We're here at the eve of another New Year, and this has been a good one, hasn't it?
I hope tonight you can be with people you love and cherish, and that you will be able to face tomorrow and all it brings with joy and peace, and with a determination to make those around you better and stronger in the New Year!
Have a safe and fun New Year's Eve, and a wonderfully prosperous 2010!
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
"I do with blog resolve..."
New Year.
2010.
I always felt like New Year's Day had its own special smell. Kind of the way a new car smells for the first couple of weeks. It's a fresh, optimistic quality that pervades the thinking of people across the globe. It's the concept on "new" that invigorates the soul and spurs action and self-motivation.
Even if it does only last until the second week of February.
We all make them. Those venerable and tradition-dictated self-promises that are so often poorly thought out and seldom achieved. It's an honorable tradition, this writing of resolutions. We ought to do it, we really should. It's so important to challenge ourselves to better achievements, greater accomplishments, and the attainment of our goals.
But where to begin? We often fall into the traps of poor goal-setting because of a lack of direction. And when we fail at what we have promised ourselves to do, we lose the motivation to strive toward that mark. It's a vicious cycle.
So I've thought of a few things that you can do in 2010 that will help you improve your business, better yourself, and build up those around you. Happy New Year!
1.) Make a list of things you want to accomplish in the next ten months.
Goals are the most important element of success. All the hard work and ingenuity and problem-solving in the world is useless if they are not being applied in the pursuit of a specific, measurable goal. So much time is wasted pursuing nothing because the object of the pursuit is never clearly and accurately defined.
Make a point of sitting down and writing a clear and concise list of the things you would like to accomplish or achieve in 2010. Use this time-honored acronym:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Time-Oriented
2.) Market yourself.
Economic times like those we face often scare people into omitting their most valuable tool for growth. Marketing. It is of utmost importance to be actively marketing your brand and product when the economy is down to maintain a stream of new income, however small. When the economy cycle comes around, you will have built-in income that will allow you to realize true, substantial growth, instead of rebuilding your base.
Do whatever your budget demands, but do something. Goto networking meetings. Build a social media profile. Buy a cheap website. Pass out flyers. Advertise on Craigslist. But do something consistently in 2010 to market your business.
3.) Track your work.
Often, people are unsure of where they are going because they do not know where they have been. Tracking your progress in any given area is essential to being able to move forward down the road. Whether it be your networking efforts, your web presence, or your outside sales initiatives, track your progress. Write down what you're doing and whether or not it works, and use real numbers. Don't just give a blanket "That didn't work out how I thought it would!" Give it real value, however small, so that you can compare it to something else later on.
4.) Help someone else.
People do business with those whom they know, like, and trust. They also happen to send business to the same people. If you do business by referral like we do, then you understand the importance of cultivating vibrant and active referral relationships. The very best way to do this is to find out what the people around you need. After you've done that, find a way to get it for them. You don't need to get paid for this, you shouldn't expect to. You're building a relationship of trust and mutual benefit that will pay huge dividends in the future.
Have a great New Year, and a prosperous 2010!
2010.
I always felt like New Year's Day had its own special smell. Kind of the way a new car smells for the first couple of weeks. It's a fresh, optimistic quality that pervades the thinking of people across the globe. It's the concept on "new" that invigorates the soul and spurs action and self-motivation.
Even if it does only last until the second week of February.
We all make them. Those venerable and tradition-dictated self-promises that are so often poorly thought out and seldom achieved. It's an honorable tradition, this writing of resolutions. We ought to do it, we really should. It's so important to challenge ourselves to better achievements, greater accomplishments, and the attainment of our goals.
But where to begin? We often fall into the traps of poor goal-setting because of a lack of direction. And when we fail at what we have promised ourselves to do, we lose the motivation to strive toward that mark. It's a vicious cycle.
So I've thought of a few things that you can do in 2010 that will help you improve your business, better yourself, and build up those around you. Happy New Year!
