Red Zone Marketing's Blog

Social Media: Now what should I be doing?

You’ve spent the time and effort to get your social media sites developed, now what?

The premise of social media is to present something of value to others in your social network. Valuable content is defined as something that others:

•    Find interesting or informative
•    Deem worthy to take the time to read or view
•    Want more of and thus will follow you to see what’s next
•    Will pass along for others to see

So where does all of this great, valuable content come from? Do you have to be a prolific writer or hire someone that is? And how difficult will it be to get content through compliance? The good news is that there are solutions to the continual release of valuable content.

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Time Wasting Awareness: How is your perception of time?

Did you know that your awareness of time has a direct impact on your social intelligence? It’s easy to spot someone with poor awareness of time. They talk longer than what seems necessary in a meeting, they’re difficult to get off the phone, and they don’t get anywhere quickly (be it to an appointment, the point of a conversation, etc.). They are your classic time wasters. Every now and again we all fall victim to becoming time wasters. A keen awareness of time requires focus, concern for others, and an internal clock that’s been activated.

In the book, The Connectors, I wrote about one of the most exceptional speakers I have heard, Chris Mee. He has an incredible sense of time, and he puts it to use in his presentations as well in meetings and conversations. In one instance, Mee was asked to speak for 40 minutes to a group of financial advisors. The speakers before him each ran long on their allotted time. He looked at the organizer and said that he could get the meeting back on time. He did his 40 minute presentation in 5 minutes without ever looking at his watch. It was, by the way, the highest rated presentation of the day. How is that possible?

Whether in a meeting, on the phone, or in delivery of a presentation, there are some key points to both stay on time, while delivering compelling information:

1. Get to the point. Determine what in your presentation or conversation is the most important, compelling and potentially valuable for your audience (be it an individual or entire group). 

2. Practice. Know how long it should take you to describe certain elements of your business, products, or services. Be prepared.

3. Time yourself. If you find yourself “going long” in conversations or presentations – and even if you think you are always right on time – check your watch. When you start talking during a business meeting, look at your watch. Then, check back when you’re done. How much of the meeting did your conversation occupy? Was your percentage of the meeting justified with the content you covered? Focusing on time will help train your internal clock.

In business, time is critical. It is one of the most precious commodities. So, don’t let time wasters get away with stealing your precious time – including yourself!

Your Money Matters - Networking Tips from Maribeth Kuzmeski

Learn how to network like it's your job, and create powerful connections in a virtual world.

 

The Connectors Book featured on The CW in Denver!

 

Cultivating Relationships NOT Worth the Time?

Proactively cultivating relationships is often an afterthought. We are just too busy trying to get through the workload directly in front of us. And, relationships are not what we DO in our businesses, right? Most firms are not in the “relationship business.”  You are in the [INSERT your core offering] business. Simply spoken: We need sales, not more friends!

STOP RIGHT THERE!! Above is an excuse that we often create (myself included), subconsciously or consciously, for not finding the time to do one of the most important things directly affecting growth and profitability. 

Intuitively we know that relationships are important, but let’s just focus on the logical. When you look back on your sales from last year, evaluate the “why” when thinking about your best clients and your biggest sales. Quantify the value of the referrals you received, the word of mouth, and repeat business. When you add it all up, you may notice that the way others “feel” about you is critically important. They certainly would not go out of their way to do business with you or talk about you with others just because of your product or service offering.  There are probably many others who can do or provide the same offerings.

There's often a direct correlation between the quality of your relationships with prospects and clients, and the rate of sales and growth in your business. The question is, what will you do about this in 2011? How about you reach out to 1 person each day above and beyond your regular work. It may just make the tipping point difference.

Better to Give than to be Grateful

I received 3 email newsletters this week where the authors share with their readers all that they are grateful for. And although it is certainly good to be grateful, it seems to me that something is missing – a focus on others. I do understand that we find ourselves reflecting and thinking about what we are grateful for during this time of year. However, when truly connecting with others (in conversation, in a sales situation, in an email newsletter, etc) it is much more about how they feel than how you feel. And how we impact the way they feel is the critical differentiator in business.

How do I make it about how they feel?

Wise people have long said that it is better to give than to receive. Why? Because ultimately, impact comes from what you are doing for the other person, not what you have done. So, in keeping in this spirit and following those much wiser than me, I offer to you today a holiday gift that I hope will help with your marketing in 2011.

Click here for your free download of the Red Zone Marketing Action Plan template that we use with clients to help plan, visualize and hold everyone accountable for marketing activities. It is a tool that allows you to keep all of your marketing activities organized so you can implement systematically. This is a great way to keep you focused on others in the New Year! 

I’m sure you can imagine if I’m grateful or not – but I suspect you won’t spend too much time considering it. Thank you and Happy Holidays!

The Marvelous Connector

Shea Megale is 14-year-old author of a successful book series called Marvelous Mercer; but she is no ordinary girl. Shea has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a paralyzing disease that has left her with limited arm strength and compromised motor skills. To help her get around more independently, Shea has a companion dog named Mercer. Mercer knows 60 commands that include turning on lights and opening doors.

Shea‘s first book began as several entries in her diary that her mother Megan discovered. They were sketches and stories of Mercer the dog ice skating and doing other activities; all depicted in great detail by a little girl who never would be able to do enjoy any of these activities. However, she was experiencing them through her dog -- and her imagination.  Her mother was so moved by the incredible stories and the meaning behind them that she vowed to get Shea’s works published.

