Archive for Marketing
What’s all the chatter?
Posted by: | CommentsOne of my favorite things about Twitter are the chat groups. On any given night, you can join dozens, or even hundreds, of other Twitterers in a lively discussion about a specific topic. Not only can you learn from others in the field, but you can establish yourself as a leader and expert while gaining new followers.
How does a Twitter chat work? The moderator of the group will post questions for everyone to tweet about during specific time. Everyone who participates in the chat tags their posts with the hashtag name of the group (i.e. #socialmedia). You can search for the group name and read all of the posts associated with the chat. You can even go back and read the transcripts of the chats if you miss it.
Here is a list of some of my favorite chat groups, along with the time they “meet.”
#4change: monthly discussion of using social media for social change (second Thursday of each month from 5-7 p.m. EST)
#blogchat: bettering your blog (every Sunday from 9-10 p.m. EST)
#brandchat: discussion between experts, strategists and those interested in learning more about personal branding and managing their personal brand (every Wednesday from 11 a.m.-12 p.m. EST)
Recession-Inspired Smart Changes to Your Business
Posted by: | CommentsI just want to be done hearing about – and living – this recession. All of the analogies, comparisons, sound bites, and talk. Most of the firms I know are getting down to business, marketing and focusing on their target market of prospects. But it is true that the recession is still here and there continues to be stories of businesses folding or becoming unrecognizable in terms of staff, clients and success. One of the most successful individuals I had the privilege to know was a top financial advisor for many years – one of the best in the nation. But the recession has been exceptionally hard on him. It causes a few conclusions and lessons: 1. Success is fleeting. 2. Change is necessary. 3. Testing new ideas is a critical task so that time/money is not wasted. 4. Having the right staff in place is critical in moving forward.
Ultimately, today we have to get more quantitative. If what we are doing is not getting tangible RESULTS, we have to make a change. Firms that have come through are doing a few things differently and better than ever before. Here are some of their smart and simple activities:
Six tips to creating a business that means something
Posted by: | CommentsStop a minute and think about the impact you have on your clients and the industry you serve. Are you presenting yourself as a leader in your field, full of great ideas and providing valuable resources to everyone who comes your way? Are you making a difference in the lives of the people you meet, either online or in person?
Sure, the goal of every business is to make money- we have bills to pay after all, but what if our goal was to make a difference in the lives of every person we meet, no matter if they are clients or not? What if we made such strong connections with those we “talk” to that they would miss us if we were gone?
Shouldn’t that be our ultimate goal?
Here are some tips to create a business of value and appreciation.
1. Be generous with your knowledge. Sharing real solutions to the problems facing your niche market is more than just a great marketing tool, it shows you care enough about your clients’ success that you are willing to help them for free. While some people may take advantage of your generosity, many will be impressed at your efforts and will remember your kindness when they are ready to hire someone.
Who is telling your story?
Posted by: | CommentsWhether you realize it or not, you are telling a story about your business in every thing you do. Question is, does that story accurately reflect who you are, what you do and the clients you serve?
Every page on your website, every sales letter, every elevator speech, even every tweet you send – all of these communications tell the world about your values, attitudes and personality. It is up to you to put forth consistent, accurate and positive messages that reinforce your business story.
So, how do you take control of your story and make it one that you can consistently utilize to brand your business and galvanize your message?
First, pull out all of your marketing tools- anything that a client or potential client sees. Print off your website and any other online tools you use to reach your audience. Take a look at what you are saying and answer the following questions.
The Business Case for Building a Flexible Work Culture- Series Part I
Posted by: | CommentsWhy do organizations offer flexibility? Business - Business- Business. Successful accomplishment of business strategy is the primary reason for building a flexible work culture.
The majority of our employees require flexibility at some point in their careers. Research increasingly points to flexibility as one of the most important career considerations of staff, emerging leaders and even our seasoned leaders. If we do not offer this flexibility in our organizations we will lose productivity in our top talent pool and we may lose this top talent completely to our competitors. In addition to flexibility as a requirement for top talent, consider the possibility that flexibility can actually improve your organizational results.
There are many definitions of flexibility. For the purposes of this discussion we are talking about any type of flexibility that allows team members to depart from the standard schedule of an early morning start time to an early evening departure, with all hours served as face time, either at a client/customer site or at the office location. There are many articles and books written regarding the types of flexible work arrangements available. This posting will not focus on the mechanics of the arrangements but the business case behind them.
Presentation skills are more than “talk”
Posted by: | CommentsCourageous leaders have an organic skill that shines above all else…Presentation Skills. The ability to engage others through presentation skills exercised daily through one-on-one conversations, group interactions and conference calls is more than just “talk”. To present effortlessly increases credibility, confidence and commands attention.
A skilled leader with presentation ability is one who can discuss topics 24-7. This leader likely is a subject matter expert, can engage in controversial topics and maintain a sense of calm. Presentation skills are fluid and can be changed midstream to support questions being asked.
So what does a skilled, credible leader with strong presentation ability look like behaviorally? Listed below are a few examples to help you identify a polished presenter.
1- You can answer questions ad hoc, in meetings, hallways, during one-on-one discussions and are seen as a confident subject matter expert.
2- Peers, bosses and subordinates come to rely on you as a person with an opinion, courage and perspective. People want to be on your team, involved in your projects and be associated with you as a brand.
The Most Effective Way to Improve Your Marketing
Posted by: | CommentsWe are just past the midpoint of the second quarter of 2010.
Are you on track?
Is your business showing the returns and growth that you want to see?
If not, consider changing your relationship with your marketing plan.
Work With A Written Marketing Plan
I’m assuming you have a marketing plan and that it is current. In other words that your marketing plan is in writing and that it was updated within the past 6 months to reflect current market conditions, opportunities and objectives.
If not, let’s start there. The most effective way to improve your marketing is to make a marketing plan and then follow it.
Why a marketing plan?
Your business needs sales for success and, ultimately, you need marketing to generate sales.
Unfortunately the business of doing business can take up so much time that marketing feels like an extra – an optional item to be squeezed in haphazardly when there is time.
A marketing plan completely reverses this dynamic.
A plan gives direction.
This makes your marketing organized and deliberate.
And ultimately more effective.
Track Your Marketing Efforts — and Results
More than ever, I am hearing top talent from various positions and industries express their discontent with lengthy interviews processes, poor recruiting etiquette and indecisive decision-making on behalf of companies. While we are still experiencing an employers market, the employer needs to regain focus and treat candidates with dignity and respect. Until that happens, taking control of managing your own brand and your employment satisfaction is the best gift you can give yourself.
Reportedly in recent studies that I have conducted from a cross-section of talent, candidates are going through as many as 8 and 9 interviews without any closure. Interestingly, this is happening in world-class coveted brands.
Privately owned companies seem to be gaining momentum in tapping into the lost art of candidate courting! One candidate reported dedicating as many as 35 hours interviewing for a position with a well known brand. This went on for 5 months. Ultimately, the company decided to go with an internal candidate. 35 hours is significant and nothing to sneeze at. Interesting enough, the candidate was NOT looking for employment and was approached by a recruiter. The bait and switch seems to be pervasive in recruiting today.