1.) Make a list of things you want to accomplish in the next ten months.
Goals are the most important element of success. All the hard work and ingenuity and problem-solving in the world is useless if they are not being applied in the pursuit of a specific, measurable goal. So much time is wasted pursuing nothing because the object of the pursuit is never clearly and accurately defined.
Make a point of sitting down and writing a clear and concise list of the things you would like to accomplish or achieve in 2010. Use this time-honored acronym:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Time-Oriented
2.) Market yourself.
Economic times like those we face often scare people into omitting their most valuable tool for growth. Marketing. It is of utmost importance to be actively marketing your brand and product when the economy is down to maintain a stream of new income, however small. When the economy cycle comes around, you will have built-in income that will allow you to realize true, substantial growth, instead of rebuilding your base.
Do whatever your budget demands, but do something. Goto networking meetings. Build a social media profile. Buy a cheap website. Pass out flyers. Advertise on Craigslist. But do something consistently in 2010 to market your business.
3.) Track your work.
Often, people are unsure of where they are going because they do not know where they have been. Tracking your progress in any given area is essential to being able to move forward down the road. Whether it be your networking efforts, your web presence, or your outside sales initiatives, track your progress. Write down what you're doing and whether or not it works, and use real numbers. Don't just give a blanket "That didn't work out how I thought it would!" Give it real value, however small, so that you can compare it to something else later on.
4.) Help someone else.
People do business with those whom they know, like, and trust. They also happen to send business to the same people. If you do business by referral like we do, then you understand the importance of cultivating vibrant and active referral relationships. The very best way to do this is to find out what the people around you need. After you've done that, find a way to get it for them. You don't need to get paid for this, you shouldn't expect to. You're building a relationship of trust and mutual benefit that will pay huge dividends in the future.
Have a great New Year, and a prosperous 2010!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas
I'm a firm believer in Christmas. I love the season, but more importantly, I love the spirit.
Christmas has always been, and always will be, about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As a Christian, I'm so thankful for His wonderful sacrifice on behalf of my sins. What a wonderful way to celebrate that gift!
So to you and yours, from my family to your family, and from my heart to your heart, enjoy this time of year however you choose to celebrate it, and have a wonderful, joy-filled, very merry Christmas.
Christmas has always been, and always will be, about the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. As a Christian, I'm so thankful for His wonderful sacrifice on behalf of my sins. What a wonderful way to celebrate that gift!
So to you and yours, from my family to your family, and from my heart to your heart, enjoy this time of year however you choose to celebrate it, and have a wonderful, joy-filled, very merry Christmas.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Season of Giving
This is my favorite time of the year. There is no contest. I love Thanksgiving, and I love the Thanksgiving feast. Easter is a special time for my Christian household. Valentine's Day is a special event for my wife and I. The 4th of July is great for the patriotic perspective. But, Christmas? Oh, Christmas. There is no comparison.
Gifts are such a staple of this time of year, and I have my personal gripes with commercialization and such. But it's a fun tradition, and I participate wholeheartedly. I make my lists months ahead of time. I plan and listen for hints about special holiday desires. I try to find out what they want so I can give it to them before they have the chance to ask. I love the look on the faces of loved ones when they tear off the wrapping and find that I've given them exactly what they were looking for.
There are a lot of similarities in customer service, but the core principle is the idea of "GIVE". Our brains are wired to think profit, gain, and revenue. We pursue the almighty black bottom line with fervor and gusto, giving little thought to the effect this pursuit may have on our brand reputation. We factor ROI will all the might we can muster, and we sell, sell, sell!
But what do we give? We assume the customer perceives innate value simply in purchasing a product, but do we demonstrate value in a relationship with us? Why should they buy this product from us the next time they are in the market, and not the next guy? Why should they tell their friends about us? Why should they blog about their experience with us, or update their Twitter with our link, or share their thoughts on our brand with their Facebook throng?
