Has everyone jumped on the social networking bandwagon yet? I was on Facebook the other day, taking some quiz on what my best personality trait is, and saw a notification in the bottom right hand corner. So-n-so “liked” my post. I then realized that so-n-so was an old friend from high school. Now, that doesn’t sound too strange, does it? But, maybe it will when I tell you I graduated in 1988, left my hometown, and never returned. And now, 80% of my Facebook “friends” are from my hometown. People that I would probably not consider “friends” in the real world, are now keeping up with my updates on Facebook. That is when I realized the power of social networking. Not only has it put me back in touch with friends from years ago, but it’s also put me back in touch with previous colleagues that I’d lost touch with, thus creating possible business opportunities.
The power of the Internet is amazing to me. I think every company should market themselves online; be it a company website, a Q&A forum, or even social networking sites such as Twitter and/or Facebook. There are tons of sites out there nowadays. After all, if you don’t advertise your company – how will people find you? That’s why I think marketing is one of the most essential components for a company to thrive. And these days, there are so many ways to do it and create business opportunities – there’s no excuse not to!
Monday, 24 August 2009
Thursday, 20 August 2009
Credibility Gap
This week, Brett Favre shocked and amazed the sports world by announcing his un-retirement from football. Again.
Obviously, I’m being facetious. He did shock and amaze the sports world the first time he un-retired. This time, it fanned a series of searing stories focused on his credibility gap.
Favre, best known as the longtime quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, has enjoyed an immensely successful career in professional football, building a reputation both on and off the field as a man of character.
Unfortunately, his retirement-related flip-flops from the past few years put all that at risk.
It should come as no surprise that the media is gleefully covering the fact that Favre has contradicted himself. Reporters always cover contradictions or untruths. And they rarely cover it the way the person in question would have liked.
It offers every one of us a valuable lesson. Not matter what role you play in life, it’s important to say what you mean and mean what you say. And only talk about what you actually know.
Clearly, life’s situations change and none of us can predict the future with any certainty. But we can control how we portray our plans and our decisions.
In Brett Favre’s case, when he unequivocally told reporters in February that his retirement was for good this time, he boxed himself in. He could have said, “At this moment, I do not see myself returning to football” to reduce the future credibility gap should he change his mind. Unfortunately, he left himself open to charges of flip-flopping. Again.
In my PR 101 course, I recommend avoiding words like “Never” or “Always.” Do not fall into the trap of predicting the future or speculating about what lies ahead, a favorite tactic of reporters. Instead, talk about the current situation as you know it. Period. Smart decisions now will help you avoid falling into the credibility gap in the future.
Obviously, I’m being facetious. He did shock and amaze the sports world the first time he un-retired. This time, it fanned a series of searing stories focused on his credibility gap.
Favre, best known as the longtime quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, has enjoyed an immensely successful career in professional football, building a reputation both on and off the field as a man of character.
Unfortunately, his retirement-related flip-flops from the past few years put all that at risk.
It should come as no surprise that the media is gleefully covering the fact that Favre has contradicted himself. Reporters always cover contradictions or untruths. And they rarely cover it the way the person in question would have liked.
It offers every one of us a valuable lesson. Not matter what role you play in life, it’s important to say what you mean and mean what you say. And only talk about what you actually know.
Clearly, life’s situations change and none of us can predict the future with any certainty. But we can control how we portray our plans and our decisions.
In Brett Favre’s case, when he unequivocally told reporters in February that his retirement was for good this time, he boxed himself in. He could have said, “At this moment, I do not see myself returning to football” to reduce the future credibility gap should he change his mind. Unfortunately, he left himself open to charges of flip-flopping. Again.
In my PR 101 course, I recommend avoiding words like “Never” or “Always.” Do not fall into the trap of predicting the future or speculating about what lies ahead, a favorite tactic of reporters. Instead, talk about the current situation as you know it. Period. Smart decisions now will help you avoid falling into the credibility gap in the future.
Friday, 14 August 2009
It's SHOWTIME, Seriously! Part II
I'd like to continue on giving you insight on BrightBlue Marketing's Event Planning Web Seminar series with the Oracle Academy and the Oracle Accelerate Office to help their partners sell in the midsize space. The second of the three-part series is called "Will They Come? Driving Attendance." The title of the entire series, "Showtime Seriously," reminds everyone that you must take an event seriously, but at the same time you want to entertain, educate and be memorable. A few tips from "Will They Come?" are:
* The first step in driving attendance is your database. It's the foundation for all marketing activities, especially events
* Next, start building a BUZZ! Drop hints in your outreach campaigns, newsletters, tell clients that your "marketing department" is up to something big, but you are not sure what it is. Come up with teaser headlines that lead up to the event that you include in Twitter, e-mail news bulletins, and on your website
* But make sure what you are doing is worthy of the buzz! Going back to seminar One, make sure the event addresses the big "So What?"!
* There is both Art and Science that goes into crafting an invitation. Do a Quality Assurance Test. Look at your invitation and ask: Who, What, Where, Why, When and How? Make sure none of that information is left off. Then apply art and creativity with fun shapes, images, paper and words
* "Piggybacking" is what I refer to as building on an existing event. If you don't have the budget or the time to create your own event, hop onto an existing event
* Think out of the fishbowl when driving attendance by reaching out to your customers in unique ways. Maybe have a contest with employees to see who can drive the most prospects. Give a prize to the attendees if they bring a large quantity of guests or coworkers with them. Include a link to share with a friend in e-mail invitations
* Post the event on online technology groups. Work your memberships: Ask the head of an industry association of which you're a member to make an announcement about your event. Pick a unique venue that will be a draw. Ask others to hand out your event flyers to their contacts
* Create a Legacy - Find ways to make your event live on and on and on. Post videos of the event on You Tube. Take your web seminar and turn it into a series. Or how about write about it in your blog? Start a discussion around the featured event topic!
