The Business Rise of Facebook

December 15, 2010 by Leave a Comment

I was just listening on a webinar yesterday put on by a couple internet marketing heroes of mine from Australia (Ed Dale and Dan Raines). They were talking about the interest that they have been seeing in the past year in business pages on Facebook. They have themselves been experimenting with all that Facebook has to offer and have come to understand that there is great value in the Facebook business page (fan page).

That message didn’t really surprise me, but what did was their warning to everyone on the call. They warned the entire listening audience that great care should be taken in the way you use these pages. Too many people create fan pages and then just inundate those who “like” it with sales copy. They make their fan page nothing more than an online brochure.

Both Ed and Dan warned those listening that Facebook people are not looking for products to buy, but for knowledge to gain. Once again the relational nature of Facebook should always take precedence. Make sure that you don’t just sell, sell, sell. Rather, focus on teaching, educating, and providing real value. When you do this the sales will follow!

In the end both of these “marketing guys” said that they were going to commit significant time and energy to their Facebook fan pages in 2011. If you are smart you might want to shadow them and see where it leads you and your business! (You are also welcome to “like” my fan page by clicking here.)

Talk more later ….

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My Love for Local Business

December 6, 2010 by Leave a Comment

I had an experience this past weekend that reminded me again of my love for local business. I had a handle break on a sliding door. I needed to replace the part right away so I took the part to my area “big box” store. When I showed it to the store employee, she pointed me in the direction of the correct isle and then left me to myself.

Not finding the part at “big box” store #1, I got back in my car and headed to “big box” store #2. There the employee gave me a card with an 800 number on it to call the manufacturer to order the part. After that, I told my son, “Let’s go to the local hardware store, they might be able to help.”

When I walked in the store, I felt ashamed that I had not come there first. The reason you ask? I was greeted as soon as I walked into the store by two (yes two) smiling employees who asked what they could do for me. When I held up the broken part, one of these great employees took me right the bin where there were new one’s that I need. He even inspected the good parts and made suggestions about how I could secure the handle so that it would stay fixed!

I needed to pick up some screws and so I headed for that department and was “picked up” by another employee before I could even think to look for the screws on my own. He, along with two other employees, walked me over to the right bin and found the right screws for my part. They didn’t leave me until all I needed, I had. That’s local business know-how.

After I got to the car, I told my son, “You have just seen why we should shop local FIRST.” And as far I my shopping habits are concerned I will do just that!

In these times of financial struggles for so many local businesses, a lesson could be learned from this great hardware store. Pay close attention to your customers from the time they enter the store until they leave satisfied. This will set you apart from the national competition and create a loyal client base that will make your business strong and steady for years to come.

Talk more later ….

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The Art of Innovation

December 3, 2010 by Leave a Comment

We are living in some really difficult times. Even with the Christmas holiday ahead of us (a time that should bring joy and happiness), many people can’t help but wonder how they are going to make it through another year in the current economic climate. As I write this post, we don’t know what the tax situation is going to be or whether there is going to be money available to expand and grow their business.

I certainly don’t have all (or maybe even any) of the answers, but I do know that the most important thing we can do in our lives as well as our businesses is to learn the art of innovation. What I mean by this is that we have to learn to look at every situation not as they are but as they can be. We need to look beyond the struggles of a given day (or even year) and look for the best way to do things in the future.

Business owners have struggled this year and many are considering folding up their tents and heading home. My thought is that instead of folding up, let’s learn to think in ways that will bring changes and reestablish our passion for life, family, and business. Let’s look at the way to do things in new and more productive ways. Let’s find more efficient ways to spend our scarce resources. Let’s give our clients more attention and better service than ever before.

Innovation is the key to climbing out of our current situation. Every business owner and every employee needs to have the freedom to think freely and to bring about positive, innovative change. When we become innovative thinkers and when we put these innovations to practice in our businesses we can come out ahead in the year to come.

Keep your head up and your mind active!

Talk more later ….

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