1/28/2008
Unattended Blog Syndrome
| One day, a client I was speaking with used the term “unattended blog” to refer to the many blogs, including his, that had been completely and utterly ignored and, well, unattended to. How many of you have fallen victim to Unattended Blog Syndrome (UBS) -- the ailment that occurs after you have created your business blog and immediately following the realization that this is a creature with a never-ending appetite for words, messages and ideas? Is it better to create a blog and then ignore it or to not have one at all? Along the same lines, is it better to have an unprofessional web presence/website or none at all? That’s up to you to decide. I would argue that you need to have both AND both need to be updated, attended to and fed, fed, fed with new and relevant content. Just like a website is an absolute must for just about any business, so too is a blog -- and if you don't think so now, just wait until you lose a new job or potential client because they so enjoyed reading and learning from your competitor's blog. What's the cure for UBS? Good content, the right approach and consistency (and maybe some chicken soup?). Labels: blog, blog ghostwriting, blogging, unattended blog syndrome |
1/25/2008
Making mistakes is a good thing
| Show me the person who makes no mistakes and I will show you someone who is, well....not alive! Who among us hasn't made mistakes? I make 'em daily, big and small. One of my goals is to take everything I do wrong, or too much or not enough less seriously in a personal way and more seriously in an educational way. Over the years, my mistakes have proven to be great mentors. How many times have you done something in your business (like work on a project without a written agreement or promise something within an unreasonable timeframe) and then realized that not only did you make a mistake, but that you would learn from this mistake in a way that would spur you to act differently the next time around. I'm not going to say I welcome mistakes, but I don't think I would have ever gotten this far without my mistakes! I try to be grateful for mistakes I have made, for bad choices I have made, for the wrong clients and for unrealistic projects and deadlines. As long as you and I don't keep making the same mistakes, we can both rest assured that we're moving in the right direction. Labels: deadlines, making mistakes |
1/23/2008
What's up for the new year?
| Print vs. online marketing A one-time shot to your clients through a piece of paper may not lead to more business. I always tell my clients that when they are in doubt, choose online marketing over print marketing because online is instant, changeable, less expensive and has a wider reach. In-person vs. online networking More and more, online networking and communications with potential clients, colleagues, alliances and vendors will prove to be more efficient, effective and long-lasting in terms of results than its in-person networking and communications cousins. (I know some of you may disagree with this.) Content is still king Ultimately, your message and words will make -- or break -- your sale. Be clear on what you are selling and to whom. Also be clear that your message is solutions- and benefits-oriented (and accurate, too!). Labels: marketing, networking, online marketing, online networking |
1/21/2008
Are you a small business or a bank for small businesses?
| We talk a lot about what you need to do in your small business marketing. And sometimes we overlook the one thing you need to move your ideas into reality – money. It's easy to let passion or a sense of doing good overshadow the economic component of your business picture. Where are you going to get the funds to take your business to the next level? In case you've forgotten, it starts with something called receivables. When's the last time you took a look at how many of your clients have an outstanding balance? More often than not, the numbers are much more surprising than you think. Before you can blink, you're behaving more like a bank than a business, dishing out loans -- yes, loans -- like they are candy and forgetting (or not being able) to collect. Maybe it's time to “assess the quality of your loan portfolio,” according to Norm Brodsky in his November 2007 article in Inc. Magazine. Delayed payment is a common problem we small businesses may face more often than we may realize. The key to keeping it to a minimum is to pay attention, and to make sure that your clients pay up what they owe. You aren't providing better customer service by being a businessperson who lets payments come in late. Really, you're not. It's easy to have balances go 30, 60, 90, even 120 days without being paid off. Is that how you pay your vendors? I didn't think so. If I can't pay for something, I don't buy it. I commented on how Get It In Writing and I, Allison Nazarian, deal with this very issue in my own business in a September 2007 article in the very same Inc. Magazine. I was spending too much time on collections and not enough on client service business-building. To solve this problem, I changed the way I did business. Not having to collect all the time means more time on new projects and marketing. It' s not personal -- it's business. And always remember…you're not in business to be a bank. Labels: receivables, small business marketing, small business receivables |
1/17/2008
New Year and New Marketing
| You know the saying about the best laid plans of mice and men? Well, that about sums up the last two weeks of 2007 for me. Those of you who know me personally know that when I am not focused on building my business and sharing what I know with all of you, I am also a mom of two with all of the craziness (and fun) that that entails. My husband had planned to travel with our two kids over the winter break and I had all sorts of plans to stay back at home and tackle all of the "exciting" things in my life in glorious solitude (closets, overflowing drawers, unruly mounds of paperwork -- can you relate?). Somewhere within that week of "me time," I also planned to schedule all of my days and set my vision for 2008. I also expected to somehow start meditating, create and stick to a blogging and press release schedule and, of course, to exercise daily during my week off. As it turned out, my dear grandmother died on December 21st, so my husband and kids had to cancel the trip, I spent the week out of state with my family in Maryland and no closets were cleaned nor were 2008 visions set in stone. I didn't have a Plan B and even if I had, I wouldn't have had the time or even the presence of mind to implement it. So I must admit that I started 2008 feeling behind the 8-ball and without 2007 being neatly wrapped up and packed away. After feeling some stress about this, I finally realized that this was actually exactly the way my 2008 was meant to start. Instead of planning and then assuming everything will always go according to plan, I was reminded that dealing with all of the unpredictability that business and life throw my way is the real lesson here. Planning is important and necessary. Sticking to the plan is also important and necessary. But forging on, changing and re-adapting to the plan when circumstances change is ultimately the most important part of the process. So as January settles in, my closets and drawers are still a disaster. My 2007 paperwork remains unfiled and disorganized. My plans are yet to be properly set for the year. But my vision is unwavering and my confidence in my ability to "switch gears" at less than a moment's notice has been tested and has passed with flying colors. Wishing you a year of achievement, success and the ability to live and enjoy life in each moment. Labels: business building, marketing |
1/14/2008
Wikipedia….are you in?