In order to be successful, you must reach out with event reminders on a regular basis leading up to the event. And don't forget to end with a Call to Action: Sign up for the event! BrightBlue's call to action - FOR YOU, RIGHT NOW! - is to e-mail us if you are interested in watching the web seminar series and we will gladly send you an invitation: info@brightbluemarketing.com BrightBlue Marketing will be rebroadcasting the event web seminars next month. For Oracle partners, the web seminar series is posted on the OraclePartnerNetwork. These web seminars expand on the above providing you with examples and fun stories!
Stay tuned for next week's tips: The Details that Make an Event Successful
Friday, 7 August 2009
It's Showtime Seriously!
A blog is the perfect place to store your notes from an event and share with others! I’d like to give you a bit of insight on an Event Planning Web Seminar series that BrightBlue Marketing is doing with the Oracle Academy and the Oracle Accelerate Office to help their partners sell in the midsize space.
The first of the three part series is called “Taking the Event to a Deeper Level” Using the Event to Drive Sales, Reach Prospects and Follow-up.
The title of the entire series, “Showtime Seriously”, reminds everyone that you must take an event seriously, but at the same time you want to entertain, educate and be memorable.
A few tips from the first Web Seminar in the series: “Taking the Event to a Deeper Level”
Start your event planning by asking yourself 6 questions: Who? What? Where? Why? When? and How? In this first seminar, we address the Why, the Who, the What and the When…
Why – Why will people care? The big so what of the event! Have a draw.
Who – Quality over Quantity is the key. Postpone your event if you don’t have the ideal target audience in your list.
What – The meat of the event: The presenter, the delivery by the presenter, and the presentation!
When – When not only involves When the event takes place, but how often you plan on touching the prospects. Read more about our 6+ philosophy on our BrightBlue Web site capabilities page: http://www.brightbluemarketing.com/Creative_Outreach.html
In order to be successful, you must follow-up, persistently and consistently! And don’t forget to end with a Call to Action! Our call to action is for you to email us if you are interested in watching the web seminar series and we will send you an invitation: info@brightbluemarketing.com
BrightBlue Marketing will be rebroadcasting the event web seminars to all that want to listen in September. For Oracle partners, the web seminar series is posted on the OraclePartnerNetwork. These web seminars expand on the above providing you with examples and fun stories!
Stay tuned next week for more tips on “Driving Attendance”!
The first of the three part series is called “Taking the Event to a Deeper Level” Using the Event to Drive Sales, Reach Prospects and Follow-up.
The title of the entire series, “Showtime Seriously”, reminds everyone that you must take an event seriously, but at the same time you want to entertain, educate and be memorable.
A few tips from the first Web Seminar in the series: “Taking the Event to a Deeper Level”
Start your event planning by asking yourself 6 questions: Who? What? Where? Why? When? and How? In this first seminar, we address the Why, the Who, the What and the When…
Why – Why will people care? The big so what of the event! Have a draw.
Who – Quality over Quantity is the key. Postpone your event if you don’t have the ideal target audience in your list.
What – The meat of the event: The presenter, the delivery by the presenter, and the presentation!
When – When not only involves When the event takes place, but how often you plan on touching the prospects. Read more about our 6+ philosophy on our BrightBlue Web site capabilities page: http://www.brightbluemarketing.com/Creative_Outreach.html
In order to be successful, you must follow-up, persistently and consistently! And don’t forget to end with a Call to Action! Our call to action is for you to email us if you are interested in watching the web seminar series and we will send you an invitation: info@brightbluemarketing.com
BrightBlue Marketing will be rebroadcasting the event web seminars to all that want to listen in September. For Oracle partners, the web seminar series is posted on the OraclePartnerNetwork. These web seminars expand on the above providing you with examples and fun stories!
Stay tuned next week for more tips on “Driving Attendance”!
Wednesday, 5 August 2009
Let's dance!
I've had traditions on my mind since seeing the youtube sensation of the young couple and their wedding party dancing down the aisle. Haven't seen it? Check it out here. I watched it over and over and over and it just keeps getting better. You can tell that, when the music started and the dancing began, the congregation was shocked. But then everyone is smiling, laughing, clapping and cheering as the wedding party dances down the aisle in pairs or singles. By the time it's the bride's turn, I wondered why on earth no one has ever thought of this before. Or, if they had thought of it, why didn't someone do it before?
Most of our American wedding traditions come from Albert and Victoria's wedding in England's Victorian era. It was 1840, y'all, and when I got married in 1994, I'll bet it still looked pretty dang similar. But you know what? Your business isn't like anyone else's any more than your wedding or your spouse or worldview or fingerprints. The same old-same old is TIRED. Dance down that aisle. And BrightBlue Marketing? We'll be dancing right there beside you. Let's make new traditions, starting now.
Most of our American wedding traditions come from Albert and Victoria's wedding in England's Victorian era. It was 1840, y'all, and when I got married in 1994, I'll bet it still looked pretty dang similar. But you know what? Your business isn't like anyone else's any more than your wedding or your spouse or worldview or fingerprints. The same old-same old is TIRED. Dance down that aisle. And BrightBlue Marketing? We'll be dancing right there beside you. Let's make new traditions, starting now.
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