Posts Tagged social media
The entrepreneur’s tool box: is your ‘on’ turning people ‘off’?
Posted by LoisMarketing in Sales/Marketing/Public Relations on January 19, 2011
It was interesting to read tweets and Facebook posts over the holidays and immediately after the new year as friends and associates were doing a bit of “winter cleaning” to unfollow and unfriend social media contacts. It seems many want to make social media real and genuine again. I applaud this. We all should.
Through social media I have made new friends, engaged many associates, and won business opportunities and referrals along the way. What’s more, I have been able to connect, introduce and recommend friends and associates. There is an amazing community out there — but there is also the need for balance.
In reviewing various applications used to “filter”, “clear” and “unfollow” I have come to see the uses of social media that are considered turn-offs. How can you remain real, relevant and valuable?
1. Engage. Remember that social media is just that — SOCIAL. Your RSS feed and auto-tweets of the greatest way to add Twitter followers, your magic night cream, or endless links to your blog will not win you followers, much less true friends and re-tweeters. Give it a rest already. Instead, give value. Consider others. Consider what you can do for them.
2. Manage. Consider the time you spend on Twitter and Facebook as well as on Foursquare. iPhone and Android users, followers do not care to know where you are having breakfast or filling the car with gasoline. Your use of Foursquare and related apps should be managed most of all. If you are checking in at WalMart or SafeWay during your “golden hours” on Wednesday afternoon they will suddenly care and start to wonder. Remember that many are watching, reading — and taking note.
Savvy Twitter users, you may preschedule tweets throughout the day. Good — but maybe not-so-good? Some may wonder why you are on Twitter all the time. Scale back and add meaning. Keep your following engaged and informed with a few pre-scheduled tweets but also take time during the week to chat live.
3. Advance. Beyond endless “twercials” about yourself and your company, beyond endless “likes” of your friends’ Facebook statuses and endless chatter on Twitter, make REAL connections. There is a wonderful thing called Skype. Go face-to-face and voice-to-voice with contacts. More than discovering how they can help you, call and chat and discover how you can help them. Meet local contacts for coffee and true conversation. Traveling for business in a distant city? Meet online friends in real life. Don’t depend on “official” TweetUps, MeetUps and other events. Create your own. Take the conversation offline and into real time one-to-one.
The secret to success with social media? Be real when you are in the midst of it and become real outside of it. Take the first steps to connect. Really connect.
Don’t show up too often. But when you show up, show up. THAT is the secret to success in your social media world.
The entrepreneur’s tool box: finding your community in social media
Posted by LoisMarketing in Sales/Marketing/Public Relations on December 2, 2010
Welcome to my blog, #kaizenblog friends! This Friday, December 3, I will be the special guest of Elli St. George Godfrey during the #kaizenblog chat on Twitter from noon to 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. This post is a preview of the topic, “Ideas from ‘Formula 1 Friends’: Finding Your Community in Social Media”.
From Skype to instant messaging, Twitter, Facebook, texting, phoning and email, people anywhere and everywhere can be in immediate touch with each other. In many ways the world seems to shrink smaller and smaller. At the same time, the ability to reach so many can be overwhelming and make the world seem larger, broader and more diverse than ever.
So how do you and your business find your place in social media? How do you make the most of the incredible marketing and communication resources that are literally at your fingertips?
Consider the times you have driven along the interstate paying little or no attention to billboards – but when needs arise you’re glad to see a sign that a service station is just ahead, there’s a great price for dinner for the hungry kids, or a motel at the next exit offers a reasonable rate for a night’s stay.
Businesses’ Facebook posts and Tweets join other advertisements as “billboards” along the information superhighway. For the most part, they flow along on your home page or in your live feed – until “the” message, product or offer grabs your attention.
Just as with billboards and display ads, there is an advantage to being there with your message at the right time. But rather than depending on hit-or-miss broad reaches, consider how you can reach the most people with the highest interest in or need for your products or services. Discover your community.
More than targeting your message you’ll connect with new friends, associates and referral sources as never before. Consider the community of #kaizenblog. How we are getting to know each other, discovering areas of expertise and specialization and becoming good resources for each other. Translate this to other social media communities that can help you grow your business – and develop personally.
Do you have experience working in a certain industry? Or do you wish to expand your offerings to a certain type of business or geographical location? Seek out and spend time developing contacts in these specific areas. Facebook and Twitter lists along with LinkedIn categories make these communities easy to manage.
