The Innovation of Being Yourself

March 29, 2011 by 1 Comment

I have been reading lots of blogs over the past few days. In all that reading I have come to a conclusion. If someone is going to be unique as a business owner, they need to be innovative and that innovation needs to be the innovation of being yourself.

So much of what I read has to do with my specialties (social media and inbound marketing) and, to be honest, most of the posts I read are reworked versions of all the other posts. I know that there are basic truths that make any business model work, but the most important part of your business success is innovation not understanding business basics.

I just saw a twitter post a few minutes ago that quoted Seth Godin. The post said, “Excellence means you are indispensable. At least right now, in this moment, there’s no one else I would choose but you.” (#linchpin) You see my twitter friend as we as Seth believe that you and your abilities are what make you indispensable (I agree with them both!).

All things being equal, you make your business unique, your continued growth in both knowledge and skills lead you to innovative changes that keep you the “thought leader” for you and your clients or customers.

So, as I have read all weekend long, be yourself. Make your business about how you can uniquely and innovatively provide your clients/customers what they cannot find anywhere but with you! This is what the innovation of being yourself really means.

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Your Business, Your Vision, Your Success

March 28, 2011 by 2 Comments

I just had an interesting event occur in my life. I was reading a great book by Mark Schaefer. While enjoying Mark’s engaging style, I had a question about how to get the blogging elite to pay attention to a new blogger like myself. So, I decided to email Mark and see if he would share some wisdom with me.

I was not surprised when he responded, but I was surprised when he said he wanted to turn my question into a post on his {grow} Blog. I was honored by his kindness, but was very surprised by his answer (surprised in a good way!)

The take away I got from his post was that in order to make your way in the business of business (especially on the internet) that you had to build your business based on your vision to create your own success. In the end people will pay attention to those who are living from the point of passion, not just parroting the A-listers and their mantras.

WOW – what a freeing lesson! I am a free-spirit by nature and to know that others believe business success can come by being just who I am is powerful to say the least. Powerful for me, but powerful for every budding entrepreneur, every small business, and everyone looking at a business start-up.

What turns your crank? What skills do you have that can be marketed and that can benefit a customer or client? What uniqueness sets you apart from the rest of the crowd? How can you use your “you” to create a business “one person at a time?” Remember, its your business, your vision, your success!

Learn the art of innovation and make it your business mantra!

By the way Mark’s book is called, “The Tao of Twitter” (affiliate link) and is truly a great read!

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Innovation, Risk, and Business Success

March 26, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I am getting bored! I have been reading all the blogs, books, and watching videos on the subjects of business success, social media and inbound marketing for the past couple years and it seems everyone is saying the same things. While I understand that the basics of these key areas are fairly standard, what I also know is that the explosively successful are the most innovative.

Facebook, Twitter, Zappos, and Netflix are among the most creative companies on the globe. Their innovative was of doing things are legendary and have raised the bar. Of course no conversation in innovation would be complete without considering the creative genius of Apple.

Now I understand that with innovation comes higher risks but there is a risk that also exists in just copying everyone else or doing what you have always done because you have always done it that way.

In this fast paced world, with changes occurring in the way people collect information, research products, and make buying decisions, being just like everyone else will get you a much small market share than if you think innovation, takes risks, and build business success. You need to embrace your inner Steve Jobs, or Tony Hsieh, or better yet your innovative you!

Over the next few weeks I am going to talk about innovation and how can effect every part of business success. I hope that it will spark your thinking, stir you innovative juices, and bring you greater success in all your business ventures.

Talk more later ….

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Twitter for Customer Service

March 25, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Today I want to continue my discussion of the use of Twitter in your local businesses. In this article I want to talk about how you can use Twitter as a tool to increase the efficiency of your customer service.

The most effective way to use Twitter for customer service is to set up a search for your company’s name and watch for any tweets, either positive or negative. This search allows for you to know what people are saying, but more importantly to respond able to respond to their needs/concerns quickly.

I think that Starbuck’s is one of the companies that uses Twitter a well as any company. While they are not a local company, there are many things that we can learn from their social interaction with their customers and the fact that Starbuck’s customers now know that if they tweet, Starbuck’s will respond.

Other local companies use Twitter to listen for questions that people have about products/services they sell, to provide access to the information that they have about those products/services, and to help resolve issues that other companies may not have handled well.

Much can be done to improve your customer service by the effective use of Twitter. If you learn to use it for this purpose your company will be better for it!

Talk more later ….

