Tired of all the “gurus”!

November 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment

When I first started blogging and working in the area of social media, I read everything that the “gurus” were saying about social media and how to get noticed online.

After several years of reading and following these “gurus” I have come to the conclusion that I am tired of all the “gurus”! It seems that, for the most part, they are self-serving and only want to sell their wares. I’m not opposed to “selling your wares” as long as they have real value to individual clients. I struggle with so many people calling themselves “gurus” when all they have done is “parrot” what everyone else is saying.

For we Boomers who are looking for ways to reinvent retirement, these “gurus” can hook us early and we end up trying to create businesses that look like everyone else. These bland and unimaginative businesses fail as often as the averages suggest. And the “gurus” just keep on “teaching” the same worn ideas to another set of honest, hard-working people.

What Boomers need as they consider creating retirement businesses is for those who would be business/life coaches to consider them first. To help them think through and investigate what they want and how they want to do things. They don’t need “gurus” teaching tired systems, but rather they need honest people looking to help them find the business that makes their retirement years all that they have hoped for them to be.

So, if you are tired of all the “gurus” then take time to look for the right help that will help you help you reinvent retirement in the way that makes the best sense to you!

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Filed Under: Boomers Helping Boomers, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Changing the Face of Business

October 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment

One of the most difficult things for me to do is to change! I enjoy my routine. Yet, I have also come to understand that without change there is no growth and without growth there is stagnation. (Not a good word for a successful business!) So, I set out to change, to learn, to grow no matter how hard it seems to be.

However, I don’t want to do all this changing and growing alone, so I have come up with a little experiment that I want others to join with me. The experiment involves changing the face of business as we know it. I am speaking particularly about how business is conducted in the online, social media world.

When the business community invaded the online world and specifically the world of social media, we did so with the same bluster and bravado (and junk mail I might add) as our entrance into all other types of media. Suddenly every email, every website, every blog post, every tweet was an advertisement for some product and/or service that I didn’t know I wanted or needed.

Businesses are being swept into such tactics by the promise of a worldwide audience and the thought that if just .01% of all their posts become sales then they would be rich beyond imagination. So the posts come, the tweets are made and the email offers are non-stop. It is so bad now that I am ready to shut it all off and actually talk to my clients in person again (what a concept!)

Thinking about this makes my head spin! So, I have decided to do an experiment. The goal of this experiment is “changing the face of business.” The way that the experiment works is that I want to establish a business relationship (more about what that means later) with 100 people. This relationship will be one of mutual respect, and one of mutual benefit, driven by the sense of value that such a relationship can bring to all involved. I am not looking for people who necessarily want to sell me something, but want to know who you are, what you do, and how you bring value to your customers/clients. I want to share my value with you as well. Then, if we need something from the other, we would certainly feel comfortable hiring the other and/or recommending each other to our spheres of influence. No pressure, no hype, and no more quotes from dead people just to fill our twitter stream (my pet peeve!)

If this is something that might strike your fancy, you can check out my new twitter account @dwellmanonline. It is a social/business place where I talk business, root for the Cardinals, and talk with my business partners. This experiment will last as long as it has value to all involved. If you get too salesy I will let you know, if I get too salesy please let me know (PM’s please, not news stream flaming.)

In the end, I hope to find that changing the face of business is not only possible but also rewarding personally and professionally!

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

YouTube Scares Me!

October 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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The second largest search tool on the internet is YouTube and yet most businesses don’t even have a YouTube Channel. When asked why, people say things like “YouTube scares me – or – I don’t want to be on a video – YouTube isn’t for serious businesses!”

The truth of the matter is that as businesses we need to get past things like this and embrace the possibilities that video offers. Getting found online involves making use of every avenue available. With a computer, a video camera, and a free YouTube account (along with a relatively short learning curve) you can make yourself known in this area of the internet world as well.