Your communities do not have to be focused only around business. Consider a shared interest, sport or hobby. Just as our #kaizenblog topic for this week will demonstrate, a non-business interest can be the strongest tie of all. About two years ago, I began using Twitter and other social media to promote one of my clients, a motorsports team and their two young drivers. We quickly found social media to be a great source for new fans as well as key contacts among potential sponsors, race series managers and journalists. This first group has developed, deepened and strengthened into my favorite community – my “Formula 1 Friends”. Not only do we enjoy chatting about our favorite motorsport but we’ve come to know each other personally and professionally. Along with forming new friendships and alliances, my clients and I have won new business opportunities – and others in the “F1F” community have done the same.
So who would you like to reach and really get to know? Is there a community that suits you – or would you like to create one? Thinking outside of business and outside of the box, what interests or hobbies would you like to share and explore with others? Have you found a strong community of friends and allies? What are your success stories?
Community. It’s a powerful concept. I look forward to comparing notes and sharing ideas with you tomorrow during the #kaizenblog chat!
The entrepreneur’s tool box: from internet to “intranet”
Posted by LoisMarketing in Sales/Marketing/Public Relations on October 12, 2010
Before you click past this post, I promise it is not technical! Far be it from me to try to be technical — ha! Instead I would like to share some ideas about utilizing the most valuable network we have at our disposal — each other.
We are all familiar with the saying, “No man is an island”. At times I am sure each of us as a solo-preneur or small business owner feels that we are an island, surrounded on all sides by waves of decisions, responsibiities — and an occasional “shark” or two. Let’s not forget that an understanding friiend, associate or peer is only a phone call, e-mail or message away. Rather than as productivity killers, we should approach social media and the Internet as productivity builders.
I often see great examples of collaboration between my sister and her associates via the social network FriendFeed. Laura is an archivist for a university library system and has developed a network of fellow librarians and archivists literally around the world. On occasion they will reach out to each other for ideas and help — and even to ask opinions about articles and presentations they are writing. Amid the responses are a joke or two to brighten the day and there is always helpful information and support — and a sense that each person enjoys the opportunity to share and appreciates the opportunity to advise and be a resource.
Sometimes we need to set aside time for a phone call or meeting to discuss and sort through a problem with an associate. But many times a simple e-mail, message or tweet can point us in the right direction or give us a fresh idea or perspective. So the next time you are endlessly searching for that particular article, fumbling for just the right word, trying to choose between this color and that one, remember your “intranet” of peers. Make that quick phone call or send a quick message. In turn be available as a resource or sounding board yourself.
As you reach out and respond, always remember to value another’s time as well as your own. Then watch your productivity soar, your reputation grow and your network broaden and deepen.
Don’t you just love the Internet?
The entrepreneur’s tool box: another secret for success with Twitter
Posted by LoisMarketing in Sales/Marketing/Public Relations on September 22, 2010
Today I am declaring an end to auto-DMs (direct messages) on Twitter.
Or at least I wish I could.
At the same time we should end auto-responses and auto-responders of all types. With the exception of your automated vacation and holiday e-mail messages. We’ll forgive them. Hopefully they mean that you are truly on vacation and not checking e-mail. Hopefully!
New friends and followers on Twitter and in other social media should be warmly welcomed and genuinely appreciated. Take time to send a personal direct message to thank them. Treat them just as you would someone inquiring about your company or service by phone, note or e-mail.
Make a real connection and begin forging a relationship. Think about how you are impressed you would be to receive such a message and invitation. Regsrdless of how many followers and fans you may win in a day, there’s always time to thank them.
And if your following and fan base are growing rapidly, that’s all the more reason to take time to say thank you and hello one-to-one. If you are gaining followers, you’re obviously doing something right to win their interest. Now take it to the next level. Develop it and keep it.
Formula for success: never be busy
Posted by LoisMarketing in Sales/Marketing/Public Relations on August 30, 2010
This thought was echoed by a Twitter friend yesterday in his blog post. He brought up a great point: Rather than saying “I’m busy now” or “I am very busy this week”, take time to acknowledge a contact. If you have a legitimate reason to delay, explain why you cannot readily respond and arrange a time to speak with the person. Very good advice.
His post caused me to think about my impressions of the word “busy”. The first image that comes to my mind is the busy bee going from flower to flower to flower. Important and vital in the bee and flower world, but is buzzing around helping or hurting your business?
Two or three years ago there was the wave of interest in the “Crazy Busy” phenomenon. How so-called “Crazy Busy” executives could better organize and prioritize their days and lives, be more effective leaders, rah rah, and rah. I cringed.
Because, for me, the idea of being busy has become fake and false in many instances. A smokescreen. If you are truly handling meaningful tasks and involved with your clients or customers, you don’t have time to comment or brag about it. Instead your energy is focused on them.
There’s never been a more important time to be truly productive and less “busy”. Not just for job and contract preservation.