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Twitter for Local Businesses

March 24, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I was having a cup of coffee today with a new friend. We were talking about social media strategies for local businesses when she asked, “How do you answer someone who says, I don’t need to use Twitter, because I don’t care where people are going for coffee in the morning.” (Or something quiet similar)

You know, that was a great question.  Here are three quick suggestions:

1. Create “Twitter-only” specials. Take some time with your current client-base and let them know that you are going to begin to use Twitter. Then tell them that if they will follow you, that you will have regular specials/discounts posted on Twitter that only your followers will be able to take advantage of. Then ask them to spread the word to others they follow as well (retweet).

2. Use Twitter to ask your current clients/customers questions about what they like about your business and ask for suggestions about how you could improve things. (Don’t be afraid of your customer’s opinions, they can be very valuable!) When your customers see that you are listening to them and even taking their suggestions, they will be more loyal than ever.

3. Use Twitter to bring new information about your products and services to the attention of your followers. If you are getting something new that will help make your clients experience with your company better, tweet it! If you read an interesting article that will benefit your clients, tweet about it! If you write a new blog post, tweet it!

These are just three quick ideas that will begin your journey into the exciting world of Twitter. If you would like to know more, you might want to take a look at Mark Schaefer’s new book, “The Tao of Twitter” (affiliate link). You can order the book or download it to your Kindle reader. Either way it is a great read!

Twitter is a great tool, don’t overlook it

Filed Under: Local Business Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Blogging for Inbound Marketing Success

March 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment

A lot has been said over the past couple years about blogging and how it can lead to success and business growth. However, the truth is that most blogs as well as most social media strategies don’t work in bringing more sales to solo-entrepreneurs and small businesses.

I think that the biggest reason for this fact is that these very small businesses don’t think they have the time, or the resources to create solid inbound marketing success. They create a blog because they are told that they need to have one. Then after it becomes hard work keeping it up or they just get busy with meeting the day to day needs of their business, they bail on the whole “blogging thing.”

Here are my thoughts about solo-entrepreneurs and small businesses blogging in order to create a solid use of social media for inbound marketing success:

1. Decide that you want to blog. If you get into blogging because someone told you that it would bring you leads and sales and not because you want to be a thought leader for your clients/customers, don’t start! You will get tired of all the work it takes and in the end you will damage your brand rather than strengthen it.

2. Decide what you want to write about. I know that most of the blogging “gurus” will tell you that you need to write about what interests your clients. While, to some degree that is true, if you are not also passionate about what you write it will show in your writing and your blog will be booring! If you don’t have a passion about helping your clients, your blog will be the least of your business woes.

3. Create original content. Even if your blog is primarily a review site, make those reviews yours. There is too much “near-plagiarism” in the blogging world. Too much warmed over content. Too many “me too” articles. Be yourself and teach what you know and what you think. Original content is like a breath of fresh air!

When you learn to blog this way, you will gain more consistent readers. These readers will comment more and answer your calls to action more, and in the end, buy more. They win with great content and you win with more sales.

Filed Under: Blogging, Inbound Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Springtime and New Life for Local Businesses

March 21, 2011 by Leave a Comment

I’m sitting on my deck this afternoon, thankful for the warmer weather and the sunshine. As I have been enjoying the weather, I have thought about the idea of springtime and new life for local businesses.

Every year warm weather addicts and businesses alike look to the spring time to think of all things new. For the warm weather people they think in terms of outdoor activities that bring them pleasure and for local businesses it is a time to shake off the “post-Christmas” blues and see new life take shape in all aspects of their businesses.

I think the warm weather reminds us about three things that all business owners would do well to remember:

1. Everything in life works in cycles. These past few years have seemed to be a long and very cold winter for many local businesses. Some are even at the point of seriously considering whether to go on or to just close down. This sentiment is real and if left to itself can choke off any new life that might be waiting just under the surface. But, hope abounds in the springtime. Just as new life pushes up from the cold ground, with the right training and encouragement, you can see new life push up in your business as well.

2. New life takes nurturing and cultivation. Every spring my wife gets out into the flower bed and begins to work with the new shoots that make their way to the surface in the spring. She digs around the new plants, she makes sure they have food and water, she nurtures these plants and makes sure that they have the greatest option to grow and bloom. With the end of the winter business season, now is the time for nurturing and cultivating the new ideas that are pressing into your conscious mind.

3. Making the right decisions in the springtime yield the greatest results throughout the remainder of the season. All the garden work done early produces the results that can last throughout the remainder of the year. Don’t let this time pass you by.

