency

One of the key areas where "Smart Baby Goals" can be applied is social media marketing. Heather and Corrie emphasize the importance of consistency over quantity.

Heather [08:11]: "Number one consistency on social media posting. But now I'm gonna make it even smaller."

They suggest focusing on posting two times per week on a single platform, such as Facebook, and adhering to a specific copy formula like AIDA (Attention, Interest, Desire, Action). This method simplifies the process and makes it less overwhelming.

Corrie [09:07]: "One platform with the one who's bringing."

By narrowing the focus, bakers can maintain regular engagement with their audience without spreading themselves too thin across multiple platforms.

4. Developing Baking Classes: Step-by-Step Goals

Heather and Corrie outline a month-by-month plan for bakers aiming to launch or improve their baking classes. This structured approach ensures that each aspect of the process is handled systematically.

Month 1:
Learn the Basics of Teaching Classes

Heather [27:14]: "Month one. I'm going to take a class on taking classes. That fulfills that other goal too."

Month 2:
Set Up Technical Aspects

Heather [28:19]: "We're going to learn how our computer connects to a TV and put that PowerPoint on it."

Month 3:
Conduct a Dry Run

Corrie [30:11]: "Do a dry run first. Somebody who can't be offended or mad that you took their money, do it with them because they're going to just support you."

Month 4:
Find a Venue

Heather [31:31]: "Just look around. Libraries, cafes, churches have these rooms you can rent out sometimes."

By segmenting the tasks, bakers can tackle each phase effectively, ensuring that every foundational element is in place before moving to the next step.

5. Gamification and Habit Tracking for Goal Achievement

The hosts introduce the concept of gamification to make goal-setting more engaging. They discuss apps like Finch and Habits that reward users for completing small tasks, reinforcing positive behavior through immediate rewards.

Heather [43:30]: "Each morning, like getting out of bed, you can check it off and you get points because it has goals for people."

Corrie [43:53]: "It's the same premise as these little check offs equal to a bigger goal."

This method aligns with the "Smart Baby Goals" philosophy by making daily tasks rewarding and encouraging long-term commitment through incremental achievements.

6. Building and Maintaining Engaged Community Groups

Heather and Corrie share insights on managing community groups to enhance engagement and support among members. They stress the importance of creating a positive, resource-rich environment while minimizing promotional overload.

Corrie [20:51]: "The group turned into a giant resource for each other...they came with memes, jokes, questions."

They also discuss strategies to prevent the group from becoming overwhelmed with sales pitches, maintaining a balance between providing value and promoting business offerings.

Heather [82:00]: "If you're taking advantage of the sales day to have to pay back into the group or they kind of leave because they didn't want to pay back into the group."

By fostering a supportive community, members can share resources, provide mutual assistance, and celebrate each other's successes, thereby enhancing collective growth.

7. Leveraging Sponsorships and Marketing Tools

The episode concludes with a discussion on maximizing the benefits of sponsorships and utilizing marketing tools effectively. Heather and Corrie highlight partnerships with brands like Royal Batch and Shutterstock, explaining how these collaborations can offer additional value to their listeners.

Heather [89:00]: "Royal Batch is by a company called Bakety Bake...Her website, click to order leads to the Jotform."

They emphasize the importance of selecting the right tools and partners that align with the bakery's goals and enhance operational efficiency.

Notable Quotes

• Heather [01:05]: "Smart Goals should push you. The problem is when the goals are so monstrous, it's hard to wrap your brain around them."

• Corrie [08:17]: "Consistency on social media is still too broad. Let's tighten it up two times per week. Let's tighten it up one platform."

• Heather [43:30]: "Each morning... you get points because it has goals for people."

• Corrie [82:00]: "If you're taking advantage of the sales day to have to pay back into the group or they kind of leave because they didn't want to pay back into the group."

Conclusion

Episode 193 of the "Baking it Down with Sugar Cookie Marketing 🍪" podcast offers a transformative approach to goal-setting for bakery business owners. By embracing "Smart Baby Goals," Heather and Corrie provide a roadmap to achieving consistent growth through small, manageable steps. From enhancing social media strategies to launching baking classes and fostering engaged communities, this episode is a treasure trove of actionable insights designed to help bakers thrive in their entrepreneurial endeavors.

For more detailed strategies and resources discussed in this episode, listeners are encouraged to join the Sugar Cookie Marketing Facebook group and explore the ongoing support offered through the podcast’s additional platforms.