They won't, if we do not give.
People love gifts. It makes them feel special, valued, cared for, important. The exact qualities your customers crave from a relationship with your brand. And what better way to make them feel this way than to offer a measure of value simply because you appreciate doing business with them? I try to make my customers feel like it profitable for them to do business with me. I want them to feel as if they have gained something in knowing me and being associated with me.
There are many ways to do this. You can make yourself a resource for information. You can educate your customers without demanding they buy something from you. You can recognize when a competitor is a better fit and pass along the referral, knowing that the positive experience will benefit you more later on. There are so many ways to give, and all of them result in customers who see inherent value in being associated with you.
Merry Christmas.
Gifts are such a staple of this time of year, and I have my personal gripes with commercialization and such. But it's a fun tradition, and I participate wholeheartedly. I make my lists months ahead of time. I plan and listen for hints about special holiday desires. I try to find out what they want so I can give it to them before they have the chance to ask. I love the look on the faces of loved ones when they tear off the wrapping and find that I've given them exactly what they were looking for.
There are a lot of similarities in customer service, but the core principle is the idea of "GIVE". Our brains are wired to think profit, gain, and revenue. We pursue the almighty black bottom line with fervor and gusto, giving little thought to the effect this pursuit may have on our brand reputation. We factor ROI will all the might we can muster, and we sell, sell, sell!
But what do we give? We assume the customer perceives innate value simply in purchasing a product, but do we demonstrate value in a relationship with us? Why should they buy this product from us the next time they are in the market, and not the next guy? Why should they tell their friends about us? Why should they blog about their experience with us, or update their Twitter with our link, or share their thoughts on our brand with their Facebook throng?
They won't, if we do not give.
People love gifts. It makes them feel special, valued, cared for, important. The exact qualities your customers crave from a relationship with your brand. And what better way to make them feel this way than to offer a measure of value simply because you appreciate doing business with them? I try to make my customers feel like it profitable for them to do business with me. I want them to feel as if they have gained something in knowing me and being associated with me.
There are many ways to do this. You can make yourself a resource for information. You can educate your customers without demanding they buy something from you. You can recognize when a competitor is a better fit and pass along the referral, knowing that the positive experience will benefit you more later on. There are so many ways to give, and all of them result in customers who see inherent value in being associated with you.
Merry Christmas.
Monday, December 14, 2009
What works?
http://thesocialosophy.blogspot.com/2009/10/getting-back-what-you-have-in.htmlThere are so many questions swirling around the social media phenomenon lately. It's the proverbial new kid on the block (although, relatively, social media as a communication function has been in use for a while) and everyone wants to get in on the hype.
But what do we do with it once our Facebook pages are built and our Twitters are tweeting and our connections are growing? Where do we go? How do we know what is a viable course of action for what we want to accomplish? There are a lot of things out there that work and provide good results. While this is encouraging for the growth of the technology and innovation, it makes it difficult for us to narrow down what works, and what best practices are.
However, as with all things, there those principles that, when applied, will point you in the general direction that you need to go. Here are a couple of things that you can be doing right now as you figure out specifically where you want your social media strategy to be heading.
1.) Offer Value.
The people who will engage with you will do so because of what they receive in return. Simply telling your potential consumer base that you make the best widgets in town will not be reason enough for them to spend their money on your product. They are being told the same thing by every other widget maker on the block. But if they know that your widget Facebook page gets them great news on widget technology, offers them specials for being engaged with you, and provides them with unrelated content like X-Games videos and interesting swine flu articles, they will consider you a resource, and you will be the obvious choice for their next widget purchase.
2.) Ask for Engagement.
Good, quality content will generate organic engagement, all on its own. But the guy who sets up a hot dog stand and opens his newspaper will not do nearly as much business as the guy who opens his cart then pulls out a mega-phone and begins hollering about the virtue of his franks. Do not be afraid to ask people for feedback. Let them know that you want their opinions, questions, comments, and queries. They will respond in turn.
