Fizzmation

We are finally in housing on the back in of the PCS! Here is the reverse of my list-making hack for cleaning out the kitchen-- post-it notes for pre-planning the new kitchen's cabinets. I've done this for three previous kitchens and have never had to reshuffle items after unpacking. Just attach the notes to the cabinets and drawers. Then while you wait for your HHG to arrive, run tests through the kitchen with the welcome kit or random cups and plates that you acquired mid-move. Move the notes as necessary for optimal flow. Then unpack and relax... At least in the kitchen.

Have you seen the new Gutenberg Editor for Wordpress? It is certainly a game-changer! Since it is time for a new Wordpress theme at fizzmation.com, I'm deciding whether to stick with the tried and true page builder or explore new frontiers with Gutenberg. Are you facing the same decision? This helpful article weighing out the options can help you make the right decision for your business. https://wpshout.com/should-you-use-a-gutenberg-optimized-theme/

Should You Use a Gutenberg-Optimized Theme? • WPShout The Gutenberg block editor has done more to turn the WordPress ecosystem on its head than anything in recent memory. And it has required both web

Systems to keep your team organized and on-top of the incoming leads are what keep all that effort from being wasted when hot prospects turn cold. For Girl Scouts, we started with a visual of where the leads would come from and what the steps were to convert them from interested to registered as new members. Then we built them a simple tracker in Google Sheets to quickly see who was in which stage of the funnel (Curious, Interested, and Committed) and what the next step was for the recruiting manager.

After you have an interest capture tool, you experience the best part of building a lead funnel--an email that you have your first lead! But what to say to them?? I recommend that you anticipate the joy and prevent the panic, and make your life easier for every lead after this!, by writing a template email. Include important information to keep the conversation going but also a NEXT STEP or a CALL TO ACTION to let them know how to proceed. For Girl Scouts, that is either signing up for a membership or emailing back with follow up questions. For your small business, it might be reading a blog post for more information or scheduling a free 30 minute consultation.

The most critical step in creating a lead funnel is the first one--capturing the leads that you have generated through your creative theme and engaging social media. Here is the simple Google Form that we created for GSO Lima to capture adults and girls who were interested in learning more.

Once you have the theme of what you are trying to say, you need to spread the word. Using a communication calendar, post scheduling, and great images are the secrets to a successful, (and free!) media campaign to find new members. Girl Scouts in Lima saw 20 girls and adults reach out for more information in just 3 weeks of promotions.

A great recruiting campaign is really just a great marketing campaign. Girl Scouts Overseas- Lima was looking for a theme they could use over several recruitment cycles but that also captured the energy, excitement, and learning opportunities in Girl Scouts. Here's what we gave them:

Check out the adorable recruiting items we created for Girl Scouts Overseas- Lima! They are templated and reusable for recruitment campaigns over the next few years to make life easier on the all-volunteer leadership team.

We are shifting into another moving season here at my house--this time ultimate boss-level COVID which creates its own challenges. Between wanting to use up the pantry items, avoiding trips to the grocery store, and hoarding in case the food supply chain had issues here in Peru, it's become critically important to use every last item in my kitchen. Enter the super low-tech but husband approved paper tracking system.
1. Write down every food-like item you have in your house. Don't forget your earthquake emergency kit or the secret snacks in your underwear drawer. Keep your lists sorted into broad categories. I like ingredients vs convenience foods.
2. Distribute the lists and sufficient pens throughout the kitchen. Produce and fridge/freezer lists go near those places. Pantry list near the pantry.
3. THE MOST IMPORTANT. Find a collection of easy, pantry-staple recipes and write down the name and page number for every tasty recipe that uses something you have on your list. Post this near your main pantry/ingredient list.
4. Use the recipe list to do your menu-planning for your weekly or 10-day grocery store run. Limit yourself to produce, dairy, meat, or other perishables. Add any new items to the lists.
5. As you use up items, celebratorily cross them off your lists! I like to do it as part of clean-up after making dinner.

That's it. It's weirdly rewarding to see the list shrink. You can see our original from two months ago and the new one now which is half the size. The recipe list keeps you focused and makes ordering take-out less tempting and the produce list keeps things from disappearing into the far reaches of your refrigerator. Even if you aren't moving, that's a good thing!

It's been a busy few months! Curious what Fizzmation has been up to? Helping the Girl Scouts of Lima, Peru create reusable content and continuous, easy processes for recruiting new girls and volunteers. Focusing on a digital campaign to reach the relatively small eligible audience (in a city of 10 million!), supplemented with word-of-mouth from current families, an incentive program for girls and adults to recruit their friends, and attending special events where we showcase how cool it is to be a Girl Scout. Yea, we have fun here!

Girl Scouts Overseas- Lima Bringing the Girl Scout experience to the expatriate and international school community of Lima, Peru, GSO Lima is the local organization of Girl Scouts USA. Join us at camp, service projects, badge workshops, day camp, & all the best parts of Girl Scouts

For those of you following along with this series because you also are in this , you know that post-trip, you have to report what you did, what you learned, and how you spent your money. One of my favorite aspects of the Trello board for itinerary planning is that you can easily convert it to a travel diary simply by moving the activity cards into and out of your schedule. No need to journal, agenda, or go through credit card statements to figure out what you did on your trip. And if you need to share a recommendation with a fellow traveler or FAO, you have your whole trip ready to reference. ((Part 5))

Here is another way to format a travel planning board on Trello, organized primarily by location and not by activity. You'll notice this board is almost blank! Life and fun-travel caught up with us and we ended up leaving for Rio with only our flights booked. We spent hours of our vacation looking up activities, debating the best options, and researching hotels. We'll have to try this board another time to really test it out. Or if you use this format, share in the comments what you found useful and what you would improve. ((Part 4))