Archive for the ‘social media’ Category
The Fortune is in the Follow Up
Wednesday, April 11th, 2012
I love that Podcamp exists. When Chris Brogan and Christopher Penn birthed the unconference back in 2006, I doubt even those visionaries knew it would touch all four corners of the globe and still be going strong six years later.
This is my third time hosting a session at Podcamp. This year I’ll be heading a panel about the third largest social network, Pinterest, with friend and lawyer Stephen Zralek who knows a thing or 60 about internet, copyright and social media law. Joining us is the second most followed man on Pinterest, Daniel Bear Hunley, who, in addition to being a “southern gent” is the social media coordinator at Powell Creative in Nashville, TN.
In fact, I actually cut my “speaker” teeth at Podcamp in 2010. Since then, I’ve spoken at events and to organizations nationwide, so I owe a lot to the format for helping me gain confidence, leverage, community and clients.
One of the most important things to remember about conferences, conventions and events like Podcamp, is that the fortune is in the follow up. These are amazing opportunities to network. However, the last thing anyone really wants at a conference is to be sold to.
Jason Falls, who is actually in town Friday for social media conference Explore, always says…
“Don’t sell. Give people opportunities to buy.”
this, but with biz cards
Now, I’m not saying that if someone comes up to you and is ready to buy your services and become your new bestie client that you shouldn’t run the credit card through your fancy Square app device and iPad. What I am saying is that you’re not there on a scavenger hunt to see who can collect the most business cards and then do nothing but make a castle out of them when you get back to your office.
Spend time with the people you exchange cards with. Find out what they do. Find out why they do it. Discover what’s coming up for them — a new launch, new partnership, an event, etc. Figure out if there is anything they are currently struggling with. Really listen. Chew on the information and take notes after you part ways so you can remember them. Then make sure you actually follow up with them. I can not tell you how many people I know who don’t do anything at all with new contacts they’ve made at events — not even an email.
I’ll say it again — the fortune is in the follow up. After Podcamp has closed the bar and turned out the lights, that’s when your work should really pick up steam. Reach out to those you met on the phone. Yes, I said on the freakin’ phone. This is your time to help. Perhaps your contact with them becomes nothing more than a new friendly relationship in the industry right now, but at some point down the line, one of you may need each other or may be able to refer someone.
I’ve gotten clients, conducted interviews for my blog, made referrals, and most importantly, enriched my business and my life by expanding my network through events like this. And you can do the same.
What other tips do you have for remembering and following up with people you meet at events? Let me know in the comments.
Tags: pcn12, podcampnashville, podcast, Social Media, unconference
Posted in Podcamp, social media, Start-up/Entrepreneur, technology |
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How Your Environment, Online and Off, Can Amplify or Hinder Your Business
Friday, February 3rd, 2012
Let’s cut to the chase — It’s time to declutter your life and business for peace of mind and better results….both online and off.
I’m not talking about the ozone-lacking sky above your head. I’m not even talking just about the room in which you work. When I say environment I mean:
- your office
- your city
- the people you surround yourself with
- the thoughts you let into your head
- the information you feed your brain –both digitally, via print, television and otherwise
All of these things affect your productivity, your creativity and your wallet. For real. Here are a few of the tips I shared on my Monday free Coffee & Convo call on how to maximize your space, time and energy by clearing out the clutter, shifting your perspective, and rearranging the furniture, the view and your thought patterns. Do these things, and you’ll notice a lift in spirit and probably your pocket book.
1. You’ve Got (TOO MUCH) Mail:
If you’re like me, you have slowly subscribed to more and more “things” over the years. I turned around one day and found that 90% of my emails were from group deal sites, business lists, training webinars that added me to their permanent lists and other “stuff” that I rarely opened. I’d signed up for a free report or guide on someone’s sight and then never opened another thing from them. Time to clean house.
Subscribe to only the lists and newsletters that you actually open and read on a regular basis. Unsubscribe from the rest. You can follow them on Facebook or elsewhere if you think you might be missing something.
