Going back more years than I care to admit to, when I was studying for my MBA, I began a fascination with how and why people buy. In college I learned the foundation of market behavior, but I later learned to always trust my gut, which is backed by invaluable observations and analysis from real, […]
Social Media Greatest Hits – Live!
Live albums were unique to the seventies when rock artistry was arguably at its peak. These recorded, live performances were the opportunity for musicians to go deeper and push the limits that indulged the audience with the finest qualities of their craft. I'm no Peter Frampton, and certainly not Bob Dylan or Jimi Hendrix. Though, […]
How to Separate Social Media Pros from Novices
If you are a regular reader of this blog you know that social media visibility is merely a stepping stone to your business goals. As experienced businesspeople, the pros understand this – the novices don't. Novices tend to scratch the surface, and that behavior is even more apparent on this social media platform. If you […]
Time is The New Marketing Collateral: How are You Spending It?
Traditional marketing materials – what we sometimes called marketing collateral, were expensive. I'm talking about brochures, folders with colorful inserts, and postcards. And indeed the cost of those 4 color brochures and die-cut folders was some serious coin. We called these pieces marketing collateral because that's what they were – evidence that you had made […]
How to Know if Your Social Media Friends are Fake
“Fake friend” is just a phrase I borrowed from the film Almost Famous. I use it to remind you that we all share the same challenge of building relationships with the people we meet through the social media networks. The networks are committed to a purpose, and that purpose is to get you more friends. […]
How to Sell in a Web 2.0 Economy
Yesterday I spoke at the 2009 Snow and Ice Management Symposium – The Four Greatest Days of Snow. Sometimes you are with a group of people and the collaborative energy is undeniable; this was one of those experiences. The snow business has changed dramatically since this organization was formed over ten years ago. Professionalism is […]
The Key to Serving Your Clients with Your Blog: Heart
I'm thinking about that line from the film Planes, Trains, and Automobiles. "When you tell a story, here's a tip – have a point – it makes it so much more interesting for the listener!" The lesson I take from that sarcastic bit of humor that also tugs at the heartstrings is you have to […]
How to Keep Your Customers Tuned into Your Social Media
Curiosity is one of those human behaviors you can count on when you are marketing your business. People want to know what's new, better, and different. They also want to know what doesn't work. They love to see the underdog win, and not surprisingly, they love to see the perennial leader fail. Of course, most […]
Social Media Wizardry – The Art of Looking Good
Putting your face in front of your company can be intimidating. Why? Well, many people are afraid that social media will cast them in a bad light. That's possible. But, if you hide behind the curtain and don't give people a clear look at who you are, then they will make their own conclusions – […]
How to Strategically Amplify Your Message with Social Media
You cannot hide who you are. That has been true for the history of humanity. Though, there are some people that like to hide. Social media is changing that. It does this by doing what it does best – amplifying who you really are. Your values, personality, and actions are all magnified, amplified, and scrutinized […]