3.) Follow Through
If you are going to pull out your megaphone, be prepared for the onslaught, and decide ahead of time how you are going to respond to positive and negative feedback. Then respond. Leave no comment unanswered, no question unacknowledged, and no message unattended. Give people a return on their investment, and you'll see a Return on Engagement.
But what do we do with it once our Facebook pages are built and our Twitters are tweeting and our connections are growing? Where do we go? How do we know what is a viable course of action for what we want to accomplish? There are a lot of things out there that work and provide good results. While this is encouraging for the growth of the technology and innovation, it makes it difficult for us to narrow down what works, and what best practices are.
However, as with all things, there those principles that, when applied, will point you in the general direction that you need to go. Here are a couple of things that you can be doing right now as you figure out specifically where you want your social media strategy to be heading.
1.) Offer Value.
The people who will engage with you will do so because of what they receive in return. Simply telling your potential consumer base that you make the best widgets in town will not be reason enough for them to spend their money on your product. They are being told the same thing by every other widget maker on the block. But if they know that your widget Facebook page gets them great news on widget technology, offers them specials for being engaged with you, and provides them with unrelated content like X-Games videos and interesting swine flu articles, they will consider you a resource, and you will be the obvious choice for their next widget purchase.
2.) Ask for Engagement.
Good, quality content will generate organic engagement, all on its own. But the guy who sets up a hot dog stand and opens his newspaper will not do nearly as much business as the guy who opens his cart then pulls out a mega-phone and begins hollering about the virtue of his franks. Do not be afraid to ask people for feedback. Let them know that you want their opinions, questions, comments, and queries. They will respond in turn.
3.) Follow Through
If you are going to pull out your megaphone, be prepared for the onslaught, and decide ahead of time how you are going to respond to positive and negative feedback. Then respond. Leave no comment unanswered, no question unacknowledged, and no message unattended. Give people a return on their investment, and you'll see a Return on Engagement.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Set the Example
Ever watch a street performer? I lived just outside of Chicago for a year, and I spent a lot of time in the city. Uptown, on the north side of the city, just of Lakeshore Blvd., there were always a few street magicians, musicians, and assorted other performers, trying to peddle a few bucks from the passers-by. On a couple of occasions, I found myself on those streets early in the morning, as the would-be stars were setting up for the day. I noticed that they all had an interesting habit. They would set out there collection apparatus, whether it be a hat, an instrument case, a plastic bucket, and they would pull a few dollars out of their own pocket and toss it in. As I watched, people would come up to listen or watch, and, before throwing a little change or a few bucks in, they would look to see if there was any there already.
It's interesting how this phenomenon transfers to the world around us, and, particularly, to the world of social media and the virtual market. People are terrified of making poor choices. Often, that fear alone is not enough to deter bad decision-making, but the fear exists nonetheless. Perception is everything to most people, and the thought of contributing a few dollars to a performance that no one else enjoyed is anathema. So they check.
People behave the same way in today's social market. They check to see how others have reacted before they dive in with open wallets and checkbooks. If the sentiment is popular, they feel better about their investment. If it's not, they run scared. The street performers understood this, and they were proactive, investing a little of their own, to initiate a return from others.
We ought to be doing the same. If we are afraid to invest our own resources in what we are trying to sell, why would other people want to get on board. Talking about the virtue of charitable giving, and refusing to join the ranks of givers, come off more than a little disingenuous. Making claims about the incredible value of a particular investment, but not investing yourself, is outright hypocrisy.
People, for the most part are followers. Sales, in any market, is leadership. You can't "boss" people into buying and expect to be successful. That is the reason so many car salesmen have such terrible reputations. You have to lead them to a decision. Leadership is example. Showing them the way, the ups and downs, the benefits and detractors, and showing them through actual performance, gives them the peace of mind that those street spectators look for when peering into a plastic bucket or guitar case.
How do you sell by example?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