Let me try and help you with five thoughts about using YouTube to make your online presence soar:

  1. YouTube makes it easy to create, upload, and promote your videos. The process is very simple and if you are at all creative it can be fun as well! I have a friend online who says that he does all his videos in one take and no editing. It can certainly be that simple and should be (at least in the beginning.)
  2. Do a search on YouTube for the name of your industry (Real Estate, Insurance, Speakers, Car Sales, etc.) See what shows up and watch these videos. You will notice that most of the are not professionally done and that they are getting views anyway. You will also find that nearly every industry has people making videos. People searching online for your industry will likely find these folks before they find you.
  3. Study the videos that are industry specific and find out what is being said, what is being taught, what is being done badly and then improve upon them or create innovations that will set yourself apart from them.
  4. Don’t be discouraged. Just like everything in social media, it takes time to be recognized. Stay at it, set a schedule and make videos. As people begin to watch, your message will be heard and you will gain position in your industry.
  5. Make your first video!

 

Don’t let “YouTube scares me!” be your excuse to keep you from one of the most powerful tools available to you?

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Filed Under: Social Media, YouTube Tagged With: , , , , ,

Tell the Truth and Tell it Fast!

October 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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I watched a great interview done by one of the men that I respect most online (Mark Schaefer). Mark was interviewing Amy Howell of Howell Marketing Strategies. (See the interview here!) Mark and Amy were talking about the changes that have occurred in the world of Public Relations with the onset of social media. The point that struck me the most was that Amy said because of the speed at which things occur online these days you, as a business owner must, “tell the truth and tell it fast!”

I couldn’t agree more with Amy’s assessment of the online business climate. Tell the truth and tell it fast ought to be a mantra that is driven home in every business small, medium, or large in our world today. Not only does this kind of transparency avert bigger problems down the road, but it also helps you become more real to your clients today.

There are three things that make telling the truth and telling it quickly stand out to me (and I would suspect to a lot of others as well):

  1. Telling the truth in a crisis acknowledges your humanity and your fallibility. I have worked with businesses in the past who, for whatever reason, would not acknowledge an error when it was obvious that one had occurred. (Several auto repair shops will go unnamed at this time!)
  2. Telling the truth, quickly shows clients that you are on top of your business and that your companies reputation is important to you. This level of importance gives current and prospective clients the confidence that you will do all that is necessary to protect your reputation by protecting theirs as well.
  3. Telling the truth, even when you are to blame, makes it difficult for even your staunchest critic to cause long-term damage to you or your company. While every mistake causes short term damage to a client and/or those that they can influence, acknowledging the mistake and fixing the problem can also make for loyal customers and a life-time of referrals from someone who could have been a critic for life.

 

My thanks again to Mark Schaefer and Amy Howell for stirring my thoughts with this great interview. You can follow Mark (@markwschaefer) on Amy (@howellmarketing) on Twitter.

What do you think about this kind of transparency? Has it helped your business in the past? What do you think now?

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

All Blogged Out – Getting Your Blog Read Amidst the Noise!

September 30, 2011 by 4 Comments
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I was talking with a friend the other day about the way social media was going. I was speaking from the perspective of someone who see social media as an essential and exciting tool for doing business, she from the perspective of someone who is inundated with blog posts and social media sales pitches to the point that she is tired of them all. In this conversation, my friend told me that she was all blogged out!

The truth is that my friend is right! Everyone has a blog these days and businesses with the proper view of blogging and who have taken the right approach are being drowned out by the plaid panted, white shoe wearing, snake oil salesmen who have discovered social media. The influx of these folks has turned many an interested blog reader into an uninterested blog hater. The are simply all blogged out.

So, how does a blogger with the right intentions (producing real and valuable content, asking real questions, and engaging their clients in the processes of innovation and improvement) create and grow the readership of their blog in the midst of all the noise?

Three quick thoughts:

  1. Be true to your business and its purpose. Too many blogs these days build readership with wild claims and crazy ideas that rarely if ever create lasting results. Your blog should be built just like any successful business platform: Satisfied customers who know you, like you, and refer you to their friends!
  2. Build your readership organically. This is simply the best way to guarantee a solid and continual readership. As you gain the respect of your audience with good articles that set you apart as a true thought leader in your field, they will begin to pass your good information and advice on to those who they influence as well. People sharing your content has a far greater effect than if you try to force it down someone’s throat.
  3. Build a level of consistency that people can count on. When you start blogging, the question of when and how often to blog is always a question that you must answer. While the answer is based on many factors, you must determine what is going to work for you and your customers and then stick to it. If you are going to have a blog that has an integral place in your companies overall marketing/sales strategy, you must make time for it and the content you share. A lack of consistency will make your posts part of the noise and not considered worth reading.