So … get outside, lift your face to the sun, look for the new opportunities that are poking their way into you mind. As a local business owner think about springtime and new life for local businesses.

Talk more later ….

Filed Under: Local Business Marketing Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Business Blogging, Branding, and Inbound Marketing

March 19, 2011 by Leave a Comment

While having a chance to just cruse around the net today. I came across an interesting question asked on one of my normal places to visit. The question was about blogging, branding, and inbound marketing which was very cool since that what this blog is about. Basically the question was, “If I don’t want to create my own blog can I just post add to or post comments to other blogs to create traffic and communicate my ideas?”

As I sought to answer his specific question, I decided maybe a few points on business blogging, branding, and inbound marketing would be beneficial to others as well. So ….

1. I don’t think that the idea of posting on other blogs as a way of building your brand won’t really provide you with the results you are looking for. It’s kind of like selling hamburgers in the parking lot of a McDonald’s.

2. I think that if you are really serious about your content a self-hosted blog protects your brand and identity better than a “free blog.” (Read Liz Strauss’ great article on this subject.)

3. Blogging/social media is a long-term build. When websites became inexpensive propositions, businesses jumped on the “website wagon” and statistics show that more than 90% do not generate enough income to cover their costs. Blogs are now taking over these same failure rates.

4. Just getting people to your site doesn’t necessarily create leads or sales. The blog gets you in the door with people, but what you offer beyond the blog is what creates the lead and makes the sale.

My point here is that if you just “put up a blog” without considering how it fits in your overall marketing strategy, you might rank among those who leave blogging quickly and with a bad taste in your mouth.

Hope this helps and as usual any comments are appreciated!

Filed Under: Inbound Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Successful Inbound Marketing Tips

March 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

In order to get found, create leads, and convert leads to customers, you must understand these three successful inbound marketing tips. When you put these tips into practice you can’t help become more and more successful.

Tip 1: Create a Successful Inbound Marketing Strategy

To engage in successful inbound marketing, you must begin with a strong and agressive strategy.

  1. This strategy must include a clear understanding about who you are writing to.
  2. You must also understand what your target market wants, needs, and is asking.
  3. Finally you need to know what you have to offer and make that easily available to your audience.

Tip 2: Consistently create original and valuable content.

Once you know what your audience is looking for and what you have to offer to meet their needs, you must create original and valuable content. This content must come on a regular basis. It must also provide your audience with your original thoughts rather than the parroting what someone else has already said.

And above all things the content must come in a consistent manner. Your audience needs to know that you really care about their success and that you are going to provide them a steady stream of valuable content to prove it.

A successful inbound marketer is someone who becomes a thought leader for his/her target audience.

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Tip 3: Keyword Research

In order to have a successful inbound marketing strategy you must understand and successfully use the most powerful keywords in your niche in order to be found. To find these keywords, you must be able to do a good job researching all the keywords and keyword phrases that make sense to your niche and then choose the ones most in demand by your audience.

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Offline Social Media for Local Businesses

March 14, 2011 by 6 Comments

One of the most difficult, and yet profitable aspects of an integrated marketing plan is the offline social media for local businesses. What I mean by this is how local companies promote their online social media efforts offline to their current customers. I recently saw a sign in a coffee shop that said “We have gone social!” Under this heading, the coffee shop proudly announced their Facebook and Twitter accounts.

It has been several months now since the big announcement and if you walked into that coffee shop today you would not know that they even owned a computer much less were active in the online community. This dilemma seems to affect many local businesses simply because they do not know how to incorporate their offline and online marketing efforts to produce inbound marketing results.

Let me offer three ideas that may help:

1. Once you establish an online presence, don’t abandon it if the results seem slow in coming! I know, I know we all want to see results within minutes of trying something new (after all the gurus say we can see results in “just one day!”). The truth is that like any kind of marketing effort, online marketing takes time to create and establish your brand.

2. Make your offline efforts things that will get people to find you online and will encourage them to engage in your online community. Offer “Twitter Only” discounts, post specials on you Facebook Fanpage, create short videos with corresponding offers on you blog, and make sure everything you use to market offline directs people online.

3. Follow your own online efforts closely and learn to respond to everything said about you and your business (good and bad) with kindness and an eye on the customer and their needs. There are many online campaigns that seem to be more about the company than about the customer. Online marketing is best done when the customer gets the spotlight. Your offline efforts should take on that same engaging, helpful, and “what can I do for you” philosophy.

Offline social media for local businesses will enhance everything that you do online and will bring the greatest long lasting results!

Filed Under: Local Business Marketing, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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