| Unless you have been living under an Internet-less rock, you've likely heard about Wikipedia, the online free encyclopedia with millions (and counting) of user-generated entries. Take a few minutes, if you haven't already, to check out Wikipedia. Look up key terms related to your business. Start your own new articles and add to existing articles related to your industry, audience, business name and competitors. See what else is out there, who is doing (or trying to do) what you do and study how they are presenting and describing themselves. And be sure to check back regularly to share and update with new information. Labels: Wikipedia |
1/07/2008
What role does improvisation play in business?
| Milo Shapiro of IMPROVentures works with staff in companies using improvisation as a teaching tool for teamwork and communication, both inside the office and in dealing with clientele. Get It In Writing's Allison Nazarian recently interviewed Milo on the benefits of improv in the workplace (and yes, there is a significant connection between improv and your business!). Q. Milo, why would non-actors, in the business world, want to play with improvisation? Milo: Let’s be clear here that we’re not talking about stand-up comedy. Improvisation is the art and skill of being able to think on your feet and create without a script, like on the TV show, “Whose Line Is It Anyway?” Now I know a lot of people watch that show and think, “Oh, I could never be THAT creative!” But you don’t have to be. You’re improvising all the time. Every time you pick up the phone and have to react to a call you didn’t expect, you’re improvising. Every time a client says, “What else could we do?” you’re playing off your instincts. But how many of us ever had training to develop the skill behind the skill? Q: What is it about improvisation that develops those skills? Milo: Improvisation, when done well, is about listening skills, building on what others say, adding a little information yourself, allowing the other person to contribute as much as you do, and achieving an outcome that both people made a success. To me, that sounds a lot like the same skills that accomplish good teamwork on the job or a successful relationship with a client. Q: How does a facilitator help in this process? Milo: I've been asked at times why I haven’t written a book or designed exercises you can do yourself. The reason is that much of the benefit in doing improv work with business teams is in my eye. For example, I can interrupt an exercise and say, “Whoa, that was funny, Dave, but did it really build on the idea that Delores just said or was it a totally new idea? Okay, then, let’s go back a step and it’s still your turn, but this time add something that’s totally Dave but still builds on her idea.” This is what we call “Yes, And” logic in improv and for some people it’s a pretty powerful eye-opener if there’s someone there to show them when it’s happening. Q: Can anyone develop these skills by just taking an improv class? Milo: Yes and no. Yes, almost everyone will improve their communication skills and creativity over time if they take ongoing improv classes, but for a person or office to see more immediate results, it’s best to bring in someone who has a definite intention to relate how this all fits in with office dynamics rather than just being about the fun. In that setting, a lot can be accomplished in even just a day together. And it sure is a lot of fun and that’s why it works as a team-building event. We really don’t create many dynamics to laugh together at the office and that’s really a shame. We learn so much through play and fun and it bonds us like nothing else. Q: What’s one thing I could do to stretch my mind in an improv way without anyone else even knowing I'm doing it? Milo: Here’s one that you can do in the car alone! Think of a song that you know the tune to quite well; the words aren’t important…just the tune. Then think of a random topic. Peaches, airplanes, Monday mornings…whatever! Then try to make up words to the original tune about this topic. Go as slowly as you need to. If you rhyme in the right places, that’s just bonus points, but don’t sweat that. Just see how long you can sing about peaches to the tune of “Singin’ In The Rain”. You may not be able to do two lines at first, but you’ll be surprised how soon you’ll get through a verse or two. And when you can’t, no one knows but you. You may even make yourself laugh in traffic! Motivational speaker Milo Shapiro is the CEO (Creative Energy Officer) of IMPROVentures, using improvisation in conference speeches on risk taking, entertainment programs with business messages, and the TEAMprovising course using improv for team-building and communication. His book “Public Speaking: Get A’s, Not Zzzzzz’s” is available through www.IMPROVentures.com . Labels: improv in small business |