 

So, if you are really interested in sharing your knowledge with your current and potential clients through a blog, you have got to be able to cut through the noise and reach people who otherwise are all blogged out. Take this advice, build consistently, and watch your readership and your reputation grow your business!

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Filed Under: Blogging, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Four Seldom Used LinkedIn Features

September 26, 2011 by 4 Comments
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I personally think that LinkedIn is the best B2B and/or job search social media site currently available. It has a set of features that I think bring all that an existing business, someone looking to start a business, or someone looking to for employment needs to find what is right for them.

That said, I also think that very few people take advantage of all the features available to them and, by not doing so, limit the effectiveness of this wonderful platform. Today I want to talk about four seldom used LinkedIn features and how to make them work for you:

  1. First let’s begin in the “Groups” section. LinkedIn allows you to join 50 groups. This makes it possible for you to get noticed by a lot of people who have similar interests, knowledge, and passion as you. Many people join these groups, but my experience has been that very few take advantage of them. These groups give you a voice, they afford you a way to get your knowledge out, they can open doors if you will spend some time in them regularly. You outta give them a try!
  2. Next, consider the “Companies” section. Here you are able to follow companies in your industry (even your competitors) or even one’s you would love to work for. By following these companies you will know what they are saying, where they are headed, and in some cases what they are planning to do next. You can gain industry insight and, if you are looking to work for one of them, you might even find a solution for a problem or an idea that might move them forward (looks great on a job application).
  3. Have you ever explored the “Answers” section of LinkedIn? There are thousands of people asking questions about every subject under the sun. It is a place where you can let your knowledge and skill set shine. If I were looking for joint venture partners, answers to questions plaguing my business/industry, or an employer looking for answers that I have knowledge of, this is where I would start.
  4. Reading List is my fourth choice for seldom used features. This feature allows you to look at reading lists from people in specific industries. This not only allows you to see what is being read, but it gives you insight into the problems that some may see in that industry and allow you to position yourself as the one with the best solution.

There you have it. My list of four seldom used LinkedIn features that could make LinkedIn not only a compelling platform for you but could also make you a sought out expert in your industry!

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Filed Under: LinkedIn, Networking, Social Media Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Frustrated by Follow-up?

August 22, 2011 by 4 Comments
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If you are like me and have ever worked exclusively in a sales/marketing position, you have be constantly reminded that “the fortune is in the follow-up.” The problem with that statement is that the people you are trying to follow-up with often don’t make following up with them easy. You may even ask, “Do you mind if I give you a call to set up a time we can meet?” And after the “yes” you set this new potential client/customer up in your follow-up system and find that the great majority of them don’t really want to talk with you.

Now I know that sales is a “numbers game.” (Or at least I’m told it is!) I am also aware that in order to get people to be willing to buy from you, you have to be willing to make your product/service valuable in the eyes of your customers/clients. However, I am not sure that our follow-up programs should be designed to simply outlast your prospect’s resistance.

Let me make three quick suggestions that will help your follow-up system be more successful:

  1. Follow-up when you have information valuable to an individual prospect. Just sending out generic emails is like throwing mud at the wall just to see what will stick. I don’t know about you, but my time is valuable and to wade through a bunch of stuff that means nothing to me makes me pretty cranky. By the time you send out something I might be interested in, I am probably going to pass it up without looking based on all the stuff you sent that I didn’t care about.
  2. Remember more about the potential client than what information is available on his/her business card. This really gets back to the idea of personalizing your follow-up. If your client is married with kids or single, likes golf but not tennis, is politically conservative or liberal, you need to address them from their life’s perspective. This concern to personalize your follow-up will be noticed and appreciated. When you then make a purchase suggestion, they will be more willing to listen.
  3. Use multiple methods to get your follow-up message in front of your customer. Send cards, emails, make phone calls, even stop by to drop something off every now and again. By varying your follow-up methods you will have more chance to make yourself valuable to the prospect. That value will translate into more sales with fewer rejections (something every business/salesman appreciates).

 

In the end, remember that you have to make a positive impression on the prospect. He/she needs to see you as a valuable asset to them and someone that they should spend time getting to know and doing business with. If you are frustrated by follow-up it may be because you are throwing mud at the wall!