2. Start the day with breathing exercises, meditation or some other form of slow, inwardly-focused ritual. Don’t skip this step to deluttering your mind. It’s arguably the most important thing you can do to make a difference in your stress and success levels.
3. Calendar things you’ve been putting off — vision boards, doctors appointments, massages, office cleaning. Calendaring it sets a different commitment level to “getting it done” than To-Do lists, of which I’m not a huge fan.
4. Shift your perspective — rearrange furniture, bring in more natural light, take a 10-minute walk, add fresh flowers or lucky bamboo to your desk, change out the pictures and frames, hang a poster that inspires you.
5. Find a reason to get out of your office and go do work in an inspiring place — Europe, the beach, the mountains. You’d be surprised at how many more clients and partnerships I make when I do this. The creativity flows, and the clients love it.
I’m doing a group workshop and private intensives by the beach in Los Angeles in mid-February. You’d be amazed at how much clearer my clients get when they are inspired by scenery, allow themselves to get away from all the distractions of home and commit to doing business the way it’s meant to be done in the 21st century — away from the office.
6. Simplify your message for cleaner, clearer social updates. This is about cleaning out the digital clutter. Be clear in what you want people to do on your site, on your Facebook page, on your blog or in your newsletter. Be helpful to them, too, by giving value without overdoing it. Short, easily digestible answers work better in getting through to people in the social arenas.
7. Limit the blogs you read and the time you spend on social – it will keep your work there focused and concise for bigger impact.
There is a way to break patterns painlessly. Add these to your routine slowly. Make sure they are fully integrated before adding another, so that you’re sure they all will stick.
What are things you do to declutter your thoughts, environment and message? Share in the comments.
Tags: changing patterns, declutter, inspiring office spaces, kicking bad habits, office environment, stress-free
Posted in Advice, social media |
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Welcome Videos, Social Marketing and Why You Shouldn’t Follow Your Dreams
Wednesday, December 28th, 2011
The new and improved Social Deviants web site launched a few weeks ago. I worked with two teams of web designers and developers to create what I hope represents not only my vision for Social Deviants, but yours, as well. I wanted it to look great, of course, but I also wanted it to be a living, breathing expression of what I believe about what I do for a living and the kind of people I work with.
That’s why I agonized over the welcome video. Soooooo may web sites these days throw up a welcome video that’s lazy and ineffective, and really says absolutely nothing of value to the people who visit the site.
“Hi, I’m so-and-so. Thanks for visiting. To get your free report on X that will change your life and make you millions, sign up for my newsletter.”
I’m bored of seeing the same video with a different talking head on every forgettable home page. I have hundreds of free reports and MP3s that have done little to endear me to the person or company who own the site or add any value to my business.
That’s why I decided to do something a little different with my home page “welcome” video. I’m still a talking head, but I tellyou what I believe not only about social marketing, but about life, regret and why you shouldn’t follow your dreams. Quality service and products that are useful and valuable matter, but people today want to know what a company believes in. That’s even more crucial when there’s a personal brand behind the shingle.
If social media is about relationships, I want you to feel like you know at least something useful about how I think. If that strikes a chord with you, maybe you’ll dig deeper, get to know me and other social deviants on Facebook, Twitter, this blog and through my newsletter. Perhaps you will understand that what I can help you do online is bigger than your business. I help you take big ideas and turn them into big messages so that you can make a difference, make money and make your mark.
What do you believe? Make your own video and upload it to the Social Deviants Facebook page. On Friday, December 30th, I’ll be picking one lucky person to receive a half-day intensive (via Skype). We’ll delve into your online strategy and get your 2012 brand, business and marketing on the track to EPIC. All I ask is that you keep them under three minutes, and please keep them PG-13 
Tags: branding videos, makreting videos, social marketingg, website video, welcome videos
Posted in brand, marketing, social media, Social Networks, Start-up/Entrepreneur |
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