Sorry for not being able to post regularly over the last few days. We have been in mass presentation mode and so the story goes……well I think that the story is Tiger Woods…..it’s been everywhere 24/7. I just saw on one of my twitter feeds that a story about the Navy Seals was quelched due to the media frenzy about Tiger Woods.
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I was attending a new client meeting last Thursday. And as it happens, they have a leg up on many of our customers as they are already trying their hand at social media. Bravo to any business that is taking the leap to engage with their customers in new ways.
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We all have a story. I always ask new customers “what is your story and is it being told?” Many times most businesses, brands, products and services begin with their story and then get caught up and forget how it impacts the value—they forget who the brand is targeting and lay that story to rest. In the “new world economy”, as I like to call it, your story is integral. It’s what draws potential evangelists and creates a connection that gives you permission to share with them. And in turn, they’ll share your story with others.
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It has been a while since I have used one of Seth Godin’s posts. Everything he writes is of value and I urge all of you to sign up for his blog. I have suggested, on many occasions, that having a strategic plan before you implement any kind of social media is vital. Many people have a problem with this as they can’t find the extra budget for this part of a project and time for this extra process. The decision makers for many businesses sometimes feel that they need to just dive in—the plan from their perspective was discussed in meetings. All the papers from the Economist to the Wall Street Journal talk about the success of social media so they dive in without a strategic plan.
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It has been a while since I have focused on an article about women. As a women run and owned firm we are certainly proud to be part of this new dynamic. The article I am going to share is written by Claire Shipman and Katty Kay. I think that this article says it all about where the world is going and how important it is to focus on this most important demographic from a marketing standpoint and from a business persepective. Look at your team—do you support and encourage women in your business? Are you doing business with women run and owned companies? The attached article comes from the women owned Huffington Post and the point……”Survey after survey from California to Norway shows that women are not only good for business, but that companies that employ more senior women actually make more money. Call it Pink Profits“.
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There are a gazillion articles including my daily weekly posts that talk to the benefit of social media. In the end what you really want to see as you make your assessment is stats. I try not to post too many stats here as I want to encourage the sharing and educational format of learning. And stats (although the “proof is in the pudding“) can sometimes detract from that.
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Today I had lunch with a new potential client. He has a successful business but is looking to grow and educate his customers on a product that does have some challenges in its brand perception. He came to me to discuss the possiblity of creating and implementing a strategy that would provide a forum for engagement and education but was so FEARFUL of failure.
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I am definitely a Warren Buffet fan. I have told all of my friends and family as well as business colleagues that I see only success for our company. I have named myself “Nicole Warren Buffet Mckinney” and see only a steady stream of positive opportunities as we approach 2009. With that said many take time to reflect as the last days of the year wind down and come up with resolutions that they set for the incoming year. Most times those resolutions are long forgotten as the New Year arrives and everyone gets into the flow of the holiday season now past.
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Yesterday I wrote about the entrepreneurial business trend website and newsletter Springwise. I would be remiss if I didn’t follow-up with its sibling, trendcentral. As noted on the their home page, they describe themselves as:
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