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

Marketing Your Way to Business Success

August 5, 2011 by 2 Comments
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I find it interesting when I talk to business owners these days. It seems that most of them have very strong views about what they are willing to do to market for business success. Some like outbound marketing techniques (ads, mass mailings, television and radio, trade shows, etc.) while others have abandoned almost, if not all outbound marketing in favor of inbound marketing techniques (blogs, content marketing, social media platforms, whitepapers, etc.)

But, those businesses who are building the strongest and most successful marketing strategies understand the benefits of a “blended” program that allows them to network on and off line. Let me explain with an example:

John Doe visits your companies website and enjoys an article you wrote about some aspect of your business. In that article you provide access to a free cd giving John more information about the theme of the article. The requirement for the free cd is, of course, his name and address. Once you receive the request, you send the cd out and have created a new lead for your products and services. Included in the thank you letter you send with the cd, you introduce John to your Facebook and Twitter accounts along with your YouTube channel. You also remind John of your blog/website url and invite him to subscribe via your RSS feed. Then on a regular basis you put more information in the hands of John via regular mail when they are ready email, always offering your products/services as a benefit to meet your clients needs.

By blending on and off line networking techniques, your marketing strategy will be seen as unique and will bring your business a more loyal and referring client base. This of course leads to more inquiries, more information requests, more customers/clients, and more business success. SWEET!

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

Social Entrepreneurship and a Local Business

August 1, 2011 by 4 Comments
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I was reading a book today about managing a social media strategy for your business. I was struck by something that the authors said that I have thought to be true for some time. While speaking to the responsibility a business has to its social media followers they said, “Consumers are evaluating their providers with the social responsibility yardstick today more than ever. Companies that don’t measure up in the consumers” eyes risk being taken to task and exposed of all the world to see.” (The Social Media Management Handbook, Nick Smith and Robert Wollan with Catherine Zhou, pg. 13 – Affiliate Link) This is often called social entrepreneurship and it is as important for local businesses as it is for multinational corporations.

My take on this quote is that, like it or not, we live in a world where people want more from the businesses that they work with than just the product they sell or the services they perform. Instead, they want to work with companies and entrepreneurs that see their place in the world as something more than just a place to make a dollar. They want to see that we are concerned with what we produce, how we produce and how our products/services/business benefit not only the customer, but society at large.

Even though local companies/entrepreneurs don’t have the time or the resources that large companies do, customers still expect to see and hear that your company is concerned about making society better with our products, our services and/or a portion of our proceeds. The more that you make this social entrepreneurship known, the more your customers will see the heart of your company and the more prepared they will be to not only buy your products/services but the more they will be your vocal advocates both on and offline.

Now it’s your turn!

What do you think? How do you make your social responsibility known and visible to your customers?

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When Customers Complain Online

July 29, 2011 by Leave a Comment
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In this technological age customer care and what to do when customers complain is a much more tricky concept than it has been at other times in history. Before the rise of the social networks, customer care was done by companies and customers “having it out” in person or over the phone. The offended customer could also tell his/her immediate friends, but that was about it.

With the advent of the social web, a complaint by a customer can go viral in just seconds and a company caught unaware can have their reputation (and their bottom line) damaged in the blink of an eye. So what is a small business/solo-entrepreneur supposed to do when customers complain online? There are three principle things that you need to do:

  1. Get to the complaint as quickly as possible. This means that you are going to have to monitor your name and the name of your company online. There are several options with which to do this. Find the best one for you and monitor things closely.
  2. Respond in a personal way to the complaint. Don’t just “fire back” at the complainer. They are upset about something and you need to both understand their complaint and what they would like you to do to fix the problem. Seek to make sure everyone online who is following you knows you have seen the complaint and are working with the customer to straighten things out. Then send a PM to the customer and work with them personally to resolve the issue.
  3. Once the issue is resolved ask the customer to post that the issue has been resolved. The same people who heard the complaint should also know that it was heard and resolved. You need to also post that a resolution has been achieved to your online community so that they will have confidence that you will consider any problem that they may encounter with you, your products/services.

Not every complaint can be resolved amiably, but if the complaint is made online, then you need to allow your online community know that you are doing everything you can to resolve every issue that arises. This kind of quit response will limit any damage to the reputation of you and your company when customers complain online.

 

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