But getting a book to market and then publicizing it is no easy task; especially with no extra money to support this venture. While the Megales managed to find a family member to illustrate the book, they realized that promoting it would be the key to success. Friends told Megan that USA Today should run a story on Shea and her book; but getting through to the right person at the right time can be extremely difficult at large media outlets. The key is getting the media to pay attention. So Megan did some research, and found out that the editor was originally from New York. 

“We lived 5 miles from the USA Today headquarters,” Megan said. “Knowing that New Yorkers in the Washington DC area sometimes miss Carvel ice cream, I drove to Carvel, bought some ice cream and had them write on the top ‘PLEASE CALL ME.’ I drove the ice cream to the gate and delivered it as if I was a courier. I knew they would have to deliver it immediately to the editor to whom it was addressed; otherwise it would melt. The editor called me 10 minutes later.”  The following Saturday Shea and her book were featured in a two-page spread in USA Today.

Megan has used other unique approaches to get her daughter’s book into famed Manhattan toy store FAO Schwartz, and partner with Build-A-Bear workshop stores.  Instead of taking normal channels, Megan walked directly into the FAO office in New York and left with a deal. She also wrote a letter to Build-A-Bear Founder and Chief Executive Maxine Clark after reading Clark’s book.  Clark responded; and very shortly afterwards, they had worked out the details for a partnership.

Reaching out personally has been the key to Megan’s ability to form the partnerships necessary to get the word out about Shea’s books. No matter how great the books are and how impactful Shea’s story is, no one knows about any of it until Megan and Shea form partnerships with powerful allies. Proceeds from all the books help support Spinal Muscular Atrophy research and Canine Companions for Independence, a nonprofit organization that provides highly trained assistance dogs for children and adults with disabilities free of charge. Book sales have contributed more than $600,000 to these charities.

Consider the methods that Megan Megale used to get in touch with the people she knew would support her daughter’s remarkable project.  What are some innovative ways you can target and reach your potential advocates? I think about it every day.

Holiday Parties Are a Great Time to … Network your way into a New Job or New Clients!

Think like an introvert—if you have to go, have a plan. Social events can be nerve-racking. Concerns of who is going to be there, how many people you will know, and what should be said to them can run rampantly through your mind. But instead of succumbing to your clammy hands and being a wallflower all night, formulate a plan of action ahead of time that will help you make the most of every event. Doing so will ensure that you make all the right connections, and it will help to alleviate all that pre-party social anxiety.

The research and interviews I conducted for the book, The Connectors, suggests that introverts are better connectors than extroverts when they actively engage. The reason? Because if an introverted person has to go to a big social event, they are going to figure out what they will do when they get there. One of the biggest introvert fears is to attend a party, feel out of place, and end up standing alone somewhere with no one to talk with.

So, to think like an introvert who is engaging, you must have a plan of action. First, think about who will be at the party and who you’d like to talk with or meet. Consider which contacts are the most important to you—maybe there are a few people you want to ask about possible openings at their companies—and make a point to speak to each of them during the event (instead of hiding behind the dessert bar all night!). You may even want to consider asking the host for a guest list if you’re not sure who will be attending. Then, do a little research online or on social networking sites like LinkedIn to learn about attendees. Pick five people that you’d like to speak with while you are there, and don’t avoid the big names. Make sure you challenge yourself by making an effort to connect with at least one top dog.

The result… you may just make a valuable connection with someone that has the potential to lead you somewhere else – to a new job, a new client or a new advocate! Try it – the worst that can happen is that you’ll have better conversations at your next holiday gathering.

Networking Tips for the Holiday Season

The holiday season offers many networking opportunities for you to take advantage of. Maribeth shares 8 networking tips on Fox News Detroit to make the most of your next holiday party.

I Really Truly Don’t Have Time!

Every day I run across the “I don’t have time!!” objection to getting things done (sometimes it is me saying it). As you’re working to finish this year strong and planning for 2011, here is a quick excerpt from The Connectors that I always find grounding. Often it is the simple advice that makes the most sense!

Unless public relations is your specialty, the name Ivy Ledbetter Lee probably won't mean anything. In 1904, Lee and a partner launched a practice in the brand new field of public relations. In fact, Lee is considered by many as the father of modern public relations.

His clients included some of the best-known business titans of the day -- John D. Rockefeller, Jr. and Charles M. Schwab, for example. In 1903, after serving as president of Carnegie Steel Company and then U.S. Steel Corporation, Schwab took the reins at Bethlehem Steel Corporation, the nation's then-second largest steel producer. On one occasion, Schwab spoke to Lee, who was serving as a PR consultant to the company, about how his managers might make more effective use of their time.

Almost immediately, Lee scribbled out a simple plan, suggested that Schwab put it into practice for a time, and then pay him for whatever the steel executive thought the advice was worth. The plan proved to be so effective that Schwab sent Lee a check in the amount of $25,000 -- the equivalent of perhaps a quarter of a million dollars today.

What sort of a plan was worth that much money? It consisted of four simple steps:

1)    Make a list of the most important things you have to do tomorrow
2)    Arrange them in the order of their importance (prioritize them)
3)    Next day, work on the most important task until it's completed:
4)    Tackle the other tasks in priority order.

Yes, it is ultra simplistic. But do we really need our time management being complex like just about everything else in our lives?