There is real work to be done, real advice and help to be shared, real connections to be made, and real business to be won.
Consider what really counts — in your clients’ business then in yours. Don’t be a flittering and floundering single summer bee.
The entrepreneur’s tool box: so where in the world are you?
Posted by LoisMarketing in Sales/Marketing/Public Relations on August 23, 2010
… And where are you in adopting the latest social media? Are you checking in and checking out Foursquare, Gowalla, Whrrl, Loopt, BrightKite and Facebook Places?
Or do Whrrl and all of the others have you in a “whirl”?
As you may be concerned about privacy and users sharing “waaay too much information”, realize that location-based apps hold tremendous potential for businesses to promote themselves, offer special incentives and discounts, build a loyal following — and truly become the “go-to” places in their communities.
As a marketing advisor I find myself in a “whirl” as I watch the almost-daily evolution of social media and mobile communication. Over the weekend I stopped by one of my wireless provider’s stores to start the search for my next phone. As the sales representative demonstrated the latest-and-greatest iPhone and BlackBerry we enjoyed speculating about what the coming months will bring in phone design and apps.
After the introduction of Facebook Places last week, several friends asked me how to disable it. I told them that there were easy steps to do so, but … before they disabled it entirely they should learn about it and realize the app could have real value — literally dollars in their pockets.
As we think back through the introduction of the Internet, then email, then AOL and other chat, then the advent of social media, there have been privacy concerns and lots of reluctance with each step. With the evolution of online and mobile communication has come the evolution of privacy settings. They are there and they do have value. Use them but consider two things:
If you continue to cling to the side of the pool you’ll never learn to swim and you’ll miss all of the fun.
Plus the world is literally in the palm of your hand.
The entrepreneur’s tool box: is it time for a web ‘tune up’?
Posted by LoisMarketing in Sales/Marketing/Public Relations on August 3, 2010
As we all know, regular maintenance of vehicles greatly increases their performance, efficiency and longevity. Consider what a new set of “tires”, a few quarts of new “oil” and a fresh set of “spark plugs” could do for your company’s Internet presence and impact. Here are a few ideas to help you and your company regain traction and boost your mileage on the Information Superhighway.
Your website. Is it time for some fresh copy and new images? Could your logo and the overall look and navigation of your site use an update as well? Consider adding a new feature or two to drive traffic to — and back to — your site, such as a monthly e-newsletter, client feature page or photo album. Remember that your website is many prospects’ first stop and first impression of your company. Are you putting your best face forward?
Your Facebook page. Have you set up a page for your company in Facebook? Are you regularly adding new and helpful content to it? Have you invited your newest contacts to “like” and follow your page? Have you asked your friends to recommend your page to others? If you are a retailer, restaurant or service provider, or if you have a web-based business, make the most of Facebook. Keep your posts fresh and don’t forget special offers exclusively for your company’s Facebook friends!
Twitter. Are you effectively and consistently using Twitter? There are several helpful applications — such as TweetDeck, SocialOomph and Twaitter — waiting for you to discover them. Keep tweets lively, interesting and helpful and you’ll build and keep a wonderful and supportive following. Think of tweets as postcards, billboards and banner ads. Give quick and concise information, grab attention with a great tip, and be consistent. You’ll be amazed.
These are just a few items on your company’s web maintenance checklist. In follow-up posts we’ll take a look at new ideas for LinkedIn and your blog. Then I’ll introduce you to Foursquare.
Let me know if I can answer questions or guide you. “Happy Motoring”!
Formula for success: step away from the electronic device … please!
Posted by LoisMarketing in Sales/Marketing/Public Relations on July 28, 2010
Several days ago I wrote a post about picking up pen and paper, instead of electronic devices, such as iPhones, PDAs, laptops and PCs in order to more effectively and creatively think and then compile to-do lists and set priorities for each day.
I’m back today with a plea: PLEASE give these devices a rest, not just for creative thinking … but to give yourself a real break from them!
I wonder how some people survived and functioned before cell phones, BlueTooths (or “Teeth”? ha!), NetBooks and iPads. A friend noted that she had witnessed a guy doing cable rows and, of all things, bench presses in the gym with a cell phone cradled between his shoulder and ear!
In my work, I may spend numerous hours each day in front of the computer. I welcome and treasure downtime and the blocks of hours I can turn off the computer and cell phone for private time and for time with my friends and family. I hope that you take breaks as well. If you do not, or if you find the need to be “connected at all times” too tempting, here are some ideas to consider.
Start your day with a quiet time for prayer or meditation and reading. Escape the trap of starting your day by firing up the computer or turning on the PDA and checking Twitter, Facebook and e-mail. Begin your day with healthy thoughts, readings and prayer for your soul and mind, then a healthy breakfast. If possible, don’t turn on your computer or phone until you get to your office. Focus on family time and your personal time in the mornings and continue that as you drive to work. Which leads me to my second tip ….
