Over 60 and Making a Difference Online

Great story by James R. Gaines in today's NY Times: Over 60, and Proud to Join the Digerati of how a former top editor of Time, Life and People magazines is making a difference at FLYP, an online digital publication.

Motivating Employees for Customer Service?

I would like to obtain comments from frontline staff, supervisors, HR in both the public and private sector on what is being done by your organization to motivate employees to provide customer service excellence. Please share your ideas - it could make a difference.

Facebook for Business Success

Are you using Facebook to promote your business? Today's NY Times article How to Market Your Business with Facebook, gives more compelling reasons why Facebook is fast becoming an important tool to promote your business online. Written by Kermit Pattison, it succinctly provides examples and ideas on how Facebook is used by business.

DRIVE Your Market Success

The success of using the social media for business will depend on five principles contained in the word: DRIVE. The video describes in less then three-minutes what these principles are.

Making a Difference with Customers

To gain a competitive edge, enhance your reputation, reduce stress and make the workplace more enjoyable apply Customer CARE. This five-minute review by Des - from a Customer CARE workshop - provides the four fundamentals of customer service excellence.

Marketing Business with Facebook

The social media network becomes increasingly important in the small business world. Kermit Pattision's article in the NY Times, How to Market Your Business With Facebook, provides great examples of how small businesses are obtaining clients through their presence on Facebook, and it also gives tips on what to do, and what not to do. This is a must read for anyone looking to use the social media to promote a business, a career, or a cause.

Women Making a Difference in Business

Mickey Meece has an article in the NY Times "One in Four Businesses Calls the Owner ‘Ma’am’" about women that are making a difference by playing significant roles in the economy during these challenging times. We know the importance of networking, and this article also underscores how these women entrepeneurs use an "inner circle" to make "strategic contacts."

Successful Marketing Techniques on YouTube

The SBA has posted on YouTube excellent inspiring marketing stories of entrepreneurs talking about the lessons they have learned. This YouTube posting is only 12 minutes, and you'll there are other stories as well.

Three Keys to Persuasive Presentations.

The following three-minute video is an introduction to a persuasive presentation workshop. It identifies three things you want to keep in mind whenever you are giving any presentation whether it is one-to-one, or one-to-one hundred.

Effective Business Networking

"This networking business doesn't work!" That's what a fellow member said to me last week at a Long Island Association (LIA) Business Before Hours Meeting. He was there - like the rest of us - to meet contacts. When I asked him why it wasn't working for him he said that in the last six months he didn't get one sale. He wasn't the only one I've heard say this. Here's what typically takes place at these events:

Everyone exchanges business cards and then take turns giving an "elevator speech." Unfortunately it's often a boring three-minute, non-stop talk about their company.

• After hearing a presentation then the other person is supposed to listen to you - or at least act like it. Instead of listening however, the person is often looking around to see who he/she can talk to next.
• Although business cards are exchanged, most don't email the contacts they make. And worse, they don't respond to those who email them!

What to do? The following is a recommended process that can help you be more effective in all your business networking efforts:

1. Define your Brand. Before making any new networking contacts take the time to sum up in a minute or less who you are, what you do and the benefits you provide. By doing so you make it easy for your contacts to promote you.
2. Promote your brand in the social media (website, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc.) and with every in-person contact you make. This makes it easier for your contacts to direct people to you. The more visibility you gain the greater the name recognition you will have.
3. Consistently provide Value. Networking is not about exchanging business cards. It's exchanging value. When in face-to-face networking situations let the other person talk first, listen, take notes, ask questions to understand what they do, and what kind of customers they are looking for. The better you understand their business, the greater the likelihood you can be of service to them. And always follow-up with an email expressing your appreciation for meeting them.

Defining your Brand, Promoting it and consistently providing Value builds credibility, creates mutually-benefiting relationships and results in more business.