Work Better, Not Harder

You know those workshops you go to where the instructor puts you on the spot right at the start by asking you to describe your target market? I'm one of those instructors. And I do it because a discussion about target markets is a critical first step to any marketing strategy and subsequent plans. Invariably there is at least one person in every class who tells me they can sell to anyone. I know I'll get the chance to preach, "You might be able to sell to anyone but you can't market to everyone." Marketing is expensive - in time and money. We need to find and develop content that is valuable ( useful and/or interesting ) to those specific people we want to have as customers . Once we've done that, we've got it made, right? So, who are we marketing to? potential customers customers Wait, there are more people we want to impact with our marketing: colleagues peers influencers referrers vendors partners collaborators Don't let me

Online marketing provides an ample playground for errors, such as typos, broken links, and incorrect dates. We've gotten used to little boo-boos - they happen to everyone and we're mostly forgiving. Then there are those biggies - the things that can cause a total disconnect with our brand, services and products. Here are some examples I see more often than you might think: The marketing strategist whose LinkedIn profile page url is a series of letters and numbers The sharing app that doesn't use their own tool in their blog posts to make them easy to share The bulk email service provider that sends icky looking newsletters The blogging trainer who doesn't post regularly The social media experts with no social connecting links on their websites The catchy call-to-action that takes you to a sign-up form that doesn't work The website designer whose own website is 5 years old (and looks it) The obvious typos on a homepage that are still there 6 months la

The one truly unique type of content you can create contains your opinions. Certainly, there are other unique types of content that will work for some... but not for everyone. If you are an expert, an influencer, a salesperson... you have opinions. Opinions make for great content because they're usually polarizing - they will resonate strongly with some and have the opposite effect on others. Not only is this a great way to make a more personal connection, it's also a great way to qualify your contacts and turn them into leads. Interestingly, the word 'opinion' has such synonyms as view, belief, conviction, persuasion, sentiment, judgment, outlook, attitude ; and can be defined as implying a conclusion thought out yet open to dispute . Yet the definition of the word ' opinionated ' is firmly or unduly adhering to one's own opinion or to preconceived notions . It turns out we want to be ' opinioned ' which is more open-minded and less rigid.

(guest post by Mike Tanner) To suggest that I’m a big fan of podcasts would be… a bit of an understatement. In addition to being the host of 3.5 podcasts (it’s a long story), I provide podcasting consulting, speak on podcasting panels and once had a dream that I was the host of a potato chip podcast called “Chip Off The Old Block” (That podcast should be coming out in the fall.) I started podcasting because I enjoyed it. But what I’ve discovered about podcasting as it relates to business has left me realizing that I made the absolute right decision when I decided to start broadcasting my thoughts on an audio medium. So here are three reasons why businesses should be podcasting. Passive Advertising I am a big fan of social media advertising. The targeting options available on major platforms are outstanding and things like analytics and retargeting make it a no-brainer to use social to promote your business, whether that’s through the use of paid ads or just a solid soc

Have you ever sent an email you regretted as soon as you hit Send? There can't be many who haven't felt that in their gut at some time or other, including me. Facts are perfect for email communication; feelings are not. ( Tweet This! ) This is particularly important when it comes to our business communication. While I haven't been completely successful in curbing this tendency, the thing that works best for me is to keep myself from hitting that Send button until the next day . Most often, a cooler head prevails and I end up deleting the draft instead of sending. But there's catharsis in the rant. Rant privately (not on Facebook), then cool off. This is one time I'm asking you NOT to use email.  Emails are not conversations. Click to Tweet this Article

Sometimes it's hard to give honest feedback, especially if it's negative. After all, the other person worked hard to create something and their feelings might be hurt. But the work is just not 'right', and may even be horribly wrong. What do you do? Be honest , and give good direction about what you don't like and what you'd like to see instead. And what if you don't exactly know what you'd like instead? Be honest about that, too. When discussing this with a new client recently, she said, "No bricks between friends." That saying came from her Irish grandmother, Annie, and the wisdom can certainly be applied to our business relationships, too. Communication, by any of the many options available, takes time and costs money. But we are not saving time by withholding critical feedback. Here are two scenarios that might happen if we do: Later in the project, for example, a website, it becomes evident that the work is not pleasing. And l