Do not talk on your cell phone while driving. Numerous police reports and studies support the fact that distracted drivers cause an inordinate number of crashes — and injuries — year after year. When you are driving, focus on driving. If you must call or respond to a call, park in a safe area then pick up your phone. Another thing to consider is that a silent cell phone will allow you yet another “breather” in your day.
Check your e-mail as infrequently as possible. A friend of mine who is a very successful business owner checks her email twice a day, at the beginning of her day and at 4:00 p.m. Her discipline has paid great dividends, not only in the growth of her company but in how she is able to manage customer communications — and expectations. We might all benefit by managing what is truly urgent in our businesses and lives.
Do not surf the Internet during your “golden hours”. If a news item grabs your interest or you would like more information on a topic, add it to your to-do list and consider its priority. Are you and your business best served by researching it immediately or by looking into it during the time you are planning or wrapping up your workday?
Watch for the “minimized” distractions on your desktop. Are you prone to keeping numerous websites open in order to follow news, sports and your favorite social media sites? Do your mind and mouse wander to these sites too often, affecting your time management and concentration? Is this another habit you should break? Consider managing visits to news and other sites just as you should manage checking e-mail, only as often as needed.
Turn off your workday, and turn off everything else. Rest, relax and give your full attention to your personal and family time. Just as my friend noted, for heaven’s sake don’t take the cell phone into the gym. If it takes a few more minutes, or perhaps even an extra hour, to wrap up your work day, take them. Then turn off your computer, turn off your cell phone, close your office, go home and truly be with your friends and family.
Your friends and family will thank you. And, most of all, you will thank you!
The entrepreneur’s tool box: the publicity “jewels” in your business
Posted by LoisMarketing in Sales/Marketing/Public Relations on July 22, 2010
As business owners and managers we can become so focused on day-to-day operations and monthly sales figures that we may overlook great opportunities to promote our companies outside the “usual” advertising and association affiliations. Businesses of any size or scope will benefit from effective public relations to showcase their services — and their people. Here are a few ideas.
Trade and general business publications.Have you and your staff streamlined your operations? Have you or one of your managers developed an area of expertise? Do you have other ideas that can benefit your peers? Submit an article or offer an interview for your industry’s publications or websites. Is your company marking an anniversary or other milestone? Has a sales representative or other staff won an award or special recognition? Submit a press release and photo to local business magazines as well as newspapers. Editors of these publications will welcome your fresh approach and content.
Community and civic service projects.Do you have a heart for a particular not-for-profit organization or charity? Do your staff volunteer in organzations that could benefit from your company’s support? Remember that volunteering is first and foremost about service — but the personal rewards for you and your team as well as the recognition and appreciation your company will receive can be immeasurable. Consider following the lead of larger companies and set aside one workday a month, or perhaps several throughout the year, for you and your staff to conduct a service project. There are many organizations that can use your hands-on support as well as financial contributions. They will benefit — and your company will benefit. Follow up by sending press releases and photos to local media that showcase your team and the project as well as the organization you assisted.
As you celebrate achievements and contribute to your community, share the news! And do not forget to spread the word through “your” media as well — email to customers, your company newsletter, your Facebook company page, Twitter, your website and your blog.
The entrepreneur’s tool box: a secret for success with LinkedIn
Posted by LoisMarketing in Sales/Marketing/Public Relations on June 2, 2010
As I train and advise business owners and managers in using social media, I continue to see where the most misunderstood and misused medium may be LinkedIn. Remember that you should treat your LinkedIn profile and interactions just as you would a resume’ and cover letter. Keep your profile clean, crisp and up-to-date and present your best image — just as you would for an interview or introduction to a key business opportunity.
Because that is exactly what LinkedIn can mean for you. New opportunities and new clients.
With this in mind, think twice before publishing your entire Twitter feed into LinkedIn. Do you want a prospective customer or employer — or someone evaluating you or your company — to know when you are taking the dog for a walk or do not care for a finalist on “American Idol”? Of course not! Keep your Twitter stream in LinkedIn focused on business, professional and other appropriate matters. Use applications that allow you to filter tweets for LinkedIn or add the hashtag #in to a tweet to publish it in LinkedIn. Remember that Twitter can add a personal touch and encourage interaction with others. Just be careful and do not make it “too” personal. Manage the tweets you share and you will make the most of both Twitter and LinkedIn.
Last week, I met several professionals who actively use LinkedIn and are reaping the rewards of increased sales and referrals. I look forward to sharing their tips and success stories in future posts.
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