Archives for December 2012

3 Essential Small Business Writing Practices

You do not have to be an accomplished writer to write things down. You only need to learn how to capture your best ideas, refine them, and then use them to attract more customers.

The Internet thrives on useful information and ideas – and so does your business. Knowing this, it is interesting that many small business owners and operators do not aspire to be better writers.

Here are three valid reasons to change that viewpoint

#1 – Write to Capture and Refine Your Business Ideas

Your business is a laboratory for testing ideas and achieving significant breakthroughs. To do that you first have to capture EVERY idea.

When you make that practice a habit, you will begin to notice patterns. You will realize that better ideas are the result of combining and rearranging those that are not strong enough to stand alone.

And you will discover some amazing insights at the intersection of seemingly unrelated ideas.

If you are operating a small business you should require every single team member to have writing materials with them at all times, especially before, during, and after meetings with your customers.

In this information age, the winning businesses are be the ones with the best information.

#2 – Write to Test Your Ideas in the Marketplace

If you speak a language it stands to reason that you can write it too. Why then is there so much resistance to developing this essential skill?

I suspect some of your teachers told you that you couldn’t write – and you believed them.

Now you are afraid to take the risk of having your personal thoughts judged by others, choosing instead to fit in with the other non-writers. Isn’t it possible your teachers were wrong, and maybe not even skilled writers themselves?

Just do this for your business customers. Get that blog started and get a dialogue going. You will quickly learn the pain points of your customers – where they most need better solutions from your business.

Keep writing to test new ideas with the communities you serve.

Like any other practice, you will not get better at writing if you do not do it frequently.

Once you commit to writing you will not only improve, you will enjoy a sense of accomplishment in sharing your ideas. That alone will make your business stronger.

#3 – Write to Attract New Customers

There has never been a better time to start writing. One could argue that in our digitally connected economy we are all writers – some are just better than others because they practice their craft.

While it is possible to convey your ideas using audio and video media, those messages have to start with the written word.

The Internet is driven by informational content.  It has been that way from the beginning. The only difference now is there are powerful search engines scouring the web for original solutions to common problems.

Content marketing is the opportunity for every small business.  You have years of wisdom and experience but it is locked up in your gray matter.

Write it down.

Starting now.

If you liked this – please leave a comment below and share with your friends

About the Author:  Jeff Korhan, MBA, helps mainstream small businesses create exceptional customer experiences that accelerate business growth.  Get more from Jeff on LinkedIn, Twitter and Google+.
 
Jeff is also the author of Built-In Social:  Essential Social Marketing Practices for Every Small Business – (Wiley 2013)
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A Year of Social Media Friendship

As many of us approach the close of another calendar year, we begin to look forward to starting the new year fresh.

The truth is we can do that any day with our social media communities, but there is something about getting together with family and friends at this time that helps us to reflect on what is important in our lives. It also reminds us that we should make the most of the years ahead of us.

One thing we have learned is that social media is capable of connecting us with anybody on this planet.

We have also learned that our circle of true friends is essentially the same size as it has always been. The only difference is who we happen to be more closely connected with at this time.

Friends and Social Media Friendlies

The social networks use words like friends, connections, and followers almost interchangeably. For this reason, it is up to us to define them for ourselves. As I explained to a group of CEO’s I recently worked with, I’ll connect with practically anyone on LinkedIn with whom I may have shared interests. That doesn’t necessarily make us friends.

As a result of our digital connectivity we now have a new term – social media friends. These are really people that value our contributions to this world. We are more accurately friendly with them than friends – and there is nothing at all wrong with that.

Friends are those that want to hang out with us because they enjoy our company – period. Social media friendlies are those that appreciate and value what we do that helps them do more of what they want to do – or to do it better.

Commit to Creating More Value

The one thing that friends and friendlies have in common is what we share – friendship, common objectives, experiences, and connectivity.

Thus, to make 2013 a better, more productive, and enjoyable year, we all need to create more of what is worthy of sharing. It means showing up at the party (or meeting) with a contribution that is uniquely yours. This is indeed a capability we all share.

Even your critics make you better, don’t they? Yet, they cannot make their contribution if you are not committed to being out there making yours. That’s the challenge – one that has been there since the beginning of time.

In a world of amazing connectivity we should all realize our contribution has value for someone. More than likely it has value for a defined community that is just like them. Now that we have this resource known as social media we can actually find them – and they us.

What could be more exciting than that?

Find or Build Communities that are Right for You

There has never been a better time to be a member of a community, whether that community is social, local, global, educational, or commercial. What does matter is understanding which communities are best for you.

I’m convinced 2013 will be the year of the social media community. Digital technologies now enable your voice to be heard by anyone. You only have to learn how they work – and use them with focus and purpose.

That’s the true challenge – focus and purpose. Stop gathering followers and start making more friends and friendlies.

Marketing used to be about broadcasting and hope. Social media now makes it about connecting and engaging.

What happens after that depends on you, your objectives, and those of your communities.

I’m ready if you are.

If you liked this – please leave a comment below and share with your friends and friendlies.

 Happy Holidays!

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The Icarus Deception – Work is Art

The process of doing what you were meant to do can be frightening, and that is why its accomplishment is so rewarding. For one thing, you just may fail. In fact, honing your skills into a viable practice requires that you fail, because the perspective gained from failures and challenges leads to creating your best […]

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How to Author, Publish, and Market Your Book

It has been said that there is a book within each and every one of us. While the greatest challenge may seem to be writing your novel or non-fiction business book – and it is indeed a challenge to do it well. That is nothing compared to getting those books into the hands of readers. […]

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Engage Social with Your Sales Process

While social media is becoming part of the fabric of our personal lives, it is far from mainstream when it comes to mainstream businesses. You may be surprised to learn that percentage of businesses NOT using social media is much greater than those that are. Actively using social media does not mean you have a […]

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The Facebook Trust Dilemma

The recently announced Facebook Job Board has inherent risks for everyone –  users, advertisers, and Facebook itself. Facebook became what it is today by innovating – “moving fast and breaking things.”  While that may be a viable strategy for a start-up, by social networking standards they are now an established business. Do you think IBM […]

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